Hayashi Maki lay quietly on the bed, waiting.
The soft patter of water came from the bathroom, and with his sharp hearing, his thoughts inevitably started to wander.
Thinking about the "reward" he'd been promised, he grew more and more excited.
Yukinoshita Yukino didn't keep him waiting long.
Wrapped in a bath towel, fair-skinned and beautiful, she stepped out of the bathroom and appeared before his eyes.
Her pale skin, freshly washed, was faintly flushed and dewy.
Her long, wet black hair, beaded with tiny droplets, hung down to her waist, accentuating the slim, graceful curve of her waist.
The towel was stretched into a soft arc, and the fullness beneath it, the line of her cleavage that had developed so nicely, drew his gaze without him even meaning to move it there.
Her delicate face, paired with small pink lips and a perfectly shaped nose, came together into an almost criminally cute face.
"Idiot, what are you staring at? Help me dry my hair."
Yukino, cheeks tinged red, shot him a glance, then sat calmly on the edge of the bed.
Hayashi Maki chuckled and stepped behind her, conjuring a warm, gentle breeze with his hands, expertly drying her hair.
Yukino closed her eyes in contentment, her body unconsciously relaxing.
With him here, she felt completely at ease.
Her life had been able to continue because of him.
And being loved by him made Yukino's heart feel sweet and warm.
Thinking about what they were going to do later, she felt shy—but she couldn't help looking forward to it.
"How's the wind speed and temperature, Yukino?"
As he dried his girlfriend's hair, he softly asked for feedback.
"…Not bad. Keep going."
Yukino replied casually, a faint look of pleasure on her face.
With that already-too-cute face, it made Hayashi Maki swallow without thinking.
He had to admit it.
He was a simple, shallow man.
A normal man who liked beautiful girls.
Just knowing a girl this stunning and special belonged to him, that she'd stay by his side and walk through life with him… filled him with a smug sense of satisfaction.
Soon, Yukino's black hair was dry.
He ran his fingers through it, feeling how smooth it was, and a faint fragrance rose from her hair, making him almost drunk on it.
A girl's hair wasn't something just anyone could touch and play with.
Only someone deeply trusted got to be this casual.
Once it was dry, he took a comb and straightened out her slightly tousled hair.
In no time, a perfect black long-haired beauty appeared before him.
Her cool aura, paired with those clear blue eyes, wrapped in a white bath towel—Yukinoshita Yukino looked like some legendary snow spirit, cold and breathtakingly beautiful.
"Yukino, your hair's done. You look amazing. No matter where I look from, you're gorgeous. As expected of my Yukino."
"Ugh, you're so oily. All you ever do is say pretty words to coax girls."
She glared at him lightly, then flicked her hair and stood.
"But you're not wrong. I've been cute since I was little, so I suppose I'll accept your praise for now."
The corner of his mouth twitched. She really didn't hold back—and had to sprinkle some tsundere on top.
What was he supposed to do, nosebleed on command?
Well, he was lecherous, sure—but he'd seen enough that he wouldn't literally nosebleed just because his girlfriend was cute.
He was about to say something when Yukino suddenly reached out her pale, slender hand and covered his eyes.
"Maki-kun, be good and close your eyes. I'm getting changed."
"Uh… I can't look?"
"No! Shut your eyes and don't open them! Otherwise, you won't be getting your reward."
Faced with that terrifying threat, he had no choice but to obey.
"Fine, fine, I won't look."
Only then did Yukino nod, satisfied.
She took her hand from his eyes, slipped off the bath towel, and set it aside.
Then she opened a drawer and started changing.
It was embarrassing, of course—but he'd been so good to her, she wanted to fulfill his little wish now and then.
The sound of rustling cloth reached his ears.
He was dying of curiosity, but since Yukino hadn't given him permission, he just held onto the mystery and waited quietly.
A few minutes later, her voice—soft, trembling, and shy—sounded by his ear.
"…Okay… Maki-kun, you can open your eyes now."
He snapped his eyes open and stared.
His breath caught.
Standing there was Yukinoshita Yukino, dressed in a black-and-white maid outfit with frills and lace.
Her pale, slender legs were wrapped in black stockings, making them look even longer and more elegant.
She looked like she'd walked straight out of a manga—a graceful, refined maid, cheeks tinged pink.
On her head was the classic frilled maid headdress, and the hair near her ears had been tied into little bows with red ribbons.
"Whoa… Yukino… this is amazing. You really are perfect in a maid outfit."
…
He let out a heartfelt sigh of admiration and hurried closer.
His hands didn't know where to go—they just drifted forward and wrapped around her.
Yukino let him pull her into his arms, her pretty face resting lightly against his chest.
"Do you like it, my wicked little demon?"
Her lips parted, her voice cool but laced with quiet sweetness.
Hayashi Maki sucked in a sharp breath; his ears were practically pregnant from that.
"Like? I love it."
It wasn't every day you got to see Yukinoshita Yukino in a maid outfit.
And she'd put this on just to indulge his tastes—that thought warmed him up even more.
Seeing him so happy, Yukino's lips curled faintly upward.
If he liked it, then having this custom-made set really had been worth it.
As she was thinking that, Hayashi Maki squatted down, pressing his cheek against her flat stomach.
His arms tightened gently around her waist.
"Yukino… can I be a little more selfish tonight?"
"Idiot, don't ask me something like that… I already belong to you."
Yukino's hand slid through his hair, blue eyes soft and shining.
Hayashi Maki took a deep breath, swept her up into his arms, and carried her to the bed.
The rest was his stage.
He really didn't feel like letting her sleep tonight.
Yukino was just too cute.
And so obedient—she'd really given him exactly the reward he wanted.