The small apartment was a complete mess.
At first, it had only been stacks of discarded manuscript pages scattered across the floor. Now, pieces of intimate clothing were strewn everywhere.
Just from the traces left behind, it was easy to imagine how intense last night's chaos had been.
Looking up, a small bed came into view. The sheets were wrinkled all over, dry and stiff, as if they had once been soaked through.
Beneath the bulging blanket were two figures, completely wrapped together.
"Is it finally over?" Looking at the petite green-haired beauty curled obediently in his arms, Hayashi could not help but sigh inwardly.
Who would have thought that someone who looked so small and delicate could have such terrifying stamina?
By common logic, a petite girl like her should have been fragile. The type who would complain of pain before things even ended, or collapse completely afterward, unable to move.
But reality proved those assumptions completely wrong.
The truth was that even after several rounds, she was still not satisfied. It took an entire afternoon before she finally felt content.
And when it ended, Eto lay comfortably in his arms, her expression relaxed and satisfied. There was not even the slightest trace of exhaustion on her face. If anything, her lazy aura had become even stronger.
That alone taught Hayashi a valuable lesson. Any common rules simply did not apply to ghouls.
Fortunately, with the Dog Talisman and Horse Talisman supporting him, he felt no fatigue at all. No matter how many times it happened, he remained energetic and at his peak.
Lost in thought, Hayashi shifted slightly, intending to get up and use the bathroom.
But the moment he tried to move, the green-haired girl in his arms lifted her head.
"Are you leaving me?" Eto looked up at him, a hint of reluctance on her lazy, delicate face.
Because she had lost her parents at a young age, lived under Noro's care for a few years, and then survived alone, she rarely showed her true feelings.
Precisely because of that, she cherished what little she had. People included.
Seeing Hayashi get up made her feel an unfamiliar sense of emptiness and loneliness.
At that moment, the normally cool and dominant Eto looked strangely pitiful.
"No. I just need to use the bathroom." Hayashi could not help but rub her fluffy head.
The phrase "irresistibly pitiable" fit her perfectly right now.
"Mmm." Eto nodded, looking soft and obedient.
Usually, she was known for her bloodthirsty nature, infamous for her brutal killings, feared by the CCG as the One-Eyed Owl.
Even within Aogiri Tree, wrapped in bandages and looking like a child, she radiated overwhelming pressure.
But now, all of that had vanished.
What remained was simply a well-behaved, adorable girl.
Only in front of Hayashi could she drop all her burdens and show her true self.
"I'll be right back." After patting her head once more, Hayashi headed into the bathroom.
A short while later, he came back out.
By then, Eto had already left the warm bed. Wrapped in the blanket, she sat at her desk, typing rapidly on the keyboard.
The crisp tapping sounds formed a strangely pleasant rhythm.
"Rushing a manuscript?" Hayashi adjusted his pants and walked over curiously.
"Yeah. If I don't submit soon, my editor will come knocking at my door." Eto nodded, pushing up her glasses as her eyes flicked toward him.
"Have you read my books?" Without hesitation, Hayashi shook his head.
"No."
He had not read even a single page.
"I figured." Eto glanced at him once, then turned back to the screen and kept typing.
The white blanket was loosely draped around her body, leaving her neck and shoulders exposed. Below that, deep and eye-catching curves were clearly visible, leading up to slender collarbones.
Her pale, smooth skin carried a healthy flush, tempting and vivid.
"I'll wait until you're done." Hayashi sat on the edge of the bed and looked around.
Despite the mess, everything strangely felt harmonious.
After a while, Eto pressed the Enter key and sent the manuscript.
Ding.
As the confirmation sound rang out, she stretched, the blanket slipping off her shoulders.
"What did you want to tell me earlier?" She turned toward him, light green eyes filled with curiosity.
"Take a look at this." Hayashi handed her the book without saying more.
"This is the signed copy I gave you, right? Why give it back?" Eto took it and casually flipped through it.
After just a few pages, she froze. The faint smile on her face disappeared.
Her fingers did not stop turning the pages.
For a long time, the only sound in the room was the soft rustling of paper.
Finally, she closed the book with a snap.
"Where did you get this?" She took a deep breath and looked up at him.
"From the manager of Anteiku. He asked me to give it to you." Hayashi replied calmly.
"So it really was him." Eto murmured softly, lowering her head as her eyes flickered.
"He read this copy himself," she said quietly. "He wrote his thoughts all over it. Almost every line has notes."
Every line?
Hayashi was surprised. He knew the man cared, but not to this extent.
It seemed the manager truly had been protecting Eto in his own silent way.
"Did he say anything else?" Eto looked up again, her gaze cool and unreadable.
"He said he wants to see you." Hayashi nodded, hoping to ease the tension between them.
"Meet him? Sure." Eto chuckled softly and nodded.
"You agreed just like that?" Hayashi was genuinely surprised. He had expected conditions or outright refusal.
"But I have one condition." Eto raised a single pale finger.
"Say it. If I can do it, I will." Hayashi nodded, intrigued.
"Every time I meet him once, you have to meet me once. And you must stay with me for an entire day."
Her tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.
An entire day?
Hayashi looked at her serious expression and knew she was not joking.
"It's simple. Agree, and I'll meet him." Eto crossed her arms, emphasizing her figure.
"Alright. I agree." Something felt slightly off, but Hayashi nodded without overthinking it.
"Then I'll keep my word. I'll set aside a day to meet him." Eto leaned closer, warm breath brushing his face as her fingers lifted his chin.
"So today, the entire day belongs to me. Until tomorrow morning." She smiled softly.
"You understand, right?"