After sending the message—
Takatsuki Sen once again removed the full-body bandages, revealing her smooth, bare body.
The bandages fell to the floor, one loop after another, unraveling like strands of noodles.
She didn't like wearing clothes at home—this was how she preferred to be.
As for Omori Yakumo, or "Gecko," she had long since made up her mind.
Takatsuki Sen had run out of patience.
Unruly, disobedient, reckless.
Even after being caught and rescued, he hadn't changed a bit.
The only reason she'd tolerated him this long was because she was waiting—for the moment when his death would bring value. When it could be traded for enough benefit.
That moment had almost come.
Takatsuki Sen had been wondering how to build a relationship with that Manager.
Now, it seemed the opportunity had delivered itself.
During the earlier strategy meeting—
Takatsuki's thoughts had been genuine.
Especially when she said: "It's meaningless. Always out of reach."
That wasn't just a throwaway line—that was her true belief.
Her target had always been the ghouls.
Her previous idea was to find the dragon, analyze what it really was—was it an enemy of ghouls, or something else entirely?
But everything changed today, after she saw that shop—the Midnight Diner.
First, Kamishiro Rize revealed her identity to her.
Then, for some reason, she followed them to the shop. To this day, she didn't really understand why she had been so willing—or so willing to trust.
But once inside the diner—
Everything changed.
Devils, ghouls, and dragons all under one roof—without conflict.
And the Manager turned out to be a human!
There was no doubt. Definitely a human.
Even though his aura was chaotic, like an endless abyss—ghouls could always tell. A human was a human.
And there wasn't just one dragon.
There were two!
Even ignoring that giant dragon named Tohru, the younger one—Kanna—emitted a terrifying aura of power, even in her childish form.
That was the instinct of the One-Eyed King—a primal, biological sense of threat.
If Kanna was this powerful as a child… what about the older one?
What about their parents? The adult dragons?
Takatsuki Izumi didn't even dare imagine what they'd be like.
There was no point.
Because no matter what you did, you were gambling that the dragons' parents weren't nearby.
And gambling like that? Absolutely not an option.
So in Takatsuki Sen's view:
Becoming friends with the Manager meant becoming friends with two dragons.
No matter what—
Those two dragons must not become enemies.
Even better if they could be allies.
And that meant Omori Yakumo—"Gecko"—
You'll just have to be the sacrificial fool.
Meanwhile—
In the black car that had earlier taken Power away—
Makima was at the wheel, driving with Power beside her.
It was already night. Power drowsily stared out the window.
Then she realized—
The car wasn't heading home.
Nor was it going toward the Public Safety Bureau building.
Instead, it was driving toward an unfamiliar zone—area 850.
"!?" Power jolted awake.
She sat up straight, eyes wide in fear as she looked at Makima.
"W-Where... where are we going?"
Makima had one hand on the steering wheel and the other propping up her chin, eyes fixed on the road ahead.
Hearing Power's question—
Makima neither responded nor reacted.
Which only made Power panic even more.
"I-I mean, I know I left the team without permission, b-but that's not a capital offense, right?! Don't kill me!"
Power was genuinely afraid of death. That much was true.
She might've acted like a shameless fool with weird logic—but her fear of death was instinctual.
When she said "Don't kill me," Makima finally smiled and turned to look at her.
Under the gaze of those golden, wheel-like eyes, Power broke into a cold sweat. Her heart pounded violently.
She even swallowed hard, too nervous to speak.
But after staring at her for a moment, Makima extended her hand and lightly scraped Power's lips with her thumb—then turned back and resumed driving.
"You're staying at my place tonight. Tomorrow, you'll help me move."
Upon hearing the explanation, Power finally breathed a deep sigh of relief.
As long as there was a tomorrow—that was enough.
Her biggest fear had been not seeing tomorrow's sun. That would've been the end.
The black car slowly pulled up outside an apartment building.
Makima stepped out, and Power followed.
They went upstairs.
As they entered, the dogs inside heard them and rushed out to greet Makima.
"Back to your spots. I'll feed you in a bit."
Hearing this, the dogs obediently retreated.
Makima led Power through a long hallway and stopped at a bedroom.
Pointing at the empty room, she said:
"You'll sleep here tonight. Got it?"
Power nodded repeatedly. "Got it!"
She walked inside immediately.
But when she turned around—Makima hadn't left.
Makima walked over to the window and opened the curtains.
Moonlight poured into the room.
Makima turned around—bathed in silver light, though her head remained shrouded in darkness.
Only those glowing golden eyes pierced through, staring once again at Power.
Gulp~!
Power swallowed hard, trembling.
What now?
Didn't she just say she'd see tomorrow's sunrise?
