Saegusa Mayumi walked around the tea table. Stepping over the fair, damp legs of Tohsaka Touka and the others in her short boots, she sat sideways on Hachiman's lap with her legs together. She blinked at the Tohsaka sisters, Rin and Sakura, who were staring straight at her, then smiled as she wrapped her arms around Hachiman's neck.
"But aren't there still a lot of activities today? Suzuka said everything at the hot spring inn is ready to receive you. When are you planning to head over and rest there?"
"Suzuka sent you instead of coming herself?"
Hearing that Kijou Suzuka had sent Mayumi over, Hachiman was a little surprised. He held Mayumi closer and lowered his head, lightly nibbling at her small cherry-pink lips.
"Suzuka... Suzuka and the others are still making preparations at the inn. We've prepared... delicious... chefs for you, Club President... to serve you delicious... food..."
Looking at the face so close to hers, Mayumi caught her breath and tightened her arms around him. She leaned close to his ear and refused to back down, gently biting him in return.
Although the venue for this hot spring trip had been provided by the tourism giant Kijou Group, and most of the staff from the merged hot spring inns had already become members of the Kijou family, making it unnecessary to send many of their own people there, that didn't mean they couldn't contribute in other ways.
The hot springs were ready.
The poster girls were ready.
Even the staff were already in place.
The accompanying "guests" were all members of the Service Club.
But what about the food to go with a hot spring inn? Ordinary cuisine wasn't worthy of an event on this scale.
The Service Club already had a family restaurant, and quite a few maids regularly prepared meals, drinks, and desserts.
However, their cooking was only generally excellent, not truly exceptional.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, they could bring these beautiful chef girls into the Service Club and have them prepare meals for future service games.
———
"Suzuka's that busy... Mayumi, are you ready? What are you planning to cosplay as?"
Hearing that Kijou Group's young lady, Kijou Suzuka, was still at the hot spring inn making preparations for him, Hachiman slowly stroked Mayumi's soft thigh through her thin black pantyhose with one hand while gently lifting her delicate white chin with the other, leisurely lowering his head to look at her.
Mayumi usually wore a gentle smile that made her seem like the perfect daughter of a financial conglomerate in every way.
But nestled in his arms now, that gentleness and elegance had turned into shyness and fluster.
"Revealing my cosplay in advance would be against the rules of the game. Besides... this is my first time trying cosplay. I don't even know whether I'll do it well... P-Please let me keep it a secret from you for now, Club President."
Seeing that Hachiman wasn't giving her a chance to recover, gently yet firmly forcing her to enjoy this embarrassment, Mayumi's charming face grew even redder. She had no choice but to pretend to stay calm and maintain her graceful appearance.
But as Hachiman's hands continued studying her black pantyhose, she found herself blinking more and more often, unable to keep her breathing steady.
His forcefulness was wonderful and exactly what they wanted.
After all, Hachiman wasn't someone who usually took the initiative. If he also refused to be a little forceful, they wouldn't even know how to offer themselves to him.
That said, besides not taking the initiative, there was another thing about him that was both embarrassing and exasperating.
He liked discussing serious matters while doing decidedly unserious things.
There were usually several people watching as well.
Whether he was simply making full use of the time or just enjoyed teasing them over their little weaknesses, it wasn't really a problem since service games happened frequently and everyone took turns becoming the center of attention.
It just made newer members, who hadn't yet gotten used to it, excessively shy.
Experienced members would boldly display their abilities at times like this, letting everyone else see the gap between them.
In that regard, Mayumi felt she still lacked experience.
She wasn't mature enough yet.
"Then what about Miyuki? She's joining the hot spring convention too, isn't she? Secretly tell me what she's cosplaying, and when the time comes I'll let her experience exactly what you're feeling now."
Seeing that Mayumi still wasn't willing to reveal any information, Hachiman continued chatting with her about serious matters without rushing things.
If Shiba Miyuki hadn't already devoted herself to him, she might still have been conflicted.
But Miyuki had already been on the table together with Mayumi and Yukinoshita Yukino.
There was no way she'd stay out of this service game now.
Even if Miyuki wanted to, Yotsuba Maya probably wouldn't allow it.
The human side's factions were different from the demi-human factions.
Most of them probably weren't as eager to become pregnant, but the Yotsuba family likely wanted Miyuki to bear his child so that child could inherit the Yotsuba family.
"I'm not telling... B-But the Yotsuba family head... said she's interested too. She'll be joining the cosplay... together with Miyuki. I wonder whether you can guess... what they're going to cosplay, Club President."
Unable to help herself, Mayumi gave Hachiman a reproachful little bite. Resting against his shoulder, she had to speak much faster than usual, or a single sentence would take forever to finish.
Who... Who would tell on someone in front of so many people...
If she were going to tell him, she'd definitely do it... privately... with Hachiman!
"It... might... not... be... the... most... suitable... choice... but... Club President... you'll definitely like it..."
"How could I not? But Maya and Miyuki's cosplay... I really can't imagine it."
