When Manhattan Cafe went to find Luo Cheng again, it was already three in the afternoon. The man was lying exhausted on the sofa. The once-neat sofa cover was now wrinkled, and there were dark brown water stains on the floor. He sniffed. It was the smell of coffee.
They had originally agreed to just eat ice cream, but then they played with other things, like spilling coffee on it and then having him eat the ice cream and chocolate. After that, she would step on him and clamp him, making a mess everywhere.
By the time it was over, three hours had passed. Luo Cheng thought that if Darley and Sunday Silence both came at him at the same time, he might not survive a single night.
But no matter what, she was willing to help him. Having a ghost who could appear and disappear at will was much better than Luo Cheng wandering around like a headless chicken. And since Sunday Silence could attach herself to him and enter different timelines, it meant that Luo Cheng had finally found his first true companion.
Even though her personality was a bit difficult... Luo Cheng could still accept it. He just had to think of her as a Manhattan Cafe with a sadistic personality and superior technique.
Hearing Manhattan Cafe ask about her friend, Luo Cheng nodded. "She's good. I asked her for a favor, and she agreed."
"Is that so..." Manhattan Cafe nodded. "My friend... even though she's sharp-tongued, she's a very good girl. She always keeps her promises."
Luo Cheng thought that the "very good" part only applied to Manhattan Cafe. Anyone else would probably be severely toyed with.
"Do you want to rest, Trainer?" Manhattan Cafe asked, seeing the fatigue on Luo Cheng's face.
"I'll lie down for a bit."
The support card story wouldn't advance the main plot, so Luo Cheng could relax here and not have to bother with making a training plan. He still didn't know what the specific task was to trigger the support card story. It seemed like he didn't have to complete a specific mission; just living his life was enough.
"Does the Trainer need my help?"
"Help?"
"To make the Trainer more comfortable."
"Yes."
Manhattan Cafe walked over and sat on the sofa. Luo Cheng lifted his head and rested it on her fair thighs. A horse girl's thighs were always the best pillow; nothing could compare. When he lay on them, Luo Cheng felt like he was wrapped in cotton, which was very comfortable.
"Trainer, did you drink coffee with my friend?" Manhattan Cafe asked. There were some coffee stains on the floor, and the rich aroma of coffee filled the air.
"Should I call it drinking coffee or licking coffee...? I guess you could say I drank it."
"What flavor does the Trainer like?"
"Pudding." Luo Cheng answered instinctively.
"Pudding?"
"Ah, no, I haven't studied it much, so I'm not sure about the flavors. If I had to say, I guess it's just the good kind."
"The good kind... I see." Manhattan Cafe nodded. She reached out and gently stroked Luo Cheng's hair.
"Oh my, Guinea Pig-kun, and Manhattan Cafe, you two..."
"Shh..."
Luo Cheng heard Agnes Tachyon's voice as she entered. Then, Manhattan Cafe stopped her. In the silent air, he could only faintly hear the pitter-patter of the rain outside. With the girl's gentle caress, Luo Cheng enjoyed a rare moment of long-lost peace.
After an unknown amount of time, Luo Cheng opened his eyes. Manhattan Cafe's hand was on his forehead, and she herself was leaning against the sofa, having fallen asleep. Luo Cheng sat up and gently placed her on the sofa.
After settling Manhattan Cafe, Luo Cheng turned and left the room. Was it day or night? The gloomy sky made it impossible to tell the time. It was as if the whole world was frozen in the dampness of the rain.
Although the rain wasn't particularly heavy, if it kept raining like this, Tracen would surely flood. Of course, that was based on normal logic. This world wasn't normal.
Luo Cheng found that the small puddles outside the door were always the same size—not an inch more or less. Instead of raining, Luo Cheng felt like it was an animation on a loop. He reached out, and the raindrops hit his palm, cool and moist.
Truth and falsehood. This world was like that, mixing the two together so you couldn't tell them apart.
Just as Luo Cheng was staring at the rain in a daze, a light humming sound came from nearby. He turned his head and saw the little horse girl with the blue rose hat, drawing on the glass with her finger.
"Rice Shower?"
"Eh... Brother?" Hearing the voice, the little horse girl turned around, and her beautiful purple eyes constricted when she saw Luo Cheng.
"Brother?"
"No, I mean..." Rice Shower nervously lowered her head.
"It's fine, just call me that."
Even though it was a little strange since he wasn't Rice Shower's trainer, he wasn't going to reject a girl calling him "Brother." Hearing this, Rice Shower's eyes immediately lit up, and she said with a bright smile, "Yes, Brother!"
"What are you doing here?"
"Rice Shower is drawing."
Luo Cheng looked at the drawing on the glass. It was a calico cat.
"Brother said that rain isn't a bad thing. So, Rice Shower wants to do something you can only do when it's raining."
Which was drawing on the foggy glass.
"It's a very cute kitten."
"Hehe~"
Rice Shower gave a soft smile. Seeing her ears twitching happily, Luo Cheng couldn't help but reach out and grab them. For some reason, Rice Shower's ears were bigger than other horse girls'. Was it because she was so small herself? After all, Rice Shower was so light that holding her put no pressure on him at all.
Being caressed by Luo Cheng, Rice Shower wore a happy expression. In the game world, touching Rice Shower like this would also make her show this expression.
Luo Cheng remembered the first time he met Rice Shower. She was hiding behind the school building at Tracen, her ears drooping, looking dispirited. Luo Cheng walked over and picked her up to give her a good rub. For some reason, the once-dejected Rice Shower instantly perked up.
After that, it was a normal routine. Occasionally, Luo Cheng would pull Rice Shower over to use her as a pillow. Whenever he saw her, he would play with her, and Rice Shower's affection level would continue to rise. But honestly, Rice Shower's body was so small. She wasn't as refined as Manhattan Cafe, but she was so soft that it felt like she would break if he wasn't careful. After hugging her, his stomach felt a little full.
Looking at her clingy expression, Luo Cheng reached out and cupped her cheeks, kneading them a couple of times.
"Guinea Pig-kun, are you awake?"
Agnes Tachyon's voice pulled Luo Cheng back. She looked at Rice Shower in Luo Cheng's arms and frowned.
"You really have time to spare. Since you're awake, come with me to test some medicine."
As soon as Agnes Tachyon said this, a dialogue box popped up in front of Luo Cheng.
[Support Card Story: Rainy Solo, My Original]
[The Invitation on a Rainy Day]
[Story has ended]
[Speed +10, Stamina +3, Power +3]
The world outside the window became bright, and the sound of students' footsteps reached his ears. Luo Cheng looked at Rice Shower in his arms; she was quietly lying on his chest. And Agnes Tachyon said:
"Guinea Pig-kun, what's today's training plan?"