Given the errand Mafuyu Kirisu assigned, Hayashi Maki of course didn't refuse.
He finally understood why Ako kept spacing out in class.
Turns out she hadn't even picked up her textbooks.
And… since she skipped school a lot, her grades were probably awful, too.
As for how she managed to transfer into Hakuo Academy—her mom likely spent a fortune… or Kyoh Goshoin pulled some strings behind the scenes.
While he was mulling that over, messages popped up in the Array Cat Guild chat.
Schwein (Akane Segawa): "Why am I suddenly being forced to transfer schools? Pres, how did you convince my parents?"
Apricot (Kyoh Goshoin): "Eheh, your parents happen to work at my family's company. I mentioned promotions and a raise, and they agreed right away."
Schwein (Akane Segawa): "Ugh, so the rich really can do whatever they want?"
Hayashi Innocent (Hayashi Maki): "Eheh, isn't this great? Now I've got a chance to make a move on guild members."
Schwein (Akane Segawa): "I'm not interested in you—please spare me!"
Ako Tamaki: "Boohoo, why? Hubby already has me, and you're still eyeing other girls?"
Apricot (Kyoh Goshoin): "This is for Ako's sake. As her friends we can't ignore her reality–online confusion syndrome. I've already got a plan—look forward to tomorrow!"
Putting his phone away, Hayashi Maki flicked Ako—who was still bouncing at his arm and sniffing his scent—lightly on the forehead and shooed her back to her seat.
After the final afternoon period, he said a quick goodbye to Mahiru and the others, then took Ako to the library.
The whole way, Ako clung to his arm, glued to him as they walked.
Seeing the jealous, envious stares from the guys around them, Hayashi Maki could only sigh and accept his fate.
Hakuo Academy's library was pretty big.
Inside, Hayashi Maki explained the situation to the librarian—a girl with braided pigtails and thick-rimmed glasses.
She glanced at him and Ako, smiled, jotted their names in a notebook, and told them to fetch the books themselves.
It wasn't the start of term, so the backup textbooks had already been sorted into a designated area. Finding everything would still take some time.
Seeing Ako still glued to him, Hayashi Maki tore the textbook list in half and handed one half to her.
"Here, you take this half. We'll split the work—each of us grabs what's on our list and meet back up. Think you can do that, Ako?"
"No problem! Leave this half to me, hubby!"
As much as Ako wanted to stick with him, she knew she couldn't cling forever.
She had to prove her girl-power and make Hayashi Maki like her even more.
So a simple task like finding books—she'd do it herself and wow her husband!
Watching Ako scamper off to the other shelves, Hayashi Maki let out a breath of relief.
Honestly, she was too clingy.
And with that body? If she kept pressing up against him, he was going to lose his cool.
Hayashi Maki worked fast.
In just a few minutes he'd gathered all the books on his list.
He sat down in front of the dark-braided, thick-glasses librarian and sorted the stack, double-checking for anything missing.
This librarian was… unique. The heavy frames covered half her cheeks.
Under the mysterious power of those glasses, her features blurred into "ordinary braided girl."
She was quietly perched at the front desk, absorbed in a book.
Hayashi Maki didn't think much of it and continued arranging the textbooks.
They'd still need her to log everything once Ako returned.
Suddenly, a faint fragrance drifted by.
His eyes moved on instinct—to a bunny girl with a knockout figure.
…Wait, what?
Since when did Hakuo Academy's library have bunny girls strolling around?
His gaze slid, unbidden, to her long legs in black stockings and the curves made even more enticing by the bunny suit.
Fair skin, a delicate collarbone, and a cute face framed by a waterfall of dark hair.
The bunny girl wandered around, occasionally peeking at the books students were holding.
Every so often she'd step behind the librarian and bend over to look at what she was reading.
Sensing a burning stare, she met Hayashi Maki's eyes.
Mai Sakurajima—dressed in a bunny suit—arched a brow. He can see me? For real?
Clicking along in heels, she approached, lifted a pale hand, and waved it in front of his face.
"Hey, can you see me?"
"I can't."
Hayashi Maki pretended not to see her—then gave her a quick swat on the butt.
Smack.
Mai's body jolted; her cheeks flushed as she glared at the rogue in a mix of shame and anger.
Ignoring her, Hayashi Maki nudged her aside and addressed the librarian.
"Hey, Librarian-san—does our school library offer bunny-girl service now?"
The girl raised a brow and pushed up her glasses with a fair fingertip.
"Did you not get enough sleep? Why would a library have a bunny girl?"
"No?"
Hayashi Maki glanced at the flustered Mai, then back at the librarian.
"Of course not. Don't drag your fantasies into reality. Our library is perfectly normal."
"And I'm a perfectly normal librarian."
"No, you're not that normal, Librarian-san. Why's your uniform a long skirt? It's way longer than the other girls'. Can't even see a hint of those pale legs."
He couldn't help quipping.
With the braids, the thick frames hiding her face, and the calf-covering skirt, she looked old-fashioned—zero eye candy.
At his jab, the girl's lips curved.
"Because I'm a very proper librarian. I won't be showing you thighs or panties. A bunny suit is out of the question."
"Now then, you improper lecherous classmate—are your books ready? If not, please stop disturbing my reading."
Being labeled "an improper lecherous classmate," Hayashi Maki didn't get mad. He simply reached out and took off her glasses.
In an instant, a face of stunned surprise—delicate, adorable, ridiculously pretty—came into view.
Her big blue eyes shimmered, bright and expressive enough to speak; one look and you couldn't forget them.
"Whoa—who are you? Where'd the dowdy bookworm go?"
~~~
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