Muten Natsu awoke from an indescribably beautiful dream, only to find his outstretched hand reaching into empty space beside him.
He opened his eyes, and as his muddled thoughts gradually cleared, Muten Natsu suddenly realized where that wonderful dream had come from.
"Mm?" Orihime Inoue glanced up with bright eyes. When she saw that Muten Natsu was awake, undisguised delight spread across her face. In a muffled voice, she greeted him, "Mor... mm... morning... mm..."
Muten Natsu hadn't expected to be woken up like this. He gathered Orihime Inoue's loose hair out of the way for her. "This is the best morning ever."
Orihime Inoue's eyes curved into crescents. Seeing how much Muten Natsu was enjoying himself, she understood even better what he had meant last night when he spoke of intimacy and caring for someone.
The closer they became, the more she wanted to know about him, to learn everything she could about him. That meant getting a little closer, then closer still, until... she could feel his happiness and pleasure directly.
Especially the happiness that came from her. With just a little effort from Orihime Inoue, Muten Natsu became that much happier.
At such an intimate distance, Orihime Inoue could clearly sense even the slightest change in Muten Natsu, giving her a unique sense of accomplishment.
And that sense of accomplishment only encouraged her to try even harder.
Just as Muten Natsu had done for her before.
Be happy, just like I was before... leave all your happiness to me.
...
Orihime Inoue placed the long sausages in a pan and began grilling them directly without adding any oil.
As the temperature rose, a steady crackling filled the air. The sausages shifted slightly in the pan while Orihime Inoue turned them with chopsticks, carefully controlling the heat.
An appetizing golden-brown crust gradually formed on their surfaces, and the cracks that split open released a rich aroma.
She transferred the grilled sausages to a plate, leaned closer to smell them, and smiled in satisfaction.
Next, she melted butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Once its aroma filled the air, she added all-purpose flour and stirred until evenly combined, then poured in milk and continued heating it before adding large slices of cheese.
One slice, two slices, three slices... six slices, seven slices...
Orihime Inoue hesitated for a moment, then added two more.
Once small bubbles began rising through the thick mixture, it was time for seasoning. An appropriate amount of sugar, pepper, and salt... then a little more sugar.
The cheese sauce was finished. It would probably taste amazing with french fries.
But today, she was making hot dogs.
She took the long rolls from the microwave, sliced them down the middle, then added fresh lettuce and the sausages she had just grilled. Over that went the thick cheese sauce, chopped kimchi, minced onion, minced garlic, ketchup...
By the time Orihime Inoue finished making the hot dogs, Muten Natsu had also prepared the fruit salad.
In the past, he had only been responsible for buying groceries and eating, leaving all the cooking and cleaning to Orihime Inoue. He had done that because he didn't want her to start having unnecessary thoughts over the fact that she had no income of her own.
In some ways, his thinking had been similar to Auntie's.
Now that Orihime Inoue had an income of her own, Muten Natsu no longer needed to cover every expense as he had before, so naturally, he wasn't going to keep doing nothing around the house either.
"I'm digging in." Muten Natsu picked up a hot dog and took a bite, immediately tasting an extravagant combination of flavors.
The crisp, juicy sausage, spicy onion, tangy ketchup, mildly sweet cheese, and perfectly refreshing kimchi all came together with the freshness of the lettuce. Every element worked beautifully, creating an immensely satisfying bite.
"Mmm~" Halfway through hers, Orihime Inoue added even more cheese. The rich cheese sauce was sweet and paired perfectly with the tanginess of the ketchup. Long strands of melted cheese stretched from every bite like an ever-growing sense of guilt, reminding anyone enjoying the food not to forget the staggering number of calories packed into it.
With Myōki constantly absorbing Reishi to replenish his body, Muten Natsu had a smaller appetite than most people and was full after just one.
Since there was still a large bowl of fruit salad, Orihime Inoue limited herself to only five hot dogs.
Muten Natsu rested his chin on one hand and tilted his head as he watched Orihime Inoue eat her salad, a faint smile on his lips.
No matter the occasion, the adorable expression Orihime Inoue made while enjoying good food could fill anyone watching her with genuine happiness.
"Hmm?" Orihime Inoue tilted her head toward Muten Natsu. "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
"There is." Muten Natsu leaned closer and gently kissed the corner of her mouth. "A little salad."
