By noon, Hayashi Maki shot Vignette a look and headed up to the school rooftop first.
This time he went to the abandoned school building—the rooftop above their clubroom floor. Vignette followed after him.
Standing atop the roof, Hayashi Maki let the wind blow past him. When Vignette arrived, he finally turned, smiling as he looked her over.
"Vignette, you came?"
"Mm, I did." Her cheeks were pink, but her expression was earnest.
"Hayashi Maki, I want to know how you helped Satania. Will you tell me?"
"Of course." Hayashi Maki nodded, then flipped his right hand over; a coil of Hellfire unfurled into the air.
Vignette's eyes flew wide.
"T-that's… restricted-domain Hellfire? Hayashi Maki, what are you?"
Hayashi Maki closed his hand and the flame winked out. He set his palms on her shoulders and stared straight into her delicate face.
"Satania calls me 'senpai.' What do you think I am?"
Still flushed, Vignette ventured, "You're a Great Demon, right, senpai?"
"Wrong. I'm a Great-Great Demon! An SSS-class Great Demon!"
He couldn't help emphasizing it—Satania's delusions were contagious.
Vignette rolled her eyes.
"Senpai, how long has it been since you went back to the Netherworld? There's no such thing as 'SSS-class.' The ranks are imp, demon, great demon, and the pinnacle—Demon King."
"Uh… it has been a while. So no SSS-class, huh? Hah, figures—after living in the human world, who wants to go back to the Netherworld? I've gotten used to life here."
He ran with her logic, though inwardly he sighed. Satania really had misled him—so that "SSS-class" was a Kurumizawa family invention? To other demons, it didn't exist.
Vignette nodded, not suspicious in the least; she felt the same way—the Netherworld was no fun, not like the human world with all its delicious food and entertainment.
"Alright, time waits for no one. You want to know how to be a proper demon, right?" Hayashi Maki said, guiding her to a bench that had somehow appeared on the rooftop and sitting her down.
"Yes! Senpai, Satania's already stronger, and I'm stuck in place. Just thinking about it frustrates me so much!" she said earnestly, standing to bow deeply. "Please teach me, senpai!"
She was sick of the grinding part-time life; why should she, the sensible one, have her Netherworld stipend cut, while Satania, who acted so chūnibyō all day, got double allowance?
"No problem—let me guide you. You'll even be able to control Hellfire in time."
He dangled the bait.
"Really? Control Hellfire?" Vignette's eyes lit up. That forbidden flame—something that even Great Demons could only endure briefly—if a demon had the chance to wield it, of course she'd want to.
"Of course. I'd never deceive my cute kouhai," Hayashi Maki said lightly. He stood and stepped behind her. "But before teaching you, I need to check whether your constitution is suitable—to determine which training method to use."
"Different demons have different bodies and aptitudes—so the training must be tailored. Do you understand?"
"I do. So what do I do, senpai—kya!" Vignette squeaked as he suddenly hugged her from behind.
"Senpai, what are you doing?"
Breathing in her scent, he leaned to her ear and murmured, "Checking your aptitude. Don't move—this is necessary."
His fingers slid to her lower abdomen, stroking lightly—mana flickering under his palm. Vignette's cheeks went scarlet; her body trembled.
"Is this… really an examination?" she asked, suspicious and mortified. His hand was so hot.
"It is," he said, completely straight-faced. "Mm. Vignette's aptitude is excellent."
"R-really? Compared to Satania?"
He patted her belly. "Better than Satania. You're… a bit special."
And how could she not be? Demons were usually sly, or at worst like Satania—arrogant and blustery. Vignette was kinder than an angel—practically an angel reincarnated as a demon.
Hearing that, Vignette was genuinely pleased. She didn't want to be outdone by that blockhead Satania. Still… senpai's hand was getting hotter. Her limbs felt weak.
Hayashi Maki simply lifted her onto his lap, his palm sliding down to her slender calf.
"Very good—Vignette's aptitude…"
He shamelessly praised her while copping a feel—maintaining the air of a serious "assessment." Watching her tremble slightly without pulling away put him in a good mood.
Still, Vignette wasn't Satania; she wasn't so easily fooled. He didn't push it. With that gentle mana-touch, he'd already sensed what he needed.
After about five minutes, he set the blushing, nearly-overwhelmed girl back on the bench and smiled.
"Assessment complete. Your aptitude really is excellent—you've got the potential to become a Great Demon."
Vignette couldn't hide her happiness.
"Then today I'll teach you a way to boost your mana—mana resonance. Put your hand here; I'll show you."
He turned up his palm. Without suspicion, Vignette shyly placed her soft white hand into his hot grip. Hayashi Maki closed around it and shut his eyes, guiding his mana into her.
"Don't resist—let our mana link. Then I can instruct you."
"Yes, senpai!" she said with a firm nod. With a senpai this strong—wielder of Hellfire—he deserved her trust.
~~~
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