Chapter 10: Café (IV)

The warm morning sun filtered through the gaps in the curtains, spreading a patch of gold across the bedding.

Yiruo felt like she was dreaming.

In the dream, there was an endless beach. The sunlight was warm against her skin, the sand beneath her feet was soft and fine, and in the distance lay a vast blue ocean.

She was lying on the beach, so comfortable she felt like she was melting.

Then—

A giant tentacle emerged from the wide horizon of the sea.

It was a massive pink octopus. The moment it spotted Yiyou, it stretched out countless smaller tentacles and lunged at her!

Yiruo tried to run, but in the next instant, her body was bound tight by the tentacles, unable to move. They crawled up her head, completely blocking her vision…

“Mmph—!”

Yiyou’s eyes snapped open.

Everything was pitch black. She realized she was still buried under the covers.

She struggled hard, using all her strength to poke her head out from the absurdly thick bedding, gasping for air.

Then she noticed—

There really was a “pink octopus” pressing down on her.

Right now, an arm was wrapped around her waist, and a leg was draped over her body.

The witch girl had curled herself around Yiruo in an extremely casual position.

Feeling the steady breathing of the person behind her, Yiruo stiffly turned her head.

A face as delicate as an elf’s came into view.

Pink and dark blue hair spilled across the pillow. Morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft halo on her features.

As if sensing Yiyou’s gaze, those long eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Yiruo immediately closed her eyes.

She knew very well that if this witch woke up and caught her staring, she’d definitely be teased again.

After a moment, she carefully opened her eyes once more.

In her memory, this mischievous witch always wore that meaningful smile, her dark blue eyes flashing with a sly glint.

But she had to admit—

She was really beautiful.

Like a forest elf, so lovely that it was impossible to truly hate her.

Just as Yiruo was spacing out, the person in front of her suddenly opened her eyes.

“Heyyy~ Staring at me for so long in secret~ I’m getting shy too, you know~”

“I… I wasn’t!” Yiruo instinctively denied. “I just… just dreamed that a pink octopus tied me up and I couldn’t move!”

“Is that so~?” Yilena not only didn’t let go, but tightened her arms, pulling Yiruo closer. “It’s so comfortable sleeping while holding little Yiyou~”

“You—!”

Yiruo broke free abruptly, scrambling out from under the covers.

She grabbed the blanket and stood on the bed. The white nightgown she’d been given, freshly washed, was a bit disheveled.

She pointed at the witch on the bed.

“Pervert witch! Do you have any idea how bad your sleeping posture was last night?!”

Yilena slowly propped herself up, smiling at her.

“You kept crossing the line, you hugged me, you slept like a log, and no matter how I called you wouldn’t wake up!”

“And you kept moving around! One moment you were on my waist, the next on my leg—I was almost crushed to death by you!”

Yilena listened, blinked, and said with full confidence:

“The witch has no idea what you’re talking about~”

“Huh?!”

“Can’t you forgive me~?” She tugged at the hem of Yiyou’s nightgown, her voice carrying a hint of a pout. “After all, I’ve never slept with anyone before~”

Yiruo froze.

Hearing that, the anger in her heart suddenly dissipated quite a bit.

So… it was her first time too?

With that thought, her tone softened unconsciously.

“Next time, don’t lie on top of me.”

“Heyyy~ Little Yiruo has already tacitly agreed to sleep with me in the future? How heart-pounding~”

“Pervert witch!”

The next second—

Yiruo lunged at her.

“Ah—?!”

Her hand precisely attacked Yilena’s waist.

“You asked for this!”

“Haha—st-stop—hahaha! Mercy—I surrender—!”

Yilena rolled all over the bed, laughing so hard tears came out.

“Picking on me! Hugging me without permission! Changing my clothes!”

“Are you sorry or not?!”

“Yes! Yes! The witch admits defeat—!”

The two of them tumbled together on the bed, kicking blankets and pillows onto the floor.

Laughter and screams mixed together.

Just then—

“What are you two doing?”

The air froze instantly.

On the bed.

The two who had just been roughhousing immediately sat up properly, kneeling like children who had done something wrong.

Elliana stood at the door, arms crossed, looking down at them.

“Are you two little kids?”

Yiruo lowered her head.

“Yilena acting childish is one thing…”

Yilena silently averted her gaze.

“…but little Yiruo joins in too?”

Yiruo buried her head even lower.

Silence for a few seconds.

Elliana let out a soft sigh.

“…Come down for breakfast.”

Yilena perked up instantly. “Heyyy~ Little Elliana is so thoughtful~”

Elliana walked over to Yiyou, reached out, and gently smoothed her messy hair.

Her movements were as tender as if she were caring for a child.

“Your hair is a mess,” she said softly. “Come downstairs and eat.”

Then she turned and left.

Yiruo was startled for a moment, touched her now-tidy hair, and felt a warmth rise in her heart.

Behind her came Yilena’s voice, tinged with a hint of nostalgia.

“Little Elliana has grown up~ She used to come find me for head pats every morning~ I really miss those days~”

Yiruo turned and looked at her.

Sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting bright patches on the floor.

The witch girl still had a smile on her face, but for a split second, there seemed to be something else in her eyes.

Downstairs.

The air was filled with the aroma of food.

The crispy scent of fried eggs and the greasy fragrance of bacon whetted the appetite.

At the dining table, Reya and Elliana were already seated.

Reya’s plate was nearly clean, her cheeks puffed out as she kept shoving bread into her mouth.

“Morning! Little Yiruo! Come eat!”

Elliana was holding a steaming cup of black tea, sipping it slowly.

She gestured to the seat across from her.

Yiruo walked over and sat down.

A breakfast was already laid out in front of her.

Two slices of golden toast, a fragrant fried egg, two strips of slightly crispy bacon, and a small dish of jam.

Imitating Reya, Yiruo sandwiched the bacon and egg between the bread, spread a little jam, and took a gentle bite.

The next moment—

She closed her eyes.

“Delicious, right!” Reya smiled happily, her tail wagging nonstop. “I made this toast and fried egg!”

Yiruo nodded.

“And there’s black tea!” Reya pointed to the cup beside her. “Elliana brews it super well!”

Yiruo picked up the black tea and took a careful sip.

The warm liquid slid down her throat.

A slight bitterness at first, then a soft, lingering sweetness.

It was completely different from hot milk, yet just as relaxing.

“Good?” Elliana asked.

Yiruo nodded.

Then, she added seriously:

“Everything Elliana recommends, I really like.”

Elliana gave a satisfied smile.

“Ahh~ How can such a warm morning be complete without the witch~?”

Yilena came down the stairs, sat down next to Yiyou, and casually picked up her own breakfast.

“Since it’s a compliment, I’ll graciously accept it.”

“…Yilena.” Elliana’s face was expressionless. “Eat your breakfast.”

“Yes, yes~”

Sunlight spilled across the dining table.

Fragrance lingered in the air.

Reya was excitedly recounting her dream from last night. Elliana responded occasionally, and Yilena chimed in with teasing remarks.

Yiruo held Rabi, nibbling her bread and sipping her black tea.

A morning like this—

was something she had never experienced before.

Warm and at ease.

This was probably what it meant to have a “family.”