233: Did you miss me?

Ding-dong~ Ding-dong~

The urgent ringing of the doorbell was like a small hammer, striking the silence of the living room one blow at a time.

A bundle curled up on the sofa stirred, and a messy head emerged from under the blanket. Kirisu Mafuyu rubbed her sleepy eyes and let out a long yawn, a few stubborn strands of hair sticking up on the top of her head.

"Who is it... so noisy..." She fumbled for her phone; the screen was clean, with no appointment messages. "Is it Mahiru?" she muttered, but quickly dismissed the thought. Mahiru wouldn't ring the doorbell like that.

She sluggishly "rustled" as she climbed up from the sofa, like a cat reluctant to leave its nest. She casually zipped up her loose tracksuit and walked barefoot to the door.

"Is it my delivery?" she thought, habitually bending over and leaning closer to the peephole to look outside—

Pitch black.

"Eh?" She froze for a moment, subconsciously looking up at the bright indoor lights before leaning back toward the peephole.

It was still dark.

Had it gotten that dark outside? Impossible! What time was it even!

"Someone must be blocking it on purpose!" She immediately became alert, her back leaning gently against the door as she asked in a low voice, "Who's out there?"

After asking, she felt a bit silly. This was a place where Tohru the Dragon and Yukino Mifuyu the Snow Woman lived regularly. What short-sighted thief or villain would dare come here to "deliver warmth"?

Just as her mind was racing, a voice came from outside the door—deliberately pinched, drawn out, and full of playfulness:

"Community warmth delivery~ Is Miss Tōsu home? Free door-to-door service, professional cockroach cleaning~"

This voice... Kirisu Mafuyu's pupils dilated slightly.

It was too familiar! That teasing tone, that punchable lilt at the end... Without hesitation, she turned the lock with a "click" and slammed the door open!

The light from the hallway poured in, illuminating a face wearing a familiar smirk. He leaned lazily against the doorframe, as if he had just stepped out for a five-minute walk rather than disappearing for a month or two without a word.

"Lin, Luo!"

Kirisu Mafuyu stared at him, enunciating every syllable of his name. Her voice held the raspiness of someone who had just woken up, along with a sudden surge of complex emotions—surprise, annoyance, and relief.

The stray hairs on her head seemed to wobble along with their owner's excitement.

Having returned home and seeing no one there, Lin Luo had specifically slipped out to "disturb" his cute neighbor.

His gaze was filled with amusement as he scanned her from head to toe—the loose tracksuit wrapped around her slender frame, her hair a messy bird's nest from sleeping, and a few strands sticking to her slightly flushed cheeks. She looked like she had just been jolted from a dream and hadn't fully finished booting up yet.

Her outfit was a bit "slovenly," but it possessed a domestic, defenseless cuteness.

He leaned against the doorframe at his leisure, tilting his head to look at her as he intentionally drawled, "Lovely lady, does your home need a deep cleaning? New store opening, free service today."

Kirisu Mafuyu's face turned even redder—half out of anger at his nonsense, and half out of guilt for being caught in her "shut-in mode." "M-my house is perfectly clean! I don't need it!" she retorted with a stiff neck, though her voice lacked conviction.

"Oh? Really? Let me check." Lin Luo didn't even wait for an "invitation." He squeezed past her on his own, "thoughtfully" closing the door behind him with movements as fluid as if he were returning to his own home.

He stood in the center of the living room and looked around—blankets and pillows were strewn on the sofa, a few open books and a half-finished water glass were scattered on the coffee table. Things were a bit messy and casually placed, but the floor was clean and the trash can was empty; it wasn't truly filthy.

"Hmm... not bad, not too dirty." He rubbed his chin in evaluation before turning a mischievous gaze toward Kirisu Mafuyu, who had followed him in. "Does Mahiru come over often to help you tidy up?"

