That Day, He Finally Saw the Light

Pretty girls knew the advantages of their looks, so when it came to questions of beauty, they naturally assumed they were the better-looking ones.

But Fushimi Makoto hadn't said a thing.

This was all part of the game.

He thought smugly to himself.

As an "outsider," Nakano Itsuki was a little more clear-headed.

She hesitated. "Is that really true?"

Nakano Nino didn't even give Fushimi Makoto a chance to speak. She lifted her chin and puffed out her chest, looking rather pleased with herself. "What else could it be? Itsuki, do you think we're not pretty enough?"

"That's not what I mean. I just think Fushimi must have his reasons for doing this."

"His reason is exactly what I said."

Nakano Nino beamed, then made a point of asking Fushimi Makoto, "Right?"

It wasn't a question so much as a statement.

Fushimi Makoto gave the perfect answer. "The five of you are all beautiful. That's a fact."

Nakano Nino was delighted all over again.

Nakano Itsuki thanked him, a little shyly, and felt happy too.

Only after they had parted ways did Nakano Nino watch Fushimi Makoto's back recede into the distance and suddenly slap her forehead. "Oh no, I forgot to ask him about him and Ichika."

Nakano Itsuki looked surprised. "I thought you'd decided to give up. You had the chance just now, but you never asked."

Nakano Nino's cheeks flushed red.

I got lost in all those compliments...

Elsewhere.

Fushimi Makoto first went home and called Mrs. Yukinoshita. He hoped she could help him find a music arranger to teach him a few things.

Mrs. Yukinoshita agreed right away. "I should be able to call you back in half an hour."

Sure enough, less than half an hour later, she called back with everything arranged.

"Your lessons can be scheduled for the weekends. Don't worry about the fee. You've helped me twice now, so it's only right that I repay you."

"It doesn't have to be on the weekend. Tomorrow works."

"Tomorrow? Aren't you planning to go to class? Or do you mean after school?"

"I'll take the day off tomorrow."

Fushimi Makoto was definitely going to take the day off.

He was planning to enter the Time Loop.

After getting the music arranger's number from Mrs. Yukinoshita, he changed his clothes and went to Matsukaze Mayu's home for dinner.

More precisely, he helped her cook.

After dinner, Matsukaze Mayu happily watched TV with him in the living room and asked how the club was going.

"Everything's going well. As for club activities, I'm planning to start this weekend, since Ichika's been a little busy lately... Hmm? What's this?"

As Fushimi Makoto spoke, his gaze happened to fall on a couch cushion.

A conspicuous curly hair lay right between him and Matsukaze Mayu.

It was a short curl.

"What are you looking at?"

Seeing him suddenly fall silent, Matsukaze Mayu lowered her head to look as well.

Fushimi Makoto picked up the strand of hair, thinking it was too short to be Matsukaze Mayu's.

So this was...

His expression changed.

Matsukaze Mayu hadn't thought much of it at first, but when she saw Fushimi Makoto's strange expression and remembered the odd dreams she sometimes had at night, the beautiful teacher's face instantly turned red.

"Don't go jumping to conclusions! It isn't mine. I don't even have any!"

That was quite a revealing thing to say, Fushimi Makoto thought.

That day in the bathroom, Matsukaze Mayu had kept herself so thoroughly covered that he couldn't see a thing, even when he tried.

Matsukaze Mayu hurriedly continued to explain. "It's probably Teacher Shizuka's. She stayed over at my place last night, and after she showered, she didn't put on pajamas either. She just wrapped herself in a bath towel and chatted with me on the couch."

She told him the truth without hesitation.

But Fushimi Makoto was more interested in something else.

Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise.

What was the last of the Four Divine Beasts called again?

What a tough one to guess.

That day, at last, he saw the light

After this little interlude, the previously pleasant conversation in the living room took on a hint of flirtation.

Fushimi Makoto saw how Matsukaze Mayu's face had turned a radiant red from embarrassment, so he sensibly changed the subject.

He had to know when to stop.

He couldn't rush his search for the truth about the Four Divine Beasts.

Since Matsukaze Mayu had mentioned Hiratsuka Shizuka, Fushimi Makoto steered the conversation toward the other beautiful teacher. "One night, I passed by a park and saw Teacher Hiratsuka. She was drinking alone and looked like she was in a terrible mood."

Matsukaze Mayu looked astonished. "That happened?"

Then she murmured, "I've always envied how carefree she is at school. I never thought she'd be so overwhelmed by stress in private."

"Stress?" Fushimi Makoto looked at her.

