"Over there is the dining hall. We'll go there for breakfast tomorrow."
"That side is our classroom building, and the lawn is where we do outdoor magic practice—the familiar summoning is held there too."
Under Louise's guidance, Hayashi Maki got a first look at Tristain Academy of Magic.
After walking a while to digest dinner, the no-longer-in-the-mood-to-stroll Louise led Hayashi Maki back toward the dorms.
As they passed the central fountain, a busty, bronze-skinned redhead appeared with her fire lizard in tow.
"My, if it isn't Louise and her familiar. Tsk, what a coincidence—out cultivating rapport as well?" Kirche smiled, giving Louise a once-over and sneaking a few sultry glances at Hayashi Maki.
Hayashi Maki calmly looked over her and the fire lizard, saying nothing, waiting to see how Louise would respond.
"Hmph, what else? You think everyone's like you, flirting with men at every turn, Zerbst?"
Arms folded, Louise shot back without courtesy. The Vallières and Zerbests were hereditary enemies due to adjacent territories—and Louise had always disliked how Kirche was more popular—so she never had a friendly face for her.
Called out for "flirting with men at any time," Kirche didn't get angry; she puffed up her proud chest.
"Jealous of my charm, Vallière? And my name is Kirche the Flame—falling into romance easily is the Zerbst family nature."
"Whatever—can't be bothered." Louise rolled her eyes and tugged Hayashi Maki past her.
Hayashi Maki, for his part, gave Kirche an easy nod. He felt no dislike for the bronze-skinned beauty. Because of his arrival, Kirche's past and future had already begun to change—for the better. An excellent future follower—he wasn't going to let that slip. And pretty girls shouldn't be left to other men.
Catching Hayashi Maki's friendly look, Kirche's lips curled slightly. To her, the school's noble boys fell for her looks far too easily—no challenge at all. Rather than men who were too easily teased, she preferred stealing the man at the side of her hereditary enemy, the Vallière house. That way there was challenge—and a sense of accomplishment.
She licked her lips, glanced toward Louise's room, and wore a keen, interested look.
"Hayashi Maki… what would a man like that become once captured?"
Kirche had already tagged Hayashi Maki as prey—unaware the best hunters often appear as prey.
With her fire lizard familiar, Kirche returned to her room to build rapport. A good familiar could boost a mage's combat power; her lizard was a battle-support type. With training, they could coordinate to unleash combination fire magic.
…
Back in the room, Louise sat at the edge of the bed, cheeks puffed in annoyance.
"Don't you and Miss Kirche get along? She was the one who pointed me to your dorm," Hayashi Maki asked, feigning innocence.
Louise pouted. "Don't be fooled by her act. Her Zerbst family is the enemy of my Vallière house! Our lands are adjacent; we're hereditary foes—there's no easing it! If you see her, don't bother with her!"
Hayashi Maki put on a troubled look.
"But I think she's not bad—and she's still a virgin."
Louise's eyes flew wide.
"What—she's… still a virgin?"
"Wait—how do you know that?"
Blushing, Louise glared at the loose-tongued man. In front of a young noble lady, saying "virgin" out loud—did he have no shame?
Hayashi Maki only shrugged. "I'm a demon. Demons like pure girls the most. I can tell with a whiff if a girl's still pure."
"Kirche only has her own feminine scent—no trace of any man. So yes, still a virgin."
"Are you a dog? Sniffing it? And—don't say the v-v-virgin thing again!"
Flushed with embarrassment and anger, Louise stomped on him once. "Go to sleep. I'm tired!"
With that, her coat, dress, and even a pair of panties landed on his face.
"Wash these for me, and set out my clothes for tomorrow. If I have to keep you, you at least have to do a familiar's chores!"
Holding the lightly scented garments, Hayashi Maki looked exasperated.
"Did you forget the sigil is on you? Louise, you're the familiar here."
"Too loud, I can't hear you!"
Covering her ears, Louise turned away, cheeks burning. She wasn't going to admit she was his familiar. If anyone learned that in signing a familiar contract she'd made herself the familiar, the mockery would never end.
Watching her tsundere act, Hayashi Maki sighed, dropped the clothes into an alchemy-made basket, and crawled into bed.
"Ah—what are you doing?" Louise glared, mortified, as he hugged her again.
"Sleeping. What else?"
He spoke matter-of-factly and patted her hair.
"Don't harp on the familiar contract. Our bond isn't that—it's closer. We'll be like family. I heard your wish: you want everyone to admire you, to have a mage's title of your own, for people to envy the powerful familiar you possess, right?"
"Mmh… th—that's right."
Squeezed tightly against him, she struggled twice, then lay docile against his chest. His gentle words hit her square in the heart, turning her to jelly.
Hayashi Maki kissed her forehead.
"In that case, from now on, I'll appear publicly as your familiar in this world. In exchange, you keep me—meet my needs. Mutual benefit. We both win. How about it?"
Louise blinked up at him, then nodded lightly.
"Fine—then you must be a proper familiar—at least on the surface. Otherwise I'll… I'll…"
Do what? She faltered—she really had no way to deal with him. He outclassed her, and the contract favored him. What else could she do?
Seeing her suddenly pitiful look, Hayashi Maki smiled.
"Good girl. I won't go back on my word… Louise, you're adorable."
Whenever Hayashi Maki called a girl cute, it meant he was about to kiss her.
Sure enough, in a drowsy haze, Louise felt her lips being kissed.