The girl responded with a smile, instantly bringing vibrancy to her whole appearance, and Shoyo's mental gears started turning again.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcmjfb8bca
She approached slowly, causing his blood to boil and his heart to nearly jump out of his chest. He managed to force a stiff smile on his face. Seeing her about to raise her right hand, seemingly wanting to greet him, he quickly responded with a wave.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1cDgPTxDZ
"Cloude, hey." The girl greeted enthusiastically, but her attention was on Cloude.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiulZa3yduT
This action extinguished the fiery excitement within Shoyo's heart. He realized he had misunderstood and blushed even more due to his embarrassing reaction earlier.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkCgPqpM92
Cloude, who was behind them, also replied. "Hey, Jennie, what are you doing standing here alone? Where are your classmates?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd93KrZxz8s
"Nah, I came to the celebration alone to relax." She pointed at Rachel next to Shoyo and Cloude. "Your friends?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqi6ibjcxno
"Classmates. Do you want to join us?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfXtTeAODl
Cloude introduced the two to Jennie, mentioning that Rachel was in room three. In just a few words, Rachel quickly became friendly with her, while Shoyo remained shy and quiet, occasionally stealing glances.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xSSpAHoQN
It turned out that Jennie's mother was friends with Cloude's master, and they had known each other since childhood. However, due to Cloude not frequently going out and their close proximity in living areas, they usually met at home. This was their first encounter outside.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvti0fi2ncL
The four of them spent the entire evening joyfully at the celebration. Before parting ways, Jennie approached Shoyo with a stern look and playfully interrogated him. "Hey, are you really that rude? Are you so scared of me or do you hate me?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKToomiDCg
Actually, Jennie found his shyness quite cute, so she was just teasing him.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHpk7ma6dH
"How... how could that be? We'll... meet again, right?" Shoyo stuttered in response.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5w8Kg4xWR
"Hmph! I'll think about it." Jennie turned and left with Cloude.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3ZyMhrHGD
Now, only Shoyo and Rachel were left. "Tomorrow's Sunday. We don't need to go back to the dorm tonight. Are you heading back to Compason?" Without Jennie around, the nervousness vanished, and Shoyo returned to his normal self.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6sL9aT50D
"It's so late. How could I? Plus, my roommates won't be at the dorm, and I'm afraid of being alone..." As she spoke, tears welled up in Rachel's eyes.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDkPqpbGP8
In reality, Rachel wasn't afraid of being alone. After her grandmother passed away, she had been living on her own. She was just using this opportunity to act spoiled and get closer to Shoyo.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp3cyrKLvH
"Alright then, come to my house to sleep. My mom likes chatting with you anyway."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEycfLS6aZ
At Shoyo's home, Ayaka was surprised when she saw Rachel accompanying him. Rachel explained the reason for her stay.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CX91T2pDJ
"How was the celebration? When we were younger, your grandfather used to take the three of us sisters there. Later, my older sister became busy with work and traveling, so he continued taking just the two of us. But after he passed away, we lost interest in going."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zDEObwgIE
As Ayaka spoke, a sense of sorrow entered her expression, and her eyes revealed her longing for her father.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrhBlObpy4
Ayaka usually wore a smile all day, and Shoyo rarely saw her looking troubled. "After I pass the assessment, I'll take you with me!" She smiled brightly again, looking at her son's progress.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGFowEq7tn
"Bring Miss Rachel along too!" Rachel was elated and laughed uncontrollably.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqogDS5c4pH
Shoyo first asked Rachel to take a bath and rest. He headed to the training hall to exercise, as his mother had already prepared hot water and laid out the beddings.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5diBDnbVD9
Perhaps the bathroom at home was much more comfortable than the dormitory's or their previous residence's. Rachel fell asleep in the bath, which was something she hadn't experienced in a long time. Shoyo finished his training and saw that she hadn't come out yet, so he checked on her in the room.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQPFIKc5Zf
"Mom, how could you let a girl sleep on the floor?" He exchanged all the guest beddings and pillows on the floor with his own. He thought Rachel was almost done, so he headed toward the bathroom. Just as he arrived, he encountered Rachel, who had just finished bathing. A subtle fragrance enveloped him, mixing with the strong scent of sweat, and managed to reach his nose. Why did the same body wash have such different effects on young girls?
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwPqVUrfAP
"You sleep first, I'll wash up and come in later."
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQsKXJD9Cz
Rachel looked at the neat and tidy bed, eager to jump onto it. It was warm and comfortable, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time and a complete contrast to the dormitory.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJBET20dpx
Thinking about how Shoyo had given up his bed for her intensified her emotions. She didn't actually sleep; she just pretended to be asleep under the covers, paying attention to Shoyo's reaction.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzREsMEJJat
When Shoyo came in, he found Rachel already asleep. He quietly prepared the beddings, afraid of waking her. Just as Shoyo was about to fall asleep, Rachel struck up a conversation with him.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KiL51bvTX
"Are you sleeping?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAHeq9xQGZ
"Almost." Shoyo replied simply, as he was prone to falling asleep easily.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYo3L3NLvE
After a while, "Are you sleeping?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOlBn63mrP
"Almost." Shoyo was awakened from his nearly sleeping state.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRdIZvI71S
Again, after a while, "Are you sleeping?"
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0THcGau7R
"Not yet. Miss Rachel, do you want to chat with me?" Shoyo tactfully recognized that Rachel wasn't ready to sleep yet and offered to spare her embarrassment.
439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEtu02J0sK
and then Add to home screen.