After a bit of banter with Yukinoshita Second Heiress, Hayashi Maki was in an excellent mood.
As for her calling him a pervert—he didn't deny it. Just thinking about her nestled in his arms, cheeks flushed, voice sweet as she pouted "pervert~" made him absurdly happy.
Honestly, what's wrong with a man being a little pervy? And he liked the cozy "boudoir bliss" he shared with Yukino-chan. If his "wife" scolded him a bit—so what? Joy was the point.
The bell rang.
Reluctantly, Yukinoshita Yukino put away her phone. In the past, she never would've chatted during breaks—she'd had no friends, after all.
But since Hayashi Maki entered her world and stayed by her side, life had grown lively. She had his shameless doting—and gentle friends like Mahiru.
Thinking of that, Yukino pulled her phone back out and fired off a quick message:
"Bad man, remember to make time to visit my sister. She misses you too."
Seeing it, Hayashi Maki felt a warm rush of relief and texted back, "Got it—don't worry, I won't neglect Haruno-nee." Of course he hadn't forgotten Haruno Yukinoshita—and whenever he had time he went to hold her and keep her company. She'd been his second contracted partner—he liked her a lot.
With his reply, Yukino nodded, satisfied, and put her phone away. Her life had been bought with her sister's freedom and innocence.
Even if she now understood Hayashi Maki was kind to Haruno, Yukino would never forget that debt. Nor would she forget that Hayashi Maki had "taken advantage" back then—she held grudges.
Still, credit where it's due; since he doted on her so much, she could be a little well-behaved in front of him. A girl who talks tough is best at finding excuses for softening up.
…
After class, Tamaki Ako clung to Hayashi Maki's arm, pitiful face on full display.
"Hubby, save me! I'm gonna fail!"
Feeling the soft press of her chest, he patted her head. "It's not that bad. Mahiru's been tutoring you—passing shouldn't be a problem."
Ako nuzzled his arm and wheedled, "I don't have confidence. How about… during the test you beam the answers straight into my head?"
Hayashi Maki rolled his eyes. Yukino had just told him not to hold back so she could beat him fair and square, and this little gremlin wanted him to cheat for her?
"Pleaseee, hubby! Dear hubby! Maki-kun~ pretty pleeease! I don't want a retake!"
Dizzied by her perfume, he sighed and nodded. "Just this once. Afterward you're going to study properly, or no games."
"Hehe, I'll do whatever you say!" She beamed, sweet as sugar.
He didn't mind girls who liked to act cute—she did it to please him. "I'll help, but only after you've done everything you can do on your own. Work through what you know first, got it?"
"Mhm!"
The next day came fast.
Mahiru was up early. Slipping out of his warm embrace, she washed up, tied on an apron, and started breakfast. Hayashi Maki dozed.
The moment Mahiru left, Shiina Mashiro slid in to "cuckoo the nest," curling into his arms, white arms loosely around his neck, dopey face tucked to his chest.
A minute later, Rita padded in, crawled under the covers, and hugged him from behind, smiling in relief at his scent. For all her caretaking of Mashiro, Rita was still a girl who liked to cuddle.
Soft warmth front and back—he couldn't sleep. He opened his eyes and opted for "morning exercise."
…
When he finally got dressed and led Mashiro and Rita out to eat, he blinked at the glowing girl across the table. The one sparkling—gold hair sleek and straight, gentle and luminous—was Gabriel. Even the freeloading Sakurajima Mai stared.
"…You're Gabriel-chan? Woah—why are you glowing?"
Rita clapped a hand over her mouth, stunned. Counting herself, this made four blondes in the house. And Gabriel—what was going on? Gone was the slovenly aura, the messy hair; she shone bright, almost like another Shiina Mahiru.
"She's an angel!" Mashiro declared, saying what Rita was thinking.
Hayashi Maki stroked Gabriel's smooth, shimmering hair. "Gab, you're dazzling today. What's going on?"
He'd guessed it: bracing for inspection by the Archangel Zelel. And he was right.
Gabriel just smiled sweetly under his hand. "Nothing—this is how I always am. Okay, time's short—let's eat and get to school."
Everyone exchanged looks and kept sneaking glances, but Gabriel stayed serene and sunny. After breakfast, she and Mahiru walked out hand-in-hand.
Two shining blond angels side by side turned so many heads a car actually rear-ended someone. People who didn't know better might have thought they were sisters. One was a real angel; the other, an angelic devil's consort.
~~~
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