The house destroyed by Alice's attack was still under repair, forcing Takakai to temporarily stay in a hotel. While inconvenient, it was the best option given his complicated relationships.
Staying with Maki or Chika would inevitably upset the other, risking fractures in their delicate group dynamic. Kaguya's place was equally problematic—both she and Hayasaka had made their interest clear, and any slip-up would provoke Maki and Chika's ire.
The Shuchi'in security dormitory had been a brief consideration, but after just one night, the guards begged him to leave. The sight of different high-society girls visiting him had traumatized them—some even started drafting wills, convinced they'd be "disappeared" into Tokyo Bay.
So, a luxury hotel it was.
Tonight, Takakai assumed he'd finally have some alone time. Maki and Chika had already monopolized his day, so he planned to unwind with games—maybe even an all-nighter. (Though he reconsidered, remembering his date with Kaguya tomorrow.)
Just as he stretched and yawned, ready to wash up—
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Enhanced hearing picked up footsteps approaching his door—light, bouncy, utterly unsubtle.
Then, a knock.
And a voice so artificially sweet it looped back around to genuinely adorable:
"May I come in~? Takakai~sama~?"
Hayasaka Ai stood there—not in her maid uniform or school attire, but a modified sailor outfit:
A skirt so short it threatened to reveal her hips with every step.
A top that barely contained her chest, riding up to flash her navel if she breathed too deeply.
"Shhh~"
She pressed a finger to Takakai's lips, grinning.
"There's no Shinomiya maid here tonight. Just a girl visiting her beloved Master~!"
Before he could react, she slipped inside, kicking the door shut behind her.
Then—
Crash.
She lunged, kissing him fiercely, arms locking around his neck, legs wrapping around his waist. Takakai instinctively caught her thighs, fingers sinking into soft skin as the kiss deepened—too deep. Her tongue twined around his, refusing to let go, leaving him half-choked.
When they finally broke apart, Hayasaka was panting, face flushed, eyes glazed.
"Master..."
Her voice was pure sin, dripping with need.
The Reality Check
Takakai's mind raced:
Timeline Whiplash:
Maki: 1+ month of buildup + life-or-death bonding.
Chika: 1 month of separation + cave rescue trauma.
Hayasaka: Literally met him days ago as a dog.
The "Master" Problem:
Her canine-form mental contamination was clearly unresolved.
The Black Watch's rule-altering "Writer" had exacerbated it.
Physical Danger:
His enhanced strength + her very human fragility = Potential internal bleeding.
Gently, he pried her off, setting her down.
"You snuck out without Kaguya knowing, right?"
He ruffled her hair—triggering an instant, puppy-like bliss reaction.
"...Is Master angry?"
She peeked up, eyes wide.
"No. But you're recovering from supernatural trauma. You need distance to heal. I want you healthy, Hayasaka—not lost in this... roleplay."
His tone was firm, but his resolve wavered as her expression crumpled—exactly like a scolded puppy.
"Can I... stay a little longer? I won't do anything. I just want to be near you..."
She leaned in, blue eyes glittering, lips slightly parted—
The Trap
Takakai saw it then:
The tiny, smug curl of her lips.
The calculated shift in her posture.
She wasn't trying to recover.
Shelikedthis.
And now—with it being 11 PM, her pressed against him in that ridiculous outfit—he realized:
Tonight wouldn't end peacefully.