Chapter 08: Takanashi Sora
In the early morning hours, Yuuta gradually stirred to the persistent sound of his phone's alarm. After a late night, he reached out to grasp his phone, which he remembered placing beside him. However, an unexpected sensation held him in place, as if an unseen force weighed upon him.
As the alarm persisted, Yuuta's groggy mind reminded him of the need to rise early and prepare breakfast for Hina. He vividly recalled his grocery shopping trip, securing eggs, jam, bread, and, most importantly, milk.
Yet, the phone's insistent ringing perplexed him. Just then, a graceful silhouette entered Yuuta's limited field of vision. It was a charming blonde girl, clad in delightful pajamas, grinning at him.
With practiced ease, she silenced the noisy phone and playfully remarked, "Brother, waking up this early might wake me too~" Miu smiled and returned to her spot, nestled comfortably for more sleep. "There's something special about having a cute little girl embrace you at dawn."
Yuuta was left befuddled, but his attention soon shifted to his right hand, which had gone entirely numb. Turning his gaze in that direction, he discovered that the source of his discomfort was none other than a peacefully slumbering young girl.
At that very moment, Sora was dressed in shorts and a pink, short-sleeved shirt. She clung to her own form, one arm wrapped lovingly around her neck, her leg resting upon Yuuta's, as though she held him in a tender embrace.
This wasn't a recent development; Sora had maintained this peculiar sleeping position for quite some time. Her sleeping posture was, to put it mildly, quite chaotic. Sora's blanket had been carelessly discarded, a common occurrence in the sweltering summer heat. However, the mystery lay in the fact that she had somehow managed to kick Yuuta's blanket aside as well.
Despite keeping his eyes closed, Yuuta knew that his current situation was far from ideal. Faced with the dilemma of pretending to sleep, waiting for Sora to awaken naturally, or mustering the courage to rise and prepare breakfast for all, Yuuta opted for the latter.
His arm had become entirely numb, the sensation of countless pins and needles coursing through it. Slowly and with great care, he used his free hand to grasp Sora's hand, intending to gently release her grip. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to extricate himself from her tight embrace.
In her dream, Sora found herself facing Yuuta, who leaned in closer to her. In her dream, she unconsciously leaned back, and he even reached out to take her hand. It all seemed a bit too intense for a dream, and she pondered why he was holding her hand.
Lost in contemplation, Sora abruptly opened her eyes, only to be met with the sight of Yuuta leaning in close with an oddly suspicious expression. Instantly awakened, she let out a startled "Eek!" and swiftly delivered a solid slap to the man who had encroached upon her personal space. Giving him a firm shove, Yuuta had no choice but to raise his hands to block her attack. He quickly retreated, ensuring he was at a safe distance.
"I'm sorry," Yuuta began, "it was me... I accidentally touched you. I apologize." Yuuta couldn't bring himself to admit that it was actually Sora who had unintentionally embraced him during her sleep, as such an admission wouldn't be appropriate for a young girl. He was well aware of Sora's modesty, especially during baths, and he always respected her privacy. Nevertheless, there were certain boundaries that needed to be maintained.
Observing the situation, Miu couldn't help but interject, "Sis, you moved over there yourself while sleeping. How about we change positions tonight?" Sora also glanced at her new sleeping spot, realizing it was somewhat distant from her usual one. Moreover, Yuuta didn't seem like the kind of person who would take advantage of the situation.
With everything clarified, Yuuta breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright, it's just the hot weather. I'm heading to the kitchen to make breakfast. You can get some more sleep; we were up late last night."
Sora lay back down, burying her head beneath the blanket. Even though she knew it wasn't the other person's fault, they had inadvertently taken advantage of her. She had almost...
She had almost...
Thinking about how she had nearly...
As she recalled how she had almost... Sora felt too embarrassed to continue her train of thought.
Yuuta checked the time; it was only 5:30 AM. He had narrowly escaped a morning slap. Was that a bad omen?
Today, his plan was to visit the light novel company to sell his stories. While preparing breakfast, he contemplated his situation, feeling a bit uneasy. In an attempt to boost his confidence, Yuuta consoled himself, "No, just as Miu said, having a cute girl hugging you early in the morning is a good sign."
With that thought in mind, he felt considerably better.
Oh, right, he had a mission to complete!
10,000 yen was still money, and as he prepared breakfast, Yuuta decided to give Hina a hug; that would cover the cost of one family meal.
[Ding!]
[Completed side mission, Reward: 310,000 yen]
Spotting the reward, Yuuta quickly turned off the stove and retrieved his wallet. Indeed, there were a few more bills inside.
Upon reflection, it became clear that this reward wasn't just for him but for the collective embrace he'd shared with the three of them. Right!
When Hina emerged from her shower, he had held her to prevent her from moving around. Although he hadn't directly hugged Miu for more than ten seconds last night, he had carried her on his back when they returned home, which could count as Miu hugging him. This way, he could fulfill the mission requirement.
This morning, Sora had also embraced him, successfully completing the task.
Surveying the money in his wallet, he knew his food budget for the week was secure. "What a great start!" Yuuta resumed cooking with a satisfied smile, his mood considerably lifted. He even found himself humming a little tune.