"Hello, Kurosora Twilight-sensei, please sign this for me!"
Just after he'd finished seeing off an excited female fan, a petite girl in a baseball cap stepped up to Hayashi Maki's table, her golden twin-tails tucked away under the hat.
She was wearing a green tracksuit and glasses—the full shut-in otaku getup.
Hayashi Maki almost laughed. "Eriri, what do you want me to write?"
Eriri's shoulders trembled. She snuck a glance over at Kasumigaoka Utaha's table, then whispered, "Just write 'Kashiwagi Eri is the best.'"
"No problem."
Hayashi Maki quickly signed his name and added the exact line she requested—"Kashiwagi Eri is the best"—on the page.
"Thanks!"
Eriri smiled, hugged the book, and hurried off… straight to the very end of Utaha's line, queuing up properly like everyone else.
Hayashi Maki and Utaha had originally planned to let her slip in at the end and sign her copies privately afterward.
But Eriri insisted that a signing event only feels real if you line up like everyone else—that little bubble of anticipation when your turn finally comes is half the fun.
When Utaha spotted her, she couldn't help but smile.
This tsundere girl had probably been "secretly snacking" with Maki-kun behind the scenes a lot already.
Then again, it wasn't like Utaha herself was any better.
Utaha signed for her with a grin and even suggested they take a photo together.
As the signing went on, Utaha and Hayashi Maki ran into quite a lot of familiar faces.
Shiina Mahiru, Miura Yumiko, and the others all showed up.
Even Asada Shino and Katsura Kotonoha came.
Once the girls found out he was holding a signing, they all applied for leave to come support him in person.
It was their way of cheering him on.
Their boyfriend, already a well-known author at such a young age—of course they were proud.
Who doesn't want a man who's both talented and outstanding?
As the event continued, even Sanzenin Nagi came over in disguise. Naturally, Hayashi Maki wrote exactly what she wanted in her copy and sent the young lady off with a gentle smile.
Something ugly did happen during the signing, though.
A guy who just screamed "gross otaku" walked up to Utaha's table with a creepy, excited grin and requested a handshake.
The problem was his hand—sticky, stained, and reeking of some foul liquid.
If Utaha actually shook his hand, it would traumatize her.
So Hayashi Maki immediately signaled security, and they escorted the guy out.
Once he'd stumbled away in disgrace, Hayashi Maki snapped his fingers.
In a shadowy corner of the venue, a human-shaped flame burst into existence.
Hayashi Maki quietly passed judgment with Hellfire.
Still, overall the signing went smoothly.
When the allotted time was up, he and Utaha wrapped up and left.
Those who hadn't made it in time could only buy the pre-signed stock.
From here on out, logistics weren't their problem.
In a quiet side alley, Hayashi Maki laced his fingers with Utaha's and teleported them straight back to her apartment.
Looking around her familiar room, Utaha immediately stretched luxuriously and flopped face-down onto the bed.
"Ugh, I'm beat… Maki-kun, my hands are dead. I can't even move."
Hayashi Maki took her hand and gently kneaded her fingers.
"Here, let me massage them. You'll feel better soon."
Of course, he didn't stop at her hands for long.
Before long, his hands slid down to her black-tights-clad calves, kneading upward along the muscle.
"Mmm…"
Utaha's cheeks flushed and she let out a soft sound, shooting him a sultry glance over her shoulder before settling back down.
She really was exhausted today and didn't feel like moving at all.
Her figure was incredible.
Lying on her stomach, her curves were flawlessly highlighted—every line elegant and dangerous.
At first, Hayashi Maki actually massaged properly, focusing on easing her fatigue.
But gradually…
Surrounded by her fragrance, his palms resting on her warm, supple body, his thoughts started to drift.
He swallowed and bent down, blowing a soft breath by her ear.
"How does that feel, Senpai?"
"Mmm… not bad. Keep going."
Well, that was permission.
With Utaha-senpai's personality, he had a feeling she'd pay him back generously later anyway.
No need to rush.
After a while, feeling refreshed, Utaha brushed his hands away and sat up with a fox-like smile.
She patted her black-tights-covered thighs.
"Come on then. Since you worked so hard, I'll let you use my lap as a pillow for a bit."
Hayashi Maki did not need to be told twice.
He lay down at once, resting the back of his head on her soft, springy lap.
Her gentle fragrance and warmth washed over him, and his mood soared.
After a moment…
Utaha slowly lowered her head.
Her long black hair fell like a curtain around his face, and then her soft lips found his.
She clearly enjoyed this kind of romantic atmosphere.
A handsome guy using her lap as a pillow, and a beautiful girl leaning down to gently kiss him—it was just like a scene from one of her novels.
Soon after, Hayashi Maki sat up, wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her down onto the bed with him.
He pressed a deep kiss to her reddened lips, his actions gentle yet undeniably possessive.
Utaha's breathing quickened, but she didn't resist.
Her slender arms looped around his neck, returning his affection.
What followed needed no narration.
…
When Kasumigaoka Utaha finally fell sound asleep, her lovely face was flushed, with a faint smile still lingering on her lips.
Hayashi Maki stroked her long hair and placed a soft kiss on her forehead before quietly slipping out.
There was still plenty of time.
He and his senpai still had many romantic chapters left to write.
…
Back home, Hayashi Maki showered first, washing away any lingering scent, then slipped into Shiina Mahiru's room.
He didn't waste words.
He slid into the covers, wrapped an arm around her slim waist, and luxuriated in her softness.
The golden-haired angel turned toward him, looping her arms around his waist in return.
"Welcome back, Maki-kun. You worked hard today."
Looking at Mahiru nuzzling his chest, Hayashi Maki smiled gently and kissed her lips.
"I'm not the one working hard. You're the one cooking every day. I'm the lucky one—having you is what's really amazing."
Hearing his earnest words, Mahiru smiled sweetly.
She shared this warmth just as deeply.
This home felt complete because he was in it.
So no matter what, she would keep working to maintain this peaceful, loving atmosphere.
While the two whispered to each other under the covers…
Mashiro slipped in as well, as quietly as a cat, and without a word crawled into bed behind Hayashi Maki.
The petite girl pressed herself tightly against his back, clinging to his warmth.
It seemed she could only truly relax when she could feel his presence.
In true Mashiro fashion, she did it all as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
To her, Hayashi Maki was already her fiancé—of course they should sleep together as often as possible.
~~~
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