After letting Kasugano Sora stay overnight in his apartment, Bai Mo knocked on her door the next morning.
"Sora, are you up? Breakfast is ready. Come eat~"
"After breakfast, I'll take you to the mall to buy some things."
As if responding to his words, a rustling sound came from inside the room. Soon after, Kasugano Sora opened the door and appeared before Bai Mo.
Bai Mo instinctively glanced inside the room—both the blankets and sheets were neatly arranged.
Looks like she tidied up~
As he looked at the girl standing in front of him, Bai Mo wasn't sure whether to praise her for being so responsible or to feel heartache for how responsible she had become.
Being passed around among relatives six or seven times—she must have gone through a lot.
But Bai Mo didn't let his thoughts show. Instead, he simply reached out and gently ruffled Sora's silver-white hair.
"I made some seafood congee with fish, bacon and eggs, and pan-fried tofu. Is there anything else you'd like?"
Kasugano Sora shook her head and followed Bai Mo to the living room on the first floor.
The aroma of the food on the dining table made Sora's mouth water, though she didn't show any outward reaction.
But Bai Mo was no ordinary person—he noticed her subtle response. Smiling faintly behind her, he had her sit down and served her a full bowl of seafood congee.
Then, he placed a plate of bacon and eggs and a bowl of pan-fried tofu in front of her.
"Eat up. There's more if you're still hungry~ I made plenty."
And indeed, he had. Looking at the huge pot of seafood congee and the basin-sized portions of side dishes, Sora began to worry whether they could finish it all.
But after taking her first bite of Bai Mo's cooking, she was immediately conquered by the delicious flavors!
The congee was made with just ordinary rice, shrimp, and fish, yet the richness of the seafood carried the essence of the ocean itself.
And it wasn't just the congee—even the simple bacon and eggs and pan-fried tofu had Sora reaching for more.
Watching her enjoy the meal, Bai Mo also began eating his own breakfast.
The ingredients he used were all from the world of Teyvat, where spiritual energy was abundant, making the food far more delicious than anything from his own world.
He had brought back plenty of ingredients, enough to last a month if they rationed them.
After finishing two full bowls of congee and polishing off all the side dishes, the pallor of Sora's overly pale complexion had improved slightly.
Whether it was the nourishing effects of the ingredients or the girl's own shyness was hard to say.
After stuffing the remaining food into his own stomach, Bai Mo didn't bother with the dishes and took Sora out shopping instead.
It would count as a post-meal stroll.
Shinjuku had no shortage of supermarkets and shopping malls, and the two headed straight for one that wasn't too far away.
They had a lot to buy today. While Bai Mo's apartment had the basic necessities, they were all spares he kept for emergencies—he had never expected a girl to live with him long-term.
So they needed to buy a clean, cute six-piece bedding set for girls, pajamas and new clothes for Sora, and other essentials. The clothes she had brought in her suitcase were limited, and many were already worn out—she needed new ones.
Then there were all the other things girls needed—things Bai Mo couldn't very well buy himself.
After picking up the essentials at the mall and paying for delivery, Bai Mo pulled out his wallet and handed Sora a few 10,000-yen bills.
"Here, Sora. You should go in by yourself for this part. I'll wait outside."
With that, he walked straight to the men's waiting area.
Holding the money, Sora didn't refuse. After all, while she was shy and didn't like talking, she also didn't want Bai Mo picking out these things for her like he had with her new clothes earlier.
After Bai Mo idly played on his phone for over ten minutes, Sora finally emerged with a small bag.
"Let's go. I found a well-reviewed restaurant—we'll have lunch out today."
"Eh? Not at home?" Sora blurted out before immediately covering her mouth in embarrassment.
"Do you prefer my cooking, Sora?"
Kasugano Sora fidgeted slightly before finally nodding and whispering, "I like it."
A good start. It seemed using food to open her heart was a good idea.
"Then after lunch, we'll go to the shopping street to buy ingredients. I'll make a big dinner for you tonight~"
"Mhm."
With Sora's agreement, Bai Mo led her toward another exit in the mall.
But it seemed some event was being held there—the plaza was filled with tents and amusement setups, giving it a festival-like atmosphere.
Amid the crowd, Bai Mo instinctively took Sora's hand.
"It's too crowded. Don't get lost."
"Mhm." Sora nodded in understanding.
And so, the two followed the flow of the crowd, trying to make their way out.
But in such a packed environment, accidents were bound to happen.
Especially in a bustling shopping district—there were always those looking to take advantage of the chaos.
Holding Sora's hand with his left, Bai Mo suddenly twisted the wrist of a man walking past them with his free hand.
"Ow ow ow—hey, what the hell are you doing?!"
"Just thinking about breaking your hand, that's all~ If possible~"
Bai Mo's words were suffocating.
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T/N:
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