"I'm home, Miharu."
Sliding the door open and stepping into the entryway, Kirisu Mafuyu called inside.
At once, Miharu—apron on and all—came running out. "Welcome back, big sis!"
Smiling brightly, the girl hurried up to greet her. But when she spotted Hayashi Maki behind her sister, her expression changed.
Hayashi Maki, as if noticing nothing, smiled and waved. "I'm here for tutoring again, Miharu-san. Good afternoon."
Miharu rolled her eyes. She badly wanted to ask: Is that really tutoring with my sister? She might be innocent, but she wasn't a fool. Still, out of respect for her sister, she didn't challenge him; she simply nodded to show she understood.
Mafuyu, for her part, blushed and looked a little guilty. In front of her honest little sister, she felt her conscience prickling. If Miharu ever found out that Hayashi Maki's so-called "tutoring" usually ended up on the bed… that cool big-sister image would shatter on the spot.
A little later.
Miharu eyed the closed bedroom door, hesitating. She pressed an ear to it, trying to eavesdrop—nothing. She pouted. "Is the soundproofing that good? Not a peep. That's not normal."
She couldn't exactly barge in, so she retreated to the couch to watch TV. A news segment popped up—about her.
"Genius girl selected as a figure-skating trainee for the national program…"
She couldn't help preening. "The road my sister didn't finish… I'll keep going!"
Meanwhile, in the room:
Breathless, Mafuyu curled against Hayashi Maki. She pinched his arm. "Ow—attempted murder? What was that for?"
He feigned an exaggerated wince. "Hey, I barely felt that."
She shot him a look, then huffed and finally said what she'd marshaled her courage to say. "Brat. You do not lay a finger on Miharu, understand?"
She was one thing. She'd already been completely won over, and she couldn't get away from him. She felt something for him now. But Miharu? Absolutely not. She was her most precious little sister. The idea of both of them "being played" together felt wrong on every level.
Hayashi Maki sighed. "I've always respected Miharu, and I haven't made a pass at her. Why the panic?"
"Hmph. How could I not? You're terrible—and a shameless flirt…"
Mafuyu jutted her lip, tone full of grievance. Even though Mahiru had been kind to her, it still felt strange to be this chummy with her own student's girlfriend.
Hayashi Maki kissed her lightly. "All right, all right—I won't make a move on Miharu. But if she makes a move on me, you can't blame me."
"What are you even saying? Why would Miharu make a move on you? I told her to keep her distance—you're a little menace!"
Hayashi Maki's expression turned odd, but he let it go, thinking to himself: girls have a way of doing the opposite when told. The more Mafuyu forbade Miharu, the more curious Miharu might get…
"Hey, did you hear me?" Mafuyu grumbled when he drifted off, giving him a gentle punch. He caught her small fist and hugged her tighter.
"I heard you. Don't worry—your sister is my sister too. Little sis-in-law, right? I won't bully her. And if you insist I keep my distance, I can. I only run into her when I come here anyway—and she'll be at school soon, so it's not like we'll cross paths much."
Mafuyu rested her cheek on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "Because your philandering is famous. And you're indecent. And a huge jerk!"
"To hear you tell it, I pounce on every pretty face."
"I'm staying vigilant. It's the safest option."
Hayashi Maki put on a wounded face. "Ouch. That hurts my heart. You'll have to comfort me properly or I'm not leaving."
Mafuyu startled, then hurriedly nudged him. "Fine, fine—I'm sorry. Hold me for a minute and then go, okay?"
No way could she let him stay overnight; Miharu would definitely catch on.
"Hmph, as you wish. One more hug… Mafuyu, you're too cute."
Her cheeks flushed. He stroked her face and leaned in. Mafuyu's lashes fluttered; she shyly closed her eyes.
No surprise—his lips touched her pink ones. He savored the quiet sweetness of the moment.
Yes, she'd call him indecent, but at times like these she was utterly obedient. The contrast was impossible to resist.
Mafuyu felt her face burning. With a mix of shame and anticipation, her white arms rose to circle his neck, pulling him closer.
From there, everything flowed naturally. Only when she had completely run out of strength did Hayashi Maki reluctantly release her, leaving a soft kiss on her forehead.
"All right—then I'll go for today. Don't forget: moving day at the end of the month, Mafuyu-sensei."
"Got it, brat!" she shot back, closing her eyes with a tired little smile tugging at her lips.
No matter what she said, being longed for by her man, being expected—it filled her with sweetness. Her resentment over his wandering heart had been cut in half.
The guy really knew how to make a girl happy.
He was far too practiced at it.