Chapter 95

How interesting, he has moments like this too. I knew my choice was right.

Even though she desperately wanted to rush out of the room right now, run to the beach, and laugh and stomp her feet, Hayasaka Ai held back, exceeding Yuki's Limit of patience.

Well, ever since Crimson Moon started, this maid has been different from what I remembered.

Yuki wasn't surprised; the Reincarnation Game could change a person, and as long as they didn't turn to the dark side, it was under control.

"Hayasaka, I also prepared a gift for you." He had come prepared, taking out Lucky Earrings. "Chaos Item related to luck are so rare, this is the best one, make do with it for now."

Although it's only at the Alienated Grade level, it can be upgraded later. Hayasaka Ai took it, glanced at the panel, and nodded in satisfaction.

She's an offensive player, so the side effects of items have a greater impact on her.

That's more like it.

Yuki understood her gaze, quickly poured himself a cup of tea, and only then did he have time to properly observe Hayasaka Ai.

Her long blonde hair was tied in a ponytail, and she wore a school uniform—a light-colored shirt and a very short dark blue plaid skirt—that formed an absolute territory with her white stockings.

Coupled with a serious yet indifferent expression, it creates an allure that makes you want to peel back the layers and find out more.

The two girls exuded completely opposite auras, just like their long legs, one black and one white.

"Let's go out for a casual meal together, and then come back to discuss adding something else?"

Adding skill points has become a regular activity for the team. At least last time, Yuki's guidance was crucial, and saving that one unused enhancement point is even more important.

"Wouldn't it be a bit too conspicuous for the three of us to go out, especially since the senior is quite troublesome?" Hayasaka Ai wagged her finger, what she said made sense.

Not only is it high-profile, but it also attracts a lot of hatred; the density of single people around this university town is extremely high.

"What should we do then? Aren't you hungry?"

"It's fine to eat at home."

"But at my home..."

Yuki could finish speaking, he noticed that Hayasaka Ai had brought a tote bag, which, when opened, contained ingredients.

Oh, this was premeditated, wasn't it?

"I passed by a supermarket on my way here and bought some ingredients. Do you have a pot?"

Before Yuki answer, Hayasaka Ai went to the open kitchen, saw the kitchen utensils, and skillfully took off her apron and put it on.

I don't know why, but she looks very professional in it.

"It's safer to eat at home." Hayasaka Ai, shaking the earring in her hand as she busied herself. "Besides, consider this a return gift. You weren't disappointed, were you?"

"No, it's a very nice gift." Yuki shook his head decisively, but then realized something was off. Wasn't that implying something about his senior?

Mai Sakurajima noticed it too, squinting as she looked over, conveying a message through her eyes.

"Hayasaka, are you serious?"

"It's just cooking a meal, you'll eat it, right?"

"This has nothing to do with whether we eat it or not. Did you plan this all along?"

"When my senior invited me in just now, she acted like the lady of the house, didn't she?"

Yuki could hear the sound of eyes clashing in the air, so he decisively picked up his phone to browse the forum; he didn't see anything.

"I'll help too," Mai Sakurajima said with a smile, standing up. "We're all guests, you're doing us a favor."

I didn't hear anything, don't ask me.

Yuki continued studying the forum with his head down, only turning around slightly after a pair of long, black-stockinged legs walked past him.

The two busied themselves in the kitchen; Mai Sakurajima stirred the eggs, Hayasaka Ai rinsed the rice, and they also cleaned the rarely used kitchen counter.

No one spoke, they were just focused on what they were doing, and familiar figures walked back and forth, the sea breeze gently lifting their skirts.

Ring ring.

The wind chimes rang once more, bringing a satisfied smile to the man's face as he realized his wicked scheme had succeeded.

The atmosphere was nice.

Hayasaka Ai and Mai Sakurajima are both intelligent people, so their relationship is unlikely to be significantly affected, nor will it hinder their strategy. In this situation, it actually benefits Yuki.

Even in my initial expectations, this scene was impossible.

Two pretty girls cooking for themselves in a rented apartment? You've been playing too many visual novels, haven't you?

Yuki never dared to hope for this before, but now she has to thank the Reincarnation Game.

Beyond the friendship forged in life-or-death situations, the game isolates all players, leaving them with despair in dungeons and a treacherous reality, forcing them to band together for warmth.

Well, I guess everyone's become a bit more patient.

They care more about each other's thoughts and are less likely to give up. After experiencing two instances, each player's personality will be twisted, and they will realize that life and death are the biggest contradictions.

Everything was under control, and this small spark made reality and the instance completely different.

Yuki sat cross-legged, leaning against the coffee table. His undisguised gaze was impossible to miss. Even the busy Hayasaka Ai and Mai Sakurajima slowed down, sensing that something was amiss.

"Why do I feel like I let him off easy?"

"Yeah, I also feel like I was tricked by him. Senior, why don't you go and take a rest?"

"You should go and rest; after all, you just came from Tokyo."

"No, no, no, senior, you should rest first."

Yuki couldn't hear what the two were saying, but he smiled sinisterly. This was also within his calculations. The biggest commonality between Hayasaka Ai and Mai Sakurajima was their strong will.

No, it should be said that every veteran player is very competitive.

Sure enough, despite their words, no one backed down; instead, they cooperated perfectly, the room filled with the monotonous sound of chopping vegetables.

Absolutely safe, absolutely comfortable.

As Yuki watched, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier. His nerves, which had been tormented for more than twenty hours in the Demon Hospital, began to relax, and even his thinking became very slow.

He twitched his nose and smelled a refreshing scent, sweet and quiet, that dispelled all the gloom.

Mmm, the taste of everyday life.

Ring ring.

