While Gabriel was scrambling for a plan, Hayashi Maki headed back to Mafuyu Kirisu's place.
Seeing the "student" come for tutoring yet again, Miharu Kirisu felt conflicted. Hayashi Maki didn't seem dumb… so why did he keep coming for her sister's tutoring? And Mafuyu taught history—just rote memorization. What's the point of tutoring that?
Mafuyu wanted to call out how lousy that excuse was. But she couldn't tell Miharu the truth about their relationship. So she kept a straight face, said it was tutoring, and let him "take over" her bed… and then "take over" her entirely.
After a "serious study session," Mafuyu was exhausted—cheeks flushed, the pink-haired beauty nestled obediently in his arms, silent. Hayashi Maki stroked her hair and smiled, a bit smug.
"Mafuyu-sensei, I'm very satisfied with today's lesson. Let's do it again next time."
"Pah! You really are shameless!"
What else could she do with such a thick-skinned, impossible boyfriend? Only bury her face, mortified, in his chest and close her eyes.
Hayashi Maki tightened his hold and grinned. "When your lease is up at the end of the month, I'll come help you move."
He was dead set on spiriting her to the third floor of his building—close quarters, easy "midnight snacks."
Mafuyu pouted—there was no way she could refuse. And Mahiru Shiina had been so kind; what right did she have to object?
After resting awhile—and a few more rounds of "play"—Hayashi Maki finally left.
While Mafuyu was in the shower, Miharu quietly slipped into her sister's room. The moment she stepped in, she felt… something off.
Her little nose twitched; she wrinkled her brow.
"What a weird smell."
"And… what's this?" She stared at the crumpled cloth on the floor. "Stockings? Why are they like this?"
Were her sister and Hayashi Maki really studying?
Baffled, she flopped onto the bed and burrowed into the covers—the strange scent stronger there. When Mafuyu came in from her shower and saw the lump under her blanket, her face went scarlet.
"You little brat, you're back again? I said no, I have class tomorrow—!"
She thought Hayashi Maki had snuck back to tease her; she yanked back the covers—
—and found herself staring into her little sister's eyes.
"Miharu! W-what are you doing here?"
Mafuyu was stunned.
"Hehe, I wanted to sleep with you tonight. I'm leaving in a few days; I'll miss you."
Miharu clung to her, all sweetness. Mafuyu felt heat crawl up her neck, replaying what she'd just said. Please don't be suspicious, she prayed.
With a sigh, she crawled into bed and pulled up the covers.
"Alright—just for tonight."
"Yay, Onee-chan is the best!" Miharu latched on as always, gazing at her sister's face, starting and stopping as if there was something she wanted to say. Mafuyu's heart stuttered.
"Let's just get some sleep, Miharu. Don't overthink."
"Okay," Miharu answered automatically—but her mind was anything but calm. How couldn't she overthink it? Her sister's coy tone earlier—she'd clearly mistaken Miharu for someone else. She'd even called that someone "you little brat." She'd been lying in Mafuyu's bed, under her covers, and Mafuyu had reacted like it was that "little brat" there. That wasn't right at all.
Thinking of the crumpled stockings on the floor, Miharu's cheeks flushed too. Her head filled with shameful images. After tossing and turning, she couldn't stand it anymore.
"Onee-chan… do you have a boyfriend?"
"Eh! Miharu, why would you ask that?"
"I just… care. It feels like someone's going to steal you away. It hurts."
Miharu hugged her arm, voice small.
"Dummy. Even if I do have a boyfriend, I'll still be your sister. What's there to be sad about?"
"So you do, right? And it's your student? You're his teacher—how can you be so bold?"
"Ahem… Miharu, don't overthink it—we aren't like that."
She tried to explain, but it sounded feeble even to her.
"Then what are you? Ever since I moved in, no one but Hayashi Maki's come to visit."
"He just comes for tutoring…"
"Is that so?"
"Yes. That's all."
Her cheeks hot with shame, Mafuyu couldn't bring herself to admit it. "Enough—stop thinking about it and go to sleep. And… keep your distance from that kid. Trust me."
Which only made Miharu more curious about Hayashi Maki.
…
The next day at noon, after handing Ako off to Kyoh and Segawa to game with, Hayashi Maki headed for the library.
The braided girl with the face-hiding glasses looked helplessly at him sitting across from her.
"You again?"
Hayashi Maki grinned. "Here to admire Sanshokuin-san's beauty."
Sumireko Sanshokuin rolled her eyes. "I'm not interested in you. Please stop interrupting my reading."
Hayashi Maki pouted. "You're still on the same book? How long does it take?"
Sumireko pushed up her glasses and smiled. "A good book is worth rereading. Different passes give you different insights."
"Oh, please—'insights'?" Hayashi Maki clicked his tongue, unconvinced. "You're a pretty girl—how are you so solitary? I've noticed you have no friends, and you make yourself invisible. So your entire high school life is going to be three years in the library?"
"What else?" Sumireko shot him a look. "I don't want to date, and I hate being pestered. So please stop coming to bother me."
"Nope. I refuse," Hayashi Maki said, smiling wickedly. "I love pestering people—especially those I've 'discovered.'"
Hearing that, Sumireko sighed and chose the only defense left—ignoring him and going back to her book.