Kirisu Mafuyu's eyes immediately began to dart around, and her voice weakened. "H-how is that possible! Having a student help a teacher with housework is a disgrace to educators! I would never do such a thing..." Her voice grew smaller as she spoke.

Lin Luo immediately burst out laughing, his shoulders shaking slightly. "Oh my, is this what they call a self-incriminating confession?"

"You! You...!" Kirisu Mafuyu was so embarrassed and annoyed by his laughter that she balled her fists and punched his arm a few times. It wasn't so much a strike as it was a cat batting its paws in dissatisfaction.

Lin Luo stopped laughing and opened his arms. He looked down at her, the mirth in his eyes turning gentle and focused, and his voice softened significantly:

"Xiao Mafuyu... long time no see. Did you miss me?"

Kirisu Mafuyu froze, a flash of bashfulness crossing her face as he hit the nail on the head.

She lowered her head slightly and sluggishly shuffled two steps closer, her voice as light as a whisper to herself. "...I thought that after you went back this time, you wouldn't return."

Ye Nianyao had told them before that Lin Luo had gone back to the mainland with an uncertain return date, and might even leave for good.

At that time, although she hadn't said anything, she had felt empty inside, thinking that the fate between the two of them might have reached its end. She hadn't expected that on this lazy, idle summer afternoon, at her most unkempt moment, the doorbell would be rung by this person again.

Seeing her just standing there muttering without moving, Lin Luo smiled and waited no longer. He took a step forward, reached out his arms, and without allowing any argument, gently pulled the still-dazed girl into his embrace.

The embrace was warm and solid, carrying a familiar, reassuring scent.

"Xiao Mafuyu," he gently rubbed his chin against the soft crown of her head, his voice full of amusement but also a hint of seriousness. "Did you think you were abandoned? Don't worry, I'm not the kind of bad man who 'starts something and then abandons it.'"

Suddenly being held, Kirisu Mafuyu's body stiffened slightly. Then, a wave of heat rushed from her neck straight to her cheeks, and her heart beat impossibly fast. "Ah...!" She let out a short gasp, her hands pressing against his chest as she tried to pull away slightly to muster some of her usual teacher's authority. "B-bad student! I am your teacher! Mind your manners!"

Even as she said it, she felt her words lacked conviction; it was more like a reflexive, shy resistance.

Instead of letting go, Lin Luo leaned down toward her bright red earlobe. His warm breath brushed against her sensitive skin, his tone carrying undisguised teasing. "Oh? Xiao Mafuyu... so you like this 'teacher-student' vibe?"

Boom—!

Kirisu Mafuyu's face turned completely red instantly, even her ears burning. The way he put it made her emphasis on being a "teacher" seem particularly affected and... like she was trying to hide something. After all, their relationship had long surpassed the boundaries of a normal teacher and student; even their most intimate first kiss was... "A failure~" She buried her burning face into his shoulder in frustration and mumbled incoherently. It was unclear if she was talking about her failed resistance, the predicament of her heart being completely exposed, or something else.

However, after that mumble, her tense body quietly softened, allowing herself to drown in this late but warm embrace. Whatever teacher's authority she had seemed unimportant at this moment.

What mattered was that this "bad student"... was back.

"Mnh... n-no..."

A soft, mosquito-like whimper with a trembling lilt rang out abruptly in the single woman's apartment, only to be quickly swallowed by the sound of intertwined breathing.

Kirisu Mafuyu was kissed into a daze until she felt a certain restless hand quietly slip under the hem of her clothes, sliding up her spine along her waistline. When the cool fingertips touched her warm skin, she suddenly jolted awake from her infatuation.

"Ya!"

In her shame and urgency, she subconsciously gave a light bite to the tongue that was wreaking havoc in her mouth.

"Hiss—" Lin Luo hissed in pain and finally pulled back a little, an ambiguous silver thread stretching between their lips. His eyes were still a bit misty, filled with unfulfilled confusion.

