CHAPTER 161 - HIRATSUKA SHIZUKA’S SHYNESS [BONUS CHAPTER 4/4]

The truth of the world from Ren's mouth further muddled Hiratsuka Shizuka's thoughts. She turned her head to look at Ren's profile. "Ren, are you a god?" His radiant presence left an indelible impression on her heart. If he were a god, he would surely know how to choose, right?

Probably guessing her thoughts, Ren spread his hands helplessly. "Unfortunately, I am not a god. Many people like to ask that, but my answer remains the same: I am not a god." He turned to Hiratsuka Shizuka. "I don't plan to tell you too much, nor do I plan to help you make a decision. But regarding the memory issue, you must decide."

"..."

"Ha..." Hiratsuka Shizuka took a deep breath, the cool air filling her lungs. "Tsk, I didn't expect to learn such incredible things from you, kid." Her eyes brightened, and she smiled. "I've decided. I want to remember this memory. As a teacher, I should bear it with my students." This was her duty as a teacher.

"..."

To bear it with her students... an answer Ren hadn't expected. Very cool. Ren also smiled. "Oh, by the way, Shizuka-sensei, there's something I forgot to tell you."

"What is it?" Hiratsuka Shizuka was startled.

"You seem to have been drugged by that Vinsuke."

"Huh?" Hiratsuka Shizuka was about to ask when, but her body instantly went limp. Ren caught her. She had actually been affected much earlier; the pungent smell on Vinsuke was from the drug he commonly used to knock people out. Even Ren was surprised at how long Hiratsuka Shizuka had managed to resist.

Looking at Hiratsuka Shizuka, who was now in a peaceful sleep in his arms, Ren shook his head and chuckled. "What a strong-willed teacher." He did not help her counteract the drug's effects; what she needed now was a good rest.

At the Yuigahama household, Mrs. Yuigahama let out a long sigh of relief. Facing Ren, his swift and precise actions made her very awkward. After much thought, she walked to Yui's door and gently knocked with her knuckles. Then she softly called out, "Yui, do you want breakfast?"

For a while, there was no sound. Hesitantly, she pressed the doorknob, opened the door, and a strong scent wafted out. Gritting her teeth and forcefully suppressing the tremor in her heart, Mrs. Yuigahama saw Yui wrapped in her quilt, fast asleep. The few clothes she had worn yesterday were tossed on the desk chair, including her underwear.

With a complex expression, Mrs. Yuigahama carefully walked to the bedside, making no sound. Her daughter's sleeping face looked tired, and she felt a slight pang of heartache, along with a faint, almost imperceptible envy. Her gaze caught sight of a pile of tissues covering a bag in the trash can. Mrs. Yuigahama's anxious heart finally relaxed. At least what she least wanted to happen hadn't happened. She carefully took out the trash bag again and tiptoed out of the room.

In the living room, Mrs. Yuigahama hesitated for a moment, then opened the trash bag and reached in to search. Touching something only made her raise an eyebrow slightly. She didn't mind the trash can being dirty; she rummaged through the pile of paper, finding everything she was looking for. Upon seeing it, her eyelids twitched wildly. The number she bought was exactly the same as the number here!

Thinking of this, she felt a wave of dizziness. She habitually reached up to rub her forehead. But she forgot that she had just rummaged through and taken out what she was looking for. Her hand touched her nose and cheek, even brushing past the corner of her mouth. [!!!] Well... she had to go wash her hands and face.

A short while later, Yui woke up. "Mom..." With her hair disheveled and only wearing her underwear, Yui poked her small head out of the room and softly called out towards the living room.

"..." No one responded. "It's so late, Mom must be asleep." Thinking this, Yui finally breathed a sigh of relief. She touched her body, and recalling everything that had happened, her face instantly flushed red. She shook her head; she needed to take a shower now and couldn't think about anything else.

"Hiss!" As soon as she took a step, a sharp pain struck her. Yui gave a wry smile, thinking she really brought this suffering upon herself. "Ren-kun even said he would help me relieve the pain, why did I refuse!" And the reason she gave back then... it's so embarrassing to remember! She still remembered the scene. Ren had gently tidied her hair and softly asked, "Yui, do you want me to help you ease the pain?"

"I remembered saying with a look of deep affection, 'Ren-kun, I want to remember this precious moment.'"

"Wow! What on earth was I saying back then!" She covered her face with both hands. The fruit of her own making, she had to eat it even with tears in her eyes. If she took a slightly larger step, the pain was unbearable. She could only take one step in three, slowly inching towards the bathroom.

After finally inching her way to the bathroom, Yui let out a long breath. Grabbing the doorframe, she pulled the door open with force. [!!!] [???] Outside and inside the bathroom, two pairs of eyes, one large and one small, met.

Yui, watching Mrs. Yuigahama's solo performance in shock: "Mom?!"

Mrs. Yuigahama, seeing Yui retract her hand in fright: "Yui?!"

Sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, falling on her recently awakened face, bringing a touch of warmth. In a daze, Hiratsuka Shizuka rubbed her sleepy eyes, trying to dispel the mist before her. Her eyelids struggled heavily, as if bound by invisible shackles, unwilling to open easily.

Her breathing gradually steadied, her nostrils subtly flaring, sensing the fresh air that permeated the room. She seemed to have had a dream, a very terrifying dream. A hell of blood and severed limbs, and a dream of man-eating devils. At first, she was deeply lost and terrified in hell, unable to escape, but then a golden light broke through the hell, purifying and warming her entire world. Her consciousness gradually withdrew from the dream, returning to reality.

