Not much happens after we return to our table. I got my phone back, enjoy some desserts, then we went out after lunch hours ended.
Though i do think i saw some of the chefs passing out after we leave. My hearings aren't as sharp as an Uma Musume, but i think they're more relieved from seeing me leaving in comparison to Oguri.
Which does makes sense, because Oguri hasn't reached her growth spurt yet. So she doesn't eat as much as i do. Not to mention that she couldn't digest as fast as i could.
Which is why i could walk away with my belly still flat, while Oguri walks between me and Shiro-san with her belly fully bloated from overeating.
Seeing Oguri starting to get sleepy, Shiro-san invited me to rest in their apartment. And she also told me that she already talked with the Orphanage Director about it when i lend her my phone, allowing me to stay with them for a night before coming back to Tokyo on sunday tomorrow.
Though a bit confused as to why, i accept her invitation and walk with them. On the road, i noticed Oguri stop walking and look to her side. Curious, i turn around to see what she's currently looking at.
In front of us is an electronic store. On the display is a TV, airing a live footage of a G3 Race somewhere in Japan.
Seeing her eyes glued to the screen, i crouch down to her level and pat her head, causing her to look at me.
"One day, you'll stand at an even bigger stage than this. I'll make sure of it."
"Mmn" Oguri hummed with a nod.
"Good. Now let's get those feets moving. Your mother is waiting for us." I said with a smile as i ger up and start to walk towards Shiro-san, who's waiting for us with a smile on her face.
10 minutes later, we arrived at the small apartment building where both of them lives.
"Ojama shimasu~" I politely say while entering their apartment after them and neatly put away my shoes and backpack, before my head start moving around to look at the inside the apartment.
As expected from a low-income family of two, there's barely any furniture inside the living room besides a Kotatsu and a TV. But at least it made the small apartment spacious.
Sitting on the living room tatami, the cold winter air of late January gently seeping inside the house through the walls made out of wood and paper. Though the living room is warm enough thanks to the Kotatsu that Oguri turned on when we arrived after lighting up the charcoal brazier underneath it.
Thanks to that, and by how much we ate, both of us ended up falling asleep there. Oguri falls asleep under the table, with her head poking out from under the heavy blanket. I went asleep in sitting position, legs crossed under the table, covered by the heavy blanket up to my thighs. My arms tucked on top of the table to act as my head pillow.
A few hours later, i woke up with my neck feeling a bit sore and my legs feels numb. The first thing i saw was Shiro-san still sleeping across the table. When i tried to stretch my legs, i felt some weight around my left thigh.
Looking down, i saw Oguri hugging my thigh on her sleep, treating it like a warm hug pillow.
"Hey, Oguri. Wake up." I softly says while gently poking her cheek with my index finger.
"Ngggh... Five more minutes..."
I almost forgot that this kid only do three things in life, which is to eat, sleep and train.
"Come on, wake up. It's time for a bit of training. If we finish up early before sunset, we could buy some snacks on our way back home."
'... Honestly, it's kinda weird saying that. This isn't my home, and we're not even family' i thought before shaking my head.
And as i expected, Oguri's eyes opened wide the moment she heard the word 'snacks'.
'This kinda reminds me of that T-R-E-A-T meme back in my old world' i thought in amusement.
"Then let's go!" She said after excitedly getting up.
"Don't you want to change onto another tracksuit first?" I asked with an eyebrow raised.
"I only have this one." She replied, causing my to almost silently slap my own forehead before getting up.
'Right. I forgot how poor she is' "Remind me to buy you a new one before we go back." I said as i wrote a note on the table to tell Shiro-san to let her know where we are when she woke up.
I then went into the bathroom and quickly change into my tracksuit. After silently getting out from the apartment, i look up to the clear sky with a sigh.
"Good, the weather is fine this evening. Let's start immediately, then once we're done, i'm buying us some drinks to warm us up, like a hot milk or hit chocolate for example" I said after silently closing the door.
Seeing her innocent eyes sparkling and the movement of her tail, i just let out a chuckle and pick up my phone to mark some checkpoint on the map to create a route where i could have a jog, then buying Oguri a new set of tracksuit before going to a nearby market to buy some food and groceries.
'Just because i'm staying for the night, doesn't mean that i would put a burden on Shiro-san's already tight budget' i thought as i put away my phone.
After he put away his phone, Ryouji led me to a few warn ups before we start running.
"What's the training for this evening?" I asked as i follow his movements.
"We're just gonna have a jog, burn some calories while also building up your stamina and getting you used to running in cold weather. After all, there's some race that are held during winter."
I nod before continuing our warm up. Once we're finished and ready to run, he put his hand on my head, causing me to look up to him.
"Alright, i'll be taking the lead. Stay close behind me. As for how close... Well, how about you stay close in my shadow?"
I nod before we start running heading towards the setting sun. while running, i stay close behind him, sticking to his shadow.
'Training like this... Is fun...
i wonder if we could keep running like this after i grow up big enough...
Because i want to keep running close to him... And i want to keep chasing after his back...'