Cohabitation Life Starting from Dogeza
* 4 AM. While Hero, Hogul, and Rain were off traveling in dreamland.
Thanks to the summoning work finishing ahead of schedule, Sora opened her eyes in Rain's empty room. The sensation of moving her body after fifty years. Feeling a surge of emotions, Sora sat up.
"The body's condition... it's not perfect yet. Too much mana is leaking out."
At this rate, maintaining a human form would be limited to about an hour a day. A frail body incapable of even attempting revenge against the Outer God. But wasn't this enough? Compared to suffering in the system without even being able to complain of frustration, it felt like heaven.
Considering the slim chance that Rain might still be awake, Sora cautiously opened the door. Confirming he was asleep sprawled on the sofa, she tiptoed out into the living room.
"Nng, kking."
"Hek hek hek hek."
The pups woke from their sleep. Hero and Hogul immediately rolled over, baring their bellies in surrender at the sight of Sora.
If it weren't for these adorable spirit beasts, she wouldn't have had a good excuse to create a body. Sora gently stroked the two.
"Thanks to you, I could have a body. Thank you."
"Woof."
The pups replied in small voices so as not to wake Rain. Sora placed them back on their cushions so they could sleep again, then headed to Rain's side.
Rain was curled up tightly on the sofa, sleeping. The unusual man who had gifted her a body had an unusual sleeping posture too.
"Sleeping like this isn't good for you. Let me adjust your position."
Was it because she'd always watched him through screens? Despite it being their first face-to-face, Sora unhesitatingly reached out to Rain. First, get him into a comfortable position, then shift to a body form that consumed less mana, she thought.
"Why on earth do you sleep like this? No wonder your neck tilts forward when you walk...!"
The moment her hand touched Rain's body, Sora froze in shock, words catching in her throat. A substantial amount of mana suddenly flowed into her body, making her eyes widen.
Why? Why did this man's body contain so much mana? A person who'd never seen magic, who lit up at the mere mention of it—why did his body have mana?
Unable to comprehend, Sora first assumed a proper posture to accept the incoming mana. A neat sitting position. And tightly gripping Rain's hand. Savoring the pleasant fulfillment transmitted through that hand, she closed her eyes and gathered the mana entering her body.
"This... it's addictive. I've never felt anything like it."
Had anyone's mana ever filled her before? As the mighty Eye of the Snow Spirit, Sora had no such experience. An ecstasy she'd never known in her life. After fully indulging in the sensation, Sora checked if Rain's body was okay.
Fortunately, he seemed fine, still deep in sleep. Sora sighed in relief.
"Even after that much mana transferred, no issues at all. Just what are you?"
A human who endlessly pulled out incomprehensible items, yet never acted greedy. An inexplicable, bizarre existence. While holding Rain's body in place as it tried to revert to its original odd posture, Sora pondered the unanswerable question and looked around.
Only then did she notice the traces of the celebration party. Crudely made banners, tableware set out, and balloons slightly deflated from time. At the sight of the living room—clumsy but earnest—Sora let out a scoffing chuckle.
"You said it'd look cool once set up... Rain, how is this cool? Greeting me in your usual state would've been much better."
Seeing the house turned into a mess despite his bold claims, Sora was convinced she'd have plenty to help with by his side from now on.
"I'll hold your hand until you wake. Otherwise, we can't have the party we promised."
With that excellent excuse to indulge her selfish desire, she decided to wait for him to wake. Looking forward to the time ahead living with Rain.
Beep beep— Beep beep—
An electronic tone echoed in the quiet bunker. Groaning at the machine noise, I returned from dreamland to reality.
"Ugh..."
Did I go to bed too late last night? Feeling stiffer than usual, I tried to get up. I had to wash up and prepare quickly to greet Sora on time.
As I raised both hands to slap my face awake... "..Huh?"
My left hand was fixed in place, not moving. Slept with my arm pinned and lost sensation? It happened sometimes, so no panic. I moved my right arm to check if my left was still attached.
