Unlike the slightly reserved Akizuki Marina, her younger sister Akizuki Airi was livelier and far more forward.
When she kissed him, Hayashi Maki first widened his eyes in surprise, then gently stroked her golden hair and warmly returned her enthusiasm.
After a long moment, they parted.
Breathing hard, Airi straightened up and looked down at the handsome man beneath her.
"See what you did, you big pervy mosquito—sneaking in to mess with Airi while she was on the phone!"
Blushing, the cute girl spoke huffily, though she instinctively leaned closer into his arms, happiness flickering across her lovely face.
Hayashi Maki smiled, cupped her small face, and couldn't help giving her cheeks a playful pinch.
"I'm way gentler than a mosquito—and I don't suck Airi's blood."
"Hmph! You pervy, naughty onii-chan!" Airi shot him a sidelong glare, then declared with righteous grandeur:
"For scaring Airi, I'm going to punish you!"
"No problem," Hayashi Maki said with a wicked smile, eyes warm and intent.
A little later, Hayashi Maki took out a pair of white thigh-highs and gently slipped them onto Airi's slender legs. Like Mashiro and Mahiru, a golden-haired cutie was made for white stockings—innocence with a hint of allure, and all the more charming.
Airi gave him a disdainful look but didn't refuse the outfit. She even tied her hair into twin-tails, clearly knowing he liked that "attribute."
No one knew how much time passed. Airi had worked up a light, sweet sweat. Hayashi Maki took her for a quick shower, then they sat down with Marina for dinner.
The day's "affection maintenance" for his followers was complete. After sending his adorable girls to bed with contented smiles, he slipped away.
Back home, Hayashi Maki headed to his room—and found his bed already occupied, the blanket bulging in the shape of a person.
He couldn't help but grin. Was it Mashiro? Or Rita? Mashiro loved to crawl into his bed; he'd gotten used to it.
Saying nothing, he crept to the bedside, lifted a corner of the blanket, and slid in—then pulled the person into his arms and kissed her.
The girl jolted, eyes flying open, and hurriedly pushed at his chest.
Sensing something was off, Hayashi Maki released her, flipped the covers back—and froze.
"Nanami? Why is it you?"
"What are you doing in my bed?"
Aoyama Nanami wanted to vanish into a crack in the floor.
"I… I… I went into the wrong room."
"Huh? The wrong room?" Hayashi Maki was a little dumbfounded; the corner of his mouth twitched.
Nanami's room was right next door—mix-ups could happen. But her key shouldn't open his door… right?
After a beat of silence, Hayashi Maki coughed awkwardly. "Sorry, Nanami. I thought it was Mashiro or Mahiru in my bed, so I… I just…"
"Don't say it—it's my fault… Sorry for intruding!" Nanami waved her hands, face scarlet, scrambled out of bed, slipped on her shoes, and bolted.
She really had gone to the wrong room. Feeling great this evening, she'd taken on a few extra shifts; by the time she returned, she was dizzy with exhaustion.
After a simple dinner and bath, she stepped out to take out the trash—and woozily came back to the wrong door. By coincidence, Mahiru had also stepped out to toss garbage and hadn't latched the door. Nanami, blurred by fatigue, wandered in, opened Hayashi Maki's door, and curled up under his blanket. Warm and safe there, she nodded off.
The next thing she knew, she'd been kissed awake.
Watching her flee, Hayashi Maki touched his lips.
"Not bad… Nanami-chan…"
Should he say "thanks for the treat"?
Well. Since it was a lovely accident, he wasn't going to overthink it. He'd come out ahead.
…
Back in her own room, Aoyama Nanami clutched a tiger plush and rolled back and forth on the bed in mortified agony.
"Aaaahhh! Aoyama Nanami, what were you thinking?"
"Not only did you go into the wrong room and sleep in Hayashi Maki's bed, but he—he stole your first kiss!"
She didn't realize her first kiss was already long gone—when Hayashi Maki had "administered" medicine mouth-to-mouth the other day.
"Uuuu… Tora-jiro, I can't get married now! He treated me like that…"
Remembering how Hayashi Maki had hugged and kissed her just now, how practiced his hands had felt, Nanami shivered, cheeks burning even hotter.
"What do I do? Will he think I'm an easy girl?"
"Why did something like this have to happen?"
Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Hayashi Maki.
Hayashi Maki: "Nanami, are you okay?"
Nanami's eyes stung. Not okay at all! she thought—yet her fingers typed out a dutiful reply:
Nanami: "I'm fine… Please forget what happened just now, Hayashi Maki."
Hayashi Maki: "I can't forget… Nanami's figure… is pretty nice."
Nanami's head buzzed. Wh-what is that supposed to mean?
"Pervert!"
Thinking about how deft he'd been earlier, she flushed with shame and a twinge of anger. She tapped out a prickly message:
Nanami: "Don't say weird things, Pervert-kun. Please forget just now, or I'll be really troubled!"
Hayashi Maki: "Alright, I'll try. But Nanami, you should rest well for a while. Don't push yourself until you faint again like the other day."
Nanami froze. Faint again like the other day?
So, seeing him then hadn't been a dream? When she'd collapsed, he'd come to help her?
As she struggled with her feelings, another message arrived:
Hayashi Maki: "Rest up, okay, Nanami? Your health is the foundation for chasing your dreams."
Nanami: "Thank you. I will."
His concern made her nose sting. She felt… moved.
Nanami had left home to pursue her dream; her parents didn't support her goal of becoming a renowned voice actress. They paid the tuition, but everything else—living costs, training fees at the agency, exam fees—she covered with part-time jobs. She was used to carrying it all alone.
Hayashi Maki's neighborly kindness felt like a long-lost warmth. She touched her lips and sighed. Let's just forget what happened… He had girlfriends already; she couldn't ask him to "take responsibility." So why did her chest ache?
Another ping:
Hayashi Maki: "Nanami, I tried—I really can't forget. What should I do?"
Her face flamed scarlet.
What's that even mean? Is he… flirting? But he already has a girlfriend—more than one! What is he playing at?
She remembered what he'd said earlier—thinking the person in his bed was Mashiro or Mahiru. So if it's Mashiro or Mahiru in his bed, it's fine to kiss them at will?
~~~
You're Welcome!