The Next Morning
By the time Hayashi Maki woke up, Mahiru was no longer in his arms.
Faint kitchen sounds drifted through the air. Mahiru, dressed in an apron, was humming a cheerful little tune while preparing breakfast.
Once everything was ready, she took off her apron and quietly tiptoed back into the bedroom.
Seeing Hayashi Maki still fast asleep, she bent down and gently poked his cheek with her finger.
"Time to get up, Trouble-san. It's already morning, and don't forget—you've got something important today."
Without thinking, Hayashi Maki reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist, rubbing his face against her chest like a spoiled cat, taking in her sweet scent and how incredibly soft she felt.
"Mmm… come on, don't start. The food's gonna get cold."
Mahiru's cheeks flushed as she watched his shameless behavior.
Just thinking about what happened last night made her heart skip again. She gave his chest a light push and murmured, "Seriously… quit fooling around and eat already."
Hearing her soft protest, Hayashi Maki smiled contentedly and finally let go.
After getting up and freshening up, he sat down to enjoy the breakfast Mahiru had made. Every bite was perfect, warming both body and soul.
For someone who had literally come from another world, being taken care of by such a sweet girl was bliss. Pure, domestic bliss.
Which only made him more determined to protect this happiness.
Once he finished eating, Hayashi Maki changed into a relaxed but neat outfit and turned to Mahiru with a smirk.
"What do you think? Good enough to meet with an editor?"
Mahiru stepped in close, gently fixed his sleeves, gave him a once-over, and pouted.
"The only problem… is that you look way too good. I wish you were just a little uglier."
That way, he'd be hers and only hers.
Maybe if she kept feeding him hearty, nutritious meals every day, she could fatten him up a bit.
Then no other girl—especially not someone like Asada-san—would dare look at him with those sparkling, puppy-dog eyes again.
Hayashi Maki chuckled and leaned down to kiss her forehead.
"Alright then, I'm heading out. I'll swing by the convenience store later to help with your shift."
Mahiru nodded shyly but looked a little worried.
"You're a professional author now… is it really okay for you to waste time working with me?"
"It's totally fine. Today's just a meeting to go over the contract—more about confirming my spot at the company. It's not like they're handing me a paycheck today or anything."
"But convenience store work? That pays immediately. And it's relaxing."
"Besides," he added, "I don't trust you working there alone. What if some creep like Kurata starts creeping again? I've gotta be there to keep an eye on you."
Mahiru puffed her cheeks. "I'm not some helpless damsel, okay? I've taken Aikido lessons."
Hayashi Maki raised an eyebrow and gave her a teasing look.
"Oh? Then why didn't you use your Aikido moves on me?"
Mahiru's face went red, and she gave him a little punch in the chest. "You—! You totally ambushed me! I didn't even have time to react!"
Hayashi Maki caught her little fist and kissed it gently, then pulled her into a hug, running his fingers through her golden hair.
"Yeah, I'm the worst," he said softly. "But the moment I saw you, I was already in love."
"And whenever you're ready to talk about that night… I'll be waiting."
"…Okay."
Mahiru gave a small nod, burying her face against his chest as her heartbeat quickened.
Being near him gave her a sense of security that was addictive.
"Well, I'm off. See you later."
He gave her one last affectionate head-pat, then stepped out the door.
First step toward becoming the king of light novels: taken.
…
Once Hayashi Maki left, Mahiru originally planned to walk to the convenience store with Aoyama Nanami.
But Nanami smiled and declined—she had an audition at a voice acting training agency today.
Meanwhile, Hayashi Maki—
After hopping on the train, he arrived in Akihabara and headed into a maid café. Finding a seat, he ordered a coffee.
With time to spare before his meeting, he pulled out his laptop and got to work.
A short while later, the editor he'd scheduled to meet—Machida Sonoko—finally arrived.
And the moment she spotted Hayashi Maki, her eyes sparkled.
Wow… what a good-looking guy.
Tall, lean, sharp eyes, with jet-black hair and a calm, mature aura—he looked like a protagonist straight out of a manga.
Was his light novel MC modeled after himself?
Machida took a deep breath, put on her best professional smile, and walked over to him.
"Hello! You must be Kurosora Twilight-sensei, right? I'm Machida Sonoko from Fushikawa Bunko. It's great to finally meet you!"
She extended her fair hand with a practiced grace. The fitted black suit and sleek skirt made her look like she belonged in a fashion magazine.
Hayashi Maki smiled back, shaking her hand with equal poise.
"Nice to meet you too. I'm Hayashi Maki—pen name Kurosora Twilight. Pleasure's all mine, Machida-san."