Choosing not to respond to Hayashi Maki, Mafuyu Kirisu set the takeout on the coffee table and started eating.
Afterwards, she casually stuffed the containers into a black trash bag and crammed it into a cabinet.
Seeing she'd unknowingly accumulated more than ten bags' worth, Mafuyu's cheeks flushed. Maybe letting him in would've been better—if he found out this pretty teacher couldn't sort trash and let garbage pile up at home, her image would be ruined.
Half an hour later, her phone buzzed again.
One look, and she frowned. Sure enough—it was that brat harassing her again. She really wanted to block him. But as his club advisor, staying in contact was required.
Hayashi Maki: "Open up! Your handsome, dashing student is dying of thirst!"
Mafuyu: "You're still here?"
Hayashi Maki: "If you won't let me in, I'm sleeping at your door tonight!"
Mafuyu: "Then I'll call the police!"
Hayashi Maki: "I'll still sleep right here. Nothing anyone does will work!"
Mafuyu: " … "
Speechless at his shamelessness. Was he really this hard to shake? If he stayed at her door, that'd be awful—what if neighbors saw and started rumors?
Thinking it over, she grit her teeth and sent one more message:
Mafuyu: "I'll let you in for water, but you're not allowed to lay a finger on me."
Hayashi Maki: "Deal. I absolutely won't touch you!"
Only then did she breathe easier. She checked the peephole—he was still there after half an hour, looking pitiful. She felt an odd urge to laugh.
She opened the door and shot him a glare. "Get in, you little brat."
"Heh, I knew Kirisu-sensei wouldn't abandon me. You're the best."
"Zip it. Drink your water and then get out!"
Unbothered, Hayashi Maki strolled in and plopped onto the sofa, peeling off the delivery outfit and tossing it aside. "This thing's hot and doesn't even fit."
Mafuyu took a drink from the fridge, poured a glass, and handed it over. "Here."
"Thanks," he said, sipping with obvious pleasure.
She stayed well out of reach, arms crossed, watching him warily. "Why are you suddenly doing delivery? Weren't you bragging about starting a company with Shiina and the others to make games and anime?"
He looked at her with heated eyes and a small smile. "No big reason—just felt like delivering. Lucky me, I drew your order. By the way… you never answered—do you live alone, Kirisu-sensei?"
Her guard went up. Eyes flicking, she said, "Of course not. I live with my boyfriend—we're cohabiting. He'll be back soon, so you'd better leave before he gets the wrong idea!"
"Liar. Besides me, what boyfriend?"
He stared, stood, and moved in. Mafuyu reflexively backed up until he had her cornered against the wall.
"Don't—little brat, what did you promise me?"
"Mmph!"
He scooped her up and kissed her, possessive and deep.
Tears sprang to Mafuyu's eyes as she pounded his chest with her fists, but he only kissed her more fervently. "S-stop… jerk… don't…"
…
When their lips parted, Hayashi Maki watched her with burning eyes. "You made up that boyfriend, didn't you? There aren't any men's shoes at your door."
Breathless, blushing, Mafuyu dropped her gaze. "I do have a boyfriend. Go—otherwise he'll… get mad—mmph!"
Hayashi Maki wasn't having it. To drive him away, she'd fabricated a boyfriend; she needed to be taught a lesson. A demon's possessiveness is fierce. Kirisu-sensei could only have him.
After a while, he asked again, "So—where's the boyfriend?"
Eyes watery, she pouted at the shameless, domineering man. "There isn't one. I made it up. Happy now?"
He smiled and nodded. "That's better." He lifted her onto the sofa, gently stroking her cherry-colored hair. "Sorry—I lost my head. But who told Kirisu-sensei to claim she had a boyfriend—and was living with him?"
Mafuyu turned her face away, mortified. "You didn't have to do that… I'm your teacher. Hayashi Maki, this isn't right—you already have Shiina… We can't."
"But Mahiru doesn't mind… And you're so cute, Kirisu-sensei. I really like—"
He leaned in again. Mafuyu panicked, set her jaw, and shoved him away. "Enough! Didn't we agree you wouldn't touch me? You have zero credibility! And I said drink your water and leave!"
She protested, thumping his chest again. Hayashi Maki sighed. "Alright, my bad… I'll go. But I'm not giving up. The next chance I get, I'll still kiss you."
"Screw you—get out!"
Her face burned to the tips of her ears. It wasn't like boys had never pursued her, but in high school and college she was a figure-skating hopeful; for her dream, she turned them all down. And none of them were this shameless—told "no," and still hugging and kissing. Utterly indecent!
Hayashi Maki gave her a long look and started for the door, playing it dejected. Mafuyu didn't relent; softening only got her taken advantage of, and she wasn't having it.
Suddenly, Hayashi Maki looked past her. "Kirisu-sensei—what's that?"
She turned—and froze. A cockroach with long antennae was scuttling toward her.
"AAAH! A roach! Why is there something so gross here?"
She jumped and shot behind him in a blur. "H-help… get rid of it… it's scary!"
Insects really were a pretty girl's kryptonite. Hayashi Maki calmly stepped and crushed the little "ally" that had created his chance. Mafuyu yelped, "Ugh—gross! Why'd you squash it? Look at the floor now!"
She stared at his shoe with disgust. Hayashi Maki stared back at her. "That's not the point. If you see one roach at home, it means there's a nest somewhere. They come in colonies."
"No way?"
"Why not?" He cocked a brow, smug. "My hearing's better than most—I can hear them moving. Sounds like… in that cabinet over there…"
"Eh! That's—"
Mafuyu went pale as he strode toward the very place she stashed those trash bags.