Last night could be considered a relatively peaceful evening.
Nothing else to say—at least he slept quite comfortably last night.
Alright, everyone who just had their minds wander, go stand facing the corner for an hour.
This comfort wasn't that kind of comfort—the comfort he referred to was mental relaxation rather than carnal desire.
After all, a fresh jasmine fragrance with sleep-inducing properties had been lingering around his nose all night. Few people would sleep poorly under such circumstances.
His wrist flicked, and the round fried egg perfectly flipped to the other side with a skilled pan-tossing motion.
"Miss, although I'd like to let you sleep longer,"
"It's already nine in the morning. Even though today isn't a school day, you have important matters to handle this morning, right?"
"Mm?"
The owner of that pleasant fragrance from last night groaned and rolled over at Haramura Makoto's call.
Snow-white lotus arms slowly emerged from under the covers, golden hair spread like a waterfall across the pristine bedding, the slightly upturned blanket revealing a pair of perfect, ivory-like legs beneath.
"Hurry up and eat breakfast. After breakfast, I'll take you back."
"Breakfast?"
The voice's owner spoke more clearly now, and the blanket covering her head was suddenly pulled away.
Her delicate nose twitched slightly as the food aromas previously blocked by the blanket suddenly rushed into the girl's nostrils.
Dopamine immediately began secreting in the girl's body.
The drowsiness that had been pressing her firmly into bed moments ago completely vanished.
"Ah..."
Rubbing away her sleepy eyes, she made cute humming sounds.
Memories of last night began replaying in Shokuhou Misaki's mind like a slideshow.
She went to the park—met that infuriating man—then got lectured by him—then encountered an attack by a powerless gang.
She was saved by that man—afterward she fell asleep in his arms from exhaustion—then he brought her to his home—then she bathed here...
A blush like evening clouds crept up her snow-white neck.
Scattered sunlight reflected on her honey-colored hair, forming a sharp contrast with her flushed skin, creating an absolutely beautiful scene.
"Come over, eat breakfast."
Tapping the already-set bowl with chopsticks, Haramura Makoto had taken his seat.
"Ah... okay..."
Like a controlled puppet, Shokuhou Misaki seemed to have no will of her own, mechanically answering Haramura Makoto and mechanically getting up to sit at the dining table.
Round fried eggs, honey-spread bread slices, steaming hot milk, fried lunch meat.
Just an ordinary family breakfast, but looking at everything before her, Shokuhou Misaki felt somewhat dazed.
Breakfast?
How long had such a thing been foreign to her?
Since coming to this city alone at age six, she probably hadn't eaten breakfast, right?
After all, she'd been confined to research facilities since childhood, spending every day cooperating with research, with only evenings and sleep time truly belonging to herself.
So sleeping in had become her habit since age six.
Even now that she attended Tokiwadai, she was the type who often arrived late from oversleeping.
In such situations, breakfast naturally became foreign to her.
But now?
Breakfast, and someone bustling about in the morning to prepare everything for her departure.
Why did this scene feel so familiar?
It was a bit like, a bit like...
(This is exactly like newlyweds...)
"Bang!"
If this were a 2D world with special effects and sound effects, Shokuhou Misaki would probably explode like a steam princess in anime, creating a puff of smoke before fainting.
(What, what am I thinking...)
(Actually... actually thinking about mar... marriage...)
The emotion of shyness completely flooded Shokuhou Misaki's brain.
Last night, bathing and sleeping at a strange man's house—Shokuhou Misaki had completed all this calmly, even turning the tables to tease Haramura Makoto.
But now she was embarrassed beyond control just from this single thought flashing through her mind.
"What's wrong, don't you like honey?"
"There's blueberry jam here too."
Watching Shokuhou Misaki change expressions like face-changing opera, her face alternating red and white but never actually eating, Haramura Makoto asked deliberately and mischievously.
Completely guessing her thoughts wasn't quite possible, but from her expressions, he could roughly understand what Shokuhou Misaki was thinking.
So he asked on purpose.
"...Ha..."
"Ah, thank you, please do..."
The bread slice before her was taken by the boy across from her. He opened the jam jar on the table and took out a new bread slice to spread it on.
Gentle and meticulous movements.
A handsome yet refined face.
This warm morning atmosphere.
Unconsciously, Shokuhou Misaki's eyes became misty again.
"Here you go."
Soon, the new bread slice was placed before Shokuhou Misaki again.
And this time, Shokuhou Misaki hadn't sunk into a state where she couldn't hear anything.
Immediately awakening from her own world, she took the jam-covered bread slice and bit into it.
"You don't need to take me back later. I'll just call for a research facility car to pick me up."
Haramura Makoto's hand reaching for his cup paused, though he didn't react much to this.
After all, this saved him trouble—he wouldn't need to make a round trip—but her next words truly made Haramura Makoto pause.
Shokuhou Misaki smiled sweetly and said, "Are you free tomorrow? Could you keep me company?"
If this were an ordinary girl, this would undoubtedly be a date invitation.
But if this was Shokuhou Misaki, the psychic esper, obviously this was also a date invitation.
Looking at that blushing face and slightly lowered little head.
What else could this be besides a date invitation?
"Sure, I guess."
"I shouldn't have anything going on during this time anyway. But where do you want me to accompany you?"
This could only be called mutual attraction.
It could only be said that Haramura Makoto indeed held some fondness for this girl—otherwise, not being a player, even if he had free time, he'd be too lazy to wander around with a girl.
Shokuhou Misaki's face immediately bloomed like a flower.
"I'll arrange the specific itinerary. I happen to have something I want to give you tomorrow."