As the lunch break was about to end, Sanshokuin Sumireko slipped out of a certain someone's arms—or rather, he let her go.
After straightening her rumpled clothes and returning to her seat, Sumireko looked down at the ruby ring on her finger and sighed softly.
Hayashi Maki had taken full advantage; she'd been forced into a preliminary contract with him and even received a gift—
a guardian ring.
According to him, the ring wouldn't just protect her in danger; he'd also imbued it with a concealment charm to hide her appearance.
Since the witch's glasses were losing their effect, she now had to rely on the ring if she wanted to stay hidden. Refusal hadn't really been an option.
She ran a fingertip over the gemstone; it felt as if a special pulse was beating within.
Since Hayashi Maki had such mysterious power… could he perhaps cure her best friend, who had become a vegetative patient because of her?
Maybe she could allow herself a little hope.
But contracts with a demon require a price.
For now, Sumireko had no desire to lose her freedom. She'd observe him a while longer—get to know him properly so she didn't end up counting the money after he sold her.
Thinking about it, she lifted her fingers and touched her lips; her cheeks warmed.
"What a shameless guy… there goes my first kiss."
And not just her first kiss…
…
While Sumireko wrestled with her feelings, Hayashi Maki returned to class in high spirits.
As for that "despair-bringing" guy Sumireko had mentioned—he already had a theory. Most likely possessed by an evil god. If he showed up, Hayashi Maki certainly wouldn't let him go.
The first period after lunch was Shizuka Hiratsuka's modern literature class. With the clear, pleasant voice of the beautiful teacher, the students sat up straight and listened intently.
Hiratsuka-sensei had everything going for her—pretty, kind, tall and voluptuous. The fact that no one was dating such a beauty and every blind date failed really was strange.
Still, that was fine by him. He didn't want a woman like that being carried off by other men. When there was an opening, he'd get to know Hiratsuka-sensei too. Just… not right now—he was busy.
The afternoon classes flew by. Club time.
Ako Tamaki dragged Hayashi Maki to the Electronic Network Communication Club to game with Goshoin Kyoh and Segawa Akane.
Under Hayashi Maki's coaching, Ako's playing improved noticeably—she was finally not so hopeless. Mostly she'd never swap gear; every time they ran a dungeon she picked what looked good instead of checking the stats.
When the club session ended, Hayashi Maki saw Ako off and said goodbye to Kyoh and Akane.
Kyoh, the refined heiress, might no longer be student council president—but she was still busy. Akane, for her part, was a perfectly ordinary game-loving beauty; what made her unusual was that she considered dating boys inferior to gaming.
A "normie," yet obsessed with games—such girls were rare. Most girls preferred going out, shopping, karaoke. Akane went home and gamed. Still, she didn't neglect school; her grades were in the top tier of the class—a bona fide honors student.
"See you tomorrow, Schwein-chan," Kyoh waved with a smile.
"Mm, see you, President." Akane was finally immune to the shame of "Schwein." Who would've guessed the name meant "pig"? She'd chosen it, and she didn't have money for a rename—so she lived with it.
As for Hayashi Maki—
On the way home, Ako clung to his arm, all smiles and affection. It was a rare chance to walk home alone with him; of course she wasn't going to pass up the chance to be clingy.
After dropping Ako off, Hayashi Maki headed to the supermarket to buy groceries. Mahiru usually cooked; naturally, he should shoulder some of the load. Though she often shooed him out of the kitchen, he could at least do the shopping.
When she was tied up, she'd call and ask him to pick up ingredients and seasonings, too. A home is something you maintain together—only then does it stay warm.
At the fresh produce section, he picked out green bell peppers. Thinking of Mashiro always sneaking bell peppers into his bowl made the corner of his mouth curl.
When Rita transferred in, Mashiro's school life would be better. He and Mahiru weren't at Mashiro's school; they couldn't look after her there. That would be Rita's job.
As he sorted through peppers, a pack of discounted beef caught his eye. He reached for it—just as a pale little hand landed on the same tray.
He looked up; his eyes lit.
"Ah!"
The girl squeaked, not expecting anyone to grab the same beef. She jerked her hand back, head down, too shy to meet his gaze. Hayashi Maki smiled gently, picked up the meat, and dropped it into her basket.
"It's yours."
"Eh?" The silver-haired girl looked at him, surprised—but he was already turning away to pick other vegetables.
"Thank you…" Izumi Sagiri whispered, then, cheeks warm, scurried out of the aisle. Hayashi Maki had recognized her in an instant—Eromanga-sensei herself.
But unlike the housebound, painfully shy version from the original story, this girl had gone out to buy food. Did she cook for herself? Well—this was a crossover world; differences were normal.
He paid and left. Not long after, Sagiri came out too, her basket mostly full of cheap items—just like Asada Shino had been, stretched to the limit.
Back home, Sagiri slipped on an apron and started cooking. Pressures of life had taught the girl—who would otherwise have become a shut-in, ecchi illustrator—how to make meals and shoulder responsibility.
When a simple dinner was ready, she sat at her desk, put her hands together, closed her eyes.
"Let's eat."
That day she'd gotten word from Elf Yamada: a chance to co-illustrate a light novel with Eri Kashiwagi. With the job confirmed, she'd secured Elf Yamada's commission—and the payment.
Most of it went straight to the hospital to cover her mother's nutrition fees; with what was left, she treated herself, for the first time in ages, to a small luxury—beef.
It tasted so good she almost cried.
Thinking of her mother—still comatose after the car accident—Sagiri's eyes steeled with resolve.
"Mom… Sagiri will keep working hard…"