"Yeah. Teacher Shizuka doesn't have a boyfriend. She mentioned it to me before, and she gets along well with her family, so I'm guessing it's work stress."

Fushimi Makoto thought she still didn't know that Hiratsuka Shizuka had been going on matchmaking dates in secret.

That made sense, though. Matsukaze Mayu was gentle by nature and would never pry into someone else's secrets.

Even when the two of them chatted and went shopping, Hiratsuka Shizuka was probably the one who set the pace.

"You said you envied Teacher Hiratsuka?" Fushimi Makoto was good at picking up on the important details.

Matsukaze Mayu smiled shyly. "Yeah. I've always envied her carefree, confident manner. Oh, I'll tell you a secret..."

She rarely let her girlish side show, but now she leaned closer with a mysterious look and whispered, "Teacher Hiratsuka is really strong. She must work out regularly. She hasn't told me much about it, but I've watched her carefully. If it came to a fight, I doubt even two or three men could get close to her."

Fushimi Makoto thought that sounded like one of Officer Tan's famous lines.

Still, Matsukaze Mayu's girlish manner was undeniably adorable.

Matsukaze Mayu murmured wistfully, "I wish I were that impressive too. Too bad yoga is the only kind of exercise I've managed to stick with."

"Yoga? That's pretty good too."

Fushimi Makoto pictured her in tight yoga clothes.

Oh, wow. With her figure, she'd look stunning in yoga clothes!

Fushimi Makoto then said, "If you really want to work out, I recommend waiting a bit. Let me put together a detailed plan for you first."

"You know how to do that?"

"I work out myself."

Hearing that, Matsukaze Mayu remembered how he'd looked when he came out of her bathroom that day.

He really is in great shape.

Matsukaze Mayu's cheeks grew warm.

Fushimi Makoto pretended not to notice. "I'll put something together as soon as I can. If you have any questions while you're working out, you can ask me anytime."

He added especially earnestly, "I mean it. I'll come whenever you call."

"If you put it that way, I'll believe you." Matsukaze Mayu smiled, her eyes curving prettily.

"Don't worry. I'm not joking this time." Fushimi Makoto spoke, then changed the subject again. "By the way, I'm taking the day off tomorrow."

Matsukaze Mayu immediately showed concern. "Why? Are you feeling unwell?"

"No, I have some things to take care of."

"That's good."

It was clear that Matsukaze Mayu truly cared about him.

As soon as she heard he was fine, she quickly relaxed.

It was a curious feeling.

Looking at her beautiful face, Fushimi Makoto suddenly had an idea. "Would you be interested in learning something, Teacher Matsukaze?"

"Learning what?" Matsukaze Mayu asked curiously.

"For example, if our club makes a short film or short videos, you could learn along with us. I'd teach you everything myself."

"Eh?"

Matsukaze Mayu was clearly taken aback. "Why did you suddenly bring that up?"

Fushimi Makoto was being sincere this time. "It just occurred to me that my instructor shouldn't be a one-trick pony. She should at least be more capable than that."

Matsukaze Mayu's cheeks turned rosy. What does he mean, his instructor?

I'm the instructor for your club.

Have I become your personal instructor now?

But the words that reached her lips came out as a gentle, "All right. I'll do as you say."

At that moment, she looked exceptionally sweet and obedient.

Perhaps even she didn't know that the girlish side she revealed without realizing it was the most alluring of all.

And she had a wonderful figure, too.

The two of them were sitting on the same couch, already close together. As they chatted, Matsukaze Mayu had unconsciously leaned closer.

Her hips were broad, and the curve from her waist to her hips was already stunning. In that position, she looked even more attractive.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

Matsukaze Mayu lowered her voice shyly. She wasn't stupid, of course she had noticed Fushimi Makoto's heated gaze.

She was embarrassed, but also happy.

Fushimi Makoto looked away and watched the variety show, which was making a big show of laughing. "I'm thinking of taking a shower. Would that be all right?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Matsukaze Mayu smiled and said, "Of course. Should I get you some clothes again?"

But Fushimi Makoto suddenly blurted out, "It'd be even better if you could scrub my back too."

Matsukaze Mayu froze on the spot.

The living room fell silent, with only the TV show's voices remaining.

"I'll get the water ready for you first."

At last, she blushed and said softly before hurrying away.

Fushimi Makoto knew she'd agreed.

In the bathroom.

Matsukaze Mayu touched her burning cheeks, knowing she was nervous again.

And a little excited.

Ever since she'd scrubbed his back last time, she'd occasionally had strange dreams.