After a long while.
Looking at Mafuyu Kirisu's flushed face in his arms, Hayashi Maki felt his fingers itch. Gone was her fierce expression; instead, shyness softened her delicate features. Her lips, slightly swollen, looked dewy and tempting.
Right now, Mafuyu was irresistibly alluring.
His hand wandered down onto her long legs wrapped in black stockings. Mafuyu's body gave a tiny shiver. As he grew bolder, she finally mustered a little strength, slapped his "thieving" hand away, and looked at him with tear-bright eyes, stunningly beautiful and a little aggrieved.
"Jerk, what do you take me for?"
"Sorry." Hayashi Maki hugged her tight and gently stroked her silky cherry-colored hair. "It's all because you're too cute. A scoundrel like me just can't help myself around you."
"Hmph… what kind of apology is that? So it's my fault for looking good?" Mafuyu protested, pushing at his chest, then emphasized, "I'm your teacher—this isn't right."
It was the only "status" she could use to refuse him. Would Hayashi Maki care about that? If anything, it only excited him more.
"What's not right? I want you as my girlfriend. Kirisu-sensei, you're mine."
"Shut up—I am not yours!"
Hearing him claim her again so shamelessly, Mafuyu's cheeks burned, her heart thudding like a startled fawn. No one had ever pursued her like this—relentlessly, shamelessly, hugging and kissing her. He left her helpless; kissed dizzy, she was close to losing reason.
"You are mine. If Kirisu-sensei dates anyone else, I'll get rid of him immediately."
"Why are you so extreme?" Mafuyu looked at him, worried. If he wasn't properly "taught," he'd be a hazard to society.
"Because I like you. If you don't get close to me, I'll be sad—and then I get extreme. So just go out with me and it'll be fine." He spoke earnestly, then bent to kiss her pale neck.
Mafuyu tipped up her chin with difficulty, hands trying to push him away—but her strength failed her again. "N-no… don't… Miharu's still outside—if she finds out, I'm dead!"
"Then we won't let her find out. I'll lock the door, okay?"
"No—locking it just… mm… makes it obvious something's going on… Quit it… I said no…"
The rest of her words were swallowed as he covered her lips. Overwhelmed by his enthusiasm, she blushed and, almost on instinct, wrapped her arms tight around his neck.
Her heart raced; her head went light. How could he be so bad—never giving her a chance to refuse? Was she really going to have to give herself to him?
Tears welled in her eyes, and soon they were slipping down. Hayashi Maki's heart lurched; he realized he'd gone too far. He reluctantly let her go and gently wiped the tears from her lashes.
Mafuyu shot him a glance and said nothing—only sniffled softly. The silence hung heavy, like the calm before a storm.
A few minutes later, she grabbed his arm and bit down hard.
"Tss—"
Bitten yet again, Hayashi Maki could only sigh inwardly. He didn't dodge—just used his free hand to stroke her hair and let her vent.
…
Seeing the teeth marks on his arm finally calmed her. Mafuyu swept a lock of hair behind her ear to reveal her delicate profile and said crossly, "You little brat—does it hurt?"
"It hurts. You drew blood—how wouldn't it?" Hayashi Maki sighed, but didn't let go. His arm around her slim waist tightened a fraction—wordlessly declaring he wouldn't give her up.
Mafuyu's cheeks flamed; she slipped her arms around his neck and rested her face obediently on his chest. "Good. You deserved it—for bullying me."
He only smiled, kissed her forehead, and said nothing. Listening to his steady heartbeat, her heart softened. After that bite and release of emotion, she wasn't so angry anymore. Being held like this felt… safe. Warm. Of course, one look at the bite mark and she felt wronged again—remembering how he'd bullied her.
After a moment in his arms, she gently pushed his chest and said seriously, "Alright, let me go. I'll bandage it."
"No need. I heal quickly. More importantly, I want to hold you a bit longer."
Meeting his heated gaze, she ducked her head to avoid it. "Do what you want—I'm not the one in pain."
Seeing her prickly little act, Hayashi Maki's lips curled. Holding her soft body and breathing in her scent lifted his mood. He admitted it: he'd been bad—bullying her like this. But since he'd gone this far, so be it. Mafuyu Kirisu could only ever belong to him.
A few minutes later, Mafuyu shot him an uneasy glare. "Put your thing away. And when are you leaving?"
He gave a sheepish grin. "That's not something I can just… control. And whose fault is that—you're too beautiful."
"As for leaving… what if I don't? How about an all-night tutoring session, Kirisu-sensei?"
"Ugh! Tutoring? You call that tutoring? Pervert. Degenerate. Shameless. Jerk!"
She rattled off curses—clearly, he'd gotten to her. She'd actually thought he needed help and had pulled out her textbooks… only for "tutoring" to be just him hugging and kissing and bullying her the whole time.
Hearing her rant, Hayashi Maki sighed and rested his chin on her shoulder, breathing in her hair. "So… in your eyes, there's nothing good about me at all?"
She rolled her eyes—despite her quickening pulse. "Such as?"
"Heh: handsome, top grades, well-off enough to support you, can fight, can protect you."
"Shameless! Thick-skinned!"
Self-praise—his shamelessness shocked her anew. Hayashi Maki, unfazed, scooped her up and set her on the bed by the desk, took her hand, and looked down at her.
"If you're going to look down on me like that, I'm so sad. So I'm going to do something bad."
"W-what are you going to do?"
Feeling his hot breath and… other telltale signs, Mafuyu fully panicked. Hayashi Maki leaned in slowly, lips nearing hers. "What do you think? What else would I do? Even if you sneer at me, even if you scold me, I still want you—Mafuyu."
"N-no," she said, turning her face away, refusing—though her heart wouldn't stop racing.
Just as she thought she wouldn't get away tonight, he kissed her on the forehead instead. "Then no. I'll make you agree sooner or later, Kirisu-sensei. You can only belong to me."
He let go of her hand and stepped away. "W-wait—where are you going?" she asked instinctively, cheeks rosy and tempting.
Hayashi Maki shrugged. "Home. If Kirisu-sensei doesn't welcome me, I'll go home and cry."
"Pfft—you, cry over that? If you can show me, I'll let you stay tonight," Mafuyu said, arms folded, clearly ready to enjoy the show.
He was speechless—he'd only said he'd cry; he hadn't meant it. She wanted to see him humiliated? He turned, pulled her into a hug, and claimed her lips again. Mafuyu blushed, gave a token push—and let him.