The rain hadn't let up by the time they reached Eli Ayase's home. But what met Kyren's eyes wasn't the cramped, tatami-matted apartment he had envisioned—it was something much more refined. Eli lived in a charming, two-story flat with a modern yet delicate design, the kind of place that quietly spoke of elegance without being boastful.
As they stepped inside, Eli paused for a moment in the entryway, her eyes flicking down to the wet patches on their clothes. Her own right shoulder was barely damp. Kyren's left, on the other hand, was soaked through, water dripping down to his side like he'd walked through the heart of the storm.
She understood instantly, without needing to ask. While they'd shared the umbrella, he'd tilted it more over her side.
Eli disappeared into a hallway and returned with a neatly folded towel—still crisp from the store shelf. "Here," she said softly, offering it to him. "Thank you. For earlier."
"It was nothing," Kyren replied with a small shake of his head, brushing the water from his hair. "Anyone in my shoes would've done the same."
But he knew that wasn't entirely true. Being kind without expecting anything—sometimes that was a choice people didn't even see on the table.
"I'll just head upstairs to grab my laptop," Eli said. "Won't be long."
"Alright."
As her footsteps disappeared up the stairs, Kyren was left alone in the quiet living room. He glanced toward the door, where the cardboard he'd used earlier as a makeshift bed now lay in the rain, already sagging.
Guess it really is going to be me, the sky, and a hard floor tonight, he thought, half-smiling at the absurdity. He could already feel the chill of the damp air seeping into his bones. Please don't let me catch a cold—not when job hunting's waiting tomorrow.
Upstairs, Eli stood before her mirror, towel around her shoulders and indecision written all over her face.
What do I even wear?
This was the first time a boy—any boy—had ever set foot in her house. As the host, she felt the pressure to at least look presentable, though she wasn't quite sure what that meant in this situation.
She opened her wardrobe and stared at the rows of outfits inside—some worn often, others still with price tags hanging. After a pause, she reached for a white dress she'd never worn before. It was simple but elegant, the kind of piece she had bought on impulse but never found the right occasion to wear.
"Well, it's just... entertaining a guest," she murmured, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. Her face flushed slightly at her own words.
She traded her school uniform for the dress and let her long golden hair fall freely down her back. With her laptop tucked under her arm, she made her way back downstairs.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," she said.
The words pulled Kyren from his thoughts, and when he looked up, he froze for just a beat.
He'd seen plenty of beautiful girls before—he wasn't a stranger to charm. But something about Eli in that moment made his breath catch. The white of her dress caught the soft light like morning snow, and her golden hair framed her face with a gentleness that was usually hidden behind her calm, no-nonsense demeanor.
It wasn't just beauty he saw—it was warmth. And something that felt a little like vulnerability.
"You look... stunning, Eli-san," he said earnestly. "That dress suits you perfectly."
It wasn't flattery. It was simply the truth as he saw it. And it came out before he could stop himself.
Eli blinked, the compliment catching her off guard. A soft blush bloomed across her cheeks. "Thank you..."
It was the first time a boy—other than her father—had ever complimented her like that. And it felt... different. In a good way.
She set the laptop down on the coffee table and began transferring files via Bluetooth. Then, heading to the kitchen, she returned with a glass of orange juice, holding it out to him with a smile.
"For you, Kyren-kun."
"Oh—thanks."
He accepted the glass and stared at the screen as the transfer bar crept forward. But his thoughts were far from the files.
Something wasn't adding up.
The mysterious group chat system he'd stumbled into—it had been too perfect in some ways. Battery not draining, lightning-fast Bluetooth file transfers, seamless language syncing... all of it went beyond what his phone should be capable of.
Yet it only ever stepped in when absolutely necessary—like giving him a Japanese voice pack so he could actually talk to Eli. But not the written language. That, apparently, he was expected to learn on his own.
It was like the system knew exactly where his limits were... and refused to let him be lazy.
"Kyren-kun?" Eli's voice pulled him back.
He looked up.
"Would you mind... telling me more about Luo Tianyi? That idol girl you mentioned?"
She hesitated, her voice tinged with embarrassment. Perhaps she thought she was prying into something personal.
"Oh, Luo Tianyi? Sure, no problem." He smiled.
To be honest, his knowledge of her didn't go far beyond what Baidu's wiki had to offer. She'd only joined the chat group less than 24 hours ago, and he hadn't exactly had a chance to learn much more firsthand.
"She's a virtual idol—super cute and cheerful. Even though she's already debuted as an idol, she's only fifteen."
"Fifteen? That's... really young to be in the spotlight," Eli murmured, surprised.
"No kidding," Kyren chuckled. "She's not the only one either. Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin—there are a few idol singers around her age. And Tianyi's even part of a duo."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Her partner's name is Yuezheng Ling. They're kind of a unit—at least that's what the official info says."
Eli's eyes sparkled, intrigued. "So... they're friends?"
"You could say that," he nodded. "In the chat, they interact like they've known each other a long time."
A brief thought crossed his mind—should he try to invite Eli into the group?
But even as the idea surfaced, he realized he didn't actually know how to invite someone. He was the Group Owner, technically, but the system hadn't exactly come with a tutorial.
Just then, a buzz broke the silence. Eli's phone, sitting on the table, vibrated with a new notification.
Who would text me this late? Maybe Nozomi?
She picked up her phone and looked at the screen—then froze.
"Kyren-kun... you..."
"Me...?"
He tilted his head, confused by her expression.
"What's wrong?"
Without a word, she turned her phone to show him the screen.
Kyren invites you to join 'Dimensional Chat Group.' Accept invitation?
[Install App]
Kyren stared at the message.
'Dimensional Chat Group'? That wasn't what it was called before—it used to be 'ACG True Love Group'. But... Now that he thought about it, the new name did kind of fit.
The members were all from different dimensions, after all.
He cleared his throat. "Yeah, Eli-san. That's actually where I met Luo Tianyi."
Her sapphire eyes lit up with quiet wonder. "I see. Then... I'd like to join."
She pressed Accept, and the app began downloading.
Kyren checked his own phone. A message appeared just as he opened the group app—one that wasn't visible to anyone else.
Group Owner Privilege Activated.
As Group Owner, you may now invite members directly (excluding those selected by the system). Note: Once invited, members cannot be removed. Please choose carefully.
Two requests had been approved.
Wait—two?
He'd only invited Eli.
Opening the group management panel, he saw two new member profiles. One, as expected, was the familiar blonde girl with the ponytail.
The other...
A girl with long, dark-gray braids and sharp eyes.
No way... speak of the devil and she appears, Kyren thought, eyes widening.
This was going to get complicated.
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