Chapter 2: Good Morning
Kato Yusuke came into this world 15 years ago. In his previous life, he was a student from Earth who died in an accident. When he awoke, he found himself in this new reality.
He was born in a small village in Saitama Prefecture, rumored to have descended from a once famous lineage of prominent landowners.
However, the family fortune declined, and his father, a frivolous second-generation heir, squandered his days in leisure, while his mother was consumed by vanity.
Under an unspoken agreement, the couple quickly depleted the remaining family assets. Even the current apartment was only salvaged by Kato Shuren, Yusuke's grandfather, through great effort.
Unable to bear the impoverished life, both parents abandoned Yusuke shortly after his birth, purportedly seeking fortunes abroad.
Since then, Yusuke has lived with his grandfather until Shuren Kato's death two years ago, leaving Yusuke alone.
Out of pity, and because Shuto Kato had maintained good relations with the neighbors, the villagers supported Yusuke, enabling him to attend high school.
He resigned himself to a life of working off debts until old age, but fate had other plans.
Unexpectedly, the system dormant within him for 15 years awakened and issued him a task.
Guided by destiny—or the system—he met and took in a girl named Sayu Ogihara, earning a reward from the system.
...
"Let's turn in for the night," Kato Yusuke suggested, checking his phone and noting the time. It was already two o'clock in the morning.
"You sleep there."
He pointed to his single bed and moved to the other side of the room, sat against the wall, stretched out his legs, crossed his arms, and rested his head against the wall.
"Remember to turn off the lights," he said, his eyes closed, ready to sleep as he was.
"...Well, it's odd for me to say this, but you're planning to sleep there, right?" Sayu asked.
"There's no extra bedding," Yusuke replied, his tone a bit stiff. After a pause, he added, "I'll pick some up tomorrow."
That meant he was prepared to sleep on the floor!
Sayu paused, her amber eyes looking between the bed, the floor, and Yusuke, before she burst out laughing.
"What are you saying! Haha! This is your house, Yusuke, you're so strange~~"
After calming down, Sayu's genuine smile returned, and she teased playfully.
"Wouldn't it be better to sleep together, or are you thinking something bad might happen, Yusuke~?"
She then provocatively puffed out her chest, hinting at her curves.
"Is that so..." Yusuke said after a moment of silence, his gaze fixed on Sayu, assessing her sincerity. After a while, he nodded and agreed.
He stood up, switched off the light at the entrance, and walked towards the bed.
Boom, boom, boom—
Heavy footsteps echoed in the dark, and his tall silhouette loomed larger in Sayu's vision before stopping near her.
A quiet tension filled the room.
The two breathed in unison until Yusuke broke the silence.
"Aren't you going to sleep?"
"Huh? Ah, yes... sleep," Sayu replied, her tone uncertain. She then climbed onto the bed, unfastened her bow tie, removed her stockings in silence, and avoided Yusuke's gaze.
"Move over a bit," Yusuke instructed.
"…Okay."
Sayu complied, making room for him.
"Alright," Yusuke nodded, then sat on the edge of the bed. Facing away from Sayu, he added, "I have work tomorrow, so I'll sleep over here."
Without waiting for a response, he lay down fully clothed and turned his back to her, soon falling still.
"Huh?" Sayu looked puzzled, gripping the bed as she hastily said, "At least cover yourself with the quilt."
"Unnecessary," Yusuke replied firmly, stopping her mid-action.
"Fine, go to sleep," he concluded.
Sayu paused, her hair spilling over her shoulders, adding to her femininity. She took a deep breath, set the quilt aside, and lay down next to Yusuke, an inexplicable expression in her eyes.
Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating their faces and softening the room's ambiance.
...
7 a.m. Tokyo time
The alarm on the phone began to sound but was swiftly silenced. Yusuke's eyes shifted from groggy to alert.
He exhaled softly, then rose from the bed so gently that Sayu beside him remained undisturbed.
Her hair cascaded down the bed, her long lashes resting on her eyelids, slightly upturned.
Sayu smiled contentedly in her sleep, curled up snugly, her lips parting slightly with each steady breath.
The collar of her shirt had come undone, revealing a glimpse of black lace.
Yusuke tidied the quilt around her with a composed expression, then walked to the bathroom, lost in thought.
This girl is a heavy sleeper.
"click..."
The door clicked shut, followed by the sound of running water.
Sayu opened her eyes, gazing towards the bathroom with a smile and a slight blush.
Subconsciously, she burrowed into the pillow, then ducked under the quilt, murmuring softly.
"Yusuke..."
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