Hearing the girl ask cautiously, Yukinoshita Yukino put down the miscellaneous book in her hand, glanced lightly at the three problematic girls currently present, then silently picked up her teacup and sipped some calming and spirit-soothing green tea to stabilize her mood.
Her eyes gazed out the window in a daze, and she didn't speak.
———
[7 P.M., At The Hikigaya Household]
"Onii-chan? Why did you come back so late today? You promised you'd cook tonight, remember?"
Komachi sat on the sofa with her smooth, fair thighs crossed, arms folded, staring straight at the just-returned Hachiman and the girls like Iris, puffing up her adorable cheeks.
She and Shion had returned home early, taken their baths, and were just waiting for her brother to come back and cook.
But now it was already dark, and her brother was just getting back with Sister Iris and the others.
Though she didn't want to control what her brother did, and she also hoped he'd participate more in club activities and make more friends, was there really that much to do in the Service Club? Even sports clubs that required heavy training ended earlier than this. He must have been playing wildly outside with the girls.
At this rate, she felt like her brother would start staying out all night, and then home wouldn't be home anymore, and she wouldn't be a little sister anymore either.
"Don't be mad, Komachi. I came straight from school. The Disciplinary Committee needed my help with something, so I was busy until now. Kaede and the others just got back too."
Seeing Komachi getting a bit temperamental, Hachiman could only explain briefly to keep her from overthinking.
"It might be like this for a while. If I'm too busy to get back in time, I'll tell you and Shion in advance."
Today's club activities had indeed gone on for a long time, from school ending at 3 p.m. until nearly school closing time. He hadn't even managed to check in with the girls' swim team.
However, the results were clear. Asai Saki, Sakurai Hana, and Usui Makoto, the three Disciplinary Committee members, were all very satisfied.
If Iris hadn't prepared in advance and had the elven girls help escort them home, he might still be out right now helping each of them, whose legs had gone weak, get back safely.
Of course, today was actually faster than expected. Originally, he thought it would last until late at night, but due to the effects of the Service Halo, every girl's physical condition had improved significantly, the stronger they were, the greater the boost.
But apparently, the Service Halo had some unmentioned side effects. When facing him, their physical boosts transformed into happiness boosts, their stamina seemed better, but for him, it made them easier to deal with.
Combined with the effects of the Empathy Bracelet and the Sympathy Wristbands, he managed to wrap up everyone in the Student Council office in less than four hours, ending today's Service Club activities with even Iris and Lala fully satisfied.
"Is that so... I thought you all went out with Sister Vignette. So it was school stuff…"
Hearing Hachiman say it was because he was helping the Disciplinary Committee, Komachi was momentarily stunned, looking at him and the girls behind him, Iris, Aegis, and the others, with great surprise.
She didn't doubt her brother's behavior at school. Kaede was the student council president, and Sobu High's strict school rules were well-known even at her own school. But because of its high deviation value and university acceptance rate, its clubs were also very strong, everyone still loved applying to Sobu.
Like Shion, before moving in with them, she had aimed to get into Sobu. But with her excellent grades, she didn't even need to take the exam to get recommended admission, while Komachi wasn't so sure. If she wanted to become her brother's kouhai and join the Service Club to go to and from school with him every day, she'd have to study hard.
"I didn't see Vignette today. And Gabriel even took a leave. They didn't come over tonight either?"
Hachiman walked over to Komachi and Shion, squeezed in between them, and sat down. He reached out to hug Shion's shoulder, lifting her still-damp black hair from her shoulder to gently smell it.
"No, Sister Vignette didn't come by with groceries today either. But Komachi and I already bought ingredients and prepped everything together, so dinner won't take long."
Being treated so intimately by Hachiman in front of so many people, Shion's pale cheeks turned an even deeper, rosier red. Still, she didn't resist. Instead, she leaned even more obediently into Hachiman and answered softly.
Iris and Lala sat nearby, watching TV while giggling at the shy Shion.
They'd monopolized him enough at school; now they wouldn't fight Komachi and the others over their brother.
Of course, not everyone was giggling happily while watching Hikigaya tease Shion.
"You're teasing Shion the moment you get back. Don't you see how starving she and I are? You promised you'd cook tonight!"
Komachi puffed up her cheeks, annoyed, and used her little foot to kick Hachiman.
