Chapter 15: A Day Off

I woke up to the smell of something sweet wafting through the shrine. It was a strange scent—warm and sugary, like someone had unleashed a bakery in the middle of our usually quiet space. I blinked a few times, still groggy, and sat up, rubbing my eyes.

"What the hell is that smell?" I muttered to myself. It wasn't the usual scent of incense or the aroma of tea Hiyori sometimes made in the mornings. No, this was different—more like freshly baked cookies or cake. And the shrine didn't usually do cookies or cake.

I slid open the shoji door and stepped out onto the wooden walkway, the morning air cool against my skin. I looked around, trying to pinpoint where the smell was coming from, and heard soft laughter coming from the kitchen area. My eyebrows raised in curiosity.

Slowly, I made my way toward the kitchen, the scent growing stronger with each step. When I reached the doorway, I stopped, peeking inside. What I saw was something I never thought I'd witness in this lifetime—or any other, for that matter.

Mikaboshi, the Minor Goddess of Stars, was standing at the counter, flour on her cheeks and a huge grin on her face. She was wearing a pink apron with little stars on it, which made her look like a kid playing dress-up in a bakery. Next to her, surprisingly calm, was Hiyori, her sleeves rolled up as she carefully iced a cake with expert precision.

I stood there for a moment, blinking like an idiot. "Uh... am I still asleep, or did I wake up in some alternate reality where you two decided to bake?"

Mikaboshi turned, her eyes lighting up as she saw me. "Y/N! You're awake!" she chirped, clapping her hands together, sending a puff of flour into the air. "We've got a special day planned for you!"

I raised an eyebrow. "A special day? What are you talking about?"

Hiyori glanced at me, not breaking her focus on the cake. "Mikaboshi heard about... what happened," she said, her voice steady, though there was a hint of concern behind it. "She decided you needed a day to relax. So, she dragged me into this."

I blinked again. "Wait, you guys are baking... for me?"

"Yup!" Mikaboshi said proudly, holding up a mixing spoon. "Today is all about you, Y/N! You get to relax, watch anime, movies, or whatever you want. And we'll handle the baking and cooking."

I stared at her, trying to process what she was saying. "Why? I mean... why go through all this trouble?"

Mikaboshi's smile softened, and she wiped her hands on her apron. "Because you deserve it," she said simply. "After everything you've been through, you deserve a break. And you deserve to feel cared for."

For a moment, I didn't know what to say. I looked at Hiyori, who was focused on her icing, then back at Mikaboshi, who looked genuinely excited. I let out a small sigh, a smile tugging at my lips. "Well, I guess I can't argue with that."

Mikaboshi clapped her hands again. "Yay! Go relax in the main room! We'll bring you some snacks and treats soon!"

I chuckled, feeling a bit lighter. "Alright, alright. I'll leave you to it. Don't burn the place down, okay?"

"No promises!" she called after me as I turned and walked back toward the main room.

---

I settled down on the tatami mat in the main room, grabbing the remote and flipping through the shows we had. Mikaboshi wasn't kidding—she wanted me to have a real day off, no Gods, no Swords, no nothing. Just me and a bunch of mindless entertainment.

"Alright, what'll it be?" I muttered to myself, scrolling through the options. I could hear the occasional chatter and giggle from the kitchen, and it brought a small smile to my face. Maybe a cheesy action movie? Or a classic rom-com? Nah, not today. Today felt like an anime kind of day.

I landed on one of those feel-good slice-of-life shows. Something about high school kids learning the meaning of friendship or whatever. Not my usual cup of tea, but for some reason, it felt right today. I hit play and leaned back, letting the bright colors and cheerful voices wash over me.

About ten minutes in, Mikaboshi came bouncing into the room with a tray full of cookies. "Here you go!" she announced, setting them down in front of me. "Fresh out of the oven. Try one!"

I picked up a cookie and took a bite. It was warm and gooey, the chocolate chips melting in my mouth. I let out a low groan of satisfaction. "Damn, this is good. Didn't know you could bake like this, Mikaboshi."

She beamed. "I had some help," she said, glancing back toward the kitchen. "But I'm glad you like them!"

