Listening to what Mahiru said, Hayashi Maki chuckled and couldn't resist teasing her:
"That's why nobody's perfect. It's totally normal to have things you're not good at."
"Take Yukino-chan, for example—she's a genius-level beauty, but she's completely hopeless when it comes to socializing."
"And you, Mahiru—someone this close to perfect is actually living in my house. I'm honestly way too lucky."
Hearing him praise her, Mahiru couldn't help feeling a little sweet inside.
She huffed in a tsundere tone, "So you'd better treat me nicely from now on. But I'm not that perfect, okay? It's just the image I deliberately put on."
"The real me is actually pretty selfish and petty, you know! Or rather, I'm just like Yukino—very small-minded and super vindictive."
Hayashi Maki leaned in and pressed a kiss to the back of her pale neck, tightening his arms around her slender waist just a bit.
"I'll definitely always treat you well. Honestly, if you keep this up, Mahiru, you're going to spoil me into a total bum—what am I supposed to do then?"
Mahiru shot him a plaintive look over her shoulder.
"You're so amazing, how could you possibly look like a bum? Hmph, I wish you'd be a little more useless. Then you wouldn't be able to attract other girls all the time."
"Uh… cough—about that attracting girls thing, I really can't help it. Mahiru, I'm doing it for this family, you know. I am a demon. The bigger this family gets, the more secure and protected we all are."
With the person he trusted the most—his angel—Hayashi Maki didn't hide anything about his demonic powers.
Mahiru listened, then rose on tiptoe and kissed him lightly on the lips.
"I know. I only complain sometimes for show. Let's work hard together and make this home even happier."
"But for now, I need to cook. Maki-kun, be good and go hang out in the room. I'll call you when dinner's ready."
"Alright, alright, I'm going," Hayashi Maki laughed, taking one last deep breath of her scent and kissing her cheek before reluctantly leaving the kitchen.
Mahiru's motivation shot through the roof. Her mood got even better.
Even though he'd been out last night holding Kotonoha instead of sleeping at home, being hugged like that just now washed away the last bit of unease in her chest.
With nothing urgent to do, and with some time before dinner would be ready—and not wanting to disturb Mashiro and Rita's sleep—Hayashi Maki headed up to the third floor, planning to wake Gabriel and drag her downstairs to eat.
He rang the doorbell a couple of times but got no response.
So he pulled out the spare key, unlocked the door, and walked into the girl's room.
What greeted him was a blonde girl in a tracksuit top and no skirt, fast asleep on her bed and snoring lightly.
The computer beside the bed was still on, showing a game screen—her character was AFK in some area.
Hayashi Maki's lips twitched. Gabriel had obviously stayed up all night gaming again.
So… had that inspection from Heaven finally ended?
Looking at the empty drink cans and tissues scattered on the floor, his expression turned a little strange.
He snapped his fingers, using magic to clean up the trash, then walked over to the bed and pinched Gabriel's soft cheek.
"Wake up, Gabriel. Time to eat."
"Mmm… don't wanna… still sleepy…"
She slapped his hand away, rolled over, and went right back to sleep.
Because she wasn't wearing a skirt, a pair of slender, snow–white legs were left completely exposed to the air, catching the light with a distracting sheen.
Hayashi Maki swallowed.
He'd already gotten to enjoy the legs of a certain demon onee-san.
But as for angels—while he'd hugged Gabriel and petted her head, savoring the silkiness of her hair, he'd never actually touched her legs before.
Without thinking too hard about it, he reached out and gently placed his hand on her smooth thigh.
"Ugh… quit it… I'm exhausted… Just call me when the food's done…"
Gabriel opened her eyes halfway, dead-fish gaze and all, glaring at the guy fondling her leg.
"Ahem. Gabriel, the food's almost ready. Maybe you should get up and at least brush your teeth and wash your face?"
He pulled his hand back like nothing had happened, keeping his tone perfectly serious.
Gabriel yawned, not seeming to care at all about him taking advantage.
"I don't wanna move. I finally got to grind dungeons all night again. Hayashi Maki, be a good person to the end and take care of me, okay?"
"Ahem… take care of you how, exactly?" Hayashi Maki tried probing.
Gabriel replied calmly, "Didn't you take care of Mashiro like that? Just do the same for me."
"Got it. Then I won't be polite."
Hayashi Maki scooped the angel girl up in his arms and carried her over to the sink to brush her teeth and wash up.
Then he washed her hair, changed her into her uniform skirt, and finally sat her down in his lap to carefully comb through the messy golden strands.
Before long, that frizzy blonde hair was smoothed into a straight, glossy curtain.
A freshly radiant—but still half-asleep—beautiful girl sat there in front of him.
Hayashi Maki nodded in satisfaction, took her small hand, and smiled.
"Alright, all done. Let's go downstairs and eat."
"Okay."
Gabriel nodded obediently, going down with him.
If you looked closely, you'd see a faint blush on her cheeks.
Obviously, she wasn't as calm as she pretended to be.
Trying out Mashiro's "spoiled pet" lifestyle for once—it really had been a spur-of-the-moment urge.
But now, after being dressed and fussed over by Hayashi Maki, thinking back to his hands on her, her heart was beating faster, with a strange mix of nervousness and excitement.
By the time he led Gabriel to her seat, Rita and Mashiro were already up.
Mai Sakurajima was there too.
Mahiru, smiling brightly, set out bowls and chopsticks, and everyone dug in.
After polishing off another hearty breakfast, lunch boxes packed, Hayashi Maki headed out to school with the girls.
When they arrived in class, Gabriel was still in full radiant mode.
Standing next to Mahiru, the two of them looked like a pair of angelic sisters, drawing countless stares.
Between classes, Mahiru went to the office and handed a bento to Mafuyu.
Mafuyu took the lunchbox, her expression immediately going stiff. She muttered a quiet "Thanks…," her cheeks flushing bright red.
As a teacher who'd secretly slept with her student's boyfriend, and was now eating a lunch made by that same student… everything felt weird and guilty.
Mahiru, however, just held her hand warmly and said with a smile, "No need to be so formal, Mafuyu-sensei."
"We're family now, aren't we? Besides, Maki-kun is really looking forward to you moving in at the end of the month."
Mafuyu almost broke right there.
"Um… can I say I regret agreeing to that? Can I not move in? Honestly, this kind of relationship just feels so weird!"
She tried to sway the gentle Mahiru.
But Mahiru only shook her head, still smiling.
"Nope. A promise is a promise—you can't go back on it. And I don't think it's weird at all. I really like you, Mafuyu-sensei. Do you… hate me?"
Mafuyu waved her hands frantically.
"Of course not! How could I hate you? You're practically an angel—smart, sweet, and so kind."
"Hehe, since you don't hate me, then let's just try our best to get along, okay? At lunch I'll have Maki-kun to come convince you too."
"Eh?! Why are you calling him over?"
Mafuyu's eyes flew wide, face turning bright red.
"Because Mafuyu-sensei is trying to break the deal. Better let him give you a proper 'talking-to'."
Mahiru said this with total seriousness.
Mafuyu's face fell.
"No, no, don't tell him! I'll move over quietly, okay? Just… just don't say anything to him. And I'm warning you now, I'll definitely be a bother. I'm terrible at housework…"
She poked her fingers together, looking more and more guilty.
"It's fine. I'll handle all the housework. See you later then, Mafuyu-sensei."
With that, Mahiru left the office and headed back to class.
Mafuyu rubbed her forehead and let out a long sigh.
"That brat… with such a considerate, adorable girlfriend, and he still dares to be a playboy. Unbelievable."
What made it so awkward was that she was one of his flings too.