Hachiman patted Komachi's snow-white thigh somewhat speechlessly, had her move aside a bit, and then squeezed himself to sit between Komachi and Shion.
Should we say that Vignette is just fated to toil? Even though she doesn't lack living expenses, she still works so hard at her part-time job to earn money.
But looking at it from another angle, Vignette really would make a perfect wife. Diligent, frugal, and family-oriented. Except for not having long black hair, she's practically the ideal wife for someone like him who wants to be a househusband.
"That's not it, Hachiman-nii. This was bought by Gabriel-nee who went to the part-time job with her. She said Vignette-nee brought back a lot of sweets yesterday, so it's her turn today."
Seeing Hachiman sit between her and Komachi, Asougi Shion blushed and handed the half-eaten ice cream popsicle in her hand to Hachiman's mouth, letting him, who had just returned home, also taste it to cool down.
Ever since Komachi found out about her relationship with Hachiman, she had gradually grown bolder, daring to do some more intimate things with Hachiman in front of Komachi.
However, this was limited to only Komachi and Hachiman. In front of non-family outsiders, she still maintained her cool, long-black-haired, silent demeanor.
"Uh... she went out of her way to buy cake for this...?"
Seeing the popsicle offered to him, Hachiman stroked Shion's raven-black hair cascading over her shoulders, took a bite of her vanilla-flavored ice cream, and felt somewhat speechless about Gabriel's competitive behavior against the demon.
'Gabriel is unexpectedly cute when it comes to things like this, though she's usually cute anyway.'
Whatever, Gabriel's been coming to his place to eat lately even when she's broke, so whether she buys sweets or not is up to her.
Once Gabriel gets her new living expenses, she'll probably get used to coming to his place to cook and eat, just like Vignette, "The popsicle Gabriel bought is pretty good. Komachi, didn't Kaede and Suzu come looking for me today?"
Hachiman took another bite of Shion's vanilla popsicle, leaned back comfortably on the sofa, and asked Komachi and Shion.
He hadn't received any messages from Kaede and Suzu all day. They couldn't possibly have slept in until now, right?
"Nope. Maybe Kaede-nee and the others are busy," Komachi glanced at Hachiman, who was teasing Shion again, and pursed her lips.
Compared to her brother, the Kaede-nee and Suzu-nee next door were much more diligent and hardworking.
Though in a way, working hard to find a sugar mommy to be a househusband could also be considered diligence.
"You make it sound like I'm just lazing around," Hachiman gave Komachi a sidelong glance for her sarcastic tone, took a bite of the chocolate ice cream in her hand, and after relaxing on the sofa for a while longer, got up to leave.
"I'm going next door to find your Kaede-nee and Suzu-nee to ask if they're coming over for dinner."
"First, you take advantage of Shion, and then you eat my ice cream! And now you're running off after finishing it!", Komachi looked at the almost-finished chocolate ice cream in her hand and waved her small fist angrily at Hachiman's retreating back.
"Why didn't you say anything earlier, Komachi? Only getting mad now when Hachiman-nii is about to leave," Shion's own ice cream was almost entirely eaten too, but seeing Komachi's annoyed expression, she couldn't help but smile faintly.
"Shion, how can you say that! You always side with Onii-chan! When he's around, how would I dare provoke the two of you?", Komachi glared at Shion, who sided with her brother over reason—arguably even more biased toward Hachiman than she was.
Normally, she might not even be able to take on Hachiman alone, but with Shion helping him, Hachiman was practically unstoppable.
"I don't always side with Hachiman-nii...", Shion blushed slightly at Komachi's words. After all, Komachi was his real blood-related little sister, but she still quite enjoyed this kind of unrestrained familial banter.
This was just how family was, right? If she didn't side with Hachiman-nii, who else would she side with? Besides, she didn't always take his side; sometimes, she'd help Komachi against him too.
———
As soon as Hachiman stepped out of his house, before even reaching Kaede and Suzu's doorstep, he saw an angel and a demon walking toward him.
Wait—no, a pair of angels.
