Lost in wandering thoughts, Xia You drifted off, not even knowing when he fell asleep.
When he woke again, daylight had broken. He glanced beside him and saw that Erika's bedding had been neatly folded, but she was no longer in the room.
He rubbed his eyes and had just finished getting dressed when Erika pushed the door open and walked in.
Her white ankle socks made soft thumping sounds against the tatami. Looking at Xia You, she said softly, "You're awake? Mr. Steel has breakfast ready. He just asked me to come get you."
Xia You glanced at Erika. Her face was as radiant as ever, and she was still just as beautiful.
"Did you sleep well last night?" Xia You asked.
Erika flushed slightly. Like Xia You, she had naturally tossed and turned the night before, feeling both shy and conflicted, unable to fall asleep for a long time. Only after hearing Xia You's steady breathing as he slept had she finally relaxed and unknowingly fallen asleep too.
"Pretty well. Much more soundly than when we sleep away from home."
That was certainly true. Whether it was a Pokémon Center, a guesthouse, a hotel, or camping in the wilderness, none could offer the comfort and warmth of a home. Even though they were only guests staying in someone else's house, that night's sleep had indeed cleared away much of their fatigue.
After Xia You washed up, the two went to the dining room for breakfast. It was worth mentioning that Professor Elm, perhaps because he had drunk too much, was still sleeping off his hangover.
At the table, Xia You and Mr. Steel chatted about all sorts of things as they ate. After having morning tea, with the sun climbing higher and Professor Elm still showing no sign