Alright, let's go grab dinner, and come back to rest early.
After all, school starts tomorrow, and once it does, things won't be the same. We won't be able to sleep in every day like we do now!"
However, what Fu Lin didn't expect was for Kiana☆'s face to suddenly turn from cheerful to horrified the moment he finished speaking.
She pouted, her eyes glistening with tears, and tightly gripped Fu Lin's hands as she whined,
"What?! We won't be able to sleep in anymore?! Then I don't want to go to school! Fu Lin, please, I really don't want to go!"
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The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight quietly crept onto the windowsill——
Fu Lin slowly woke up in the warm morning light. He stretched with a big yawn, rubbed his still-drowsy eyes, and mumbled something indistinctly.
"Damn 8 a.m. class…"
After quite a while, Fu Lin finally managed to sit up bit by bit from the comfort of his big bed. He moved his limbs around briefly and then got off the bed.
With slightly unsteady steps, he walked toward the bathroom. After a round of washing up and tidying, he looked much more refreshed.
At that moment, Fu Lin suddenly seemed to remember something and turned his gaze toward Kiana☆'s room.
Without the slightest hesitation, he strode to the door, reached out, turned the doorknob, and pushed—the door opened easily.
Inside, the room was quiet. Kiana☆ was lying peacefully on the bed, the blanket only covering up to her chest, with one hand still clutching the edge of the pillow.
Her eyes were tightly shut, and her long lashes trembled slightly like butterfly wings, as if she was having a sweet dream.
Fu Lin tiptoed over to the bedside, bent down, reached out his right hand and gently shook Kiana☆'s shoulder, softly calling out,
"Kiana☆, wake up."
However, Kiana☆ gave no response to his call. Like a lazy kitten, she simply turned over and pulled the blanket over her head, continuing to sink into her sweet dreams.
Seeing this, Fu Lin sighed and slightly increased the strength of his shaking, raising his voice as he called again,
"Kiana☆, get up now! Or I'll take away all your allowance for this month!"
This time, Kiana☆ finally stirred a little. She twisted around a few times in bed, then slowly lifted a corner of the blanket, revealing a sleepy, confused little face.
Half-opening her eyes, still drowsy and dazed, she furrowed her cute little brows and grumbled with displeasure,
"Ugh, always threatening me with allowance... so mean! I still want to sleep a bit longer…"
After complaining, Kiana☆ closed her eyes again, clearly ready to go back to sleep.
Despite all her reluctance, Fu Lin eventually managed to drag her out of bed. She yawned while slowly getting dressed, looking completely listless.
Fu Lin waited outside the room, but after a long while, still no sign of movement inside.
He couldn't help but frown, muttering to himself,
'Why is this airhead dawdling so much? If this keeps up, we're going to be late!'
With that thought, Fu Lin could no longer hold back his growing impatience and shouted through the door,
"Kiana☆, can you hurry up?! Move it! You're going to be late on your first day of school!"
After a moment, Kiana☆'s slightly annoyed and sleepy voice came from the crack in the door,
"Fu Lin, stop nagging! Seriously, you're even more annoying than a mom... I get it, okay～"
After quite a bit more time, Kiana☆ finally got herself ready.
Once she was finally done, Fu Lin grabbed his backpack, and together with Kiana☆, stepped out of the house, heading toward Chiba Academy.
Along the way, Kiana walked like a lazy kitten, eyes half-closed, swaying unsteadily, her steps so light it seemed she might fall at any moment.
You could hear her grumbling non-stop, "Waa~ so sleepy, why can't I sleep a little longer…"
Her voice carried a bit of whining and dissatisfaction, as if the whole world owed her a good nap.
Watching her dazed and spiritless demeanor, Fu Lin couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. He finally asked,
"Didn't I tell you last night to go to bed early? Why are you still like this today?"
Hearing his question, Kiana☆ lowered her already drooping head even more, a flash of guilty conscience flickering across her face.
In a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, she mumbled,
"Well... I couldn't help but read a novel for a bit last night… and before I knew it, it was past 1 a.m…"
After saying that, Kiana☆ sneakily glanced at Fu Lin's expression, silently praying he wouldn't get too mad.
Fu Lin raised a hand and covered his face with a deep sigh.
This ever-troublesome Kiana☆ really left him at a loss for words.
But thinking carefully, he realized he was partly responsible for the current situation—
He had spoiled her too much, always giving in to her whims with no boundaries, which only made her more willful.
Now that things had come to this point, Fu Lin knew he couldn't let it go on. He had to take tougher measures.
Maybe it was time to start being stricter with Kiana☆, to help her fix her bad habits and sloppy attitude toward life.
However, looking at the tired expression on her face, her listless state as if she could fall asleep any moment, his heart softened again.
After hesitating for a moment, he slowly crouched down, gently patted his back, and said softly,
"Just this once, Kiana☆. I'll carry you. You can sleep a bit more on the way, and I'll wake you up when we get to school."
As soon as she heard that, Kiana☆'s dull eyes instantly lit up, and she happily leapt onto Fu Lin's back.
Her fair, delicate hands wrapped around his neck like two little snakes, and she rested her chin on his shoulder, cheerfully saying,
"Fu Lin, you're the best～ hehehe!"
And so, Fu Lin carried Kiana☆ step by step toward Chiba Academy. Sunlight spilled over them, painting a warm and beautiful picture.
However, not far behind them, in a dark corner, Mei☆—who had been on her way to school—stood frozen like a statue.
Her face was as dark as the sky before a storm, one hand pressed tightly against the wall as if to steady her trembling body.
Her other hand unconsciously clenched into a fist, so tight that her fingertips had turned pale.
Watching Fu Lin and the other girl walk farther and farther away, Mei☆ felt the scene before her become painfully blinding, as if countless needles were stabbing into her eyes.
A single clear tear, like a broken pearl, slowly slid down her fair, delicate cheek.
As the tear fell, her once dazzling violet eyes seemed to lose all their light and color, like a night sky suddenly smothered by dark clouds, turning dull and lifeless.
They no longer held their usual sparkle or vibrancy, now as calm as still water—utterly devoid of emotion.
But if you looked closely, you could see deep within them a unspeakable pain and sorrow.