Chapter 286: A Person Who Can Endanger His Life
"Stop messing around; your body is even more fragile than an ordinary person's."
Looking at Illya, who was still struggling while being held mid-air, Hikigaya Hachiman frowned and spoke in a low voice.
"What's the big deal? I have magical energy anyway..."
Hearing Hachiman's words, Illya obediently stopped struggling, but she still retorted with a stubborn refusal to lose.
"Magical energy isn't meant for you to waste like this!"
Hachiman lightly patted Illya's head. After checking her physical condition, he sighed inwardly.
Illya took after her mother, Irisviel, greatly. Whether in appearance or personality, she was like a mini-version of Irisviel carved from the same mold. Perhaps because the mother and daughter were too similar, Hachiman had discovered by chance a while ago that Illya's body was incredibly delicate, just like an exquisite porcelain doll...
"Try to do less of this body-straining stuff like staying up late in the future..."
Although everyone had fun playing games together last night, staying up late was indeed a bit of a burden on Illya's body.
"I don't want to!"
Hearing that Hachiman actually wanted her to give up her precious nighttime gaming hours, Illya immediately bristled.
"But if you stay up late frequently, your body will wither away just like Irisviel's!"
Seeing that Illya was unwilling to cooperate, Hachiman immediately brought up the living example of Irisviel to intimidate her.
However, this time Illya didn't fall for it at all...
"You big liar! I asked Mama about it earlier. The reason her physical strength is so low is entirely because of the Holy Grail; it has absolutely nothing to do with staying up late playing games!"
Recalling how she had foolishly believed Hachiman's claim—that her body would wither to her mother's level—and trembled in fear the first time, Illya couldn't help but grind her little fangs. It would have been fine if Hachiman had never mentioned it, but the more she thought about it now, the angrier she became!
Think about it: Illya, with such a clever brain, had become the boss of the elementary school division in just half a month, yet she had been fooled by Hachiman's clumsy lie for an entire
week. She only realized it last night when her mother accidentally let the truth slip. This was simply...
"Awoo!"
Suddenly, Illya opened her "bloody maw" and bit down toward Hachiman's arm in front of her.
"Are you part dog?"
Hachiman naturally wouldn't let Illya bite him. He quickly swung the hand holding her collar, while simultaneously sprinting toward the sofa with her.
"You're the one who's part dog!"
Hearing Hachiman call her a dog made the already angry Illya even more resentful. Using the momentum of the swing, she hooked her legs around Hachiman's arm. Then, using both her hands and feet, Illya clung to his arm like an octopus, opened her large mouth, and bit down hard!
"Ah!"
Just as the sofa was getting closer, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his arm. Caught off guard, Hachiman let out a cry of pain.
"Onii-chan, Illya, you guys are being too noisy."
Lying on the sofa with zero ladylike poise, Komachi scratched her pale belly hidden under her clothes. Without even turning her head, she signaled for the two troublemakers to stop so they wouldn't interrupt her show.
"..."
It was as if a mute button had been pressed. Following Komachi's warning, Hachiman and Illya instantly ceased their play-fighting.
The big one and the small one locked eyes, staring silently into those "dead fish eyes" that radiated an aura of rot yet were incredibly reassuring. After a few seconds, Illya reluctantly let go and slid down Hachiman's arm onto the floor.
"I'll let you off this time for Komachi-姉's sake!"
With her hands on her hips, Illya looked up and delivered her signature tsundere line.
'You only stopped because you're scared of Komachi, right?!'
Hearing Illya's words, the corner of Hachiman's mouth twitched slightly. To be able to frame "following one's heart" (cowardice) as an act of mercy—what on earth was this tsundere loli learning at school!
"Hmph!"
Sensing Hachiman's strange gaze, Illya made a face at him and jumped onto the sofa, sitting snugly next to Komachi. Komachi, still immersed in the TV program, naturally pulled Illya into her embrace...
Standing to the side and watching this harmonious scene, Hachiman felt a strong sense of déjà vu—as if he was the outsider. He shook his head to clear the weird thoughts and then settled into a corner of the sofa to continue his day as a "salted fish."
...
Ding-dong!
As if deliberately opposing Hachiman, the doorbell rang again ten minutes after Illya's arrival.
"Onii-chan~"
Hearing the doorbell, Komachi immediately let out a seductive call enough to make one's bones go soft.
However, Hachiman, in the corner of the sofa, clearly didn't want to give up his "salted fish" life so easily. He lay quietly on the sofa, acting as if he hadn't heard Komachi's call.
'I was the one who opened the door last time, it's your turn now!'
Sensing Hachiman's silent protest, Komachi's brow twitched. She then shifted her body on the sofa, slowly approaching Hachiman...
Thump!
Two forces, one strong and one weak, attacked Hachiman from behind again. Having prepared himself, Hachiman performed a nimble roll, dodging their sneak attack.
'I won't fall for the same trick twice!'
Seeing that he had perfectly evaded their assault, a hint of pride flashed through Hachiman's heart. However, he suddenly sensed a faint, sharp killing intent permeating the air...
"!"
With a "carp leap," he sprang up from the sofa and sprinted all the way to the entrance to open the door.
"Hikigaya-kun?"
Following her daughter's footsteps, Irisviel, who had also come to visit the Hikigaya household, saw the door open. She was about to raise her hand to greet Hachiman when she saw his "survivor of a disaster" expression.
'Is there actually someone in this world who can threaten him?'
Irisviel, who understood Hachiman's true strength quite well, was instantly filled with doubt and curiosity.
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