A quiet night.
Early the next morning.
Louise blinked awake, hazy and drowsy. She felt her body held tight; she reflexively wriggled twice.
As her vision cleared—
A man's face filled her view. She blurted without thinking, "Who are you? Why are you in my bed?"
Hayashi Maki opened his eyes and brushed her hair.
"I'm Hayashi Maki—your public-facing familiar."
"Oh! Right, we did the familiar summoning yesterday—"
Louise finally came to. Noticing his arm around her slim waist, holding her in an intimate embrace, her face flushed scarlet.
"Um… it's morning… We should get up."
"Right—let's get up," Hayashi Maki said, flipping back the covers and snapping his fingers.
Mana flowed; a set of casual blue clothes, perfectly matching otherworldly fashion, appeared on him. Louise's mouth fell open.
"What kind of magic is that? You can just… change clothes at will?"
"Just a bit of alchemy," he replied offhandedly, then took her academy uniform and black cloak from the wardrobe and drawers. Of course, a pair of black over-knee socks, too.
"Want me to help you change, or will you do it yourself?"
Louise snorted and stood. "A noble with a servant does not lift a hand. Since you're my familiar, you will attend me. Please me, and I'll reward you with meals."
Facing the haughty noble-lady pose, Hayashi Maki only smiled and nodded, offering no retort.
He deftly slipped off her white nightgown, his eyes taking in her snow-pale skin, then dressed her in her uniform—underthings, skirt, all of it.
With practice from looking after Mashiro Shiina, he was anything but clumsy; his hands moved smooth as flowing water.
Louise was crimson to the ears. She tried to tell herself he was her familiar—and he'd said he was a demon, not human—so being attended by a familiar, even touched or seen, shouldn't be embarrassing. But her mind kept flashing back to yesterday's repeated hot kisses.
Aaaaah!
No, this won't do!
She really couldn't treat him like a familiar. He was a handsome, strong, domineering man.
Her body trembled faintly; she fought the urge to bolt and wrestled her shame down.
Once he'd finished dressing her, Hayashi Maki pressed her gently by the shoulders to sit on the stool before the vanity and, comb in hand, carefully brushed her pink hair. The comfort made her eyes flutter closed; a pleased look slipped onto her face.
He's… really good at this…
If he stayed this gentle… maybe…
Whatever she'd thought, her cheeks reddened further.
"All done. Miss Louise today is dazzling—radiant, and super beautiful!"
Admiring his handiwork, Hayashi Maki couldn't help a little praise.
"Urusei. I'm a noble—born beautiful. I don't need you to say it," she huffed, arms folded. "Let's go. Since I'm satisfied, I'll make an exception and take you to the cafeteria."
Smiling, Hayashi Maki followed, admiring her back—and sneaking glances at the other female mages' long legs. A magic academy really was a fine place. He could bring Mahiru and the others sometime—call it a vacation. Maybe later he'd bring Louise to his world to try modern life.
At the cafeteria: three long tables with chairs on either side; the second-years in the middle.
Under curious looks, Hayashi Maki and Louise took seats. Hayashi Maki naturally pulled out the chair; Louise sat with grace; he slid the chair in.
Louise nodded, pleased; catching Kirche's glance, she shot her a cold, provocative snort. Kirche ground her teeth. Damn Vallière—what's there to be smug about? Just wait till I steal your familiar and see you cry.
Second-years here were about like second-years in high school back home—youthful, spirited, with the added poise of nobility.
"Tabitha, look at Louise—what's she so pleased about?" Kirche muttered to the bespectacled, blue-haired beauty beside her.
Hayashi Maki's eyes flicked to the blue-haired girl—expressionless, listening without a twitch, only nodding now and then. One glance told him enough: her true name was Charlotte; "Tabitha" was the name her mother gave a doll. And she was likely a princess with a legitimate imperial claim—another promising follower, perhaps.
"Thank the Founder for the bounty we receive…"
After the daily prayer, students began to eat. Louise, apparently satisfied with Hayashi Maki's conduct, pointed to the small plate below.
"Since I'm pleased, I'll reward you. Eat." She even tossed a piece of bread from her own plate onto his.
Hayashi Maki's face darkened. Was the little miss getting cocky? He'd agreed to be her public familiar—but not her dog.
So, to Louise's surprise, he scooped her up—and, under everyone's gaze, sat in her seat with her in his lap.
"W-what are you doing?" she hissed, mortified. Being held by her familiar under so many eyes—how was she supposed to show her face now?
"I'm not hungry yet, so I'll serve Miss Louise her meal. Didn't you say nobles don't lift a hand when they have a servant? Now—open wide."
He began feeding her. Louise flushed to the roots, but to maintain noble elegance, she opened her mouth and ate. Then she couldn't help whispering, "Idiot—yes, nobles don't lift a hand when they have servants, but not while eating! I'm not a baby!"
"Eh? Is that so?" he said blandly.
"Sorry—should've said so sooner."
And he continued feeding her.
Louise suspected he was doing it on purpose. But seeing Kirche's puffed, sour look kept her from wriggling free. Gradually, the sight of Louise dining elegantly while being fed by her familiar made the surrounding students shift from shock and snickers to envy. Publicly showing affection in the cafeteria—Louise was the first.
Click! Kirche clenched her teeth. "Damn you, Louise the Zero! That woman actually… actually enjoying being fed by a man?!"
Beside her, blue-haired Tabitha showed no expression at all, quietly finishing her breakfast.
~~~
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