He knew what Matsukaze Mayu was trying to do.
This really was beyond his expectations.
Matsukaze Mayu glanced at Fushimi Makoto, and only after seeing that he had no objections did she answer, "Fushimi wrote a really wonderful story. He said it might be adapted into a screenplay someday. I remembered that you like reading too, Kasumigaoka, and thought you two would get along."
She had praised the story twice in a row, and Utaha grew interested. "Fushimi, is that true?"
Fushimi Makoto nodded. "I suppose you could say I wrote it on a whim."
"Even if it was on a whim, that's an incredible talent for a high school student." Utaha was reminded of a few things of her own.
Then she checked the time. "I need to head back for dinner. If you're free tomorrow, Fushimi, would you mind letting me read your story?"
Fushimi Makoto was about to answer when Matsukaze Mayu spoke softly beside him. "Why don't you exchange contact information? Then you can get in touch whenever you like."
Utaha paused, then promptly took out her phone.
After they had exchanged contact information, Utaha took her leave.
Fushimi Makoto glanced at the alluring figure of the black-stockinged upperclassman as she walked away, then turned to Matsukaze Mayu. "Thank you."
"Huh? You figured it out?" Matsukaze Mayu looked adorably surprised.
Fushimi Makoto smiled. "If I couldn't even figure that out, I'd be hopelessly dense."
Matsukaze Mayu's cheeks turned pink. "I thought I'd done a good job hiding it."
Then her voice softened. "Kasumigaoka is a wonderful student, both academically and in character. She's been outstanding ever since she enrolled. For you high school students, it's helpful to make friends with talented people early on, before university or entering the workforce. It'll make a big difference in your life later."
As she spoke, she began to smile a little awkwardly. "That's what I've learned from my own life, you know. I didn't make many talented friends in high school, so now I'm just an ordinary teacher."
Fushimi Makoto said sincerely, "Actually, you're not ordinary at all."
"Really?"
"At least, I think you're wonderful."
"Thank you~"
Matsukaze Mayu was a good woman.
Fushimi Makoto had known that ever since the Time Loop.
She clearly liked him a lot, so the moment she ran into Utaha, she'd thought of helping him out.
Utaha had probably guessed what Matsukaze Mayu was doing, but she hadn't turned her down.
Maybe Matsukaze Mayu's good reputation made her reluctant to refuse. Or perhaps she'd piqued Utaha's curiosity, and she wanted to see whether the talented Fushimi Makoto she'd heard about really was as impressive as he sounded.
They made dinner at Matsukaze Mayu's place.
Her home wasn't large, but it was bright and tidy, clearly kept clean with regular care.
Fushimi Makoto was an excellent cook. Over the years in the Time Loop alone, he'd managed to pick up plenty of top chefs' signature recipes.
Today, though, he only made a few home-style dishes. They were absolutely delicious.
Matsukaze Mayu made teriyaki chicken thighs. She thought high school students were still growing, so they ought to eat plenty of meat.
After a pleasant dinner, Fushimi Makoto offered to do the dishes. Matsukaze Mayu couldn't talk him out of it, so she decided to sit for a while before taking a bath.
It didn't even occur to her to wonder whether it was inappropriate to take a bath while a boy was in her home.
When Fushimi Makoto finished the dishes and returned, no one was in the living room, but he could hear water running in the bathroom.
It sounded like someone was filling the bathtub.
Fushimi Makoto didn't think much of it. He sat on the sofa and changed the channel, hoping to find a good show. Then a muffled thump came from the bathroom, followed by the rush of water and Matsukaze Mayu's startled cry.
"What happened?"
Fushimi Makoto had just gotten up and reached the bathroom door when it opened. Matsukaze Mayu came hurrying out, soaked from head to toe.
She was still wearing the same clothes, but they were completely drenched.
Her usually neat, smooth hair was wet and disheveled. Her light-colored top clung tightly to her figure, and the fabric had turned semi-transparent, revealing the pink bra underneath.
Being soaked only made her already perfect curves all the more captivating.
"The bathroom pipe suddenly burst," Matsukaze Mayu said anxiously.
Then she noticed Fushimi Makoto looking at her.
She glanced down, her cheeks flushing as she instinctively covered her chest. "Don't look at me. You're making me feel embarrassed."
Anyone who could resist looking in this situation deserved a thumbs-up!
His auto-aim kicked in at once.
Fushimi Makoto said openly, "Teacher Matsukaze, go grab a towel first. I'll go home and get my tools."
"Tools?"
Matsukaze Mayu's attention was diverted. "You can fix pipes too?"
I can fix pipes, do electrical work, and unclog drains.
When you have so much time, you can learn all sorts of things.
Fushimi Makoto didn't explain further. He turned and went back to his place.
When he returned with a toolbox, Matsukaze Mayu stood beside him with a towel, looking expectant. She'd even forgotten to cover herself.
Fushimi Makoto didn't sneak any more glances. It took him nearly fifteen minutes, but he finally got the bathroom sorted out.
His own hair and clothes had gotten pretty wet too.
Seeing that, Matsukaze Mayu handed him her towel. It was filled with the fragrance of her hair.
"Thanks."
Fushimi Makoto dried his hair and said, "It's all fixed now. I'll head back and change. You should do the same, so you don't catch a cold."
"Thank you." Matsukaze Mayu gazed at him with shining eyes.
