Hanging up, Saki Kawasaki instinctively pressed a hand to her chest.
Her heart felt incredibly warm.
Maybe… being his girlfriend wouldn't be so bad.
With that thought, Saki's cheeks flushed and her heartbeat quickened. She remembered kissing Hayashi Maki on the rooftop—his practiced, burning-hot hands…
"Pah, pah—what are you thinking, Saki Kawasaki!"
She lightly scolded herself and shook her head, banishing the shameless images. Her high silver ponytail swished, adding a hint of shyness to her usually cool face.
She took a deep breath and exhaled, patted her chest to calm down, then called the doctor to come check on her parents' condition.
The doctor's eyes went wide—he called it a medical miracle. As he ran the instruments, disbelief was written all over his face. Miracles like this weren't a first for this hospital, apparently.
Saki knew it was Hayashi Maki's mysterious potion that brought her parents back so quickly, but she wasn't about to blurt that out.
Seeing that her parents truly were recovering and fully out of danger, she quietly let out a breath and went to prepare dinner.
At this point, Saki also realized Hayashi Maki clearly wasn't an ordinary person. After all, what normal person would have a potion like that? His brazen confidence—and his womanizing—suddenly made a different kind of sense.
…
To Hayashi Maki, Saki's matter was just a small interlude. He was already at Ako's front door.
Ako Tamaki hadn't come to school today, so he came in person to see what was going on. He rang the bell; the door opened from inside. A beautiful lady who looked exactly like Ako appeared.
Seeing Hayashi Maki, Mrs. Tamaki's eyes lit up. "Maki-kun, Ako's husband—you're here for her, right?"
"Yes, ma'am. Ako didn't come to school today and we were worried, so I came to check on her. I meant to come at noon, but I got tied up, so it's a bit late."
Mrs. Tamaki waved it off with a smile. "No problem—coming at all is best. I already gave you Ako's room key last time. Go up and find her yourself; I have to step out."
"Okay, I'll head up."
"Go on, go on!"
Watching her leave so at ease, Hayashi Maki was a little speechless. You're really just letting a grown man go up to your daughter's room alone? This mother was… remarkably laid-back.
He went up to the second floor and knocked on Ako's door. "Ako, it's Hayashi Maki. Are you in there?"
"Huh? Hubby Hayashi Maki? It's you? Why are you here?"
Her voice sounded flustered.
Hayashi Maki raised a brow and said dryly, "You've got some nerve asking that. You skipped school the whole day and didn't send a single message. Kyoh-senpai and Segawa are worried sick."
"Boohoo… I'm sorry, hubby…"
"So apologize to my face. I'm coming in now."
"Eh—wait! Don't come in yet!"
"Not waiting. Your mom gave me your key—I'm coming in."
"Eh? What's with Mom—she's such an idiot!" Ako babbled, panicking. "Just—just give me a second to get ready, then come in!"
"…Fine."
Since the girl asked, he couldn't exactly barge in. After a minute, Ako called out, "Okay, hubby—come in!"
Only then did he unlock the door.
What met his eyes was a girl kneeling naked on the floor.
Hayashi Maki's jaw dropped. "Ako, what are you doing? This is what you meant by getting ready?"
Blushing, eyes bright, Ako gazed up at him. "Yes. Please enjoy, dear husband!"
Hayashi Maki was exasperated. Ako being this forward made it less of a challenge. Still, with an invitation like that, he had no reason to refuse.
So the shameless Hayashi Maki scooped her up and headed for the bed.
…
After a long while, Ako lay nestled against his chest, rubbing her cheek against him, eyes dreamy. "Hee-hee, hubby, you're so good."
Hayashi Maki pinched her cheek and wiped the glossy pink of her lips. "So why didn't you go to school?"
Ako pouted, jealous. "Because you have too many girlfriends at school. It hurts, so I didn't want to go."
"Then how about we just live in this love nest forever? Hubby, Ako's fine with that! Ow!"
He lightly flicked her forehead. "Like hell you are."
He gave her a look. "Wouldn't you get bored holed up in this room all day?"
"Nope. As long as I have hubby, nothing else matters!"
She nuzzled his chest again. Hayashi Maki sighed and kissed her. "Tomorrow—no, from now on—you're going to school like a good girl. The president and Schwein-chan are waiting to play with you. Quit skipping and hiding at home."
"B-but… I get jealous…"
"Oh? Not listening to your husband?" His eyes went playfully dangerous. "If you don't behave, we're divorcing."
"Eek—don't, don't! I'll be good, I'll go tomorrow, okay? Meanie—threatening me with something so cruel, hubby, you're awful!"
She grumbled, but kept snuggling up to him. She had a great figure—soft, yielding, snow-white skin that fit perfectly in his arms. Hayashi Maki couldn't resist; patiently, he "taught" Ako some new "knowledge."
Once he'd settled the school issue and Mrs. Tamaki came home, he took his leave. It was about time to head back anyway.
…
"I'm home." Sliding open the door, he called out by habit.
What he saw was Sakurajima Mai in an apron. "Welcome back, scumbag kouhai."
"Uh… the 'scumbag' part is unnecessary."
He rolled his eyes at her and, as he passed, gave her cheek a playful pinch. Mai shot him a disdainful look but didn't resist, letting him pinch her before going back to mopping the floor.
She was freeloading right now; doing housework at least showed some value. (Girl, you do realize you're stealing Mahiru's job, right?)