Chapter 1: New Phase [1]

[Rei PoV]

Sunday morning.

Most people who wake up early on a Sunday morning will feel it.

The exceptionally cool air that calms down your mind. The peacefulness of a Sunday morning that cannot be known if you overslept.

In such peace, something like a magnificent painting made with beautiful lines was lying between the blankets and sleeping right beside me.

"…."

The birds don't cry, and no wind blows outside the window, probably not to disturb her sleep.

It was a mesmerizing sight to behold indeed.

Was the Sleeping Beauty sleeping like this? No, I soon changed my mind.

It seemed more like Snow White, who ate a poisoned apple that led to her demise, rather than a princess who had pricked her finger on a cursed spinning wheel.

The story despite being that of a children's fairy tale has some slight creepiness if you observed it deeply.

Even so, there's nothing bad about that because the creepiness and beauty characteristics of non living things existed at the same time, this topic would surely interest some people.

I unintentionally reached out towards her sharp nose.

You can feel the small wind at your fingertips, like the flapping of the wings of a baby bird. It's proof that Tohka is still breathing. It was proof that she was more or less alive.

A life that would have disappeared and have a different ending if I didn't interfere in the original. It can be seen that I saved it in a sense.

Well, she would survive in this stage up until the near end before sacrificing herself to put an end on the final parts in order to conclude the story. Eventually, she comes back in the end by some means, but the fact that she died wouldn't disappear.

I twisted her fate and took on a life that should have ventured a different path. And the promise that

So a question comes in mind, can I declare my ownership of this beauty?

It makes me wonder since I also have a bit of a stake in Tohka's life. In other words, I am like a major shareholder of the girl called Tohka.

So the answer to the question is probably a yes.

"Sacrificing herself, huh. As if I would let that now she is in my hands..." I mumbled as I gently stroked her glossy hair.

My mumble and my actions however seemingly disturbed her sleep.

"Mu....? Rei..?"

Tohka who was still sleepy turned her body facing my side. Thanks to that, the porcelain skin of her chest was revealed next to the half-lowered duvet and black blouse.

How can someone be so defenseless?

Rally, her figure right now is something that could reduce most men into some horndogs and so, I opened my lips to suppress the playfulness I am feeling alongside a 'man's impulse' that was creeping up in my mind.

"Good morning, did you have a nice sleep?"

At my words, Tohka slowly opened her eyes. Tohka, who blinked her long black eyelashes a few times, said in a very languid and regretful voice.

"Mm. I had a dream, unfortunately..."

"Unfortunately? What kind of dream did you have?"

"Well. I just had it on my mind but I can't remember when I suddenly thought of it, that's why it is unfortunate"

Dreams are inherently volatile. So, if you disturb your mind even a little when you are having it, it will break up bit by bit and will be blown away like the wind which normally fades away.

That's how dreams are mainly constructed. Extremely fragile in a sense. Though there are some people who will be exceptions into that just like me who vividly remembers each and every dream that I am experiencing often in this life.

Nodding my head, I gave her a knowing smile.

"Okay. Well, I'll go prepare breakfast, you could still sleep for a few more minutes if you want"

I got up from bed and wore my shirt who was placed on the floor, it was placed... farther than expected. I wondered how it got there to be honest.

At the same time, Tohka also got up from the bed, adjusting her clothes.

Seemingly ignoring what I just said earlier, she then spoke pointing her topic about her dream once more.

"Still, it was a fun and interesting dream," Tohka said with a smile.

Seeing that, thoughts formed in my mind.

'What a good way to start the day, UmU'

"...Wouldn't that be fortunate? But..." I gazed on her figure once more. "So, would you like to change clothes now? I'll go out first—"

"No, Rei wait"

And before I could move a step forward, Tohka stopped me as she held the hem of my shirt.

"What?"

"Help me change"

"You could do it yourself already. I already taught you how," I immediately countered.

"I forgot"

"...."

"I. said. I. forgot"

Emphasizing those words, she said as she tilted her head. In the end, I surrendered to her insistence.

