"Who?"
"I'm Yukino."
The cool voice came from behind the door.
Aiden opened it and saw a black-haired girl standing neatly in the hallway.
"To avoid a repeat of what happened at Berkeley High—when those Hunters ambushed us—everyone decided that for the first night we'll group up and stay in the same room," Yukino explained calmly.
"So, you chose me?" Aiden raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. Because you're the strongest, and… your room is nice."
Yukino was forthright, admitting it without a flicker.
"As expected of you… Come in." Aiden stepped aside, letting her enter.
She glanced around with careful eyes and gave a tiny nod. "I'd like the bed further inside, if that's okay?"
In private, this was her first time alone so closely with a boy.
Let alone spending the night in the same room.
A faint shyness stirred in Yukino's chest.
"Suit yourself." Aiden spread his hands. "But you know my principle—letting you stay here isn't free."
"What do I have to pay?" Yukino's face changed—she hadn't expected that. Her arms crossed reflexively over her chest.
Those little buns, and she's guarding them like a thief? Aiden's lips curled in a mocking smile.
Her cheeks flushed scarlet.
She lowered her head, glanced at her very flat chest, then snapped in mortified anger, "What do you mean?! I—I'll develop… Stop looking at me with that pitying gaze!!"
"A-and anything H… absolutely not…!!"
"Relax. With that guard-dog posture, you couldn't even stir my interest." Aiden chuckled, walking past her. "My terms are simple. If you're staying in my room and under my protection, you shoulder matching duties."
"First, you'll handle my three meals, my laundry, and be on hand when I bathe."
"When I'm tired, you'll change into a maid outfit and give me a massage to ease the fatigue."
"Don't worry about clothes. I grabbed plenty from the boutique."
He had barely finished when Yukino's teal eyes flew wide. She stared at him in disbelief.
"W-what did you say? Could you repeat that?" Her voice trembled a little.
"I think I was clear." Aiden looked at her, a hint of ridicule in his tone. "Is there such a thing as a free lunch?"
Yukino's expression went stiff. She bit her lip; her body trembled faintly.
This man was overbearing.
He wanted her to massage him… and tend his daily life.
Yet, honestly, she had no way around it—Aiden was far stronger than she was.
Fairly speaking, in the apocalypse, he was already being generous.
If he were ruthless, he could execute every boy, seize every girl, and drown himself in nightly debauchery.
"I… I understand."
In the end—
The girl clenched her lips and gave a small nod.
"Then start by massaging my muscles…"
With zero psychological burden, Aiden lay down on the bed, beckoning her over as if it were only natural.
"…"
Helpless, Yukino quickly changed into a white-stockinged maid uniform and, very reluctant, came to his side.
"Here, put these cat ears on." Aiden took out a pair of gray cat-ear hair clips with a pleasant grin.
"…" She accepted them stiffly. After a fierce internal struggle, she still—unwillingly—wore them.
It had to be said—
Once the cat ears were on, the icy beauty gained a surprising touch of liveliness.
Beneath the cute pink one-piece dress, her slender legs were wrapped in enticing white stockings, smooth to the touch and springy.
Her petite feet on the floor looked exquisitely dainty.
And so—
The cold-faced cat-eared maid knelt with soft knees, then slowly extended her fair, delicate hands and began to press along Aiden's body.
"Not bad. Your technique is average, but you make up for it with effort," Aiden said lazily, sprawled on the big bed, offering his critique.
Yukino didn't know massage, but she was serious about any task.
Clumsy hands, no shirking.
Of course, the massage wasn't only to "train" her.
After opening the Extreme State, his body truly was exhausted—muscles sore and swollen, on the brink of overload.
Until he mastered the Extreme State completely, Aiden would have to endure these side effects.
Open it once, and he'd need at least three days' rest before using it again.
Otherwise, his body would crash hard.
In the apocalypse, no one could guarantee that the next second would be free of accidents.
Much as Aiden wanted to master the Extreme State quickly, he had to stay disciplined, or he'd be caught without enough strength to face a sudden crisis.
At all times, he needed to keep a reserve of stamina.
After a round of massaging, Yukino's hands soon turned to jelly, but she didn't complain—she gritted her teeth and persisted.
"You've worked hard. I'll handle dinner."
Seeing her drenched in sweat and barely able to stand, Aiden decided to cook himself.
During his scavenge, he'd found the hotel kitchen still had a gas canister and a portable stove.
He lit it.
Then he dug up some still-edible vegetables, a few cans of luncheon meat, and a big bag of instant noodles, and quickly turned out a tomato hot-pot ramen.
"Come on, eat."
Steam rolled up, carrying the irresistible aroma of boiling food.
Yukino, drained and hungry, swallowed and reached for the bowl and chopsticks Aiden handed her.
Compared to Hayato's group, who were gnawing on scraps and leftovers—
She was eating something hot.
Even if she didn't want to admit it, a small glow of joy bloomed in Yukino's heart.
"Tomato broth really fits instant noodles."
Aiden was starving too.
He hadn't eaten his fill on the school bus.
They dug in at almost the same time.
Springy noodles in rich tomato broth, piled with vegetables and slices of luncheon meat.
It was simple food, but Yukino ate with relish.
By the end, they were practically fighting over the last slice of luncheon meat at the bottom of the pot, and even drained the soup clean.
"Urp…"
Yukino pressed a hand to her round little belly and couldn't help letting out a satisfied burp.
In the next instant—
A deep blush of embarrassment spread over her refined face.
What am I doing…
Led along by Aiden's pace, she'd completely abandoned her proper-lady manners…
Eating tomato hot pot in a hotel suite with a boy she'd only just met.
In the past, her strict mother would have scolded her for this.
"I wonder… if Onee-san saw me like this, would she tease me?"
Staring into the pitch-black night outside the window, complicated emotions passed over the girl's face.
"Ahh, finally full."
Aiden had no such melancholic streak.
He boiled through five packs of noodles, then made a second pot—mala this time—before he was satisfied.
That murderous hunger finally ebbed.
Which gave him a new understanding of what the Extreme State demanded afterward.
Damn it. Eating this extravagantly, the hotel's food stocks won't last long under my appetite.
(End of Chapter)
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