As the grand double doors of the dining room swung open with a gentle creak—courtesy of the synchronized motion of the two maids—an unmistakably loud and passionate voice pierced through the otherwise composed atmosphere of the manor.
"This food is delicious!!!!"
The voice had such power behind it, it echoed slightly against the vaulted ceiling, as though it wanted to reach the heavens and inform the gods themselves of the glorious flavor.
Tatsuya blinked.
Inside the room, seated at the long, polished table like a conqueror at a victory feast, was a single girl. Her plate was absolutely mountainous. Stacked with what had to be three courses' worth of food—grilled meat, fruits, soups, pastries, and at least two different sauces fighting for dominance.
It was the kind of meal you see in eating competitions on TV, and she was devouring it like a vacuum cleaner possessed by a gluttonous spirit.
The only thing missing was a time limit and a cheering crowd.
What!?
Tatsuya couldn't comprehend it.
Was this girl human? Or perhaps a dragon in disguise?
The way she tore into the food like a starving wolf who'd just broken free of a week-long fast, her eyes gleaming with unfiltered joy, teeth biting into meat like it owed her money—it was something to behold. Something terrifying. Something… oddly cute?
But she wasn't just some wild glutton.
Her appearance told a different story. Her eyes—deep crimson with a soft gradient, ringed in black and kissed by flecks of bright light—were striking, like garnet gems set in porcelain. Long, flowing chestnut brown hair cascaded down her back, with a crisscross braid neatly tucked at the side, giving her an elegant yet homely look, like someone raised in tradition but unwilling to be bound by it. Nestled in her hair, two silver half-moon hairpins shimmered, catching the candlelight just right.
Her outfit was no less refined: a soft tan outer robe with wide sleeves that flowed with every movement, layered over a white blouse tied at the collar with a cheerful orange ribbon. A black belt and patterned sash wrapped her waist, giving her a dignified silhouette despite the chaotic feast taking place.
Yet despite that elegance, she devoured her meal with all the grace of a starving raccoon in a trash can.
"How can this be…"
Tatsuya was still processing the sheer duality of the girl when Ruza stepped forward with a casual wave of her hand.
"Hey, Luna. I see you were already hungry?"
The girl—Luna, froze mid-bite. Her fork hovered in the air. Crumbs clung to her cheeks like she'd tried to eat the bread with her face. Her wide crimson eyes locked onto Ruza.
Then—
"Sister!!!"
The chair scraped backward with a screech as Luna shot up. Her eyes welled up with tears that streamed down her cheeks, and before anyone could react, she charged.
"Wha—!?"
Tatsuya had no time to think.
One moment he was standing in front of Ruza, the next he was not standing in front of Ruza.
It was as if he had been struck by an invisible carriage barreling down a narrow road at full speed.
"AHHH!!"
He was tossed aside like yesterday's leftovers, his body rolling across the polished floor like a thrown rug. The impact was so strong, he briefly questioned if he had entered a low-gravity dimension. Did he just fly?
"…Did she even notice me?"
Meanwhile, Luna launched herself into Ruza's arms, hugging her like a girl who had just found her long-lost soulmate.
"I'm soooo glad you're back!! I missed you sooooo much!! Yeah!!!"
"I'm happy to see you too, Luna," Ruza said, returning the embrace with a smile that seemed to glow with sisterly warmth.
But then, her tone shifted—like a knife wrapped in silk.
"But… you need to apologize to him."
"Huh?"
Luna tilted her head, confused. It was like asking a cat to explain quantum physics.
"Who?"
"Maybe the one you just threw to the ground?" Ruza said with a thin smile, her voice gentle but very much not suggesting this was a negotiable matter.
As Luna blinked in confusion, the rest of the group walked around her as if sidestepping a mild natural disaster. Only one person stopped—Misuki, 'Misuki the chaos incarnate…' knelt and offered a hand to Tatsuya.
"Are you alright, sir?"
"Y-Yeah, thanks…"
Tatsuya offered a small bow in gratitude. Though internally, he wondered if he could now sue someone for emotional damages.
He realized he'd forgotten her name. "Uh… you are…?"
"Misuki, sir," she replied with a small nod.
"Right. Of course. Thank you, Misuki."
He dusted himself off, trying not to wince as his spine considered filing for divorce. Just then, the hurricane herself returned.
Luna approached with a sheepish smile, one hand behind her back like a guilty child.
"Sorry from before. I didn't see you," she said, which was probably honest, given the glazed hunger in her eyes earlier.
Tatsuya gave a friendly wave.
