"Who is that guy? He's so handsome!"
"He's gotta be Katsura-san's boyfriend. Yikes… he's boldly holding her hand!"
Classmates around them whispered as the pair walked off together.
Coming out of the gate behind them, Sekai Saionji and Setsuna Kiyoura also caught sight of Hayashi Maki holding Katsura Kotonoha's hand as they left intimately together.
Sekai was surprised—she knew Hayashi Maki. He often helped out part-time at her family's shop, playing escort when needed; every time he came by, her mom was delighted. But… didn't Hayashi Maki already have a girlfriend? Someone like Shiina—an Angelic Girl. So what was this?
Why was Hayashi Maki holding Katsura-san's hand? Was he cheating?
—
With Hayashi Maki:
As they walked, he watched Kotonoha's expression from the corner of his eye. Her cheeks were pink; she looked bashful. When their eyes met, she quickly looked away in a fluster. He found it adorable.
Smiling, he gave her hand a playful swing. "Katsura-san, me being this bold—by tomorrow your whole school will probably 'know' you've got a handsome boyfriend like me. Nothing you want to say about that?"
"Um…" She thought for a moment. "Thank you?"
"Pfft! 'Thank you'? And in a questioning tone?" Hayashi Maki blinked. "I am basically generating a rumor that you have a boyfriend. Doesn't that bother you?"
Kotonoha glanced at him shyly, feeling the warmth of his palm. Mustering courage, she answered earnestly, "If it's Hayashi-san, I won't mind."
A girl like her—reserved—longs for someone strong to protect her. Hayashi Maki fit every one of her hopes: handsome, gentle, attentive, ready to step up and punish those who bullied her—and mysterious to boot.
Hearing that, Hayashi Maki stared at her angelic face, a little dazed. "If you say that, I'll take it seriously."
"I'm not lying," she murmured, looking down. "Do I seem like a girl who tells lots of lies to Hayashi-san?"
"Er, no—that's not what I meant. Didn't I say it already? I think you're gentle and beautiful. If we went on a date…I'd be too happy to sleep."
(And if he couldn't sleep… he'd only think about doing bad things.)
Her heart pounded at his open confession. Even so, with her hand held tight, she gave a tiny nod. "Mm."
Hayashi Maki arched a brow. Was that a "yes"… or just acknowledgment of the idea?
He let it go and asked, more seriously, "Kotonoha—have you thought about transferring schools?"
He switched to her given name naturally. Her face burned, but she didn't resist. She peeked at him and answered softly, "I have. But I've been here so long I'm used to it. If I switched to a strange place… I might not adapt."
"With me here, what are you afraid of?" He smiled. "Transfer. That place isn't right for you—too many bad people."
"…Okay, Maki-kun. I'll try talking to my mom."
The shyly intimate Maki-kun put him in a better mood. Fingers tightening around hers, they continued toward the station.
"Nothing you want to ask me?" he said.
Of course she knew what he meant—the 'heaven-fire' punishments. She shook her head and answered seriously, "I am curious. But if Maki-kun doesn't want to say, I won't ask."
She feared that if she asked, he'd leave her—and she'd slide back into a life of sidelong looks, despite having done nothing wrong, bullied by jealous classmates. The suffocation of it made her chest tight.
Hayashi Maki stroked her hair. "Just like that serial killer on TV—the ones struck by heaven's fire are all bad people. Do you believe that, Kotonoha?"
"Mm. I believe you."
Even if he were a demon—she believed him. He was the only one who'd reached out and shown her kindness. She treasured that.
Meeting her steady gaze, he chuckled. "Honestly, when you're this well-behaved, I almost feel guilty about doing bad things to you."
Kotonoha flushed, curiosity peeking through. "W-what… bad things does Maki-kun want to do to me?"
He raised a brow, smiling wickedly. "Take you to a hotel and do things only adults do—and it was 'you' who invited me, remember."
She shot him a mortified look. "That wasn't my message. You know that—teasing me about it is so mean."
"…Hah. Let's see if you ever hand your phone to someone again."
"I won't," she said with a serious nod—still so obedient.
—
Before long they stopped before a luxurious residence. Kotonoha pressed a finger to the reader and opened the door.
"Maki-kun, would you… like to come up?" she asked nervously. She'd gathered her courage: he'd walked her home; it would be rude not to invite him in.
"Can I? I won't be intruding?"
He looked delighted. "You're not—Mom isn't home. It's just me and Kokoro."
"Kokoro? Your little sister, right? I'm curious—how cute is she?"
"Maki-kun… say that to someone else and they'll call the police on a pervert."
"Haha. Would you call the police, Kotonoha?"
"I wouldn't. Come in—there are slippers here."
Cheerful now, she led him through the entryway and called inside: "Kokoro, I'm home!"
A petite girl with a single side-pony came darting in. "Welcome home, big sis! Huh—big sis got all hard today."
She nuzzled her cheek against a firm set of abs.
That's right—she'd launched herself straight into Hayashi Maki's arms. And she'd done it on purpose.