The Bouncy Sakanayanagi

Uh... what on earth was going on?

Hashimoto said this situation was basically paradise.

That might have been true for some people, but right now I was utterly confused.

After all...

"Master, you must be tired. Please wait a moment while I make you some tea. Masumi, please help Master relax in the meantime."

"...Fine, fine... I'll give you a shoulder massage."

Because at that moment, Sakanayanagi and Kamuro were in my room wearing maid outfits.

Sakanayanagi went straight to the kitchen, while Kamuro sighed, had me sit down, and started massaging my shoulders.

What was going on?

"Sorry, Kamuro, but what's all this about? And you don't have to use formal speech with me. Oh, and put a little more pressure into it."

"You're demanding a lot. Anyway, don't tell me you've forgotten?"

"What?"

"Before the midterms, you bet Sakanayanagi you'd uncover my weakness..."

Oh, right. I'd won the bet, so Sakanayanagi had to serve as my maid for a day, as promised.

And Sakanayanagi must have coerced Kamuro into dressing up as a maid with a "request."

No wonder she looked so reluctant.

Still...

"You wearing a maid outfit is such a funny contrast with your usual self."

"Shut up!"

Kamuro snapped back at me, but there was something oddly surreal about seeing this loner in a billowing maid outfit.

"Sorry for the wait. I've prepared cookies and tea."

Sakanayanagi approached with a tray, also dressed as a maid.

She wore the outfit with effortless elegance, a completely different kind of match from Kamuro.

I never thought I'd see Sakanayanagi dressed as a maid and serving someone, even if it was only for a day.

But she might be planning to dig up some dirt on me so she could tease me, so I'd better be careful.

"Then I'll gladly accept."

"Please enjoy, Master."

As she spoke, Sakanayanagi picked up a cookie between her fingertips and held it to my lips.

Mmm. The cookies were delicious to begin with, but being fed one with an "ah~" made them even tastier.

"Delicious!"

"I'm glad you liked them. Is there anything else you need? If you'd like me to feed you mouth-to-mouth—"

"I refuse!"

"My, my. So you want Masumi to feed you with her mouth?"

"Don't twist this into something weird!"

"Understood."

Don't say something so terrifying with a straight face!

The problem wasn't who was doing it—it was the way I'd be fed!

Besides, if I really did ask you to do that...

"...Then teach me. There were a few things in class today I didn't understand."

"...You're surprisingly serious."

Kamuro sounded surprised as she massaged my shoulders from behind, but this was all for the bonus points on the final exam.

I'd only managed to scrape together ninety thousand points through last-minute studying for the midterms. This time, I'd learn from my mistake and start reviewing early.

"Masumi, please address Master politely."

"No, I told you to talk normally."

Sakanayanagi had always spoken politely, but hearing Kamuro address me formally felt awkward.

Honestly, I was more comfortable speaking casually.

"Then I have no choice. As Master wishes, I'll begin the lesson. Masumi, you should listen, too."

"...Yeah, yeah."

"By the way, how are your grades, Kamuro?"

I didn't think she was stupid, but she wasn't brilliant like Sakanayanagi, either.

From what I'd seen, she was probably a little above average.

"Masumi is right around average."

"...As long as I can handle the exams, that's enough."

"That won't do. Regular exams affect class points, so we need to raise the class average."

Just as Sakanayanagi said, regular exams were one way to increase class points.

According to a senior from the Chess Club, you could earn up to a hundred class points.

The Private Points distributed at the start of each month were calculated at a rate of one hundred points for each class point. If Class D earned a hundred class points, we'd get ten thousand points at the start of the month.

For a class that had been stuck at zero for ages, it was an opportunity we couldn't afford to miss.

As I thought about that, Sakanayanagi suddenly turned and walked over to her schoolbag.

The way the hem of her maid outfit swirled made my heart skip a beat... Her every movement was simply too graceful.

She took some stationery out of her bag and set it on the table.

"Now then... Which subject are you having trouble with?"

"Ah, there's a part of this math problem..."

Two hours later...

"That should cover everything, right?"

"...Yes, there's nothing else. You understand it all now."

With Sakanayanagi's guidance, I'd cleared up all my questions.

As expected, she'd earned her place at the top of the year.

Just then, Sakanayanagi rose from her seat and patted her knees.

"You've worked hard, Master. Please rest!"

Was she offering me a lap pillow? She was still wearing thigh-high stockings, but would I get to enjoy the bare skin of her lap? Still...