"No, no, it's okay. I'm fine. No broken bones, and my dignity is only mildly bruised."
He forced a smile, the kind of smile you wear when you're trying not to cry in public.
Luna squinted at his expression.
Luna found Tatsuya's smile a little bit out of place, she judge that he was allowed to be angry at her.
She decided not to call him out on it. Maybe she didn't want to make it worse. Or maybe she was too distracted by her beloved sister's return to care.
"If that happens again, I'll heal you as an apology," she said with a wink before skipping back to Ruza and dragging her down into the seat beside her.
Tatsuya watched the scene unfold like a bystander at a festival he hadn't meant to attend.
That girl… Luna, was it?
She was cheerful to a fault, wildly expressive, and quite possibly capable of unintentional manslaughter via hugging velocity.
But at the same time…
She's got that energy that makes the air feel lighter. Like the world's a bit less serious just by being around her…
He glanced toward the table, where Luna was now shoving her plate closer to Ruza, clearly planning to force-feed her in the name of sisterhood.
…But next time she charges at someone, can she please give a three-second warning?
A sigh escaped him.
Or maybe install traffic cones. Or wear a bell. Something. Anything.
Part 2
The clinking of utensils against fine porcelain echoed gently throughout the dining room.
Now that the initial chaos had settled, the atmosphere had shifted. The long table was alight with warmth—both from the golden glow of the hanging chandeliers above and the smiles shared between the people seated around it.
Luna leaned into Ruza's side, holding her arm like a plush toy she was afraid would disappear if she let go. Ruza, in turn, gently patted her head while speaking softly to the others. Even Misuki, usually stoic as a stone statue in the hallway, now held a subtle curve to her lips as she sipped her tea and quietly exchanged words with the other maid beside her.
Laughter flitted through the air like wind chimes in a passing breeze. Not loud or forced. Just… natural. Warm. Familiar.
Tatsuya sat at the far end of the table, quietly chewing a piece of roasted fish. He hadn't said much since Luna's impromptu tackle. Not because he was annoyed—though his ribs would argue otherwise—but because… he didn't feel like he had anything to say.
They're close.
He lowered his cutlery and let his gaze linger on the group at the other end.
So close, like a real family. It's not just Ruza and Luna. Even the maids… everyone talks like they've known each other for years. There's a rhythm to it. A harmony.
Ruza refilled Luna's teacup without being asked. Misuki pushed the pickled vegetables toward her twin sister maid, knowing she liked those best. Even Luna, for all her childish outbursts, gently wiped Ruza's chin with a napkin like a doting little sister and Yatsu, the father looking over them with proud dignity.
It wasn't rehearsed. It wasn't performative.
It was love, practiced in a hundred little ways.
I'm… the only one not part of that melody.
He sat up a little straighter and adjusted the sleeve of his kimono, trying not to look like he was sulking. But even he could feel the shadow clinging to his expression.
It's like… everyone else knows the steps to a dance I've never been taught.
The fish on his plate had gone cold. Not that it mattered.
A sudden memory rose unbidden, like the edge of a dream surfacing too close to waking.
His father's voice, low and patient, explaining the meaning of a particular flower's name.
His mother's fingers brushing against his hair, telling him it was getting too long again and smiling even as she scolded him.
Gone.
All of it.
I'll never see them again.
The thought cut sharper than he expected. He clenched his cutlery a little tighter.
No more dinners. No more laughter. No more quiet mornings or warm evenings. Just… memories.
He exhaled slowly through his nose, not trusting his voice if he spoke aloud. He didn't want to bring down the mood. This wasn't their burden to carry.
They were happy.
And he didn't want to be the crack in that happiness.
Still… I miss them. I miss them so much it hurts. And the more I see how close everyone is here, the more it reminds me of what I lost.
He glanced toward Luna and Ruza again. Luna was now gesturing wildly with her hands, likely trying to explain something only she understood. Ruza, patient and affectionate, nodded along as if every word made sense. The kind of exchange born from years of trust.
It made Tatsuya smile, just a little.
Maybe one day… I can be part of that rhythm too.
He picked up his tea, still warm, and took a slow sip.
And so, amidst laughter not yet his own, Tatsuya sat quietly—warming his hands on a cup of tea, and his heart on the hope that maybe, just maybe, this strange, chaotic, loving house could become a place he could call home too.
Tatsuya stared blankly at the plate before him.
The fish, garnished with herbs and resting beside perfectly seasoned vegetables, remained untouched. Steam no longer rose from it. Time had passed, and the food had cooled—much like the warmth in his chest.
He hadn't even taken a bite.
