Arms crossed and called "naggy," Hayashi Maki didn't get mad.
Instead, he kept cooking with smooth, fluid motions while tossing out little kitchen facts.
Mafuyu's ears perked up; she listened intently. For all her talk about him being naggy, she was honestly happy—cooking was her weak spot. If she were any good at it, she wouldn't be ordering takeout so often.
To keep up her perfect image in her sister's eyes, she felt she had to learn. Otherwise, if Miharu ever discovered how hopeless she really was, it would be a crushing blow.
Ever since they were young, she'd been the person Miharu looked up to most—Miharu even became a figure-skating seed athlete because she admired Mafuyu. But every lie is found out eventually. The only way to protect that image was to truly learn how to cook.
Watching him at the stove, she didn't spare him with her mouth, but her hands were honest—quickly passing him the prepped ingredients right on cue.
A man and a woman working together makes the work easier.
Hayashi Maki loved her teamwork and cooked all the more carefully. He might not reach Mahiru's near-radiant level of home cooking, but his cooking was still quite good. Someone who cooks with heart rarely does it badly (except those born hopeless in the kitchen).
Before long, three dishes and a soup—color, aroma, and taste all there—were on the table. The braised fish at the center gave off a mouthwatering scent.
"Wow, that fish smells amazing! And it looks so good!" Miharu couldn't help praising, eyes shining at her big sister. "As expected of you, sis!"
Mafuyu looked smug, then snuck a glance at Hayashi Maki—and felt a stab of guilt. She knew perfectly well she'd only played assistant; the meal was his doing.
Hayashi Maki didn't say a word. With a polite "let's eat," he dug in. Seeing how much he was enjoying it, Miharu picked up the pace with her chopsticks too.
After the meal, Miharu volunteered to wash up. Hayashi Maki took Mafuyu by the hand to her room—it was time for "tutoring."
However—
The moment they entered, Hayashi Maki scooped Mafuyu's soft, warm body up and set her on his lap. Fresh from her bath and changed into a white dress, her cherry-pink hair fell to her waist; her skin was smooth and pale, her exquisite face faintly flushed.
Flustered, she pressed a hand to his chest and ducked her head, not daring to meet his eyes.
"W-what are you doing? Aren't we tutoring?"
Hayashi Maki chuckled at her act.
"Silly—I'm holding you. What do you think I'm doing?"
"And it's not the first time we've 'tutored' like this. Mafuyu-sensei, do you have any idea how cute—how tempting—you look right now?"
He leaned in and brushed his lips across her delicate earlobe.
"Eep… you're awful… do you really have to bully me to be satisfied?"
Her body trembled; with misty eyes she looked up at the man. This bad, shameless student—what was he going to do to her?
"I don't want to bully you. But you never have a good word for me. And last time you were so good—so warm and passionate…"
Hayashi Maki took a breath; his hand found her smooth thigh—practiced, gentle.
"I thought you'd forgotten, so I'm reminding you. Mafuyu-sensei, do you remember how I said I liked you?"
"Ugh… pervert… don't ask me things like that—I… I don't know!"
Breathing quick and eyes shut, her heart pounded faster and faster. The images from last time replayed in her mind, and her already lovely face, flushed, looked even more adorable—more alluring.
Hayashi Maki cradled her face, stroking her cheeks twice, and said in a low voice:
"Be good, Sensei. Put your arms around my neck."
Face burning, she shifted her hands from pressing on his chest to gently encircling his neck.
He smiled and didn't hesitate—lowered his head and covered her rosy lips.
"Mmm… mm—"
Kissed again, Mafuyu didn't resist this time. Maybe because they were in her own room and she didn't have to worry about being seen—and because it wasn't the first time. With that "experience buffer," she quickly adapted to his closeness.
After a long while, they parted, reluctant.
Looking at her flushed cheeks and orchid-sweet breath, Hayashi Maki felt a spark of excitement.
"Mafuyu-sensei, I've got a free room on my building's third floor. Why don't you move in? Rent's negotiable."
He took the chance to invite her over. Mafuyu snapped back to herself and pinched his waist.
"In your dreams!"
"I'm fine right here—why would I move there?"
He hissed and pretended to wince.
"Trying to murder your husband? If you wreck my kidneys, your happiness is over."
"Pah—husband? You're just a kid. I'm your teacher… this isn't right."
She averted her eyes, heart guilty. Hayashi Maki frowned.
"What's not right? You don't actually dislike me, do you?"
"Who says I don't? I do! Bad students like you—no teacher would ever—mmph, mm—"
Still playing hard to get, she didn't finish; he simply sealed her lips again—no more talking.
Feeling his overwhelming insistence, her body went soft—there was no pushing him away. She leaned into his chest without thinking, face growing heated.
For all her outward maturity, she was a woman in her prime—being pursued so earnestly and held so close, her heart melted. Resistance vanished.
After a bit of kissing, Hayashi Maki let her breathe—his hand drifting over the cool fabric of her nightdress. Mafuyu shivered and quickly pressed his hand down, shaking her head.
"No…"
His gaze burned. "Then say you'll move in with me, or I won't leave tonight—and I won't let you sleep."
"W-why are you like this? All you do is bully me!"
She glared, but her heartbeat kept racing.
"I am a bad guy. If being with you takes being a villain, it's worth it," he said. Mafuyu closed her eyes and let go of his hand.
"If you try anything, I'll…"
"You'll what?" he asked with a smile, his hand moving.
"I'll call the police—have them haul you away!"
"Great—call them," he said, undaunted, breathing heavier.
"Brat—you're impossible," she said, eyes full of reproach.
"Thanks for the compliment. For Mafuyu-sensei, getting hauled off is a price I'll pay. Either way—I'm not giving you up," he murmured.
At that, her soft lips pressed to his—this time she initiated. Blushing furiously, she clutched his neck.
"Mm… you little brat… whatever happens next… I don't care anymore…"
Under his relentless advance, Mafuyu's heart finally opened.
The rest… needed no words.
~~~
Thank you for reading!