As Kurata was dragged off like a beaten dog, everyone was left stunned.
Mahiru froze for a second, then quietly grabbed a broom and began sweeping up the two bloodied teeth left on the floor.
Although Hayashi Maki's sudden outburst had startled her, her trust in him outweighed her fear.
She believed that Hayashi Maki would handle the situation properly—she only needed to wait for the result.
This guy... surprisingly dependable.
Asada Shino, meanwhile, was deeply moved—Hayashi Maki had saved her again.
Or more accurately, he'd seen her getting humiliated and bullied again.
Feeling conflicted, Shino quietly grabbed a rag and wiped up the blood Kurata had spat onto the floor.
A nearby male employee twitched at the sight, a little freaked out.
She's really wiping up the evidence so calmly after something like that?
What's going to happen to Kurata-senpai...?
But as he looked at Kurata, half-conscious and missing teeth, a strange sense of satisfaction bloomed in his chest.
Why does it feel so good to watch that jerk get beaten up?
Oh, right. I was one of the kouhai he bullied too.
Never mind then. Hope he gets smacked around a few more times.
Muttering to himself, the male clerk—Takagi—saw Shino put away the rag and quickly called out:
"Asada-san, don't worry about this task. This was supposed to be Kurata-san and my job in the first place."
His face flushed with guilt.
Saying that now felt like too little, too late.
Why didn't you speak up when Kurata was pushing his work onto her in front of everyone?
Takagi didn't even dare look the girls in the eyes, afraid of seeing the contempt in their gaze.
"Come on, Asada-san, let's sit behind the register for a bit."
Mahiru gently led Shino over with a warm smile.
"Okay…"
Shino couldn't help but smile in return, feeling as if she'd been healed by an angel.
Sitting down, she looked a little tense.
She took a deep breath and asked softly:
"Shiina-san… you and Hayashi Maki-san, do you know each other?"
She couldn't help recalling how Hayashi Maki had gently stroked Mahiru's hair—something about it stung.
Mahiru nodded slightly.
"Mm. He's my neighbor, and we're also classmates."
Hearing that, Shino felt a flicker of joy.
So they're just neighbors and classmates? Not dating? That means… maybe I have a chance too?
Mahiru leaned in curiously.
"Asada, what Maki-san said earlier—is it true?"
"Yes… it's something that happened when I was a kid."
Talking about the past was painful, but Mahiru's sincere expression made it hard to refuse.
So for the first time in a long while, Shino opened up to someone. She told Mahiru about how she had accidentally shot and killed a bank robber when she was a child.
After listening, Mahiru grabbed her hand and spoke seriously:
"Those spreading rumors are terrible! But really, Asada-san, why didn't you explain yourself?"
"You should've stood up for yourself instead of letting them bully you."
Shino lowered her head, clearly disheartened.
She had wanted to explain—but when everyone looked at her like a criminal, like a murderer, what else could she do?
Her mother had transferred her to a different school and then stopped caring altogether.
She had no one left to rely on but herself.
Mahiru seemed to understand—she, too, had a complicated family life.
Even though she came from wealth, she didn't feel a shred of belonging in that house. Her parents treated her like an afterthought, sending her money and a maid but nothing resembling love.
But she was lucky.
She'd met Hayashi Maki.
He protected her, warmed her heart.
Asada-san, on the other hand, had to bear everything alone.
"Um… do you think Hayashi Maki-san will be okay? There should be security cameras in here…"
Shino hesitated, asking with concern.
Mahiru also felt a bit worried but smiled and replied calmly:
"Don't worry. Leave it to Maki-kun. I trust him."
A few minutes later—
Hayashi Maki walked in, now wearing a store uniform.
"Yo, I'm back. Problem's solved."
Wiping his hands, he strolled over to the girls and grinned.
"After a very thorough lesson, Kurata-senpai finally realized the error of his ways and voluntarily went home to reflect. In exchange, I'm taking over his shift for the day."
Mahiru rolled her eyes at him.
As if.
No way Kurata would reflect on anything willingly.
Shino didn't buy it either.
In fact, she had a different suspicion—had Kurata been "dealt with" permanently?
After all, those three thugs from the other day—Endo and his crew—hadn't shown up to school since…
Seeing the two girls' skeptical expressions, Hayashi Maki didn't explain.
Instead, he just got to work, helping move boxes to the storage room, and then joined the girls behind the register.
As for Kurata, Hayashi Maki had beaten him half to death and left a portion of hellfire-generated demonic magic in his body.
If the guy ever got any wicked thoughts again, Hayashi Maki could trigger it remotely—and blow up his heart.
If Kurata wanted to keep living… he'd better behave.
…
After finishing some writing, Hayashi Maki checked on his familiar, Mahiru—and discovered she'd gone out for a part-time job.
Coincidentally, Asada Shino was working at the same store. So was Aoyama Nanami.
And Kurata?
That guy had the audacity to leer at Mahiru and shove his own duties onto Shino?
Naturally, Hayashi Maki couldn't let that slide.
So he stormed the store, and everything that followed… well, that was just the result.
As for security footage?
Not a problem.
He could use his magic to falsify video.
After all, demonic magic is mysterious and powerful—and thanks to his "Physique," it could evolve in diverse ways.
That's the foundation of his ability to grant wishes: his demonic power, shaped by a body built to cast all kinds of impossible spells.
~~~
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