The next morning,
Hayashi Maki and Shiina Mahiru were still fast asleep.
It was only 5:00 a.m.—still early.
Suddenly, the door eased open a crack.
A figure slipped inside.
She moved like a lithe cat, footsteps feather-light—maybe that had something to do with her weight.
Without making a sound, the girl lifted a corner of the quilt and naturally burrowed in.
She lay down on the empty side next to Hayashi Maki; Mashiro Shiina nudged his arm, snuggled into his chest, and closed her eyes again.
Her face went peaceful as she drifted off.
An hour and a half later,
Mahiru blinked awake, bleary-eyed.
Seeing Mashiro beside her, she couldn't help rolling her eyes.
There she goes again—crawling into our bed… honestly.
Good thing we don't keep a pet cat, or Mashiro would definitely get on its nerves.
Mahiru didn't make a fuss; she quietly slipped out from under the covers, got dressed, and went to wash up and start breakfast.
As soon as Mahiru left, Mashiro opened her eyes.
The girl's blank, guileless gaze settled on Hayashi Maki.
Her fair little hand slowly began to move.
…
After "disciplining" the mischievous Mashiro, Hayashi Maki kissed her on the forehead.
He carried her off for a shower, and only after that did he get dressed and head to the table.
Sakurajima Mai came downstairs too—just in time to mooch breakfast.
"Mai-senpai, heading to school today?" Hayashi Maki asked with a grin.
Thinking of yesterday, Mai's cheeks went scarlet. She shook her head. "I'll pass. I want a few more days to rest."
Hayashi Maki didn't press. "If you need anything, say the word. Mahiru and I will help."
"Okay. Thank you—both of you." Warmth spread through Mai's chest.
After breakfast, Hayashi Maki naturally left for Seihakuō Academy with Mahiru.
Ako Tamaki showed up today as well.
She really was obedient: the moment she arrived she clung to his arm, calling him "hubby."
Soaking in the jealous looks from the boys around him, Hayashi Maki felt… a little satisfied.
Hey, men have pride too.
Once in a while it's nice to have a cute girl on your arm and feed the ego.
In the classroom,
Hachiman Hikigaya's dead-fish eyes narrowed as he watched Hayashi Maki surrounded by pretty girls.
He felt trapped in a giant cage.
Damn it!
Why does this guy live like a light-novel protagonist?
A life encircled by heroines—he was insanely jealous.
But jealousy wouldn't change Hachiman's loner image in class. Those dead-fish eyes of his even made the girls keep their distance.
Just then, a voice like an angel's drifted over.
"Hachiman, are you okay?"
"Ahem—of course I am!"
The one talking to him was Saika Totsuka—a boy cuter than most girls.
Damn it, why is he a boy?
Hachiman felt the malice of the universe.
Clearly, all normies should just explode!
Hayashi Maki, for his part, didn't give Hachiman's grumbling a second thought. Aside from being a loner, the guy was actually decent. Hayashi Maki was more interested in meeting Komachi Hikigaya; who knows, maybe one day he'd be calling Hachiman "big bro-in-law."
By noon,
Hayashi Maki met Saki Kawasaki on the rooftop.
The girl looked at him with gratitude; beyond "thank you," she didn't know what else to say. Her parents were out of danger now; after a few more days of observation, they could be discharged. All thanks to the womanizer standing before her.
Saki was a strong girl, her pride as fierce as Nanami Aoyama's. But in the face of harsh reality, "pride" didn't count for much. In the end, pressure forced her to sell herself to this man.
Seeing that grateful look, Hayashi Maki just smiled, said nothing more, and pulled her by the arm to sit with him on the rooftop bench.
Saki's body trembled, but she didn't resist. Her cheeks were already burning.
She didn't feel resentful—only grateful. He'd saved her parents, saved her family, and, in a way, saved her future. She didn't want to imagine raising her younger siblings alone if her parents had died. Even if she sold herself, no one else would have given her what Hayashi Maki had.
Hayashi Maki smoothed her hair and kissed her cheek. "Saki, you know what comes next, right?"
"Mm… I do."
Blushing hard and swallowing her embarrassment, she lifted her eyes to the handsome man and answered firmly:
"Starting today, I'm your woman. Do whatever you want."
Her body trembled as she spoke—she was clearly nervous.
Hayashi Maki rested his chin on her fragrant shoulder, a faint smile on his lips.
"Since you're resolved, I won't belabor it.
"But I can promise I'll treat you as a girlfriend—as a fiancée.
"Yes, I'm a flirt. But I'm a responsible man.
"From now on, treat me as your lover and try dating me. Can you do that?"
"I'll do my best," Saki said, resolute, looping her arms around his neck. Once she'd agreed, she wouldn't regret it. In fact, she felt like she was the one getting the better end. Given what he'd shown he could do, he clearly wasn't ordinary—and she was just a poor girl from a regular family. Being taken as his fiancée? That was a windfall.
Seeing her determined gaze, Hayashi Maki said no more. He lowered his head and slowly kissed her lips—time to grow those feelings.
A long while later,
Saki slipped back into class, cheeks still glowing. She'd never imagined she'd one day be so brazen—meeting a notorious flirt on the rooftop, getting intimate. She didn't hate it—Hayashi Maki was gentle. Mostly, it left her nervous… and thrilled. She'd worried someone might see. Even though she'd decided to be his lover going forward, she didn't want his other girlfriends to find out about her just yet.
Unlike Saki's nerves, Hayashi Maki was calm. On his way back to class, he happened to run into Mafuyu Kirisu on the staircase.
Black business suit, pencil skirt, slim calves sheathed in black stockings, heels clicking as she descended—
The instant she saw Hayashi Maki, she panicked.
"Ah!"
She misstepped and tumbled forward.
Hayashi Maki sprang to catch her—only to be knocked backward and pinned beneath her. Thankfully, she wasn't hurt.
Mafuyu opened her eyes and, seeing Hayashi Maki serving as her crash pad, hurriedly ran her hands over him, worried.
"Are you okay? Does anything hurt? I'm sorry—I—mmph…"
Hayashi Maki wasn't hurt at all. Only his lips felt… itchy.
He just wanted to kiss her.