"There are slippers by the door, change into them yourself."
Using her key to open the door, Touka pushed it open and walked inside.
"Oh, okay."
After stepping into the apartment, Hayashi crouched down by the shoe rack to switch his shoes. Touka didn't own many pairs—only four or five, all neatly arranged.
He glanced at them, and for some reason imagined scenes of her putting them on and taking them off. His throat tightened, and an inexplicable heat surged through his body.
Once he changed into slippers, he walked straight into the living room.
"Can't believe I actually made it into Touka's home."
He scanned the surroundings, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. The place wasn't very big, but perhaps because there wasn't much furniture, it felt spacious, with a strong sense of daily life.
But more importantly…
As he breathed in, there was a faint fragrance in the air, unique to Touka. Hayashi's lips curled into a small smile.
"What are you standing there dumbly for?"
Noticing he hadn't moved, Touka couldn't help but ask.
"Nothing, I just didn't expect you to invite me into your home. It's a little surprising" Hayashi shook his head lightly.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I only asked you here to help me study for the exams. If the café hadn't been closing, I would've just studied there."
Her voice lowered into a mutter, her delicate face flushed red.
"I see, I understand."
Hayashi smiled faintly at the tsundere beauty before him.
The café was closing today, but they could've studied tomorrow. She must've just made up an excuse to be alone with him, right?
"Mind if I look around?"
Hayashi asked, wandering the living room with interest.
"Do whatever you want, just don't go in my room."
Touka replied casually while busy cooking.
After a quick tour of the living room, Hayashi slid open the glass door and stepped onto the balcony. The lighting here was great — you could watch both sunsets and sunrises.
As he inhaled the fresh air, something on the drying rack caught his eye: freshly washed clothes that hadn't dried yet. Among them… underwear.
At first, he only meant to glance and look away. But that single look changed everything.
Touka's underwear was mostly pink. Soft, girlish, pastel pink.
In Hayashi's impression, someone like Touka — a cold, aloof beauty who kept others at arm's length — should've leaned toward black, something sharp and serious, matching her icy aura.
But pink? Touka actually liked wearing pink?
The thought made him reconsider her image entirely.
"Dinner's ready… you can come—"
Carrying dishes, Touka entered, only to freeze mid-sentence. Her eyes fell on Hayashi, who was staring at her underwear.
A tidal wave of shame and anger erupted inside her.
"You… get over here!"
She stormed forward, yanked him inside, slammed the glass door shut, and pulled the curtains in one swift motion.
"Huh?"
Before he could react, Hayashi was thrown to the ground with a heavy thud.
Stunned, he blinked in confusion—
BAM!
A long, slender leg slammed against the wall beside his head, missing by less than ten centimeters.
"Hey, you didn't see anything just now… did you?"
Touka leaned in, her icy eyes carrying a trace of menace.
Gulp.
Hayashi swallowed unconsciously. From this high, dominant angle, her aura as the Ice Queen completely enveloped him.
But in her rush of fury and embarrassment, she forgot she was wearing a skirt. From Hayashi's vantage point… everything was perfectly visible.
"Of course. I didn't see anything at all" His voice was steady, his clear eyes sincere.
But the glimpse of pink fabric confirmed it — he hadn't been mistaken earlier.
"Good. Dinner's ready. Let's eat."
Touka retracted her leg, her delicate face tinged red. The cold aura around her dispersed instantly, and she reverted to her usual tsundere self, as if nothing had happened.
"Thanks"
Hayashi sat at the table, amused. Looks like he had discovered quite the secret today…
Soon, Touka placed a bowl of soup in front of him.
"I'm not really good at cooking, so it might not taste great."
She knelt on the floor in a seiza-like posture, looking almost demure.
"It's fine. Smells good enough."
Hayashi nodded. He understood—ghouls couldn't eat human food, so learning to cook was pointless.
Thinking that, he took a sip of what looked like vegetable soup.
The taste… sour, sweet, bitter, salty, spicy. All five flavors in one dish.
As it entered his stomach, the system purified it automatically. Otherwise, he suspected it might've been poisonous.
"How is it?" Touka bit her lip nervously. It was her first time cooking, following recipes online.
"Pretty good. Not bad at all." After a moment, Hayashi nodded, then downed spoonful after spoonful.
'If I eat fast enough, my taste buds can't keep up.'
"Slow down. I made plenty." Touka's cold expression melted into surprise and joy. She hadn't expected him to like it so much.
An unfamiliar sense of accomplishment spread through her.
"All done. I feel like my body's full of strength now." Hayashi set the bowl down, face filled with satisfaction.
In truth, he'd just seen his great-grandmother waving at him from the afterlife—but the Horse Talisman dragged him back.
"You drank that fast." Touka's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"Well, I was hungry. But I'm fine now." Seeing disaster looming in the form of a second serving, Hayashi quickly waved his hands.
"Already full?" Her beautiful eyes blinked.
"Yes, I've never felt so full in my life." He patted his stomach with a content smile.
"Thanks for the meal, Touka."
Hearing his praise, her cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head shyly.
"My mind feels sharp now. Let's start studying right away!" Hayashi stretched, trying to steer away from any more "main courses."
"Right after eating?"Touka tilted her head in mild confusion.
"Time is short and the exam is tough. Every minute counts!" Hayashi cleared the table in one sweep.
"…Fine." With him being that serious, she couldn't refuse.
Studying was dull, but with Touka there, it became a strangely beautiful sight.
"Alright, let's stop here for today." Hayashi set his book down and glanced at the clock. It was already 11 p.m.
If he left now, he'd get home around 11:30.
"You're heading back?" Touka looked up, her eyes flickering.
"Yeah. Otherwise I'll miss the train." Hayashi began packing his things.
"…If you can't make it back, why not stay here tonight?"
Hayashi froze. "What did you just say?"
"I said…"Touka bit her lip, clearly torn.
'He's human. I'm a ghoul. How can a human possibly stay in a ghoul's home? It doesn't make sense.'
But her heart was racing, her breathing quickening.
And the thought of him leaving filled her with inexplicable regret.
Finally, she made up her mind.
"I said it's dangerous to walk at night. What if a ghoul attacked you?" Her voice was small, her face faintly pink.
"…Huh?"
Hayashi blinked. Did she just invite him to stay?
'Wait… does that mean she wants me to sleep here? With her?'
Just then, the system's prompt sounded in his head:
[You have triggered a Time-Limited Mission: Touka's Plea]