An Unusual Morning
"......"
It felt like I'd just closed my eyes for a second and opened them again, but it was already morning. I felt a bit wronged by that, but instead of squirming under the covers, I got right up. If I told myself I'd just sleep ten more minutes, it'd turn into thirty in the blink of an eye—that was the ironclad rule.
"Haaah~"
Stretching to chase away the lingering drowsiness, I checked the time on my phone: 6:30. Factoring in the hour it took to get to the office, it wasn't that early. If anything, it was about the same as usual, or maybe a tad late.
I folded the blanket I'd used last night and thought to myself.
'Yesterday's events... they weren't all just a dream, right?'
I'd already confirmed it by pinching my thigh, but human psychology demanded a double-check for something that absurd.
With the bedding neatly bundled in my arms, I glanced at the firmly shut door to the master bedroom, then mustered my courage and approached. Knock knock. I tapped lightly, but there was no sound from inside.
'Still sleeping?'
I hesitated to barge in without permission, but I had a legitimate reason: putting the bedding in the closet. So I carefully opened the door.
Creeeak. The room was dim without the lights on. There, on the bed that used to be mine, lay a girl with a face both familiar and unfamiliar.
Tachibana Saori. One of the characters from the popular Japanese mobile game Red Asterisk, she'd skyrocketed in popularity among the fandom thanks to her stunning looks, bold personality, and her setting as one of the world's strongest. Out of over 150 students in the game, she was the only one I'd maxed out affection to 100.
'Even sleeping, she's gorgeous.'
Though she'd jumped from 2D to 3D, her beauty hadn't faded a bit. If anything, the realistic touches made her even more stunning.
"Mm..."
Watching her stir in her sleep made it hit home again: a game character had really popped into reality. She'd called herself a "pure and lovely beauty" last night, which felt a little off, but compared to any idol or actress, she held her own effortlessly.
'Well, she climbed to 11th in popularity rankings the moment she appeared, based purely on design.'
After stowing the bedding in the closet, I quietly closed the door so as not to wake her and decided to get ready for work before it got any later.
I usually skipped breakfast or just had something light. Like any solo liver, it wasn't about time—it was the hassle. But with a guest at home today, I figured I'd whip up a simple morning meal. I'd mooched dinner off her last night, after all.
'Toast should do.'
I didn't know Saori's tastes, but Japanese folks loved bread as much as rice, so it seemed safe. I popped bread into the toaster, set out strawberry jam and butter from the fridge, then moved on to sausages and fried eggs to go with it.
Sizzle. The pleasant sound of oil tickled my ears. For a lone dweller, sausages were gold—great as a rice side or a drinking snack. And with all those 2-for-1 deals, I always grabbed some at the mart.
I'd fancy it up with a salad if I were trying, but alas, I'm a carnivore. Unless dieting, I didn't shell out for veggies.
"...Alright."
I plated the golden-brown sausages, then cracked two eggs into the leftover oil. The key was letting that meaty savor seep in. Fry till the bottoms crisped, cover to spread the heat evenly, and done.
I set the plates on the table and realized one crucial thing remained: wake the soundly sleeping Saori, or let her rise on her own?
Both options gave me pause.
'Waking her feels rude, but food's best hot.'
As my mind tipped toward the latter, click. The master bedroom door swung open.
"!"
I whipped around in surprise, and there was Saori—freshly woken, looking a bit tousled, rubbing her half-closed eyes.
"...Sleep well, Sensei...?"
"Y-yeah."
I stammered a reply, but my eyes couldn't meet hers straight-on; they darted everywhere. Her outfit was way too hazardous.
'A shirt with nothing underneath.'
She probably had underwear on underneath, sure, but for a 31-year-old solo run through an all-boys middle school, high school, engineering college, and game company? Total overload.
Desperate for somewhere to look, I yanked open the fridge and rummaged pointlessly.
"I made breakfast. Want some?"
"Sure..."
She shuffled over like a zombie and plopped down at the table. Finally, a safe spot for my eyes. I slammed the fridge shut, poured milk from the carton into her cup.
She cradled it with both hands, sipping slowly. Mornings left your throat parched, so she must've been thirsty.
I sat across from her naturally.
"I'll be back around evening after work, so call if anything comes up. Here's my number and the house passcode."
I handed her my old work second phone and a note. She nodded, munching plain toast—no spreads.
Truth be told, leaving her alone worried me sick, but taking leave in this company hellhole? Suicide. No choice.
Once the milk and toast perked her up, Saori's voice sharpened.
"So, when'll you be back for dinner?"
"Probably after 7. Work ends at 6."
Crunch time meant OT like meals, but nothing was backed up now—on-time exit likely.
"...Got it. I'll behave and guard the house till you return, Sensei."
She nodded obediently. Knowing her original-game personality? Utterly unbelievable.
So I flipped it.
"Won't you get bored cooped up all day? I gave you the door code—go for a walk if you want."
She shook her head slowly.
"I can tough it out a few days. Don't wanna cause you trouble by wandering out. Besides, I like staying home anyway."
"If you're good with that, great, but..."
She insisted, so I let it go. We finished breakfast in quiet harmony. At the entryway, slinging my briefcase, I said,
"For lunch, cook from the fridge or order via app. Card's linked—no money worries."
"I got it, so stop fretting and go already, Sensei. I'm not a kid."
She puffed her cheeks a bit. But leaving this world-clueless girl home felt like abandoning a baby by the water. Unavoidable.
"...Alright, I'm off."
I opened the door, and she beamed dazzlingly, hands behind her back.
"Yeah. See you."
My commute from the Pyeongtaek Apartment to the Game Company Office in Guro took about an hour. Traffic varied, so early starts were mandatory. Bursting through the morning snarl, I arrived with my phone clocking 8:50.
'Ten minutes early. Not bad.'
Adjusting my briefcase and clutching the office worker's lifeline—coffee—I stepped inside.
"Good morning."
Would've been a fine start to a great day. Pity our department was still pure chaos.
The junior dev, already there ahead of me, came panting.
"Deputy! Trouble hit at dawn again!"
"Fuck."
What was this, Detective Conan? Daily disasters? But griping changed nothing. I snapped into salaryman mode the second I clocked in.
"What's it this time?"
"Users ripped into the client and found traces of the old storyline!"
"They... what? Sigh."
Impressive on both ends—diggers and leavers. I'd have wiped it clean.
Fatigue crashed in; I pinched my brow.
"First, let's see what leaked."
Another grueling day for the working stiff began.