"I get it. Next time, you should do it without my help okay"

"Hm? What did you say?" Tohka asked as if she had heard nothing.

"..."

"..."

In the end, I sighed in defeat. It wasn't like this would harm me so I relented... it would be even called a privilege to be honest, "It's nothing, I'll get your clothes first..."

Tohka stretched her arms and legs and yawned. It's a bit like the yawn that I saw yesterday, but it has a stronger feeling in it.

I quickly changed Tohka's clothes, which seemed to have slept slightly, and combed her hair with a comb.

While doing this, Tohka just hummed as if she was enjoying this moment.

Tohka is like a living doll, she doesn't reject my touch, she just obeys me in moments like this. Maybe she could be similar to a princess who had lived a life where it's natural for someone else to change her clothes.

Actually, the description perfectly fits. A Spirit who acts like a princess who has the moniker of a <Princess>.

In the case of Tohka, she was a girl who suited her more than anyone else to be a flower in a greenhouse, if you removed the fact that she is a [Spirit] who are the embodiment of disasters occuring on this world at the present.

There are still many things that she needed to learn, mainly common sense and normal things.

Suddenly, I wondered what Tohka was thinking right before she was sealed. Because the description of the original story is thoroughly conducted only from the point of view of the main character, 'him'.

What did Tohka, who couldn't even change her clothes herself, think at the end of her life before vanishing? I don't know. I don't even know what Tohka is thinking right now.

How is the world in this timeline where I 'saved' her is reflected in the eyes of this young princess?

What would I look like in her eyes?

"Nn? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Tohka made eye contact with me and stroked my cheeks. Her actions could be described in many ways for example.

It was as if an interest and one-way love that only comes down from above.

It can be seen as an act of affection that has no cost or exchange. It was just mainly her showing how much she cherishes me.

I always ask myself stupid questions and think about unnecessary thoughts which I already have answers in my mind.

The fact is that I mainly reject or ignore the answers no matter how it was to prolong the matter, which is why I always tend to ask them from time to time. It was something considerably stupid.

Even so, disregarding these flaws of mine, I could proudly say that I am quite satisfied with my status quo... no, just maybe. I believe I could improve a little bit more.

Staying with Tohka—no, living with Tohka would undoubtedly change me slowly. Mm, it would.

And all it needs is just a little bit of time.

——

It's been a few days, or rather, two days had passed since some recent events happened.

Sealing Tohka which I didn't know I could do, and dealing with the team sent by DEM that appeared to capture us or to eliminate us. Overall, I feel kind of surprised by it, but nothing much to add after that.

Also, about what happened this early morning, I could say that that kind of situation already happened twice, to be precise, yesterday. And I'm sure it would happen again in the future.

If some wondered also, me and Tohka only slept with each other in bed. Nothing more than that. Just simply cuddling and hugging in bed...

Well, she likes to request kisses from time to time as well. But enough of this matter.

Currently, we are eating breakfast. A variety of food was presented in the dining table. It wouldn't be a joke to call this a feast of some sort.

Considering that there were only two people eating in this table makes someone wonder if the food was excessive or too much to eat for the two of us.

And normally, I would answer yes.

"It seems that I've have gone overboard for today's breakfast," I mumbled. "Or maybe not..."

I quickly retracted my words upon seeing Tohka munching the meal here and there non stop. To be exact, she currently has a worth of 3 plates of food.

Seriously, even I can't eat that much.

This gluttonous figure of hers quickly managed to shatter the princess like aura that she had shown in her sleep. What a shame, really. But the fact that this natural habit of hers was just simple like this made me glad.

Teaching her things like basic manners and etiquette wouldn't be too much. In the end, she would probably listen to everything I say.

"Nn? Are you saying something, Rei?" Tohka asked as she paused from eating.

"Maybe. Let's finish breakfast first before we talk"

"Nn," Tohka nodded as she shifted her attention once again on her food.