Orihime Inoue blinked, speared another piece of salad with her fork, and brought it to her mouth.
By accident, she got some on the corner of her lips again.
"Muten Natsu~" Orihime Inoue looked to him for help.
Muten Natsu leaned in once more and ate the salad from the corner of her mouth. "All clean."
Orihime Inoue lightly swung her legs. It wasn't only the delicious food she was enjoying. There was something even better...
"Ah!"
Perhaps the movement of her legs had jostled the rest of her body. The salad slipped from her fork and, with Orihime Inoue's startled cry, landed on her chest.
"Muten Natsu..."
"You eat yours," Muten Natsu said as he lowered his head. "I'll eat mine."
Salad really was delicious.
After spending so long inside their warm home, the winter cold hit them the moment they stepped outside.
Orihime Inoue breathed out a faint cloud of white mist, then looked through it at Muten Natsu beside her.
Rukia Kuchiki's birthday was approaching, and Orihime Inoue wanted to choose a present for her, so she had gone out shopping with Muten Natsu.
Unlike Orihime Inoue, who had bundled herself in a scarf and hat, Muten Natsu clearly paid no attention to such mild cold. He had only put on a wool coat to keep from attracting too much attention.
Only then did Orihime Inoue remember that Muten Natsu wasn't bothered by the cold at all.
Those gloves she had given him before...
Her gaze drifted over Muten Natsu's hands, and Orihime Inoue pursed her lips slightly.
Sure enough, he wasn't wearing them.
Well... of course.
He had no reason to wear them at all.
Muten Natsu noticed Orihime Inoue looking at him. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing..." Orihime Inoue breathed warm air onto her hands. "I haven't gone out in so long. Now that I'm suddenly outside again, it really does feel cold."
"Yeah, I can see what you mean." Muten Natsu took Orihime Inoue's hand and slipped it into his coat pocket. "There. That should help."
Muten Natsu's hand was warm and toasty, like a little heater. Orihime Inoue shifted her hand around inside his pocket until she found a more comfortable position. "Huh?"
Her fingertips brushed against something in Muten Natsu's pocket. "Are these... the gloves I gave you before?"
"Yeah. What about them?"
"I... I thought since you weren't afraid of the cold, you hadn't brought them with you."
"I may not mind the cold, but I still prefer being warm." Muten Natsu chuckled softly. "I always carry them with me."
Orihime Inoue looked at him curiously. "If you brought them with you, why aren't you wearing them?"
"If I wore gloves..." Muten Natsu lightly traced a finger across Orihime Inoue's palm. "I wouldn't be able to do this."
Orihime Inoue's lips parted slightly, and the white mist escaping them seemed a little thicker than before.
That was true... If he wore gloves, they wouldn't be able to touch each other so directly.
Orihime Inoue slipped her slender fingers between Muten Natsu's, intertwining their hands.
Winter suddenly didn't seem quite so cold anymore.
...
"...And that's how Ishida apparently became the new student council president as a special exception," Michiru Ogawa said admiringly. "That's Ishida for you. He's amazing at sewing, he can handle being student council president, his grades are great, and he's handsome too..."
"Huh?" Chizuru Honshō leaned closer and studied Michiru Ogawa's face. "Don't tell me you have a crush on him?"
"Ah?! N-No! I don't! I really don't..." Michiru Ogawa waved her hands in a panic, a noticeable blush spreading across her face. "I... I was just stating the facts..."
"That reaction makes it painfully obvious that you do~" Chizuru Honshō clutched her chest in mock heartbreak. "Oh, God... Why? I love you so much, so why would you..."
Faced with such an exaggerated display, Michiru Ogawa actually calmed down. "Probably because you like too many people... Actually, is there anyone you don't like?"
"Men," Chizuru Honshō replied without hesitation. "Men compete with me for women."
"...That's so like you." Mahana Natsui, who dressed so boldly during the summer, was currently bundled up from head to toe. She wrapped an arm around Chizuru Honshō's neck and warned Michiru Ogawa, "Still, if you really do like Ishida, you should probably prepare yourself. I already know quite a few girls who want to confess to him..." She paused, then added, "Guys too."
