Back to Hayashi Maki—
He was carrying groceries on his way home when he noticed a petite blonde beauty standing ahead, staring at him with a smug look.
He raised an eyebrow, walked right past her without a backward glance, and kept going.
Elf Yamada's smug expression froze. She hurried after him, spread her arms, and blocked his path.
"Hey, Kurosora Twilight—didn't you see me?"
She glared; being ignored really ticked her off.
"I saw you," Hayashi Maki nodded. "So what is it, Elf Yamada-san?"
"Hmph~! Nothing much—just wanted to let you know Eri Kashiwagi has agreed to work with me. With Eromanga-sensei joining too, we'll definitely create the world's number one light novel!"
"Oh? Congratulations. Go get 'em, Elf-chan."
He ruffled her hair with a smile and turned away.
Yamada stared at his back and stomped her foot in anger
"What is that reaction? Aren't you even a little upset? I poached your illustrator!"
Hayashi Maki paused, glanced back, and said:
"Is it possible that your work with Kashiwagi-sensei… doesn't actually affect mine with her?"
Yamada's tone faltered. Right—she'd nearly forgotten he was currently working with Kashiwagi on the manga adaptation of his light novel. She'd been feeling a bit guilty—then saw his smiling face and got mad again. She huffed, ran over, stomped on his shoe, then strutted off.
Hayashi Maki just shook his head, not taking it to heart. He was in a great mood. Still, it was odd—did she really corner him in public just to say that? Weird. …Had she fallen for him already?
Feeling pleased with himself, he headed home. Before long he spotted Yamada again up ahead. She looked back, wary.
"Why are you following me, you frivolous man?"
He rolled his eyes.
"My place is this way. I'm not following you. And what's with 'frivolous man'?"
"Hmph—you were the one who made that demand last time. If that's not frivolous, what is?"
(Asking that a beautiful girl kiss him…)
She eyed him up and down.
"You live this way?"
"What else?"
He shrugged and walked past her into the building, heading upstairs to the second floor. Yamada stared after him with a complicated look, then turned and entered the house right next door.
She lived next door to him, as it turned out.
And there was an even bigger coincidence coming…
…
After finishing yet another day of part-time shifts, Aoyama Nanami trudged along, exhausted.
Working several jobs at once was tough for any girl her age. She was tired, but for her dream of becoming a well-known voice actress, she refused to stop moving forward.
"Hang in there, Aoyama Nanami!"
She clenched her fists in a self pep talk—then winced.
"So tired…"
She needed to get home, eat something, bathe, and sleep—or she'd never get up tomorrow. As a reasonably pretty girl, there were "easier" ways to make money, but Nanami had self-respect.
She would never sell her body. So she worked more shifts—to cover her training fees at the voice-acting agency and the certification exam expense. Thankfully, her family was paying tuition; otherwise she wouldn't have made it this far. Nanami believed hard work would pay off.
At her building's entrance, as she started up the stairs, a cute silver-haired girl carrying a trash bag walked past. The girl was so adorable Nanami couldn't help but look twice.
"A new neighbor? First time I've seen her," she murmured. But she was too wiped out to care, dragged herself up to the second floor, and unlocked her door.
She flopped onto the sofa—dizzy. Heatstroke? Forcing herself up to get something to eat, her vision went black and she collapsed. Heatstroke, plus overwork, plus no dinner—her body had had enough.
Half-conscious, she felt something pressed to her lips; her throat swallowed reflexively…
…
Watching Aoyama Nanami frown in her sleep, Hayashi Maki sighed. As a demon, he had absolute control over the building; he'd noticed her condition immediately, opened her door, carried her to bed, and poured a healing potion into her. He admired a girl who worked this hard for her dream; he'd help where he could. Not that he'd deny also admiring her figure.
He stroked her hair, confirmed her body was stabilizing, and slipped out. Nanami cracked her eyes open briefly at his retreating back, then closed them and drifted off.
…
Nanami's situation was just a small interlude for Hayashi Maki. After helping her, he returned next door. Mahiru Shiina, in her apron, was already busy in the kitchen.
She wouldn't let him help, so he could only game in his room—or message his other retainers. Each one was a precious feather in his wings; there would be no novelty-chasing or neglect.
He texted Akizuki Marina to tease her a bit, then set up a date in Akihabara for tomorrow afternoon. She agreed right away.
He was pulling up his contacts, thinking to chat with Yukino-chan or Haruno, when a pair of soft white hands slid over his eyes from behind.
"Guess who?"
The voice was bright, a touch absent-minded—and very cute. Hayashi Maki smiled.
"The hands are Rita's. The voice is Mashiro's, right?"
Rita let her hands drop with a click of the tongue.
"Tsk… so boring—you guessed too fast!"
Hayashi Maki grinned.
"I caught your scent."
Whenever he "snacked" outside, he always showered before holding Mahiru or the others. Every girl's scent was different—similar in sweetness, perhaps, but distinct enough for him to tell.
He slipped an arm around Rita's waist and pulled her in, planting a kiss on her cheek.
"Rita—when did you get here? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I wanted to surprise you two," she said, trembling slightly in his arms, her cheeks rosy.
Mashiro pouted, caught his hand, and pressed it to her waist. Hayashi Maki chuckled helplessly, then pulled Mashiro in too.
And enjoyed the warmth of soft fragrance and soft jade in his arms.