Meanwhile, Eillya remained seated, but her expression began to soften. She stared at Eva's back, then suddenly sighed softly and said, "You've always been like this, haven't you, always."
Eva turned her head briefly, smiling, "Like this... what?"
"Just barging into my room, doing whatever you wants, speaking without being asked..."
Eva chuckled softly, "But you didn't stop me, and you taught me to do it~."
"Because if I had, you would have done it anyway."
"That's right," Eva replied with a light laugh.
A small smile appeared on Eillya's face—almost imperceptible. But for someone like her, it was more than enough to show she didn't mind.
The aroma of cooking filled the dining room, warm and inviting. Eva smiled with satisfaction as she served two plates full of simple, yet thoughtfully prepared, home-cooked food.
"Done~ Let's eat, Illya," Eva said cheerfully, pulling out her own chair before sitting down.
Eillya, who had been watching from her seat, finally sighed and sat down across from her. With her characteristically straight face, she began to spoon a spoonful of food into her mouth, then paused.
"Not bad," she said curtly.
Eva laughed softly, amused by the half-hearted compliment. "That's delicious in your dictionary, right?" she replied teasingly.
Eillya didn't answer, simply continuing to eat in silence, but the corners of her lips seemed to turn up slightly.
After eating, they cleared the table together. The dishes were carried to the kitchen sink, the water running, and a soft splashing sound could be heard as they washed them together. Although they didn't say much, there was a comfort in their synchronized movements.
"Hold the plates, Illya, I'll rinse them," Eva said lightly.
"Don't be too relaxed in someone else's house," Eillya replied, but she still followed Eva's lead without protest.
After the kitchen was clean, they headed to Eillya's room. Soft, dim moonlight streamed in through the window, giving the room a serene feel. Eillya sat on the edge of the bed, while Eva took a seat in a chair near the study table.
"When I was little, this room was a mess, I had to help clean it up every time I came over," Eva began with a nostalgic smile.
"You're the one who made it even messier, actually," Eillya said, looking up at the ceiling.
"Haha, maybe. But it was fun, wasn't it?"
Eillya didn't answer immediately, but slowly nodded. Her eyes stared out the window, reminiscing.
"That promise… is what made you come back, huh?" she murmured softly, almost as if talking to herself.
Eva smiled slightly. "Of course. I want to see the world you dream of…" she said softly, but didn't press further, giving Eillya space to absorb everything.
"Speaking of coming back, I didn't see anyone or hear anything at your house… Didn't you say you came back last night?" Eillya asked curiously.
"Well~ I rested at the hotel yesterday, and this morning I was taken straight to school from the hotel. As for my house, maybe they took care of it after you left… well, I just left it, hehe," Eva explained.
"Them? Your father's people?" she asked again.
"Yep... they were asked by Papa to help me~" She replied with a small laugh.
Time passed slowly, filled with more light conversation and a comfortable silence. Between the shadows of the past and the slowly rekindling of togetherness, the two began to find a new rhythm in their old relationship.
The small talk in Eillya's room began to subside, each lost in the calm atmosphere. A pleasant silence enveloped the room, punctuated only by the sound of the air conditioner humming softly in the corner of the ceiling.
Eillya glanced at the clock on the wall, then turned to Eva, who was still sitting relaxed on the floor.
"Eva... aren't you going home? It's already nine o'clock at night," she asked in a flat tone, but with a subtle hint of concern, even though their houses were right next door.
Eva simply smiled slightly, tilting her head slightly as if the question were amusing.
"I'll sleep here," she replied lightly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Eillya paused for a moment, her expression showing slight surprise.
"Huh? Don't joke around. Don't even bring a change of clothes."
"I'll just wear yours, Illya. Besides... you don't mind, do you?" Eva said, the smile spreading across her lips too genuine to deny.
Eillya looked away, as if giving in. "As you wish..." she said softly, but her face was slightly flushed—just a little.
Eillya's bed wasn't very big, but it was enough for two people if they didn't move around too much. They lay side by side, the lights dimmed so that the room was only lit by the dim light from the study lamp on the corner of the table.
Staring at the ceiling, they continued their casual conversation.
"So, how was my first day at your school, Illya?" Eva asked, crossing her arms over her stomach.
"Noisy," Eillya replied quickly, but then added quietly, "But... not bad. You fit in right away..."
Eva chuckled. "Finally, honest~."
The conversation continued, lighthearted and occasionally accompanied by Eva's soft laughter and Eillya's half-annoyed murmurs. But over time, Eillya's voice began to fade. Her gaze, which had been fixed on the ceiling, slowly closed, and her breathing became regular.