"Vignette, Gabriel, why did you two go to work today?", Hachiman greeted Gabriel and Vignette proactively.
During today's Service Club activities, he had wondered if they'd participate, only to later find out Gabriel had gone part-timing with Vignette, leaving him no chance to experience the thrill of having an angel or demon by his side.
"Well, mainly because the shop manager at the part-time job had already arranged for us to work, and they were short-staffed today. I didn't have anything else to do, so I went with Gabriel," When Hachiman brought up the part-time job, Vignette seemed a little embarrassed.
She didn't know what the Service Club was doing today, but she felt bad about not being able to help with the activities. Even though she wasn't an official member yet, since she'd already agreed with Gabriel and Hachiman to join, she was practically a provisional member, right?
"Gabriel?", Hearing Vignette's nickname for Gabriel, Hachiman couldn't help but glance at Gabriel.
Even though their meeting had been accidental and deviated from the norm, were they already this close?
"She's the one who started calling me that. Not my fault."
Gabriel wore a helpless expression. Today's part-time job was something she'd volunteered for. She wanted to see how Vignette was using work as a cover to do evil deeds.
After a day together, her impression of Vignette, the demon, had changed quite a bit.
Judging by how Vignette treated even ordinary people, it really didn't seem like an act. She didn't think a demon intent on mischief could keep up such a flawless disguise right under her nose.
After all, she was the top graduate of this year's angel academy—how could she fail to see through the true nature of a mere intern demon?
Still, even after realizing Vignette wasn't as bad as she'd initially suspected, she didn't immediately try to get closer to her.
The one who took the initiative to deepen their relationship was actually Vignette.
"Right. I feel like Gabriel and I come from the same place, and we're both transfer students who've been looked after by you, Hachiman. I thought we could become closer," As if oblivious to Gabriel's resigned expression, Vignette nodded cheerfully and explained to Hachiman.
Even though Gabriel had misunderstood her as having ulterior motives toward Hachiman, when she found out Gabriel had moved next door specifically to keep him safe, her opinion of the angel actually improved greatly.
The war between angels and demons had long since ended. Even an angel and a demon could be friends.
Though the main reason she called Gabriel "Gabriel" was that she'd learned from Hachiman, wanting to use the same method he'd used on her to get closer to the angel.
Seeing Gabriel's helpless expression, it was like seeing her past self, unable to resist Hachiman and Kaede's enthusiasm.
How delightful.
"Well, you two can head to my place first. I'll go call Kaede and Suzu over for dinner," Hachiman smiled and nodded, not particularly concerned about whether Gabriel and Vignette getting along would disrupt his corruption plans. He opened his front door for them, waved, and left.
Gabriel and Vignette were both little angels now. Even if Gabriel might care less about his corruption because of Vignette's influence, he wasn't too worried.
He always had more than one plan. Now that they were both living next door, there was plenty of time ahead. No way he'd let them slip away.
If all else failed, he could always turn Gabriel into a lazy angel, have Vignette support him, and then he'd support Gabriel. That would work too.
After all, Gabriel was still cute even when lazy, and it wasn't like she couldn't change back.
———
Ding-dong~
Hachiman stood at Kaede's doorstep and pressed the doorbell.
If he hadn't just run into Vignette and Gabriel, he would've just activated Love Mode and walked right in.
But since he'd just met them, he couldn't recklessly use Love Live Mode anymore.
Displaying a bit of power was one thing. He was sure Vignette and Gabriel didn't think he was completely ordinary anyway.
But if he activated Love Live Mode and even they couldn't detect where he was, that would be a real problem.
"Hachiman," Soon, a beautiful girl with blue shoulder-length hair and a great figure came to the door.
From her expressionless face and the way her bangs fell, Hachiman immediately recognized her as Suzu, the younger twin.
"Suzu, where's your sister?", Hachiman glanced around to confirm no passersby were nearby, then stepped forward, wrapped his arms around Suzu's waist, and walked inside with her.
"Kaede's lying on the sofa and doesn't want to move," Suzu stared at Hachiman but didn't elaborate.
