Saturday, the sun already high in the sky.
Blazing sunlight poured into the Hikigaya household.
"Mm-uhhh..."
Curled up in Hachiman's arms, the tiny, blue-haired, cute little mermaid Ellio felt the warmth on her skin. She secretly cracked open her eyes to check the situation on the bed. Seeing her companions, Elusi and Ayla, still tightly hugging Hachiman's arms on either side, she quietly shut her eyes again.
Pretending to still be asleep and unaware, Ellio rubbed her smooth, flushed cheek against Hachiman, and her soft lips accidentally brushed the corner of his mouth.
As the newcomer who had just moved into the Hikigaya home yesterday, Ellio and the other mermaid idols had received quite a lot of special treatment.
At dinner, everyone had shared some food with them.
When it came time to sleep in the morning, they were allowed to sleep right beside Hachiman, so they could blend into the Hikigaya household.
From now on, they were going to be part of the Hikigaya family. Naturally, veterans like Iris and Kaede had to be generous, giving the newcomers a little sweetness so they'd learn to respect their seniors.
But the mermaid princess Meroune, also of the merfolk race, didn't take part. She only peeked secretly from outside the room. Out of everyone, she was the only one whose bond and feelings with Hachiman weren't deep enough. She also had a rather unusual kink.
The problem was, Princess Meroune hadn't awakened her bloodline, so she couldn't walk freely. Moving around was troublesome. Luckily, maid Shion had gotten up midway to fetch food and drinks for everyone, or else Meroune would probably have been the first mermaid princess to risk death by dehydration.
Now, Meroune was probably resting in the special water-world room Lala had prepared for her. Originally, she'd wanted to build a basement as her home, but since the Hikigaya household was equipped with such advanced tech, subspace was much better than any basement. The only issue was that her room was on the second floor. So they still needed to add a water slide so Meroune could go up and down by herself.
The supposedly still-sleeping Hachiman opened his eyes, looking at the little animal-like Ellio pretending to sleep while sneakily taking advantage of him. He didn't call her out. Instead, he pulled his arm free from Elusi's tight grip and reached out to gently rub Ellio's small head.
He had actually woken up long before her. Earlier than all of them, in fact.
Demi-humans had better physical ability than ordinary humans, but they still needed rest.
And with his Ever-Improving and Service Aura buffs, Hachiman was basically like a game character who regained HP and MP by defeating enemies. He honestly didn't know what it would take to tire him out. Even if he did wear himself out for a moment, once he recovered he'd only become even stronger.
But he really was too busy all the time. From Monday to Friday, he was always occupied. Without the Ever-Improving buff, his epitaph might as well have been titled How the Service Club President Gave Aid.
Now, at least, he didn't have to worry about overwork. Each girl he helped gave him a different kind of feeling, and there was no reason to dislike it. But things had gotten a bit too wild. No matter how maxed out his Time Management Master skills were, he couldn't keep up. He needed moments like this: lying still, quietly enjoying the taste of sleeping in.
It was strange, though. In the world of fantasy tropes, hypnosis and time-stop were common setups, but he had never once run into them. Was it because Sobu High had too many beings with extraordinary powers already?
Sobu High wasn't just elves, dragons, shrine maidens, it even had demons, angels.
It was good that nothing troublesome had happened. But without running into time-stop plotlines, he couldn't complete any tasks that might unlock time-related powers.
All the rewards he'd gotten from tasks so far were tied to the roles involved.
"Mm-uhhh...", Feeling the warmth on her head, Ellio, still pretending to sleep, shyly shifted her posture. Her lower half unmoving, while her blushing upper body pressed closer against Hachiman's chest.
The president was really amazing.
She even started to wonder if he was secretly a dragon. No, that wasn't right, even Ursula, the dragon clan's chieftain, couldn't compare with him.
Last night, he'd helped so many people, only finally resting at dawn. And now, not long later, he was already awake again...
"Good morning, President~ What do you want to do today~?", Sensing Hachiman and Ellio's little movements, the cute pink-haired idol Elusi suddenly opened her eyes, rolled over, and leaned close to him, whispering playfully in his ear.
"Since it's Saturday, a rest day, does the President want to play with Ellio? Tomorrow's the actual idol event where you'll be helping us, but today we could do a rehearsal, how about it~?"
The tan-skinned, fiery-bodied gyaru-style idol Ayla also stopped pretending to sleep. Hugging Hachiman's arm, she kissed his cheek, then looked at the still-pretending Ellio and laughed aloud.
They had gotten plenty of attention from Hachiman last night, but their stamina had also been replenished just as much. Their bodies recovered fast.
After all, they had been holding back for a long time. Preparing for their idol event had kept them too busy to get daily help like Iris and the others at school.