Honestly, she is kind of adorable when you look at her in my perspective. She looks like... a pet of some sorts? A small animal? Maybe.

"So Tohka, after this, you remember what I said yesterday? I would be gone for a few hours. I will come back before 6 PM at best"

"Where are you going? Doing the 'part-time' job that you said yesterday?"

I nodded.

"Yeah. Don't worry about it, I'm just going to work and pay back some favors," And I added in my thoughts. 'And earn money as well'

To be honest, there are many more ways to earn money, add more the word efficient, compared to working on a part time job. But that comes later for I still need to fill the debt on that cafe for skipping my shifts.

I at least know how to show gratitude and pay back favors and debts.

"..."

Tohka remained silent at that and proceeded to eat as if she has heard nothing.

For me, I put a bit of consideration on her part. I at least know how her eyes were fixated on me. They say that eyes don't lie, and I believe that remark. She has this intense gaze staring back at me, and it was filled a certain clear emotion.

If I were to point it out, it was... obsession.

That made my body flinch unconsciously.

"…What do you think?"

I glanced at Tohka and spoke softly. I sounded like a kid asking Tohka who was like the parent for permission to go out from the house or something.

Tohka glanced at me and moved her hands without saying a word.

"…"

She swallowed a rolled omelette soaked in seasoning. The appearance of Tohka, who tightly shut her lips and chewed it, really resembled those of a small animal.

Eventually, after tasting all the food, she slowly opened her mouth.

"…I get it. Come back earlier Rei," Tohka said in a somewhat indifferent tone.

But contrary to her indifferent words, she inadvertently made fun of her chopsticks while raising the corners of her mouth and kept eating the food.

Fortunately, it seems the food was the main factor of her agreeing to it.

'Wait? Why am I even asking for her approval?'

"..."

Moving on.

So, I was able to continue eating once more only after Tohka's confirmation fell.

And suddenly, I paused since a thought seemingly struck my mind.

That's when I was thinking about something else for a while.

"…What are you doing, why aren't you eating?"

Tohka spoke softly.

"Uh, don't worry. A passing thought just distracted me for a second"

"Mm... Okay"

And then she continued eating and that goes for the same as me as well. On the other hand though, I didn't break my gaze on her while eating.

'There are still many things that Tohka needs to learn, and I plan to teach her those in this short time frame until classes resumes. My estimate is at least next week at best'

Until Tohka can somewhat handle simple things alone, I'll do my best to handle some matters as I teach her how to next time.

"…Rei?"

Oh. It seems I was looking too closely.

I naturally pulled out a tissue and handed it to her—or is what I have done at first but proceeded not to. Instead, I stretched out my hand and wiped of the small food remains near her lips.

"You have some remains here..." I spoke gently.

Then she blushed briefly before she grabbed my hand and removed the tissue that I was holding.

'Why...?'

And it was then.

"It seems that... you also have some on your fingers, Rei..." Tohka said as she put my fingers on her mouth as she sucked and licked it clean.

"There..."

"..."

And after she finished, there was a trace of saliva when I moved out my hands. Seeing this, she licked her lips just like some seductress.

'Quite a bold and nasty move...' I thought as I stared at her silently.

Tohka is also a young lady, so I think she needs to be a little more... conscious about girly matters. Apparently, I have a solution for that but it will come in action later.

And after that we continued our breakfast.

——

So after eating.

I started to prepare to leave for my part time job. I took a bath, prepared my clothes, adjusted my things. And after this, it all led me on the front door trying to wear my shoes.

"Hm?"

Tohka followed shortly after that and handed me something.

It was a bracelet.

The one which is a pair that we brought on our date. Apparently, she always were the pair that was given to her on her arm, and I never saw here remove it.

And then she spoke, "You forgot this Rei mou~ This is something that you shouldn't do next time, okay?"

"...It seems that way, well, I'm sorry for forgetting. Also, thanks for reminding me, Tohka"

"Mm, take care," Tohka then waved her hands as if a wife sending her husband to work.

With a simple nod with a smile, I proceeded and left the house.