She really didn't get why everyone was getting along so well, the female classmates at school, the Service Club members, the princesses from another world, every one of them trying to please her brother.
Logically, girls like Kaede should be the jealous type, right? But instead, it was the highest-status girls like Iris who spoiled her brother the most.
"Alright, I'll cook now. After dinner, I'll bring some food over to check on Vignette and Gabriel."
Hachiman withdrew his hand from Shion's collarbone, pinched Komachi's cheek gently before walking to the kitchen with a grin under her pouting protests.
He had to go see what was up with the two of them. Even if they were "fallen," only Gabriel should be slacking off, why was Vignette also avoiding him now?
Was last night's experience really that stimulating? They hadn't even been part of it directly, it shouldn't have had that much of an impact.
"Hachiman Onii-sama, I'll help too!"
Shion, who had been silently enjoying Hikigaya's affection, quickly pulled up her loose top that exposed her collarbone and got up to follow him into the kitchen.
"Didn't you already bathe? If you cook with Onii-sama now, you'll have to shower again later."
Seeing Shion about to go help even after being "taken advantage of," Komachi pouted and grabbed her arm to stop her.
"Uh... I'll just wash up again if I get oil stains..."
Shion murmured while sneaking a glance at Hachiman's back.
Hachiman worked so late at school, he must be exhausted. This was the perfect chance to rub his back and massage his muscles, to help him relieve some of the fatigue.
"...", Komachi rolled her eyes wordlessly.
There was no saving her. Shion was completely devoted to her brother. Even if her brother hit or yelled at her, she probably wouldn't leave, instead, she'd try even harder to please him.
Thankfully, her brother, though a bit of a flirt, was still very responsible. Iris and the others got along well with Shion, too. Shion probably wouldn't even have to work in the future, just staying home and happily keeping her brother company would be enough.
"No problem. It's just some oil smoke. A cleaning spell will easily remove it. Lumilia, you go help too."
Seeing this, Iris patted Lumilia's thigh and winked at her.
"Mm! Shion, let's help the Savior cook together!"
Lumilia understood immediately and rushed over, pulling Shion along to help Hachiman.
In pure combat ability she wasn't great, but outside of that,.healing magic, support magic, and various life skills, she was very good at them.
Now that she had the chance to help and let the Savior taste her cooking while deepening their relationship, this was exactly what she wanted.
"I'll give you two some reward first."
Seeing Lumilia's flawless face flushed red and Shion biting her cherry lips in shyness as they stepped up to help, Hachiman chuckled and gave each girl a strong kiss on the cheek before starting dinner.
Lumilia helped out while secretly feeling overjoyed. Indeed, Sister Iris understood the Savior. Just helping with dinner got them deeper into his heart.
She had already devoted herself with Lala last night. Of course they'd kissed, face kisses, and even ones deep enough to nearly suffocate.
But that kind of kiss and this kind of kiss were different. That time was about desire; this time was about affection.
No doubt, this light kiss now held more sincere emotion than those before.
Shion was used to it. She wasn't as excited as Lumilia, helping Hachiman smoothly and skillfully.
Hachiman Onii-sama liked her more and more, treated her better and better, and she felt the same, liking him more and more. Even if she really became his younger sister, she'd still willingly stay by his side.
But things were already perfect as they were, she got to enjoy both the treatment of family and that of a lover.
"Hmph hmph hmph..."
Watching the three of them cook together in the kitchen, whispering sweetly and clinging tightly, Komachi could only puff up her cheeks and hum softly while continuing to watch TV with Iris and Lala.
Lala didn't react much to the kitchen noises, she focused on the live-action magical girl show currently trending on TV.
Though the fire-wielding magical girl protagonist was no match for her, she still watched with excitement and cheered during transformation and battle scenes.
Seeing Lala mimic the transformation poses on screen, Aegis looked on with a strange expression.
Her thoughts were too pure, even purer than most elves, despite her great strength.
But maybe that was exactly why, despite being so powerful, she never tried to compete for the club president. Instead, she stood alongside them in protecting him.
"Speaking of which, Elio and the others should be about ready. It's almost time to take the president out for some talent agent games…"
As the magical girl show ended and a commercial for a mermaid idol concert aired, Iris nodded thoughtfully.
