CHAPTER 345: ASKING FOR PERMISSION

The soft sounds of shifting fabric as the figures moved closer went unheard by Coco, the only thing that existed in her mind was the skills and the skill points.

"Coco, here’s your breakfast."

However, Coco’s attention was abruptly broken by the sound of a familiar voice, penetrating the bubble of concentration she had immersed herself in.

Startled, she lifted her gaze from the skill scroll, glancing up to see a hand holding a plate of food.

Coco’s gaze shifted and her eyes landed on Zaque who was holding a wooden tray of food, the sudden sound of his voice breaking her concentration— alongside him, she saw Quizen standing nearby, a stack of papers in his arms, and to her surprise, Heiren still lingered in the room.

"Thank you..?" Coco expressed her gratitude as she accepted the tray of food, the words slipping softly from her lips.

Her expression was one of slight confusion, her gaze wandering between Zaque, Quizen, and Heiren.

"Not to sound like a little bitch, but why.. Is Quizen and Heiren still here?" Coco asked, placing the tray down on the bed while keeping her gaze fixed on the second and fourth husbands.

Heiren quickly looked away and shifted on his spot, a look of hesitation and embarrassment crossing his features as he looked like he was contemplating what to say.

Quizen, on the other hand, stepped away from the door and walked over to Coco’s bed.

"I have some songs that I have in mind, but I need a change of scenery to compose them." Quizen started as he placed the papers down on Coco’s bed, "So, I’m here to ask permission to be with you wherever you have to be."

Coco’s lips parted slightly, her eyebrows furrowing. "Pardon? What do you mean to be with me wherever I have to be?"

"I’m asking if I can stay with you today." Quizen stated bluntly, letting out an exasperated sigh as he said what he wanted from her in simpler terms, "It doesn’t matter where you go. Just let me be in your space for today."

"Oh." Coco said, the corner of her lips quirking up in a smile as she nodded her head. "That’s all? Of course, you can sit here with me."

As she said those words, Konoha perked up and who was supposed to be on the normal size of a house cat suddenly got larger in size— almost taking up all the space on the left side of the bed.

The mediators and Coco watched in confusion as Konoha grew bigger, her pupils turning into slits as he stared back at Quizen.

"Meow." The feline mewled, almost sounding like a hiss, and laid her head on the pillow, her fluffy white tail swaying from left to right, eyes glued to the fourth husband with a seemingly menacing stare.

Coco stared at the cat for a moment, letting the situation sink in before she let out an awkward laugh.

"Well.. You can just pull the single couch over there and drag it over here. I don’t mind." Coco said, offering an alternative for the taken up space on the bed.

"In fact, I can move that small desk over here." Coco gestured towards the desk sitting at the corner of the room. "I don’t have any use for it, but since you’ll be with me today, I can let you use it."

"That would be great." Quizen hummed, his lips curling up into a pleased smile as he shot a prideful glance at Konoha’s way, "I’ll help you move the desk."

Quizen kept the pleased smile on his lips and gathered the stack of papers he placed on Coco’s bed back to his arms. "Eat your breakfast for now, okay? I’ll just go and tidy myself up then I’ll come back."

Quizen turned and left the room with a skip on his steps, his handsome face bright with a large, satisfied smile which was accompanied with a hum.

With the blue haired mediator shutting the door behind him, Coco now has the chance to look back at Zaque and Heiren, only to find the two of them with a frown on their faces— looking like something had offended them.

Zaque was staring at the door, his eyebrows furrowed and hands clenched into fists.

Heiren was staring at Quizen’s previous spot beside Coco’s bed, his hands gripping the hem of his long silk shirt, the corner of his lips curled down.

"Are you two okay? Do you want to stay with me today, too? I mean, I could get used to the two of you." The words slipped out of Coco’s lips before she could think about it and when she did realize what had just happened, her whole body froze with her mind turning blank.

Weird.

Why did she say those words after seeing Heiren and Zaque looking upset? Why did she think that they wanted to be with her, too, just like Quizen?

"Really?" Zaque brightened up, the frown on his getting replaced with a wishful expression.

"You don’t mind me reading my recipe books here? Inside your room? Beside you?" Heiren asked not even a second after Zaque, his voice dripping with hope and excitement.

Okay.. This is weird.. Why do the two of them look cute looking excited like this? Coco thought, the hair in her arms raising in goosebumps.

"If.. If you have nothing else to do, then yes." Coco said, her statement sounding like a question rather than an answer.

"I don’t have anything important to do so I can stay here with you." Zaque flashed her a smile— soft, gentle, and thankful, like she had allowed him to do something sacred.

"I just have to marinate what we’re going to eat for today’s lunch, then take a bath. After that, I’ll come here and read. Would that be okay?" Heiren inquired, already making his way towards the door.

"Uh, yeah, sure.." Coco mumbled, blinking in confusion as the two mediators exited the room.