The next day.
Shiina Mashiro slipped out of Hayashi Maki's bed.
Her steps were light, catlike, her cheeks still faintly flushed.
When Shiina Mahiru passed by and saw her obediently washing her face, she couldn't help feeling pleased.
From knowing nothing and needing help with everything at the start, to now being able to wash her face, brush her teeth, and even bathe by herself—Mashiro had made great progress.
Of course, when Mashiro felt like being lazy, she still lazed about; if something could be handed off to Hayashi Maki or Mahiru, she absolutely wouldn't do it herself. She would just stare blankly at her "owner" with big, doe eyes, looking like she was waiting to be fed and doted on.
If she weren't so cute—and didn't smell so nice—
a "useless" girl like that would definitely be disliked.
People are visual creatures, after all. Beauty, seen subjectively, naturally leaves a deep impression and increases goodwill.
After breakfast,
Hayashi Maki and Mahiru took the train to Hakuo Academy.
Mai Sakurajima still didn't plan to go out.
She had gone out for a stroll the day before, but as soon as she left home, other people couldn't see her. That strange phenomenon of vanishing presence was still rooted in her. Yet as soon as she returned home, everything went back to normal. Her mother—who hadn't called in ages—would even phone to scold her, urging her to come appear on variety shows.
Variety shows?
Probably prank shows.
For a young actress who'd announced a hiatus and wanted a quick comeback, variety programs were the best way to rebuild popularity. And in Japan's variety scene, pranking celebrities was the trend. Making a performer look silly to trigger audience laughs, thereby leaving an impression and building popularity, worked very well.
The problem was…
Mai didn't dare go at all.
Once she stepped outside, her mother would likely forget her existence. Even if she went on a variety program, she'd be ignored.
So Mai brushed her mother off with a vague excuse.
With nothing else to do, she read light novels.
She remembered someone was an otaku—and a light-novel author to boot. Maybe if she read more, she'd find common interests?
In Mai's eyes, Hayashi Maki wasn't just a lecher—he was a mysterious man. What was happening to her was already supernatural. But his secrets stirred a natural curiosity in her. Perhaps, after some investigation, she might even lift the strange curse on herself.
…
Switch to Hayashi Maki.
Entering the school gate, Hayashi Maki immediately spotted Shiina Minatsu—wearing a red disciplinary committee armband—on duty with two student council girls.
The one she'd stopped was a tiny blonde with twin-tails.
"Kouhai, what class are you in? Coming to school dressed like that?" Minatsu stared sternly at the little blonde whose twin-tail ends were tied with cloth pouches, eyes full of curiosity.
"Hmph hmph hmph, I am the Mighty Mjolnir Maul—this is essential gear for battling the Temporal Administration Bureau, death!"
Striking what she thought was a cool pose, the girl eyed Minatsu warily, fists clenched, ready to fight.
A vein popped on Minatsu's forehead.
"Shut it and behave. What class? Name? If you won't cooperate, I'll make you today's textbook example of violating dress code and have you stand here!"
The small twin-tailed blonde's shoulders slumped. She bit her lip in frustration.
"The Mighty Mjolnir Maul can bend or stand tall, death~!"
"Speak human!"
Minatsu clenched a fist, looking one second away from swinging.
"Dekomori Sanae, junior high, Year 3, Class A, death~!"
The petite girl—Dekomori Sanae—weakly gave up her real-world details, secretly depressed. Dekomori's campus raid: total failure! She'd run smack into the Temporal Anomaly Management Bureau's elite boss!
Seeing the girl behave, Minatsu finally nodded in satisfaction.
"Take those things out of your hair. They'll affect campus atmosphere."
"Y-yes…"
Dekomori glumly untied the cloth pouches at her twin-tail tips and carefully put them in her bag.
"Much better. Alright, go on in, Kouhai—study hard."
"Yes…"
Shoulders drooping, Dekomori trudged onto campus. She'd probably perk up soon—
hehe, as long as she transformed back into the Mighty Mjolnir Maul somewhere the disciplinary committee couldn't see!
After schooling the oddly dressed Kouhai, Minatsu instinctively met Hayashi Maki's eyes. Her face flushed red at once; she hurriedly pretended she hadn't seen him and continued her serious patrol.
Hayashi Maki just smiled and didn't speak.
Mahiru, on the other hand, greeted her with a smile.
"Morning, Minatsu-nee."
In this crossover world, Shiina Mahiru, Shiina Minatsu, and Shiina Mafuyu are half-sisters by the same father. The three girls keep in touch privately.
Mahiru could only feel helpless. Her man had "captured" both sisters… If their so-called father found out all three of his daughters had been swept up by the same man, would he cry?
"Morning, Mahiru," Minatsu replied warmly to Mahiru—while pointedly ignoring Hayashi Maki.
The double standard didn't bother Hayashi Maki. He had teased Minatsu, after all. Not a big deal—he'd just find an opportunity to have a good "talk" with her. Being ignored irked him a bit.
As soon as he entered the classroom,
a sweet-voiced beauty calling "Hubby!" rushed over, flung herself into his arms, and nuzzled his chest.
Hayashi Maki could feel the heat of the boys' stares around him—pure envy, jealousy, resentment.
What could they do? They were all high-schoolers.
How could he be this special? Dating the "angel" Shiina Mahiru was one thing; being on good terms with several other beauties besides—fine. But now there was even a girl openly calling him "husband"? Too enviable!
Why couldn't that be me?
Ignoring the boys' resentment, Hayashi Maki chuckled and patted Ako Tamaki's head to soothe her.
This was life. He liked cheerful, easy days—snuggling up with pretty girls.
After settling Ako and sending her back to her seat, he smiled and greeted the girls he knew. Of course, he maintained surface-level friendships with the boys too; returning Hayato Hayama's friendly greeting with equal warmth.
Still, no matter how he looked at him, Hayama's smile wasn't as dazzling as before. It looked a bit forced, a bit bitter.