The bright morning sun spilled through the window onto the bedside, heralding the arrival of a new day.
Basking in this wonderful feeling, Hayashi slowly opened his eyes.
However, after waking up, he didn't get up immediately. Instead, he turned his head. His field of vision filled with Touka's cool, exquisite face.
She looked very serene in her slumber, even carrying a hint of laziness. Compared to her usual proud, tsundere, and aloof demeanor, she was like a sleeping cat.
Just staring at her for a while made Hayashi feel his mood improve. It's true, the most important part of the day is the morning; that holds true regardless of how one 'greets' the day.
After a while, Touka gradually awoke from her dreams. She slightly opened her beautiful eyes, and upon seeing Hayashi, she instantly froze. It took her a moment to react, and then she immediately sat up in bed.
"You... were you staring at me the whole time I was asleep?"
Touka covered herself with the white blanket, like a startled fawn.
Hayashi shook his head: "No, I just woke up too."
"Is that so?"
Hearing this, Touka gradually relaxed, only to instantly realize she seemed to be wearing nothing.
Thinking of this, her little face, which had just managed to calm down, flushed bright red again.
"Hayashi, turn around. I need to get dressed~"
Touka wrapped the blanket around her body, her face tinged with redness.
"Alright, alright, alright, whatever you say."
Hayashi nodded and turned around, though he felt somewhat helpless inside. After all, they had already experienced 'in-depth and elementary' communication, even the 'most intimate exchange'.
Although everything there was to see had basically been seen, and what shouldn't have been seen had been seen as well... But there was no helping it, that's just how tsunderes are!
Thinking this, Hayashi's gaze suddenly fell on the white lingerie nearby. The pure white color symbolizing innocence and purity was perfectly embodied in it. He suddenly remembered a university roommate named mentioning before. If you used this thing as an eye mask, you could fall asleep every night surrounded by a milky fragrance. Thinking about it now, that guy really knew how to live life.
"Okay, you can turn back now."
Hearing the cool, shy voice from behind him, Hayashi turned around.
Touka was now dressed in her school uniform, looking incredibly sharp and quite like an older sister figure. However, comparatively, Hayashi actually preferred yesterday's Christmas bunny girl outfit.
Let's just say each has its own merits, its own aesthetic and... possibilities.
After breakfast, the two left the apartment as usual. However, just at that moment, Touka suddenly spoke.
"Hayashi, could you... see me to Anteiku for work later?"
Touka gently bit her red lip, her slender, pale fingers lightly tugging at her skirt.
"What's wrong?"
Hearing this, Hayashi became somewhat interested and curious.
"I don't know why, but my legs feel a bit weak, I have no strength, they tremble when I walk... and my lower back hurts a little too."
Touka gently touched the small of her back, looking somewhat ashamed.
"I see, I understand."
Hayashi nodded and immediately agreed.
Let's just say, what stabs you from behind isn't necessarily a knife, and what you carry on your shoulders isn't necessarily responsibility.
After breakfast, the two left the apartment as before. Walking down the street, Hayashi and Touka walked hand-in-hand, fingers interlaced, just like a couple deeply in love. The reason for this was also because Touka had proactively suggested it might help relieve her fatigue.
Hayashi had also used the power of the Horse Talisman to alleviate the fatigue and pain in her body. But even after dispelling it, Touka showed no intention of letting go.
Thus, hand in hand, the two arrived at the entrance of Anteiku cafe.
"Touka, who gave you the idea for that gift?"
Before entering, Hayashi turned to her, a trace of curiosity in his eyes.
"This... It was Irimi who told me about it before."
After hesitating for a moment, Touka bit her red lip, a flash of shyness in her beautiful eyes.
"I asked her before how I should sincerely thank someone who's been very good to me."
"Then she told me this method, and even specially taught me how to tie the ropes."
So it was Kaya Irimi?
Hearing the name, Hayashi immediately felt a deep respect. Who would have thought that Irimi had such attainments in the art of rope tying? Just thinking about it, that's really knowing how to live life!
As he was thinking this, Touka pushed open the cafe door.
Ding-a-ling-ling~
As the bell chimed, the two walked in.
At the moment, there were no customers in the cafe, only the two waitstaff, Yomo and Irimi.
"Good morning, Irimi, Yomo."
Touka walked to the counter and greeted them.
"Morning, little Touka~"
Irimi, who was wiping a table, smiled and greeted her.
"Eh~"
And just at that moment, she suddenly noticed something off about Touka's gait. Then her gaze fell on Hayashi behind her, shifting back and forth between the two.
"So that's how it is~"
Irimi nodded, revealing an expression that said she understood everything.
"Irimi, this is all your fault!"
Seeing her smile, Touka's face instantly turned crimson.
Witnessing this scene, Yomo's expression was quite spectacular.