Rei Ao stroked his chin thoughtfully. "As for the fee, let's just go with the standard rate for a private tutor. We're not short on money."
"And about the tutoring arrangement: Ilia doesn't want to go out, so they can come to my home if they have time. If Ms. Mafuyu isn't at ease, you can come supervise."
"Hm...that works." Kirisu Mafuyu felt it was acceptable. She herself lived nearby, so she could show up to supervise. Having her there would also give those two peace of mind.
"All right, I'll tell them about this. Sorry to bother you with the request."
"My house is already lively enough. Having a few more folks doesn't make much difference."
Thinking about how things were at home, enough people were there to start a party. So having a couple more didn't matter.
"Then that's settled."
After Rei Ao and Ilia left, Kirisu Mafuyu gazed at the suddenly neat and quiet living room, her feelings complicated. A sense of loneliness and solitude gently rose in her.
"...I'll go take a hot bath."
She had indeed worked up a sweat while cleaning up.
She undressed. Just as her fingers hooked the black lingerie, her mind couldn't help flashing back to that mortifying scene not long ago. At that time, how exactly had she stumbled in a way that ended up with her face in Rei Ao's...?
A fierce wave of embarrassment surged up all over her again. This time her entire body went red.
She pressed both hands to her face. A bigger surge of shame filled every inch of her body.
Back at home, there was no sign of Futaba.
Putting away some folded chairs, Mai glanced toward the bathroom.
"She's taking a bath."
Rei Ao's eyes flickered. Mai instantly caught that look and scolded,
"Don't tell me you're thinking something indecent again?"
"What's indecent? Didn't you feel loosened up each time it's over? And Mai, your skin and complexion look wonderful lately."
Mai's cheeks flushed, annoyed. "What's skin got to do with that?!"
"Heh, it absolutely matters. Mine contains certain energy, so on you, it nourishes the skin—an effective beauty treatment."
Mai clicked her tongue at him. He alone could bring himself to say such shameless things.
After a brief everyday bit of flirting with Mai, Rei Ao sat down on the couch and closed his eyes, letting her gently massage his shoulders to help him relax. Moments later—
Wearing just a towel, Futaba came out of the bathroom. Spotting Rei Ao on the couch, she stiffened up in alarm. But Rei Ao's eyes were closed. Mai put a finger to her lips, signaling Futaba not to make a sound.
Futaba nodded gently and tiptoed away into the guest room.
"I wasn't asleep, you know."
When the guest-room door clicked shut, Rei Ao opened his eyes.
"Hmph, were you hoping to peek?" Mai's hands pressed more firmly, reflecting the jealousy in her heart.
He needed no "peeking." If he wanted to see, that was easy enough. Tonight he planned to take the time to fully get to know Futaba better...
The sudden phone ringtone interrupted his train of thought.
Checking his screen, his eyebrows rose, and a grin formed—the expression of seeing something amusing.
It was Kirisu Mafuyu requesting to chat.
Taking a bath under the bright overhead, Kirisu Mafuyu sat on her sofa, wrestling with a dilemma: Should she give dating a try after all?
The phone screen displayed the contact info Rei Ao had left her—supposedly for a man "who won't mind her clumsy housekeeping."
Recalling the times Rei Ao had calmly helped her tidy the place, how reassuring and easy it felt, plus the unexpected closeness—her mind was in turmoil.
"Am I really at that age now?"
She'd once devoted herself entirely to her work as a teacher, never worrying about romance. But ever since she got to know Rei Ao, emotional ripples had begun.
"No, no! Rei Ao and I can't possibly be anything. Our positions differ, plus there's Mai!"
Nibbling her lip, she hovered anxiously over the "Add Contact" button. Finally, she pressed it. Right after doing so, she regretted it...
"Argh, what am I even doing...?"
She wanted to retract, but the other side had already accepted.
Nervous, she could hardly move. She had never in her life conversed with a man in a romantic context.
Unknown: "Mafuyu, hello."
Unknown again. Kirisu Mafuyu froze—he knew her name?
Mafuyu: "How do you know my name?"
Unknown: "Because I'm Rei Ao."
Kirisu Mafuyu's mind thundered.
Mafuyu: "You're Rei Ao?!"
Rei Ao: "Yes, that contact I gave you is actually mine."
A powerful shock made her breathing ragged.
Mafuyu: "Are you just messing with me? Trying to fool me?!"
She felt furious—like she'd just been turned into a fool.
Rei Ao: "No, I'm not."
Mafuyu: "Then what is the meaning of all this?! You...plus you and Mai already...??"
Gripping her phone, Kirisu Mafuyu felt as if she'd discovered the guy she was starting to like was apparently a jerk.
Rei Ao: "It's unrelated to that. But now I am quite interested in Ms. Mafuyu."
Mafuyu: "Don't fool around!"
Rei Ao: "I'm not. Mafuyu, since you decided to add me, that means you do want someone dependable in your life, right?"
Mafuyu: "...that has nothing to do with you or with your situation with Mai!"
She typed, feeling stifled. Rei Ao calmly responded:
Rei Ao: "True, it's none of my business, but I'm quite interested in being 'teacher' to Ms. Mafuyu."
Mafuyu: "??? You want to...be my teacher now?"
Role reversal to the max!!!
Rei Ao: "Yes. I'm someone who sees your true nature. If you really do want a boyfriend, you can gain some 'dating experience' from me. And I can help you make a change."
Mafuyu: "Dating experience...a change..."
She lacked both. And these were precisely what she needed.
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