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"What's wrong, Shinka Nibutani—are you that curious about what's under Andrew's bed?"
Mahiru Shiina had noticed Mori summer's distracted gaze sneaking toward the same spot over and over, and couldn't resist asking.
Caught red-handed, Mori summer flushed with embarrassment. Whoever said Shiina was an angel? At times like this she was anything but! And on top of that, she called Andrew's name so affectionately—too affectionately.
Still, maybe she'd stumbled on a little secret here. Mori summer laughed awkwardly, then said with sudden seriousness,"Yeah, I am pretty curious. I mean, he's got so many manga stuffed down there. Boys' beds are always treasure troves, right? Don't tell me you and Kato aren't even a little curious what else Andrew's hiding?"
Mahiru hesitated, but the truth was… yes. She really did want to know more about his hobbies.
There's a saying: the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Well, she already cooked for him every day, so that part was covered. And when they were alone, Andrew's enthusiasm made it obvious he liked her back.
But still—she wanted to learn his secrets. What else was tucked away beneath that bed?
So, when she found herself crawling under with Mori summer, searching like they were on a treasure hunt, Kato Megumi could only watch, exasperated.
"Don't you think it's kind of rude to go digging through someone's things without asking…?"
"Don't say that, come help us! I found something big!" Mori summer waved her over.
Kato sighed, but her body betrayed her words—she slid under the bed with them.
After a long struggle, the three girls finally dragged out a long, bulky object.
And the moment they saw what it was, Mori summer froze, eyes wide. Mahiru and Kato both slapped hands over their mouths in disbelief.
Because it wasn't just a doll. It was an inflatable doll—one wearing a cheerleader outfit.
And its face? A perfect copy of Mori summer's.
So this was what it felt like to dig up a guy's secret stash… and find yourself staring back at you.
Her cheeks burned red, then white, then red again. Words failed her.
Mahiru, on the other hand, felt a pang of bitter realization. So in the end, the type he really wanted was someone like Mori summer? Ugh, why wasn't it her face printed on there instead?
Kato, ever the curious one, poked at the doll. "What's this? Wait—Mori summer, it looks just like you. Huh… kind of risqué, isn't it?"
"Ahhhh! Stop talking about it! I—I've got something to do, so I'll be leaving now! Just… put it back where you found it!"
With her face burning hotter than fire, Mori summer bolted. She didn't even care about hiding her own embarrassing past anymore—she just fled, yanking on her shoes at the door before vanishing.
Once she was gone, Mahiru sat there, blushing, trading a look with Kato. Neither knew what to say. But inside, Mahiru's heart twisted.
Even though she was here for him every day, Andrew still thought about Mori summer.
Hmph. Mori summer joining the club must've made him really happy, huh.
Kato, meanwhile, looked adorably clueless, like she couldn't figure out why Mori summer had run. She idly tugged at the doll, peeling off the full-body image on top—
And froze.
Mahiru's eyes darted over, and her chest tightened.
Because under Mori summer's layer was… Kato Megumi herself.
"Uh… Shiina, I just remembered—I think my relatives needed me for something. Gotta go, see you later!"
Kato shot to her feet and scurried out, disappearing in a flash.
Mahiru thought she'd seen it—Kato's slightly panicked expression. So… she actually knew what this life-sized doll was for?
Unbelievable. So the one hiding the most wasn't Mor summer after all—it was Kato Megumi.
When Andrew finally came home and saw only Mahiru waiting in the room, he blinked.
"Mahiru? Where are Kato and Mori summer?"
"Hmph. They left," she muttered, still sulking. Then she pointed at the doll. "Andrew, don't you think you should explain what exactly this thing is?"
Andrew didn't even flinch. With a straight face, he said,"Oh, that? It's a model I was planning to use for club activities."
"We are a creative club, after all. We can't just let months slip by without producing anything. If that happens, Teacher Kirsu Mafuyu might not even want to stay on as our advisor."
"That's why I decided we should work on making life-size figures. This one's just my practice model."
"Once I pull it off myself, I'll be able to teach you guys properly."
Mahiru Shiina listened, half skeptical, her eyes searching his face.
In the end, trust won out over doubt. She chose to believe in him.
"Alright, I'll trust you. But you'd better explain things properly to Katou and Nibutani tomorrow. Otherwise, you're going to lose two club members."
Andrew nodded with a smile. His gaze lingered on the lovely Mahiru, and then a mischievous grin crept onto his lips.
"Mahiru… since Katou and Nibutani left, why don't we switch to another kind of club activity?"
He pulled out a pair of white stockings and handed them to her.
"I've never seen you wear white ones before. Will you put them on for me?"
Mahiru's cheeks went scarlet. She shot him a sharp, playful glare, but still reached out and took them.
"Just you wait, you bad boy."
After enjoying the soft, tender charm of his angel in white, Andrew walked her back next door.
As it happened, her period had come today, so even if he had other ideas, there wasn't much he could do.
She also wanted to return to her own room and tidy up. Since her room was right next door, it would feel like a waste to always stay over at his place.
Besides, everyone—boy or girl—needs their own private space sometimes. When your emotions get complicated, a little solitude can help you settle down.
Being close doesn't mean sticking together every second. In fact, giving each other some space now and then makes things feel fresher.
Back in her own room, Mahiru looked down at her long, slender legs wrapped in white stockings, and her face flushed a deep, irresistible red.
"He really does have a thing for stockings and pretty legs… such a pervert."
But then her lips softened into a smile.
"As long as he keeps caring for me, spoiling me, and holding me warm in his heart, that's enough."
Mahiru's wishes weren't complicated at all. She only wanted a warm home, and someone who treated her gently. With that, happiness was complete.
That evening, while cooking dinner, she made sure to set aside a portion and carried it over to Andrew's apartment.
Later, lying on her own bed for the first time in a while, hugging her pillow, her face burned redder and redder with thoughts she couldn't quite chase away.
Meanwhile, Andrew finished enjoying Mahiru's lovingly prepared dinner and then slipped out—this time to see Haruno Yukinoshita.
As luck would have it, her younger sister Yukino ended up sleepless in the room next door again.
After helping Haruno replenish her "magic" and speed along the growth of the magic seed inside her, Andrew left.
His next stop: Asada Shino.
Shino had only just become his, and right now what she needed most was comfort. Naturally, he intended to give her plenty of attention—and guide her into discovering all kinds of new joys.
"..."
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