The girl retreated a step and looked at Raize, her voice light and drifting.
"Then… can Aize teach me what love is right now?"
Refuse?
Looking at the faint expectation on Mashiro's delicate face, Raize found himself unable to say those words again. Yet the principles in his heart also prevented him from doing anything excessive. Toward Mashiro, this pure and spotless girl, he had always treated her with gentleness.
Making a move on a girl whose mind was still somewhat immature was something Raize despised—so he could only compromise.
"You can only understand it on your own."
After taking a deep breath, Raize—like a decisive man facing the girl he cared about—spoke those words, then, under the girl's surprised gaze, reached out and gently pulled her into his arms.
Mashiro, a head shorter than Raize, pressed her cheek tightly against his chest. Being enclosed by the boy's strong arms stirred strange emotions within her. Her lively, complicated inner feelings made her want to lift her head and ask him something.
But a hand gently rested on the back of her head, soothing her, lightly pressing down so she could not move.
More than anything else, Raize did not want Mashiro to see his current expression—or his eyes.
"Don't move, Mashiro. What are you feeling right now?"
"Mmm… very safe… and… satisfied?"
Held in his arms, Mashiro's pretty face flushed slightly. Without resisting or moving, her eyes grew hazy as she carefully sensed the strange emotions in her heart, answering uncertainly.
Whether she understood or not didn't matter—Mashiro didn't dislike this feeling at all.
Raize's expression was complicated as he held the girl. He lowered his head, looking at Mashiro pressed against his chest. After a moment of thought, he placed his other hand on her waist. Black-and-crimson tendrils spread out, slowly merging into her body from her waist.
As an ordinary person, Mashiro felt nothing unusual. She was not a magical girl like Haruna.
"Raize, I have so much inspiration now. I want to draw everything I've learned."
The girl's voice carried joyful excitement as she rubbed against Raize's chest like a little pet, her small nose twitching slightly, as if she wanted to memorize his scent forever.
You've got inspiration, you're in a good mood—but you've completely messed up my heart!
Grumbling inwardly, Raize released Mashiro. Her clear, tranquil eyes were filled with obvious happiness.
In her good mood, Mashiro began pouring everything she had gained from Raize into her drawings. Watching the girl focus beside him, Raize recalled what she had just done and felt a bitter smile rise in his heart.
Wasn't this development a little too fast? If he didn't know what kind of person Mashiro was, he'd think she was some high-level player.
In such a short time, the relationship between the boy and the girl had fundamentally changed.
Why… can't I bring myself to firmly reject you?
Watching Mashiro's fair, snow-soft profile as she concentrated on drawing, Raize thought with quiet distress. He wasn't the kind of man who strung girls along, nor did he want to become someone he despised—like Tomoya Aki.
---
With Mashiro visiting Raize's house today, an extra seat was added at the dinner table—and it was right next to Raize.
Under the slightly subtle gazes of the girls—excluding Laffey—Raize took meticulous care of Mashiro, just like he would a child.
Since they were drawing together, the two had been inseparable all day.
No one in the house disliked Mashiro. Anyone who could see through her essence wouldn't dislike her. On the contrary, Sei rather liked this girl with a remarkably pure soul.
Although Mashiro lacked common sense, and this was Raize's first time taking care of a girl, he did so with surprising ease.
He didn't want to be Mashiro's nanny, nor did he want her to rely on others for her entire life. While caring for her, he also taught her how to take care of herself.
With the insurance he had left within her body, he believed she would learn these things easily.
After dinner that evening, a call came from Hiratsuka, saying she was coming to pick Mashiro up.
Although Mashiro really wanted to stay, she behaved obediently this time and didn't act willful—because Raize had, in his own way, fulfilled the promise he made to the "pet girl."
At the front door that night, Raize watched the girl being led away by the two teachers, turning back every few steps with reluctance. A smile of amusement appeared on his face.
{Mashiro, I'm always by your side.}
Raize's gentle, comforting voice sounded in the girl's mind. She stared blankly one last time at Raize standing at the doorway, waving and smiling at her, then obediently followed her cousin into the car.
This was his and Mashiro's little secret. In another area of the mental link, besides Haruna, there was now one more—Mashiro.
{Aize, this is amazing. I can still see you and hear your voice.}
Sitting in the back seat, Mashiro spoke to Raize's voice in her head, her eyes unfocused.
From her perspective, she could see a miniature version of Raize floating before her eyes. She reached out to touch him, but her hand passed straight through.
Even after leaving Raize, she could still talk to him regardless of distance. Mashiro didn't understand how it worked, but she was happy just being able to see and talk to him.
Besides, Raize said this was their secret—her cousin wouldn't know.
"Mashiro, after spending a day at Raize's place, how was it?"
Hiratsuka drove while Chihiro glanced at the dazed Mashiro in the back seat and couldn't help asking.
{Don't tell her.}
"Aize told me not to tell you."
Mashiro answered reflexively, which made the two female teachers in front twitch at the corners of their mouths. They exchanged a look, both sensing something was… not good.