As I continued to stare at her, I wondered who she exactly was.
The person standing before me, dressed in an apron and having knocked before entering, couldn't possibly be some thief or burglar. Judging by her attire and manner of speaking, she's more likely some housekeeper or a maid.
It felt like a dream, being woken up by a maid when I was just a high school student. Perhaps that's exactly what it was.
Although it wasn't a particular fetish of mine, it might be some deep-seated desire within me. As I looked at her with a sense of curiosity, she appeared somewhat anxious, as if waiting for my response.
'Her worried expression is kinda adorable...', I couldn't help but think. However, as I attempted to engage in light-hearted conversation with a woman, I realized that I couldn't quite pull it off. Even in dreams, I couldn't become the confident and assertive man I aspire to be, sigh...
I concluded that I had no choice but to gradually explore who she was. Even in dreams, I was too cautious, too timid.
"Um, Good morning..?"
Uncertain of the appropriate expression, I flashed a smile of my own, but a wave of anxiety washed over me. I worried whether this smile would make her uncomfortable. After all, it was still my face.
Just as I began to fear that I might have made a mistake, the woman in front of me replied.
"Uh... um, G-Good morning!" she stuttered, her expression showing surprise as she seemed to stumble over her words. It was a relief that she didn't ignore me, but why was she so nervous?
We technically met for the first time today if I follow my perspective, so perhaps she was surprised that I initiated the greeting..? Maybe someone who had never greeted her before suddenly did, leaving her unsure of how to react.
However, I mustn't let myself think that "she greeted me, so we might get along." That kind of thinking would be detrimental, just like feeling elated about interpersonal relationships in real life.
I know that when someone greets me, they are merely assessing the potential harm I might cause them. Understanding this has helped me maintain a sense of calm. Therefore, I shouldn't get my hopes up.
That being said, since the woman in front of me remained silent after that, I couldn't help but feel anxious again.
"Um, so..." I started, trying to break the silence, and she responded in a flustered manner.
"Oh, s-sorry! It's time for breakfast, and your mother and Yuki-sama are waiting at the dining table, so please come out soon..." she hurriedly explained.
So she wasn't my mother. And it seemed that she was indeed asking me to join 'my' family for breakfast.
Let's set aside the awkwardness in our conversation for now. She was probably a maid or something, but I wasn't sure if it was appropriate to ask. For the time being, I decided to go with the flow until I woke up from this dream... if it even was one.
I wondered if breakfast in dreams actually had a taste, but that was a minor concern. My main goal was to leave the room and head towards the dining area.