CHAPTER 31: RISE AND SHINE

As I finally found the strength to look up everything vanished within a matter of moments. I jolt up in a bed to find myself in one of the hotel rooms just like we stayed in previously.

The lights were off and the sun wasn’t shining in but I could see Ghost was laying in her bed. There didn’t seem to be any signs of Lilly though so I don’t really know what’s going on here.

"Rise and Shine Mr. Dragon." Lilly says quietly while laying in the bed.

I turn to see she was laying in the bed next to me this whole time, it made me realize quickly that there was only two beds in this room.

"W-Why are you laying next to me..?" I ask nervously after stuttering.

I’ve never been good with such close interaction before, Ghost was an exception because I looked at her more as a cyborg at first. Lilly on the other hand is a completely different story.

"I needed sleep and someone had to keep an eye on you. Don’t get any ideas perv." Lilly responds with a small grin on her face.

Glad to know nothing has changed too drastically since I blacked out but I wonder how long it’s been. Surely it couldn’t have been that long since hotels aren’t the cheapest...

"I wasn’t getting a-any ideas. Anyway, how long have we been here?" I ask after getting over my nervousness.

She really did catch me off guard by laying in the same bed and I practically see her boobs hanging out from her shirt... Maybe I really am a pervert, but it’s normal to look right? I’m a man after all and we do have these thoughts occasionally.

Pervert. Idiot.

Oh great you’re back as well, welcome back Rika. I forgot you can also read my thoughts as well...

"A couple of days, nothing too serious. I used my portion to cover the stay so don’t worry." Lilly assures me while laying back in the bed.

I was out a couple of days, that’s quite the amount of time to lose from a random blackout. I’ll have to figure out how to manage my power better in the future.

Pushing myself as much as I did lately probably didn’t help with my body’s need to adjust to it.

Even I could’ve told you that. Just hoped you’d figure it out on your own.

I’m completely new to having this power alright, so cut me a little slack.

"Thank you for taking care of me." I say with an appreciative tone.

"Ghost did most of the work, I helped occasionally I guess but you’re welcome." Lilly replies while trying to sound like she didn’t do much.

I figured she wouldn’t be the type to outright admit that she helped out at all but now we need a new plan. I can’t get stronger without training or fighting more of the monsters that are out there.

I’ll definitely need to take a look at the quest board in the morning to see what kind of quest would be best to take. Rank up quests are important but with how rare they are... Taking on quests period would be smarter.

I scratch my head while still sitting up on the bed. "Kind of hard to lay back down with you next to me..." I say nervously.

I feel her grab me and pull me back onto the bed next to her. "Don’t overthink it. Just sleep stupid Rokuro." Lilly responds before turning over.

I laid there next to Lilly, lost for words on everything that’s happened. I also could feel the hotness in my cheeks once again, now that I know I’m laying in the bed with a girl.

It’s hard for me not to have some thoughts with Rika in my head so I’ll have to try my best to avoid them for the time being. On a completely different note I’m still curious about who the woman was that hugged me.

Rika wasn’t there and neither was Seraphine so I’m at a complete loss with who it could’ve been. She knew exactly who I was... Also she appeared out of nowhere.

I seriously have had the strangest experiences lately. That room definitely felt just like the other one though.

What are you talking about?

You dragged us through the door and I found myself inside of some white took so I assumed that was normal. I was starting to get overwhelmed by the past for a moment there though.

I’ll get back to you on that.

I fell asleep after that and the morning arrived. The sun was shining in through the window like always but this time I got caught up with the way it shines on Lilly.

It made her crimson red hair looks even prettier than before and I couldn’t help but stare for a moment.

When she’s not acting like she’s all annoyed and such... She’s kind of pretty huh.

"Rokuro?" Ghost calls my name with a bit of shock in her voice.

I sat up slowly in bed and faced Ghost. "Yeah I’m up." I respond with a nervous smile.

I hope she didn’t notice me staring at Lilly or else this is going to get awkward real quick. I’m just not used to having these feelings lately so it’s all new to me.

Being alone all those years kind of forced me to deal with it all at once now.

"I’m glad you’re okay." Ghost says before coming over and hugging me.

I hugged her for a moment before it finally broke off.

"Me too. We have a lot to do though." I reply while slowly standing up.

That hug from her was definitely nice, made me understand what it’s like to have people who care again. Ghost did patch me up after my fight with the whisperspawns and she is the one who keeps replacing the bandages on my arms.

I do appreciate her very much.