He didn't really have an appetite.
Despite the last time he ate was when he stopped to eat a snack on his way here.
Before he decided to go to Deity and got attacked by the red-haired man.
Tatsuya just realized that he hadn't eaten in over 2 days.
Oh.. was that 2 days ago? Feels like an eternity.. still I don't feel hungry.
This was the first time for him that he had gone this long without food. He was actually a big eater, back on earth he could eat up to six sandwiches for breakfast.
Tatsuya always expected that it would be almost impossible to go a day without eating but now he doesn't even want to eat. Despite all of it.
Just a hollow emptiness that went deeper than the body.
First time I've gone this long without eating… and still don't want to.
It wasn't right. He knew it wasn't right. He wasn't stupid—starving himself wouldn't help anything. But the idea of putting food in his mouth felt like forcing a smile at a funeral.
He knew it. He knew he should eat.
But he just couldn't bring himself to do it.
"Not hungry?"
The sudden voice drew him from his thoughts.
He looked up—and saw her.
Short golden hair tied up in a loose bun, her posture relaxed but her presence unmistakable. It was Sora, the gatekeeper. A girl whose beauty was quiet and composed—like the calm just before a storm.
She sat besides him.
"It's not like it has poison in it."
Tatsuya let out a soft, tired chuckle. It escaped him before he could hold it back.
"Nah. I'm just not really hungry, I guess. Probably just tired."
Sora raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in her eyes.
"I should be tired too. You know, after almost being killed."
He blinked.
"Wait—what do you mean?"
"Ruza told me," she said casually, as if talking about the weather. "You two got jumped by a demon beast, right?"
"Yeah…" he nodded. "She saved my life. And Stefan's."
Sora smiled faintly.
"That goat destroyed the garden, didn't it?"
Tatsuya hesitated, then lowered his eyes back to the plate in front of him.
"A little bit…"
There was a pause.
Then, suddenly—
"Pfft—"
"Hahaha."
She laughed.
She laughed.
The girl who looked at Tatsuya like he was the biggest outsider of all, was now laughing like they were old friends sharing a joke on a lazy afternoon.
Tatsuya's eyes widened.
Did she just… laugh?
He looked up to find her smiling, eyes fixed on the ceiling as if replaying the scene in her mind.
"Sometimes I get bored," she said, her voice quieter now. "This job… most of the time I'm just patrolling around the estate. Nothing happens. And I know nothing will happen. So it gets boring."
She turned her gaze to him, her crystalline blue eyes holding a clarity that made him sit up slightly straighter.
"Dinner like this? With everyone? It's an exception. I usually eat alone, back at my post."
Tatsuya felt something tighten in his chest.
Even among all this closeness, even within this warm and bustling manor—there were people still standing at the edges, still watching from the fringes.
"It gets lonely," Sora continued. "And comedy isn't really part of my daily routine. So watching Itsuki struggle to haul that goat to the stables? That was priceless."
She looked at him again, her smile soft and honest.
"Thanks, Tatsuya. For making me laugh."
He smiled back, though something in him hesitated.
Is she… being serious?
Suspicion crept in again.
Could she be trying to win me over? Get my guard down? Pretend to be nice, then stab me in my sleep?
His eyes dropped once again to the untouched fish before him.
"It's not like it has poison in it."
Her earlier words rang again in his mind.
With a slow, deliberate motion, Tatsuya pushed his chair back and rose to his feet.
The room went silent.
The laughter quieted. Even the gentle clinking of cutlery paused.
All eyes turned to him.
"I'm really sorry," he said, his voice even and polite. "I'm not feeling hungry. I think I'll go to bed early."
For a moment, there was no response.
Then, from the far end of the table, a familiar voice called out:
"Of course," said Yatsu, nodding with understanding. "Feel free to rest. Sleep well, Tatsuya."
Misuki was already on her feet before the others had processed his departure. She approached him without a word and gently gestured for him to follow.
The hall was quiet, save for the soft taps of their footsteps against the polished stone floor.
When they reached his room, Tatsuya turned to her.
"Thank you, Misuki. I'm sorry for being such a burden. You should go back—eat with the others. Enjoy dinner."
She looked at him for a moment. Her expression didn't shift—but her words were quiet and kind.
"Yes, I should. Sleep well, Master."
She bowed slightly and turned away, her footsteps fading into the hallway.
Tatsuya stood there for a moment longer, his hand resting on the doorframe, his eyes tracing the hallway where laughter still echoed faintly in the distance.
Then he stepped inside, the door shutting with a soft click behind him.