I gave her a thumbs-up, swallowing the rest of the cookie. "Yeah, these are great. You might be onto something here."

She giggled, her cheeks turning a bit pink. "Well, it's all for you, so eat up! And let me know if you need anything else."

She left me to my show, and I found myself relaxing for the first time in what felt like forever. Maybe there was something to this whole "taking a break" thing.

A couple of hours and several episodes later, I was lounging on the tatami mat, a half-eaten plate of cookies beside me and a stack of other snacks piled on the table. Mikaboshi and Hiyori had brought me everything from dango to sandwiches. They even made onigiri, each one carefully shaped and filled with different ingredients.

Mikaboshi appeared again, this time with a tall glass of cold milk. "Here you go," she said, handing it to me with a smile. "Goes great with the cookies."

I took the glass, nodding. "Thanks. You've really gone all out today."

She smiled wider, plopping down next to me and watching the screen. "What are you watching?"

"Just some feel-good anime," I said, leaning back. "You know, the kind where nobody dies and everyone's friends by the end."

"Those are the best kind," she said, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "It's nice to see people be happy, even if it's just in a story."

I looked at her for a moment, her bright eyes focused on the screen, and I felt a strange warmth in my chest. She really was something else—so full of life and optimism, despite everything.

"Yeah," I said softly. "I guess it is."

We sat in comfortable silence for a while, just watching the show together. I hadn't realized how much I needed this—to just sit and not think, to not be on guard, to just... exist.

After another episode, Mikaboshi stood up. "Okay, I'm going to check on the cake! Be right back!" She skipped out of the room, humming to herself.

I shook my head, chuckling. "She's got way too much energy."

A few minutes later, Hiyori walked in, wiping her hands on a towel. She sat down across from me, eyeing the mountain of snacks. "Looks like she's been keeping you busy."

"Yeah," I said, nodding. "She really went all out. Thanks for helping her, by the way."

Hiyori shrugged. "She insisted. Said you needed a day to unwind. And... she's probably right."

I nodded, taking a sip of my milk. "Yeah, it's been... nice."

There was a moment of silence between us, a sort of tentative peace. I glanced at Hiyori, and she seemed to be searching for the right words.

"Look," she said finally, her voice softening, "I know I can be... difficult sometimes. But I'm glad you're here. And I'm glad you're taking the time to... deal with everything."

I blinked, surprised by her sincerity. "Thanks, Hiyori. That means a lot."

She gave a small nod, and for a second, I thought I saw the faintest hint of a smile.

Just then, Mikaboshi came back, carrying a beautifully decorated cake with white frosting and colorful sprinkles. "Ta-da! Cake is ready!"

She set it down with a flourish, and I couldn't help but smile. "That looks amazing, Mikaboshi."

She beamed with pride. "Dig in!"

I grabbed a slice, and as soon as I took a bite, I was hit with a wave of sweetness and fluffy perfection. "Damn," I mumbled through a mouthful. "You two make a great team."

Hiyori snorted. "Don't get used to it."

Mikaboshi giggled. "But maybe we'll do this again sometime! A 'Y/N Relaxation Day' every month!"

I laughed, feeling genuinely happy for the first time in a while. "I could get used to that."

The three of us spent the rest of the afternoon together, eating cake, watching more shows, and just... being there. No battles, no Gods, no drama. Just friends, hanging out. And for the first time since that awful night, I felt like things might actually be okay.

The sky outside was streaked with shades of orange and pink as the sun dipped lower, casting a warm, golden glow over the shrine. The three of us were stuffed, surrounded by empty plates and crumbs, evidence of a day well-spent. Mikaboshi had somehow managed to make about a dozen different types of cookies and treats, and I think I'd gained five pounds just from sitting here all day.

We had switched from anime to movies at some point, falling into a comfortable rhythm of picking whatever seemed fun or nostalgic. Right now, some cheesy action flick from the early 2000s was playing—a classic about a cop who doesn't play by the rules, shooting bad guys and delivering terrible one-liners. The kind of movie you could watch a hundred times and never get tired of making fun of.

