December 1st, morning.
It was a day cold enough to make people feel the chill in their bones and realize that the long winter had already begun.
It was also the kind of day that made people not want to crawl out from under their blankets, only wanting to stay wrapped in warmth and refuse to get up.
"So cold."
Mikoto breathed into her hands as she walked toward the Itsuka house. As the temperature gradually dropped, Mizugori (cold water purification) had beco a painful ritual. But that was exactly what training was.
Shido probably didn't expect the temperature to drop today.
She entered the Itsuka house and thought that while making breakfast, occasionally glancing toward the second floor.
"I'll make breakfast a little warr today."
Although Japanese breakfast did not have many variations, once the steaming miso soup, white rice sprinkled with nori, perfectly grilled silver cod served with grated daikon, and egg roll with a light sweetness were placed on the table, just looking at them made one feel warm.
"Oh, is breakfast ready? I'll go wake Shido."
Kotori said as she ca downstairs.
"I'll wake him up. Kotori-chan, go ahead and eat first."
"Mm, then I'll leave it to you."
Perhaps unable to resist the winter cold and the temptation of breakfast, Kotori obediently sat down at the dining table and happily enjoyed the miso soup. It was a little hot, but in winter, that was exactly what made it perfect.
And so, Mikoto went to the second floor and knocked on Shido's door.
"As expected… this won't work."
Shido, who usually had to be woken up with a Candy Drop Kick, was clearly the type who loved sleeping. After Mikoto knocked for a while, there was no response from inside.
"Ehehe, then excuse ."
Mikoto thought for a mont, then gently slipped into Shido's room.
"Shido, it's ti to get up."
The boy was still wrapped in his blanket, sleeping soundly. Mikoto walked forward, lightly pushed him, and spoke.
"Ugh… hrr…"
Shido turned over, showing no sign of wanting to get up.
"Shido… get up… get up… Ugh… honestly…"
After pushing him for a long ti with no response, Mikoto sighed in distress. Then she climbed onto the bed, sat across Shido's body, and shook him hard.
"Ugh… let sleep five more minutes… Kotori…"
"No, you can't. Breakfast will get cold."
Hearing Shido's spoiled voice, Mikoto felt both annoyed and amused.
"Five more… minutes…"
"Ahem. Although the cute Yakumo-senpai won't use a Candy Drop Kick, if Shido keeps sleeping, I'm going to take a picture of Shido's cute sleeping face with my phone."
Mikoto cleared her throat and said playfully.
"Take… a picture?"
Finally, Shido seed to realize sothing and opened his eyes.
"Good morning, Shido."
Mikoto said with a smile.
"G-good morning, Yakumo-senpai."
Looking at the girl sitting on top of him, wearing a little rabbit apron and showing a warm smile, Shido felt his heart beat faster. (TL:UGH....SO CUTE)
"Mm. Now that you're awake, hurry up and wash your face, then co eat."
Mikoto nodded, climbed down from Shido's bed, and smiled as she untied her apron.
"Ah, got it."
Shido nodded. After Mikoto went downstairs, he began washing up, then changed out of his pajamas and into his school uniform.
Yakumo-senpai woke up today.
While changing clothes, he thought that. Sohow, it felt completely different from when Kotori woke him up as usual.
It feels like… a wi…fe…
Ahhh, what am I thinking?!
Realizing that his mind was starting to wander, Shido shook his head hard. Maybe it was because of Mikoto, but his head felt a little dizzy.
Huh?
No, this was not the kind of dizziness caused by mood or feelings. Shido touched his forehead and realized he seed to have caught a slight cold and fever.
Did I forget to close the window before sleeping yesterday?
He thought helplessly. But since it was not very serious, he did not plan to take the day off. He went downstairs and ate breakfast at his usual pace.
After breakfast, Shido prepared to go to school.
"Wait, Shido."
At that mont, Mikoto stopped him.
"What's wrong, senpai?"
Shido asked.
"Go change into a thicker coat. It's very cold outside."
Mikoto looked at Shido's outfit and shook her head.
"Is it? Then I'll go change."
Shido nodded. Although he thought one coat was enough, since Mikoto said that, it was probably very cold outside.
After changing clothes, he and Mikoto headed toward school together.
Yakumo-senpai dressed pretty lightly.
On the way, he looked over Mikoto's clothes. She had a warm looking coat over her uniform, so that was probably fine, but she had no gloves or scarf. Under her short skirt, she only had tights to keep out the cold.
"Shido, where are you looking?"
"Eh? No… um, I was just thinking—senpai, aren't you cold?"
Noticing that Mikoto was staring at him while he was staring at the girl's thighs, Shido hurriedly explained in a panic.
"Well, I am a little cold. That's why I told Shido to wear more."
Mikoto smiled wryly. She did not know whether it was because her body had gone numb after finishing Mizugori or because of so other reason, but by the ti she felt cold again, she had already left the shrine quite a distance behind. Going back to change clothes would an she could not make breakfast for Shido and the others, so in the end, Mikoto gave up on that tempting idea.
"Then, do you want to borrow my gloves?"
Shido asked.
"No, if I do that, Shido will…"
Mikoto touched her lips with a fingertip and thought for a mont, then said:
"Ah, I've got it!"
"Shido, just lend one glove."
"Eh?"
Not understanding, Shido lent Mikoto the glove from his left hand. The girl put the glove on her own left hand, then used that hand to carry her schoolbag.
As for her right hand, which had no glove, she gently wrapped it around Shido's left arm.
"Yakumo-senpai?"
"Now there's no problem!"
Mikoto smiled proudly. Shido's left hand, which had lost its glove, and her own right hand were linked together to keep each other warm. They could even hold hands while going to school. What a good idea.
"Well…"
Shido turned his head away with a red face, but he did not pull his hand free. Compared to his own hand, which had just co out of a glove, the girl's fingers were cold. She really had gotten chilled.
"Ah, do you want to share a scarf too? Just like at Lovers's Point?"
Mikoto asked.
"Yes, yes. But let's agree on one thing first. If Tohka and the others see us, you're not allowed to sell out."
Because he was worried the girl would be cold, Shido did not refuse. Although he could just lend the scarf to Mikoto, with her personality, she probably would not accept that.
"Eh? I'm not allowed to sell Shido out?"
Mikoto obediently slipped into the scarf and asked with a wicked smile.
"You. Are. Not!"
Shido said each word clearly.
"But that sounds boring."
Mikoto showed a bored expression. But right after that, her eyes widened. She looked at Shido and asked uneasily:
"Shido, are you… running a fever?"
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