The next morning arrived.
"Knock knock knock!"
Early in the morning, a loud knock sounded on Bell's door.
"Hmph~"
The room's occupant, Hestia, opened her eyes, annoyed by the disturbance.
"Who is it, so early in the morning?"
She rubbed her sleepy, blurry eyes as she spoke. Having just woken up, her eyes were still struggling to focus. She could have slept a little longer.
Because Bell had finally come home yesterday, she had monopolized his time a bit, pushing back her bedtime considerably. It was precisely because she had stayed up late that getting up so early this morning left Hestia feeling a bit sleep-deprived.
"Haaah~"
She stretched, yawning as she shifted her body.
But when she looked down and saw Bell still nestled in her arms, sleeping soundly with an adorable expression, Hestia instantly quieted.
"Knock knock knock!"
"Seriously, can't I sleep in a little longer?"
The sound of knocking at the door reached her ears once more, causing Hestia to frown in displeasure. Especially when she saw Bell's eyelids flutter—Hestia knew he'd been woken up too.
Glaring angrily toward the door, Hestia gently cradled Bell's head and slowly leaned in close to his ear.
"Bell, wake up."
Bell, who had been half-asleep, suddenly opened his eyes.
But because he had just woken up, his eyes still held a bewildered look of incomprehension.
Looking up and seeing it was Hestia, that bewilderment turned into a hazy drowsiness. Burying his head deep into Hestia's embrace, breathing in that familiar scent, he truly felt like he didn't want to get up.
"Why so early?"
Bell's voice carried an unusual hint of petulance.
Holding him like this, Hestia almost didn't want to let go.
But the person knocking wouldn't wait forever, and she already knew who it was. Loki!
'Why does that child have to be just as impatient as him?'
Loki's reason for knocking today was undoubtedly to bring her child over.
Yet Hestia couldn't voice these thoughts aloud—after all, it was Bell himself who'd invited Loki to bring the child the next day.
"Bell, you asked me to come today yesterday."
This statement instantly snapped Bell wide awake.
"Is it Ais?"
The thought of his student jolted Bell back to full alertness.
Holding Hestia gently, bathed in her scent, Bell needed to snap out of it immediately.
Though he desperately wanted to linger in bed, this time he truly couldn't afford to.
"Hestia, I'm sorry."
He'd planned to rest properly today, but who knew there'd be business waiting tomorrow morning? If only he could push it off until tomorrow.
Alas, Bell knew Ais's temperament all too well. This matter truly couldn't wait until tomorrow.
After snuggling comfortably in Hestia's embrace, Bell resolved to rise.
Hestia felt much the same. She too felt a pang of regret at Bell's inevitable departure. She'd much rather have savored a peaceful morning with him, undisturbed by other matters.
But that was no longer an option.
Seeing the apology in Bell's eyes, Hestia smiled and wrapped her arms around him.
"We're walking the path to the end now, but we can't choose comfort at this stage. Right?"
"Mhm..."
He was the one who should be offering comfort, yet it was Hestia who spoke words of reassurance.
After Bell agreed, his yearning for peace eased slightly. Just as Hestia said, they were now on the path to the final battle. It wasn't yet time to choose peace.
The two quickly tidied up, dressed, and got out of bed.
By the time they opened the door, ten minutes had passed.
The person knocking outside was Loki, though she too wore an expression of helplessness.
Upon seeing Bell, Loki immediately raised a hand in a "hold your horses" gesture.
"I was driven to the brink by Ais's noise."
Loki then pointed helplessly at her own eyes—red and bloodshot, clearly showing signs of sleep deprivation.
"That child was so excited she started pounding on my door at four in the morning."
"I had no choice but to bring her along."
Another sigh escaped Loki afterward.
Truthfully, she'd never disliked any aspect of Ais-tan. But only now did she genuinely begin to resent that boundless energy.
Especially when that energy brought her such frustration.
Both Bell and Hestia noticed the bloodshot veins in Loki's eyes. Even Hestia, who usually clashed with Loki, found herself at a loss for words.
"...So, it's not that our understanding has faded. It's just that Warren and the others are being too troublesome."
Seeing Loki like this, Hestia temporarily regained some of her trust and understanding.
She pointed out that when Loki had slept in Bell's room before, she hadn't come bothering him this early in the morning either. Loki should have shared that same understanding with her.
Bell looked at Loki's dejected expression and felt she was genuinely unlucky this time.
"Loki, I'm sorry for troubling you again."
"You finally admit it."
Loki shot Bell a glare, but when faced with Ais's question, she felt flustered.
After all, Ais was her Familia member. If Ais caused trouble, Loki couldn't shirk responsibility.
Still, she needed to deflect the issue—otherwise, she'd be miserable. Loki just wanted to shift this frustration somewhere else; otherwise, she'd toss and turn all night.
"Hurry up, I'm drowning in frustration."
Loki pouted, arms wide open—her meaning crystal clear.
Bell didn't refuse, simply pulling her into an embrace and offering silent comfort. Only when Loki's lips turned slightly red from the soothing contact did Bell release her.
Though Loki, nestled softly in Bell's arms, found the lingering scent of Hestia slightly off-putting, her emotional weight had finally lifted.
Hestia, who'd watched the entire scene, stood nearby with a pout. She didn't dwell on it, however, and instead asked another question.
"Loki, your kid should have updated their data by now, right? Did they get the promotion Excelia?"
Loki composed herself, burrowing in Bell's embrace for a long while before finally emerging. Only then did she give Hestia a precise answer.
"Of course. Or did you think that kid slept well last night? If not, that kid would've blown a fuse yesterday."