If it weren't for Hachiman pulling through, giving them tons of aid in such a short time, their delayed merfolk transformation periods wouldn't have been suppressed. Their idol activities would have collapsed entirely.
"What do you mean play with Ellio? You two failed idols just want to mess around yourselves."
Hachiman shot a glare at Elusi and Ayla, pinching their fair, round cheeks.
They didn't need any "rehearsal." Sure, the three of them clung to him every chance they got, desperate to hang off him every day. But in the field of idols, they were the real deal.
Strictly speaking, mermaid idols were singers, songstresses with stunning looks and pure, clear voices.
But because of their demi-human identity, and because Ellio, like Iris, had become a goodwill ambassador between demi-humans and humans, their idol group of mermaid songstresses had gotten too famous. They'd become national idols of overwhelming popularity.
Not only were their songs and posters everywhere in town, they had fans all over the world.
No one would imagine that idols of such popularity were secretly worrying about turning male, constantly begging him for aid.
"Heehee~ Playing with Ellio or with all three of us is the same thing. We're one idol group, we advance and retreat together~"
Elusi didn't mind her cheek being pinched red. Instead, she snuggled up even closer to Hachiman, smiling sweetly down at him.
Failed idols? No way.
As idols, they had made countless fans smile with their songs. Right now, all she was doing was suppressing her transformation period, and releasing a little of her long-pent-up desire.
If she didn't ask the President for more help and accidentally transformed on stage, breaking her fans' image of her, that would be the real idol failure.
"Yeah, yeah! President, you can't just favor Ellio, we need your aid too!"
Ayla wasn't about to be outdone. She straightened her outstanding figure and chimed in.
Sure, they admitted the soft and delicate Ellio was adorable. So adorable it made you want to tease her. But in terms of individual popularity, Ayla and Elusi were neck-and-neck, while Ellio was on top.
Still, they weren't far behind. And their combined popularity as a trio was what mattered most.
"It's not like I don't help you two. Stop coming up with excuses."
Hachiman rolled his eyes at Elusi and Ayla. It wasn't like he hadn't taken care of them last night. Was the pressure of idol activities, without being able to date, really that heavy?
They weren't athletes, they didn't need massive physical training. Well... then again, mermaids were born natural swimmers...
"But Ellio really does get the most help~"
Ayla puffed her cheeks, glanced down at the still-pretending Ellio, then suddenly scooped her up, exchanging a signal with Elusi.
"President, you have to spoil us in turns~"
Catching on, Elusi smiled knowingly, comfortably sliding into the spot Ellio had just vacated.
Compared to Princess Iris and the others, they couldn't compete. Even compared to ordinary girls who were with the President at school every day, they weren't sure they measured up.
That was exactly why the President had to shower the three of them with affection, so they wouldn't sour against each other over favoritism.
With so many girls around him, the three of them had to work together to win enough of the President's love, that was their competitive edge.
"You two want me to spoil you more? Then you should just come find me more often. I've never stopped you from coming to me."
Hachiman kissed Elusi's smooth cheek, then poked the "pure-looking outside, lewd inside" mermaid idol in the face, a little speechless.
"Your idol work isn't that busy, right? Not just concerts, you only occasionally do interviews or promotions. You should have plenty of free time at school."
"That's true, but since even Princess Iris and the others don't monopolize you, how would we dare monopolize you, mmph..."
Elusi, still clinging to Hachiman's neck, flashed a smile wide as if she were high on sugar, then cheekily stuck her tongue out at Ellio, who had been peeking with half-opened eyes.
"Ellio, stop pretending to sleep. Ayla, don't tease her either. Come over here and play with us. You're living in my house now, right? Today I'll take you to see a live band venue. From now on, if you need help, just come to me directly. What you should be worrying about is whether you can handle it, not anything else."
Noticing Elusi's "sneaky snack" look, Hachiman turned to Ellio and Ayla and beckoned them over.
He had originally promised Nijika and the others that he'd take the Service Club to cheer them on.
But since it was Saturday, it wasn't just the Service Club, he could also bring Ellio and her group, Lala, Shion, Komachi... all of them could come experience the live house atmosphere.
"Mm... Sorry to trouble you, President...", Realizing her act hadn't fooled anyone, Ellio's face turned beet red. She shyly shifted her slender white legs, her flushed knees brushing against the sheets.
"The President told us to come already. Ellio, what are you still dawdling for?", Ayla, seeing that even after so much pampering Ellio was still shy, picked up her tiny frame and plopped her beside Elusi.
Then she herself hugged Hachiman tightly from behind. As she felt the overflowing life force radiating from him suppressing their transformation urges, she planted a kiss on his cheek and giggled, "That band's show isn't until tonight. We've still got plenty of time. How about we do something else first? Like... a photo shoot?"
