C13 Things Became Interesting

Lin Mu had already figured out why he was having nightmares about being hanged—it was because Itsuka's hands were tightly clasped around his neck. Even now, he was struggling to breathe.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Mu gently pried Itsuka's small hands away, only to see her frown in her sleep. This made him hesitate to move any further, fearing that waking Itsuka now and having her find herself in bed with him could lead to some rather awkward moments.

Despite his reluctance to disturb Itsuka further, her grip on his neck eventually loosened, allowing him to breathe more easily.

As he relaxed, Lin Mu became acutely aware of his current predicament. Waking up early in the morning to find an incredibly cute girl snuggled in his arms was a scenario that could send any normal guy straight to cloud nine.

And there was something about Itsuka's scent—it was intoxicating, sending Lin Mu's senses into a whirl. Cradling this delicate warmth, he listened to the pitter-patter of rain outside the window and, before he knew it, drifted back to sleep.

...

"Umm..." Itsuka's red eyes fluttered open groggily. She rubbed her eyes instinctively, then froze. Before her lay a swath of white hair and a pale, refined face.

Her mouth fell open, and she quickly clapped a hand over it. 'How could this be...'

A blush spread across Itsuka's adorable face as she felt Lin Mu's arms still wrapped tightly around her waist. Breathing in the subtle scent that was uniquely his, she wondered if she was still dreaming...

Boom!

A peal of thunder startled her, and instinctively, Itsuka snuggled closer into Lin Mu's embrace. Despite her embarrassment, she couldn't deny how comfortable and secure she felt there.

"Ah! I don't care anymore!" Itsuka resolved in her heart, surrendering to the moment. Then, like a little kitten, she curled up in Lin Mu's arms and fell back into slumber.

At around eight in the morning, the front door finally swung open from the outside. Shido stepped in, murmuring a soft "I'm back," before hanging the umbrella he had borrowed from the Tonomachi family on the nearby rack.

Shido tapped the rainwater off his shoes onto the carpet before slipping into his house slippers. As he entered the living room with a smile, the scene unfolding on the carpet in front of the TV stopped him cold.

"Wh... What!?"

Dizzy, Shido shook his head, half-convinced he was seeing things. But the sight remained unchanged: a red-haired girl nestled in the embrace of a white-haired boy.

Yet, the beauty of the scene was lost on him when the girl was his sister, Itsuka, and the boy was his best friend.

With a heavy sigh, Shido massaged his forehead, then, with resolve, made the most significant decision of his life.

"Since this has happened... Mu, you can't fail Itsuka now..." he murmured. Turning on his heel, he headed back to the entryway, donned his shoes, grabbed his umbrella, and stepped out into the world again, seeking solace in a walk to clear his mind.

Time passed before Lin Mu's eyes fluttered open again. After a yawn jogged his memory, he glanced at Itsuka, still asleep in his arms, 'Good, she's still out.' He peeked toward the entryway, 'Even better, Shido hasn't returned.'

Carefully, Lin Mu disentangled Itsuka's delicate arm from his torso and rose swiftly.

"Phew," he exhaled. The simple act was more nerve-wracking than being caught off guard by a teacher's question in class.

With Lin Mu gone, the cozy warmth vanished, and Itsuka, deep in slumber, instinctively curled tighter, seeking warmth on her own.

Lin Mu couldn't bear to leave her cold and alone, so with a do-or-die spirit, he scooped Itsuka up in a princess carry from the carpet and tiptoed to her room. After tucking her into bed and ensuring she was snug under the covers,

Lin Mu was drenched in sweat. If the previous tension was akin to being unprepared for a question in class, this was like being abruptly kidnapped and dropped into a Middle Eastern conflict, bayonet in hand, ready for a fight...

Lin Mu felt his task was complete and slipped out of Itsuka's room quietly.

Unbeknownst to him, as he closed Itsuka's door, one of her eyes cracked open, a blush spreading across her small face as she let out a cute "Hmm" and buried herself in the covers.

Checking the time, Lin Mu noted it was 8:30 on a Sunday morning. Peering outside, the sky remained overcast, but now it was just a light drizzle.

He sighed, headed to the entryway to slip on his shoes, grabbed his umbrella, and stepped outside, only to return to his room moments later.

...

After freshening up, Lin Mu ventured out once more, eager for a change of scenery.

He admired the streets, unmarred by the rain, and mused, "Impressive drainage system this city has..."

Shops were already welcoming customers; the mild rain was no deterrent.

Lin Mu found a coffee shop, ordered a Blue Mountain, and settled by the window. As he watched the dreary sky, the gentle rain, and the city's towering buildings, with passersby clutching their umbrellas, he felt his earlier agitation ebb away.

He turned with a smile, "Quite the world we live in." Looking up, Lin Mu's eyes caught a familiar silhouette at a nearby window, gazing outward just as he had been.

His mouth fell open, a wave of guilt washing over him—anyone would feel it in his shoes!

But after a moment's hesitation, Lin Mu carried his coffee over and joined Shido at his table.

Shido sensed the company and looked up, surprised, "Mu? What brings you here?" Then, as if remembering something, his face took on an awkward cast.

Scratching his head, Lin Mu replied with equal awkwardness, "Ah, just needed to clear my head... What about you? Not heading back?"

Shido was at a loss for words.

His mouth twitched in an attempt to smile, but the result was a strained grimace that sent a flutter of anxiety through Lin Mu.

"The coffee here is great, so I thought I'd stop by for a drink..." Shido explained, discovering for the first time the little coffee shop on the street corner.

"Really? It is quite delicious..."

Slurp... (Lin Mu sipping coffee)

Slurp... (Shido sipping coffee)