Truthfully, she wasn't feeling too energetic either. Though she hadn't been the main focus last night like Kaede, she still hadn't fully recovered by daytime and was feeling a bit tired.
"Seems like Suzu's the more obedient one," After closing the front door behind them, Hachiman pinched Suzu's soft, smooth cheek as a little reward before taking her hand and leading her to the living room.
Inside, Kaede was curled up on the sofa hugging a pillow. Seeing Hachiman walk in holding Suzu's hand, she immediately pursed her lips.
"Hmph. It took you several minutes just to answer the door. You two did something behind my back again, didn't you?"
She'd figured it out. Suzu had probably been secretly colluding with Hachiman long ago. Otherwise, how could they be so in sync and so skilled at teaming up against her?
Suzu was truly despicable. Even though she was the older sister, she kept siding with Hachiman, the guy who bullied both of them.
"You're the one who refused to come open the door for me, yet here you are sulking," Hachiman let go of Suzu's hand, pounced onto Kaede, pinned her head between his hands, and slowly leaned down.
"W-what are you doing? Don't mess around! My parents will be back soon!", Kaede panicked and tried to push Hachiman away.
"I wasn't planning to do anything. Why are you so nervous?", Hachiman looked at her helplessly.
Originally, he had wanted to try out the Empathy Bracelet on the twins. After all, the bracelet had come from their mission rewards. Wouldn't it be a waste not to test whether twins had any special synergy?
But Kaede and Suzu didn't have the same stamina as Hayase Saki and the other athletic girls who trained daily. Combined with last night's all-night "activities," they were still exhausted. Better to wait until they'd fully recovered.
"So, are you coming over for dinner tonight?", Hachiman pulled Kaede up from the sofa into his lap, taking her spot, then beck
"No, no. I'm sure Vignette and the others are cooking at your place again, right? I can't cook, so even if I go, I'd just be sitting there watching," Seeing that Hachiman wasn't insisting further and was just holding her, Kaede let out a small sigh of relief. But when she heard him invite her over for dinner, she immediately shook her head vigorously.
Eating at Hachiman's house was nowhere near as comfortable as eating at her own place.
Before, she could've gone to Hachiman's for dinner with a clear conscience, just waiting for him to cook while she relaxed.
But now, it's always neighbors like Vignette and Gabriel who do the cooking, and after meals, there's Shion and Komachi to wash the dishes. If she goes over just to freeload without lifting a finger, it'd make her, his childhood friend, look utterly useless.
"So generous? You're not jealous?", Hachiman gently nibbled on Kaede's cheek, looking at her in surprise.
He had considered that since his relationship with the Kaede-Suzu sisters had progressed significantly, he needed to be careful not to make them feel neglected. Unexpectedly, after their relationship breakthrough, Kaede wasn't as sensitive or prone to jealousy as before.
"Hah, why would I be jealous? Your house is so crowded now. Do you really think I'd worry about Gabriel or Vignette doing something to you? Komachi and Shion are always there too, you know," Kaede rolled her eyes at Hachiman, exasperated.
Did this guy really think that just because he'd won over her and Suzu, he could casually build a harem like some light novel protagonist?
Fine, she admitted that after ditching those rotten, dead-fish eyes that ruined his vibe, Hachiman was somewhat handsome now, and his physical stamina was indeed a bit impressive.
But maintaining a harem wasn't that simple, okay? Girls like Vignette and Gabriel were clearly the good type. They wouldn't be fooled by a scumbag like Hachiman who just wanted to be a househusband.
"Still daring to mock me, huh? Seems like you haven't been bullied enough," Hachiman raised an eyebrow but didn't say much else. He simply scooped Kaede up and dashed toward the second floor.
"Wait? Hachiman, what are you trying to do?", Kaede's face paled as she struggled frantically, but her strength was no match for Hachiman's. She couldn't break free at all.
"Suzu, hurry up and stop him!"
"...Just enjoy yourself," Suzu glanced at Kaede, who was still talking tough even now, silently picked up the remote to turn off the TV, and leisurely followed them upstairs.
How was she supposed to stop Hachiman?
Kaede might as well use herself to stop him.
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