"I-it was a reflex!" Kirisu Mafuyu's face was so red it looked like it would bleed. She hurriedly pushed at the hand still wrapped around her waist, her voice bordering on a sob. "Hand... take your hand out!"

Only then did Lin Luo realize what he was doing. He pulled his hand out of her clothes as if he'd been electrocuted, a rare trace of embarrassment appearing on his face. "S-sorry... reflex." Saying that made it even worse, making his intentions seem even more nefarious.

"Shameless!" Taking advantage of him letting go, Kirisu Mafuyu immediately hopped two steps away like a startled rabbit. She turned her back to him and frantically adjusted the zipper and hem of her messy tracksuit, wrapping herself up tightly again, leaving only the tip of a bright red ear visible.

Lin Luo rubbed his brow and said helplessly, "Hey... I know what that means."

"Was I wrong!" Kirisu Mafuyu turned her head and glared at him. Her eyes were shimmering with moisture; rather than anger, it was more like bashful annoyance.

"Right, right, my fault, it's all my fault." Lin Luo went with the flow and raised his hands in surrender, though his tone held a bit of pleading amusement. "But you can't blame me entirely... who told Xiao Mafuyu to still be this cute after not seeing each other for so long? You're so cute it's practically cheating. I just couldn't help myself... you can understand, right?"

He tried to use twisted logic to defend himself, but his gaze fell sincerely on her face, filled with undisguised admiration.

"C-cute... cute or whatever..." Kirisu Mafuyu was made even more flustered by his blunt praise. Her aggressive accusations from a moment ago instantly collapsed. She abruptly turned back around, leaving him only with her back. Her shoulders were slightly hunched, and her voice was as thin as a mosquito's, carrying hidden shame and a... barely perceptible hint of joy.

"You behave yourself."

She finally allowed him to huddle over, and the two of them snuggled into the not-so-spacious sofa. Just as Kirisu Mafuyu relaxed, she felt a certain someone's hand starting to get restless again, quietly crawling up her waist. She quickly pressed down on that "thieving hand" and glared at him crossly, her eyes clearly saying, "Move again and I'll kick you off."

Lin Luo smiled sheepishly and settled down for the moment. He rested his chin on the crown of her head, his gaze falling on the boring variety show playing on the TV. He asked casually, "Where's Mahiru? I don't see her."

"She said she had some things to take care of at home and went back." Kirisu Mafuyu adjusted her posture to lean more comfortably in his arms, her voice softening. "She should be back tonight."

Lin Luo's gaze swept over the nearby kitchen, which was unusually tidy for Kirisu Mafuyu's style. He let out an enlightened "oh" and drawled, "So... that means Mahiru has been taking care of a certain teacher who can't look after herself lately?"

"I am not someone who can't look after herself!" Kirisu Mafuyu immediately retorted, her cheeks warming. "I-I also help Mahiru with her studies! It's an equal exchange!"

Lin Luo raised an eyebrow and exposed her mercilessly. "Mahiru is a top student at the school. Does she really need a 'teacher' like you to tutor her? Isn't it more likely she's the one teaching you basic life skills?"

"You...!" Kirisu Mafuyu was choked for words. In her shame and annoyance, she didn't even think before tilting her head back and slamming her forehead hard against his chest, trying to "retaliate" in this childish way.

"Hmph! ...Ow!"

The result, naturally, was her letting out a soft cry of pain. She clutched her forehead, her eyes welling up with physiological tears.

Seeing this, Lin Luo quickly reached out to support her small head. His palm gently rubbed her reddened forehead as he teased, "Did that hurt?"

With tears in her eyes, Kirisu Mafuyu tapped him twice. "It's hard as a rock! It hurts so much!"

"Alright, alright, my fault. I'm a rock, and I bumped our Xiao Mafuyu." Lin Luo suppressed a laugh and softened his voice to coax her, his fingertips carrying a hint of spiritual light as he rubbed her more gently.