Soon, it was early morning once again.
"Knock, knock, knock."
Naruse Mio walked to Duanmu Huai's bedroom door and reached out to knock.
"Uncle?"
"...Mm?"
It was only after quite some time that Duanmu Huai's voice came from inside.
"It's time to get up and have breakfast. Everyone's already awake."
As she spoke, Naruse Mio felt somewhat puzzled. Normally, Duanmu Huai was also an early riser. How strange that he was still asleep after she had finished her training and returned today.
"Ah, oh, I know... I'll be out in a bit."
Duanmu Huai's voice from inside sounded rather weak, as though he hadn't slept all night. But to Naruse Mio, there was something even stranger.
"Um... Uncle?"
"What is it? Is there something else?"
"What did you do to Maria?"
"Maria? I didn't do anything."
"Huh? But this morning, I saw her..."
At this, Naruse Mio couldn't help recalling what she had seen when she encountered Maria that morning. The lively little girl, who was always full of energy, had been curled up in a corner of the dining room with a deathly pale face. Her whole body had been trembling as though she had encountered something terrifying.
"She probably saw something she shouldn't have. Mm, it's fine. I'll come out in a while."
"Then... I'll go to the dining room first."
Only after hearing Naruse Mio's footsteps fade away from behind the door did Duanmu Huai sigh in relief. He then stood up and stretched his aching body.
"This really is... unexpected."
Looking at the utterly disordered room before him, Duanmu Huai spoke quietly. It was no wonder he said that. Just as he had remarked, his bedroom was a complete mess.
Two petite, slender bodies lay sprawled across the bed and floor. Stheno and Euryale had none