After Mayumi finally loosened her bite, Hachiman simply smiled and looked at her, quietly admiring the mixture of embarrassment and delight on her flawless face as she gradually came back to herself.
Shiba Miyuki was something of a brother fanatic.
Simply making her call him "Big Brother" wouldn't be nearly as interesting as role-playing with her shyly calling him "Elder Brother."
Hmm... If Yotsuba Maya was participating, would Miyuki's mother, Yotsuba Miya, be joining too?
Would they cosplay as two mothers and a daughter?
Or would each of them choose characters from different works?
If they picked characters based on their personalities, appearance, or abilities, he might be able to guess.
But if wigs, padding, tails, makeup, and other accessories came into play, there would be so many beautiful girls that he'd probably be dazzled.
Unless he held them close and studied them carefully, he genuinely wouldn't be able to tell.
"That's your little punishment for not answering my question. Next time I ask something, answer honestly. Understand?"
After waiting for a while and seeing that Mayumi had finally given in and curled up quietly in his arms instead of continuing their serious discussion, Hachiman smiled and brushed the sweat-damp black hair away from her cheek.
"..."
Mayumi said nothing.
Her burning face rested against Hachiman's chest as she curled limply into his embrace, eyes tightly shut while trying to steady her breathing.
She had no desire to meet the gazes of everyone around her.
A little punishment?
If she'd answered honestly, there probably would have been a little reward waiting for her instead.
What truly left her embarrassed, confused, and flustered, however, was her own reaction.
She was the only one here.
There was no Shared Sense or Empathy placing someone else's heightened sensitivity onto her.
So why was she still like this?
She'd tried her best to stay composed.
This wasn't even the first time she'd recognized Hachiman's capabilities.
So why couldn't she hold herself together?
She had researched everything Hachiman had done after gaining his special abilities and had grown to admire him for helping so many people tirelessly without asking for anything in return.
After she and Miyuki had devoted themselves to him, she'd worked hard to make herself like him even more, hoping to become the human faction's "Elf Princess."
But no matter how much she liked him, she shouldn't have fallen apart this easily.
There had been no Empathy.
No Shared Sense.
No special tricks.
He had simply held her in his arms and spoken to her intimately.
Only one piece of her black pantyhose had been torn.
None of the techniques and theories she'd studied had even come into play.
Had she really been sitting on Hachiman's lap for more than ten minutes already?
Could it be...
Was she actually that kind of woman?
She couldn't understand it at all.
Even though becoming a magical girl had greatly improved her physical abilities and recovery, she still felt she absolutely couldn't stay too close to Hachiman in public.
Otherwise she'd lose her composure far too easily.
No...
It wasn't merely losing her composure.
It was as if all rational thought vanished in an instant.
Could they really win this service game?
So many people were serving the Club President with their own goals in mind.
By the time they achieved those goals...
They would probably all have become his captives.
Willingly giving everything to him.
Hachiman had no idea that after days of careful preparation, Mayumi's defenses had been effortlessly broken the moment they met, leaving her questioning her entire outlook.
His ever-improving abilities, service Aura, Absolute Taming, Dependency Affinity, Succubus Attraction Physique, Joy Angel Aura, Instinct Release, Saying No but Meaning Yes, Head of the Household, Forbidden Fascination, Shared Sense Bracelet...
The abilities and items he now possessed were all extremely powerful.
Mayumi was actually experiencing relatively few of those effects.
If he really went all out, who could withstand it?
A succubus would only fall faster.
Even angels and demons wouldn't dare remain by his side for long.
Still, every member of the Service Club went through this sooner or later.
And he already knew how to enjoy their wholehearted service.
Hachiman stood up and placed the limp Mayumi onto the sofa.
Seeing Rin and Sakura still staring without blinking, he smiled and patted both of them on the head before looking at the calm-faced Tohsaka Aoi nearby.
"Aoi, shall we head to the hot spring inn now? The preparations for the hot spring convention aren't completely finished yet, but we can already enjoy the baths. By the time we're done soaking, it'll be about time for dinner."
"My lord can take Rin and Sakura first. It's still early, so I'd like to go chat with Irisviel and the others for a while."
Tohsaka Aoi nodded, then shook her head, her gaze falling on Rin and Sakura.
"You're going to see Irisviel? That's fine. I'll take good care of Rin and Sakura."
Hachiman was a little surprised.
He'd thought Aoi would stay by his side the whole time.
Whether real or not, she currently regarded him as her husband.
He hadn't expected her to leave on her own to spend time with Irisviel.
"Yes, my lord. Let me help you get changed."
Watching Mayumi lying on the sofa, covering her flushed face with a cushion while using cleaning magic to tidy herself up, and then glancing at Kushida Kikyo, who was already waiting nearby with fresh clothes, Tohsaka Aoi knelt down to help Hachiman change.
As she attended to him, she calmly discussed serious matters.
"My lord, since Irisviel's homunculi can become magical girls, Rin and Sakura should become magical girls as well."
"They were still too young before. Now they're old enough to receive your guidance."
"Uh... All right..."
Hearing Aoi and Hachiman's conversation, Rin covered her eyes, too embarrassed to look at Aoi.
