Mafuyu Kirisu, in no mood to prep lessons, could only go to bed.
Her sister Miharu Kirisu looked at her with happy, sparkling eyes and a sweet smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
Seeing that clear gaze, Mafuyu couldn't help reaching out to stroke her sister's hair.
"Alright—turn in early."
This silly little sister was so easy to fool; she basically believed anything Mafuyu said.
Precisely because of that, Mafuyu couldn't allow that little punk Hayashi Maki any opportunity to get close. Otherwise, Miharu would absolutely get eaten alive.
You had to admit—Mafuyu knew Hayashi Maki very well by now. And wasn't that, in its own way, a sign their feelings had moved a step forward?
—Switch to Hayashi Maki—
He had just taken off the delivery outfit and gotten home when his phone rang. It was Daisuke Kōsaka.
"Hayashi Shonen, you alright?"
His tone was full of concern.
"I'm fine. What's up?"
"Whew… good. We just finished interrogations and were about to close the case when the suspects were suddenly struck down by 'heaven's fire.' I was worried you might be in danger since you had contact with them."
Warmth flickered in Hayashi Maki's chest—an honest-to-goodness detective with a sense of justice. In that case, he'd have to find an opportunity to meet Daisuke's daughter, Kirino Kōsaka, too. Funny—so many girls around him had "-no" in their names.
Daisuke, unaware the kid he worried about was already eyeing his precious daughter, explained what had happened and told him to be careful, adding that the manager who hit the alarm—the one named Tsurumi—had miraculously survived and was in the hospital.
Hayashi Maki didn't much care about the bank manager, but the surname Tsurumi gave him a strange feeling. In his mind's eye surfaced a little loli who somewhat resembled Yukino.
Tsurumi Rumi? Was it what he thought?
The corners of his mouth lifted; his mood brightened. Things were getting interesting.
Those robbers "struck by heaven's fire" were, of course, his handiwork. Japan had no death penalty; lock them up and it wouldn't change their wicked souls. Red named scum—he wasn't going to let them go. Erasing a few evil souls nudged his magic up a touch, but negligible—his reservoir was already deep enough that a few stolen scraps were trivial.
After a short chat, Hayashi Maki hung up. Uncle Daisuke was surprisingly hospitable—he even invited Hayashi Maki over sometime. Hayashi Maki wasn't about to refuse. He'd drop by when he had time… to see Kirino-chan.
Daisuke apparently hoped to use Hayashi Maki to motivate his own wayward son. Hayashi Maki was, unmistakably, "that other family's perfect child."
Just then, Mashiro Shiina wandered over in a white one-piece. Without a word, she perched in his lap and looped her slim white arms around his neck.
Hayashi Maki patted her head. "What is it, Mashiro?"
The girl's teal eyes stared up at him, vacant and cute, then she leaned in and kissed his chin.
"Hayashi Maki, teach me about love."
"Uh… now? It's almost dinner. Maybe not the best time."
He swallowed. A soft, slender beauty sitting in his lap, saying something so intimate—hard to resist.
Mashiro didn't care about timing. She pressed her lips closer, resolute. "You promised. Don't go back on your word."
He had promised to teach her about romance so she could draw better manga; she hadn't forgotten.
Looking at Mashiro's blankly adorable face, Hayashi Maki dropped the act and quickly kissed her soft lips. Of course, with dinner looming, he didn't go overboard. People say women are made of water—Hayashi Maki agreed wholeheartedly.
After comforting Mashiro for a short while, he took her to wash up and they started dinner.
Mai Sakurajima naturally joined. So did a freeloader: Gabriel.
Knowing Gabriel's identity as an angel, Mahiru took care to build a good rapport—after all, her man was a demon; winning an angel's favor would be ideal.
After dinner, Gabriel thanked them and retreated to her room to game.
In recent days she'd learned that Ako Tamaki, Kyoh Goshoin, and Akane Segawa were her guildmates in-game—now acquaintances in real life. But for a lazy angel, very few people stuck in memory.
Beyond Hayashi Maki, only Mahiru Shiina seemed worth noting—another bearer of the "angel" title and the most suitable human to convert.
After dinner and a short rest, Hayashi Maki scooped up freshly bathed Mahiru and, smiling, carried her into his room. What happened next needed no explanation.
He adored the homey little angel; there was no getting tired of her. With time, he had to keep strengthening their bond—besides, it boosted Mahiru's magic and made her stronger. Why not?
—The night passed quietly—
The next day, Hayashi Maki arrived at school feeling fresh. Under envious stares, Ako clung to his arm. After soothing his clingy "wife" and sending her back to her seat, he poked the shoulder of the girl in front—Megumi Kato.
"Megumi, remember to come over tonight. I've got something tasty to share."
Kato looked at him calmly and blinked. "What tasty thing?"
"You'll know when you come," he said with a mysterious smile.
"Okay." Megumi nodded placidly—no hint of refusal. The nonchalance warmed Hayashi Maki's heart—and stoked his fire. He wasn't the type to "start chaos then abandon ship." Since he'd teased Saint Megumi, he had to set a time to formalize their contract. And then there was Shinka Nibutani—she was probably itching to become a magical girl by now.
These last few days, Sanae Dekomori had been clinging to her—and occasionally dragging along her "master," the self-styled Dark Flame Mistress, Rikka Takanashi, to put their chūnibyō on display. Rikka was petite and cute, but Hayashi Maki was most interested in her older sister, Tōka.
By noon, Hayashi Maki headed to the rooftop. A silver-haired ponytailed girl held out a bento.
"Here, Maki-kun. I made lunch—if you don't mind, will you have some?"
It was Saki Kawasaki.
Since Hayashi Maki had told her to treat him as her boyfriend, she was trying. She'd never dated, so she didn't quite know what a girlfriend should do—but she wasn't dumb.
The best way to show "girlfriend power" was probably to make lunch for her boyfriend. So she'd made an extra bento just for today.
Smiling, Hayashi Maki took the box, ate, and gave her a thumbs-up.
"Tastes great. I'm spoiled today."
Relieved by his praise, Saki allowed herself a tiny smile.
And once Hayashi Maki finished the bento… it was time to tease her.