"You're saying you're a demon?"
Hinagiku blinked at Hayashi Maki's words, staring at him in surprise.
"What, don't I look like one?" Hayashi Maki raised an eyebrow, watching her with a smile.
Her long pink hair spilled down her back, and that delicate face with bright green eyes practically sparkled with life. Her chest was a little on the modest side for now, but the future was promising—Hayashi Maki was very much looking forward to the day the student council president "grew up" and officially became his familiar.
Hinagiku studied him for a moment, then shook her head hard.
"Even if you say that, you don't look like a demon at all. What kind of demon loves animals and helps people all the time? And… also…"
She could feel the gentle aura coming off him. Sure, his eyes were sometimes a bit lecherous, but she didn't hate it.
"And also what?" Hayashi Maki pressed, curious.
"N-Nothing… anyway, you just don't seem like a demon. Unless you transform or something!"
She absolutely wasn't going to say out loud that she thought he was "too gentle"—that was way too embarrassing. So she deflected by insisting she didn't believe he was a demon.
"Uh… this is what I really look like. If you're expecting me to turn into some blue-faced, fanged monster, I'm afraid I can't do that."
Being handsome was a lifetime duty; he had zero interest in looking like some ugly mythological devil.
Besides, look at Satania and the other demons—weren't they all cute as hell? Being adorable or good-looking was justice.
Watching him fuss about it, Hinagiku suddenly giggled.
"All right, all right, I'm not insisting you prove it. It's just… how do I put it… If I seriously accepted that you were a demon, it would feel like my entire worldview for the past ten-something years would just collapse."
She explained earnestly, then gently took his hand.
"Anyway, I'll remember what you did for me. No matter what you are, we're friends, right?"
"Of course. I'm more than happy to be Hinagiku-senpai's friend. So don't forget about tomorrow's lap pillow, okay?" Hayashi Maki reminded her, grinning.
"I know, I won't forget." Hinagiku shot him a mock glare, cheeks turning pink again.
"Well then, it's getting late. I should head back. You should go home early too, Hinagiku-senpai."
"Even if you're good at fighting, and I can sense that sharp aura around you, it's still not exactly safe for a girl to be out alone at this hour."
"I know." Hinagiku smiled and nodded.
No matter what, being worried about was… nice. It made her feel oddly warm inside.
"See you tomorrow, Hinagiku-senpai."
Hayashi Maki waved lightly and vanished from her sight.
Hinagiku took a deep breath to steady herself, then hurried home—with a particular "someone" in mind to drag back.
As soon as she stepped through the door, she saw Katsura Yukiji sneaking out of her room with a wallet in hand.
"Big Sis, you stole my money again!"
"Haha, c'mon, Hinagiku-chan, you know I just paid off a three billion debt. I'm totally broke right now, so I just borrowed a little from you. Once I earn some money, I'll pay you back!" Yukiji laughed nervously, trying to tiptoe past her.
"Stop right there!"
"If you take things without asking, that's stealing—and now you're stealing from your own little sister. Can't you just work like a normal person?"
Hinagiku sighed inwardly at her sister's personality.
She wasn't really angry about the money. After all, that earlier debt of 800 million yen had been paid off by Yukiji alone. Hinagiku hadn't been able to help at all.
She also knew that her sister was under huge mental pressure, so she usually let these things slide.
But she was truly worried about her sister's future.
What if, one day, Hinagiku refused to lend her money, and Yukiji wound up turning to real crime—only to be arrested and executed?
The thought terrified her.
Yukiji scratched her cheek and gave an awkward smile.
"I am working! I'm teaching at Hakuo Academy, remember? I take my job very seriously! It's just… you know, life doesn't always go according to plan!"
"Would you really have the heart to watch your big sister starve?"
Then she turned on the watery eyes and pitiful look.
Hinagiku snorted, crossing her arms.
"So you do remember you're a teacher. Ever think about setting a good example for once?"
Yukiji's eyes lit up, and she sidled over with a sly grin.
"That's just how I am, and you know it. But you're a completely different story, Hinagiku."
"Hehehe, spill it—That handsome kid from earlier is your suitor, isn't he? He looked loaded. Why don't you bring him home sometime? I would totally approve of you marrying him!"
"Oh, and now that I think about it, it's such a waste—I already had him wipe out my debt. If I'd known, I would've asked him to squeeze that shady company for another big payout!"
At that, a vein pulsed on Hinagiku's forehead.
"Keep dreaming!"
"Just getting them to erase your gambling debt is already a huge favor! If you start asking Hayashi Maki for money on top of that, how am I supposed to pay him back? I could sell myself and it still wouldn't cover it!"
Yukiji puffed up her cheeks and muttered under her breath.
"Why worry about paying him back? We're all family. If you marry him, his money is your money. Then it'll be even easier for your big sister to borrow from you."
Her little scheme sounded almost audible, ticking along in her head.
And honestly, if Hinagiku did marry Hayashi Maki, he would give her money without batting an eye.
Money, to him, was just numbers. But someone as talented as Hinagiku would be an irreplaceable treasure of a familiar.
Hinagiku had had enough.
She shot her sister a scorching glare and stomped off to her room.
"Forget it! Just forget it!"
Even if she did like Hayashi Maki to some degree, she wasn't about to marry him just because of Yukiji—or because of money.
Putting aside her pride, there was also the fact that he already had a girlfriend.
Hinagiku might not talk about it, but she knew very well what kind of person Hayashi Maki was.
After all, his reputation as a "succubus in human form," a serial heart-stealer of beautiful girls, had already reached the student council office.
Throwing herself face-down on her bed, Hinagiku stared blankly into space.
The thought of his "lap pillow" request from earlier drifted through her mind, and her cheeks heated up all over again.