As she watched, her gaze unconsciously drifted down to Fushimi Makoto.
His clothes were soaked too, and his tall, muscular build was on full display before her.
Matsukaze Mayu's face turned even redder.
"Keep looking and I'll have to charge you," Fushimi Makoto teased.
Matsukaze Mayu turned her red face away and murmured, "You were looking at me just now too."
She said it, but inside she was terribly embarrassed.
If she kept watching him, she suspected she might not be able to sleep tonight.
And if she couldn't sleep, she'd eventually be unable to stop herself from letting out soft little sighs.
You're Testing a Cadre with That?
By rights, it was already seven in the evening, and Matsukaze Mayu's bathroom had been repaired. Fushimi Makoto could have taken his leave.
But before he went home to change, Matsukaze Mayu specifically asked him to come back afterward.
So Fushimi Makoto went home, showered, and returned. He found that Matsukaze Mayu hadn't locked the door.
She trusts me way too much.
Fushimi Makoto thought as he changed his shoes and went into the living room. Just then, the bathroom door opened, and Matsukaze Mayu came out wrapped in nothing but a bath towel, drying her hair as she walked.
"You got back quickly."
Matsukaze Mayu remarked on it, then realized she wasn't dressed appropriately. Her face immediately turned pink.
Fushimi Makoto's auto-aim kicked in again.
Matsukaze Mayu noticed his gaze, of course. To hide her embarrassment, she forced herself to act calm. "Don't look at me anymore. I'm not young like I used to be. You're staring because you want to see me make a fool of myself, right?"
Fushimi Makoto shook his head. "Of course not."
Matsukaze Mayu's cheeks grew even hotter. She pretended to be calm as she dried her hair. "Really? But I'm so much older than you. I think you just want to see me get flustered, then tease me about it."
She made a point of adding, "That's exactly what you did just now."
Fushimi Makoto said, "But I'm already getting a little excited."
Matsukaze Mayu fled in embarrassment.
One simple attack was all it took to break through her fragile defenses.
"How can he say something like that..."
In the bedroom, her cheeks burning, Matsukaze Mayu took off the bath towel and stared at her smooth, fair skin in the mirror, momentarily lost in thought.
No, he must have been joking. I'm so much older than him. He must like pretty young girls like Yukinoshita.
Matsukaze Mayu's face was bright red. She tried hard to calm herself, but the moment she thought of Fushimi Makoto's words—"But I'm already getting a little excited"—her thoughts immediately ran wild again.
After changing into her pajamas, she patted her cheeks in front of the mirror. Only once she was sure her expression had returned to normal did she dare open the door.
Fushimi Makoto was already watching a TV show.
Seeing that he wasn't teasing her anymore, Matsukaze Mayu breathed a sigh of relief and sat down beside him. "Thank you so much for tonight. If you hadn't helped me, I don't know whether I could have found anyone to make repairs this late."
"It was no trouble." Fushimi Makoto could clearly feel her fragrance surrounding him.
"But I still have to thank you. Why don't you come over for dinner tomorrow? I'll cook this time."
Matsukaze Mayu sounded happy. Her eyes were fixed on Fushimi Makoto, full of anticipation.
"If I'm free, I'll definitely come," Fushimi Makoto replied.
"Then it's a promise."
Matsukaze Mayu grew even happier.
She was usually alone when she came home. It would be a lie to say she never felt lonely.
Although she occasionally had dinner or went shopping with Hiratsuka Shizuka, Hiratsuka Shizuka had her own things to do and couldn't always keep her company.
Now there was a man who treated her well and was willing to come over to share dinner with her. She was genuinely happy.
At that moment, the show had reached a scene where the male and female leads were on a date in the park. After a few sweet exchanges, the male lead shyly lay his head in the female lead's lap at her invitation.
"A loving lap pillow," Matsukaze Mayu murmured, absorbed in the show.
Fushimi Makoto nodded along. "Yeah. Lap pillows must be really comfortable."
Matsukaze Mayu paused and turned to him, her face slightly red. "You're so wonderful, Fushimi. Have you really never had a lap pillow before?"
Fushimi Makoto said, "No."
Then he added silently, The ones in the Time Loop don't count.
Matsukaze Mayu's eyes flickered.
A few seconds later, she shifted her position and beckoned to Fushimi Makoto, her voice incredibly gentle. "If it's you, Fushimi, I can give you a lap pillow as a reward."
Two intoxicating blushes spread across her cheeks, and her eyes brimmed with emotion. "Think of it as a thank-you for helping me."
You're testing a cadre with that?
Fushimi Makoto wasn't going to be coy about it. He leaned to the side and rested his head on Matsukaze Mayu's soft, full thighs.
For an instant, her body stiffened. But she quickly relaxed.
As soon as Fushimi Makoto lay down, her alluring fragrance enveloped him completely.
"This is really nice," Fushimi Makoto said.
Matsukaze Mayu had been a little tense, but his words made her pause. Her gaze softened too. "You did so much today. You must be tired, right?"
"High school boys are at the age when they're full of energy. Don't underestimate me, Teacher Matsukaze."
"Hehe... What a typically competitive thing for a young man to say."
Matsukaze Mayu smiled sweetly and lifted her delicate, fair hand. "Would you like me to give you a massage?"
"You know how to give massages too?" Fushimi Makoto opened his eyes, which he had just closed.
Before you continue