Was she going back on her word?
Under Makima's intense gaze, Power nearly lost her composure again.
Then, finally—
Makima spoke: "Aki Hayakawa told me you weren't very happy?"
"Yes!—Ah, no!"
Power nodded instinctively, then immediately realized and shook her head hard.
Makima nodded—she already knew.
The answer had long been in her heart; this was merely a confirmation.
"Do you still want to live with Aki Hayakawa?" Makima continued asking.
"No way!" Power shook her head.
She had long been sick of being bossed around.
Makima gave a slight nod. "Alright then. After I move out, you'll stay on the first floor. As for hygiene management, a female housekeeper will teach you. I hope you'll take it seriously. Understand?"
Though she said "Understand?", there was no question in her tone.
It was an order. Refusal wasn't an option.
Under Makima's gaze, Power could only nod.
"Good."
After settling that—
Makima leaned against the windowsill and asked again:
"Hayashi's lips… what do they taste like? Were they delicious?"
"!?" Power froze.
She snapped her head up to look at Makima, who was cloaked in shadow, her expression unreadable—only the color of her eyes visible.
No expression. Power didn't even know how to read her face!
Did Makima say that with any emotion?
How was she supposed to answer that question?
No—more importantly, how did Makima even know?!
How did she know Power kissed Hayashi?
Power broke into a sweat, as if drenched by rain.
Her whole body trembled slightly.
Slow as she was, Power now realized—Makima-sama had feelings for Hayashi too!
She had been eating and fooling around this whole time, completely oblivious!
"You're wondering how I knew, aren't you?" Makima said.
"Mm-hmm!" Power nodded.
"Because your mouth still smell like Hayashi."
"…?"
You can even smell that?
Power froze in place.
Now what?
Even if she made it through tomorrow—what about the day after?
Power crouched down, hugging her head, shaking uncontrollably, unable to speak.
This time, she was really done for!
But as she trembled—
Makima had already seen through Power's nature and understood her situation.
She chuckled softly, stepped out from the shadows, came to Power's side, crouched down, and gently patted her head as she spoke warmly:
"Don't worry. I'm not going to do anything to you."
"I just want to understand how things progressed between you and Hayashi."
"I want to know—and you'll tell me, won't you?"
Power, terrified, nodded repeatedly. "Mm-hmm!"
Then she began to explain.
Though what little rationality she had left warned her to make it sound good.
So in Power's version—
It was all to repay Pochita for saving the cat.
And since she didn't want to work, this was the only thing she could give.
She even added that she felt she wasn't at a loss—and could repay him even more deeply in the future.
After hearing this, Makima asked curiously:
"You're willing to give?"
"Of course!" Power replied, face full of anticipation. "Hayashi is strong and handsome—why wouldn't I want to give!"
Makima pondered for a moment.
Power, seeing her hesitate, quickly tucked her head down and carefully asked:
"Makima-sama... or maybe... you want to give? Then I could just..."
"That's not it." Makima finally lifted her head.
And began asking, "How many people are around the Manager?"
"The antique café, ghouls, humans, dragons, devils…"
"We all come from different camps. So we must stand united against the outside."
"I'm a devil. You're a devil too. Do you understand, Power?"
Power's eyes widened.
Makima meant—the devil faction must not appear weak or scattered.
Of course, this wasn't just about "liking" or "love."
It involved background, influence, support—everything.
If Makima wanted a world without domination—
If she wanted every other devil to vanish forever—
Then she needed more of her kind to help!
To kill more devils.
To take more hearts.
At this moment, Power's slow little brain went into overdrive.
Makima meant—she wanted to see Power stand firmly at her side, to become a core member among the Midnight Diner's patrons.
And the link between them—was the Manager, Hayashi.
Power understood.
She immediately dropped into a full prostration, bowing deeply before Makima!
"I understand now, Makima-sama! I—Power—will stand with Manager Hayashi and you! I will obey all of your commands!"
To restore the glory of devils—Power will do her part!
Seeing this, Makima finally nodded in satisfaction, patted Power's head, and left.
From that day on—
Power was no longer just a subordinate under Makima—a disposable unit measured by utility.
She had gone from being a low-ranking Devil Hunter in Public Safety—
To becoming a trusted confidant of Makima's devil faction.
Simply put—
Others could be sacrificed at will.
But Power was now someone to consider.
At the Midnight Diner—
It was now midnight.
All the customers had left.
Kanna had been sent upstairs to sleep.
Tohru came down the stairs and spoke to Hayashi, who was reading.
"Even while asleep, Kanna wouldn't let go of the phone you gave her. I tried to take it and couldn't."
