"Senpai, do you like stockings?"
Hayasaka stood up and walked in front of Amamiya. Grasping the edge of her skirt with her left hand, she gently lifted it, revealing a sliver of snow-white, delicate thigh. With her right hand, she slipped her fingers under the edge of her stocking, hooked the fabric, and began slowly rolling it down.
The spy maid was wearing a pair of white stockings adorned with pink bows at the cuffs, giving her an irresistibly cute appearance.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a golden glow on her exposed thighs. Her snow-white skin and pristine stockings seemed to shimmer faintly, making it impossible to tell which was paler—the stockings or her skin.
"Senpai," Hayasaka said in a low, seductive tone, "if you just nod, I'll take off these stockings and give them to you. I swear I'll keep my word."
She was pulling out all the stops.
It was human nature to be tempted by beauty.
Especially for a high school boy of 17 or 18—surely he wouldn't be able to resist even the slightest provocation.
This so-called Sage Time? No way it could overpower basic human instincts!
"I don't want it."
Amamiya propped his chin on his hand, his gaze fixed on Hayasaka's stockings. Yet his expression remained as serene as still water.
"Senpai," Hayasaka pressed on, pulling the stocking further down her leg, "these are the ones I just changed into this morning. It took me a lot of courage to offer them to you. If you refuse now, you won't get another chance."
"Unnecessary."
Amamiya's tone was calm and indifferent, like water flowing over stones.
It's just synthetic fiber—utterly uninteresting.
When my heart is as tranquil as a lake, let alone you—even Kaguya herself wouldn't move me.
"Ugh."
Hayasaka pouted, pulling her stocking back up, then bit her thumb in frustration.
The operation had failed.
She'd been on the verge of taking off her stockings, yet his gaze hadn't wavered. Was Sage Time simply too strong, or was her allure not enough?
It has to be the former!
She had already endured such embarrassment—no boy could possibly stay indifferent in the face of this!
"I'll have to think of something else…"
Hayasaka's mind raced as she considered a new plan.
Maybe it wasn't the stockings. Perhaps they weren't tempting enough. But if she offered something different…
A faint blush crept over her cheeks. After a brief moment of hesitation, she firmed her resolve.
Do it again.
After all, it's just words. It's not like I'll actually go through with it!
"Alright, I get it. Senpai is just playing hard to get—making me feel guilty so I'll take the initiative to offer you something, isn't that it?"
She grabbed the hem of her sailor uniform with both hands and began lifting it slightly, her face turning red as an expression of mixed shyness and disgust crossed her features.
"Boys are such perverts."
"Since you're so desperate to see, go ahead and take a good look."
She raised the hem higher, exposing her smooth, round thighs. As expected, the other stocking also had a small pink bow at the cuff.
The fabric crept higher.
The pristine, snow-white absolute territory between her skirt and stockings was now in full view.
Hayasaka's cheeks burned crimson as she bit her lower lip, feigning a mix of shyness and disdain.
"I can't believe you're this kind of person, Senpai. You didn't even stop me as I kept lifting my skirt!"
"Pervert."
"You're such a degenerate!"
"At this rate, the favorability you've earned with me is going to hit zero!"
"…"
Amamiya, still propped on his hand, remained in Sage Mode. Yet he couldn't stop himself from commenting, his tone faintly exasperated:
"You're tarnishing my reputation."
I didn't even move. You're the one who's been acting this entire time. So who's the innocent one here?
Miko's voice suddenly called out from the kitchen.
"White, come here."
Earlier, when Hayasaka visited with some desserts, Amamiya had fed a piece of food to Silly Dog. Since then, Silly Dog had been lying beside him, eagerly waiting for a second helping.
The moment it heard Miko's voice, its ears perked up, and its tail wagged furiously. Miko had fed it just as often as Amamiya, so it instinctively knew food might be waiting.
Silly Dog shot to its feet, its paws clattering noisily on the floor as it darted between Amamiya and Hayasaka, heading toward the kitchen. In its haste, it bumped into Amamiya's legs first, then collided with Hayasaka.
Amamiya, in his characteristic "sage mode" posture—leaning forward with his chin resting on his right hand and his knees as the only point of support—was caught completely off guard. The fragile balance broke as the dog barged past, sending him tipping forward.
"Wait! Wait a moment..."
Hayasaka's eyes widened in alarm as she saw Amamiya falling toward her. Frantically, she tried to pull her skirt down, but her reaction was just a second too late.
"Ah!"
A soft gasp escaped her lips.
For a brief moment, her breath caught, and an electric sensation seemed to jolt through her body, leaving her mind in a complete blank.
"Hanamori-san, what's wrong?"
Hearing the commotion, Miko peeked out from the kitchen, looking puzzled.
Hayasaka snapped back to her senses, her thoughts racing.
No!
This mustn't be discovered!
