In the kitchen, Cafe was making porridge for Luo Cheng. The man looked out the window at the continuous rain. He hadn't seen rain in a long time; this was the first time in half a year. And it was so strange. The small convenience store across from the school entrance was open, but all the surrounding lights were off. He couldn't see anyone else; it was pitch black. It felt eerily quiet. Even with the rain, it shouldn't be so deserted.
"Trainer, the porridge is ready."
"Thanks." Luo Cheng sat up with an effort. "Cafe, you should go back. Don't let me infect you."
"Horse girls have strong bodies. They don't get sick that easily."
"What about Teio and the others?" Luo Cheng had asked Tachyon to tell Teio and Sky that he was sick, but he hadn't seen a trace of either of them. With their personalities, they should have rushed over to check on him. But ever since the strange story was triggered, he hadn't seen them at all. No matter how he thought about it, it wasn't normal.
"I don't know. Maybe they're in their dorms. Do you want me to go get them?"
"Yes."
Cafe nodded, and after Luo Cheng finished his porridge, she left the room. A few minutes later, she returned. "Trainer, Teio and the others aren't in their dorm."
"That fast... Did you check the school building?"
"They're not there either. I just went to the student council, and President Rudolf and the others aren't there either."
"No one is there?"
"No."
That was truly strange. Even if Rudolf was out, Narita Brian or Air Groove would stay in the room. Except for races, it was rare for everyone to be gone. But Luo Cheng's body was weak now, and he didn't have the energy to figure out the truth. He exercised regularly, so why was his resistance so weak? He got a cold from a little rain, and his head felt muddled. Was I consuming too much deoxyribonucleic acid... that can't be it.
"Trainer, your forehead is so hot."
A cool, small hand rested on Luo Cheng's head. Cafe said, "Do you want me to help you cool down?"
"Sure..." Luo Cheng answered offhandedly.
He heard a rustling sound next to him. He saw Cafe place a folded Tracen uniform on the nightstand, then she lifted her leg and got onto the bed. Her artistic, fair body was exposed to Luo Cheng. She looked so petite and fragile. Her fair skin had a lovely cherry-pink tint at the joints. It looked like it would taste very sweet.
"Cafe?"
"I've come to help you cool down, Trainer."
Are you sure you're cooling me down?
Cafe got under the covers, her cool skin pressing against Luo Cheng's. She hugged Luo Cheng's arm, giving the man a faint softness. Sigh... Cafe is great in every way, except her chest is below average, only a little better than Silence Suzuka's. But this figure was perfect for her winning outfit. That black outfit was truly handsome. Even Luo Cheng wanted to try it on. If Cafe had a big chest, that outfit probably wouldn't have the same striking feel.
So, a small-chested Cafe is better. McQueen and Suzuka lose another point.
"Do you feel better, Trainer?"
"Yeah."
Cafe chuckled. Her hand slid to Luo Cheng's chest. Her cool palm and soft fingers felt very comfortable. This isn't bad either. Having someone take care of me when I'm sick. Luo Cheng had never had this kind of treatment before.
Just as Luo Cheng closed his eyes to go to sleep, Cafe suddenly gave him a light pinch.
"Cafe?"
"What's wrong, Trainer?"
"Your hand..."
"Relax, Trainer. Just leave your body to me."
"Cafe... you're more likely to get infected this way." It's a direct breach of skin immunity.
"Tachyon said that a person's emotions can increase hormone secretion, which in turn boosts immunity and can relieve pain and cold symptoms."
"I've never heard of that."
"That's because the Trainer hasn't studied this kind of knowledge."
"I don't think your immunity is that good."
"I won't get sick. The Trainer doesn't need to worry about that."
Cafe ran a hand through her hair, slightly propping herself up and leaning closer to Luo Cheng.
Mwah!
"!"
"Trainer, this can help you recover faster, but in moderation. Otherwise, if you get too excited and your body collapses, it'll be a waste of time. Follow my movements. Slowly..." Cafe stroked the man's cheek. The gentle sensation made Luo Cheng's mind go numb. He half-opened his eyes and said, "You're not Cafe, are you?"
She paused. "Why would the Trainer think that?"
"The timing is wrong. With Cafe's personality, she wouldn't come back until she had checked thoroughly. You came back too fast. Also, the feeling you two give me is too different. Cafe might do this, but she would never say these things."
Luo Cheng remembered that in Cafe's character setting, there was a friend she could communicate with. Sometimes people could see her, but most of the time, only Cafe could sense her presence.
"You're not Cafe... you're her friend, right?"
"Hoh?"
The girl showed a look of interest. Her expression changed, no longer as tranquil as Cafe's. Her fingertips slid downwards.
I got you~
"Mmm...!"
"Shh, don't move."
She said with a smile, "You know a lot about Cafe."
"After watching for so long... I've naturally come to understand her..." Luo Cheng took a deep breath, his voice trembling.
"You're very interesting, Trainer. Your body and your experiences, they've attached to you and shown me some incredible surprises."
"Possession?" Luo Cheng tried to stay lucid. His mind was moving with her hand. "What... what does that mean?"
"What do you think? It's exactly what it sounds like. I'm very curious about what kind of fun the Trainer can bring me. Let me see more. What exactly do you do in the game world? Only then can I pass the time when I'm bored."
She leaned into Luo Cheng's ear.
This girl is too much!
Luo Cheng was trembling. He felt like his brains were about to leak out of his ears.
"Be careful, Trainer. A horse girl's strength is immense. You don't want me to hurt you, do you? A human's body is so fragile, and this part is even more so. So when you're sick, just lie here obediently and do nothing. Just enjoy my care..."
A rustling sound came from the bed as she shifted down.
"Hmm... glug... mwah..."
People used to believe that ghosts were Yin and humans were Yang, and that a human's Yang energy would be drained when they were with a ghost. Luo Cheng really wanted to refute that it was a superstition.
After some unknown amount of time, Luo Cheng opened his eyes and saw Cafe sitting next to him, reading a book.
"Trainer... you were in such a deep sleep." Seeing Luo Cheng awake, Cafe looked up. "You've been asleep for almost five hours, from nine in the morning until two in the afternoon."
Luo Cheng sat up. The muddled feeling was gone, and his body had regained some strength.
"I didn't want to disturb you while you were sleeping. Teio and Sky aren't in their dorms, and I don't know where they went. The student council is empty too. Trainer, are you hungry? Let's eat something first."