"Yeah! Ellio was shy before and didn't want to do a swimsuit shoot, so Princess Iris had Princess Meroune cancel the plan. But Ellio definitely wants to take pictures for you. We could all shoot in pretty outfits! Next time you help us, we can project them on the big screen in our room, wouldn't that be amazing~?"
Hearing Ayla's suggestion, Elusi instantly caught her meaning and eagerly agreed.
They hadn't gotten out of bed yet, so they could still use their newcomer advantage to monopolize a bit more of the President's time. Once everyone else got up, that edge would vanish.
But if it was about taking daring photos, idols like them had a definite advantage.
Other girls had great looks and figures too, but only they had idol status.
Exclusive idol photos only the President could see. An exclusive idol shoot only he could join. Surely the President would be just as excited as they were.
"Yeah yeah! And we could pair the photos with our music, that'd be even better! Too bad you're immune to our singing voices, but we can still record our moaning voices and play them on loop in the room~"
Ayla and Elusi tag-teamed, pushing Hachiman toward agreeing to a photography party.
As mermaid songstresses at the peak of the idol world, their singing voices, infused with magic, could entrance hearts, control bodies, and stir deep desires.
Even if they couldn't charm the President, their voices were still beautiful.
Maybe he'd get even more excited watching their recordings while they sang.
"...Ellio, what about you? Would you let me take swimsuit photos and keep them?", Looking at the supposedly "airheaded cute" idol and the "lively gyaru" idol drooling on him like crazed fangirls, Hachiman pressed a finger to still their restless schemes and turned to the girl lying on his lap.
Actually, Shion had once brought up a similar idea. Setting up a big room at the Rurikawa mansion with a huge screen.
Elusi's idea was definitely doable. The venue, the equipment, everything was fine. But only shooting the three of them wasn't enough. Downstairs, with so many others around, it'd probably take from dawn till dusk filming them all.
Besides, today was supposed to be about the band's after-party after their successful show. Running a photo shoot behind Nijika and Bocchi's backs felt unfair to all their hard rehearsal.
"U-uh... I... I think it's okay... as long as the President likes it..."
The timid mermaid songstress Ellio swallowed hard, her eyes darting shyly. Her little face burned red as she avoided Hachiman's gaze.
"Photo shoot" just meant pictures, but the way Elusi and Ayla meant it, it was clearly not ordinary pictures.
Maybe not just swimsuits. Maybe even more embarrassing outfits would be pulled out for her to wear and pose in for the President.
But the President had spent so much time and energy helping them restart their idol activities without worry, without asking anything in return, and even welcomed them into his home.
How could she refuse to give him such a small benefit...
In fact, she wasn't sure anymore, was this giving him a benefit, or was it him giving her one...?
Lightly biting her moist pink lips, Ellio's watery lavender eyes fixed firmly on Hachiman, her shyness laced with a glimmer of anticipation, waiting for his command.
———
After scolding the three failed idols, Hachiman changed clothes and took them downstairs. By then, it was already noon.
In the living room, Iris, Aegis, Lumilia, Lala, Shion, Komachi, and the others were sitting together on the couch, eating and watching TV. Princess Meroune, being unique, wore a swimsuit and sprawled in a little inflatable pool.
The Hikigaya house was packed now. Even with Lala opening several subspace rooms, the living room was crowded when everyone gathered. The cheerful, sister-like atmosphere was nice, but this was the limit. No more people could move in.
When Lala's sisters Momo and Nana eventually came, or even her mother visited Earth, there'd be no place left for them.
Looked like he really needed to ask the landlord next door how many tenants that old apartment still had, and whether he'd be willing to sell. If not... Hachiman would have to find a way to break his bottom line.
Then they could renovate the building into something bigger, maybe add a large reception hall, that would be enough.
"President, you're up? Do you want some breakfast? With Ellio and the others being so cute, I thought you'd be sleeping in longer."
Sitting between Lala and Komachi, Iris turned to him with a smile and picked up a salmon rice ball from the table, offering it.
"Ellio is cute, but Iris, Lala, you're just as cute~"
Ellio and the other two, having eaten breakfast in bed already, sensibly went to sit near Princess Meroune. Hachiman walked over to Iris, scooped her up, and squeezed into the spot between Lala and Komachi.
Squished against Shion on the other side, Komachi rolled her eyes, glaring at her brother as he snuggled with Iris and Lala, laughing and chatting.
'Onii-chan is getting more and more depraved.'
'He came home late last night, then slept until noon today. Where is the slightest sign of a househusband?'
Did "househusband" for this scumbag brother mean being husband to multiple households? Honestly, it made her speechless.
But since even the princesses, Iris, Lala, and childhood friends like Kaede hadn't complained, she had no right to say anything either.
Shion, sitting with Komachi pressed between her and Hachiman, actually thought the scene felt pretty nice.
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