Elio and the others hadn't been at school the past few days, they were busy finalizing their agent and preparing the concert. They were probably itching to return and recharge with the president.
When they eventually took the president out to do idol events, she'd also take Lumilia and Aegis to tag along, they couldn't let Elio and the others monopolize him.
Soon, thanks to the trio's efforts, a rich dinner was ready, and the delicious aroma drifted from the kitchen to the living room.
Hachiman, Shion, and Lumilia were all experienced cooks. Even though Lumilia wasn't used to the local cuisine, with his and Shion's guidance, she picked it up quickly.
Since Iris and the others had just eaten not long ago, tonight's dinner was simple, there weren't too many dishes.
Though "simple" was relative, in truth, it was still very rich. Ever since Iris and the others came to the Hikigaya household, their overall lifestyle had risen significantly.
'Onii-chan really lucked out, he snagged rich older sisters, and not just one or two…', Komachi looked at the rich dinner on the table and the uniquely charming super beauties around Hachiman, and sighed silently.
She wasn't sure if it was good or bad. Not every girl was non-jealous. If her brother ever upset a really jealous girl, their home might become even more chaotic.
At the dinner table, Hachiman had Aegis sitting on his lap, with Shion and Lumilia, the two dinner MVPs, on either side.
Yes, on his lap wasn't the petite Iris, but the tall and voluptuous Aegis.
Iris, Lumilia, Lala, they were either a bit dark-hearted or a little pervy, extremely enthusiastic and forward, all bold in their own ways.
On the other hand, Aegis, despite seeming direct, was quite reserved, always pushed forward by Iris.
At school, he couldn't care for her so openly, so now he made sure to show her attention while eating, to prevent her from feeling left out or unbalanced.
"..."
Komachi watched as the dignified, cold Aegis was manhandled by Hachiman, silently enduring all teasing, and even had to take turns feeding him together with Shion and Lumilia, and rolled her eyes.
No words. No comment.
Maybe it was exactly this equal treatment from her brother that prevented any conflict, letting everyone coexist peacefully and happily.
Then again, the most important thing might be that he evenly "shared his love", everyone was satisfied.
Thinking that far, Komachi's face flushed red. She hurriedly lowered her head to eat her rice, not even picking vegetables, stuffing her mouth full of white rice.
Iris saw this and her smile grew wider.
After dinner, Hachiman watched some more magical girl TV with Lala, starring pure idol Kirizaki Kyoko, then picked up a bento he had set aside and said to the others:
"I'm going to the next apartment over to check if Gabriel and Vignette are feeling unwell. You all stay here and watch TV or chat, I'll be back soon."
"Mm-mm! Hachiman, hurry back! Tonight we're playing games again!"
Lala nodded obediently, but her words made almost everyone's faces flush, and they all looked at Hachiman with shy, expectant eyes.
They were going to play that game again tonight? It might be another all-nighter…
"Uhh… Let me come back and take a bath first, then we'll see."
Facing Lala's passionate, all-night invitation, Hachiman had no objections, but he still didn't know why Gabriel and Vignette missed class.
If it was because he played too wildly with Iris and Lala, and they couldn't take it. Doing it again tonight might really push Gabriel into full corruption.
———
Ding Dong~ Ding Dong~
"Gabriel? Are you home? I brought dinner, open up."
In front of Gabriel's rental apartment door, Hachiman held two bento boxes, pressing the doorbell while calling inside.
He was certain Gabriel was home, whether she was corrupted or not, the only two places she ever went were school and home.
At this hour, if she wasn't home, was she working a part-time job?
If she was short on money, she could ask Vignette or him for help. Next week was allowance day, it was impossible she'd skip school to work, much less be out at night.
But even after ringing for a while, Gabriel didn't open the door.
"Read but not replying, huh…", Hachiman pulled out his phone. The message he'd sent earlier to Gabriel showed as "read," confirming she was home and avoiding him.
When he didn't want to reply to messages, this feature annoyed him. But now that he was the one waiting on a reply, he found it quite useful.
"Thunk!"
"Vignette… Miss Hayami?"
At that moment, a door nearby opened. Hachiman thought it was Vignette coming out before he could knock.
But when he instinctively looked to the side, he saw it wasn't Vignette's door, it was the one on the other side of Gabriel's.
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