"It's fine. Just keep protecting Juchuan Jingxiang as our sole objective."
Luo Jie had joined the Ivory Mountain Chieftain Team purely to gain entry into this illusionary realm. Bringing the One-Winged Angels Team along was simply because he needed someone to shield Juchuan Jingxiang during the breakout from Fujimi Academy.
Because of his [Sub-Human] bloodline, forming long-term partnerships with any team was impossible. Expecting unconditional trust built in just two days? Sorry, not only was it impossible for others, even Luo Jie himself couldn't manage it.
"Alright," the Dancer quickly interjected, sensing the awkwardness and pulling Sapphire into the conversation to smooth things over, "While we won't add objectives, we are moving together. We'll do our best to help protect Miyamoto Rei within our capabilities... right, Saph?"
"Mhm. Thanks," Luo Jie smiled, letting the topic drop. The more said now, the greater the potential for misunderstanding. "So, the plan stands. If there's nothing else, everyone should rest... I'll go check if Miyamoto Rei is awake."
The mansion chosen by the Dancer was classic Japanese architecture. Despite extensive modern renovations, the core structure remained unchanged: numerous sliding doors partitioning the space into small rooms.
This style couldn't match the soundproofing or insulation of modern concrete buildings, but its excellent ventilation and light suited Japan's humid, temperate maritime climate perfectly.
Arriving at Juchuan Jingxiang's room, Luo Jie found the buxom, airheaded woman absent – likely bathing. Only Miyamoto Rei lay on the central tatami mat.
A thin quilt covered her against the cool spring night, revealing just one slender leg. The bandage on her wound was pristine, clearly recently changed.
Seeing her condition stable, Luo Jie started to leave when he noticed Rei's long eyelashes flutter. Her lips, cracked and dry from blood loss, moved faintly as if whispering.
Awake? Or dreaming?
Her voice was too faint. Luo Jie strained but couldn't decipher the words. He knelt beside her, leaning his ear close.
"Yu...u... don't go..."
He finally understood.
Still clinging to her ex-boyfriend? The one her childhood friend brained with a baseball bat...
Luo Jie mused on Rei's tragic arc: her unrequited love for the clueless childhood friend, Shiroomi Takashi; her brief romance with the handsome Igo Yuu, cut brutally short; being held back a year due to her police officer father's scandal; finally mustering the courage to reconnect with Takashi, only to be overshadowed by the exceptional Murasaki Saeko.
The girl's life was pure melodrama. If she had a theme song, 'A Spray of Plum Blossoms' would fit perfectly...
"Yuu!"
Just as Luo Jie's mind wandered, Rei's eyes snapped open. She surged upwards, throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him down onto the mat.
"Yuu! You're alive! Thank goodness! Please... please don't leave me again..."
Luo Jie froze, acutely aware of two things: she'd mistaken him for her dead boyfriend, and Miyamoto Rei was completely naked.
Her full breasts pressed against his chin, radiating the clean, youthful scent of her skin.
His 400-point INT stat kicked in, instantly piecing it together: Jingxiang must have bathed Rei while treating her wound, then taken her soiled clothes to wash, leaving her uncovered.
What now?
Pushing her off gently and saying "Wrong person"? – Besides the awkwardness of where to push, revealing her nudity would be worse. Pretending to be knocked unconscious? – Plausible, but risky. If she saw through it, he'd look like a creep exploiting the situation. His hard-earned "decent guy" image would shatter.
Deep in thought, his hands resting on the firm, rounded curves of her buttocks, Luo Jie pondered his dilemma.
Whoosh—Clack!
The sudden sound of a sliding door shattered the silence.
Juchuan Jingxiang stood in the doorway, damp golden hair cascading over her shoulders. She wore only a sleeveless top and hot pants, her expression one of mild surprise as she took in the scene of Luo Jie and Rei tangled on the floor.
"Um... bad timing?"
...
A few minutes later, the three sat facing each other on the tatami.
Rei now wore oversized loungewear, the baggy top and pants hiding her figure, though the fabric couldn't entirely conceal the proud swell of her breasts or the distinct points pressing against the thin material.
"So... you saved me?" Rei asked, twisting the fabric of her pants, her gaze avoiding Luo Jie's.
Unlike the naturally oblivious Jingxiang, Rei couldn't easily dismiss being seen naked, let alone briefly embraced, by a stranger. Her feelings were complicated.
"Just happened to be passing by," Luo Jie replied easily, offering a friendly smile and his hand. "Call me Yan Ye."
Perhaps due to her police family background, Rei's character leaned towards pragmatism. She wasn't prone to tantrums over minor embarrassments, especially not towards someone who'd saved her life twice. Luo Jie doubted the incident would dent her goodwill.
"I'm Miyamoto Rei, Class 2-B. Just Rei is fine." Despite her blush, she took his hand firmly.
Thanks to his [Protection Umbrella Enemy] title (+30 Favor) and the "Judgment of Justice" quest reward (+30 Favor), plus the two rescues, Rei's Favor towards him was likely well over 70. First-name basis was natural.
"This is a house in South District," Luo Jie explained. "We've cleared the Dead surrounding it. It's safe. Rest well tonight... Tomorrow we head to a friend's place Jingxiang knows."
He paused, studying her face carefully. "Rei," he asked, his tone neutral but probing, "Will you come with us tomorrow? Or... do you have other plans?"