The Touko doll walked toward the door.
"Master, I'm leaving."
The doll's hand touched the doorknob.
Yuuto stood a few steps behind it.
"Yeah… have a good day."
He looked at the doll's head with a serious expression.
Click.
The doll closed the door and left.
Yuuto let out a long breath, then rubbed his face a little.
"Looks like the transformation has started…"
He saw a few strands of hair on the doll starting to turn blond, contrasting with its original black color.
Yuuto walked to the living room.
He stopped right in front of the full-length mirror.
His reflection… was no longer that of a normal human.
His skin was a little paler but shone softly, as if bathed in moonlight.
And most striking of all, his ears were slightly pointed with soft tips.
"…Hah."
Yuuto looked at his reflection with a mix of awe and disbelief.
"I can't believe… I'm a fairy now."
He touched his ears, playing with them between two fingers.
"And… these ears… are kinda cute."
He headed to the sofa.
On the low table, there were two neatly packed food boxes in clear plastic containers.
Yuuto looked at them for a few seconds.
"…Looks like Mahiru is still doing it."
Yuuto's eyes softened.
Mahiru—without being asked—still often brought him food.
Yuuto opened one of the containers.
"Alright… forget that for now."
He started eating the food Mahiru had made.
After a while Yuuto leaned his body back against the sofa.
"I should focus on the problem at hand."
"From my doll's memories earlier, it seems there's a new nurse at school… I hope she doesn't get suspicious about the doll's changes."
He tried to remember her name.
"What was her name again…?"
A few seconds of thinking—
"Oh, right. Mikado Ryouko."
Yuuto rubbed the back of his neck.
"Hopefully she's not too sharp…"
Right after Yuuto said that—
A blue light shone from his flip phone, so bright he had to close his eyes.
"This light…" he muttered.
A silhouette began to form—and when the light faded, a girl with long twin tails was sitting neatly on the sofa, her legs crossed gracefully.
"Hi, Yuuto~. I'm here."
Miku waved her small hand with a gentle smile.
Yuuto froze for a moment. "M–Miku…?"
Miku stood up and walked toward him, the distance between them shrinking quickly.
"Why did you come? Is there a problem with the group?" Yuuto asked, still shocked.
Miku pouted playfully.
"Muu… am I not allowed to visit my friend's place?"
"Eh—no, you are. I'm just surprised."
"Hehehe. Actually, I really wanted to see you. And Lady Avalon asked me too, because she's worried about your reward."
"Sensei…" Yuuto let out a small sigh.
Miku looked him over from head to toe, carefully, thoroughly—like she was inspecting a living artwork.
"You've changed a lot, Yuuto. The last time we met, you still looked normal. But now…"
"And now? What do you think?" Yuuto asked, half joking.
Miku sighed.
"There's only one word that fits."
"What?"
Miku leaned closer. Very close.
"Dangerous."
Yuuto blinked. "Huh?"
"You're way too dangerous," Miku said, lifting her chin a little to look straight into Yuuto's eyes. "With your face and body right now? Be careful, Yuuto… other people's wives could fall for you. Even guys might be attracted."
"…Is it that bad?" Yuuto rubbed his neck.
"Well, I don't care." Miku smiled warmly. "To me, you're still the same Yuuto as before."
Yuuto looked at her, moved.
"Miku…"
But without giving him any break, Miku grabbed Yuuto's hand and pushed him to sit on the sofa. She sat right next to him—so close their shoulders were touching.
"Okay! Show me your ears." Miku leaned in. "You're a fairy now, right? Your ears should be pointy like Lady Avalon's."
Yuuto flinched a little at the sudden closeness, but obeyed.
"Here."
Miku immediately took his ear in her fingers—cold, soft, and full of curiosity.
"Wow… they're really pointy. So cute…"
She pinched it lightly. "Hehehe."
Yuuto closed his eyes for a moment. "Miku… you do realize I'm a guy, right?"
"And?" Miku replied casually, still playing with his ear. "It's not like you're going to attack me."
"You're way too confident."
Yuuto raised his hand and gently grabbed Miku's wrist to stop her from fiddling with his ear. He turned his head. Their faces were only a few inches apart.
Miku was startled.
"Y-Yuuto… what are you—"
"In this room, it's just you and me."
His voice was low, dangerous but playful. "You know what that means, right?"
Miku instantly turned red. "Y-you're not seriously going to…?"
Yuuto gave a small smile.
"Take this."
And—
"Ahahaha—!"
Miku burst into laughter as Yuuto mercilessly tickled her sides.
"Y-Yuuto! Stop—hahaha! Oh my god—hahaha!"
