"Whew… whatever," Takumi muttered. "No point overthinking it. When that 'imaginary body' shows up, everything will be clear."
As soon as he let the thought go, a message from Hitagi Senjougahara popped up on his phone.
[Pervert-kun~ I've already moved in, you know. The least you can do is come celebrate.]
"Mm." Takumi replied with "On my way," then took just a few quick steps to reach Hitagi's apartment door.
He rang the bell immediately, staring at the door like he was about to pounce.
Tap, tap, tap—
Footsteps approached, and the door opened.
Senjougahara appeared in an oversized trench coat, smiling at him with a seductive curve to her lips.
"Pervert-kun really can't wait, can he? You got here so fast~"
"Of course," Takumi said, leaning in with a grin. "I've already waited long enough."
He lowered his head and kissed her.
The sweetness on her lips was addictive, and the air itself seemed to turn pink.
Hitagi twisted her waist, then gently pushed him back, giving him a languid, teasing look.
"You impatient demon. At least taste my cooking first."
With that, she took his hand and led him inside.
Candlelight flickered softly, turning the room intimate—almost dangerously so.
A delicate spread was laid out on the table, all of it made by Hitagi herself. She pulled Takumi into his seat, then poured two glasses of red wine with practiced elegance.
"A little drink shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"Of course not," Takumi said, lifting his glass. "This is to celebrate you moving in, Hitagi."
He downed it in one go, and Hitagi followed suit.
After a few bites, the warmth of the wine seemed to rise to Hitagi's cheeks. A faint, tempting flush spread across her face.
"Mmm… it's hot," she breathed, fanning herself lightly. Then she loosened the trench coat.
In the next instant, a glimpse of black lace—bold and breathtaking—slid into Takumi's view.
His breathing turned heavy.
Hitagi noticed his gaze and, instead of hiding, slowly pulled it lower—like she was rewarding him for looking.
Stockings with garters hugging her thighs, black lingerie outlining every curve with merciless precision… she didn't leave him a single chance to pretend he was fine.
Takumi couldn't take it anymore.
He surged forward, swept her up, and pulled her into him—making sure she sank fully into the moment with him, no room left for escape.
The air tightened. The space between them filled with pressure so intense it made both their breaths catch.
Only then did Takumi realize something—Hitagi Senjougahara could be just as petty as everyone said.
With a trembling, slightly watery look, she clung to him and murmured, "Pervert-kun… you're already inside the house, so shouldn't you come inside properly too…?"
Takumi's voice dropped into a rough, amused hush. "So that's what this is?"
"Mm… Pervert-kun," Hitagi whispered, her smile shaking a little even as she nodded. "You're already the master of this home. Everything here… is yours."
Her eyes glimmered—partly from the heat, partly from the sharpness of the feelings crashing through her—and yet she still smiled, like she'd decided she'd take every bit of it and call it a win.
"Pervert-kun…"
She called him by the name that belonged only to her, like someone reaching for a single lifeline at the edge of a fall.
Takumi didn't waste her sincerity.
He held her tightly, steadying her, guiding her—dragging her along a thrilling, unsteady path that left her breathless and shaking, the whole journey turning into one long, dangerous rush.
Hitagi's reactions were way too eye-catching—so much so that Takumi had to keep her firmly supported, or she might have actually collapsed from the intensity of it all.
And then, at last, the long climb ended.
As if they'd reached the peak of the world.
Hitagi lifted a trembling hand, as though she could touch the sky itself.
"This feeling…" she whispered, eyes fluttering shut. "It's like I've… already ascended~~"
Takumi wrapped her up, stroking her heated skin and smoothing her black hair, soothing her the way you'd comfort a child—gentle, patient, possessive in the quietest way.
He could tell Hitagi had a certain… thing about being protected, about leaning on someone strong enough to hold her up completely.
Maybe it was her childhood. Maybe it was all the missing warmth she'd learned to pretend she didn't need.
Either way, Takumi didn't mind.
Upstairs, Karin had that same kind of strength-on-the-outside, fragile-on-the-inside vibe too.
Two roses that looked tough until you got close enough to see how much they needed shelter.
Takumi was more than willing to be the one who guarded them.
By dawn, dew gathered softly on the petals.
"Morning, Hitagi," Takumi murmured right into her ear—using his own very particular way of saying good morning.
Hitagi tried to pretend she was asleep, but a small whimper escaped her anyway. Face burning, she lightly pushed him away.
"No… I'm too tired. I just want to sleep. And today's a school holiday—I'm not wasting this precious time."
She sounded like she'd surrendered to the universe itself.
Takumi nodded, then placed a broom in front of her.
"If you're really that tired, I won't bother you," he said calmly. "But you still have to clean up properly… my good girl."
Hitagi's whole body trembled at the words, eyes instantly turning wet.
The good girl switch flipped so hard it was honestly kind of terrifying.
Even exhausted, she forced herself upright and cleaned—using what little strength she had left—until everything was spotless, gleaming under the morning sun like it could reflect light.
"So good," Takumi said, patting her warm, flushed cheek like a reward.
He left her a huge cup of breakfast milk and two slices of bread, then got up to leave.
He was just about to go make breakfast for the others—go around and feed them one by one—when a communication magic circle suddenly unfolded in front of him.
The next moment, Serafall's projection appeared.
The second the call connected, she blurted out, "Takumi-kun! You caused a huge stir!"
"Huh?" Takumi frowned, completely lost. "Hold it—stop freaking out and explain it properly. What 'huge stir' did I cause?"
Seeing him still playing dumb, Serafall reminded him, "Your affair with Rias… and the thing with Riser… it's already spread everywhere."
"…"
Takumi froze, looking genuinely incredulous.
Riser… you don't care about your reputation at all?
A dozen questions surged up in his head, but what he finally asked was the one that mattered most:
"Does Sona know? You're her sister—why are you acting like you're just here for the drama?"
"Of course she knows," Serafall said brightly, like she was watching a comedy show. "But she said she's basically immune now, because she heard that at school you've already dated—what—more than ten girlfriends? So your affair with Rias is honestly small-time compared to that."
She leaned closer, grinning. "And as for me? If Sona doesn't mind, why would I, her big sister, get mad?"
Takumi stared at Serafall's cheerful face and felt a million percent unconvinced.
You're a hardcore sister-con. No way you're not angry.