Chapter 38 : Another Day of Normality

I immediately woke up from my dream. Cold sweat is covering my body and my heart is beating fast. Why am I dreaming that now? Even when I tried my best to forget about it… forget about them. Let's stop mopping about it. I don't want to keep thinking about them.

I stand up from the couch and stretch myself. I had never slept on the couch in this life and my back is killing me.

I yawned and walked toward the bathroom. "Are you awake Master?" I heard Luna's voice when I passed through the kitchen.

"Yes, Luna. Good Morning," I replied and continued on my way toward the bathroom.

I opened the door and the sight of Raiden Mei wearing her underwear greeted me. Both of us froze upon the situation.

Her face became as red as a tomato. Well, it's not like I have never seen the sight of naked females before. In my previous life, we were sometimes forced to bathe together with females on a mission. No big deal.

I ignored her and continued to wash my face. "What?" I asked the still frozen Raiden Mei while brushing my teeth.

Seeing my indifferent attitude, she looks like she doesn't know what to say. Her mouth is opening and closing repeatedly. I raised my right eyebrow and ignored her again.

Let me tell you this. Today's breakfast was delicious. Luna made Strawberry Oatmeal Parfait for us. Although I want to have some tea, this is okay too.

Raiden Mei arrived at the table while I was eating breakfast. She looks freshened up and she is wearing casual clothing.

"Thank you for saving me last night," she thanked me with a bow. "I will be going now," she added, thinking I don't want her in this house.

"Come and take a seat. Breakfast will be ready in a minute," I said, gesturing to her to come and take a seat near me.

She tried to protest but, "Stop standing there and come take a seat," I told her with a sigh.

Right after she sat near me, Luna placed the parfait in front of her. "Please enjoy," Luna bowed slightly and walked back to the kitchen.

Raiden Mei took a spoon of the parfait and her eyes immediately lit up. The two of us silently ate our breakfast until our resident Savior attacked.

"Luna! I am hungry," came our Savior, full of energy in the early morning.

"Good morning, Kyuushou," I greeted her with a smile to which Raiden Mei looked shockingly at me. "You are early today," I added.

"Yup! AB and I finished grinding early yesterday," she replied. For those who don't know, AB is the shortened form of Alloy_Bron.

"Oh, we have a guest!" Kyuushou looked at Raiden Mei. And was that nostalgia I heard in her voice? I guess she doesn't have many people to talk to face to face.

"Hmhmhm, my name is Houraiji Kyuushou! I am the Savior of the new world!!!" She is standing with her legs wide, left arm behind her with palm upturned, and her right arm in front of her face opened.

"Er…" and it looks like Raiden Mei.exe stopped working.

"Humph! You seem to be frightened by my powerful aura. It's okay, I am not going to hurt innocent people," she continued with her body facing forward, placing her right arm parallel to her chin with her arm and palm flat, facing the palm down, and her left arm raised angularly to cover the top of her head with her palm facing out and hand spread wide open.

"Now, now, Kyuushou. Please don't overwhelm her with your introduction," I chimed in.

Our Savior laughed sheepishly and took her seat. While I was talking about this and that with Kyuushou, I noticed Raiden Mei.exe booted up and looked at the scene with a strange expression.

"He knows how to smile," she muttered. I won't hear that if I am not focusing on her. Of course, I know how to smile.

"Well, thank you for such a good breakfast, Luna!" I stood up and placed the dishes near a sink.

After 15 minutes of preparing myself, I am now ready to go to school. I said goodbye to the people inside the house and am now on my way to school.

Do you know what was the first thing I smelled when I walked inside the classroom? The smell of the paint. I guess the class listened to my advice. They painted on her desk with many rude words. Seems like they did it after Raiden Mei went back home. Well, time for me to clean the desk again.

I was the first one to arrive. So, I can clean the desk without anybody noticing. Talking about Raiden Mei, I thought about her Stigmata. Having a Stigmata in this world means this place is also under Honkai's influence.

I can't focus on anything other than Honkai this whole day. So, Honkai is also in this world. So, how much influence does it have? And the other me said that the 1st Herrscher is now on humanity's side. Does he mean the 1st Herrscher of this world? There are many things for me to think through after yesterday's talk with him.

He even told me the Herrscher name I got in my previous life. According to him, it was MEI who gave me that name. Herrscher of Compassion, that is what I was called before my death during my previous life.

The whole day went on just like that. I am inside my own dreamland and I don't even know what I talked about with Raiden Mei back on the roof.

The next day, I was surprised when Raiden Mei gave me a lunch box. "Why are you giving me this?" I asked.

"I thought you agreed to help taste test my cooking. Was I… wrong?" she asked unsurely.

Seems like I agreed to help her with that when my mind was with Honkai yesterday. Well, I promised, so I must keep my promise. Mother taught me to always keep my promise.

"How is it?" she asked.

"Nice. But please don't mistake salt with sugar next time," I replied.

"I am sorry," she looks downhearted. "Wait… next time?" she added with an apparent shock on her face.

"Yes, I agreed to help you with taste testing, didn't I?" I gave her a small smile. She worked hard on this dish. I can tell it by looking at the small cuts on her fingers. And I am not someone who hates hard workers.

A smile bloomed on her face. "Thank you," she whispered. And just like that, I became the test subject of Raiden Mei's foods.

I look at the calendar on my phone. Today is Wednesday, the day when the two girls come to the maid cafe for my tea. I can't seriously guess why those two keep coming weekly just to taste my tea. And they even took photos together with me. I still can't understand why.

Just like that, days passed. I don't usually give a cold shoulder to Mei now. I eat, go to school, do my part-time job, play Homu Star Online 2 together with Kyuushou and AB, sleep and repeat. That is my daily routine.

Today, just like usual, I was told by Kyuushou to come back home quickly and I did. When I got home, the whole house was dark. No lights were turned on.

But suddenly, the light turned on and I heard, "Surprise?!" from everyone coming out from the back of the couch. Luna, Kyuushou, and even Mei appeared from there.

I tilt my head in confusion but I saw a cake on the table. "Happy Birthday, Urien Gregorios!" is written on the cake.

Wait… today is my birthday?! I took out my phone and checked the calendar. Today is July 17th, my birthday. But how? No one in this world was supposed to know my birthday. I used a fake birthday on my school registration.

"How?" That was the only word that came out of my mouth. I thought I should forget about today since my family is not together with me to celebrate my birthday this year.

Nobody replies and grins at each other before giving me presents. Luna gave me a scarf and it looked like she made it herself. Kyuushou gave me a whisky flask. Wait… I just turned 16, I can't drink alcohol yet. And Mei gave me stylish glasses.

Looking at the scene in front of me made me tear up a little bit. It made me miss my family but… I realized that life is not bad with friends like these by my side.