However, Sayu Ogiwara found herself unable to even consider leaving this place. She couldn't bear to part with this rare tenderness.
The girl, still wrapped in Asagi's blanket, rolled around on the bed. Being covered by his blanket made her feel surrounded by his scent, as if he was still holding her.
But then... Breathing in the scent from his blanket like this... Wouldn't that make me a total pervert?
As this thought crossed her mind, Sayu Ogiwara's delicate face flushed a deep crimson.
Just then, Asagi came in carrying two bowls of noodles. He saw the beautiful black-haired girl blissfully hugging one of his shirts and taking deep breaths.
Ahem, ahem...
"Ah! I-I'm sorry!" Sayu Ogiwara was so embarrassed she wished she could vanish into the floor. She had been caught red-handed, sniffing Asagi's clothes. What do I do? He's going to think I'm a perverted high school girl and dislike me now, isn't he?
Asagi was amused by her utterly flustered appearance. "Don't apologize.I'm not blaming you." "It's just that if you don't get up soon,the noodles will get soggy and won't taste good."
Sayu Ogiwara lowered her head, too shy to look at him. Nevertheless, she obediently got dressed, picked up the bowl, and started eating the noodles. After finishing, she immediately washed the dishes. Then she ran back to him and bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry." "I promised to do the housework,but I still made you cook breakfast..."
Asagi smiled and stroked her hair, saying softly: "It's fine.When I said you'd handle the housework, I meant under normal circumstances." "But last night wasn't normal.If that kind of situation happens again, Sayu, you're allowed to be a little lazy." "Life is about what's convenient and what makes you happy."
Hearing this, Sayu Ogiwara smiled shyly, then suddenly leaned in and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you,Asagi-kun."
Asagi somewhat enjoyed the beautiful girl's playful affection. "Good girl.From now on, just focus on living happily here at Sakura Dormitory." "Mhm,"she hummed softly in agreement, unable to stop herself from nuzzling her cheek against his chest once more.
---
The next day, when Asagi woke up, his side of the bed was already empty. After brushing his teeth and washing his face, he saw Sayu Ogiwara in the kitchen, wearing an apron. She had her hair tied back in a ponytail and was skillfully making breakfast.
From the side, the girl's delicate profile and slender figure were quite graceful.
"Asagi-kun, good morning." Seeing him approach, Sayu Ogiwara smiled sweetly and greeted him politely. Calling him "Asagi-sama" or other formal terms had felt strange to him, like he'd changed his name, so he had asked her to just call him Asagi-kun or, jokingly, Boss.
"Good morning, Sayu," Asagi replied, admiring her deft movements. As she greeted him, her hands didn't stop; she continued frying eggs. The egg whites sizzled and gradually set in the pan. She skillfully used a spatula to flip them, and in less than a minute, fragrant, perfectly golden-brown fried eggs were ready.
Before long, two steaming bowls of egg noodles appeared on the table. "Let's eat."
Asagi eagerly began slurping the noodles. They were fragrant and delicious. His eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but give her a thumbs-up. "It's delicious!" "Sayu,from now on, my three meals a day are all in your hands!"
"No problem. That was our agreement, after all," the girl said, also starting on her noodles and smiling sweetly at him.
After finishing the noodles, Asagi didn't leave a drop of the soup, eating until he was completely full. Seeing him so appreciative of her cooking, Sayu Ogiwara's mood soared.
However, after she washed the dishes, Asagi asked her to go organize her own room. The room next to his was now hers. Girls, after all, always liked to decorate their rooms and have some private space.
Sayu Ogiwara obediently went to her room next door. Standing in the empty space, she couldn't help but space out. From today onwards, will I really live here? Will I not be kicked out for having unclear identification? Will I not be homeless because I have no money?
After her money had run out, Sayu Ogiwara understood clearly how important it was. Even more important was having a place to sleep at night. Without money, she was nothing and could own nothing.
But she didn't regret running away from home. Compared to that house which held no warmth, that mother who didn't care about her at all, the tenderness Asagi gave her was etched far deeper into her heart.
Truthfully, Asagi could have just given her some money and sent her away after getting what he wanted. That was the usual method those older men used when dealing with runaways. But Asagi hadn't ignored her. Not only did he buy her clothes, but he also handled her move-in procedures properly.
As she thought about it, Sayu Ogiwara's eyes gradually welled up. She decided. As long as Asagi needed her,she would do her absolute best to satisfy this man who had been so kind to her.
---
After breakfast, Asagi asked Sayu to stay home and went out himself. Soubu High School started in two days, so he had to pick up his custom school uniform. It was supposed to be delivered, but the delivery company had called with a string of "Sumimasen," "Hontoni Sumimasen~."
The staff member apologized repeatedly, saying all their delivery vehicles had broken down and they couldn't deliver on time, asking him to pick it up personally at their branch. They stated the delivery fee would be waived.
Asagi had no choice but to go out and get it himself. Taking the train, he quickly arrived at the delivery company's branch. He and a staff member searched for a while before finally finding his uniform package. The staff seemed terribly apologetic, bowing to him yet again.
Asagi was generous and said it was fine. Don't you get tired of bowing so many times a day?he thought. Apologies come so easily to their lips. But how much genuine regret they truly feel, only they know.
He secretly grumbled about the staff member as he took the package and turned to leave. He was actually very curious about what could have happened to make an entire delivery company's fleet inoperable.
Having nothing else to do, Asagi went to a famous soy-sauce braised pork shop and bought a portion, asking them to pack it up so he could take it back for Sayu to try. This so-called soy-sauce roasted meat was essentially deliciously seasoned braised pork. It smelled incredible and left a lasting, savory taste. In short, it had a captivating flavor that made you want more—though eating too much would undoubtedly feel greasy.
It's worth mentioning that while queuing, he noticed the girl in front of him had two braided pigtails adorned with three-colored flower hair ornaments and wore thick glasses. She looked inexplicably familiar, probably a character from some anime, though he couldn't recall clearly. His Game of Life System hadn't triggered a quest, so perhaps she wasn't a key character. He saw no reason to strike up a conversation.
He got on the train without lingering and prepared to head home.