Seeing Hayashi Maki turn stern, Kokoro puffed her cheeks in a mild sulk—but she obediently settled down to let him tutor her. It was their first meeting, after all. She had to know when to stop; if she clung too much and he started to dislike it, she wouldn't be able to act spoiled later.
"Maki-kun, Kokoro—have some fruit, and there's juice too."
Kotonoha came in carrying a tray.
"Oh, thanks." Hayashi Maki smiled, lifted a cup, and took a drink.
Kotonoha's cheeks warmed. She'd just taken the drinks from the fridge; she hadn't made them herself. Next time her mother came home, maybe she could ask how to make something properly.
Before they knew it, an hour had passed. Kokoro—who had been wriggling happily in Hayashi Maki's lap, kicking her slim legs—had fallen asleep. Hayashi Maki carefully lifted her, tucked her into bed, and pulled the covers over her tummy.
When he turned, he met Kotonoha's gentle gaze. He smiled, stepped out of Kokoro's room, and they moved to the sofa.
"Sorry, Maki-kun," Kotonoha said, scratching her cheek, a little embarrassed. "Was Kokoro too clingy? She kept you wrapped up for so long."
Hayashi Maki shook his head with a smile. "It's fine—Kokoro's adorable. With such a cute little sister, you should treasure her. But… she didn't finish dinner, did she? Is it okay for her to nap now?"
"Don't worry—she'll wake up and cook later," Kotonoha answered with a smile. Kids have energy to spare; she'd only gotten sleepy because she'd been concentrating so hard on her work.
"Oh? And you, Kotonoha—have you thought about cooking?" Hayashi Maki asked, half-teasing as he watched her expression.
Kotonoha ducked her head. "I don't cook as well as Kokoro does."
The truth was, she wasn't good at cooking at all—but she was too shy to admit it. Girls don't like showing weaknesses in front of someone they care about.
Sensing the cooking topic was touchy, Hayashi Maki steered away. "By the way, do you know our school's student council president?"
"Eh? Your school's president?"
"Yeah—Katsura Hinagiku. Same surname as you; I wondered if you were related."
In this crossover world, Shiina Mahiru had turned out to be half-sisters with Minatsu and Mafuyu Shiina. Maybe Kotonoha was connected to Hinagiku too?
Kotonoha covered her mouth in surprise. "You must mean my cousin. We haven't seen each other since her parents fled overseas to dodge their debts."
"I never thought she'd be at your school—let alone student council president. Amazing. Unlike me… just ordinary."
"You're not ordinary—beautiful and with a great figure is already special. Don't put yourself down, Kotonoha. It hurts the people who care about you."
"…Sorry. Even if you say that, I still don't have much confidence."
She glanced up at him, face pink, then looked down. Hayashi Maki leaned in and slid an arm around her waist. Kotonoha trembled—startled; her phobia around men flared. He didn't push it—just held her gently and watched her kindly.
"Do you dislike me holding you like this?"
"N-no… I don't dislike it. I'm just… not used to it. Maki-kun… when I face those bare, burning stares from men, I instinctively get scared. I don't dislike you."
He smiled softly and stroked her sleek hair. "It's okay. We'll take it slow."
With his arm around her waist and his hand in her hair, Kotonoha's heart sped up; her cheeks burned. She tensed—and then, seeing the warmth in his eyes, relaxed. She nodded lightly and let herself enjoy the gentle moment.
Inviting a man home at all was her way of acknowledging him. Getting a little closer now only made sense.
"Kotonoha, tell me more about President Hinagiku," he said suddenly.
Kotonoha pouted a little, then began sharing what she knew. Hinagiku had an older sister, Katsura Yukiji. Their parents had taken out huge loans and then fled abroad, leaving the two sisters behind. In that situation, with no guardians, they could easily have been snatched by loan sharks and pushed into "flesh work" to pay off the debt.
But Kotonoha's maternal grandfather had taken the sisters in, paid off part of the debt, and kept the underworld away. After that, Kotonoha wasn't sure—too long without contact.
Her own mother, Katsura Manami, was a workaholic often on business trips, rarely taking Kotonoha and Kokoro to visit their grandfather—so Kotonoha had no idea Hinagiku had become student council president.
To lead a student council at a top-tier school like Hakuō showed just how capable Hinagiku was. Hayashi Maki felt a twinge of envy—if he contracted with Hinagiku, his own abilities would skyrocket. Too bad that after their brief meeting behind the school, there hadn't been another chance. He should be more proactive—but with so many girls around, being a "time-management master" wasn't easy.
"Maki-kun… do you like Hinagiku-nee? Is that why you're asking?" Kotonoha asked quietly, anxious.
Hayashi Maki stroked her hair with a smile. "I just think if Hinagiku-senpai could rise from that background to be president, then you won't be any less. You don't need to be like her—just be yourself."
"…You'll be disappointed. You know my personality—I can't handle people like she can, much less be student council president."
"I'm not saying it to pressure you. You don't have to be president. Just be Kotonoha. You said you've been practicing kendo—show me sometime?"
"…Okay."
His reassurance sank in; she was a gentle soul by nature—if not for Ganluji and friends going too far, she wouldn't have talked back at all.
After a while, Hayashi Maki took his leave. Kotonoha, reluctant, stood to see him out.
Tomorrow, when Kanroji and the others apologized publicly, her situation might finally change. Even so, she still wanted to transfer—classmates' looks wouldn't change overnight, and she had no friends or attachments at Shinya Academy.