"As long as she likes it." Hayashi turned his head. "She's only just arrived, and she went hungry for so long. This is already pretty good. Remember when you first came? You kept asking for hugs."
"!!!" Tohru's face flushed red. "You better never say that again!"
She lunged forward to cover Hayashi's mouth.
That night, it hadn't just been hugs—she had snuck into his room and only slept while holding him.
And she'd slept like a baby.
Tohru tried to cover his mouth.
Hayashi grabbed her hand, twisted it behind her back, and used a binding technique he'd just learned.
"Ah—huh?"
In a flash, Tohru was tied up with her hands behind her back like a cocoon.
The worst part? She struggled with all her strength—and still couldn't get free!
For a moment—
Tohru's mind was flooded with all kinds of storybook plotlines!
Her cheeks burned red, and she mumbled in a soft, embarrassed voice:
"Hayashi-san… so, now… can we kiss~?"
She closed her eyes, face full of expectation.
"…" Hayashi flipped her onto his lap and gave her rear a sharp smack.
"We're still in the restaurant! What are you trying to do?!"
Tohru squirmed and wiggled around, totally unruly.
"So if we weren't in the restaurant, it'd be fine? Got it!"
Smack~!
Hayashi gave her another spank.
"You got nothing! Stop copying that kind of plot! Can't you act normal?!"
Tohru didn't seem to mind—if anything, it only made her blush more.
Still cocooned, she wriggled and whispered:
"Then let's do it tonight, Hayashi-san. In the stories, the shy young master always hesitates, and it's the maid who helps him with his first time… are you like that too?"
"!?"
Her words hit like a high-level forbidden spell!
Hayashi felt like he'd been struck by a critical hit—his mental HP dropping fast!
This couldn't go on!
If he kept holding back now, he'd lose all dignity!
Gritting his teeth, Hayashi grabbed the thin string binding Tohru and stood up.
"Then we're closing early tonight, Tohru!"
Although there was still an hour until closing time, Hayashi couldn't care less anymore.
With one hand, he hoisted the still-tied-up Tohru and went straight to shut the main entrance.
[Check-in successful: Gained +7 operating time points!]
The lottery draw could wait.
Hayashi carried Tohru straight upstairs.
Tohru squirmed like a cocoon the whole way, shouting, "Let me go! Let me guide you, Hayashi-san!"
That only made Hayashi even angrier!
Back in the bedroom—
Bang! He shut the door.
Hayashi tossed Tohru onto the bed.
"Have you thought it through, Tohru? This is your last chance to provoke me."
"Hmph~! ╭(╯^╰)╮" Tohru tilted her head defiantly. "If you've got the guts, untie me! I want to be the head maid who guides the clueless young master."
"Heh." Hayashi sneered.
"Tonight, I'll be the Dragon Rider!"
That night, in the Midnight Diner, flames of war lit up the darkness.
The stubborn dragon girl and the devouring devil fought until dawn before finally resting!
When noon came, as usual, Hayashi woke up.
He sat up in bed, dazed.
"Last night felt like a war…"
He looked around, then lowered his gaze.
Tohru had nothing on, clinging to his leg, sleeping like an idiot.
Hayashi gently pulled his leg free.
Still sleepy, he went off to wash up.
After showering in the shared bathroom, he finally felt a little more awake.
"…Strange. I don't even feel tired?"
Hayashi pinched his own cheek.
Honestly—
His fatigue wasn't physical. It was just that last night had been too intense, and now he was in that emotionally drained, post-high "sage time."
He wasn't physically exhausted.
In fact, he felt great.
"What's the reason for this?"
Hayashi thought about his devouring ability, and the Chainsaw Devil's power.
In the story, the Chainsaw Devil could keep fighting endlessly as long as he kept replenishing himself.
What had Tohru said last night again?
Her magic power could be replenished through intimacy.
Which meant—if he could keep absorbing Tohru's magic, he could achieve something close to a pseudo-perpetual motion machine?
Or maybe—it wasn't just Tohru's magic.
As long as it was energy-based, he could absorb it?!
"So this devouring ability can be used like this? That strong?" Hayashi looked amazed. "Then could ghouls absorb RC cells? Could devils absorb other devils' energy?"
The more he thought about it, the more it made sense!
"Whatever. No rush. I'll try them all eventually."
Hayashi rubbed his face, then went downstairs around noon to make breakfast.
Rize and Kanna were probably waking up.
The shop was expecting quite a few people today.
Downstairs—
Hayashi prepared golden fried rice.
Then he called upstairs:
"Breakfast is ready!"
Thud~! No sooner had he shouted than he heard a body crash onto the floor.
Then came Tohru's voice—clearly just woken up, but with an extra hint of sweetness:
"Coming, Hayashi-saaan~~~!"
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