"You started it," Yuuto said with a mischievous smile. "You messed with my ears. Now it's my turn to mess with you."
"Haha—hahaha—OKAY! Okay I regret it! I regret it! Stop! Hahahaha!"
Miku collapsed onto the sofa laughing, her hair a mess, face red, eyes watery.
Yuuto finally let her go.
Miku sat back up, gasping while holding her stomach.
"Haaah… Yuuto… you're mean…"
Yuuto grinned. "Who told you to underestimate me?"
Miku was still wiping tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes when—tap—a gentle pat landed on her head.
She flinched a little.
"Yuuto…?"
Yuuto smiled warmly, his fingers softly rubbing the top of Miku's head like he was petting a cat.
"Alright. I'll make something for you to eat."
He stood up from the sofa. "What do you want to eat, Miku?"
Miku blinked.
"Eeh… you're going to cook for me?"
"Yeah. Why? You don't want me to?"
"I do! Of course I do!" Miku raised her hand. "Perfect timing, I haven't had breakfast yet!"
Yuuto chuckled softly.
"In that case… tell me what you want."
Miku put a finger to her chin.
"Hmm~ then… cheese omelet, toast, and… ah, add miso soup too!"
"Alright. Wait a bit."
Yuuto turned toward the kitchen.
"Wait! I'll come too!"
Miku immediately stood up and followed right behind him.
Yuuto laughed. "You're like a little kid."
Miku giggled.
The small kitchen felt more alive than usual.
Yuuto cracked eggs into a bowl.
Miku stood beside him, so close their arms occasionally brushed.
"Here, let me whisk the eggs," Miku said, grabbing the whisk.
Yuuto nodded.
"Okay. But don't do it too hard—otherwise there'll be too much foam."
"I know that."
Miku started whisking… then WHISK WHISK WHISK at turbo speed.
"…Miku."
Yuuto stared at her.
Miku stopped and smiled sheepishly.
"Hehe~ habit."
Yuuto shook his head with a smile and touched the back of her hand.
"Gently. Like this."
He held Miku's hand from behind, guiding her movement.
The stirring became soft and rhythmic.
Miku turned red from her ears down to her neck.
"Yuuto… you're too close."
"You're the one who can't whisk properly."
"I-I can if you're not holding my hand like that…"
Yuuto smiled mischievously.
"Oh? You should've said earlier that you're nervous."
"I—I'm not nervous!" Miku shouted, turning her eyes away.
Yuuto continued cooking—frying the omelet with professional technique, following the Emiya cookbook.
The smell of melted cheese spread through the room.
Miku inhaled deeply.
"Hmm~ it smells sooo good…"
---
Yuuto and Miku arranged the dishes on the small dining table: cheese omelet, toast, and warm miso soup.
When they were done, Yuuto pulled out a chair with one hand and bowed slightly like a noble servant.
"Please, princess," he said in a playful yet polite tone.
Miku smiled brightly—sweet and a bit shy—before quickly sitting down.
She immediately picked up her spoon and tasted the omelet Yuuto made.
As soon as the soft cheese flavor spread in her mouth—
"Wow… this is so good!"
Her eyes sparkled.
Yuuto sat in the chair across from her, resting his chin on his hand and watching Miku with a small smile.
It was obvious he was enjoying every one of her reactions.
Miku ate cheerfully, like a child who'd found her favorite food. Now and then she swung her legs under the table, not realizing how cute that looked.
Yuuto held back a small laugh.
"Miku, are you going to stay here the whole day?" he asked quietly.
Miku looked up, still chewing, her cheeks slightly puffed.
"Hmm?" She swallowed. "Well, since I don't have anything to do… I'll stay here for now."
Her small hand stirred her miso soup as she glanced at Yuuto.
Yuuto thought for a moment.
"In that case… do you want to come with me to my training spot later?"
Miku lit up instantly.
"I'll come! I want to go!"
She nodded quickly.
Yuuto smiled at her enthusiasm, but then he noticed something.
"Miku…"
"Hm?" Miku turned to him.
"There's tomato sauce on your face."
Miku froze for a moment, then immediately raised both hands, panicking as she searched for a tissue.
But Yuuto moved faster.
He took a tissue, stood up, then slowly brought it to her cheek.
Miku froze… her face turning red.
Miku leaned in a little.
Yuuto gently wiped the small smear of sauce from her cheek.
Miku didn't say anything—she just closed her eyes, a little embarrassed.
"Eat calmly," Yuuto said softly.
"If you don't, your whole face will end up covered in sauce."
"T-thank you…" she whispered.
Yuuto smiled and sat back down.
"I'll take you to the training place after you finish eating."
Miku raised both hands, full of excitement.
"Yay~!"