Spending a fine noon with Sanshokuin Sumireko, the afternoon brought another round of exams.
Hayashi Maki, as usual, finished with ease and waited for the bell to hand in.
The testing ran two full days. On the third, results were posted.
Top of the year went to Yukinoshita Yukino.
Hayashi Maki placed 3rd.
Second was Shiina Mahiru; third (in year rank) was Nibutani Shinka.
At prestigious Hakuo, where talent swarms, Shinka—aiming for student council president—was getting steamrolled by everyone else's try-hard grind. She'd hoped to snag a #1 to pad her platform. But she'd never landed the top slot: first it was monopolized by Hayashi Maki and Mahiru, and now Yukino burst onto the scene—infuriating.
Shinka decided she still wasn't working hard enough. Also, that pint-sized chūnibyō Dekomori Sanae kept barging in and derailing her study time. Externalities shaved her scores a bit—but nothing fatal; if anything, it fired her up.
Back at his desk, Hayashi Maki's phone pinged. He checked the screen—message from the new #1, Yukino.
Yukino: "Well? I told you I'd take the top spot!"
Hayashi Maki: "Congrats, Yukino-chan. I'm proud of you. Looks like from now on you'll be tutoring me."
Yukino: "Hmph. You didn't hold back, did you?"
Hayashi Maki: "No way. I went full tilt—and you still swiped the throne."
Yukino: "With how philandering you are, sliding down the ranks is only natural. At least you didn't fall out of the top ten."
Hayashi Maki: "Heh, third isn't bad. And I'm not a philanderer—I'm big-hearted. For our future happiness, I'm working hard to expand the family."
Yukino: "Spare me! Using that as a fig leaf—jerk!"
Hayashi Maki: "All right, Jerk-san just got surpassed. As my girlfriend, shouldn't you be comforting me?"
Yukino: "What do you want?"
Typing that, she tensed—knowing him, he'd ask for something mortifying.
As expected—
Hayashi Maki: "Maid outfit, plus white stockings and black stockings. I want Yukino-chan's lap pillow."
Yukino: "...…"
Blushing, she didn't know how to reply. Not exactly "too far," but… would he really just lay his head in her lap?
Hayashi Maki: "Ellipses means yes? You agreeing?"
Yukino: "I did not agree!"
Hayashi Maki: "So am I coming over, or are you coming here to play with Mahiru?"
Yukino: "You come."
She sent it, then tucked away her phone, cheeks burning. She didn't dislike Mahiru—but she didn't want a repeat of last time's mortification.
One-on-one was better. In short, Yukino's still thin-skinned; she couldn't quite let go yet.
No rush. Everything in its time. He was sure that, with him and Mahiru, the family would grow closer; the home, warmer.
After chatting with Yukino, Hayashi Maki pinged Misoiin again.
Hayashi Maki: "Not bad—snagged first in humanities."
Sumireko: "Naturally. I am a lit girl. Taking first is the most normal thing in the world."
Hayashi Maki: "Sumireko so excellent—warms my heart. I must reward you!"
Sumireko's lips twitched.
Sumireko: "Reward? Spare me. It's enough if you don't bully this frail maiden."
Hayashi Maki: "Heaven knows—I may be bad, but I won't overdo it. This is affection."
Sumireko: "Pah! Keep talking, scumbag!"
Hayashi Maki: "Seriously—what reward do you want? An evil lord is more useful than any god."
Sumireko: "Got a potion that cures all illnesses?"
Hayashi Maki: "I do."
Sumireko: "Really? What do I owe?"
She didn't believe in free lunches—especially not from a devil. (Though, to be fair, she's been the one getting taken advantage of.)
Hayashi Maki: "Just your sincerity. I'll treat you seriously, too. Take the potion as a gift—then you'll know what I can do, and lean on me as much as you like."
Reading that, Sumireko's hand went to her chest—touched. Thinking of the best friend still comatose in the hospital, she quickly replied:
Sumireko: "Thank you, Hayashi Maki. I really do need it."
Hayashi Maki: "Don't mention it—family doesn't need thanks. Heh. Next time I hold you, maybe you can be the one to lean in first."
She silently cursed him—lecher. The guy never skipped a chance to press close. For all his womanizing, he wasn't as hateful as she'd imagined—maybe because every girl around him genuinely seemed happy. Sumireko liked quiet, a calm life. Friends would be even better—just not the two-faced, back-stabbing kind. She'd rather read alone than get dragged into girl-wars.
Hayashi Maki: "Do you need the potion urgently?"
Sumireko: "Yes—if possible, soon."
Hayashi Maki: "Swing by this afternoon. Heh—once you've taken my things, you can't run."
Sumireko: "I wasn't planning to."
Hayashi Maki: "Can I take that to mean you're starting to accept me?"
Sumireko: "Guess."
Hayashi Maki: "Guess if I can guess?"
Sumireko: "Guess."
Hayashi Maki: "All right, I won't guess. You know I'm a man of action—when I see you, I'll hug you without hesitation."
Sumireko certainly knew that. Thinking of being cradled in his arms last time, her perfect features flushed a lovely rose.