At 10:00 AM, on the east side of the library, in the public rest area.
Typhon lay sprawled on the table, his short, grass-green hair sticking up in a messy fashion, his dark brown arms under his head, his eyes half-open and half-closed, looking as if he might fall asleep at any moment.
Sekhmet lay on the sofa next to her, her long, reddish-purple hair cascading over the cushions, her whole body sinking into the soft fabric.
"Sekhmet."
"Um..."
"You went out yesterday?"
"Um..."
Where did you go?
"Seventh Floor... cafeteria..."
Typhon's eyes widened slightly.
"The cafeteria? You actually went to the cafeteria?"
"Um..."
"Don't you always find even breathing a hassle? How do you have the energy to go to the cafeteria?"
Sekhmet remained silent for a moment, his crimson-purple eyes half-open, staring at the ceiling.
"Higashino Makoto... said... there's something delicious..."
"And then you went?"
"Um..."
What did you eat?
"Chinese food... sweet and sour pork ribs are pretty good."
Typhon's lips twitched, and he sat up, his crimson eyes glaring at Sekhmet.
Sweet and sour pork ribs? You left your room for sweet and sour pork ribs?
"Hmm... teleportation... is very fast..."
"Aren't you an undead? Undead don't need to eat!"
"Hmm... but... it's delicious..."
"Delicious... even better than sweet and sour pork ribs... is braised pork belly..."
Typhon looked at her, a complex light flickering in his crimson eyes.
"Sekhmet, you've changed."
"Hmm... it's changed..."
"They've all become foodies, like that girl Daphne."
"Hmm... a foodie... not bad either..."
Typhon sighed and slumped back onto the table.
"I want to go out too."
"Then let's go out..."
But I don't want to be alone.
Sekhmet looked at her, a soft light flashing in his crimson-purple eyes.
"Then... I'll go with you..."
Typhon looked up at her in disbelief.
"You? You find even breathing a hassle, and you'd come out with me?"
"Mmm... I'll stay with you..."
Typhon looked at her for a long time, then smiled.
"Okay. This afternoon, let's go to the Garden."
"Hmm... the Garden..."
Typhon slumped back onto the table, a smile playing on his lips.
Sekhmet lay on the sofa, his reddish-purple eyes half-open, staring at the ceiling.
And that little girl who sparkles in the sunlight.
Noon, Seventh Floor, small canteen.
Higashino Makoto sat at the dining table, with four dishes and a soup laid out in front of him.
Reisen stood behind him, holding a teapot in her hands, her eyes frequently gazing towards the doorway.
"Master, do we have guests today?"
"Yes, Daphne said she's going to cook."
"Miss Daphne? Can she cook?"
"No, but she's learning."
Reisen's lips twitched slightly.
"Then... is the food she cooked edible?"
"I didn't know, so I asked the kitchen to prepare an extra portion."
Reisen chuckled softly.
The door was pushed open.
Daphne walked in.
She wore a white apron, her gray hair in pigtails swayed gently behind her, and her dark gray eyes gleamed faintly in the sunlight.
He was carrying a large tray with several dishes on it.
Her steps were steady and slow, as if she were carefully holding something fragile.
Higashino Makoto.
"Um."
"I... I'm done."
Daphne placed the tray on the table, stepped back, wiped her hands on her apron, and looked at him with her dark gray eyes.
"Try it."
Higashino Makoto looked down at the dishes.
The braised pork belly is very dark in color, but some parts are burnt while others are still undercolored.
The stir-fried greens had slightly yellowed leaves and the stems were a bit tough.
The scrambled eggs with tomatoes were cooked until the eggs were too scrambled and there were still some eggshells in the mixture. The tomatoes were also cut into too large pieces.
The soup... looks like water with salt and scallions?
"You ate it?"
"No... waiting for you..."
Higashino Makoto picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of braised pork, and put it in his mouth.
Chewed it.
Swallow it.
"How about it?"
Daphne's voice carried a hint of nervousness.
It's too salty.
"..."
"But it's barely edible."
Daphne's lips curled up slightly.
"That's good."
She sat down opposite Higashino Makoto, picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of braised pork, and put it in her mouth.
Chewed it.
Swallow it.
"It is indeed... too salty."
Use less salt next time.
"Good."
The two began to eat.
Higashino Makoto ate very slowly, tasting every dish and commenting on each flavor.
Too salty, too bland, too tough, too raw – not a single review was positive.
Daphne listened intently, a certain light gleaming in her deep gray eyes.
That's the focus you get when learning something new.
Higashino Makoto.
"Um."
Tomorrow... I want to cook fish.
"Good."
"Will you... teach me?"
"No, I'm too lazy to move. But I'll have Reisen teach you."
Daphne lowered her head and continued eating.
A smile played on her lips.
Three o'clock in the afternoon, fourth floor, Garden.
This is a green space in the center of the library, an artificial space created by magic.
The sky is fake, the sunlight is fake, even most of the grass is fake.
But those flowers were real, transplanted from various worlds, and nourished by magic, they bloomed better than ever before.
Typhon squatted by the flowerbed, his crimson eyes fixed on the flowers.
Sekhmet lay on the bench next to her, her long, reddish-purple hair hanging down from the back of the chair, almost touching the ground.
"Sekhmet."
"Um..."
What are these flowers called?
"Have no idea..."
Aren't you curious?
"Not curious..."
Typhon sighed, stood up, walked to Sekhmet's side, and looked down at her.
"Besides 'uh-huh' and 'I don't know,' can you say anything else?"
Sekhmet remained silent for a moment, his crimson-purple eyes fixed on Typhon.
"Meeting..."
"Say what?"
"I'm so tired."
Typhon's lips twitched.
"You--!"
"Typhon."
Another voice came from behind.
Typhon turned around.
Carmilla stood at the Garden entrance, her long, light red hair cascading over her shoulders, her light red eyes looking at them.
She was wearing a light pink dress, no longer the timid, huddled figure she had been before.
Her back was straighter than before, and her fingers were no longer intertwined.
"Carmilla?"
"Can... can I... come with you?"
Typhon looked at her, a complex light flickering in his crimson eyes.
"Aren't you afraid to go out?"
"Hmm... but... I want to try it now."
Carmilla's voice was soft, but more stable than before.
"Try... interacting with ordinary people."
Typhon was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Let's do it together."