In the early morning, the first gentle ray of sunlight pierced through the gap in the curtains, casting a soft golden glow across the quiet room.
Akira slowly opened his eyes, the warmth of the morning light brushing against his skin.
The first thing he noticed was the girl sleeping beside him—Alise.
Her fiery red hair was scattered messily across the pillow, and her body curled up like a kitten. Just as he shifted slightly, a lazy and slightly confused voice drifted into his ears.
"Don't move... I still want to sleep." Alise mumbled, half-asleep, snuggling closer.
Akira liftted the corner of his mouth, a helpless yet fond smile spreading across his face. Looking at the adorable girl who lay beside him, he saw that her eyes were still shut in content slumber.
He gently reached for the arms that had been tightly wrapped around his body all night. Slowly, as though handling the most fragile glass, he lifted her soft limbs and tucked them carefully under the quilt, trying not to disturb her peaceful dreams.
Because they had cuddled for the entire night, their bodies were completely entwined.
As Akira tried to sit up, he realized that their legs were knotted together like a twisted vine. He looked at the culprit—the sleeping Alise—with a wry smile.
Shaking his head in quiet resignation, Akira began the delicate task of untangling their legs. Each minor movement was executed with utmost caution, as though navigating a deadly trap.
Bit by bit, he freed their four legs from each other without waking her.
Once free, Akira finally managed to sit upright. He turned his gaze toward the brightening sky outside the window and inhaled deeply, letting the freshness of morning air clear his thoughts.
A new day had dawned—beginning with the soft warmth of a pillow and the fleeting fragrance of the girl beside him.
Though last night had started with a lingering trace of unquenched desire—sparked by Lyra's earlier passionate kiss—Akira had not acted upon it.
When he entered Alise's room, it had merely been to talk. Initially, they'd laughed, vented about recent events, and teased each other like always.
But as the hours slipped by, an unspoken tension quietly brewed between them. The air turned heavy with ambiguity.
In that seductive quiet, they embraced, pressing their lips gently onto each other's skin—on the lips, on the neck.
Each brush felt like an electric jolt that stirred their hearts. But in the end, they simply nestled under the covers, tangled in each other's warmth.
Nothing happened—no crossing of lines, no reckless impulse.
Just a kiss.
When Akira finally stepped out of the solemn and elegant Stardust Garden, he took in a deep breath, letting the vibrant clamor of the bustling street wash over him.
The city was already lively, bathed in the golden light of morning. As he walked down the avenue, the savory aroma of street food caught his attention, drawing him toward a small stall selling fried potato balls.
The vendor stood behind the counter, skillfully flipping the golden-brown delicacies in bubbling oil. The sizzling sound and tempting scent lured passersby to line up and place their orders.
Without hesitation, Akira bought several different flavors—he made sure to get Ais's favorite red bean cream, along with a variety of other flavors to give as thoughtful gifts to his friends and acquaintances.
Paper bag in hand, filled with delicious potato balls, he made his way toward the tall, fortress-like estate of the Loki Familia.
As he approached, the familiar figure of the friendly security guard spotted him and immediately lit up with a cheerful smile. With a wave and a short exchange of warm words, the guard opened the towering door to let him through.
Before heading in, Akira handed the man a pack of potato balls as thanks. "Here, enjoy breakfast."
With the gesture of goodwill complete, Akira peeked through one of the opened doors and scanned the room inside.
There, quietly sitting like a doll upon a chair, was a golden-haired girl—Ais.
Akira's eyes softened. "Ais…"
He whispered her name quietly, before quickly retreating his head like a prankster caught mid-act.
He closed his eyes and sharpened his senses, activating his magic to keenly detect even the slightest movements or reactions from Ais.
Ais seemed to have heard something. Her eyes flickered as she looked around with faint confusion, but when she didn't spot anyone, she simply tilted her head and returned to gazing blankly into space.
Amused, Akira peeked again and whispered, "Ais~" in an exaggeratedly gentle tone.
Then, just as swiftly, he ducked back into hiding, waiting eagerly to see her reaction.
However, to his disappointment, nothing changed.
"…No reaction?" He muttered to himself in confusion.
"Did she not hear me?"
Determined, he prepared for one last attempt. If she still didn't react, he'd come right out and greet her properly.
The image of Ais with a surprised expression—rare as it was—bubbled in his mind, making him chuckle internally.
But when he leaned forward to try once more...
"...Huh?"
Akira froze.
A pair of golden eyes stared directly at him from across the door, clear and unblinking. Ais's lips curved ever so slightly into a smile, as if amused by his little game.
So, she had noticed all along.
Not only had Ais heard his voice from the very beginning, but the familiar scent of fried potato balls had also given him away immediately. She already knew who it was.
After all, no one else would play such childish tricks on her—only Akira.
Caught red-handed, Akira stepped out from behind the door and scratched his cheek.
He said, "Guess I've been found out, huh? I brought you your favorite—fried potato balls."
He hadn't even finished his sentence when Ais suddenly burst forward like a gust of wind. Her small frame crashed into his chest, arms thrown tightly around him.
"Akira!" She exclaimed with joy.
"It's really you! You're back! Are you here to take me on an adventure?"
Akira staggered a few steps back from the impact, startled but smiling.
Luckily, he recovered quickly, wrapping one arm around her slim waist to stabilize her, while his other hand clung tightly to the bag of fried potato balls to prevent them from falling.
"That was close… whew." Akira muttered, glancing at the bag before shifting his gaze down to Ais, who nestled contently in his arms.
"Don't be so reckless." He chided with a chuckle.
But Ais simply blinked innocently at him, showing no intention of letting go.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at him and asked again, "So? Are we going on an adventure today?"
Akira shook his head gently and said, "Not today. I'm not here for a dungeon run. I came to see you—and I have something to talk to Finn about."
"Oh…" Ais murmured, her lips curling into a soft pout.
Her disappointment was clear, the image of her adventure fading like smoke in the wind.
Then, after a brief pause, Akira smiled and suddenly asked, "Say, Ais… would you like to spar with me later?"