After being delayed for ten minutes, Shichen finally went to the kitchen to start dinner.
Takamiya Mio sat on the sofa, lost in thought.
She looked spaced out—like her mind had gone blank. One hand rested against her lips as if she couldn't stop replaying what had just happened. What she'd experienced wasn't some light, tentative peck anymore; it was a real kiss, and the shock of it was enough to overload her brain.
Nothing in the "knowledge" she'd picked up covered that kind of intensity. And the worst part was… she didn't hate it.
If anything, she felt a little addicted.
Her gaze drifted toward Shichen in the kitchen, soft and tender.
Halfway through cooking, Homura Haruko came by again to mooch a meal—without a shred of shame.
"Mio, Shichen—I'm here!"
"Haruko."
"Aww~ Mio, how was your date today? Were you happy? Did anything happen?"
The moment she arrived, Haruko plopped down beside Mio, clung to her arm, and started grilling her with bright-eyed excitement.
"Um…"
Just being reminded of the date made Mio's mind flash back to everything she'd done with Shichen, and she immediately turned red.
"Ohhh~ so something did happen. Now I'm curious."
"Haruko…" Mio pouted, flustered.
"Hehe~ what did you two do? Holding hands? Hugging? Or…?"
"Mm…"
"Wait—seriously? That far?" Haruko blurted, genuinely shocked. Mio's reaction basically confirmed it.
"Haruko, stop asking…" Mio couldn't take it anymore.
"But I'm curious~" Haruko whined. "Did you and Shichen… kiss?"
Mio finally gave a tiny, embarrassed nod.
"So it's true! Then what does kissing feel like?" Haruko pressed, because of course she would—she was a girl in that age where curiosity was basically a superpower.
"D-don't ask me…"
"Aww, Mio's so shy. Fine, different question—was Shichen the one who started it? It must've been him, right?"
"...It was me."
"Wait, what?!" Haruko stared. "You? You were the one who initiated it?"
Mio nodded again, still blushing.
"That's insane. Mio, I'm impressed. I thought Shichen would be the bold one—he planned the date, didn't he?"
"I… couldn't help it during the movie…" Mio mumbled.
"A movie? What movie?"
"I… forgot the title. Something about love…"
She hadn't even finished watching it properly. Her mind had been too full of excitement to remember names.
"Ahh, so it was the movie's fault—there was a kissing scene?"
"Mm…"
"Then what was Shichen doing?"
"He was watching the movie seriously."
"No way…"
"It's true…"
Haruko frowned, thinking hard. Being "bold" sounded easy on paper—just do it—but in reality it was terrifying. Still, if you never took the step, you might never get what you wanted.
They chatted a while longer, bouncing between silly "girl talk" topics, until Shichen finished cooking.
He'd noticed Haruko had shown up ages ago, so he simply ordered her to help carry dishes. Free labor was free labor.
Sure, it interrupted their "just us" atmosphere—but dinner with three people was livelier than dinner with two, and Shichen actually liked that kind of noise.
Besides… Haruko was the neighbor he'd have to deal with in the future anyway. Getting used to her now wasn't a bad thing.
After dinner, Haruko didn't stay long. It was Sunday, but Monday was still a school day.
School really was a beautiful word.
Shichen and Mio watched a bit of TV, took turns washing up, then went back to their rooms.
In his bed, Shichen felt quietly pleased. Today, his relationship with Mio had progressed a lot—and she'd been the one to take the first step.
That meant something.
It meant she wanted to get closer.
But that also made him wonder… if they were going to become this close, why would she later split her power and create spirits? What was the point? What happened to him later?
This time period shouldn't have had anything threatening them.
So the only answer was to keep going—step by step.
Just as Shichen was about to fall asleep—
Knock, knock, knock.
He hadn't even noticed at first.
But there were only two people in the house. Outsiders couldn't get in without his permission. He didn't need to guess who it was.
He got up, opened the door, and sure enough: Mio stood there in her sleepwear, delicate and hesitant.
"Mio? What's wrong?"
"Shichen…" Mio looked like she wanted to say something but couldn't.
"There's nothing you can't tell me." Shichen smiled and gently ruffled her hair.
Mio took a breath and finally asked, "Can I… sleep with you?"
Shichen blinked.
That was sudden.
"Is that not okay?" Mio tensed when he didn't answer right away.
"It's not that it's not okay… but why?"
"I just want to." Mio answered simply, seriously.
She'd been lying in bed, overthinking the future. If their relationship was going to get closer, sleeping together would be normal someday… and her personality was the type that acted the moment the thought formed.
Shichen sighed, half amused. "You know it can be dangerous for a girl to sleep next to a man."
"You're not dangerous," Mio said immediately.
"I'm still a normal man…"
"It's okay. If it's you…"
"That's exactly why it's dangerous…" Shichen muttered, then stepped aside. "Come in. I'll behave. If I can't, I'll tell you."
Mio brightened instantly. "Really?!"
She hurried in and—like she'd done before—jumped onto the bed without hesitation.
Shichen stared at her for a second, trying to decide if he could actually keep that promise.
Was this moving too fast?
Or would moving too fast trigger something unexpected?
He shut the door, climbed into bed, and pulled the blanket over them both.
"Alright," he said softly. "Sleep."
"C-can we talk for a bit?" Mio asked, facing him, eyes shining as she studied his profile. The moment she'd acted, the "after-effect" hit—she was shy again.
"Talk? About what?" Shichen turned his head to look at her.
Mio thought for a second, then shook her head. "I don't know…"
"Then why did you say talk?" Shichen chuckled.
"I just… don't want to sleep so early. Tomorrow's free."
"Fair. We can talk a little."
"Then you start," Mio said quickly, relieved.
"Me?" Shichen's gaze drifted to her lips, and his voice went a little quieter. "I'm not sure I feel like talking anymore."
Mio saw that look and understood immediately.
"Shichen… do you want to?" she whispered.
"I do," he admitted, pulling her into his arms.
"I want to, too." Mio gave a mischievous little smile and leaned in first.
They held each other tightly.
In the quiet room, only faint, private sounds slipped out now and then—soft enough that no one else could ever hear.
With the world outside gone, no interruptions, no pressure, no noise—just an undisturbed night and two people slowly, carefully learning how to be close.
Mio got swept up in it, and her learning speed was frighteningly fast.
Shichen had the uncomfortable feeling that, at this rate… he might not be able to keep up.
~~~
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