"Good morning, Rain."
At that moment, a clear, beautiful voice reached my ears. Opening my eyes, I saw a stunning silver-haired woman.
Whoa. What a knockout beauty! My brain raced at the sight of the incredible beauty before me.
"Uh... Sora?"
"Yes, that's right. Thanks to you, I could have this body. Thank you."
Sora, gripping my hand tightly, expressed her gratitude. Seeing me frozen in shock, she smiled faintly, released my hand, stood before me in a neat posture, and bowed formally again.
"'Eye of the Snow Spirit' assisting in managing the Gallery to help you, Sora. Please take care of me from now on."
The picture of a model secretary. Even her appearance and outfit seemed perfectly tailored to my tastes. I whipped my sluggish brain.
"You're too pretty, Sora."
Wrong response. In my fluster, I sounded like a guy with zero experience with women.
"No, I mean, please take care of me too, Sora."
"Hehe. I put thought into my outfit for our first meeting, and it seems I succeeded. Worth browsing the shop diligently."
What on earth did she look at to show up in a suit hugging her curves like that? I didn't know, but it was a fantastic choice.
"Haha. You startled me—you're so pretty. Honestly, hearing 'Eye of the Snow Spirit,' I imagined all-white clothes... That outfit was way off my guess. What caught your eye?"
"I referenced the cover of one item in the 'ModShop'."
"...Pardon?"
Bad feeling. Was it that one in my mind? If so, how to address it without embarrassing us both? While agonizing, Sora dropped a bigger bomb.
"The cover showed this posture for greetings. I practiced while you slept, so please accept it."
Whatever it was, shouldn't I stop her? But without knowing exactly what she'd seen, bluntly stopping her might redden faces on first meeting. Before I could worry, it was too late.
"Allow me to greet you again. 'Eye of the Snow Spirit' assisting in managing the Gallery to help you, Sora. Please take care of me from now on."
Her waist bending lower and lower. Praying my mind was trash and this wasn't it, I watched how far it went.
Her waist descending, my heart pounding in sync. And when Sora's hands reached forward, I realized everything was too late.
Sora prostrated flat on the floor, head bowed toward me. Realizing too late what cover she'd referenced, I racked my brain on how to salvage this.
"Is this correct, Rain? I think I perfectly recreated the cover."
"Uh... well, it's... perfect, but..."
Think fast..!
"Hm, is this greeting wrong? That's a shame. I selected candidates for a perfect first meeting and narrowed them down..."
Sora... trailing off? I had to accept this greeting. That mission had just been bestowed upon me.
But how? Uh, greeting? Oh!
"No, Sora. It was a great greeting. So I should respond in kind."
"A response?"
"Of course. When you receive a greeting, you reply. Please accept my greeting too, Sora."
Overly grand greeting received? Reply with an equally grand one. Seeing Sora prostrated flat, I did the same—sticking even flatter to the floor.
I turned one-sided atonement into mutual prostration.
Sora glanced at my prostrated form, then continued her greeting.
"This greeting is uncomfortable, but it conveys mutual respect. A very fine one."
"Prostrating toward each other like this is called a mutual prostration. It means we'll respect each other, so you're spot on."
Absolutely a mutual prostration. Not whatever was on that cover. Though it started that way, the result was entirely different. This heartwarming first greeting couldn't be the same.
"I see. It's called mutual prostration. I love the name too. I hadn't thought that far, but it's a truly satisfying first greeting."
"Haha... Glad you like it, Sora. Shall we get up now?"
We kept conversing flat on the floor. Wanting to end the awkwardness, I suggested standing, but
"If it's alright, may we stay like this a bit longer? It's a new emotion, and I want to feel it more."
"Haha... Sure, Sora. Then tell me when you're ready to get up?"
"Understood. Thank you for your consideration, Rain."
Sora, savoring the new emotion, flatly rejected my suggestion. Looked like this mutual prostration would continue a while longer.
Sora's and my cohabitation began with a mutual prostration.