"What kind of world are we living in?!" Chizuru Honshō cried indignantly on Michiru Ogawa's behalf. "Now men are competing with women for men too?!"
"Well said." Ryō Kunieda turned a page in her book. "If there weren't a woman right next to me who competes with men for women, I'd definitely support you."
"That's different because I... Huh?" Chizuru Honshō's nostrils twitched. "I smell Orihime! She's definitely nearby!"
"Please don't do that..." Michiru Ogawa took a step back. "You look really scary right now."
"Can you actually smell her?" Mahana Natsui copied Chizuru Honshō and sniffed the air. "I don't smell anything... Achoo—!" The cold air made her sneeze.
"My instincts are never wrong!" Chizuru Honshō swept her gaze around and quickly spotted her target. She pointed in one direction. "Look! She's right there!"
Following her finger, Michiru Ogawa soon spotted Orihime Inoue's bright hair. "It really is her... But from this far away, I'm pretty sure you saw her rather than smelled her."
"Doesn't matter. I was right." Chizuru Honshō's breathing grew noticeably heavier. Once she confirmed that Tatsuki Arisawa wasn't nearby, she immediately cheered, "My darling... Huh?"
Her charge was abruptly stopped. Ryō Kunieda grabbed Chizuru Honshō by the collar and tipped her chin toward the distance. "Look more carefully. Orihime's on a date."
Chizuru Honshō struggled twice before finally noticing Muten Natsu beside her and let out a frustrated groan. "Guh... But I was there first..."
"Where did you get that idea?" Ryō Kunieda shot back without mercy. "Those two have been together since middle school."
"Exactly. If Orihime weren't around, I bet plenty of people would've confessed to Muten Natsu too." Mahana Natsui looked in their direction. "Someone even asked me to help them before. They gave up once they found out about Orihime."
"Confessed to him?" Chizuru Honshō looked surprised. "Is Muten Natsu really that popular?"
"Plenty of people like the laid-back type," Mahana Natsui replied matter-of-factly. "There are also lots of people who like delinquents, and reformed bad boys are pretty popular too. Besides, Muten Natsu's grades have always been good. Even though he's missed so much school, his grades haven't dropped at all. Most importantly..."
Michiru Ogawa asked curiously, "What?"
"He looks easy to sleep with," Mahana Natsui said. She had been helpless when her friend put it that way too, though somehow the logic made a strange amount of sense. "He spends every day sleeping, after all."
Michiru Ogawa opened her mouth. "Liking to sleep and being easy to sleep with are two completely different things, aren't they?"
"Exactly~" Mahana Natsui's gaze shifted to the side. "Chizuru, what's wrong?"
Chizuru Honshō suddenly looked utterly defeated.
Staring toward Orihime Inoue in the distance, Chizuru Honshō let out a gloomy sigh.
Only then had she noticed that Muten Natsu was holding a cup of milk tea.
But he hadn't been drinking it.
It wasn't until Orihime Inoue tilted her head slightly that Muten Natsu brought the straw to her lips.
Muten Natsu adjusted the straw a little, and Orihime Inoue raised her head along with it.
Then Muten Natsu lowered his head and kissed Orihime Inoue on the lips.
Caught completely off guard, Chizuru Honshō took the full force of the blow, and the last shred of hope in her heart went out with it.
"Seeing the person you love find happiness..." Chizuru Honshō stared wistfully into the distance. "That's a kind of happiness too, isn't it..."
"Then you must be happier than anyone." Ryō Kunieda turned another page. "You like so many people that quantity has become quality."
"Guh!" Chizuru Honshō wailed. "I don't want that kind of happiness!"
...
Muten Natsu tilted his head slightly and looked in one direction.
Orihime Inoue followed his gaze but didn't see anything unusual. "What's wrong?"
Muten Natsu looked away. "I saw a few people from our class."
After dealing with so many dangerous situations, he had become particularly sensitive to other people's gazes, especially ones filled with strong emotion.
They were too far away for there to be any point in going over just to say hello, so Muten Natsu didn't think much of it. Instead, he turned back to Orihime Inoue. "So? Have you picked one?"
"This one!" Orihime Inoue held up a fluffy pajama set. "I think Rukia will definitely love it!"
It was a white rabbit-themed pajama set, with two long rabbit ears on the hood and a small fluffy pom-pom tail on the back.