Become magical girls?
Really?
Become magical girls just like Big Sister Touka, Big Sister Haruno, and Big Sister Yukino?
Sakura, on the other hand, wasn't surprised at all.
Her eyes had never left Hachiman.
She had long understood what Aoi intended.
If Aoi didn't approve, she would never have ignored everything she saw.
"And... ahem... Rin, Sakura, you must listen to my lord and not be willful."
"Touka, you must also work hard and protect your younger sister together with Haruno."
"Mhm..."
After quite some time, once she had finished helping Hachiman change clothes, Tohsaka Aoi finally stood up again.
Watching him leave hand in hand with Rin and Sakura, accompanied by Mayumi, who had removed her black pantyhose and now walked with her bare legs, and the others, she continued looking after them as if reluctant to look away.
As Hachiman and his group departed, the sofa area, which had been full of lively sounds, suddenly became quiet and empty.
At some point, Tohsaka Touka and Yukinoshita Haruno, who had been lying on the tea table the whole time, had quietly disappeared.
Perhaps they had teleported away.
Or perhaps they had simply returned to their rooms inside the club.
"Miyuri, you attend tea parties quite often, don't you?"
Tohsaka Aoi looked toward Asou Miyuri, the only other person who had remained behind.
"I haven't socialized much these past few years. Could I trouble you with introducing me to the other wives?"
"Hm? Of course! You came at just the right time, Aoi! I was just about to attend an afternoon tea gathering!"
Hearing this, Asou Miyuri froze for a moment before happily taking Aoi's hand and leading her toward today's gathering, explaining as they walked.
"You came to the right person. I go to these wives' gatherings all the time. I know whose daughters are the prettiest. If you want to learn about anyone beforehand, I can help."
"Of course, if you want to take things even further, that's possible too. You just have to make sure you won't regret it."
She had been planning to chat with a few more wives whose daughters were especially beautiful.
She hadn't expected Tohsaka Aoi to come to her on her own.
Was little brother Hachiman's charm really that overwhelming?
She'd completely misjudged him before.
She'd thought he was only especially popular with younger girls.
His charm almost seemed capable of warping people's minds.
It had even turned the mentally unstable Tohsaka Aoi into a virtuous wife blindly devoted to her husband.
Well...
Whether Aoi's mental condition was genuine or not didn't really matter.
More allies were always welcome.
Yukinoshita Kiyoyuki.
Tohsaka Aoi.
Irisviel.
Yotsuba Miya.
Nakano Rena.
Katsura Manami.
Touma Yoko.
Ogiso Akina.
Nishikino Mizuki.
Minami Hiyoko.
Takanashi Ouka.
Kurashiki Reika...
Every little faction had its own specialty.
Her specialty was the wives' friendship circle.
The daughters of those wives.
All kinds of sisters.
Don't blame her for setting her sights on the daughters of her close friends.
She was doing it for their own good.
For their daughters' good.
Just imagining the day when her close friends would be too embarrassed to face her filled Asou Miyuri with excitement.
She almost wanted to tie all of their daughters to a dining table right now and have Hachiman personally teach them one by one.
Even if they weren't easily persuaded, they could at least try wearing an Empathy Collar first.
With little brother Hachiman around, she refused to believe any of them wouldn't take the bait.
———
[Nishikino Private General Hospital, Director's Office]
"Mom, did you want to see me?"
A beautiful young woman with long crimson hair draped over her shoulders, violet eyes, a tall figure, and a cool, elegant temperament walked to the open office door. She knocked lightly before stepping inside.
"Doctor Marikawa, then I'll leave it to you to lead the team serving as temporary school doctors at Sobu High. Although it's called a temporary assignment, you'll most likely be stationed there for quite a long time."
Seated behind the desk, Hospital Director Nishikino Mizuki looked at her daughter, Nishikino Maki, who had walked straight in. Instead of responding immediately, she continued giving instructions to the beautiful blonde doctor standing before her.
"I've already arranged the list of nurses being assigned to Sobu High. But if there are any nurses you're close to, Doctor Marikawa, they can be transferred together after you've spoken with them."
"The expansion at Sobu High is quite extensive this time. Yamada Private General Hospital, St. Julianna Hospital, and several others are also sending medical teams there. Whatever happens, be sure to report it to me immediately."
"So many doctors and nurses being assigned to one school... Are they holding some kind of competition? No problem! Leave it to me, Director! I'll definitely earn every bit of that generous allowance!"
The blonde doctor, whose white coat couldn't hide her curvy figure, was puzzled by the hospital's arrangements but didn't think too deeply about it.
She nodded firmly and accepted without hesitation.
She was only going to be a school doctor.
What trouble could there be?
At worst, she'd treat colds, fevers, or students who had fallen and sprained something.
Field assignment allowances were already generous.
Now there was overtime pay on top of that.
She thought it would be wonderful if she could stay at Sobu High for the rest of her life and keep collecting those high allowances.
"I can finally go shopping for pretty clothes again! Maki-chan, want to go shopping with me tomorrow? There's a handbag I've wanted for ages!"