The next morning.
Hozuki Nozomi was the first to open his eyes.
Gazing down at the blonde-haired girl sleeping peacefully in his arms, a flicker of tenderness passed through his golden irises. He had spent the entire night immersed in the warmth of an angel, and the thought alone brought a satisfied smirk to his lips.
She was adorable.
And there was no way he was letting her go.
"Nn... Is it morning already?" Mahiru's drowsy voice barely carried, muffled against his chest.
"Nozomi... I'm still really sleepy..."
The first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, making her stir slightly. Her delicate brows furrowed as she instinctively curled closer to him, pressing against the warmth of his body.
"Of course you're sleepy. Gomen, it's my fault for keeping you up so long..."
Hearing this, Shiina Mahiru shook her head with a sleepy yet gentle smile. "No need to apologize. I... I was happy too."
Nozomi chuckled softly. "Then, how about we just take a day off today?"
Mahiru's eyes fluttered open slightly as she shook her head. "Dame! I'm an honor student. I can't just skip class!"
"Eh, seriously? Even just this once?" He sighed in mock defeat. "Besides, if you miss a class, you can just make it up later."
"No way! That would affect my grades," she said firmly, puffing her cheeks slightly.
Nozomi sighed again and ran his fingers through her silky blonde locks, letting them slip between his fingers. "I still feel bad... Does it still hurt?"
Mahiru's cheeks instantly flushed a deep shade of pink. She cast him a sidelong glance before rolling her eyes. "Mou... Don't forget, I'm good at sports. I'm not that fragile."
Besides...
He had been so gentle with her.
It wasn't as though she was uncomfortable. On the contrary, being held in his arms, wrapped in his warmth, made her feel so... at peace.
So incredibly satisfied.
Though, if she had to admit one thing—it was a little unfair that she, Sayu, and even Misaki-senpai were seriously outmatched in "combat power." Her boyfriend was just too good. Facing him alone was impossible, and the thought made her feel guilty.
"You're really sure you don't want to take the day off?"
"I'm sure! It's still early. We can rest for a little longer before getting up."
==================
Some time later, Mahiru, now fully dressed and looking as elegant as always, let out a small yawn as she rubbed her eyes. Despite her usual composed demeanor, it was obvious she was still feeling sleepy.
She thought about her cousin, Shiina Mashiro, who was undoubtedly still fast asleep upstairs, and sighed.
"Nozomi, go wake up Mashiro."
"Me? Are you serious?" Nozomi widened his eyes in exaggerated shock. "Angel, don't tell me you've already forgotten what happened yesterday morning?"
"What else can we do? Sayu worked hard making breakfast. Chihiro-sensei failed her blind date last night, so she's even lazier than usual. She won't lift a finger. Kamiigusa-senpai already ran out the door with toast in her mouth. Who else is left?"
"You're not worried about me...?"
Mahiru simply smiled, her golden eyes soft with trust. "It's fine. I believe in you."
After becoming his, she found herself far more relaxed. She knew this person—her person—was someone gentle, someone who knew his limits.
"Me too! I believe in you, Nozomi-kun. Go on, hurry up!" Ogiwara Sayu added with a playful wink.
And so, Hozuki Nozomi was officially given his next mission—no, assignment—to wake up Mashiro.
"Fine, fine. I won't betray your trust!" He dramatically placed a hand over his heart before dashing up to the third floor.
Watching him go, Sayu and Mahiru exchanged knowing glances before rolling their eyes in unison.
With Nozomi gone, Sayu leaned in close to Mahiru and whispered mischievously. "So? How was it?"
Mahiru's face immediately turned scarlet.
"T-That... It was okay."
"Pffft! Why are you acting so shy? Just tell me—was he amazing, or was he amazing?"
Mahiru fidgeted, her fingers gripping the hem of her uniform. "...I-I felt like I was going to die... Sayu, this is so embarrassing... I can't..."
Sayu let out a giggle. "I totally get it. Misaki-senpai couldn't handle it either, and she's basically an eccentric! She even begged for mercy."
Mahiru let out a defeated sigh before breaking into a small, knowing smile.
"Let's get along well from now on."
"Yeah."
The two girls smiled at each other, the atmosphere between them warm and harmonious.
======================
Meanwhile, Nozomi had arrived at Mashiro's room.
He knocked on the door lightly. "Mashiro, are you awake? Mashiro-chan?"
No response.
Figures. She must've stayed up late drawing again.
With a resigned sigh, Nozomi opened the door and stepped inside.
At least she wasn't curled up under her desk this time. Instead, she was cocooned in her blanket, her soft white hair peeking out from beneath the covers.
Like a lazy kitten, she lay there, breathing softly, completely at ease.
Nozomi leaned over and gently pinched her cheek. "Oi, Mashiro, it's morning. If you don't get up now, you'll be late for breakfast."
"Mmmn..." The girl shifted slightly, stretching out her pale arms as she rubbed her eyes in a daze.
