Chapter 8: One Of Many Visits From Them
To my luck, Polt somehow dozed off so I was able to enter my room and leave her water on the nightstand without worrying about her catching the scent of fresh bodily fluids.
I took a much needed shower, getting rid of that smell.
Tossed that underwear out too as it was far beyond saving.
Currently, I'm preparing breakfast while enjoying my mug of reheated coffee because it got cold after I spent too much time messing around with Lilith.
For how slightly less good this coffee is now… it was fucking worth it.
"Hey Ryuuutaaa," Lilith sing-songs, coming down from the stairs and walking into the kitchen.
She's wrapped up in a towel.
"That's me," I say.
"Do you happen to have some shampoo and lotion?" she asks.
"Should be in the bathroom closet on the lowest rack," I reply.
"Got it," she says.
She continues to stand there while I continue to cook.
What's she up to now?
"Something else you need?" I question.
"Don't you wanna see what's under the towel?" she asks, playfully tugging at it to tease me.
"Lilith, do you want a freshly made hot breakfast that I worked hard on or would you rather get picked up and railed on this counter for a healthy serving of vitamin D and we eat shitty reheated food instead? Pick wisely," I answer.
She takes a moment to think about it.
"Talking vulgarly like that, you should've did it earlier when the chance was there like I suggested. That being said, I'd rather take the hot breakfast right now," she giggles.
"Yeah, that's what I figured," I say.
She takes her leave, going back upstairs to take a shower.
Roughly a half hour later, I finish up, making Polt and Lilith's plates for them.
"Breakfast is ready, you two!" I shout.
In a matter of seconds, Polt and Lilith come running down the stairs into the kitchen.
I guess Polt wasn't in that deep of a sleep.
"First, a refreshing glass of water. Now you already made my plate for me? Aww, I don't deserve you!" Polt compliments.
"It's the least I could do," I say.
Taking the plate from my hands, she sits at the new table in the dining room that didn't exist until yesterday.
"Here you go, Lilith," I say, about to give her a plate.
"Finally, some morning grub," Lilith says.
"Sure you don't want some junk instead?" I tease, holding the plate out of her reach.
"I-I'm sure! Now please let me have breakfast," she says, repeatedly jumping to try to get it from my hand.
"What's the magic sentence?" I ask smugly.
"Your cooking is really good and I was wrong to want more junk instead of it," she says, blushing.
Kneeling down, I let her take it.
"Enjoy it," I say, ruffling her hair.
"You betcha," she says, grinning to me before going to sit at the table.
Now I can fix my own plate.
The doorbell rings.
Who could that be?
Going to the massive front door, I open it.
… Oh boy.
"Already back again, I see," I say in a blatantly dry tone.
"How's it going, Sweetheart?" Smith greets.
"Pretty nice, I suppose. Are you here to drop another bomb on me?" I ask, getting straight to the point.
"Not at all. Nothing else should be coming your way for a long time," she answers.
Oh, thank God!
"So what brings you here if not that?" I question, using a more uplifting tone.
"Well, my work hours are rough and cooking is hard so I came here to ask if by any chance you made breakfast," she explains.
"Actually, I did. I certainly made extra if you'd like some," I say.
She grabs my shoulders.
"Man, you're a lifesaver! I thought I was going to waste away and die!" she shouts frantically while violently shaking me back and forth.
"It's not a big deal! Could you please stop shaking me?!" I shout back.
"Will do," she says, letting me go.
I actually feel a little sick now.
"You heard him, squad! Breakfast has been acquired and the mission is accomplished!" she says.
"Wait what?" I say, confused.
Zombina and the other members suddenly form up behind Smith, doing a celebratory shout.
They were hiding just outside of the door frame?!
"I can smell it now! I wonder what delicious things await in that kitchen of yours!" Smith says, walking in past me.
Zombina comes in and drapes an arm across my shoulders.
"Long time, no see, Ryuta!" Zombina grins.
