「 There's still a lot to fix at Marisa's place. I won't be back tonight. 」
「There are ingredients in the fridge—make do for dinner. I'll pick up Patchouli's clothes from the Scarlet Devil Mansion tomorrow. 」
「 You can let down the paparazzi now. Oh, and make sure to take a commemorative photo before you do. 」
Reimu, who had been idly munching on sunflower seeds, blinked at the sudden notice that appeared in the shop. She tugged at Yukari Yakumo, who was napping beside her.
"Yukari, the boss isn't coming back tonight."
"Huh?!"
Yukari's eyes widened. She had already planned how to introduce Ran to him tonight, then gleefully sit back and watch the drama unfold.
And now he's not even coming back?!Half of her dinner entertainment was ruined!
Meanwhile, Ran, who had been peeling garlic in the corner, let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Every second spent in this shop had been torture for her, dreading the moment the mistress would return and trigger a bloody battlefield of love and betrayal.
At least today will pass peacefully…
After dinner, I'll try to talk some sense into Lady Yukari again. Being a homewrecker is a dead-end—divine retribution is real!
While the shop's occupants stewed in their own thoughts, Rin had already finished laying the new flooring in Marisa's house.
"Whoa~ Boss, your back's amazing. How are you not sore after working all day?"
Marisa, munching on fruit nearby, couldn't help but marvel.
My back's still killing me, but he's completely fine? Is this some kind of superhuman talent?
Rin flicked her forehead with a smirk. "Did you gather all the ingredients for dinner?"
"Yep! Mushrooms, wild greens, bird eggs, fruits—got everything. I even caught two rabbits. We can roast 'em later."
She cheerfully pointed at the two trussed-up rabbits by the door. Considering how much manual labor they'd done today, she'd made sure to gather extra ingredients.
Rin's eyes lit up. "Go prepare the ingredients. I'll finish fixing the bathroom and bedroom, then join you."
"Got it~"
As Marisa hurried off to handle the food, Rin and the dolls moved into the bathroom.
"Put it here."
He pointed to a corner, and the dolls obediently set down a basket full of rubble.
『 Equivalent Exchange·Reinforcement Alchemy 』
As the magical patterns flared to life again, the rubble in the basket transformed into pristine white tiles, seamlessly fitting together on the walls under the dolls' fascinated gazes.
After finishing the basic structure, he quickly restored the broken sink, toilet, and other fixtures.
Might as well make it comfortable.
He even had the Sage deliver extra materials from the shop's storage, crafting a spacious bathtub big enough for two.
As for the bedroom? Naturally, it got a luxurious, ultra-soft double bed with excellent shock absorption.
All the furniture was crafted from leftover wood, making the place practically move-in ready. The remaining repairs could wait.
By the time he finished, night had fully fallen.
Before he could step out, Marisa waltzed in carrying a large pot of mushroom soup.
"Boss, boss! Soup's done. Where should I put it?"
"There's a table in the bedroom. Rabbit meat?"
"Still on the skewers outside. Couldn't carry everything at once."
"I'll get it."
Rin waved her off and headed outside, pausing to smile at the dolls still lingering nearby.
"That's all for today. Thanks for the help—I'll bring gifts next time to thank you properly."
The dolls bowed in unison before cheerfully flying off into the forest.
When Rin returned with the roasted rabbit, Marisa was already sprawled bonelessly on the sofa, her shoes kicked off somewhere.
"Haaah~ Finally winding down after a day of hard work feels so good."
"Except my arms, legs, and back still hurt like I got beat up."
"I'll give you a massage after the bath. It'll help."
"Uwah, even more bone-cracking after all this pain? You're trying to kill me!"
"Relax, I'll go easy this time. Just loosening your muscles. Otherwise, you won't even be able to get out of bed tomorrow."
"…Fine."
Marisa sighed in relief, then happily gulped down another mouthful of soup. As she chewed on rabbit meat and mushrooms, her expression grew increasingly dazed.
Wait… did I forget something?
But the blissful relaxation quickly pushed all concerns out of her mind.
Meanwhile, Rin watched her contented expression with a sly grin.
Now that we're the only two left in the house…
Time slipped by unnoticed. The moon rose, crickets chirped in the forest, and the two finished eating, bathing, and unwinding.
Marisa, hair still damp, flopped facedown onto the bed as instructed, though she couldn't resist one last question—
"You're sure it won't hurt like last time?"
"Positive. Trust me."
He tapped her head lightly. As she grumbled into the pillow, his hands slid toward her smooth, bare legs.
The moment his fingers brushed her skin, Marisa jolted, barely suppressing the instinct to arch her back.
But since he hadn't activated that ability, she could only scream internally and bury her face deeper into the pillow.
Yet as the massage continued, Marisa slowly realized something felt… off.
It was like something was missing.
Without the usual overwhelming stimulation to distract her, she became hyper-aware of Rin's skilled hands—and how weirdly intimate his touch felt.
After fidgeting awkwardly for a bit, she finally caved to the strange emptiness in her chest and tentatively suggested—
"Uh… Boss? Maybe… turn that ability on… just a little?"
"You asked for it."
Rin's smile turned downright sinister. The moment his ability activated, his hands dug in.
"Hyaaa—!Hah~!"
"W-wait! Boss! This time it's—Mmmph~!"
Marisa couldn't even finish her sentence before her mind drowned in the overwhelming sensations.
Her fingers clawed into the pillow, veins bulging as sweat poured down her trembling body…