CHAPTER 309: MORNING CONFUSION

Coco walked down the stairs, the sound of her footsteps soft and muted on the carpeted stairway.

Coco’s hair was still damp from her bath, her locks clinging to her skin slightly, making it obvious that she had taken a bath to freshen up and get ready for the day, and now she’s clean and refreshed.

Her face was free of makeup— not that she wears some— but her cheeks had a slight flush from the warm water, making her look extra beautiful.

Konoha trundled alongside Coco, her small form looking heavier than usual with the garden fairy perched on her shoulder.

The garden fairy held on tightly to her fur, her small hands buried into the cat’s thick coat.

With the added weight, Konoha moved slowly, her steps still steady, making the little fairy quite amuse with herself, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

The three of them— Coco, Konoha, and Lala— entered the kitchen in single file.

The room was filled with the pleasant scent of coffee and the faint sound of sizzling food, making Coco’s eyes brighten at the familiar smell, her stomach already rumbling in anticipation.

Konoha went straight to a cozy corner, her body curling up in a comfortable position on the floor, her tail flicking back and forth lazily.

The garden fairy flew off of Konoha’s back and landed on the table, her eyes gleaming as she looked at Heiren’s back.

Coco followed Lala over to the table, her gaze immediately gravitating towards Heiren, as he stood by the counter, chopping vegetables with ease.

He looked up briefly, his face hardening for a little at the sight of her.

"How was your sleep?" He asked, his voice soft, despite being up early in the morning, he looked well-rested, his expression relaxed and his movements calm.

Coco shrugged her shoulders, her gaze flickering towards Konoha, who was now sleeping peacefully in the corner.

"Had a night mare, turns out it was because of her." She said, her tone tinged with playful annoyance, but her expression softened at the sight of the sleeping cat.

A small smile played at the corners of her lips, betraying her faux annoyance for the cat.

Heiren raised an eyebrow at Coco’s words, but didn’t comment on it further, opting instead to focus on preparing breakfast.

Instead, he returned his focus to cooking, his hands moving swiftly and skilfully across the counter as he continued to chop the vegetables, the sound of the knife slicing through the vegetables filling the air.

The sound of another pair of footsteps echoed in the doorway, interrupting the silence.

Zaque appeared in the entry way, his expression blank, his hair damp, his bangs sticking to his forehead, suggesting that he had freshened up not too long ago.

His gaze flickered around the kitchen before settling on Coco and the mediator, his face softening slightly.

However, Zaque flinched in his spot when a certain blue haired mediator barged into the kitchen, his steps quick and hasty.

His eyes went straight towards Coco and he rushed over to her, pulling her into a bear hug before she could say anything, his arms wrapped tightly around her, his embrace almost too fierce, as if scared to let go.

"What—" Coco let out a small sound of surprise as he enveloped her, her body momentarily tensing in his strong grip.

Her eyes widened at the unexpected display of affection, but she soon relaxed into the embrace.

Coco wasn’t the only one who was surprised because Heiren and Zaque both stopped what they were doing when they saw Quizen hugging Coco.

They exchanged a quick glance with each other, both their expressions a mix of confusion as they watched Quizen, both of them aware of the general dislike Quizen had for Coco, making his actions all the more surprising.

Then, Quizen pushed Coco away from him, but his hands still lingered on her body, his gaze fixed on her face.

He looked her up and down, a look of concern in his eyes.

His hands lingered on her waist, his fingers gripping her sides tightly, as if afraid to let go, his gaze intense, his eyes searching hers, as if trying to memorize every detail of her face.

Coco stared back at him, her expression a mix of confusion and slight nervousness.

She could feel the intensity of his gaze on her, and it made her slightly uncomfortable, so she tried to pull away gently, but his grip on her waist was tight, making it difficult to move.

She met his gaze with a puzzled look, silently asking him why he was acting this way.

She could feel his grip tighten even more on her waist, his fingers almost digging into her skin, making her remain still, allowing him to stay close.

Quizen stared at her for a few moments longer before letting out a soft sigh.

Finally, his grip lessened, but he didn’t release her entirely, his fingers still resting lightly on her sides with his expression softening, his worry and exhaustion evident on his face.

What is this guy’s problem? Coco wondered, confused, but not pushing him off.

Zaque walked towards the counter, his gaze flicking towards Coco and Quizen briefly, his hand reaching out and grabbing a couple of plates, but his gaze kept returning to them, watching them closely.

His movements were slow and deliberate, his attention not fully on the task at hand.

He wanted to monitor their interaction, but at the same time, he wanted Coco to start eating breakfast before their guests could arrive.

Thankfully, Heiren had begun cooking now, his hands moving quickly and proficiently as he prepared breakfast.

His focus shifted between the stove and the assortment of ingredients laid out on the counter, his movements were quick, his gaze constantly darting between the various food items, as he dropped and stirred the vegetables inside the pot.

"Here’s your coffee, Coco." Zaque spoke up, placing the mug by Coco’s spot on the table.

"Thanks, Zaque—"

Ding dong.