"We saw each other just yesterday morning," I point out.
"Time is relative. So whatcha whip up? Didja cook any meat?" she chuckles.
"There's plenty of sausage. Go help yourself," I say.
"That I shall!" she says, running to the kitchen.
"Don't mind me. Just taking your food," Doppel says, floating past me.
"S-Sorry for us to intrude," Manako nervously apologizes, bowing her head.
"Don't worry about it. It's not a problem in the slightest," I reassure her.
"If you say so," she says.
Lastly, Tionishia comes in.
"Finally, a door that's my height! Hey, Ryuta," Tionishia waves.
So that's why the door is like that.
"Hey, Tio," I wave back.
"May I get a hug?" she asks, her arms reaching out.
Against my better judgement, I'll do it.
"Sure thing," I say.
Hugging her, that comforting and warm aura of hers engulfs me.
"Enjoy your first day of being a host?" she questions.
"Yeah," I answer.
"That's good to hear. Still think you're going to be a bad host?" she says.
"I'm… not as worried," I answer reluctantly.
"You're getting there. Just takes time and staying positive," she smiles warmly.
I hug her tighter.
My energy feels like it's fading away.
"T-Tio, I'm getting… really tired," I yawn.
"Wanna lie down?" she asks, rubbing my back.
"I'd like that," I answer.
She sits down on the floor with her legs crossed and pulls me into her lap.
Unbuttoning her suit, she rests my head on her chest, her heartbeat acting as a lullaby and slowly whisking me away towards sleep.
At the corner of my half shut eyes, I notice Doppel coming out of the kitchen and towards us.
She's got a cup in her hand with this unimpressed look on her face.
"Isn't he just precious?" Tionishia questions.
Doppel looks down at me, her facial expression not changing.
It's kinda scary.
"Hey, Ryuta. Gonna take a nap?" Doppel says.
"Yeah," I say tiredly.
"Breakfast isn't that important to you, huh?" she inquires.
"I'll… just eat… later," I say.
"Reheated food sucks," she says.
"I'll get over it," I say.
"C'mon, Doppel. Let him just relax and doze off," Tionishia says.
Doppel sighs, throwing cold water on my face.
I spring out of Tionishia's embrace to my feet.
"I'm up! I'm up!" I exclaim.
"You put in a great effort for a morning meal. The least you can do is eat it while it's still hot for your sake and your home stays'. An exhausted host is useless for their home stays. If you're all over the place, how can you expect those living with you to trust you got everything handled? You can't! You wanna be a good host? Start by eating breakfast and get your energy up! Don't slack off! Do I make myself clear, Ryuta?" Doppel sternly says, wagging her finger at me.
"Y-Yes, ma'am!" I stammer.
Doppel smirks slightly.
Is this a game to her?
"Lighten up on him a bit. He's still a new host," Tionishia says, trying to make Doppel settle down.
Doppel throws water at Tionishia too, making her do a cutesy yelp.
"And you're not helping him! You and this damn fetish. Got him all hugged up on you for your own enjoyment. At the very least, there's a time and place but it certainly isn't now!" Doppel retorts.
"I-I-I told you it's not a f-fetish! I was just offering him positive vibes to help him out is all," Tionishia explains, blushing.
"Whatever helps you feel justified," Doppel says.
Turning her back to Tionishia, she smiles smugly.
"That was rather fun. I also got my point across too," she snickers mischievously, having said that only loud enough for me to hear while looking at me from the corner of her eye.
"Really, Doppel?" I say.
"Really," she says in a taunting tone.
So it is a game!
"So are you three going to eat or keep flirting?" Smith shouts from the dining room, laughing.
"I'd like to see how long they will keep going," Zombina chuckles, Lilith and Polt joining in with their laughter.
"WE'RE NOT FLIRTING!" the three of us yell defensively, blushing.
A/N: Got about two more Lilith-focused chapters in me before I move things along.