CHAPTER 41: CH 41: REST

Ding

"Welcome, dear customers...huh-? You both are back? What happened?"

The owner asked as he looked between Cane and Ai. He did not understand why they had come back even after he sent them to that ’fun place’.

That ruined hotel used to be a special spot for lovers and according to the rumors, the innermost room was still preserved with magic and was also considered a magic spot for lovers to spend time in.

So the owner had been doing this couple a favor...unless.

’Don’t tell me-! Are these two not together yet? But why? That girl clearly likes him and she’s cute as well. Why is he missing out on such a treasure?’

The shopkeeper could not help but question Cane and wondered whether he was even a male at all.

Either that, or maybe he swung for the other side...in which case he just pitied the girl.

Cane noticed the shopkeeper’s gaze focused on Ai and he quickly positioned himself in front of her to protect her.

"Owner, we would like to stay another night. Here, 4 coins. We’ll take the same room. Ai, come with me."

Cane called out and Ai followed him without question. Her obedient self made the owner feel even more sorry for her.

’Oh poor child. Just what have you done to fall for such an insensitive man. I do hope that he notices you soon and you find real happiness. Otherwise, that man deserves to be cursed.’

Cane felt a shiver go down his spine as he headed to his room. He felt as if someone was talking about him, but he could not prove it just yet.

"Are you alright?"

Ai asked as she watched him pause to look around. She gave a quick glance around for any signs of danger, but she did not pick up any.

"Ah, no-! I am fine. I just paused because I needed to check something. Let’s head back to our room now and lay down the new mattress."

Cane told Ai as he took the lead. He had hated that pink, white, and red room, but even he had to admit that the bedding there was of the highest quality.

So he had grabbed it and brought it with him...well, a clean set from the wardrobe at least. He was not going to risk grabbing the bedding on the actual bed because god knows what could have happened there.

[Shura: I cannot believe you stole from a love hotel. Isn’t that a new kind of low?]

[HaremKingXXX: Don’t listen to him, Cane. You did what was necessary.]

The notifications from the stream were getting too much. Cane was thankful for their support, but it was also the time to close for the day.

"Alright, I think I’ve entertained you all enough for the day. I hope you have good night. Now go to sleep."

He told the chat and they wrote messages filled with protest.

[HaremKingXXX: That’s not fair. You have blocked us for the second time-]

The stream ended and Cane let out a sigh. When he looked at Ai, she was staring at his screen and it almost gave him a fright.

For a second, he almost thought that she could see his screen and it made his heart beat a little louder.

But then Ai blinked and he realized that she had just blanked out, and that was why she was staring at the place where his screen was.

"Ai, go to sleep. I have something to do tonight. I will come and meet you in the morning. If I don’t wake from my sleep, don’t be alarmed. I will just be taking care of my business."

Cane had spent 4 gold coins and he was going to make full use of them. But he also needed to wake up and take care of his body’s needs. He had not gotten to have a proper meal in some time now.

"Do you really have to go...? No, never mind. I will go to sleep now. Good night."

Ai looked really concerned for a whole minute before she decided that she was not going to ask any more questions.

Whatever she wanted to ask was clutched tightly in her throat.

Cane gave her one last glance before he woke up. For some reason, he did not feel particularly hungry or even in need of the washroom.

After making sure that everything was alright and taking care of cleaning the house and taking a real-life bath, he flopped on the bed.

The sun was rising outside, but he did not feel tired at all. All he wanted to do was go back to gaming.

But the date for his annual exam was also coming up and he felt like he should get it over with as well...just to make sure too much Clash Online had not damaged his body.

He forced himself to eat some food before he went back to the game.

Darkness enveloped his vision and before he knew it, he was back. His body was lying on the bed, not too far away from Ai, and she looked peaceful and had also somehow found her way on top of his body.

Cane carefully pushed her back down on her side, but her grip on him was too tight. It was a struggle to get free, and by the time Cane did get free, the sun was rising outside.

Ai rubbed her eyes and as soon as she saw him, she gave him a small but genuine smile.

"Are you done with whatever it was that you had to do? Then, shall we head out?"

She asked and somehow, the glow of the rising sun made her hair and face glow. It was tough for Cane to be able to look away from her.

"Cane, are you alright? Did something happen?"

Ai asked and Cane snapped out of his daze and clutched his heart.

Cane wanted to ask her the same thing—whether something happened or not. But his words were stuck in his throat when he tried to speak.

In the end, he just nodded and followed Ai out, wondering what was going on with him.