Akira woke to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar curtains and the smell of cooking bacon wafting from another room.
For a moment, he was disoriented and didn't know where he was. Then the memories flooded back: Lilithia, the battle, coming to Mei's apartment, and everything that followed.
He slowly sat up. Surprisingly, his body didn't hurt one bit, even after the brutal fight he had only a few hours before. The system's health restoration had done its job perfectly.
He was in Mei's bed, alone, wearing nothing but his boxers. His clothes from the night before were folded neatly on a nearby chair, clean and mended.
The clock on the nightstand read 11:47 AM. Sunday morning, almost afternoon.
"Akira-kun? You're awake!" Mei appeared in the doorway, wearing a casual sundress and an apron; her hair was pulled back. She looked radiant, completely different from the exhausted, thoroughly satisfied woman from last night. "Perfect timing. Breakfast is almost ready."
