Journey Through Dimensional Worlds

Chapter 21 I accept your apology

Funeral home base.

The dim yellow light shone down from the dome, turning the entire underground space into a depressing dark yellow.

Gai Tsutsugami leaned against a cot in the corner of the command room, his right leg wrapped in thick bandages, with a splint extending from his knee to his ankle.

A bandage was wrapped around his forehead, and blood seeped out, staining the white bandage with a faint red hue.

Quartz stood by the bed, holding a portable terminal in his hand, the screen displaying a map of the locked-down area.

Dayun, his left leg in a cast, leaned against a weapons case, silently wiping an assault rifle. Argo, his right leg also bandaged, sat on an ammunition box, a dagger slowly twirling between his fingers.

Surrounding them were a dozen or so ordinary members of the funeral home, their faces filled with anger and resentment.

"We can't just let this go."

A member broke the silence, his voice low: "Three core members, all gone. Yuzuriha Inori was captured, and Ayase and Tsugumi were kept as spoils of war. If word gets out, how can Funeral Parlor maintain its foothold in the restricted area?"

"storm!"

Another member chimed in, his tone even more aggressive, "It's not like we haven't attacked GHQ's strongholds before. No matter how strong he is, he's still just one person. With three assault teams storming in simultaneously, suppressing fire at the front entrance, and using explosives on the flanks, do you think he can withstand the bullets?"

"If three isn't enough, then five. Bring out all the EndRaves; I don't believe he can handle it alone."

"His apartment has a simple layout, with the windows and the front door being the main entrances. He can't handle the pressure from both directions at the same time."

Quartz adjusted his glasses and pondered for a moment: "From a tactical point of view, a direct assault is indeed feasible. No matter how strong he is, he is still flesh and blood, and the apartment is a small space, which is not conducive to hiding. If we break in from the front door and the balcony at the same time, use EndRave to block his retreat, and coordinate with crossfire suppression, theoretically he will have no room to fight back."

He paused, then looked at Gai Tsutsugami.

The members leaning against the wall looked at each other in bewilderment.

Dayun paused in wiping the gun's bolt, and Argo's dagger stopped between his fingers.

Gai Tsutsugami propped himself up, the pain in his right leg slowing his movements a bit slower than usual.

He swept his gaze over everyone present, his long golden hair gleaming with a cool sheen under the dim light.

"I know what you're thinking. You're resentful, angry, and want to fight back. I feel all of those things."

His voice wasn't loud, but everyone heard him clearly: "But have you ever thought about this? The three of us couldn't even last a second in front of him."

The command room fell silent.

"This isn't a sneak attack, it's not an ambush. It's a direct, fair fight, the three of us going at it together, in one second."

Gai Tsutsugami's tone was as calm as if he were stating a fact unrelated to himself: "Do you think that bringing more guns will change the outcome?"

The member who had just suggested a direct attack moved his lips but didn't speak.

"I know this is hard to accept. We've been fighting GHQ, fighting the Apocalypse virus, fighting this occupied country. We're used to solving problems through fighting."

Gai Tsutsugami's voice softened: "But this time is different. We're not facing a GHQ patrol, nor a stronghold that can be suppressed with firepower. We're facing a completely unknown entity."

Quartz was silent for a few seconds, then nodded: "Ya is right. Without sufficient intelligence, rash action will only increase unnecessary sacrifices. We cannot afford that."

Gai Tsutsugami's gaze returned to everyone present: "This is not retreating. It's choosing a smarter approach. Ayase and Tsugumi aren't being abandoned; they are our eyes. By staying there, they can see what we can't, figure out who he really is, where his abilities come from, and where his weaknesses lie."

"Until then, we wait. We wait for intelligence to come back, we wait for a real chance to win."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word pierced the air like nails: "I assure you, Yuzuriha Inori will come back. Ayase will come back. Tsugumi will come back. Funeral Parlor will not abandon any member. But right now, we need patience."

Dayun lowered his head and silently placed the cleaned rifle aside. Argo sheathed his dagger with a soft click.

The members surrounding them fell silent, but the barely suppressed anger on their faces gradually transformed into something deeper.

Just then, Quadrant's terminal vibrated. He glanced down at it, his brow furrowing slightly: "A message from Tsugumi."

Gai Tsutsugami took the terminal. There were only a few lines of text on the screen, clearly sent in a hurry. He read them, remained silent for a few seconds, and then handed the terminal to Quadrant.

Quartz's gaze swept across the screen. Then his brow furrowed even more.

"Ayase's legs... she can stand up?" He asked, his voice laced with obvious disbelief. "Her spinal cord injury is permanent. All the hospitals have said so. How is this possible?"