If it is... I'll die!
In an instant, her brain shifted into overdrive. It was already too late to pull Amamiya up, but fortunately, the sofa between the kitchen and the living room offered some cover. If she managed to control the height of the scene, they might avoid being spotted.
There was only one option left—she had to keep him hidden!
Feeling Amamiya struggle to rise from his half-kneeling position, Hayasaka bit her lower lip, her face flushed. Suppressing her overwhelming embarrassment, she pressed firmly on his shoulders.
Stay down, you idiot! Don't move right now!
"Miko-senpai, it's nothing!" she stammered, her voice slightly shaky. "A beetle just flew in and startled me!"
"Is that so?" Miko nodded, seemingly convinced. Then she frowned. "By the way, where's Amamiya?"
"Senpai went to the bathroom!"
"The sage mode is over already?"
"Completely over."
Miko studied her closely. "Hanamori-san, why is your face so red?"
Hayasaka: "..."
Why are you still here?! If you don't go back to the kitchen, none of us—including that stupid dog—will make it out alive!
After a few more exchanges, Miko finally returned to the kitchen, completely unaware of the ordeal the spy maid had endured.
The moment Miko disappeared from view, Hayasaka hurriedly stepped back. Gripping the hem of her skirt with both hands, she tugged it down forcefully. Her face was flushed crimson, her translucent ears glowing like red agate, and wisps of imaginary steam seemed to rise from her head. There were even faint tears at the corners of her eyes.
"Ahem... I almost died," muttered Amamiya as he rubbed his nose and stood up. The intense shock had completely disrupted his "sage mode."
That feeling...
He couldn't describe it.
He had a strong premonition that if he dared to voice the truth, the girl in front of him would ensure he met an untimely and permanent end.
Hayasaka's breathing was uneven, her chest rising and falling as she fought to regain composure. Without a word, she grabbed her school bag from the sofa and turned toward the kitchen door.
"Miko-senpai, I'm heading back now."
"Eh? Aren't you staying for dinner?" Miko called after her, looking surprised.
Dinner? Like I could eat right now!
The spy maid gritted her teeth. "Something urgent came up... Goodbye!"
Without even glancing at Amamiya, she hurried out, clutching the hem of her skirt as she fled.
The unexpected, mortifyingly intimate encounter had completely overwhelmed her. Hayasaka's mind was spinning, her face ablaze with confusion and shame.
Today's battle…
Hayasaka: Total defeat.
——
After lunch, Miko, being a diligent worker, couldn't rest during the afternoon. Once she finished tidying up, she headed out to work.
Amamiya, meanwhile, kept Kyousuke, the elementary school student, at home to help him with his homework. Afterward, they spent some time playing the recently released online multiplayer game Ninja Turtles.
The afternoon passed quickly, and before they knew it, evening had arrived.
Amamiya was engrossed in reading a book when his little finger twitched unexpectedly.
Needless to say, it was Chika.
Amamiya responded with two slight finger movements, signaling that he was free.
Moments later, a flurry of messages arrived:
"Amamiya-kun, I accidentally used a skill earlier!"
"I was just about to go out to buy something, but who knew there'd be a long-haired evil spirit standing outside my door? It was so scary—I barely opened the door before it attacked me!"
"Use your skills and take care of it now! It'll disappear by evening anyway. Come over and play; I'll even treat you to a meal at the commercial street!"
Amamiya glanced at the messages and replied:
"Can I eat whatever I want?"
Chika responded immediately:
"...No pocky!"
Amamiya teased her in return:
"I recall your future dream is to become prime minister, isn't it? As prime minister, being afraid of pocky would make your weakness far too obvious."
"In short, they're forbidden!" she insisted.
"...Fair enough."
After exchanging a few more messages and noticing the time, Amamiya agreed on a meeting spot with Chika. He then changed clothes and headed out.
His journey was uneventful.
After getting off the tram at the station near Chika's house, Amamiya made his way to the agreed-upon commercial street. While passing a street corner, the ferocious barking of a dog caught his attention.
Turning toward the noise, Amamiya's gaze sharpened.
At the entrance to an alley, a girl with short pink twin ponytails was clutching a familiar dog in her arms. Her expression was tense, and she kept backing away nervously.
Opposite her stood a large, aggressive dog barking incessantly, its demeanor frantic, as if preparing to attack.
"It's Pace," Amamiya noted instantly.
The small dog in the girl's arms was roughly the same size as his dog, but it was clearly timid, hiding behind the girl's protective grip.
In Kaguya's words, Chika's world revolved around gossip, eating, playing, and Pace.
As for the short-haired girl holding Pace, Amamiya recognized her from one of Chika's videos. She must be Moeha, Chika's younger sister.
Seeing a pet and a sister-in-law in trouble, Amamiya naturally couldn't just stand by and do nothing.