Just before class, Hayashi Maki finally wrapped up his "guidance" for Yumiko.
He deftly buttoned her uniform for her, smoothed her soft blond hair, and walked back to the room with her.
At her desk, Yumiko's cheeks were crimson. Scenes from just now kept flickering through her head. She couldn't believe she'd been so shamelessly affectionate with Hayashi Maki.
Her gaze fell on Shiina Mahiru beside her, and suddenly she felt guilty. Mahiru had already said clearly that she liked Hayashi Maki—yet she had just done that with him. Even if she'd been passive, what happened happened. She'd touched her friend's man.
That was betrayal—two-timing.
Yumiko took a deep breath and sighed. She held her head and tried not to think about it. It was that jerk who'd made the first move—he could be the one to explain.
When she entered the classroom, there was a shy smile on her face, which puzzled Hayato Hayama. Still, he felt relieved—since Yumiko seemed back to her lively self, there was no need to ask Yui and the others what was wrong.
While Yumiko's feelings tangled, Hayashi Maki returned to his seat in high spirits. He poked the slim waist of the girl in front of him—Kato Megumi.
She turned. "Maki-kun, what is it?"
Hayashi Maki's mouth curled into a mischievous grin. "Nothing. I just wanted to poke your waist. Mm—pretty soft."
Megumi's mouth twitched. Even knowing him fairly well by now, she hadn't expected he'd poke her just to poke. She'd thought he had something to say.
Cheeks puffing slightly, she kept her usual calm and said, "Maki-kun, that's harassment. I could call the police on you."
Hayashi Maki gave a sheepish smile. "Sorry. I just wanted to talk. It feels like no matter when, Megumi-chan is always so calm, like nothing ever grabs your attention."
Last time he kissed her, aside from her eyes widening a touch, there'd been no extra reaction—like an adorable, expressionless "three-nothing" girl.
Hearing that, Megumi warmed. She liked talking with him. Though he was full of shameless banter and borderline teasing, he made her feel seen—not a ghost student ignored by everyone.
Touching her cheek, Megumi sighed. "Can't be helped. I think I'm just naturally stoic. Even if you complain, I can't easily change that."
Hayashi Maki looked at her with appreciation and said gently, "You don't need to change. Just be yourself."
"Having few expressions is one of your charms."
A three-nothing heroine was plenty popular, after all. Hearing that, Megumi cupped her cheeks, a little giddy. "Really? Then… do you like it, Maki-kun?"
"I li— Ahem. Wow, Megumi, baiting me to confess? How sly!"
He gave a "saw through you" look. Megumi only blinked innocently.
While they were chatting, the bell rang. Nothing for it but to pay attention in class. Behind them, Gabriel propped up her textbook and gamed on a handheld—fallen angel indeed, never not playing. Hayashi Maki felt she was even more laid-back than he was; she didn't have to write for money and lived off Heaven's allowance. Kind of a great life…
Before he knew it, first period in the afternoon ended. Shiina Mahiru suddenly turned to Yumiko.
"Yumiko, do you have something to tell me? You kept glancing this way in class."
"Ah… um…"
Yumiko panicked, her cheeks burning. Mahiru's nose twitched—she picked up something off.
Leaning to Yumiko's ear, she whispered, "Yumiko, you smell… like Maki-kun."
Yumiko's whole body jolted. "D-do I? You're imagining it, right?"
Mahiru rolled her eyes. She was very sensitive to scents—especially to the one she knew best.
"Yumiko, come talk with me outside."
"…Okay."
During the break, Mahiru led Yumiko to a quiet spot.
"Yumiko, did Maki-kun make a move on you?"
She asked it straight out. Yumiko's face reddened; she lowered her head in shame.
"Mm." She nodded lightly, not daring to meet Mahiru's eyes.
Confirmed, Mahiru puffed her cheeks. "I knew it! I'd noticed that big jerk kept glancing your way."
Yumiko's heart gave a funny little thump—oddly sweet. Really? He hadn't been looking at Mahiru—he'd had his eye on her all along?
Seeing Yumiko's flushed face, Mahiru sighed, then took her hand.
"What do you want, Yumiko?"
"Mm… Mahiru, I… I don't know."
Yumiko looked up with a tangled expression. Mahiru changed tack. "Then another question—do you still care about Hayama?"
Yumiko's eyes dimmed. "Mahiru, I suddenly realized he never had those feelings for me. He just used me as a shield. Ridiculous—I thought I'd be the one standing at his side."
"I don't know what to do, but I can't face him the way I used to."
Mahiru hugged her gently. "Then just go with the flow. Worst case, dump the trouble on Maki-kun—it's on him to take responsibility if he 'bullied' you."
"As for Hayama… Hina and I already saw how he was brushing you off. We just didn't want to hurt you."
"Looks like, rather than letting you fall deeper and get hurt worse, it's better to be like Maki-kun and tell you now."
Yumiko was moved by Mahiru's kindness. "Mahiru… thank you."
"Don't. We're friends. If anything, I should apologize—sorry I didn't keep Maki-kun in line and let you get upset."
Yumiko flushed. "It wasn't… that upsetting. He… he was actually pretty gentle."
She'd hated him at first, but after that intimate moment at lunch, she'd begun to feel something special for Hayashi Maki. Still confused, yes—but she'd decided to start fresh, beginning with changing how she treated Hayama. From now on she wouldn't naively believe him; she'd keep her distance. There was no need to chase a man who didn't care and used her as a tool.
Being a "tool" wasn't inherently bad—if it got her what she wanted. With Hayashi Maki, as long as he treated her well and spoiled her, she didn't mind being "his tool." What she wouldn't accept was deception and brush-offs—that trampled her sincere, simple heart and insulted her pride.
Seeing the new resolve in Yumiko's eyes, Mahiru smiled and held out her hand. "Then please take care of me from now on, Yumiko. Let's get along well."
"Sure, Angel-sama—please take care of me!"
"Hey—why are you calling me that too? So embarrassing!"
"Heehee—because you really are as gentle as an angel. Even a girl like me can't help falling for you a little."
Yumiko giggled; the heaviness was gone, replaced by teasing. And it wasn't just teasing—Mahiru's warmth had moved her. She'd feared Mahiru would go cold and tear into "the other woman." Instead… Mahiru rolled her eyes.
"Don't say weird things. I'm not into girls."
"Into… girls?"
"It means a romance between two women."
"Ah! I'm not into girls either!"
Yumiko huffed—and then they both laughed, the air between them suddenly much lighter.