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After finding out that the person Mahiru Shiina cares about isn't Hayama Hayato, Yumiko Miura clearly let out a breath of relief.
Right after that, the four girls started chatting away, laughing sweetly from time to time, drawing the attention of nearly every guy in class who couldn't help but sneak glances at them.
These four were basically the peak of beauty in the class — a group of cute girls like that is bound to stand out.
Even Andrew couldn't help but steal a few glances, quietly admiring them in his head.
All of them are top-tier candidates for future contracts.
Given the chance, he definitely wasn't going to let it slip by.
Especially Yumiko Miura — a girl that beautiful having a one-sided crush on Hayato? What a waste.
And clearly, Hayato didn't see Yumiko as someone worth dating either. You could tell just by watching how he usually acts.
He was still imitating Miss Yukinoshita Haruno's people-pleasing style, being the "central heater" of the class and trying to warm up the whole room's atmosphere.
Speaking of Haruno, Andrew couldn't help but remember her younger sister Yukinoshita Yukino — who, just like him, had the bad luck of getting hit by a car at the beginning of the school year and ending up in the hospital.
Andrew had a feeling he'd soon get the chance to connect with Haruno, and through her, he'd be able to reach the comatose Yukino.
Earlier this morning, when he established a magic channel with Mahiru Shiina, he discovered a strange new ability within himself.
It was a unique wish-granting power — part of his demonic instincts.
Of course, this wasn't about him wishing for stuff.
It was more like, when someone else had a really strong desire, they could wish for him, as a demon, to appear and make it come true.
But there's always a price for getting your wish granted.
The cost depended entirely on what was being asked for.
Focusing his thoughts, Andrew called up his demon development interface again.
Here's what it showed:
[Player: Andrew (Newly Awakened Demon)]
[Contracted Follower: 1. Mahiru Shiina (Super beautiful, angel-like girl who's sweet and kind. Special ability currently incubating.)]
[Demonic Ability: Super Regeneration (Can heal even if his head's cut off. Using magic speeds up recovery. Can be upgraded further once Mahiru Shiina awakens her own ability!)]
[Physique: Mage (Grants enhanced aptitude for magic, including basic demon skills like Hellfire.)]
[Demonic Wish Count: 0 (Player's authority is too low to detect any wishes yet.)]
So now, Andrew finally had a clearer understanding of his powers.
The condition for upgrading his super regeneration had changed — it was no longer about unlocking Mahiru's emotional walls, but about nurturing her potential and helping her awaken her own special power.
After all, Andrew's current healing power came from Mahiru's gentle, angelic heart. So naturally, to power himself up, he had to help her level up first.
In simple terms, when he established that magic channel with Mahiru, he planted a "magic seed" inside her.
As her magic grows, her body will be reshaped by the energy, allowing her to handle greater power. Once it reaches a certain point, the seed will blossom, and she'll awaken her own ability.
As for the "Demonic Wish" part — that's basically the ability to hear other people's wishes.
Probably just girls' wishes, though.
Why? Because Andrew only tunes into the desires of top-tier cute girls — the ones who could potentially become his contracted followers.
While he was lost in thought, Megumi Kato, who sat in front of him, suddenly turned around and said:
"Hey Andrew, it's time to hand in the math homework. Nibutani's waiting."
"Oh, got it. Here, can you pass it forward for me, Kato?"
Andrew quickly pulled out his workbook and handed it to her.
It wasn't a big ask, so of course Megumi Kato didn't mind.
She stacked her own homework with his and gave them to the boy sitting in front of her, who passed them forward until they reached the front row.
Nibutani Shinka — she was the class rep of Year 1, Class B, so naturally collecting homework was her job.
Thanks to the help from classmates, she didn't have to walk around, and just stood up front collecting the stack before heading to the office.
Smiling brightly on the outside, Nibutani was actually screaming inside:
"My time has finally come! I, Nibutani Shinka, will erase my embarrassing chuunibyou past and climb to the top — starting as class rep, then rising step by step until I become the student council president!"
Too bad Andrew didn't have enough contracted followers yet. Only one. His authority was too low to hear more people's wishes.
Otherwise, he definitely would've picked up on that dramatic inner monologue.
But he was close.
Soon, Andrew would unlock the basic authority of a demon — and become someone who could grant the wishes of beautiful girls.
Hehe… and those wishes? They don't come free.
Before he knew it, lunchtime had rolled around.
The students with friends went off to find a spot to eat together.
The loners, who didn't want others to see them eating alone, went off to eat in the bathroom.
Andrew had planned to eat lunch with Mahiru today to build up their bond a bit more.
But unfortunately, she got invited by Yumiko Miura and the others, and chose to stay in the classroom for lunch.
With no better option, Andrew left the classroom and found himself a quiet spot to eat.
Naturally, his lunch was made by none other than Mahiru Shiina.
With such a sweet and angelic girl taking care of him so well, Andrew couldn't help but think he was gonna turn into a complete freeloader someday.
He didn't have to cook, didn't have to clean — Mahiru had it all under control.
All he needed to do was keep making her happy and continue warming that angelic heart of hers.
The spot he picked? The school rooftop.
But when he got there, someone was already there.
A girl — silver hair, green eyes, tall and slender, with a high ponytail.
Her face was cold but pretty as hell, her skin pale and flawless, and her long legs were wrapped in black thigh-high socks.
No doubt about it, she was just as pretty as Yumiko Miura.
"You done staring yet?"
Saki Kawasaki threw him a cold line after noticing his eyes sweeping over her from head to toe... and then back up again.
Andrew answered seriously, "With all due respect, no, I'm not done."
Saki paused, stared at him for a moment, then wordlessly finished the rice ball in her hands, turned around, and walked away — not even glancing back.
She'd been there first anyway. But now that someone had barged in, she decided to just let the guy have it.
She was done eating, after all.
Andrew watched her slim figure as she walked away, a glimmer of appreciation in his eyes.
"She's got personality. I like that."
He recognized her instantly — Saki Kawasaki, another heroine from Oregairu (My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU).
Though she wasn't in Class B, she was a first-year student in Class C.
"..."
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