The night rain was cold and desolate.
Walking back to the internet cafe, the team's atmosphere was unusually heavy, and no one spoke the entire way.
Within a single day, two companions had been killed by monsters, and another was severely injured; the threat of death pressed down on everyone, making it hard to breathe.
Before this, the so-called 'world destroyed by the Strange Tale disaster' was merely an unreal concept.
It was only at this moment, after someone paid with their life, that the unfortunate souls stranded in the parallel world finally woke up to the terrifying apocalypse where their lives were in danger at any moment.
"We're back."
Seeing the familiar internet cafe sign at the street corner, someone quickly called out.
With the internet cafe in sight, many passersby and passengers breathed a sigh of relief, unconsciously quickening their pace.
The environment of the underground internet cafe was naturally not good; before this, many people found the internet cafe's air stuffy and dark, making them uncomfortable, but at this moment, the previously disliked underground internet cafe had become a amazing and safe haven.
Natsuki walked into the internet cafe first, briefly checked the environment, and then said:
"Confirmed safe, you can come in."
The passersby and passengers, who had been standing outside the internet cafe, getting rained on and looking on eagerly, rushed in upon hearing it was safe.
"Natsuki-kun, what about Mr. Oyama?"
Before Natsuki could even take a sip of water, someone came over to ask for his opinion.
And Mr. Oyama was the unlucky person who had been dragged into the alley by tentacles earlier, almost dying.
Natsuki said:
"Naturally, we'll help clean the wound and sterilize it... Miko, will the injury caused by the red eye not risk infection?"
Parallel World Miko gently shook her head and said:
"Don't worry, it won't get infected."
Momo crossed her arms over her chest and couldn't help but complain:
"It took you this long to ask; if it were going to get infected, that guy would have already mutated."
"It's good that it won't get infected." Natsuki nodded, looking at the passersby and passengers, "You all heard just now, it's just a normal injury, it won't get infected, and the injury isn't serious; just cleaning the wound and sterilizing it will be fine... So you can decide what to do."
"..."
Natsuki clapped his hands, turned around, and walked to Miko, saying:
"Let's go, we'll shower first."
Miko was still a bit worried:
"That... are we really not going to help Mr. Oyama?"
"Human vitality is actually quite astonishing," Natsuki said casually, "Given Mr. Oyama's injuries, even if we leave him alone, he'll be fine."
His life wouldn't be in danger, but the pain and lingering effects were uncertain.
Natsuki was not a savior, nor was he a saint; he had already done his utmost by rescuing him, so of course, he wouldn't provide detailed, personal care; it would be more like Miko to do so.
"Alright then..."
Seeing someone go to help treat the injury, Miko withdrew her gaze, pursed her lips, and followed Natsuki to shower.
The primary function of Japan's internet cafes was not actually internet access; firstly, the internet speed was dead slow, and secondly, the computer configurations were terrible; their main appeal was as a cheap resting place, so shower rooms were naturally not lacking, though there were no bathtubs.
And prioritized use of the shower room was one of Natsuki and Miko's privileges.
"Do you want to shower together?"
Natsuki asked.
"Of course not." Miko gave him a glare, grabbed a clean towel, "Wait for me a moment, I'll be out soon."
Natsuki waved his hand, casually found a sofa, and sat down. He hadn't been sitting long when a soft, weak voice suddenly rang out:
"Natsuki-kun..."
Natsuki looked up; the person who had arrived was none other than the curvaceous Mrs. Ozawa.
"Madam, is there something wrong?"
Mrs. Ozawa bowed ninety degrees and said:
"I came specifically to thank you, Natsuki-kun; otherwise, I might have been harmed."
Natsuki felt a slight blur before his eyes, almost unable to look away, and lightly coughed twice, saying:
"No need to thank me, it was just a small effort; it's good that Madam is fine."
"There's one more thing..." Mrs. Ozawa pursed her lips, a hard-to-speak expression on her face, and softly said, "My back hurts a bit... it's bothering me."
