"Like it?"
Drop the question mark.
Ren liked it—a lot.
Fact confirmed.
"Ren-kun." Saeko dipped her head, eyes smoky.
Ren could only marvel.
He had to admit it:
being a city lord came with… perks.
There's a saying: a man shouldn't go a day without power.
In this world of the uncanny, the truth of that hit home—hard.
He smiled at Saeko. "You've made your choice, and it's only been a day."
"Only a day,"
"but—"
"Ren-kun,"
"I've already decided."
Her smile turned fox-sly.
That was Saeko through and through.
She wasn't one to dither; a single instant could set her path.
Ren didn't see any need for more words.
By morning,
sunlight was spilling in.
When Ren got up, Saeko slipped into the bath to wash up.
Breakfast?
They both skipped it.
Saeko took a cup of yogurt—enough nutrition for her.
Ren downed two steamed buns and a little dessert—no "seafood" this early; not ideal for the stomach.
Also—
the chef was exhausted.
It had been her first time preparing such an extravagant "midnight snack," and she needed rest.
"Let's go."
Ren's hand settled at Saeko's slender waist, fingers brushing the springy line beneath her deep-violet kimono; his hands remembered the feel all on their own.
"Mm~"
Saeko nodded sweetly.
Even if
her lips tingled, her "dumplings" tingled, her waist ached, her legs and feet were sore—
what could she do?
After the night snack, Ren had found a certain rabbit yokai. The creature hid too well.
It took no small effort to finally catch that rabbit.
What can you say?
A rabbit yokai—of course she mastered the art of three burrows.
In the end,
Ren caught her, gave her a firm discipline—and they added a course to the meal.
As for why Saeko got up so early despite the fatigue—
she knew she had to meet Ren-kun's Oba-san today.
Main hall.
Ren arrived with Saeko; Oba-san and Kaguya-hime were finishing breakfast.
"Yu."
Oba-san's smile was warm. She rose to fetch a place setting, giving Saeko a measuring once-over; approval and kindness shone in her eyes.
A fine figure. Yu might not be in a hurry for children yet,
but this girl looked like she'd be a good mother.
"Oba-san…"
Saeko hesitated a breath, then spoke softly, respect and closeness in her tone.
"Good child," Oba-san said with a gentle smile.
That sealed the title.
Only then did Saeko's smile fully bloom.
"Mm~"
Kaguya-hime took Saeko in from head to toe. Not bad. Promising.
Today
the wild air around Saeko had softened. She was poised, gentle, composed.
And after a man's warmth,
"Yamato nadeshiko" fit her even better.
That married-woman aura? Lush.
"Saeko."
"Kaguya-hime."
They exchanged greetings.
Ren sat and ate.
He didn't need to tend to anything—Oba-san was already fussing over a slightly ill-at-ease Saeko.
He had planned to keep breakfast light,
but seated together like this, plans changed.
Afterward,
Ren, unusually, didn't go train. He sat instead; a moon rabbit brought tea.
"Saeko, I meant to ask yesterday—when the outbreak hit, were you at home or at school?" Ren asked, genuinely curious.
"At my family's dojo."
"I was practicing. I hadn't stocked enough supplies; when it broke out, I got trapped there."
"As I thought…"
Ren narrowed his eyes. Any plot he'd known was thoroughly off the rails.
He thought a moment more. "And one more thing. In that city—other than you—I scanned about half of it and found no other human life. Do you know if anyone else survived?"
"Shizuka-sensei—the school nurse."
"Before the outbreak,"
"I kept in touch with her. She'd gone to a friend's home—Rika."
"After everything started, we managed contact. If nothing went wrong, the two should still be together."
She answered without thinking.
In truth,
once her supplies ran dry she'd tried to reach Shizuka—but failed. Zombies blocked the way, and that evolved horror appeared.
"Shizuka."
"Rika."
Ren rolled the names on his tongue.
Given how scrambled the scenario already was, he didn't expect the script to help much.
"Kaguya—any word from Eirin? What is that zombie pathogen, exactly?" Ren asked, a thought striking him.
Kaguya-hime shook her head, then nodded slightly. "Eirin has briefed this humble one—however, Father, her tone was grave. She says you'd best avoid that world for a few days. She will arrive tonight and wishes to discuss matters with you in person."
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome]
[Thank You For Your Support!]