"Why are you staring at me like that? You are making me feel shy."
Kurumi put on an exaggeratedly bashful expression.
Shun teased, "Just thinking that women really are fickle. Last night you were still..."
Before he could finish, Kurumi shoved a little steamed bun straight into his mouth.
"Eat your breakfast."
She rolled her eyes at him with practiced elegance.
"Do you not know you are not supposed to casually bring up a lady's embarrassing moments?"
Shun chewed the bun and swallowed, smiling. "Yes, yes, my apologies."
His reaction actually took Kurumi by surprise.
"You did not talk back. That is rare."
Shun curled his lip inwardly.
Anyone who had just read that entire file about your life would not really be in the mood to quip at you immediately.
Give him a day or two. Shun the chronic teaser would be back.
Aloud, he said, "You are giving me a free place to stay and feeding me, of course I have to be nice to you."
"How very self aware." Kurumi sighed, then added, "You can stay here rent free, but food is another matter."
She lifted a hand to her face and pretended to sob. "Actually, this breakfast is already the last food we have at home, sob sob."
"Uh..."
Shun rubbed his cheek, genuinely unsure.
Was she joking, or joking while secretly telling the truth?
He really could not tell.
He asked carefully, "So, should I pay for the meals?"
Kurumi shook her head. "No need. But from now on, you have to buy the grocery. I will be the one cooking."
"Sure," Shun agreed.
Kurumi raised a finger, playful again. "And washing the dishes and scrubbing the pots is also your job."
Shun looked up at her and simply stared in silence.
Being stared at like that made her uncomfortable, and she quickly backed down. "Fine, we take turns. One day each."
"Now we are talking."
Only then did Shun lower his head and continue eating his breakfast.
"You really are not considerate at all," Kurumi muttered under her breath.
"If I were not considerate, then last night I would have..."
"I said do not bring it up."
Kurumi got a little flustered.
Even she did not know what came over her last night. Her emotions had just suddenly crashed.
That was not like her at all.
"Last night was not the real me. It was... it was that cursed spirit. Yes, that is it."
Shun watched her getting worked up and smiled with his eyes.
"Alright, alright."
Kurumi glared at him. "Gojo san, you can be really infuriating sometimes."
"Spend more time around me and you will find plenty more to be annoyed about," Shun replied casually.
So much for needing a day or two. His usual snark was already back.
Kurumi was not sure if she wanted to laugh or sigh. She just watched him quietly.
Shun did not mind being watched while he ate.
He had trained on an empty stomach that morning; he needed to replenish properly.
He had to admit, her cooking really was very good, already about half as good as his own.
Well... whether that rating was accurate or not was up for debate.
Kurumi rested her cheeks in her hands and stared at the man across from her.
It was strange.
They had only known each other for a single day, yet she felt so close to him.
Why was that?
She did not know.
Maybe it was because he had saved her like a proper hero yesterday.
Maybe because he was willing to comfort her and indulge her moods.
Maybe simply because he was exactly her type in terms of looks.
If Shun ever heard that, he would absolutely agree with the second reason.
Whatever the cause, Kurumi just felt very happy right now.
Especially watching him finish every last bit of the food she made.
When was the last time she had seen something like this?
She thought hard.
Actually... never.
Back when her parents were alive, she had never needed to cook.
By the time she learned how, there were no chances left.
There had been one time she cooked for some relatives staying here.
But the next morning, when she finished making breakfast, they had already left, taking what they deemed "their rightful share" with them.
In the end, she had eaten everything alone.
Her stomach had felt like it was going to burst.
So yes, in a way, this was the first time.
Watching Shun eat every bite of the breakfast she prepared, Kurumi felt an uncomplicated happiness.
She did not really understand why. She just did.
Shun himself had no idea that such a small, ordinary action would make the girl this happy.
The last year and more had clearly left deeper marks on her than most people would notice.
If he wanted to be completely tone deaf about it, he could say this: in such an environment, negative emotions truly could breed curses.
But in Shun's opinion, that particular curse was not born from that kind of hatred.
After all, it was the same type as the one attached to him.