Haruki awoke in a cold sweat, his heart pounding from the vivid and unsettling dream. The pillow beneath him was damp, evidence of the intense emotions that had accompanied his nightmares. Shaking off the remnants of the dream, he rose and made his way downstairs.
The woman at the counter, who had been there the night before, was now sleeping soundly. Haruki gently woke her and requested a warm drink. As he waited, he noticed the faint light of the pre-dawn morning. Despite the cold breeze, he decided to step outside.
Sipping on the warm chocolate drink, Haruki found solace in the quiet of the early morning. The stars were fading as dawn approached, and the wind rustled the leaves of nearby trees. The taste of the new beverage was a small comfort as he gazed up at the disappearing stars, gradually letting go of the unsettling dream.
Lila, yawning, descended from her room and joined Haruki outside. Greeting him with a “Good morning,” she questioned why he was up so early. Sitting beside him, she listened as Haruki shared the details of his disturbing dream, particularly the part where Seraphina was kidnapped and bound. Disturbed, Lila commented, “That’s terrible, but it’s just a dream, right?” Haruki, looking at the slowly brightening sky, replied, “I know, and I hope it never happens.”
As the sun fully rose, Haruki finished his drink and suggested they keep the dream a secret between the three of them. Rising from his seat, he stretched and proposed, “Well then, let’s tackle the housework.” Agreeing, Lila suggested waking Roderick first. They ascended the stairs and reached Roderick’s room, knocking and calling to him. Getting no response, Haruki tried the door, finding it unlocked. They discovered Roderick snoring in an awkward position, dressed in pajamas and a small hat. Amused and slightly annoyed, Lila stared at him, and Roderick, upon waking, greeted her nervously. Explaining that he forgot to lock his door due to exhaustion from the previous day’s cleaning, he quickly composed himself. Haruki reassured him, “Your door wasn’t closed properly; you forgot to lock it.” Understanding, Lila and Haruki left the room and headed downstairs.
They settled at their familiar table, and Haruki, feeling a bit peckish, headed to the counter to check the menu. To their surprise, the lady running the place offered them free food and drinks, expressing her gratitude for their hard work.
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Curious about her generosity, Haruki inquired, “Why offer us this? What’s the occasion?” The lady replied, “I’m genuinely thankful for the work you’ve done here.”
Unable to turn down such a kind offer, Haruki accepted on behalf of the group. The lady headed to the kitchen, where her still-drowsy cook workers were roused to prepare the complimentary meal. When she returned, she informed them, “Your food will be ready in about ten minutes. Would your friends like warm drinks before the meal?” Haruki consulted Lila and Roderick about the drinks.
Roderick, perhaps motivated by the cold morning, welcomed the idea, while Lila, not wanting to deviate from her routine, opted for tea. The lady relayed the order to her workers, and as they waited, they took sips of the warm beverages.
Haruki began recounting his dream to Roderick, who found it quite disturbing. Lila, who had heard the story before, listened attentively. When the lady brought the drinks and tea, they continued discussing the dream.
Roderick, visibly shaken, muttered, “What a nightmare.” Haruki reassured him, saying, “It’s just a dream. I was probably just tired from the cleaning yesterday.” Lila, always thoughtful, suggested, “Maybe we should tell Seraphina or Garrick about this.” Haruki disagreed, stating, “No, let’s keep it a secret for now. Dreams are tricky things.”
The aroma of the freshly prepared food filled the room as the workers emerged from the kitchen with trays laden with hot beef soup, seafood, and rice. Haruki, impressed by the feast before him, exclaimed, “This looks amazing!” He took the first bite, and his eyes lit up. “It tastes as good as it looks!”
As they enjoyed the meal, Tori Mizushima, the owner of the rent house, joined them. “My name is Mizushima Tori. Nice to meet you,” she greeted. They exchanged introductions, and when Tori learned that Haruki was the summoned one, she encouraged him, saying, “Do whatever it takes to stop that unknown power. You have my support.” Haruki, standing proudly, responded, “I will. And I’m not alone. I have friends I can count on.”
The camaraderie in the room was palpable as they continued their meal, a mix of determination and newfound friendship in the air.