"And this too."

Gai Tsutsugami pointed to another line of text on the screen: "Clothing brought to life. She said she wasn't sure, but something must have happened."

Quartz leaned against the edge of the table, arms crossed, and remained silent for a long time.

"If what Dong said is true, then He Quan's abilities are far more than what we've seen. Speed, strength, the ability to alter clothing, and even the ability to heal permanent nerve damage."

He spoke slowly, as if he were thinking as he spoke: "This is not something a human could do. At least not an ordinary human."

"An apocalyptic virus?" Gai Tsutsugami asked.

"The possibility is very low. Those infected by the Apocalypse Virus crystallize, and he doesn't have any of those symptoms at all." Quadrant shook his head: "Moreover, the Apocalypse Virus doesn't have healing abilities; it only destroys. His abilities are more like some completely different system."

"They'll be going to school with him tomorrow." Gai Tsutsugami retracted his terminal: "Tennozu Middle School."

"What exactly is he trying to do?"

Gai Tsutsugami did not answer immediately. He leaned against his cot, gazing at the dim yellow light on the dome.

"I don't know. But at least Ayase can walk now. That's the only good news today."

Quartz paused for a moment, then nodded.

"All we can do now is wait." Gai Tsutsugami closed his eyes. "Trust them."

......

After sending the message, Dong closed his portable terminal and let out a long sigh of relief.

My fingers were still trembling slightly because the tingling sensation hadn't completely dissipated from my body.

She placed the terminal on the bedside table and burrowed under the covers.

Ayase Shinomiya lay beside her, her long, dark brown hair spread out on the pillow, her breathing steady.

Thrush closed her eyes, trying to fall asleep.

Then she felt the clothes come alive again.

This time, it doesn't start from the shoulders, it starts from the feet.

The fabric of the over-the-knee socks warmed up first against the calves, then spread upwards along the calves, past the knees, over the thighs, and into the area covered by the skirt.

It felt like something was awakening from the fibers of the socks, slowly crawling along the skin.

The thrush suddenly opened its eyes and bit its lip.

Unable to make a sound, Ayase slept beside her.

But the sensation didn't stop.

The warmth spread from her thighs to her waist, from her waist to her lower abdomen, and from her lower abdomen to her chest. Every part of her body covered by the pajamas was enveloped in that warm, soft touch at the same moment.

Dong buried her face in the pillow, her fingers gripping the sheets tightly. She could feel her heart racing, her breathing erratic, and her skin burning.

The thrush's body trembled slightly under the blanket.

She bit down on the pillow, choking all the sounds in her throat.

But the touch wasn't going to let her go, spreading from her lower abdomen to her inner thighs, and from her inner thighs to the back of her knees.

Every inch of skin covered by the pajamas was being gently licked by that warm touch.

It didn't stop almost all night.

The thrush didn't know when it fell asleep.

I only remember that warm touch lingered on the edge of my blurred consciousness, gentle and slow, like a tireless hand.

......

Morning light streamed in through the gaps in the curtains.

The thrush opened its eyes, and its first sensation was thirst.

Her throat was so dry it felt like it had been sanded, and her tongue was pressed against her palate, barely producing any saliva. She propped herself up and threw back the covers.

Then she froze.

The light-colored cotton fabric turned dark, feeling cool and sticky against her skin. Her pajamas clung to her back, outlining the contours of her shoulder blades.

Tsurugi's face instantly flushed red.

She subconsciously glanced at Ayase beside her.

Ayase was already awake, leaning against the headboard with a book in her hand. Her expression was calm, her gaze fixed on the pages, as if she hadn't noticed anything.

But Tsugumi noticed that Ayase's gaze lingered on the same spot on the page for too long.

She saw it!

The thrush opened its mouth, as if to say something.

Explanations, excuses, changing the subject—anything goes.

But the sound was stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Ayase turned a page of her book but still didn't look up.

Pretend you didn't see anything.

This was all the kindness she could offer Tsubame at that moment.

Thrush threw off the blanket and stepped barefoot onto the floor.

Her pajamas were damp and clung to her body, the hem of her skirt swaying mid-thigh, feeling cool and refreshing.

She rushed out of the bedroom and found He Quan in the living room.

He Quan sat on the sofa, legs crossed, holding a glass of milk in his hand.

He was relaxed, with a smile on his lips that made the thrush grit its teeth.

"You pervert! You scum! What did you do to me last night?!"

Her voice was so shrill it almost ripped apart the morning's tranquility.

She pointed at He Quan, her fingertips trembling, her eyes reddening.

