After walking for a bit, Hayashi Maki naturally struck up conversation with Mafuyu Kirisu.
"By the way, Kirisu-sensei, your little sister's in college now, right?"
"Mm…" She nodded on reflex, then eyed him warily.
"What are you asking for? Don't tell me you're planning to make a move on my sister—enough already!"
Hayashi Maki rolled his eyes. "What kind of person do you take me for?"
"Hmph, you tell me. A pervert. A two-timing scumbag. A lecher."
She rattled off three labels in one breath—then her cheeks flushed, because that "pervert, two-timer, lecher" was still holding her hand.
Smiling, Hayashi Maki accepted the titles and squeezed her fingers, explaining casually:
"I was just curious. If your sister's already in college, don't your parents help out? Why do you, as the older sister, still have to send living expenses? Lots of high-schoolers do part-time jobs nowadays."
Mafuyu's gaze dimmed.
"Our parents are gone. I'm the older sister, and an adult—of course I'm responsible for my sister's living expenses. And Miharu's a rising star in figure skating. She's in training all the time; there's no time to work."
Thankfully, her sister is talented—on the school team as a seed candidate with tuition waived—so Mafuyu's burden wasn't crushing.
Hearing that, Hayashi Maki's eyes softened further.
"My parents are gone too. I've always been on my own. Kirisu-sensei, from now on I'll be there as family."
"Pfft. Who needs you? You two-timing lecher—who would believe that?"
She shot him a look, but her heart felt warm. Maybe because he's also orphaned, he craved the comfort of a woman older than him? So he didn't like her—he just saw her as a parental stand-in, "clinging to Mom"?
The thought stabbed unexpectedly.
"—Ow!"
Hayashi Maki flicked her forehead.
"Quit overthinking. I don't have any mommy fixation with older women. I just plain like you, Kirisu-sensei—want to hold you, kiss you, and have you be mine."
"Uu… that hurts. W-what are you even saying? I do not belong to you!"
She blurted, flustered. "Can you read minds? How did you know what I was thinking?"
Hayashi Maki pouted. "Do I have to? That pitying look—one glance and I knew."
Mafuyu's face reddened.
"Y-you… ugh, forget it."
Every time she talked to him she ended up on the back foot, rattled. Better to stop. Once they reached home, she'd tell him to beat it.
Before long, they were at her door. Mafuyu pulled her hand back, about to shoo him away—when Hayashi Maki slammed an arm to the wall and kissed her without a word.
"You—mmph… what are you… mmm—"
She panicked, thumping his chest with small fists, eyes brimming. This rogue! Did he really like her that much? Kissing her without asking again. Her heart spiked.
Her resistance slowly faded. When she came back to herself, her pale arms had already slipped around his neck.
He had looked handsome today. She'd only seen a few afterimages flicker and those greasy robbers were down. The crisis ended under the weight of his strength—so fast she hadn't even reacted at first.
After a long while, they parted, breathing hard.
"Where's your key?" Hayashi Maki asked, eyes still burning.
Mafuyu's body jolted. Did he want to go inside? She turned her face away, panic rising, not knowing how to answer. She fell silent on reflex.
Hayashi Maki kissed her again, voice husky. "The key, Kirisu-sensei?"
"Uu… in my bag."
She squeezed her eyes shut and clung to his neck, like resigning herself to fate—tacit permission for him to enter. Hayashi Maki swiftly found the key, opened the door, and carried her in.
…
On the bed, Mafuyu kept her eyes squeezed shut, not daring to look at the "villain" looming over her. Hayashi Maki's palm gently stroked her delicate cheek; a fingertip tapped her rosy lips.
"Kirisu-sensei, you're so pretty. So cute…"
"Shut up—don't say that! Pervert… what are you even planning?"
She pushed him, mortified; reason was trickling back in, but her heart was hammering. Hayashi Maki sat her on his lap and hugged her tight.
"I'm just afraid of losing you. Good thing I ran into you today—otherwise those bastards would have hurt you. I don't want that to happen, so I want you by my side."
Thinking of the day—of the bank manager bleeding on the floor—made her tremble. How could there be such people? Needing money and robbing a bank was one thing, but why kill? And why target her and Mai? Scum of society.
And Hayashi Maki was bad too—an awful student. She didn't want him becoming that sort of scum… but how was she supposed to steer him onto the right path?
Her thoughts scattered; emotions tangled. As she wavered, the confessor edged closer again. Their lips met once more—
Suddenly her phone rang in her bag. Mafuyu shoved him away. "My phone… I have a call!"
With a put-upon look at her purse, Hayashi Maki still fished it out and handed it over. Seeing the caller, Mafuyu hurried to answer.
"Hello, Miharu? What's wrong?"
It was her sister, Miharu Kirisu.
"Hee-hee, Sis—school let out early. Coach wants me to prep for a meet and rest up, so I'm coming to stay with you. I'm already at your door. Where are you?"
"Eh? You're at the door? I… I'm at home—wait a sec! I—mmph—" Somebody refused to quit and stole another kiss.
"Sis? What's going on?"
"N-nothing… hold on a moment, I'll be right there."
Batting away his handsy paws, Mafuyu hung up and glared, mortified.
"Do you want to die? Again? My sister's here—hide! Don't come out! If she sees you, you're dead!"
Barking orders, she slipped free, smoothed her skirt, and tried to look composed as she headed for the door.
Hayashi Maki touched his lips.
"Maybe I am a jinx…?"
He'd just brought up Miharu—and here she was.