After saying goodbye to Kirisu Mafuyu and greeting Miharu on the sofa, Hayashi Maki headed out.
Miharu's nose twitched. She watched his retreating back with a strange look.
Her sharp sense of smell was telling her she'd just caught a whiff of something… odd. Something very particular.
…
Leaving Mafuyu's place, Hayashi Maki didn't forget his promise to the Yukinoshita Second Heiress.
He teleported straight to her apartment.
As soon as he arrived, he saw Yukinoshita Yukino in an apron, cooking in the kitchen.
With a mischievous smile, he slipped up behind her and gently wrapped his arms around her waist.
Yukino really lived up to her reputation as a top-tier beauty.
From any angle she was gorgeous—her back view was just as lethal as the front.
And thanks to his "efforts," she no longer had to worry about "future milk supply" either. Still not quite on Mahiru's level, but compared to before, she was slowly catching up to Haruno.
Being suddenly hugged from behind, Yukino's body flinched, but she didn't turn around.
She'd gotten somewhat used to his sneak attacks. She just muttered a soft "Don't mess around," and continued dealing with the ingredients.
Breathing in her faint, elegant scent, Hayashi Maki couldn't resist brushing his lips against the white curve of her neck.
"Mm… stop that. Don't distract me while I'm cooking," Yukino said, cheeks flushed, bumping the back of her head lightly against his chest.
This guy was as enthusiastic—and as bad—as always.
He always picked the exact moment she was cooking to misbehave.
"Hehe, how could games or TV be more important than you? Just watching you cook is a kind of luxury, you know."
"No matter how I look at you, you're always adorable, Yukino."
"Thanks for the compliment, but you're in the way. You don't want your dinner burnt, do you?"
Hayashi Maki almost replied that he'd already "eaten" something else, but that was absolutely not something he could say out loud. Otherwise the vinegar jar would explode and she'd ban him from touching her.
Reluctantly squeezing her once, he left the kitchen and flopped onto the sofa to play games.
Before long, the smell of food drifted out, making his mouth water.
It still wasn't quite at Mahiru's "shining plate" level, but Yukino's cooking looked genuinely good.
Color, aroma, flavor—all there.
Yukino looked at the three dishes and one soup she'd laid out on the table and felt a little wave of pride.
Her gaze towards Hayashi Maki softened.
Cooking for yourself and cooking for someone to eat with you were two very different feelings.
The latter came with a pleasant sense of anticipation.
"All right, don't just sit there spacing out. Wash your hands and come eat."
"Got it, I'm coming."
Hayashi Maki washed his hands and took his seat.
He glanced at the gentle girl across from him, and felt a warm stir in his chest.
"Thanks for the food!"
A storm later, most of the food had ended up in his stomach.
Seeing how happily he ate, Yukino's heart was full of quiet happiness.
That homely warmth washed over her, and she unconsciously relaxed.
Back when she'd been lying in the hospital after the car accident, unable to move, she'd sworn that if she recovered, she would cherish her healthy days.
Now that wish had come true—and she'd gained something she'd never had before: real, tangible anticipation for the future.
She couldn't be more content.
And as they say: once you're full, other desires surface.
Having eaten and drunk his fill, Hayashi Maki now stared at Yukino with a burning gaze.
She immediately noticed and her cheeks grew pink.
Pretending not to see, she calmly began clearing the dishes.
After stacking everything neatly, she wiped her dainty hands dry and walked out of the kitchen.
She saw him sitting on the sofa watching TV, and quietly sat down beside him.
He frowned at the thirty centimeters between them.
"Yukino, come closer."
She rolled her eyes at him, but her body was honest; she scooted over.
Then she felt warmth at her waist.
A strong arm wrapped around her, and in the next moment, he'd pulled her into his lap.
"Yukino, it's just us here. Don't sit so far away from me in the future. You have to stay like this—in my arms."
"I love holding you like this."
Hearing him state his feelings so bluntly, Yukino's face went scarlet.
"Hmph, I don't have to listen to you. You're awful—you'll just use it as an excuse to bully me."
"Ahem, how could I? I'd never bully you. I'm the one who spoils you most—Haruno's jealous of you, you know."
He teased her while brushing his lips along her swan-like neck.
Yukino instinctively tipped her delicate chin up.
Which just made it easier for him.
"Ugh… horrible. See? You're already bullying me."
Her slender fingers pressed over his hand as it wandered onto her thigh. She took a quick breath. "Quit it. Can't you just hold me quietly for once?"
"Sorry. It's just… you're too cute."
"Your cuteness practically drives me insane. I'm losing my mind here."
"Then control yourself. Otherwise I'm calling you a beast."
That made Hayashi Maki want to laugh; he forced himself to tamp down the heat.
He simply held her.
Seeing him actually listen, Yukino felt a little triumphant.
She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "That's better. Be good, and I'll reward you later."
He swallowed on reflex.
She was treating him like a kid, which was… something, but he was even more interested in that "reward."
Yukino rarely took the initiative.
But when she did, the gap between her usual coolness and her shy boldness was lethal.
After a while, Hayashi Maki brushed his lips against her cheek.
"So… about that reward?"
She shot him a sidelong glare and slid off his lap. "Go wait in the bedroom. I'm taking a shower."
Cooking had made her work up a sweat, and then he had insisted on hugging her. She felt a little self-conscious—what if she smelled weird?
Of course, she was overthinking it.
She smelled great. Even with a light sheen of sweat, there was nothing but a fresh, sweet scent—if anything, even more tempting.
Hayashi Maki obediently went to wait in the bedroom.
After all, she'd told him to—and it wasn't like she was going to run away.
All that was left now was to look forward to his "reward."
~~~
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