"I'm heading out!"
To avoid her mom continuing with the gossip, Yuigahama Yui hurriedly finished breakfast and left the house.
Following the address Shirai Mio had given her, Yui quickly arrived in front of a high-end apartment building.
She stood at the entrance and pressed 1203—Mio's apartment number.
After a moment, she heard Mio's voice, tinged with sleepiness: "Hello, who is it?"
"Mio, it's me."
"Oh, Yui! Hold on a sec, I'll buzz you in right away."
As Mio finished speaking, the door unlocked.
Yui took the elevator to the twelfth floor. She walked to Mio's door, and before she could even ring the bell, it swung open.
Mio appeared before her wearing a thin nightgown.
From her messy hair and the drowsiness still lingering on her face, she'd clearly just rolled out of bed.
Despite looking completely disheveled, there was something inexplicably cute about her.
"Did I come too early?"
Mio nodded seriously. "Yeah, you did. But I'll forgive you if you let me hold you while I nap as compensation."
"Huh!?"
"Just kidding. I actually just woke up right before you arrived." Mio said with a smile, gesturing for Yui to come in.
"Make yourself comfortable. I'm gonna go freshen up—I'll be right back."
"Okay."
Yui responded and sat down on the living room sofa, looking around curiously.
This was her first time visiting Mio's place, so naturally she was curious about everything. But she quickly noticed something—while the decor was beautiful and the lighting was great, the place somehow lacked... the feeling of being lived in.
Was it because Mio had just moved in? Or was there another reason?
Yui suddenly remembered what Mio had told her yesterday—that she lived here alone.
After about ten minutes, Mio reappeared in the living room. Though she'd tidied up her messy hair a bit, she was still wearing the same nightgown.
Technically, this outfit wasn't really a nightgown—it was the starter outfit she'd transmigrated with. After buying clothes last weekend, her two initial outfits had been repurposed as sleepwear. As long as she wore underwear beneath it, she could even wear this dress out shopping.
"Yui, have you had breakfast?"
"Already ate."
"Alright then."
Mio nodded and headed into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for herself and the two people next door.
Watching Mio tie on an apron, Yui curiously walked over to the kitchen entrance, observing Mio's movements with interest.
Though she didn't know much about cooking herself, she could tell Mio's movements were incredibly practiced—clearly not a beginner. But wait... did Mio really eat that much? It seemed like she was making way too much food.
"I don't eat this much—this is breakfast for three people." Noticing the confused look on Yui's face, Mio proactively explained.
Hearing this, Yui asked curiously, "But I remember you saying yesterday that you live here alone?"
"I do live alone, but my neighbors are waiting for me to make breakfast."
Just as Mio finished speaking, the doorbell rang.
"Yui, could you get the door for me?"
"Sure."
Yui walked to the entrance and opened the door. Standing before her was a familiar figure.
One of the school's art teachers and advisor to the art club—Sengoku Chihiro.
Why was Chihiro-sensei here? And judging by the pajamas she was wearing... did she also live in this building?
"I remember you... you're from Class 1-F. Yuigahama... Yuu... or was it Yui?"
"Yuigahama Yui. Did you come to see Mio, Chihiro-sensei?"
"Pretty much. Just checking if breakfast is ready—I'm starving over here." Chihiro walked into Mio's apartment like she owned the place.
The moment Chihiro reached the kitchen, Mio had already set two portions of breakfast in front of her. "Just finished. After you eat, take Mashiro's portion over to her too."
"Got it~" Chihiro picked up her portion and sat down at the dining table, immediately digging in.
Mio carried her own breakfast to the living room and sat down next to Yui. "Did seeing Chihiro-sensei just now scare you?"
"Not really scared, just surprised. I didn't expect Chihiro-sensei to live here too. Oh, and who's the other breakfast for?"
"Mashiro—the girl who transferred in with me. She's Chihiro-sensei's cousin, and they're living together right now."
"I see." Yui nodded thoughtfully, then her eyes lit up as she continued, "Mio, you seem really good at cooking! Could you teach me how to make cookies?"
"Why the sudden interest? Are you planning to make them for someone you like?"
"It's not like that." Yui looked somewhat helplessly at Mio's knowing smile. Why did that expression remind her so much of her mom's smile this morning?
Having read the original story, Mio naturally understood that Yui wanted to make cookies to thank the "Great Teacher" who'd risked himself to save her dog.
"There's just someone I want to thank. I mean, buying store-bought sweets would be fine, but homemade stuff feels more sincere, you know?" Yui explained.
Honestly, Mio felt a bit conflicted right now.
In the original story, Yui joining the Service Club was triggered by her asking them for help making cookies. If Mio taught her how to make them now... would Yui still end up joining the Service Club?
"I'll teach you. I've got time today anyway—we'll just need to go out and buy ingredients."
"I knew you were the best, Mio!" Yui happily hugged Mio.
Mio didn't hesitate long before agreeing to Yui's request. Her own appearance was already a huge variable in this world, and besides—she didn't need to follow the original plot. She didn't want to see Yui sad and crying either. This change might actually be for the better.
Still, who could predict the future? Maybe Yui would end up joining the Service Club for some other reason later on.
For now, Mio could only take things one step at a time.