A sea breeze blew in, Hayasaka Ai raised her hand to smooth her long hair behind her ear before placing the chopped red peppers into the basket.

The rice is almost ready; I'll just stir-fry it a bit and it'll be done. Is Mai Sakurajima making curry? It's pretty good.

She glanced to the side and met Mai Sakurajima's gaze.

"The food is quite good."

"Thank you. You're very professional; you must do this a lot, right?"

"No, it's just occasionally." Hayasaka Ai said that there was a professional chef cooking for her, raising her long eyebrows, when she suddenly realized that the gaze behind her had disappeared.

So she and Mai Sakurajima turned around together and saw Yuki lying on the sofa, fast asleep.

The sea breeze ruffled his black hair, making him appear exceptionally serene. The two men were taken aback by the sight, feeling a sense of unfamiliarity.

Yuki wasn't noisy; he was even more taciturn in dungeons. However, his ruthlessness and confidence left a deep impression, making people forget his age.

"This pig-headed guy sleeps at noon?"

"He must be tired, or he hasn't slept since he came back."

"No way, I should be resting after returning, but I went straight to bed without even taking off my clothes." Mai Sakurajima was a little confused, but quickly realized what was going on.

Unlike them, Yuki has many things to consider; leaving the instance is simply the beginning of another journey.

"It seems you understand." Hayasaka Ai didn't say much, walked to the table, and opened a thick notebook filled with all sorts of information, all of which was intelligence extracted from the forum.

She pursed her lips, suddenly filled with shame at some of the thoughts she had yesterday.

This is partly my fault; I dragged him into it.

Hayasaka Ai at Yuki and took the blame, since from her perspective, Yuki was only going against the Shinomiya Clan because of her.

No matter how many layers of mystery were laid during the last contact, the truth will eventually come out.

"Did Hayasaka -san suddenly feel better?"

"Mai Sakurajima- senpai is the same, right?" Hayasaka Ai knelt beside the coffee table, lowering her voice. "A team always needs a core. As long as the core doesn't collapse, the team won't fall apart, even if there are several dungeons in between. And in this strange reality, it has a foundation."

"I agree." Mai Sakurajima gently, lifted her skirt, and knelt down beside him, propping her chin up and looking at Yuki, who was lying on the sofa, slightly lost in thought.

"I suddenly realized that this pig-headed guy is actually kind of handsome when he's not talking."

Are you trying to provoke me? He's spouting sleazy nonsense right in front of you, but what he said wasn't wrong.

Hayasaka Ai looked at Yuki's face, another image flashed through her mind.

The lone figure guarding the tunnel, the butcher with a knife on a mountain of demon corpses—thinking about it, she had a completely opposite sense of déjà vu.

That demonic warrior never appeared in reality, and she could not feel the immense pressure he exerted. Looking at the sleeping young man, she gradually understood.

Does he enjoy this peaceful daily life?

Seeing Mai Sakurajima's suspicious expression, Hayasaka Ai suddenly reached out her hand. "Senpai, your curry looks like it's going to burn."

Mai Sakurajima, who had been speculating about what she was thinking, suddenly jumped up and rushed to the kitchen without even putting on her slippers.

Watching the flustered figure disappear, Hayasaka Ai's cold expression vanished, replaced by a rarely seen warm smile.

Yeah, I don't dislike it either.

Chapter Seven: Sense of Security

Yuki slept until the afternoon, looking somewhat bewildered at the sea under the setting sun.

I actually fell asleep, and the excitement disappeared. This went against the plan, but it revitalized my spirits and gave me a real rest.

Recalling the feeling before he fell asleep, he couldn't even describe the wonderful sensation.

"Sorry, I fell asleep without realizing it."

Yuki turned her head and saw Hayasaka Ai and Mai Sakurajima yawning as well. They looked tired and kept rubbing their eyes.

"It's okay, I'll heat up the food right away. It can be dinner."

"You two didn't eat?"

"Going without food for over ten hours in Reincarnation Game is basic, right? Besides, after reaching the 'Limit' level, you seem to be quite resistant to hunger." Hayasaka Ai stood up, rubbed her numb calves, and pointed to the notebook on the table:

"Since we had nothing to do this afternoon, my senior and I also copied some interesting information from the forum. Take a look."

Yuki looked at it and, sure enough, the notebook was filled with writing. He was instantly moved.

He doesn't expect anything in return, but he also doesn't like others taking things for granted. He believes that working together is not something that can be done just by saying it.

"You really..."

"Don't be so moved yet." Mai Sakurajima stood up, her black hair falling down to cover her face, so her expression couldn't be seen. She just patted Yuki's shoulder.

"A pig's head is the maximum I can accept; it can't go beyond that and become abnormal."

Huh? What's all this nonsense?

Yuki was a little confused. When he saw a rabbit head on the notebook and it was gesturing to flip through the pages, his expression instantly froze.

Oh no, they've seen my research data on reincarnation biology!

The sun had already set, and the sea, dyed blood red by the sunset, had returned to darkness. As the streetlights came on, there was no dining table in the cramped rented room, but several dishes were laid out on the coffee table.

My senior made her best curry rice, Hayasaka Ai stir-fried snow peas and carrot slices, and also made a wasabi octopus salad.

The food was simple, Yuki was quite content. The small house with a monthly rent of 10,000 yen felt like his own home. This was the first time he had eaten with friends since he transmigrated here.

It's better to give my first time to them than to those idiots in the Diving Club.

Under his watchful eye, Yuki took a bite of curry rice and gave a thumbs-up. "Just as delicious as last time."

"What about this one?" Hayasaka Ai asked.

"The flavor is light and delicious; no wonder it's made by professionals."

Hayasaka Ai nodded in satisfaction.

Don't underestimate the power of the Church of Balance.