"Your back hurts?" Natsuki mused, "Could it be that you were injured when the red eye wrapped around you?"
"I don't know." Mrs. Ozawa looked over pitifully, "Natsuki-kun, could you help me check it?"
Natsuki: "..."
Looking at the pitifully beautiful Mrs. Ozawa, Natsuki suddenly remembered the female player from the park dungeon.
Comparing the two instantly revealed the winner.
That female player could be identified at a glance, but this beautiful Madam, whether she was truly timid and weak, or had ulterior motives, was genuinely difficult to distinguish in a short time.
Natsuki's ears twitched slightly, and then he said:
"Then I'll help take a look?"
"Thank you, Natsuki-kun." Mrs. Ozawa thanked him gratefully, "That... right here?"
Natsuki said earnestly:
"Right here, we are upright and fear no shadows."
"Alright then..."
Mrs. Ozawa bit her full lips, her face flushed as she took off her coat, then turned around, preparing to let Natsuki examine her back.
The next moment.
The bathroom door suddenly opened, and Miko walked out, wiping her hair with a towel:
"I'm done showering... Eh eh eh?"
Hearing the commotion, Mrs. Ozawa hastily put on her clothes, her face flushed as she lowered her head and said:
"Miss Miko, let me explain! It's not what you think!"
Miko bit her lips, her pink cheeks unconsciously puffed out, and she glared at Natsuki.
You said you wouldn't break up other people's families?
I was still showering in the bathroom, and you were outside taking advantage of someone else's Madam; you're too impatient!
Natsuki raised his hands and said:
"Mrs. Ozawa said her back hurt, probably injured when she was grabbed by the red-eyed monster earlier, so she asked me to help examine her."
Miko: "..."
There were female passengers in the internet cafe, so why ask a male to help examine her body?
Even when going to the hospital, many girls are unwilling to let male doctors examine them!
At this moment, a familiar voice suddenly rang out:
"I can testify, Natsuki isn't lying."
Natsuki turned his head to look; Momo had her arms crossed over her chest, leaning against the wall, chewing gum, and said:
"It was indeed Mrs. Ozawa who asked him to help examine her."
Natsuki cupped his hands and bowed, saying:
"Thank you, Momo-senpai, for speaking up for justice."
"Hmph." Momo's eyes showed disdain, "I'm just speaking the truth."
"You two help Mrs. Ozawa examine her." Natsuki stood up and said nonchalantly, "I'll shower first; I've been rained on for half a day, and I feel terrible."
"..."
When Natsuki came out of the shower, Mrs. Ozawa was no longer there; only Miko was sitting on a small sofa, her pretty face slightly flushed, seemingly lost in thought.
"Miko, I'm done showering."
Natsuki greeted her.
"Ah..." Miko came back to her senses and quickly stood up, saying, "Since you're done showering, let's go rest."
Natsuki asked:
"How is Mrs. Ozawa?"
Miko pursed her lips, raised her hand to tuck the strands of hair falling to her chest behind her ear, and softly said:
"Momo-senpai and I helped check, and there was indeed a bruised contusion on her back, but the skin wasn't broken. We helped apply a blood-activating and bruise-reducing ointment."
"Then there's no problem." Natsuki nodded, "Let's go, rest."
Miko vigilantly covered her chest and said:
"You go first, I'm not sleepy yet."
"Then I'll go take a nap first."
Natsuki waved his hand and walked towards the resting room.
Everyone else slept on the floor in the internet cafe, only Natsuki occupied a separate resting room. Don't ask, just say it's the privilege of the leader.
Watching Natsuki walk into the resting room, Miko couldn't help but recall Momo's earlier reminder.
"Miko, you need to be careful."
"Human hearts are actually very complex; some people look soft and weak, but you don't know what their true nature is... How does that saying go?"
"A high-level hunter often appears as prey."
"That Mrs. Ozawa looks pitiful, but she's already a thirty-year-old office worker; how could she still be as weak as a little white rabbit? Maybe it's all for that guy, Natsuki."
