After finishing breakfast, Nagisa stood up, wiping her hands with a small towel before hanging it back in the kitchen. She picked up her school bag that had been placed beside the table, then quickly slipped on her shoes at the door. For a brief moment, she paused and glanced toward the living room where Kojou and Atalanta were, her eyes carrying a blend of responsibility and tenderness.
"I'm heading out now… take care of yourselves." – she said in a soft yet confident tone before opening the door and stepping out with steady strides along her usual path to school.
The sound of her footsteps gradually faded away outside the apartment, leaving behind a comfortable, homely silence.
At that moment, Atalanta had claimed the couch as though it were her throne, stretched out on her back with the languid grace of a lazy cat. Her fluffy tail swayed idly from time to time. One arm rested behind her head, while the other held the remote, flipping through channels with obvious disinterest. Her serene yet subtly mocking expression made it clear she had no intention of doing anything but relaxing—like a hunter who had finished a long chase and now chose to savor her rest.
Meanwhile, Kojou headed to his room to change clothes. He stood before the mirror for a moment, taking in his reflection, before pulling on a simple black shirt that clung neatly to his athletic build without exaggeration, paired with dark jeans and clean white sneakers. Around his neck hung a small pendant in the shape of half a heart—a gleaming silver piece that meant far more than a mere accessory. It was one of the cherished gifts from Asagi, carrying within it a memory filled with warmth and affection.
His silver hair, always a point of fascination for those around him, was tied this time into a messy man bun at the back of his head, with a few strands left loose to frame his face and fall around his ocean-blue eyes, glimmering with the coolness of a clear sea. The look was a mix of simplicity and indifference, though it held a subtle allure he had never intended to flaunt.
As he checked his final appearance, he remembered he had already spoken with Natsuki the previous night and managed to secure a day off—meaning he wouldn't need to attend school. That small taste of temporary freedom softened his expression slightly, a faint smile ghosting across his lips before he grabbed his phone and slipped it into his pocket.
Stepping out of his room, he found Atalanta still sprawled on the couch in the same position, her sharp green eyes following him without her bothering to move her head.
"All dressed up… planning to hunt something today?" – she asked with a smooth, sarcastic lilt, her voice carrying that balance between playful teasing and the knowing tone of a woman who knew exactly how to test someone.
Kojou smiled faintly, offering no direct answer. Instead, he adjusted the pendant between his fingers before replying:
"Not today… I just think I need a little fresh air."
Atalanta's ears twitched lightly as she raised a brow, clearly unconvinced, but she quickly returned to flipping through channels with feigned disinterest.
Kojou approached the front door, hand on the handle as he cast a quick glance around the apartment—the dining table still carrying traces of breakfast, the couch monopolized by the half-woman half-cat, and the calm that lingered after Nagisa's departure.
"Take care of yourself." – he said, his voice low and steady, directed toward Atalanta.
She finally lifted her head, a small smile curling on her lips:
"Just don't be late… I'm not cooking."
A muffled chuckle escaped him before he stepped out and closed the door behind him.
In the hallway outside, the morning calm wasn't without its surprises. There she was—waiting with composed confidence, a girl whose presence was impossible to ignore. Her jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders like a silky curtain, and her deep blue eyes shimmered with a faint gleam that hinted at hidden secrets. Her being there wasn't coincidence. She had never stopped watching him, and now… she served directly under him, following wherever he went without hesitation.
"Good morning, Senpai." – her sweet voice rang out like the gentle strings of a violin, carrying a softness that touched the heart. Her tone was graceful, steady, and her beauty—blended with a refined modesty—embodied the perfect Yamato Nadeshiko: the quintessential Japanese woman, the ideal of elegance and femininity in any man's eyes. And Kojou was no exception.
Still, he never rushed into her orbit. Not because she lacked charm—far from it, her allure was undeniable—but Kojou was a man who valued patience, one who planted seeds of trust first and waited for them to bloom naturally. He was never one to impose his desires or force attraction; he always left the door open, but for it to be opened from within.
"Good morning." – he finally replied, his low but clear voice resonating as his blue eyes swept over her from head to toe.
She was clad in Saikai Academy's standard uniform, though the fabric hardly concealed her curves. Her flowing black hair softened her features, her ample chest clearly setting her apart from other girls her age, and her long legs, clad in thigh-high black stockings, framed her matured femininity despite her youth.
Touka lifted her hand slightly, holding a schoolbook as if it were nothing more than a pretext for waiting at his door. Then she smiled—a small smile that wasn't merely a morning greeting, but a silent declaration of her loyalty.
Her eyes lingered briefly on the silver pendant at his chest—the half-heart given to him by Asagi—but quickly shifted away, masking whatever thoughts had flickered through her mind. Her voice returned, warmer now:
"Are you planning to go somewhere today, Senpai?"
Kojou stood in silence for a moment, his expression neutral, but she didn't miss the subtle tilt of his head as he examined her—as though weighing her worth or reaffirming her loyalty.
In that moment, the sunlight streaming through the corridor window shimmered across her black, silky hair, wrapping her in a quiet aura of grace. She was like a night-blooming flower misplaced in the brightness of day—different, yet irresistibly captivating.
Kojou reached for the door leading outside. Before opening it, he turned slightly toward her, his voice calm and confident:
"Today… we're going to Magus Craft's headquarters."
A few words, but enough to ignite a new spark in Touka's eyes—a spark that fused quiet excitement with deep contentment at being part of his day, not merely his shadow.
Her lips curved into a radiant smile as she nodded lightly:
"As you wish, Senpai."
Together, they stepped out into the morning light, where the bustling sounds of the island awaited them, ready to unveil whatever this new day had in store.
...
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