Before she could finish speaking, she sensed it.

The clothes came to life again.

The side of her pajamas that was touching her skin suddenly became warm.

Starting from the lower back, it extends upwards along the spine, past the shoulder blades, across the back of the neck, and down to the shoulders. It's like an invisible hand gently caressing you from behind, following the curve of the spine.

Tsurugi bent her knees and knelt on the floor, the hem of her nightgown spreading out beside her legs.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please stop..."

She braced herself on the ground with both hands, her voice plummeting from the peak of anger to pleading, her ear tips turning as red as if they were about to bleed.

The sense of touch is gone.

I accept your apology.

He Quan finished his milk and nodded.

"..."

Dong knelt on the floor, panting heavily, her hair disheveled and her cheeks flushed.

She raised her head, glared at He Quan, and her lips moved slightly.

She wanted to swear, but she didn't dare. She could only chew up all the swear words and swallow them back, her teeth grinding together.

Ayase Shinomiya walked out of her bedroom, wearing the school uniform of Tennozu Middle School.

A red suit jacket, a white shirt, a plaid skirt, and black over-the-knee socks.

Her long, dark brown hair was neatly combed. She stood behind Tsurugi, looking at Tsurugi's kneeling figure on the floor, then at He Quan on the sofa, without saying a word.

Yuzuriha Inori also emerged from another room, wearing the same school uniform. Her light pink twin tails cascaded over her shoulders, and her deep red eyes calmly gazed at the scene in the living room.

She walked to the dining table, sat down, picked up a slice of toast, and quietly began to eat her breakfast.

Ayase also walked to the dining table and sat down.

Thrush got up from the ground, her face flushed, and rushed back to the bedroom.

She came out in her school uniform, her cheeks still flushed.

......

Tianwangzhou Middle School.

When the classroom door was opened, the previously noisy space fell silent for a moment.

He Quan stood on the podium and introduced, "These two are new students who transferred here today. Shinomiya Ayase, and Tsugumi."

Ayase walked into the classroom, her long, dark brown hair and delicate features accentuated her features. She was dressed neatly in her school uniform.

Thrush followed behind her, her petite figure wrapped in the same school uniform.

Polite applause rang out in the classroom, but it was much quieter than when Yuzuriha Inori came in yesterday.

The boys' eyes swept over the thrush, and one of them muttered, "So tiny," before turning back to do what they were doing.

The girls glanced at Ayase a few more times, their eyes filled with scrutiny.

Tsugumi was seated next to Yuzuriha Inori, while Ayase sat by the window.

The bell rang, signaling the end of get out of class.

Several girls gathered around, led by Kusama Kanon.

"Shinomiya-san, Tsugumi-san," her voice held just the right amount of curiosity, "This morning, someone saw you two coming to school with Mr. He Quan. What's your relationship with Mr. He Quan?"

Ayase looked up.

Dong opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to say that he was a pervert, a scumbag, a beast... who had tortured her all night last night using some unknown means.

Just as she was about to speak, she felt her school uniform suddenly become warm.

The thrush immediately shut its mouth.

"We are temporarily staying at Teacher He Quan's house."

Ayase's voice was calm: "Because of some family reasons."

The girls who had gathered around gasped in hushed tones.

"My goodness, you're staying at Teacher He Quan's house?"

"How wonderful! To see Teacher He Quan every morning!"

"Does Teacher He Quan wear pajamas at home? What color are they?"

"What does Teacher He Quan eat for breakfast? Can he cook?"

"Does Professor He Quan have a lover?"

The thrush's lips twitched.

She really didn't expect He Quan to be so popular at school.

He's clearly a pervert...

Damn it, I really want to expose him!

"I don't know if Professor He Quan has a lover," Ayase's voice remained calm. "At least we haven't met."

The girls' eyes lit up even more.

"Really? Is Professor He Quan really single?"

"Does he have someone he likes? Is there any indication of anything happening?"

"What type does he like? Quiet? Lively?"

Tsurugi took a deep breath.

"We just checked in yesterday, we don't know, we can't answer."

Her tone was harsh, carrying a clear sense of rejection.

The girls exchanged glances, wisely refrained from asking further questions, and dispersed in twos and threes.

The thrush lay on the table, burying its face in its arms.

The hem of her school uniform skirt clung to her thighs, its warmth barely perceptible.

She mentally cursed He Quan from head to toe.

Pervert, scum, devil, control freak... I grit my teeth at every word.

But she didn't dare utter a single word.

Ayase sat by the window, gazing out. Her legs moved slightly under the desk, her toes curling and stretching inside her shoes.

(End of this chapter)