"Dragon, if we were ordinary people, we would definitely be great friends," Kōenji said, leaning on the small table and mumbling after single-handedly finishing the last bottle of beer.
Ignoring Kōenji, who was now drunk, Ren bit down on the grilled chicken wing on his skewer. The sound of crunching bone came from his mouth.
Swallowing the food, Ren looked at the drunk Kōenji with a resigned expression, then stood up to pay the bill.
Ren took some skewers from the chiller cabinet and asked the owner to pack them up. After paying the points, he returned to the table and sat down, calmly watching Kōenji with his right hand supporting his head.
In a short while, the owner handed the steaming hot skewers in an insulated box to Ren.
"Stop pretending. I already paid the bill." Taking the insulated box, Ren lightly tapped the table, signaling Kōenji to get up.
A person's breathing rate when sleeping is different from their regular rate. Even though Kōenji deliberately suppressed his breathing rate, Ren saw through him immediately.
Kōenji isn't short on points. Why bother?
Kōenji, exposed by Ren on the spot, straightened up when he heard Ren had paid. He took out a mirror from somewhere and began tending to his slightly messy blonde hair.
"Dragon, I don't know what you're talking about." Without any embarrassment, Kōenji naturally picked up Ren's topic.
Sponging off Ren had become a kind of fun for Kōenji.
Ignoring the narcissistic Kōenji, Ren waved goodbye: "I'm leaving."
Finally recovered, Daichi Ishizaki looked anxiously at the gloomy-faced Kakeru Ryūen and quietly said: "Ryūen Boss…"
Regardless of the outcome, the fact that he rushed forward without Kakeru Ryūen's command was undeniable.
Not only that, he was instantly defeated by Ren with one move. Daichi Ishizaki now felt extremely embarrassed.
"Albert, you go back to the dorm first. Ishizaki, come with me to the infirmary." Kakeru Ryūen did not scold Daichi Ishizaki. He pressed the index finger Ren had broken, his expression fluctuating between anger and gloom.
I was too careless. I shouldn't have underestimated Ren's combat strength just because Mio Ibuki had no visible injuries.
Although Daichi Ishizaki was impulsive tonight, the main responsibility lay with himself.
If he hadn't brought Daichi Ishizaki and Albert Yamada to ambush Ren, Daichi Ishizaki wouldn't have had his knee smashed.
Kakeru Ryūen also held no resentment regarding Albert Yamada's temporary withdrawal from the fight.
People say, why risk your life for a small salary? Albert Yamada wasn't even being paid a salary. Retreating in that situation was a natural human reaction.
The top priority now was to go to the infirmary and see if the index finger could be set right.
Receiving Kakeru Ryūen's order, Albert Yamada only nodded without speaking.
"Ryūen Boss, do you think we could…" Daichi Ishizaki limped over to Kakeru Ryūen, turning his attention to Ren.
Kakeru Ryūen was able to extort points from Class D even when Ken Sudō hadn't hit anyone. Now that Ren had personally inflicted the injuries tonight…
Daichi Ishizaki felt there was a lot of room for maneuvering.
Kakeru Ryūen lightly kicked Daichi Ishizaki's good leg and cursed: "Idiot."
Gently opening the door, Ren saw Hoshinomiya already asleep on the sofa. After shushing the two cats looking at him, Ren quietly started changing his shoes.
Leaving aside Hoshinomiya's aggressive attitude toward Sae Chabashira, she was truly a perfect romantic partner.
Lively, playful, cute, and very caring. Every interaction with Ren was filled with emotional value.
Ren placed the packaged skewers on the coffee table. He bent down, placed his left hand on Hoshinomiya's back and his right hand under her knees, slowly lifting her in a princess carry to take her back to her room.
The moment Ren lifted her, Hoshinomiya lightly inhaled Ren's reassuring scent and burrowed into the young man's embrace.
The actual contact instantly woke Hoshinomiya, who had been sleeping with her eyes closed. Opening her eyes, she saw Ren holding her. She couldn't help but loop her arms around Ren's neck: "Welcome home, Ren~"
"Should I take you back to sleep?" Seeing Chie was awake, Ren spoke softly.
Resting her entire head on Ren's shoulder, Hoshinomiya gently blew on Ren's earlobe: "Are you sleeping with Ren~"
It seemed Hoshinomiya was no longer sleepy.
Ren placed Hoshinomiya back on the sofa, arranged the packaged skewers in front of her, and opened a bottle of red wine for her: "I'm going to shower first. If Chie can't sleep, have some food."
Taking a grilled chicken from the box, he pulled off a leg for Mochi and put the rest in Koharu's bowl. Ren then pet the three begging cats.
Ren took the ice from the freezer compartment and put it in the tub. Ren undressed and lay down in the tub.
He submerged his entire body in the ice water to reduce blood flow and speed up muscle recovery.
He closed his eyes and looked up at the incandescent light of the ceiling, lost in thought.
Hoshinomiya, eating the grilled skewers, raised her glass halfway, looking at the chandelier hanging over the living room through the clear red liquid.
She drank the red wine in one gulp, just like last time!
Quietly pushing open the bathroom door, which wasn't locked, Hoshinomiya tiptoed into the bathroom. Rustling sounds came from the changing area.
"Yikes!"
A delicate shriek awakened Ren, who had been immersed in the feeling of his blood flowing. Opening his eyes, he saw Hoshinomiya standing naked by the tub, trembling slightly.
Hoshinomiya had intended to quietly slip into the tub to surprise Ren, who had his eyes closed and seemed lost in thought. However, the moment she dipped her fair little foot into the tub, she shivered violently from the cold.
This was the scene that just unfolded.
Shaking his head with a faint smile, Ren rose from the tub and grabbed the bathrobe resting nearby, wrapping it around Hoshinomiya.
Ren's nude physique was in full view of Hoshinomiya…
Ren gently took Hoshinomiya's hands, which were trying to cover herself up, and tapped the top of her head: "Stop looking. Go out."
Having done this, Ren got back into the tub.
Not obeying Ren, Hoshinomiya found a stool, sat down by the tub, and began massaging Ren's shoulders with her fair small hands.
As a teacher, Hoshinomiya naturally knew the purpose of the ice bath.
She wouldn't ask Ren what he had done; she only wanted to make the young man feel a little more comfortable.
Who doesn't like a loving girl?
Feeling the pressure on his shoulders, Ren leaned his head back and watched Hoshinomiya massaging his shoulders.
Mwah~
This was Hoshinomiya's kiss.
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