Vol 2 Prologue (1/2)

PROLOGUE – A USUAL MORNING

It was now July, and the strength of the sunlight could be felt even in the

However, the apart syste It kept the temperature and humidity around the kitchen at an appropriate level

Kusunoki Masaki opened the door of the Pulse Kiln and took out a tray

The steam spread out, and the smell of the browned cheese and tomato sauce reached his nostrils

It was Spaghetti Bolognese, topped with lots of cheese, cooked in a stone kiln He wanted the texture and the feel of the food to be enjoyable, and the aroood that someone would wake up with an appetite for it even on a hot su

“Yep, it’s pretty good”

Masaki nodded at the end result

There was a faintroom door was opened

A s down her hair that was like old

She was only as tall as Masaki’s chest, and her li her a doll-like appearance But this girl was a second year high school student like Masaki and they were in the same class

She earing an outfit that was similar to a blue dress There were frills like open flowers on the hems of the sleeves and skirt It wasn’t the official school uniform, but she had an impeccable appearance

Froreeted her over the counter

“Hey, goodAlice”

“……Hm”

She returned his greeting with a nod Nevertheless, considering that it was ood mood

Her name was Alice Clockheart––the owner of this room

She glanced at Masaki with her cool, blue eyes

“…You’re just like a brownie” (1)

“Eh?”

“…Since you get the housework done while I’”

“Hahaha…I was only cooking I’ the kitchen today It’s a world of difference froas burner in as burner, oven and stone kiln”

When it ca, he would become really talkative

Alice changed the topic

“…Masaki-kun, you’re here early this ”

“It’s worth getting up early and co”

Masaki gave a bitter s the dish he had just made on the table

Alice sat down on the dining chair

“…What tiet up?”

“Let’s see, since I had to do soot here around 5AM”

The analog clock held in the hands of the stuffed toy rabbit on the shelf showed that it was 6AM

Today was a weekday, so they had to get to school by 7AM

Alice shrugged

“…And yet a lot of people get up at 6AM”

“That’s right But since I’ is inevitable It’s not hard since I enjoy doing it”

He poured the tea from the teapot into the cup

It was a pale pink liquid that colored the table

Alice lifted the cup with her left hand Then her lips et softly

“…Hm…it’s not bad”

“That’s a relief”

“It’s been a while since you said that”

“Yes?”

“…There are lots of rooms left”

“Ah, I haven’t heard that for some time”

Alice owned the whole 30 floor apartment block She always used the room on the top floor

Soht with her roommate––or perhaps it would be more accurate to say both of them would completely wreck the room…but still, the two of them wouldn’t be able to occupy all of the floors, so the floors beloere left unused

She had offered to rent one of the free rooms to him but…

Renting a room from a female classmate would make him feel e it

Alice was taciturn by nature Once there was no more to say on that topic, they silently continued their quiet breakfast

However, the silence wasn’t aard, rather it could be said that it was an enjoyable silence

The sound of the teacup being placed on the saucer

Then the sound of a fork being stuck into a Caesar salad

The degree of their awareness of each other was slight

Bam! The door was thrown open