After getting off the train, Kotonoha headed to Shinyō Academy for class.
Hayashi Maki took Mahiru and Gabriel to Hakuo Academy.
Right at the gate, he spotted Sanshokuin Sumireko in glasses and a braided ponytail. He immediately called out, "Yo, Sumireko—morning."
She flinched and blushed faintly.
"Mm, good morning," she replied, trying to sound calm. She nodded to Shiina Mahiru and Gabriel, then hurried onto campus.
Mahiru watched Sumireko's retreating back with a sunny smile and said nothing. Hayashi Maki never hid things from her; she already knew he had made a move on Sumireko.
Any girl Maki-kun fell for was top-tier—and even if not in all other ways, at least a super-cute beauty. Mahiru liked befriending pretty girls too; with "ordinary-looking" girls, jealousy often crept in.
In their class, Miura Yumiko had started out befriending cute girls and built her own circle that way—avoiding superficial friends who envied her.
Inside the grounds, today's hall monitor was still the student council vice president, Shiina Minatsu. Now, whenever she saw Hayashi Maki, she'd blush and avoid him—afraid he'd drag her somewhere secluded and kiss her.
Neither Minatsu nor Mafuyu had any real defense against this shameless guy. The kicker? Hayashi Maki was also the man of their half-sister, Shiina Mahiru. Was he planning to catch every Shiina girl in one net?
"Morning, Minatsu-nee," Mahiru said brightly.
"Mm. Morning, Mahiru. Get inside, you three," Minatsu replied, pushing Hayashi Maki through the gate and resuming her patrol with deadly seriousness—pointedly refusing to look at him.
Hayashi Maki didn't mind. He'd find time to "discipline" the vice president properly. As for Mafuyu—the fujoshi little beauty—she'd been getting along famously with Ebina Hina lately, discussing BL games nonstop. He figured he'd need to "educate" her too.
Spotting Hayashi Maki had flustered Minatsu so much she started letting things slide—she didn't even notice a petite girl in a kimono (against school rules) slip in.
If Hayashi Maki had been there, he'd have recognized her—Saginomiya Isumi. Isumi was either lost or on her way to getting lost. How many times had she actually made it to school? Almost a mystery.
In class, Hayashi Maki greeted the girls he knew. Ako Tamaki practically flew at him the moment she saw him, grabbing his arm—her uniform noticeably straining. She pressed close, and the boys around them glared knives of envy. To think he'd met such a pretty girl through gaming—and that she was even his in-game wife. Why didn't they have that luck?
"Normies—go explode," Hikigaya Hachiman muttered, dead-fish eyes averted from the popular guy.
Hayashi Maki patted Ako's head a few times to soothe her and sent her back to her seat. The little beauty didn't study properly—just gamed at home. Her mom didn't rein her in, either, letting her do as she pleased.
As a result, Ako's grades were poor. Lately Mahiru had been tutoring her—not to make her a top student, just to get her to pass finals. Hayashi Maki could tutor her, sure—but knowing him, tutoring would end up in bed. Ako did love to cling and whine.
Better leave her to Mahiru & co. He'd also asked Goshoin Kyoh and Segawa Akane to give Ako some light study help during club hours.
Having earned her head-pat reward, Ako cheerfully went back to her seat.
The bell rang; everyone sat obediently. First period: Mafuyu Kirisu. How convenient. Hayashi Maki admired her face and those black-stocking legs, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. At the end of the month, he'd carry her home and force the move.
Mafuyu, feeling his gaze, shivered. She said nothing—just shot him a cold glare that clearly said behave. On campus, she was the ice-cool teacher who rarely had a kind face for students. As a teacher, if you're too kind and lose your temper never, the class walks all over you.
Hayashi Maki chuckled and stopped staring, switching to a pose of earnest attention. He'd find time later. He'd only just "won" Mafuyu—time to strike while the iron was hot and deepen the bond.
During the long break, Hayashi Maki texted Nibutani Shinka and slipped out. She read it, flinched, and—after a guilty glance at Mahiru, then Yumiko—sighed and went out.
At the designated spot, two familiar hands wrapped her waist and pinned her to the wall. Hayashi Maki kissed Shinka's cherry lips, eyes hot.
"Mm—ugh… Maki-kun, you're doing it again…"
She wriggled twice and gave up resisting—white arms circling his neck, responding softly.
After a long while, their lips parted. Hayashi Maki, eyeing her flushed, breathless face, grinned.
"Well, my Shinka-sama—made up your mind?"
"Will you sign a contract with me—become a magical girl?"
"I just visited another world—studied at a magic academy. I can teach you magic."
Nibutani rolled her eyes at his "temptation."
"In your dreams. I'm not that easy…"
"You refused again? I'm upset. Time to punish you."
He put on a mock-angry face and kissed her again. Shinka didn't resist at all—only felt a little aggrieved. Why did he keep asking if she'd sign? With where they'd gotten to, couldn't he be more decisive? Megumi Kato had come before her—unfair, considering Shinka had known him longer.