Chapter 204 - 204: In Awe!

Words : 1847 Updated : Oct 16th, 2025

Video games were arguably the best way to relax. Well—competitive games excluded. Fall Guys, while technically competitive, didn't carry the same frustrating sting as a game like Counter-Strike. For the average player—anyone who wasn't cheating —getting eliminated never felt like the end of the world. With Haru and Yukino working together, Shizuka experienced what she would later call one of the most enjoyable nights of her life. Even after her bath, wrapped in a warm robe, she was still thinking about how to get revenge on Haru the next time they played. She was determined to pay him back for all the chaos he'd caused her tonight. Drying her long hair with a towel and deep in thought, she stepped back into the living room—only to hear the gentle hum of a blow dryer. She turned and saw Haru carefully drying Yukino's hair. She paused, lips twitching, a little put off by the romantic aura wafting through the room. Ugh, that sweet couple energy again. Smells like teen love. She clicked her tongue softly and thought—If only I had a boyfriend… I'd probably get this kind of treatment too. But alas, it felt like she was cursed—doomed to remain single for life. Shizuka sighed. That familiar, frustrating melancholy began to settle in again. Fortunately, the joy of the night hadn't completely faded. After taking a few deep breaths, she realigned herself emotionally. Once Yukino's hair was dry, Shizuka walked over and picked up the dryer. "Where's Haru sleeping tonight?" she asked while brushing out her damp hair. Haru casually pointed to the couch. "I'll crash here." Shizuka blinked, slightly embarrassed. "You're the host. I'd feel bad making you sleep on the sofa." Haru put on a mock-touched expression. "I see. Since you're so kind and thoughtful, then how about you sleep on the couch, and I'll take the guest room?" Shizuka: "???" Yukino, seated near the kotatsu, let out a helpless sigh and chimed in, "You do realize she was hoping to share a room with me, right? Why are you pretending to be oblivious?" Wait… he knew?! Shizuka's eyes widened. Haru looked away innocently. "I just thought her current expression was really funny." Yukino turned to look at Shizuka and nodded. "It is kind of amusing." Shizuka stared at the two, equal parts annoyed and amused. "You two are teaming up to tease your elder now?" Yukino calmly replied, "I'm simply expressing my honest thoughts." Haru raised his hand. "Same here." Yukino didn't let it slide. "No, you're different. What you did just now was definitely on purpose." "Come on, Yukino. That's not fair. I helped you all evening during the game—without my support, you wouldn't have won so smoothly." "Oh please," she scoffed. "You think I couldn't have won that easy game on my own?" "So you're saying you're a Fall Guys pro now?" "At the very least, I'd say I'm skilled. In your own words—I'm kind of a 'top player' now." "Oh! A gaming legend graces us. I am humbled." Yukino narrowed her eyes. "Are you being sarcastic?" Haru answered with a completely sincere tone, "Not at all. As someone who's won 30 Fall Guys crowns, I'm merely paying respect as your senior." He saw Yukino open her mouth to argue and quickly cut her off. "I'm a crown-winner. What are you?" Yukino's expression darkened instantly. Her face said: I'm seriously going to punch you. Meanwhile, Shizuka had already been on her way back to the guest room—but now she stayed rooted in place, watching the bickering unfold with growing amusement. Yukino held her forehead and groaned. "Your shamelessness knows no bounds. And you're acting like this in front of sensei, too." Haru stood tall, completely unfazed. "Let's be clear—when it comes to Fall Guys, I'm your senior." Unable to take it anymore, Yukino turned to Shizuka with exasperation. "See what I deal with? This is his usual idiocy." But Shizuka just chuckled. "I think it's hilarious." Yukino's face remained blank. "What's so funny?" Shizuka's smile didn't fade. "Watching you two argue is really entertaining. It reminds me of my own school days." Haru interjected smugly, "See, Yukino? Even Sensei thinks we're fun, not foolish. Your judgment has clearly failed you." "…I'm done with you two." Yukino hugged her orange cat and turned away, completely ignoring them. Shizuka felt a little let down—she was really enjoying the drama. With no more entertainment, she circled back to the original topic. "Amamiya, how about I share Yukino's room? I really don't feel right making you sleep on the couch." Before Haru could respond, Yukino, still turned away, replied coldly, "Let him sleep in the living room. Sensei, you take the guest room." Shizuka burst out laughing. "Amamiya, you made her mad. Better apologize." Her look said it all—mischief sparkling in her eyes. She was clearly enjoying the flames she'd just stoked. But Yukino coolly added, "You're mistaken, Sensei. It's not just him. You're also making me very uncomfortable." Shizuka's smile froze. Haru couldn't help but laugh. "You heard her, Sensei. Better apologize." Shizuka shot him a glare. "Fine, fine. I'll take the guest room. You two rest early." Once she disappeared behind the door, Haru leaned toward Yukino. "You're not seriously going to make me sleep out here, are you?" "Why wouldn't I?" Yukino finally turned around, her lovely face completely