"...I really don't know what to do with you. If you don't want to get up, then let's just sleep."
Byakuya simply lay down to sleep.
If the Manager and Ukina-san found them, then so be it. He and Eto were already in this kind of relationship anyway—being discovered wasn't a big deal.
Seeing that Byakuya wasn't taking the bait, Eto immediately lost interest.
"Fine, I'm getting up. What time is it to be sleeping anyway?"
Eto sat up right away.
Just as Byakuya had expected—as long as he didn't panic, Eto would lose steam on her own.
"But seriously, aren't you tired? Sure you don't want to lie down and rest a bit more?"
Byakuya asked with concern.
"Please. Even if I'm not a half-ghoul anymore, I'm not so delicate that I'll break."
Eto teased, "Besides, haven't you heard the saying... only the ox gets worked to death, never the field~"
"..."
Byakuya found himself unable to refute that.
After that, the two began tidying up the bedding—everything needed to be washed.
They finished washing and hanging everything on the balcony to dry before finally emerging from the room.
Right around then, Yoshimura and Ukina had also returned home.
"Someone's here... must be Eto and Byakuya back already."
Noticing the shoes in the entryway, Yoshimura understood immediately.
"Back pretty early. Since Byakuya's here too, we should prepare an extra portion for dinner."
Ukina smiled.
"Dad, Mom, you're home."
Just then, Eto came out of the living room.
"Mm, we're back. How was your date with Byakuya today? Did you have fun?"
Ukina asked.
"It was fun."
Eto nodded.
Then they moved into the living room.
Byakuya was already seated on the sofa.
"It's getting late. Byakuya, why don't you stay for dinner before heading home?"
Ukina invited.
"That would be great, thank you."
Byakuya said.
"Hey~ We're family now. No need to be so formal."
Ukina laughed. "But speaking of which... how come you two came back after only half a day of dating? Shouldn't you have gone to a hotel and come back tomorrow?"
Ukina had meant to tease Eto a little, but Eto's face showed none of the reaction she'd expected.
"Well..."
Eto was momentarily at a loss for words.
After all, she and Byakuya hadn't needed to go to a hotel—they'd already done everything they needed to do right here at home...
Noticing this, the perceptive Ukina quickly caught on that something was different.
"Hmm...? Don't tell me... you two already went to a hotel during the day?"
Ukina asked probingly.
"Not exactly..."
Then Eto simply told the truth. "We didn't go to a hotel... but we did do everything we should—and shouldn't—have done..."
Hearing this, Ukina's expression froze for a moment.
"..."
Byakuya couldn't find an opening to interject.
Though there really was no need to hide this from Yoshimura and Ukina.
Nearby, Yoshimura was changing out of his work clothes into casual wear, smiling without comment.
Ukina quickly recovered, then immediately grabbed both Byakuya's and Eto's hands and placed them together.
"What are you waiting for? Go get married right now! Immediately! This instant!"