After Work, I Brought Home a Devilish Beauty - Chapter 53

Night fell quietly over the Sakai household.

Having finished her bath, Chiba stepped out of the bathroom, drying the ends of her long silver hair with a towel as she headed toward her room.

Just as she reached the hallway—

“Chiba-chan.”

“Could you come here for a moment?”

Orina called to her with a gentle smile, patting the seat beside her.

“…Is something wrong?”

Although confused, Chiba obediently walked over and sat down.

Yuichi and Tamura had already gone to bed.

Only she and Orina remained awake.

The house was unusually quiet.

For some reason…

This simple silence made Chiba feel more uneasy than facing any battlefield.

…Did she discover I’m a demon?

She secretly glanced at Orina.

No…

If that were the case, Orina certainly wouldn’t be smiling like this.

Still…

For reasons she couldn’t explain, Chiba found it difficult to meet the older woman’s eyes.

She lowered her head and silently waited.

Then—

A sudden burst of warm air brushed against her neck.

“Eek—!”

Startled, Chiba instinctively flinched.

Behind her, Orina laughed softly.

“Oh dear.”

“Is it too hot?”

Chiba turned around in confusion.

In Orina’s hand was a long, familiar object.

“…A hair dryer.”

She recognized it immediately.

Yuichi had used one countless times back at his apartment.

Now…

Orina was gently drying Chiba’s damp hair.

Chiba couldn’t understand it.

“…Why?”

“Why are you drying my hair?”

Orina smiled without stopping.

“I simply wanted to.”

“You don’t mind, do you?”

As she spoke…

She carefully combed through Chiba’s long silver hair.

“…No.”

To her surprise…

It felt wonderful.

The warmth…

The gentle fingers running through her hair…

It was strangely comforting.

Without realizing it…

Chiba slowly closed her eyes.

She quietly enjoyed the sensation.

Seeing her relax, Orina smiled even more warmly.

“I’m glad.”

“You know…”

“Little Yuu has always hated letting me comb his hair.”

Chiba opened one eye.

“…Why?”

Orina laughed helplessly.

“I honestly don’t know.”

“That boy has always been a little awkward.”

Chiba was silent for a moment before softly shaking her head.

“I don’t think Yuichi is strange.”

“He probably…”

“…just doesn’t like being fussed over.”

“Deep down…”

“I think he’s always wanted someone to stay by his side.”

Orina looked at her in surprise.

“…You understand him quite well.”

Chiba hesitated.

“…Not really.”

“We’ve only known each other for a short time.”

Those words made Orina lower her gaze.

“…Maybe…”

“I’ve been a terrible mother.”

The sadness in her voice startled Chiba.

She immediately turned around.

“No!”

“That’s not true!”

“You’re…”

“You’re a wonderful mother.”

Orina blinked.

“…Why would you say that?”

Chiba froze.

“…Because…”

“…you’re very gentle.”

“…Just like…”

“…my mother.”

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

“…!”

Realizing what she’d confessed…

Chiba’s face instantly turned bright red.

She quickly looked away.

Neither of them spoke again.

Only the gentle hum of the hair dryer filled the room.

A few minutes later…

“There.”

“All done.”

Orina switched it off with a smile.

Chiba gently touched her now-dry hair.

“…Thank you.”

She stood up.

“…Yuichi and I…”

“…are leaving tomorrow.”

“So soon?”

Orina looked disappointed.

“I was hoping you’d stay a little longer.”

Chiba softly shook her head.

“Yuichi has work.”

“We have to go back.”

Orina smiled knowingly.

“He works hard.”

“…He does.”

The two women exchanged a quiet smile.

“Well then…”

“I should get some sleep.”

“Good night, Chiba-chan.”

“…Good night.”

Back in her room…

Chiba climbed into bed and pulled the blanket over herself.

Unlike the previous night…

She had a room all to herself.

No Yuichi.

No one who might suddenly roll over in his sleep or accidentally invade her personal space.

It should have been easier to sleep.

And yet…

She remained awake.

Staring into the darkness.

Her thoughts drifted back to Orina’s gentle hands…

The warmth of the hair dryer…

And the memory of her own mother.

“…”

Was it because they were leaving tomorrow?

Or was it because…

For the first time in centuries…

She had been treated with simple, unconditional kindness?

Chiba didn’t know.

She only knew one thing.

For some reason…

The summer night felt unusually cold.

And sleep refused to come.