Once I finished my bath and stepped into the dressing room to dry off, I noticed my Hummingbird Magic Tool was blinking. It was currently in Standby Mode, essentially the equivalent of a smartphone’s sleep mode. When the device is set this way, any incoming Hummingbirds are automatically stored inside, and the tool pulses with a soft light just bright enough to be noticeable without being distracting.
Whenever you touch the device in this state, the stored Hummingbird emerges, allowing you to check its contents.
When I checked the message, I found it was from Kaori-san. She wanted to stop by my room and asked me to let her know as soon as I was out of the bath.
I dried my hair and pulled some clothes from my Magic Box. I’d originally intended to go straight to sleep and change into pajamas, but since Kaori-san was coming over, I opted for some casual loungewear instead. Once I was dressed, I sent a Hummingbird back to tell her I was returning to my room.
About five minutes after I got back, Kaori-san knocked. I opened the door to welcome her in.
"Come on in, Kaori-san."
"Sorry to drop by so late... It's just, I can't really fall asleep immediately after a bath. If you don't mind, I was hoping you’d indulge me in a little chat. Besides, that room is so huge that it feels a bit lonely being there all by myself."
"Ah, I understand. It’s no problem at all."
I knew exactly how she felt. I was used to it now, but when I first arrived in this world, the room I was given was so massive that it had felt incredibly restless. It wasn't quite the same as being unable to sleep because your pillow had changed, but I think anyone would feel a bit unsettled by an unfamiliar atmosphere until they finally adjusted to it.
"Oh, Kaori-san, would you like something to drink? It's getting late, so coffee might be a bad idea. How about some cocoa?"
"I’d love some if it’s not too much trouble. Are you sure?"
"Of course. Just give me a moment; I'll have it ready in no time."
I decided to use the cocoa I had received from Aria-san for my birthday and pulled the tin from my Magic Box.
"Hm? Isn't that a black tea tin?"
"It looks like one, but the contents are actually cocoa. It was a gift. Now, I just need to add the milk..."
"Is that milk something special, too?"
"Well, special is one way to put it. You know Canalis-san, right?"
"Yeah. She's the Omniscient and Omnipotent God who stays here, isn't she?"
I personally prefer my cocoa made with milk rather than water, so I prepared the milk I’d received from Canalis-san. As I poured it into a warming magic tool, I answered Kaori-san's question.
"Right. Well, Canalis-san has been experimenting with the selective breeding of dairy cows lately..."
"Selective breeding of dairy cows..."
"Why are you repeating that back to me with such a bewildered expression?"
"I mean, if someone tells me an Omniscient and Omnipotent God is busy breeding cattle, this is the only natural reaction..."
"She was raising chickens, too. Anyway, through all that trial and error, she managed to produce a milk that pairs perfectly with cocoa and gave some to me as a present. I thought I'd use that."
"Heh, I see. Milk crafted by a God through meticulous trial and error... I’m starting to wonder if the concept of 'common sense' even exists around you, Kaito-kun. Well, regardless, I get that it’s incredible milk."
"She made it sound like she just happened to stumble upon the result."
Canalis-san wasn't the type to simply solve everything with Godly Power; she genuinely enjoyed the process of experimentation. Because of that, this milk felt more like a happy accident. If I recalled correctly, her initial goal was to create milk for the sweets served by the Nifty brand. Since Nifty is a black tea brand, milk specifically for cocoa was a bit outside the original concept. Still, as far as I was concerned, I was just happy to have the perfect milk for my drink.
"Here you go."
"Thank you! Mmm, it smells wonderful. There’s something special about having cocoa at night. It’s so soothing... I feel like I’ll sleep like a log after this."
"How do you usually sleep, Kaori-san? I’m the type who drifts off pretty much immediately."
"I think I’m the same way. I can usually fall asleep the moment I decide to. Today was incredibly fun, but it was also pretty exhausting, so I might pass out the second I hit the futon."
I handed Kaori-san her mug, and we sat side-by-side on the sofa just as we had during the movie, enjoying our cocoa and chatting. Perhaps because she was fresh out of the bath, a faint, lovely scent drifted from her—something distinct from the cocoa, soft and pleasant.
We continued our idle conversation as we drank. The air was peaceful and mellow, and we exchanged words slowly, enveloped in a sense of quiet comfort. Occasionally, the conversation would lull into silence, but it wasn't an awkward gap; it was the kind of silence that only comes when two people are completely relaxed in each other’s presence. It was a truly wonderful way to spend the night.
"...By the way, Kaori-san, do you have any requests for breakfast tomorrow?"
"..."
"...Kaori-san?"
Since she was planning to have breakfast here, I wanted to see if she preferred bread or rice. Normally, she would have answered immediately, but this time there was no response. Curious, I turned toward her, and at that exact moment, Kaori-san tilted sideways and slumped against me.
"...Huh?"
"...Zzz... Zzz..."
...Wait, what? Just a second... Did Kaori-san... fall asleep?
Serious-senpai: "Oh crap, crap, crap... This is a dangerous development. This is not good at all!"
Machina: "Go for it, my beloved child!! Now is the time for a princess carry!!"
Serious-senpai: "Shut up, you! Don't encourage him!"
Machina: "My beloved child giving my child a princess carry... This is a preciousness MAX situation just for me! Go, go! You can do it, my beloved child!!"