"Haha, that's hilarious, Sana-chan—tell me more… kya!"
Chatting with her best friend, Airi Akizuki suddenly let out a cute yelp.
"Airi, what happened?"
"Uuu… n-nothing, really. A bird flew past the window and startled me."
"Seriously? A bird scares you? Airi, honestly."
"Sorry, Sana-chan—something came up. Let's talk next time."
"Ehh, come on, I'm bored over here."
"Sorryyy, Sana-chan."
"Fine, fine—go do your thing."
Hanging up, Airi—cheeks pink but not the least bit shy—pounced onto Hayashi Maki and settled on his lap.
"Naughty onii-san, you finally remembered Airi?"
Hayashi Maki, seated on the sofa, slipped an arm around her slim waist and patted her twin-tails.
"What do you mean 'finally'? I've been messaging you all along, haven't I?"
"Hmph, but you never come to see me. Are you sneaking off to do bad things with Onee-chan?"
She gave him a plaintive look, though her eyes were full of anticipation.
Hayashi Maki didn't waste words—he held her gently.
"How could I? You and Marina are so close—if I came for her, how could I possibly miss you?"
"Mm, awful—Maki-nii shows up and immediately bullies Airi."
She shot him a mock glare, then nuzzled his chest, breathing in his scent. The thick sense of safety relaxed her completely. Compared to Marina, she let herself go the most—and Hayashi Maki loved it.
What followed didn't need to be said. Hayashi Maki "taught" Airi a few things. It was like she opened a door to a new world; she was overjoyed. And she gave Hayashi Maki joy in return. Sometimes, pleasure is mutual—just like love: put something in, and you get something back.
After a long while, the shapely Airi Akizuki lay softly in his arms, her little hands looped around his neck.
"Airi, who were you chatting with just now?" Hayashi Maki asked suddenly.
"Heehee, what, jealous? It was a girl—Kuranaka Sana. We've been friends since elementary school."
Giggling, she traced circles on his chest with a playful finger. Hayashi Maki caught her mischievous hand—planning to give this teasing imp a proper lesson—then stayed until Airi drifted off.
Of course, he only left Airi's room.
In the kitchen, a beautiful figure in an apron was humming as she cooked—flaxen hair, an angelic face, a graceful figure just a touch taller than Airi's and dangerously perfect—hard for any man to resist.
Hayashi Maki stepped in, slipped his arms around her waist.
"Marina, did you miss me?"
"Eek!"
Startled by the sudden ambush, she turned and rolled her eyes when she saw it was him.
"Hayashi Maki, why are you popping up out of nowhere? You scared me."
He leaned to her ear and breathed softly.
"What, didn't you sense me? That won't do—the mana seed needs lots of watering to bloom and bear fruit. That's how you and Airi will get the power to protect yourselves."
And, very importantly, how he would get stronger.
"Mm… I only felt a little. I was focused on cooking…"
Held in his arms, Marina's body softened.
"So, did you miss me?"
His lips brushed her cheek; shy, she still didn't push him away. Hearing his question, she flushed and glanced up, nodding bashfully.
"I… I did."
"Really? Then prove it." He stroked her head, savoring the silk of her smooth hair.
Marina shot him a mortified look, bit her lip, then chose to be bold and show it. Airi always told her to take initiative—or other women would snatch Hayashi Maki away. Even a gentle girl like Marina could feel the urgency.
A little later—
He had her finish the food first, then swept her up and carried her to the bedroom. He'd just "taught" Airi something new—he couldn't neglect Marina, could he? Otherwise the sisters might squabble.
After reaffirming his contract with his familiar, Hayashi Maki left feeling refreshed—while Airi Akizuki's older sister lay under the covers with a blissful smile, drifting into sleep.
Feelings require maintenance. Hayashi Maki wasn't someone who tired of the new and forgot the old—he cherished each of his familiars.
Marina, like Mahiru, was incredibly gentle; he had to be gentle in return. Of course, a little declaration of ownership was needed—to let her know how much she mattered. That's key to deepening a bond.
He slipped into mana-form and vanished from the Akizuki home.
Back in his room, he found a blonde girl—Mashiro Shiina—sitting at his desk drawing. He didn't mind her using his room to work; it meant she felt close to him and trusted him. After all, to draw manga you need quiet, safety, and peace of mind—restlessness isn't compatible with the job.
He stepped forward and watched as a gorgeous panel took shape on the page. Mashiro turned, eyes lighting up.
"Hayashi Maki, you're back!"
"Yeah, just got in. How's the manga going?"
He naturally picked her up and sat her on his lap, bending close to ask gently. Mashiro melted in his arms, looping her arms around his neck and nuzzling his chest before answering:
"The editor said to keep going—once I finish a volume, we can try publishing it."
"It's thanks to you I can be a mangaka. Thank you."
Looking at her earnest gratitude, he dipped and kissed her rosy lips.
"When you thank me, use this."
"Okay."
At his request, Mashiro leaned in again; her lips met his, and they quietly shared each other's breath. Everything that needed saying was understood without words.