C12 Wei Died

Lin Mu hesitated briefly before deciding to push open the door.

Stepping inside, he reminded himself that this wasn't his first time in Itsuka's room, so there was no need for concern.

Approaching Itsuka, Lin Mu simply watched her in silence, not uttering a word. Itsuka's expression tensed upon noticing him, and she shot him an irritated glare.

With a sigh, Lin Mu leaned in to gently wipe the tears from the corner of Itsuka's eyes. The gesture was perhaps too intimate, causing Itsuka's stern facade to blush a deep red. In a flustered attempt to regain composure, she batted his hand away.

"Uh..." Lin Mu withdrew his hand, the air tinged with awkwardness. Thankfully, he wasn't the type to get easily embarrassed.

He cupped Itsuka's face in his hands, compelling her to meet his gaze. "I was wrong. Can you forgive me?"

Unable to contain herself any longer, Itsuka's cheeks flushed like ripe apples, her face radiating warmth as if it were a whistling kettle. Her hands fluttered aimlessly.

Yet, despite her turmoil and embarrassment, Itsuka didn't lose sight of what mattered most. "Wrong... what exactly did you do wrong?"

Seeing Itsuka's reaction, Lin Mu felt a surge of affection for the girl who so closely resembled his sister from years past. He spoke gently, "Next time, I'll take better care of myself. So, can you forgive me?"

"Mm..." Itsuka's hands, previously lost in her panic, settled back onto her knees as she let out a soft, endearing murmur.

Lin Mu smiled, his heart filled with admiration. Indeed, Itsuka was an incredibly kind and adorable girl.

Without warning, a streak of red and white lightning tore through the room like a rift in the heavens, the once-dim space now ablaze with light.

Boom!

"Ah!" Startled by the thunder's roar, Itsuka let out an endearing yelp, instinctively clutching at Lin Mu's shirtfront.

Lin Mu paused briefly, then smiled and gently patted Itsuka's head. "So little Itsuka is scared of thunder, huh? Don't worry, I'm right here," he soothed.

But once the thunder passed, Itsuka released her grip on Lin Mu's shirt, casting him a slightly reproachful glance.

Unperturbed, Lin Mu steered the conversation in a new direction. "By the way, I mentioned earlier that Shido won't be able to make it back because of the weather, so he's staying at the house tonight. I'll take care of dinner. Anything in particular you're craving?"

Itsuka didn't seem phased by the news of Shido's absence, having already been briefed at the door. She pondered for a moment, head tilted, then said, "Hmm... I'd like some sweet and sour pork loin and Mapo tofu..."

Indeed, Itsuka had been thoroughly charmed by Lin Mu's masterful Chinese cuisine.

With a knowing look, Lin Mu confidently assured, "Consider it done." He couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction. Itsuka's response to his question was a clear sign she wasn't upset anymore, and he allowed himself a moment of pride.

After a moment's thought, Lin Mu suggested, "But it's just past three now, a bit early to start dinner. How about we head downstairs and play some games first?"

Itsuka's eyes sparkled at the idea. She had been gaming with Lin Mu nearly every day for the past few days, no doubt becoming a bona fide gaming addict.

The Shido family's television had been upgraded just a few days ago, from a passable size to a colossal curved-screen LCD that nearly filled half the wall. The TV's arrival was quite the mystery; both Lin Mu and Shido were astonished when it was delivered, yet Itsuka acted as if she had been expecting it for ages.

Shido had confided to Lin Mu that he couldn't afford such a lavish TV, which made Lin Mu all the more curious about how Itsuka had acquired it. Reflecting on the afternoon he first arrived in this world, the very different Itsuka he had met then, and the fantastical medical pod and space jumps, Lin Mu couldn't shake the feeling that there was something extraordinary about Itsuka.

Despite everything, the days they had spent together had led Lin Mu to see Itsuka as nothing less than a sister of his own...

The rain outside was relentless, cascading down like a deluge from an overturned basin. The occasional thunderclap would cause Itsuka, already nestled in Lin Mu's embrace, to burrow deeper into his arms. Yet, the profound sense of security she found there, a feeling she hadn't felt since being with Shido five years earlier, brought her immense comfort. Thus...

"Lin Mu, could you pass me a potion? I'm out of health..."

"Lin Mu, I need help!"

"Lin Mu, I want that staff."

"Lin Mu..."

Lin Mu: "..." Although he was at a loss for words, listening to the downpour and gazing at Itsuka, content in his hold, he couldn't deny the coziness of their shared life. He let out a soft sigh and gently laid his chin atop Itsuka's head, his myriad thoughts and unspoken words finally coalescing into a resigned yet affectionate, "Alright~"

Time had slipped into the late afternoon unnoticed, and the typhoon's rain showed no signs of letting up, with a yellow alert flashing on his phone.

Then, Shido called to check if Lin Mu and Itsuka had eaten and how Itsuka was faring, well aware of her fear of thunder. Learning of her calm state, he expressed his amazement over the phone, "That's Mu for you." Though, he couldn't hide a tinge of jealousy...

After ending the call with Shido, Lin Mu stood up and affectionately tousled Itsuka's hair. "Okay, I'll start on dinner. You can play another game in the meantime."

Itsuka, still yearning for more, nodded in agreement. They had been immersed in an expansive co-op adventure game, where the joy lay in their teamwork.

...

Yawning, Lin Mu made his way to the fridge to gather ingredients, stealing a glance through the window at the world veiled in rain. "You know, I actually have a fondness for rainy days."

...

Post-dinner, Lin Mu and Itsuka lost themselves in gaming for hours, until their drooping eyelids betrayed their exhaustion. Eventually, they both succumbed to sleep right there on the living room carpet, in front of the TV.

The following morning broke with a start.

"I don't want to be hanged!" Lin Mu's shout pierced the silence, his eyes previously squeezed shut now flew open to reveal trembling violet irises, wide with alarm.

In that instant of clarity, Lin Mu recognized the terror had been just a dream. Before him was a cascade of red hair and a charming face so adorable it could send any self-proclaimed lolicon over the edge. And this delightful visage was mere inches away, her breaths faintly audible...

Swallowing reflexively, Lin Mu reassured himself silently, "I'm not a lolicon, I'm not a lolicon... Wei is gone..."