190, I Will

"Good morning. Time to get up, Carl."

The gentle call brushed past her ears like a morning breeze, and Carl slowly woke from her sleep. Through her hazy vision, Haruko stood by the bed with an exquisite tray in her hands. Morning light filtered softly through the smart glass, casting a pearly sheen over her hair.

Strange.

Carl blinked her sleepy eyes.

With the vigilance she had developed, even the slightest sound should have been enough to wake her instantly. Yet Haruko had not only entered the room, but had even moved around nearby carrying a tray. And Carl had slept so soundly until she was softly called awake.

Was it because, subconsciously...

She looked at the gentle curve at Haruko's lips.

...I've already classified her presence as "no need to be on guard"?

Just like when V and Jack came to wake her.

The coffee on the tray gave off a rich aroma, wisps of steam still rising from the rim. Haruko set the tray on the bedside table so gently that even the liquid in the cup did not ripple.

Carl's gaze fell upon the exquisite tray—beside the steaming black coffee, golden, crispy bacon curled into perfect arcs. The sausages were seared to just the right dark brown, and the yolk of the sunny-side-up egg still trembled faintly.

On the small dish beside it, baked beans in tomato sauce bubbled softly, while toasted marks remained along the edges of the bread.

"A full English breakfast." Carl did not actually dislike British food that much. After all, authentic British food was better than Night City street food no matter what, not to mention a British breakfast, the jewel of British cuisine.

She rubbed her eyes, and her spine gave a faint crack as she stretched. When she looked at