"Is your body strong enough for this?"

Sakanayanagi was frail. Would giving me a lap pillow be too much for her?

She smiled and shook her head at my concern.

"It's fine. I couldn't keep it up for an hour, but ten minutes is no problem. Go ahead!"

She patted her knees again. Faced with a side of Sakanayanagi she'd never usually show, I gave in and rested my head on her lap. At the same time, I felt her pale hand gently stroke my hair. It was different from Hiyori's touch, but just as wonderful.

"Is it comfortable, Master?"

"It's amazing!"

It really was amazing! Sakanayanagi's legs weren't particularly plump, but they were so soft and springy, like jelly.

"I'm glad... Now, Masumi, please go make omurice!"

"...Yeah, yeah!"

Kamuro walked to the kitchen with an extremely reluctant look on her face. Seeing her reaction, the maid outfit and the omurice... Could it be?!

"You've already figured it out from my expression. Since Hashimoto taught us the magic, Masumi has to put it into practice!"

Hashimoto, you sly dog... Well played!

But I felt sorry for Kamuro. She'd been dragged into wearing a maid outfit and now she had to perform the magic, too... I'd treat her to a meal tomorrow to make it up to her.

While I enjoyed Sakanayanagi's lap pillow...

"Sorry, Hachiman. I suddenly wanted to see you... Am I interrupting?"

Hiyori walked into the living room. When she saw me, she smiled brightly, but her presence radiated incredible pressure.

I snapped out of the comfort of the lap pillow, breaking into a cold sweat.

"No, that's not it!"

The words slipped out before I could think.

"...I see. So Hachiman is actually a maid-outfit fetishist?"

"No, well... Is that wrong?"

"Fine, I admit I like them!"

I tried desperately to explain myself, but the pressure didn't let up. My attempt to defend myself was instantly crushed. She was terrifying. And Sakanayanagi was holding back laughter beside me. I'd get her back for this someday.

"Understood. Then starting tomorrow, I'll wear a maid outfit and take care of you, too, Hachiman!"

"Wait, Hiyori! Maid outfits are great once in a while. The usual uniform and apron are better for everyday wear!"

Maid outfits were charming, but I'd get tired of them if I saw them every day.

"I understand. Then I'll wear one and serve you once a month!"

"I'd love that!"

I answered without hesitation, and I didn't think I was wrong. Who wouldn't want to see Hiyori in a maid outfit?

"Master's decisiveness is truly admirable!"

"You're a pervert!"

Just then, I spotted Sakanayanagi trying not to laugh and Kamuro holding a plate of omurice with a disgusted expression. It looked like the food was ready.

The piping-hot omurice looked amazing! Hiyori usually made Japanese food, so I hadn't had omurice in ages. I'd have to go to a Western-style restaurant sometime.

"Now then, Masumi, please cast the deliciousness spell!"

Sakanayanagi held up her phone and started recording. This girl... She knew how cruel it was to record her friend's embarrassing moment, didn't she?

"Weren't you just holding up your phone to record, too?"

Oh, no. I'd lifted mine without even realizing it.

"It's interesting... No, it's a precious video worth preserving! Hurry up and start!"

"Please!"

"I hope you both rot in hell... Hah!"

Kamuro took a deep breath...

"B-be delicious! Moe~ moe~ heart-pounding!"

With her face bright red, she made a heart shape toward the omurice, then drew a heart with ketchup.

(Don't laugh! If I laugh, she'll kill me!)

Kamuro looked nothing like her usual cool self. She was like a volcano about to erupt.

Just then...

"May I ask how this action is related to deliciousness? Does it have some special meaning?"

Hiyori asked with complete sincerity, dropping a bombshell.

And then...

"Pfft! Cough... Pfft-hahaha!"

"Pfft! Shiina, you're amazing... Absolutely incredible!"

"Shut up!!!"

Sakanayanagi and I laughed uncontrollably, and Kamuro completely lost it.

Later, Kamuro grabbed me by the collar and was about to slap me when Sakanayanagi, who was laughing just as hard, stepped in and saved me. Naturally, Hiyori's earnest follow-up question had set us off laughing again, but there was no need to mention that.

The next day, I showed the video to Hashimoto, and he laughed so hard he rolled on the floor. When Kamuro found out, she flew into a rage and beat Hashimoto and me up.

Even so, it had been a pretty fun day.