"Today's P.E. is free play—do whatever you want."
"Okay!"
"Shichen-sensei, play tennis with us?"
"No, badminton with us!"
"You girls, move—Shichen-sensei should play basketball with the guys."
"What'd you say?"
"Yeah? Come say that again!"
"Alright, alright—cut it out. I'm not playing today. It's way too hot," Shichen said with a grin, stopping the brewing argument.
"Eh? Boo—"
Shichen wandered to the seats along the gym wall and sat down. Immediately, Avrora and the others ran over.
"Shichen!" Avrora, shameless as ever, dove into his arms.
He had no choice but to catch her, pinching her cheek helplessly. "It's sweltering. Why are you pouncing on me?"
"Hot? I don't feel it." Avrora scooted until she found a comfy position on his right thigh, looped her arms around his neck, and cuddled close.
"In front of everyone? Aren't you worried what your classmates will say?"
"They've known for ages."
"Have they? You weren't like this before."
"Humph~ Before is before. Now is now."
"Funny, for someone with such a thin skin…"
Smiling, Shichen shook his head, then looked toward Nagisa and the others. His gaze rested on Himeragi Yukina. "You're the new transfer, right?"
"Yes. I'm Himeragi Yukina," she said, standing straight and answering a little nervously.
"Heh, no need to be so tense. I'm only the P.E. teacher."
"R-right…" Yukina slowly relaxed.
"Where's Kanon? She didn't come today?"
"No. Kanon took the day off," Nagisa replied.
"I see…"
"Something wrong?"
"Nothing… Nagisa, you made friends with Himeragi pretty fast."
"Of course. She's new to our class. I should look after her a bit."
"You're like a little grown-up." Shichen reached out and mussed her hair.
"Hehe~ Sensei, do you not like 'little grown-ups'?"
"It's nice. Nagisa, you're so caring—you'll make a perfect wife and mom someday."
"Perfect wife and mom…"
Eyes sparkling, Nagisa blurted, "Sensei, do you like being taken care of?"
"Who doesn't?"
"Got it!"
Yukina blinked at the overjoyed Nagisa. Her attitude toward Shichen was… very obvious.
She probably didn't know he was the Fifth True Ancestor, right?
But the Fifth didn't seem like a bad person. Everyone clearly liked him.
"Alright, aren't you going to play? Why hang around your teacher?" Shichen tried to ease Avrora off, but she clung tightly.
Funny—at night, when he "checks on her development," she curls up like a hedgehog.
"Don't feel like moving," Kaguya said, shaking her head.
"That's not like you," Shichen said, puzzled.
Kaguya didn't answer. She just met his eyes, a touch of reproach in her gaze.
"Ahem. Don't rush it, okay? There's a time and a place. You know how closely Natsuki's watching," he said, helpless.
The short version: Shichen had gotten a little too carried away "checking Kaguya's development" in the living room while Natsuki was out—only for Natsuki to come home right then.
There she was, in front of them, and there was Shichen's hand inside Kaguya's shirt, her chest pushed up—and Kaguya letting out a breathy little sound.
Natsuki was furious, to say the least. Since then she'd tightened supervision, not letting Shichen be alone with Avrora and the others—
even tagging along on nighttime ice cream runs.
If he could do that at home, she didn't dare imagine what else had happened before.
Thankfully, she could tell Avrora and the others were still untouched.
"If we don't hurry, Enatos will beat me to it," Kaguya muttered, pouting.
Aside from her and Avrora, Enatos was the boldest with Shichen—alarmingly proactive.
"I promise, okay? You'll be first."
"Really?"
"I won't lie to you."
"…Alright."
"Um, Sensei, what are you two talking about?" Nagisa asked, curious.
"Nothing much," Shichen said with a shake of his head.
"Oh…"
Nagisa didn't buy that. Their conversation didn't sound innocent, and she wasn't a child who understood nothing.
So unfair—Avrora and the others had home-field advantage. She had none.
P.E. ended, and Avrora and the rest headed back to class without clinging any further.
Shichen didn't make a move to approach Himeragi Yukina either—if she'd shown up here, he hardly needed to seek her out.
After school, Shichen went home with Avrora and the others. Natsuki had left early for magus-enforcer work.
She'd probably be back soon, so there wasn't much he could do.
On the way, Shichen was surrounded by Avrora's group—twelve identical, fairy-like young women were bound to draw stares.
Not that it was new; people still couldn't help looking, but they were getting used to it.
Closest to Shichen were four: Avrora, Kaguya, Enatos, and Prote.
Enatos liked Shichen to begin with—she'd long envied how he doted on Avrora and the others.
Avrora was full of gratitude; Shichen had saved her and returned her rib.
As for Tritos and the rest, they were a bit stiff—knights guarding their king.
Whatever Shichen did to them was fine by them—and they b"Enatos!" Avrora was a step too slow and lost the spot, glowering.
"Hehe~" Enatos stuck out her tongue triumphantly, then tugged Shichen's arm around herself.
"Let go of Shichen!"
"Nope. First come, first served."
"You do this every day. Can't you let us have a turn?" Prote came over too.
"Maybe try moving faster? Not being proactive about Shichen is your problem."
"Hmph. Let's see how cocky you are when Natsuki gets back," Kaguya snorted.
"Pfft—no way she's back that fast."
"Is that so?" a calm voice sounded out of nowhere—and a petite girl in a black gothic lolita dress appeared in the room.
"Natsuki!" Enatos yelped and scrambled out of Shichen's arms.
"Hmph." Natsuki glanced at the unruffled Shichen.
"You're back," he said, casually sitting up.
"Pretty cozy, aren't we?"
"Not really—just resting a bit after getting home."
"Could you at least act like the master of Itogami Island?"
"I never said that. Outsiders did," he denied.
"Go brew me some black tea."
"Deutera is brewing—"
"The tea is ready," Deutera said, walking over with the pot.
"…" Natsuki looked at the expressionless Deutera, then at Shichen's faint smile, and said nothing. She sat and tasted the tea.
"Not bad. Temperature and taste are just right."
"Nice work, Deutera," Shichen said with a thumbs-up.
"Mm." Deutera smiled slightly.
These days, Deutera and the others handled all the housework, and Shichen had completely relaxed into it.
It wasn't that he was forcing it on them—they were a little lost in such a peaceful life, so he gave them things to do.
They seemed to like it.
"Natsuki, what'd you do today?" Shichen asked.
"What else—dealing with demons nosing around to 'investigate' the master of Itogami Island," she shot back.
"Ahem."
"By the way, someone moved in across the hall. It's been empty forever."
"Really?"
"You know anything about it?"
"How would I?"
"You act like a prophet."
"I'm not a god… I'll go check."
Shichen stood, stepped out, and rang the bell across the hall.
"Who is it?"
The door cracked open. A very familiar voice sounded, and a cute face peeked out.
"F-Fifth True Ance—ah—!"
Himeragi Yukina jolted, took a step back, and caught her heel on the threshold, landing squarely on her backside.
She was still in her uniform—and in that pose, the view under her skirt was, unfortunately for her, completely unobstructed to Shichen.
~~~
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