After all the commotion, Ririko opened the door.
Bruce wore a well-tailored suit and pulled a suitcase beside him, with a large leather bag resting on top and a laptop bag on his back.
His hair was a little messy, one stubborn lock sticking up beside his forehead, as though without hair wax and a blow-dryer, he could no longer maintain his usual image of the immaculate young gentleman.
He tilted his head slightly, an awkward, apologetic look on his face. "Did I wake you?"
Ririko's hair was a little tousled, with the soft sheen of someone who had just woken up.
She took half a step forward and wrapped her arms around him. "Why are you here so early?"
Bruce put his arms around her waist and turned his head, resting his cheek against the side of her ear.
"The Estate needs a complete renovation now. I thought I'd come stay with you. It'll make getting to school easier, too."
Ririko's lips parted slightly. She hadn't expected him to find another excuse to live with her even after his infatuation value had been reset to zero.
Had he been planning this when he blew up the house?
When she didn't answer right away, Bruce added, "If it's inconvenient for you..."
"Of course it isn't." Ririko let go of him and stepped aside to clear the doorway.
She didn't want to go through another episode of him losing control out of jealousy.
Bruce set his luggage on the floor beside the sofa.
"How's the Estate now?" Ririko asked casually. "How did your parents react when they found out?"
Bruce sat down on the sofa. "They were pretty happy. They said the house really was getting old. They've already hired a designer to replan the Estate. They'll probably be busy for