"You don't believe me?"
"Just watch, as long as that woman goes to find Natsuki again when he's resting alone, then she definitely has ulterior motives."
"..."
Miko didn't want to think so badly of others, but what Momo said made a lot of sense, so after much thought, Miko decided to be more vigilant and carefully observe Mrs. Ozawa's movements.
Time quietly passed.
As everyone finished treating the injured unlucky person, the internet cafe lobby quickly quieted down.
Miko narrowed her eyes slightly and suddenly saw Mrs. Ozawa quietly get up and walk towards the resting room, which made her grit her teeth.
"Momo-senpai was actually right..."
Seeing Mrs. Ozawa walk into the resting room, Miko hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn't bring herself to ignore it. She clenched her fists and sat upright.
If Natsuki made a mistake, when everyone returned to the original world, Kaguya and the others would definitely be disappointed, right?
For everyone's sake, she had to stop Natsuki's wrong behavior!
Getting up and walking to the resting room door, Miko took a deep breath and raised her hand to knock.
"Who is it?"
Natsuki's voice came from the resting room.
"It's me." Miko said at the door, "I can't sleep, I have something I want to tell you."
Natsuki was silent for two seconds:
"I'm a bit thirsty, Miko, go get me a bottle of water."
Get water?
He clearly just wanted to send her away!
Miko took a deep breath and said:
"Understood, I'll go get it now."
Turning away from the door, Miko hid in a corner, peeking out.
The lounge door opened, and Mrs. Ozawa quietly slipped out.
"Phew…"
Seeing that Mrs. Ozawa's clothes were neat, Miko quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Her clothes weren't disheveled, proving that the two of them hadn't done anything strange… but she couldn't let her guard down!
If there was anything serious, they could have talked about it tomorrow morning; there was no need to sneak into Natsuki's room while everyone else was resting, right?
Miko withdrew her gaze, turned and walked to the vending machine, took out two bottles of mineral water, and then entered the lounge.
Natsuki was sitting on the edge of the bed, reading a book, and looked up, saying:
"Why can't you suddenly sleep?"
After a pause, Natsuki added:
"You must have been scared by today's events. Many people probably can't sleep tonight."
Hearing this, Miko suddenly felt a little ashamed.
That's right.
Two companions were lost today, and one person was seriously injured, yet she was still feeling jealous… it was truly inappropriate.
"Come and sit." Natsuki patted the side of the bed and said softly.
Miko walked over, sat down on the bed, and then unscrewed the cap of a mineral water bottle:
"Here, have some water."
Natsuki took the mineral water, drank a couple of sips, and then said gently:
"Rest against me for a while."
"I'm not sleepy…"
Miko hesitated for a moment, then leaned over.
However, when she opened her eyes again, it was already dawn the next day.
Miko raised her hand to cover her mouth and yawned, spacing out for a bit before noticing a sticky note on the cabinet next to her, with Natsuki's handwriting on it:
"You said you weren't sleepy?"
Miko: "…"
She peeled off one sticky note, and surprisingly, there was another one underneath:
"Good morning, go eat breakfast, and then wait for us to come back."
Miko rubbed her eyes, peeled off the sticky note, put it into her wallet, and then walked out of the lounge.
Because of the death incident last night, no one chose to go out today; they all sat in the internet cafe lobby, looking listless with swollen eye bags.
Natsuki had a simple meal and found that he felt unexpectedly good… if Natsuki hadn't been there, she would have been like everyone else, restless and unable to sleep all night, right?
At the same time.
Natsuki, Momo, and Parallel World Miko teamed up and went to the school again to search for Strange Tales and gather information.
Having had previous experience, the three of them successfully avoided the rules of the Strange Tale this time and quickly caught the Strange Tale itself, but unfortunately, it knew nothing, indicating that there was no spatial mist nearby, wasting a day for nothing.
Time passed day by day, and in a blink of an eye, several more days had gone by.