Hiratsuka Shizuka's body stretched out languidly, her limbs weakly sprawling on the bed, as if pulled by an invisible force. Her left fingertips lightly touched the bedsheet, feeling its soft, warm texture. Her eyes finally opened, but her vision was still somewhat blurry. She struggled to focus, trying to make out everything around her. Gradually, the world before her became clear. Sunlight spilled into the room, forming a bright patch of light that illuminated her world.

Hiratsuka Shizuka sat up, rubbing her still-dazed head. Her hair was messy, scattered across her forehead, looking somewhat unkempt. She gently shook her head, trying to make herself more awake. Looking around, she found herself lying in an unfamiliar environment. Her right hand felt somewhat warm, similar to the warmth in her dream.

"You're awake." The soft voice was like a spring breeze to her ears. It was a man's voice. A strange room, a bed, a man, sleeping! Hiratsuka Shizuka's eyes snapped open, and she instantly sobered up. She turned her head and saw Ren!

"How could it be you?" Ren sat at the head of her bed, yawning. "Why can't it be me?"

"Shizuka-sensei, can you let go of my hand? I need to go to the bathroom." Ren lifted his left hand, which Hiratsuka Shizuka was holding tightly, fingers intertwined.

[!!!] She finally understood why her right hand felt so warm; it was Ren's hand. She quickly released it. Ren stood up and went to the bathroom.

"What did I do?" Hiratsuka Shizuka held her head, trying hard to recall everything that had happened. A moment later, her mind cleared completely. Vinsuke, Ghoul, and so on. A series of events became clear.

"I remember Ren saying I was drugged at the end, and then I went limp and don't remember anything else." She looked around; it seemed to be a hotel room! Drugged! Hotel room! [!!!] Hiratsuka Shizuka's heart jumped, and she quickly checked her clothes. She pulled back the covers. Her red dress was still on, without wrinkles, and her undergarments didn't feel out of place.

"Phew..." Only then did she completely relax. If anything had happened with Ren, she felt her teaching career would be completely over.

"Shizuka-sensei, you didn't think I did anything to you, did you?" Ren, who had just come out of the bathroom, saw Hiratsuka Shizuka checking her body.

"Cough, cough!!!" Caught red-handed, Hiratsuka Shizuka coughed violently, then stiffly changed the subject. "Where is this place?"

"A hotel." After answering her, Ren, with a profound gaze, explained, "I originally wanted you to get a good night's rest here."

"After getting the room and putting you on the bed, I was about to leave, but you insisted on holding my hand and looked like you were having a nightmare. To comfort you, I sat there all night."

"Ah?" This seemed to match her dream! She had indeed had a nightmare, and then a light illuminated the nightmare, making it very warm. It was Ren. He had actually sat by her bed and stayed with her all night! Her heart stirred slightly, but she forcibly suppressed it. Get it straight! He's your student!

"Shizuka-sensei, it's Monday today, we're going to be late. I parked your car in the parking lot. Could you give me a ride?"

Hiratsuka Shizuka, with her professional habit, first reacted by asking, "Where did you get a driver's license?"

Ren rolled his eyes. "Please, I have superpowers."

"..." She had just forgotten Ren's identity, and with a blush, she insisted, "But you're still a student!"

"That's why I'm asking you for a ride, isn't it?" Ren replied, going along with it.

"But I..." Hiratsuka Shizuka got out of bed and looked at her red dress. Go to class in this outfit? Please spare her!

"It's a small matter." Ren snapped his fingers, and the long red dress instantly transformed into the usual shirt and white lab coat she wore to school.

"Hiss! You can even do this!" She touched the clothes; they felt real. Hiratsuka Shizuka was very surprised.

"Don't be surprised, you're going to be late."

"Oh, oh."

"By the way, Shizuka-sensei, your red dress was very beautiful, very feminine."

"You brat, who are you talking to like that?"

"I can't even compliment you?"

"Get in the car."

"Oh, and Shizuka-sensei, if you encounter anything supernatural in the future, give me a call."

"Got it, got it."

The two bickered a little on the way. If one looked closely, Hiratsuka Shizuka's earlobes, hidden by her hair, were bright red.

———————————————————————

[Apologies if this note is disruptive, but it will be present on every bonus Chapter. Feel free to skip it if you wish.]

Hey everyone, Inorin here!

I have some truly exciting news to share! These 4 bonus Chapters are a special thank you to our newest member of "The Lore Diver" membership tier! Your support means the world to me and is a huge help with my current situation.

I'm also happy to report some progress with the fanfics. Three fanfics on Patreon now have 50 advanced Chapters, and I will be working on five new fanfics for a mass release and advanced Chapters.

To all my amazing supporters, a new, limited-time special tier for our first 10 patrons is now available, offering all the benefits of "The Plot Uncoverer" at a discounted price!

Because of the support from three new members of 'The Founding Pillars' and a purchase of the Doomsday Chat Group: Conquering the Multiverse Heroines collection on Patreon, we have even more bonus Chapters to share.

Thank you so much to everyone who has joined and supported me! Your enthusiasm keeps me motivated.

For those interested in the rewards, here's a quick overview:

The Curious Reader: 2 Bonus Chapters

The Dedicated Fan: 3 Bonus Chapters

The Lore Diver: 4 Bonus Chapters

The Plot Uncoverer: 5 Bonus Chapters

Any Collection Purchase: 6 Bonus Chapters

Additionally, I'll be releasing 1 bonus Chapter for every 150 Power Stones reached each week.

———————————————————————