"Morning will never come..."
"Oi, oi, why are you saying creepy things first thing in the morning? Come on, get up."
Mashiro groggily sat up, blinking at him with half-lidded eyes. "Oh... Ohayou."
As she moved, the thin blanket that had been covering her shoulders slipped down.
Revealing flawless, porcelain-white skin.
Nozomi's brain short-circuited.
Shiina Mashiro... was just like her name.
Her skin was impossibly white. Almost surreal.
Just like Mahiru's.
Then again, they were cousins, after all.
====================
Nozomi had a stern expression on his face. "Mashiro, why are you sleeping without clothes again?"
Shiina Mashiro raised her hand like a cat, stretched her back, and responded confidently, "Because Nozomi didn't pick clothes for Mashiro."
"At least wear your panties! You can't just sleep completely bare, even angels wear them."
"Yesterday's are in the washing machine." She stared at him, completely unfazed by her own nudity.
Nozomi sighed in exasperation. "You should wash them by hand, Mashiro!"
He crossed his arms, eyeing her seriously. "If you keep doing this, how are you going to live on your own in the future?"
"Why do I need to live alone?" she asked, tilting her head. "Just stay with my master and never separate."
"And what about Rita, your previous guardian? You two ended up apart, didn't you?"
Mashiro visibly tensed at the question. Her golden eyes widened slightly, and she suddenly fell silent.
Nozomi immediately regretted his words. He had touched on something painful.
Her parents had never truly cared for her, allowing her to devote herself solely to painting. The only one who had been there for her—who had taught her how to take care of herself—was Rita. But Mashiro had never considered the possibility that Rita wouldn't always be by her side.
Now, confronted with the thought, she felt an unfamiliar, uncomfortable sensation welling up inside her.
Nozomi sighed softly and pulled her into a gentle hug, stroking her silky hair. "You should learn to take care of yourself, Mashiro. That way, you'll become even more amazing."
Of course, he was mostly saying this to get her to dress herself. But Mashiro actually nodded.
"Mashiro will work hard... because Nozomi is the master."
She nestled into his embrace, seemingly enjoying the warmth. Nozomi chuckled to himself. Maybe it was a family trait—Shiina Mahiru also loved it when he patted her head.
"Alright, put on some clothes first. Otherwise, it's hard for me to focus."
He pulled out a pair of blue-and-white striped panties from the drawer and handed them to her. "Here. You'll look cute in anything, Mashiro."
Mashiro glanced at them before shaking her head. "This isn't cute enough."
Nozomi sighed, rummaged through her drawer for another pair. "How about this one? Besides, if I say you're cute, then you're cute."
Mashiro finally smiled. "Nozomi is the master, so Nozomi has the final say."
She slipped them on in a good mood.
Nozomi exhaled in relief. "Jeez, at this rate, I should just call you Shiina Makuro, since you're always trying to make me take responsibility for everything."
Mashiro merely blinked at him, expression unreadable.
As much as he appreciated the view, he had to think about her future. Rita might have been fine with seeing her like this, but Mashiro needed to learn that this wasn't normal behavior.
Her body was something only he should be allowed to see!
After making sure she was fully dressed, Nozomi took her to wash up and then led her downstairs for breakfast. Once they finished, he escorted her to the school gate.
"You remember the way to your classroom, right?"
Mashiro nodded. "Nanami took me there before."
"Good. If anything happens, call me or Chihiro, got it? If it's urgent, call Aoyama. I already saved her number for you."
Mashiro pursed her lips. "Nozomi is so naggy."
"Oh? So now you're saying I talk too much? I'm just worried about you!"
Nozomi ruffled her hair playfully, causing her to pout. But instead of responding, she simply stared at his hand, which was intertwined with Mahiru's.
…This feeling again. It was unpleasant.
"Alright, alright, I'll stop nagging. We need to catch the train too."
Nozomi watched as Mashiro walked into the school, then turned around with Mahiru to leave.
As they walked, Mahiru giggled. "You really are a worrywart, Nozomi. You looked like a parent dropping their kid off at kindergarten."
Nozomi sighed dramatically. "I can't help it. Mashiro's too naïve. What if some weird guy tries to kidnap her?"
Mahiru shook her head with a knowing smile. "Don't worry. She may seem clueless, but she's smarter than you think. And besides… she only recognizes you as her master."
Nozomi blinked at her. "Wait. How do you know that?"
Mahiru linked her arm with his and smirked. "It's a girl's intuition. Just trust me."
**************
Makuro" (まくろ or マクロ) can be interpreted as a colloquial or slang term in Japanese that refers to a person who is overly dependent on others, often to the point of being helpless or unable to manage their own affairs.
The term can carry a somewhat negative connotation, suggesting that the person lacks the ability to be self-sufficient or responsible. It may be used humorously or lightly among friends, but it can also imply a serious lack of maturity or independence.