Nathan woke to the smell of toast that wasn't burning.
He lay still for a moment, inhaling. No smoke. No frantic waving at the detector. Just warm, golden bread heated to the correct temperature and removed from the pan at the right time. A miracle, by this apartment's standards.
"Good morning!" Lucy called from the kitchen corner, brandishing a spatula like a trophy. "I made breakfast. By myself. Nothing caught fire this time ."
"I can tell." Nathan sat up, rubbing his eyes. "The smoke detector isn't screaming."
Mirko and Kuro were both in bunny form on the bed. Mirko had assumed her "lecture posture", ears forward, chest puffed, one paw raised for emphasis. Kuro lay flat with half-closed eyes, the picture of patient suffering.
'—and that is why the senior summon is responsible for the junior summon's acclimation to the party dynamic,' Mirko was saying through the link. 'I trust you've been taking notes.'
'Sure thing boss' Kuro replied reluctantly. 'I'll remember everything.'
