Shoutout to Salt Soul and Edwin Xot. Please enjoy and thank you for the support.
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The items within the treasure chest that had just been opened were handed over to the cute, overly polite apprentice.
Hozuki Nozomi had no regrets.
At least, not for now.
Yotsuya Miko needed the sacred item more than he did.
Especially considering the fact that her best friend, Yurikawa Hana, was practically spiritual-grade bait. She was like high-class wagyu beef to every lurking evil spirit. Trouble would follow her like a cursed shadow.
Nozomi wasn't exactly a saint either. He accepted Miko as his apprentice and vowed to protect her partially because, well… she was adorable. Beautiful, too. He wasn't made of stone.
Besides, he had jokingly reminded her to honor her shishou in the future.
So if a few monts of skinship happened to occur down the line, well, that would be part of the training arc, wouldn't it?
Still, there was another reason he accepted the task. Her father—the late Mr. Yotsuya—had entrusted him with the protection of his daughter and wife. Nozomi wasn't the type to ignore the final request of the dead. It would have been bad karma. And honestly? It wasn't much trouble for him. A win-win situation.
Miko had been stuck in a flustered daze since he left, and then she suddenly cried out:
"Ah! I still have Master's coat!"
Her cheeks burned as she rembered that ti on the train—when the evil spirit approached, and she froze up in terror. He had quietly noticed her fear and draped his coat over her without saying a word.
The coat had long been washed, but she hadn't found a chance to return it.
"Next ti," she whispered to herself, clutching the folded coat.
Also... didn't he take a taxi to her house?
That must've cost a fortune. Tokyo traffic wasn't kind to wallets.
The more she thought about it, the more she realized how much she owed him.
...
By the ti Nozomi returned to Sakurasou, it was already late.
He didn't bother disturbing Mahiru or anyone else. Just kicked off his shoes and headed straight to bed.
========================
The next morning, the mont Nozomi stirred awake, he felt sothing... off.
His blanket was heavy in an odd way.
He lifted it.
"Nani the hell..."
Lying next to him, snuggled under his arm like a spoiled kitten, was Shiina Mashiro.
Still fast asleep.
Mashiro had a stoic face most of the ti, like an elegant doll. But she was surprisingly clingy in private, like a loyal pet who didn't quite understand personal boundaries.
Nozomi glanced at the clock. 6:30 AM.
With a resigned smile, he reached out and gently poked her cheek. "Oi, Mashiro. Ti to wake up."
She stirred, eyes fluttering open slowly. He fed her so yogurt, then took her by the hand to brush her teeth and wash up.
Afterward, he picked out her undergarnts for the day—a soft pink bra and matching panties—and handed them to her like it was routine.
Mashiro, as always, didn't object. She dressed like a quiet doll, following his guidance, then slipped into her school uniform. He combed her hair carefully and nodded in satisfaction.
"Yosh. Cute as ever."
Taking her down to the dining area, he seated her before heading to another room.
Mahiru's.
She'd overslept. Unusual for her.
When he entered, he found her curled up in bed, hugging her stuffed teddy bear.
He sat beside her and leaned in to pinch her cheek gently. "Mahiru, it's morning. Ti to rise and shine."
"Mmm… Nozomi... good morning…"
Before she could fully open her eyes, he leaned in and gave her a soft kiss on her lips.
A gentle morning kiss.
Mahiru woke up completely, eyes widening, face flushing.
Her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck. "Good morning... baka angel."
He smiled and pulled back. "You're late today. Overslept, huh? Better hurry up. Mashiro's already done with her morning routine."
Mahiru pouted. "You co to bully people first thing in the morning..."
"I can't help it. My love ter was low. Had to recharge."
Breakfast was prepared by Ogihara Sayu today.
Her transfer docunts had just been finalized.
That ant today was her first official day at Sobu High.
Sayu wasn't bad at academics, and with tutoring from both Mahiru and Nozomi (two certified honor students), she was well on track.
After dropping Mashiro off at Suii High, Nozomi headed straight to Sobu High School.
Once the paperwork was sorted, Sayu was officially enrolled in Class 1-F.
Which just so happened to be the sa class as Nozomi.
"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu! I'm Ogiwara Sayu. Please take care of !" she greeted cheerfully, bowing slightly with a bright smile.
The mont she introduced herself, the classroom was instantly filled with murmurs and excited reactions. Her cute and charming aura struck like a well-aid heart-throb attack — the kind you'd see in shoujo ani when the transfer student turns out to be a bishoujo.
With Shiina Mahiru's introduction, Sayu effortlessly integrated into Miura Yumiko's group. Miura and her friends were a little surprised at first, but Sayu's warm personality won them over in no ti. Before long, the entire class knew — Ogiwara Sayu was the sa girl who had been living with Hozuki Nozomi.
When Sayu clung to Nozomi's arm without hesitation, her cheerful tone contrasting with her snug closeness, the room was filled with the silent death screams of jealous boys.
Hozuki Nozomi had once again confird his legendary status: a living, breathing chick magnet. To them, he was a walking jutsu scroll of seduction — any girl he t sohow ended up becoming his close friend, and more often than not, sothing more.
The envy was real. So real, you could probably cut it with a katana.
The boys grumbled under their breath, casting death glares at Nozomi, but he remained unfazed. To him, it was simple: cherish those around you and do your best to protect them. That was all.
Hikigaya Hachiman, sitting at the back with his signature dead-fish stare, watched this unfold with growing dread.
(…I can't let him et Komachi. No way. Not even once.)
If his little sister fell for the succubus known as Hozuki Nozomi, Hachiman knew he'd weep. And not cool tears — ugly, loud sobs.
anwhile, Hazuki Yasuo was going through emotional turmoil of his own.
Seeing yet another girl hanging around Nozomi sent complicated feelings swirling in his heart. But he had no ti to focus on Nozomi's growing harem. Ever since that day, Sakurahara Momo and Kusami Runa had grown distant. Their texts got colder. Their smiles, thinner. A breakup felt imminent.
Only Tsumiki-chan remained friendly, still his classmate, still his childhood friend. But Momo? She'd vanished like a ninja avoiding awkward encounters.
What Yasuo didn't realize was that Momo used to take a long detour every day just to coincidentally et him. Now, after her feelings were rejected, she'd stopped. No more detours. No more false hopes.
Momo thought to herself:
(What the heck was I doing before? Running around for soone who didn't even notice … baka janai?)
No more foolishness. She returned to what she did best: being the top-tier student council president she was.
Beautiful, intelligent, and fiercely competent, Momo was now focused entirely on her exchange program and upcoming campus reform projects. She had a report to write, plans to make, and a reputation to uphold.
And without her usual ponytail, with her long hair flowing freely, she looked even more mature — dangerously so. In just a few days at Sobu High, she'd already gathered a fan club among the second years and multiple love letters filled her shoe locker.
As the student council secretary, Hazuki Yasuo still had professional reasons to speak with her. But gone were the warm days of friendly chats and casual laughter. Now, everything between them was strictly business.
He wanted to fix things, return to how they were… but like Hayama Hayato before him, he found himself powerless to change the growing distance.
And what did Hozuki Nozomi think of all this?
He watched from the sidelines, amused.
He respected Senpai Momo. She had poise, brains, and beauty. But her drama with Yasuo? That was none of his concern.
If their bond broke, so be it.
It's not like Nozomi made a habit of playing cupid for lovesick fools.
Besides, if there was a beautiful girl who caught his interest, he wouldn't wait around for fate.
He'd go to her himself. After all — he had the charm, the power, and the courage to do so.
No hesitation. Nozomi-style.
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