Before long, Rita's hair was dry.
Hayashi Maki eyed her figure with a grin, staring long enough to make her squirm.
"I—I'm going to rest!"
Flustered, she fled his room—only to realize a moment later that Mashiro was probably still in his bed. So… Mashiro wasn't planning to go back to her own room tonight? Not planning to sleep with her?
Rita felt a twinge of jealousy. Mashiro, that girl—get a boyfriend and forget your best friend, huh? I'm about to head back to the UK and you're not even going to keep me company?
Hayashi Maki, of course, had no idea Rita was stewing. He glanced at Mahiru and Mashiro and wore the kind of knowing smile every man understands.
Now it was time for "night activities."
The next morning, Mahiru slipped from Hayashi Maki's arms at first light to go make breakfast. The virtuous angel saw cooking as a daily ritual—something she had to do each morning—and she did it cheerfully, not grudgingly.
Hayashi Maki and Mashiro slept in. Hayashi Maki's always had a lazy streak; like Gabriel, he's a hedonist at heart. As for Mashiro—she's a "pet," so of course she likes to sleep in. If Hayashi Maki wasn't getting up, she was content to stay curled in his arms, snoozing away.
Rita was already up, even helping Mahiru in the kitchen; meanwhile, Hayashi Maki and Mashiro were still asleep. When the food was ready, Mahiru said to Rita:
"Rita, go wake those two up. Honestly, all they do is sleep in."
"Alright."
Pouting a little, Rita pushed open Hayashi Maki's door. Seeing the two of them lying peacefully in bed, a faint ache pricked her heart. Her best friend of over a decade, Mashiro, was nestled in Hayashi Maki's arms like a lazy cat, cheek pillowed on his chest. From the glimpse of her white shoulder, it was plain: the two of them had been completely honest with each other last night—nothing on.
Rita couldn't help imagining a "heated battle" that had gone on till late.
"Tch!"
Silently cursing a certain someone's shamelessness, she bent and poked Hayashi Maki's cheek.
"Wake up, Scumbag-san—time to eat! How long are you planning to sleep?"
Hayashi Maki yawned and sat up, still holding Mashiro. The girl sat in his lap, half-awake, and didn't bother opening her eyes. Rita's cheeks flushed hotter; the ache in her chest deepened.
"Hurry up and get up. I'm going back out."
Her gaze flicked, involuntarily, over his lean torso and sharp abs; she bolted from the room. She wasn't usually this shy—she should've been teasing him, as a "mature" woman. But she didn't dare now—since Hayashi Maki would actually make a move.
Watching her beat a hasty retreat, Hayashi Maki didn't think much of it. He pinched Mashiro's cheek.
"Time to get up, Mashiro. Wake up."
"Mm… morning, Hayashi Maki."
"Morning, Mashiro. Up and wash."
…
After breakfast, Hayashi Maki and Mahiru headed to school together. Mashiro he entrusted to Aoyama Nanami for the commute. Then the house was down to just Rita again.
"Sigh… it really is boring."
Rita let out a long sigh and began seriously considering the possibility of transferring schools. Back in the UK, she had acquaintances, but they were surface-level friends. Mashiro was the only real one.
…
At school.
At the gate, Hayashi Maki and Mahiru noticed a familiar girl leading the student council's usual morning check. Shorter twin-tails, a slender figure, a pretty face—Shiina Minatsu.
On seeing Mahiru and Hayashi Maki, she looked uncomfortable, gave them a perfunctory once-over, and waved them through. As the head of the disciplinary committee and student council vice president, her job was to check the girls' skirt lengths and enforce school rules.
Seeing Hayashi Maki brought back the memory of being forcibly kissed; her mood turned complicated. And he was her half-sister Mahiru's boyfriend—and she couldn't beat him. She had no way to deal with him. Better to avoid him when possible. She'd have to warn Mafuyu to avoid him, too.
Hayashi Maki didn't overthink it. Anyone he set his sights on couldn't run—and couldn't hide.
He took his seat and greeted the usual faces. Class 1-B was in harmony today; a few loudmouths as always—just high schoolers being high schoolers. If an entire class was dead silent, that would be a problem.
As he mused, he caught Vignette's eye and nodded with a smile—he hadn't forgotten their appointment. Vignette blushed and nodded back.
"Uuu, Senpai… today my melon-pan got stolen by that little white dog again!"
Satania trudged over, on the verge of tears. Hayashi Maki could only sigh.
"That just means your 'training' isn't there yet—losing to an ordinary little dog."
"I—I'll keep trying! Senpai, please keep teaching me!"
Her cheeks reddened as she snuck a look at his face. Hayashi Maki sensed something off—was Satania actually shy? Had she realized he'd tricked her into those kisses? Was the silly little demon finally catching on?
He eyed her, then pulled out a melon-pan.
"Here—since yours was stolen, take this."
"Thank you, Senpai! I'll enjoy it!" Satania accepted, delighted, and sauntered back to her seat.
Hayashi Maki scratched his head—seemed he'd guessed wrong. She hadn't "caught on" at all. She'd just come to wheedle a melon-pan.
Made sense. A chūnibyō little demon wouldn't have an epiphany that easily. That outlandishly confident personality—so out of line with her actual power—was practically instinct. It wouldn't change overnight.
As he was thinking, Gabriel poked his back. She looked at him expectantly.
"Hayashi Maki—got any more melon-pan?"
"Yup."
He pulled out two more and handed them over. Two sweet rolls to "buy off" a powerful angel?
Why not—especially since Gabriel didn't scrounge food off just anyone. The fact she felt comfortable doing it with him… meant she felt close.