Eva turned her head. "Illya?" she whispered. There was no answer.
Seeing that Eillya had fallen asleep, Eva smiled softly and stared at the girl's face for a few seconds.
"Good night, Illya…" she said softly, almost like a breeze.
Then she closed her eyes, letting sleep take her away.
In the morning, with the sun still not yet setting, Eva slowly opened her eyes, feeling warmth on one side of her body. She looked down slightly, and realized…
Right below her neck, Eillya's head was nestled tightly there, with one hand unconsciously clutching the fabric of Eva's nightgown. The girl was still sound asleep.
Eva couldn't help but smile softly, her face flushed slightly.
"…So this is what it feels like to sleep next to you again…" she thought.
Eva shifted her head slightly, gazing at Eillya's face, still sleeping peacefully. Eillya's hair was slightly messy, some of it falling into her face, making Eva reflexively brush it gently away. Her fingers touched Eillya's cheek cautiously, as if worried her touch would awaken the warm dream she was currently weaving.
"...So cute," Eva whispered softly, almost inaudibly, but her heart was thundering.
Then slowly, Eva closed her eyes again, letting the warmth on her left side calm her racing heartbeat.
After Eva closed her eyes again for a few minutes, soaking in the gentle morning calm, she slowly opened them and smiled slightly as she felt Eillya's warmth still leaning against her. Very carefully, she shifted herself from the embrace, making sure not to wake Eillya.
She got out of bed, adjusted the blanket a little around Eillya's body, and then headed to the kitchen. The morning sun was beginning to creep in through the window, dancing across the dining table and illuminating the kitchen with a gentle warmth. Eva rolled up her sleeves and began preparing breakfast: an omelet, toast, and a glass of warm milk.
Soon, the faint sound of the alarm clock in the bedroom made Eillya stir slowly. With half-open eyes and slightly disheveled hair, she sat on the bed for a moment, still gripped by a lingering drowsiness. She stood up and lazily walked down the stairs, until halfway up, her nose caught the aroma of cooking.
She walked a little faster. As she reached the kitchen threshold, her eyes caught Eva busy at the stove. Eillya's sleepy face remained unchanged, but her feet carried her closer, and without a word, she rested her head on Eva's shoulder.
Eva flinched slightly, then smiled softly. She let Eillya stay there for a moment, enjoying the quiet company. After a few seconds, she nodded slowly to Eillya.
"Illya, wash your face first. Breakfast will be ready soon," Eva said softly, half coaxing.
Eillya simply nodded lazily, then walked to the bathroom. Soon, they were sitting at the dining table, eating breakfast together in a silent yet intimate atmosphere. After eating, they cleared the table and washed up together, their movements synchronized and calm, like a long-standing habit.
After everything was tidied up, Eva said goodbye, "I'm going home now to get ready. I'll meet you outside later."
Eillya simply nodded, then escorted Eva to the door. After Eva left, Eillya went upstairs to her room, getting ready as usual.
A few moments later, Eillya opened the door—and there, as promised, Eva was standing waiting near her yard, her hair blowing gently in the morning breeze. Their eyes met for a moment, and without further ado, they began walking together toward school.
However, upon reaching the school gate, Eillya stopped.
"Go in first," she said in a flat but clear tone.
Eva turned her head, confused. "Illya?"
"You're a new student here... Don't let yourself get a weird reputation just because you seem close to me," Eillya continued, glancing toward the gate.
Eva paused for a moment, then smiled slightly.
"As you wish," she said, before stepping into the school.
Eillya waited a moment, making sure Eva had entered safely, then followed her from a different path.
Arriving at class, Eva opened the door with a gentle but radiant enthusiasm.
"Good morning!" she greeted cheerfully, her smile a comforting presence, as if bringing a breath of fresh air into the room.
Several classmates who had arrived earlier immediately replied, "Morning, Eva!" while waving or nodding at her. Eva walked to her seat, and before she could even put her bag away properly, several students had already begun approaching her.
"Eva, your hair looks really nice today!"
"You're so energetic, you have such a positive aura."
"Hey, where do you live? Near Rosendale?"
"By the way, what are you into? What hobbies or things do you enjoy?"
Eva chuckled, answering each question in a friendly and relaxed manner. "Yes, I live not far from here. I like reading books, listening to music, and... I like cooking too. It feels good to be able to create something that makes other people happy."
The lighthearted conversation flowed like a clear morning river. In just two days, Eva had become the center of attention not because of her striking appearance, but because of her calming and comforting presence.