Hayashi Maki's words left Katsura Hinagiku completely speechless.
But seeing him calmly resting his head on her lap again, the girl could only resign herself and let him.
She'd already decided, though—once she got home, she was definitely going to give her sister a proper scolding.
Secretly taking risqué photos of her and trying to sell them was way too much!
Thank goodness the buyer was Hayashi Maki. If those photos had ended up in the hands of some creepy guy, used for weird stuff, or even uploaded online… just imagining it made her feel horribly uncomfortable.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
Her gaze fell on Hayashi Maki's face, looking so peaceful with his head pillow-ed on her thighs, and her own cheeks flushed again.
Letting a guy use her lap as a pillow like this… was the first time in her life.
But when she thought about what he'd done for her, it didn't seem like such a big deal. Honestly, he could have asked for something much more excessive and she would have had a hard time refusing.
Because if he hadn't noticed things when he did, she would've been completely tied up by her sister's mess and forced to shoulder that three-billion-dollar gambling debt.
How would she ever pay that off?
Even if she started working right now, she'd never clear it in her lifetime. In the end she'd become a beast of burden for the loan sharks, losing her freedom entirely.
And that kind of life would only bring endless trouble—not just for herself, but for the people around her. That was what Hinagiku absolutely did not want to see.
Compared to her tangled feelings, Hayashi Maki was completely relaxed.
Resting his head on the student council president's black-stockinged lap, savoring the softness and exquisite feel of her thighs, breathing in that faint, lovely scent that clung to her—honestly, it couldn't get much better.
Unfortunately, the lunch break ended quickly.
Hayashi Maki had no choice but to sit up, his head leaving the president's soft lap.
Hinagiku instinctively rubbed her thighs. Being used as a pillow for so long had left them a little numb.
Hayashi Maki looked at her with concern.
"Want me to massage them?"
Hinagiku rolled her eyes.
"No need, I can do it myself."
Yeah right—if she let him rub them, wouldn't that just be giving him more of an opening?
Hayashi Maki just calmly went ahead and did it anyway.
"Don't be so distant. We're friends, aren't we? Since it's my fault your legs are numb, of course I need to be responsible and help you recover."
"Uu… y-you're awful…"
Feeling his big hand pressing into her thigh, that tingling, electric sensation spreading through her, she couldn't help growing flustered and shot him a glare.
"Hehe, feels kind of tingly, right? You know I've got special powers—I'm not just taking advantage of you, you know. I'm helping a friend."
He said it with a perfectly straight face, his hand still moving, tracing the shape of her beautiful leg, gliding back and forth over the smooth black stockings.
Hinagiku was beyond done with him.
So you do know you're taking advantage…
Still, whatever. She'd already given him a lap pillow—letting him touch a little didn't really change anything.
In the end, she was the one getting the better end of the deal. His help and the trouble he'd saved her from weren't something she could easily repay anyway.
"Okay, how's that? Not numb anymore?"
After a while, Hayashi Maki reluctantly lifted his hand, smiling as he looked at her.
"Yeah… thanks."
Hinagiku's face turned pink as she whispered her thanks.
"Um… it's almost time for class…"
"Yup, class is coming up. Then I'll see you later. I definitely won't forget today's lap pillow, President."
Hayashi Maki waved casually and strode off.
Hinagiku pressed a hand to her chest and sighed softly.
Watching his back, she murmured under her breath, "I won't forget either."
No matter what, today was the first time she'd ever been this close to a guy.
After saying goodbye to Hinagiku for now, Hayashi Maki headed back to the classroom.
Unable to keep still, he spun around again, reached out, and stroked the shining golden hair of Gab.
Under her eye-roll, he smoothly produced a bun to bribe her with. Only then did Gabriel smile and take it.
Fine, fine. For bread, I'll let you pet me all you want.
The past few days had been torture for her. No games, no snacks, no lazy salted-fish angel lifestyle.
Since the heavenly evaluation wasn't over, she had to keep up her "radiant angel" performance. She was starting to suspect her sister Zelel's test had been extended on purpose, just waiting for her to slip up so she could drag her back to Heaven for "re-education".
For Gabriel now, not being able to happily snack, drink cola, and grind games was worse than death.
Seeing the sparkling Gabriel get bought off by Hayashi Maki with just a bun, and even letting him rub her head, drove the other boys crazy with envy.
Soon after first period in the afternoon ended, a few of them tried to copy Hayashi Maki—offering snacks and bread to curry favor and grab a cheap touch.
Gabriel just smiled sweetly as she took the offerings… then stared at them in silence.
Those boys immediately felt a chilling killing intent crawl up their spines.
It really felt like if their hands so much as brushed her, they'd be dead on the spot.
…
In the end, they lost their snacks and didn't manage to cop a single feel.
Of course, Gabriel might not have much real-world experience yet, but she definitely wasn't clueless. The internet had polluted her plenty—she understood exactly the kind of rotten ideas some guys had.
She had zero intention of being polite to that kind of opportunist.
Not like Hayashi Maki, who'd been looking after her since she first arrived. Back when she turned into a lazy slob, those people had avoided her, but he stayed the same—taking care of her, feeding her.
Now that she was shining again, the others wanted to swarm in for an easy gain? As if.
Because of Gabriel's attitude, the boys' resentment toward Hayashi Maki only grew.
That damn incubus.
He wouldn't even leave a single girl for them.
Hayashi Maki, of course, chose to ignore all those jealous, resentful looks.
He'd been bribing Gabriel since day one, after all. And he lived close, often bringing her along for meals. The bond he'd built with her wasn't something a few random classmates with a bag of chips could compare to.
Being consistent pays off—assuming you're consistent in the right direction.
No drama, no accidents—the afternoon passed.
After checking in with Shiina Mahiru, Hayashi Maki handed the clingy Ako over to Goshoin Kyoh for gaming duty, and went off to pick up Katsura Kotonoha from Shinya Academy.
~~~
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Thank you!