expressionless. Haru lowered his voice. "I thought you were just saying that for Hiratsuka-sensei's sake. I could sneak into the bedroom once she's asleep." Yukino raised an eyebrow. "When did I say you could come back to the bedroom?" With a solemn expression, Haru replied, "You didn't say it, but I could feel it. I sensed you needed a warm-body pillow for bedtime." Yukino's cheeks turned pink. She gave him a sharp glare—but didn't argue further. Clearly, she didn't mind if he came in later… As long as he only entered the room, and didn't touch anything else. Late that night, Yukino finally returned to the bedroom. Haru didn't rush in. The light was still on in the guest room—Shizuka was probably lying in bed, playing on her phone. He got up and stepped into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Earlier during their card game, his [Auto-Aim] skill had been quietly active, analyzing every subtle change in Hiratsuka's expressions and posture. That was how he'd been able to guess her cards and secretly throw the game to Yukino without being noticed. And now, that skill had finally leveled up. [Your skill "Auto-Aim" has reached max level. It has evolved into "Perception."] Ever since Haru realized how far his reality had strayed from that of normal people, he no longer obsessed over grinding experience points. He already knew—with his current physical abilities, it wasn't even clear if bullets could pierce his skin. Heck, they might not even be able to hit him in the first place. Without any deliberate training, [Auto-Aim] had become the skill he used the most in daily life. Now that it had evolved into [Perception]—he was beginning to discover even more. When Haru closed his eyes and merely focused for a moment, a cascade of sound immediately filtered into his ears. From outside the apartment, he could hear the hum of engines, the occasional blare of car horns, and the murmur of conversations from passersby. He tried clearing those distractions away, directing his perception outward with himself as the center. The soundscape shifted again. From the master bedroom came the soft, steady rhythm of Yukino's breathing—and the occasional tap of her fingers on her phone screen. In the guest room, a faint stream of background music played—it sounded like Shizuka was watching short videos on her phone. Voices from other tenants in the apartment complex now reached him with crystal clarity. The rapid-fire clicking of a game controller. A couple arguing, loud and animated. And… the faint audio of a certain kind of premium entertainment. Though that particular sound was very soft—it was likely the viewer was using headphones. Probably to maximize their "cinematic" experience. Haru spent a moment focusing, and quickly realized that [Perception] didn't just enhance his hearing—it allowed him to differentiate scents as well. Thankfully, through some trial and error, he discovered the skill was controllable. It wouldn't overwhelm him every time he shut his eyes with a tidal wave of smells and noise from the hallway or streets. Otherwise, he'd probably end up suffering like those tragic anime characters cursed with overpowered sensory abilities. Back in the darkened living room, he switched off the lights and lay down on the sofa, wrapping himself in a blanket. He quietly absorbed the atmosphere around him like he'd just unlocked a new sandbox game—and couldn't wait to explore every mechanic. Time slipped by. Then suddenly—he heard the sound of a door opening from the guest room, followed by the familiar scent of Shizuka drifting through the air. Footsteps. Haru's senses immediately mapped out her route—she was heading to the bathroom. Not bothering to open his eyes, he stayed where he was, pretending to sleep. "So early to bed? It's only 11:30," he heard her mutter. "No lights in the bedroom either… Looks like Yukinoshita's out too." The bathroom door clicked shut behind her. Haru immediately silenced his thoughts—he had zero interest in eavesdropping on Shizuka's private moments. Once she finished and returned to the guest room, he reactivated Perception. This time, the sounds in the apartment had thinned out—probably because it was so late. What remained were soft noises from TVs, games, or short-form videos. He figured it was time to wrap things up for the night and resume exploring the skill tomorrow. But then, in the stillness of the dark, a faint rhythm began to ripple through the silence—light, delicate, and swaying like a whisper. What the hell was that? His eyes snapped open instinctively. Was it another tenant watching one of those videos again? But the next second, he shot up in bed. Because this alluring, feminine voice… was coming from inside his own apartment! He stared in disbelief at the guest room door—it hadn't been fully shut. Whether Shizuka had left it ajar from exhaustion or simply wanted some air, he didn't know. But through that narrow gap… came a sound as soft as spring rain. A whispering rhythm, gentle and swaying—like warm wind brushing across wind chimes, carrying a delicate, uneven cadence. What was that old saying again…? Ah, right—"Like an endless spring river flowing eastward." Haru sat in the dark, expression solemn. …And quietly, with the utmost reverence in his heart, he bowed his head in awe.

Chapter 204 - 204: In Awe!

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