The nice hot shower had created a mistified atmosphere in the bathroom. A young man with a thin physique came out of the shower area, steam was billowing from his body. He wiped his wet body dry, using his white cotten towel. His action wasn't rushed as he took his time to dry every inch of his body. The young man was none other than Sato.
Last time, Sato would have to rub over his hair multiple times before he could get the majority of the moisture out. Yet, after the haircut, it only took a few strokes from the towel. When he was mostly dry, did Sato leave the bathroom half-naked in his pants, his towel hanging around his neck.
Sato immediately noticed a familiar back facing his window, looking out into the distance. He smiled as he greeted the person.
"Hey Gray, you're back from work!"
The General turned around to look at the newly cleaned boy. Gray walked towards Sato, his hand ran through Sato fringe. He pushes it back and gives Sato a kiss on his forehead.
"Are you hungry?" Gray asked.
"Yeah! Super hungry. If it weren't for the sun setting, I wouldn't have noticed the time." This was true as Sato was extremely engrossed in his studying.
"Then let's have an early dinner."
"Mmm, alright." Sato smiled. Opening up his wardrobe, Sato pulled out a nice clean white t-shirt and wore it over his body. The couple left for downstairs, where they sat in the living room, waiting for the house keepers to finish cooking. Knowing that the pair wanted to eat soon, everyone quickened their pace in making the dishes.
"Oh yeah. How is Ms Siara doing?" Sato asked Gray, while cuddling in his embrace. Siara Kenstone was none other than Gray's personal assistant before she went on maternity leave. She had given birth to a healthy young boy and was debating on whether she should come back early to resume her original job position. After all, Gray was temporarily filling her position with Potter. There were definitely some things that Siara was more familiar with than Potter, since she had been working directly under him from when he had assumed the Major General position.
"I told her the other day that she was to rest at home and not end her leave so soon." Gray didn't want to stress Siara out with work as this was a well timed rest period for her. The end of the year was a downturn period where workers in the military can take a breather, such as going on a holiday.
"That's good," Sato nodded in agreement, to which he followed up with another question. "Are you going to go on a holiday too?"
"Yes." Gray's answer was simple.
"Oh When?"
"When your holiday starts, I shall go on holiday." The older man's reply was always perfect in every way possible. After hearing what Gray said, Sato smiled in glee. He was obviously glad that his winter break would not be spent alone.
After the reading week and two weeks of examinations, Sato would be let off for winter break for six weeks. This was longer than most students as Sato was lucky that his exams were cramped in the first two weeks, giving him two extra weeks of rest.
"Master Gray, the food has been prepared. You may head to the dining table to have your meal." One of the housemaids came out of the kitchen to inform the couple.
"Okay." Gray acknowledge. The pair got up and went to eat their early dinner.
"Oh, what about Auntie? Is she coming back to eat?" Sato remembered that Melanie had left early in the afternoon and wasn't home yet.
"There is no need to wait for mother. If she were to come home, the housemaids could just prepare for her afterwards."
"Alright."
Gray pulled the chair out for Sato, before sitting down in his own. The pair enjoy a nice sumptuous dinner that could easily feed a family of four. Obviously, they over-prepared.
...
The week went by in a blink of an eye and soon enough, the weekend came around again. During this time, Sato spent most of it studying. In seldom lapses in focus, he would worry about his best friend, Ming. At this point, their relationship had turned cold, almost stale. The messages that Sato sends over the phone would be ignore. Even the calls were left unanswered.
On Friday, Gray even worked from home. He wanted to accompany the sad young man. They studied in the enclosed porch, welcoming in the sunlight, but keeping out the cold air. Melanie was rarely home in the afternoon and would come back late at night. Who knew what she was up to?
Even Gray, her own son, knew nothing about her plans and would just carry on with his life. Gray knew that whatever his mother was doing, it was something big. After all, she was Head Madam of the Tobion Family. When was her plans ever small?
On Friday, while the couple was hanging together in the room, Sato asked if they could go visit the Orphanage. Whenever he was sad or lost in his thoughts, going to the orphanage would help him greatly. Of course, Gray agreed to tag along. There were two reasons for him saying yes. One was that he wanted to cheer up Sato and by going to the orphanage, it would help clear up his thoughts. On the other hand, he had a surprise installed for the boy and it had something to do with the orphanage.