During these days, people continued to go out and explore, but they were much more cautious. Natsuki, on the other hand, went out every day, beating up **Strange Tale** and searching for spatial mist, but unfortunately, he had bad luck and never found a spatial mist that could allow them to travel back.
Finally, Miko, after discovering that Natsuki had a sleep-inducing effect, slept in the lounge these past few days, partly to fall asleep and partly to prevent Mrs. Ozawa from making mistakes.
"I've finished reading the manga." Miko walked in, holding several manga books, "I got some new ones."
The electricity in this world had not yet disappeared, but the internet had crashed, so they couldn't play on their phones and could only rely on manga and light novels to pass the time.
Natsuki reached out and took the stack of manga, casually pulled out one, and opened it, his gaze quickly becoming subtle.
"Why are you looking at me?"
Miko curiously leaned closer, looked at the book, and her pretty face quickly flushed, saying:
"Why is there something like this!"
Natsuki said innocently:
"You took the manga yourself, and you're asking me?"
Miko said, blushing:
"I just picked it up casually because the cover illustration looked good; I didn't even see the adult content warning!"
Natsuki closed the book, checked it, and then said:
"Alright, the adult content warning was covered by a sticker."
"How awful…" Miko bit her lip, "Quickly take it out."
"Take it out for what?" Natsuki said seriously, "For Miko to choose it by chance, that's fate, and since it's fate, there's no harm in looking."
Miko turned her pretty face away and said:
"I don't want to read something like that."
Natsuki casually opened it and said:
"I'll read it for a while."
"You…"
Miko originally wanted to stop him, thinking that someone under eighteen shouldn't read such things, but the words caught in her throat and she swallowed them back.
He was already staying out all night and messing around, so stopping him from reading this kind of book was meaningless.
"Tsk~" Natsuki lightly clicked his tongue, "This character is so similar to Miko."
Miko's ears twitched slightly; though she said she wouldn't look, curiosity would certainly get the better of her. After enduring for a while, she finally couldn't resist casting a curious glance, and realized that a long-haired black-haired girl in the book indeed bore some resemblance to herself.
"What the heck!"
After not looking for long, Miko couldn't help but complain, "In reality, no one would betray their boyfriend just because of a verbal threat, right?"
"If someone threatens you, wouldn't you call the police?!"
"Art comes from reality." Natsuki said casually, "In reality, many people do choose to comply when threatened, just like with phone scams. Many people scoff at scams, thinking they would never fall for them, but when it actually happens to them, they panic and are completely led by the scammers."
"That's true…"
Miko nodded subconsciously.
Natsuki continued to speak while turning to the next page:
"It's just a book, don't overthink it, just enjoy reading it."
"It's not enjoyable at all!" Miko complained again, "Holding someone's weakness against them, forcing a girl to date him, and even… no matter how you look at it, it's too much!"
Complaining aside, the book was indeed very enticing, making one unable to resist reading on.
The lounge quickly fell silent, with only soft breathing and the sound of turning pages.
After an unknown amount of time, the book finally reached its last page.
"It's over."
Natsuki closed the book and turned to look at Miko.
Their eyes met.
The air seemed to become viscous.
"I, I'm going to get some water…"
Miko's pretty face was crimson, her gaze flickering, instinctively wanting to escape.
"The water is clearly on the cabinet."
Natsuki reached for the mineral water and unscrewed the cap.
Realizing she had made the wrong excuse, Miko had no choice but to extend her right hand.
However, Natsuki did not give her the water. Instead, he tilted his head back and took a sip himself, then wrapped an arm around Miko's soft, slender waist and directly kissed her.
"Mm…"
Miko's eyelashes trembled slightly. She closed her eyes in a panic, but her lips involuntarily parted in cooperation.
After a long while.
Natsuki released Miko and whispered:
"Want another sip?"
Miko was breathless, her face already flushed like fire, her eyes misty:
"N-no…"
Natsuki whispered:
"Then have another sip."
"Mm…!"
No one came to knock on the door and disturb them.
Nor were they interrupted by any sudden incidents.
In short…
The night passed without a word.