There are things you don't speak of after being touched.
Just gestures in the form of toast… and eyes that dare not meet.
Dawn.
5:41 AM.
The first light hadn't yet slipped through the blinds.
But in the small corner of the room—
a faint sound stirred from the kitchenette.
Acxell lay on the futon.
He wasn't asleep,
but he didn't move either.
He just listened.
Yuriko stood with her back to him.
Same gray hoodie.
Hair damp at the tips.
She didn't show her face.
But from the way her hands moved—
he knew.
She was avoiding his gaze.
Why is she cooking?
She's not hungry… but she needs to do something.
Because if she doesn't…
she might just fall apart.
Two slices of toast.
A soft scrambled egg.
Warm water.
Simple.
All placed gently on a napkin—
not a plate.
She set it on the small table without a word.
Still facing away.
Acxell slowly sat up.
His hair was still messy.
Shoulders bare beneath the morning chill.
He looked at the food.
Then at her back.
"You're up early."
Yuriko answered—without turning.
"I couldn't sleep… after that."
Silence.
Acxell stood.
His steps quiet, unrushed.
He now stood behind her.
And then…
gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
Yuriko froze.
But didn't flinch.
Didn't pull away.
[SYSTEM PASSIVE – AFTERGLOW SYNC TRIGGERED]
TARGET IS IN EMOTIONAL VULNERABILITY WINDOW (POST-INTIMACY)
TRAIT ACTIVE: SUBTLE TOUCH – PHYSICAL GESTURES NOW REINFORCE EMOTIONAL BOND
BUFF ACTIVATED: +3 ALL STATS WHILE WITHIN 2M OF TARGET
He didn't hug her.
Didn't kiss her.
He only whispered—
"You don't need to cook just to repay anything."
Yuriko lowered her head slightly.
"I know…"
"I just… didn't know what to do.
The morning after something like that."
Acxell nodded softly.
"If you don't know… then just be here."
"That alone… is more than enough."
Yuriko finally turned around.
Her eyes were a little red—
not from tears,
but from the weight of too many emotions
and not enough words to carry them.
And for the first time that morning—
Acxell touched her face.
Not to seduce.
Not to comfort.
But simply…
to confirm she was still here.
[SYSTEM UPDATE: YURIKO – CLAIMED STATUS: STABLE]
DAILY BONDING: REQUIRED
UNLOCK BONUS SKILL: SOUL WARMTH
ACXELL NOW RECEIVES MINOR REGENERATION AND STAT BOOSTS WHEN YURIKO INITIATES CARE (E.G., FOOD, TOUCH).
NEXT PHASE UNLOCKED: EMOTIONAL JEALOUSY
(TRIGGER: EXPOSURE TO RIVAL FEMALE ATTENTION)
Acxell sat down again.
He ate slowly.
Yuriko didn't leave.
She sat too.
No further conversation.
And that… was perfectly fine.
Because now—
Even silence between them…
felt full.