Kotonoha's gentle warmth gave Hayashi Maki complete satisfaction.
Soft and fragrant, the girl—so beautiful it felt like cheating—looked up at him with eyes full of tender dependence.
That filled Hayashi Maki with a fierce sense of accomplishment.
That night, his intimacy with Kotonoha broke past yet another line.
After a bout of wind and rain, Kotonoha was completely limp.
Her cheeks were flushed red, her expression shy yet full of joy, as she nestled happily in Hayashi Maki's arms.
Feeling the warm hand wrapped around her waist, Kotonoha rubbed her cheek lightly against his chest.
"Maki-kun, you're really… experienced…"
The faintly resentful tone in her voice made Hayashi Maki's heart stir, and he couldn't help laughing.
"Of course I am. If I wasn't, how could I make sure my Kotonoha has the best experience?"
Hearing him act like everything was all for her sake, Kotonoha secretly spat at him in her heart.
But she didn't argue—she only gave him a reproachful look.
"You just know how to sweet-talk girls. I don't believe you at all."
"Hehe, whether you believe me or not, from now on you won't be able to run away from me."
Hayashi Maki laid claim to her out loud, his gaze falling on her flushed skin and that almost impossibly alluring figure. He swallowed, desire flickering to life again.
Noticing the hungry look in his eyes, Kotonoha immediately remembered the shame of being handled by him just now.
Her pretty face burning, she lifted her arms and gently wrapped them around his neck, leaning closer as she murmured:
"I never said I wanted to run away. If anything… please let me stay by your side forever."
With those words, her feelings were laid bare.
Hayashi Maki took a deep breath and hugged her tighter, lowering his head to kiss her lightly.
"Don't worry. I'm a very greedy man. Once I've gotten something, I absolutely won't let go. Just stay by my side, Kotonoha, and let me protect you."
He called it protection—
But the kind of "protection" that ends up in bed really does make him a bad guy.
Hearing him, Kotonoha's heart filled with warmth again. She nodded hard.
"Mm… I'll always stay with you, as long as… you don't get tired of me…"
"How could I ever get tired of you? You really are too lacking in confidence."
Hayashi Maki sighed.
Because of the bullying and cold shoulders she'd suffered from classmates in the past, Kotonoha still carried a deep-rooted inferiority complex.
That kind of introversion could only be slowly healed.
He'd just have to compliment her more and help her rebuild her self-esteem.
Feeling the pity in his voice, Kotonoha's lips curved in a sweet smile.
"I'll… I'll work hard too. I want to become more confident…"
"Alright, I'll be watching."
Hayashi Maki smiled and nodded, then let a wicked grin slip out.
"Kotonoha, have you rested enough? It's still early—how about a bit more… exercise?"
Kotonoha's face instantly turned scarlet.
She shot him a shy glance, then ducked her head and buried it against his chest.
"Mm… I'll just do whatever you want…"
Seeing that pure and adorable face, Hayashi Maki swallowed again.
His hand slid down, coming to rest on her smooth thigh.
As she let out a startled little cry, he wrapped an arm around her and picked her up, carrying her over to the nearby chair.
"Then let me teach you some new 'knowledge', Kotonoha. You'd better study hard."
Hayashi Maki said it with a completely serious face, though his eyes were burning.
In the past, Kotonoha might have fainted from embarrassment already.
But now? Not at all.
She gave him a faintly seductive look, cheeks flushed as she gazed up at him and replied softly:
"Alright… I'll learn seriously."
What else could Hayashi Maki do?
When a girl is being that obedient, there's no reason to hesitate.
He began "instructing" his girlfriend in a whole new lesson.
…
The next morning.
After preparing breakfast for Kotonoha and Kokoro, Hayashi Maki went back to the bedroom and pressed a light kiss on Kotonoha's forehead.
"Alright then, I'm heading out for a bit. I'll make sure you can transfer to Hakuo Academy."
With that, he slipped away quietly.
Kotonoha's eyes opened at once.
She smiled, pressing her fingers lightly over the spot he'd kissed, her heart full of warmth.
"I'll be looking forward to it, Maki-kun."
Back to Hayashi Maki's side.
He returned to his own room.
As soon as he walked in, he saw a big lump under his blanket.
Leaning closer, he realized it was Mashiro and Rita.
Those two little brats had taken advantage of his absence to claim his bed, sleeping soundly.
Hayashi Maki could only smile helplessly. Watching the two girls cuddled together, their faces peaceful in sleep, he reached out and gently pinched their cheeks.
Pretty girls were pretty girls—no matter what angle you looked from, they were always so irresistibly cute and charming.
When they were sleeping, it made your heart race and gave you an urge to crawl in and sleep with them.
But since it was already late, Hayashi Maki didn't disturb them. After enjoying the softness of their cheeks for a moment, he quietly slipped back out of the room.
He headed to the kitchen, where Mahiru—her golden hair tied into a ponytail—was humming softly as she worked on the ingredients.
Just the sight of the angel in an apron, her back turned, was enough to fill anyone with a sense of peace and beauty.
Her snowy neck, paired with her slender frame, and from the side you could see the full, rounded arc of her chest beneath the apron.
So gentle, so beautiful.
To have a wife like this—what more could a man want?
Mahiru the little angel, cooking diligently every day, clearly still hadn't given up on her goal of raising him into a spoiled good-for-nothing.
Hayashi Maki took a deep breath and quietly stepped up behind her, as he always did, gently wrapping his arms around her.
His hands slipped around her soft little waist.
"Mm… Maki-kun, don't mess around, I'm cooking…"
Feeling his warmth, Mahiru's body trembled slightly.
Her cheeks flushed red as she shot him a reproachful look over her shoulder, then turned back to the cutting board.
"What's the problem? It's not like I'm in your way. Your back is just too pretty, Mahiru—so soft, so gentle it makes my heart flutter. I just want to hold you."
Hearing his sincere praise, Mahiru's heart warmed.
She didn't push him away again and let him hug her as she continued preparing the food.
"Then you're not allowed to get handsy, okay? Just hug."
"I'm quite busy today—not only do I have to prepare lunch boxes for you, Gab, and Mashiro, but also for Mafuyu-sensei."
At that, Hayashi Maki couldn't help laughing.
"Is Mafuyu-sensei embarrassed about it?"
"She was at first, of course," Mahiru said, smiling. "But under the relentless attack of my home-cooked meals, she's accepted it now."
"To be honest, I still find it unbelievable. Mafuyu-sensei looks like such a cool, dependable beauty, but she's actually bad at housework and can't cook at all."
~~~
Gracias!