"Why do they always have to say something cool before they shoot someone?" Mikaboshi asked, her head resting against my shoulder as she watched the hero dive through a window in slow motion. "Wouldn't they have more time to react if they just... shot them right away?"

I laughed. "Because it wouldn't be cool otherwise. Gotta have the one-liners. It's a rule."

Hiyori, who was sprawled out on the opposite couch, rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, it's a stupid rule."

"Hey, some of these one-liners are gold," I defended, grinning. "Like, 'Yippee-ki-yay—'"

"Okay, okay, I get it," Hiyori interrupted, throwing a pillow at me. "Spare us the rest."

Mikaboshi giggled, catching the pillow mid-air before it could hit me. "I think it's fun! It makes things more dramatic."

We continued like that, poking fun at the movie, munching on the last of the cookies, and just enjoying the ridiculousness of it all. It felt good. Really good. I couldn't remember the last time I'd had a day like this—a day where I didn't have to think about gods or legends or whatever twisted horrors might be lurking around the corner.

It was just... normal. And maybe, for once, normal was exactly what I needed.

As the movie credits rolled, the sky outside was growing darker, the first stars beginning to peek through. Mikaboshi yawned, stretching her arms up like a sleepy cat. "I'm getting tired," she murmured, her eyes drooping. "This was so much fun, though."

Hiyori nodded from the other side, her voice softer now. "Yeah, it wasn't half bad."

I looked between the two of them, a warmth spreading through my chest. "Thanks," I said quietly. "Really. For everything today."

Mikaboshi gave me a sleepy smile, her eyes sparkling even in the dim light. "You deserve it, Y/N. Everyone needs a break sometimes, even you."

I chuckled softly. "Guess you're right."

Hiyori let out a deep breath, her body sinking deeper into the couch. "And maybe... I'm glad we did this too," she muttered, almost like she didn't want me to hear.

I couldn't help but grin. "Wow, a rare moment of softness from the great Hiyori."

"Shut up," she mumbled, but there wasn't any real bite in her voice. "I'm tired. Don't push it."

"Fair enough," I said, leaning back. The room fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that only comes when you're surrounded by people who make you feel... safe. I hadn't felt this at ease in a long time.

Mikaboshi shifted beside me, her eyelids fluttering as she fought to stay awake. "Y/N," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper, "can I stay here? Just for tonight?"

I looked down at her, her small form curled up against me, and nodded. "Yeah, you can stay."

"Yay," she whispered, a faint smile on her lips as her eyes drifted closed.

I glanced over at Hiyori, who had already closed her eyes but hadn't quite drifted off yet. "You okay there, Hiyori?" I asked.

She gave a slight nod, not opening her eyes. "Yeah. Just... resting my eyes."

"Sure you are," I said softly. I could tell she was close to sleep.

The room grew quieter, the soft hum of crickets outside filling the space as the darkness settled in fully. I found myself getting more comfortable, my eyes growing heavy. Maybe it was the warmth of Mikaboshi's small frame against me or the fact that I was just... tired. Tired in a way that went beyond the physical.

I leaned back into the couch, my head resting against the cushioned armrest, and felt my body relax completely for the first time in days. Mikaboshi shifted slightly, snuggling closer, her soft breaths steady against my chest.

"Today was good," I murmured, my voice trailing off. "Really good..."

As my eyes began to close, I felt Mikaboshi's gentle weight settle more against me. She had fallen completely asleep, her head tucked under my chin. I glanced over at Hiyori again, who was now breathing evenly, her face relaxed and peaceful for once.

"Maybe... things are gonna be okay," I thought, my mind already drifting. I let out a deep breath, the tension from the past few days finally easing away. The room was filled with a comforting stillness, the kind that wrapped around you like a warm blanket on a cold night.

I didn't realize how much I needed this—just a simple, quiet moment surrounded by friends, with no chaos, no battles, and no worries. Just the sound of soft breathing and the stars shining above.

Before I knew it, I was asleep too, my head resting back, my arm wrapped protectively around Mikaboshi as she slept peacefully on top of me. Hiyori was curled up on the opposite couch, facing away but still close enough to be part of this strange, little family we'd somehow become.