The Demon of Pleasure: Starting with Angel, Shiina Mahiru! Chapter 40 40: Precious

"Well then, we'll head out first, Youko-san."

Shiina Mahiru and Asada Shino stood at the store entrance, politely greeting the gentle and elegant store manager.

Saionji Youko smiled warmly, waving back.

"Mm, be careful on your way ho. And co help again tomorrow. Oh, and if you have classmates who want part-ti work, feel free to bring them for an interview."

She trusted referrals from her own staff—they were usually more reliable.

Mahiru and Shino were both kind, easy-to-get-along-with girls. After all, no one hires soone they dislike. Working with people you can't stand? That's torture.

"We'll be going then. You take care too, Youko-san. Call if you need anything."

Hayashi Maki smiled as he spoke, and under Youko's slightly admiring gaze, he left with Mahiru, walking Shino ho.

The serial killer still hadn't been caught, and walking alone at night was dangerous. Hayashi Maki didn't mind the trouble and personally escorted her ho—full marks for "manliness" and making others feel safe.

The more Youko watched him, the more her heart stirred. But feeling sothing and acting on it were different matters. Hayashi Maki clearly liked Mahiru—he even called her by na.

Youko decided to keep observing. Finding soone to rely on wasn't sothing she could take lightly.

…

At the Asada residence

"Thanks for walking ho, Shiina-san, Hayashi Maki-san. Won't you co in for a bit? Otherwise, I'll feel rude."

Shino looked at them with hopeful eyes.

"Sure, we'll take you up on that," Mahiru answered with a smile. She'd gotten to know Shino better today and found her to be hardworking and a good person. The rumors about her were clearly malicious slander.

If Shino really were so cold-blooded killer, wouldn't her bullies have been long gone by now?

"Thanks for having us."

Hayashi Maki and Mahiru slipped off their shoes, changed into a pair of new slippers Shino had set out, and stepped inside.

As expected, the place was tiny—just a bed in the bedroom, a small bathroom, a little kitchen, and barely any clothes in the wardrobe. Clearly, the girl had been living frugally for a while.

It was part of why she felt inferior next to soone like Mahiru—a radiant, privileged ojou-sama.

Fiddling with her hem, Shino blushed.

"Sorry, it's so small… you'll have to sit in my bedroom."

"It's fine. Your room's very tidy," Mahiru said with a smile. "Actually, Youko-san told to take care of the leftover half-price items today. Shino, can I use your kitchen?"

"Of course. I'll help too."

As they chatted, they decided to have dinner together.

Seeing the food Mahiru unpacked, Shino couldn't help but marvel.

"Youko-san is so generous—these could still be sold tomorrow without a problem."

Mahiru nodded. "I know, we're lucky to have a boss like her." It was her first part-ti job, and she'd heard plenty of horror stories from classmates about toxic coworkers and senpais. She'd been nervous at first.

But still… Youko's way of looking at Hayashi Maki didn't sit right with her. And who lets a guy sleep in their private lounge? That wasn't a lack of caution—it was a sign of interest.

Mahiru sighed inwardly, then glanced at Shino, thinking:

What do you do when your man attracts too much attention? Guess I'll just have to feed him well and turn him into a lazy bum no one else wants—then he'll be mine alone.

Shino, oblivious to Mahiru's "boyfriend-raising" strategy, simply said, "Yes, she's really kind. She even fired Kurata after finding out he bullied . Of course, I still have to thank Hayashi Maki for that."

"Shiina-san, I want to thank him properly. Do you know what he likes?"

Mahiru froze. Wait… am I seriously about to give tips to help my friend woo my man? But looking at Shino's sincere expression, she figured she was overthinking it. Shino probably just wanted to express gratitude.

"He's an otaku—likes ani, manga, light novels… that kind of thing. Actually, he calls himself a 'creative otaku.' Today, he t with an editor from Fushikawa Bunko—his light novel just passed the review for a publishing contract, so it'll be in print soon."

Shino's eyes went wide.

"He wrote his own light novel? That's amazing! So Hayashi Maki's going to be a published author? We should be calling him Sensei!"

Mahiru nodded, unable to hide her pride. She didn't know much about otaku culture, but she decided she'd start learning—beginning with light novels.

Shino, anwhile, was floored. Hayashi Maki wasn't just handso, mature, and dependable—he was talented, too. Still in high school, yet already debuting as a light novel author? He'd never need to work part-ti again.

That put him leagues ahead of most boys at school.

"…I honestly can't think of what gift to give him. Shiina-san, any ideas?"

Shino wasn't familiar with otaku culture either, and being isolated left her with no one to discuss it with. She couldn't even talk to her own mother, who, like everyone else, seed afraid of her.

Mahiru hesitated but still offered honest advice for the sake of their friendship.

"I think the important thing isn't the gift—it's the thought behind it. As long as you put your heart into it, any guy will appreciate it."

Just don't gift-wrap yourself and hand yourself over to him, Mahiru added silently.

She understood Shino's feelings all too well. Back when Mahiru had been at her lowest, Hayashi Maki had barged into her life and pulled her back into the light.

Shino now was a lot like she had been—bullied, ostracized, slandered. And suddenly, this handso, dependable guy appeared, bringing a ray of light.

If she were Shino, Mahiru admitted, she'd try to hold onto that light too.

When you've lived through darkness, what you finally grasp becos all the more precious.