Previously on: Tresa(F) & Lloyd(M) are exchange students living in a host family's house. For details, please refer to 31. <Full moon night 1> and 32.<Full moon night 2>.
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Time: A night in winter //Place: A house in E city
The sky was filled with rows of twinkling stars. Tresa had223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrcPiZwkze
just gotten off the plane, taken a train and bus for another hour, and was223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWHAMkuRGT
wrapped in layers of thick clothing. Yet, the starry sky didn’t captivate her.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8HKy2Vmid
Exhausted, she dragged two heavy suitcases and a backpack, struggling to223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgutCP73ow
breathe as she made her way from the gate to the house’s front door.
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A month ago, with the long winter break approaching, all her223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREJ74glBZR
housemates had planned to return to their hometowns, and the landlord decided223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9cCpHiULM
to take his family on a vacation. He had repeatedly instructed everyone to lock223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvEpp8fzTb
all windows and turn off the devices before leaving. After the last housemate223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLaj2Tot9j
left, the landlord and his family went off joyfully on their trip.
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Standing in front of the door, Tresa caught her breath and223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkGR3teA6J
reached into her backpack to find her keys, but after searching for a while,223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrP2GTs6Ha8
she couldn’t find them! Panic began to set in. The landlord and her housemates223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpHBGvmRf1
were all gone, and there was no one inside to help her. She was completely alone223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2oVMNjWsr
and helpless—was she going to be locked out? Just as she was debating whether223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXw0MA1PI6V
to break in and pay for the damages later, the door suddenly opened from the223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFGUK8J4k6
inside! Startled, she stepped back, but then recognized her housemate, Lloyd.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNX1hawFJg9
Relieved, she was also puzzled—no one was supposed to be home. Why was he still223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLushw4rLU
inside?
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"Welcome back! Come on in, it’s freezing outside,"223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSCbNzLoqX
Lloyd said with a smile. Just as she was about to ask him why he was still223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrboqrGxl6V
there, she noticed that Lloyd was wearing nothing but a towel around his waist,223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz02jHp7bFt
his upper body completely bare. Shocked, she nearly screamed, but Lloyd seemed223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMvFnEWFMi
unfazed, remaining calm as he helped carry her suitcases inside. Swallowing her223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPQUEMLAC4
questions, she awkwardly suggested, "It's really cold—maybe you should put223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxg6af2JxK
on some clothes first." Only then did Lloyd realize he had just come out223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvG7zCdwgXX
of the shower. Still calm, he carried her suitcases upstairs, promising to get223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RaL2kCXf5
dressed afterward.
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After Lloyd left her suitcases outside her room and she223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90dc5naV6c
thanked him, he returned to his room and closed the door. Behind it, he covered223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcwn0MESHE
his face, cringing at the embarrassing situation. "That was so223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVVWqyxUf3
awkward!" he thought. Little did he know, inside her own room, Tresa’s223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLv7YG0JVpg
face had also turned red as she silently marvelled, "He has abs!"
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Once they both calmed down, Tresa began unpacking while Lloyd223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsTCZhqDd1
got dressed and went downstairs to prepare dinner. Knowing they were the only223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqSwZgHWwa
two in the house, Lloyd knocked on Tresa’s door and asked, "I’m making223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jtYMWa18Q
noodles. Would you like some?" Without warning, she opened the door and223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lpw5l8j2x
handed him a large bag of snacks with a smile. "I’ve got a ton of snacks.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoXooqRJos
Let’s have them together after the noodles!" she said, then quickly shut223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Oq9v85wy9
the door before he could respond.
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Lloyd blinked in confusion. Did that mean he was supposed to223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLZLGldLA9
cook for her too? Shrugging, he decided to make an extra portion anyway—he223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9AjdYZJN1
figured he could eat it if she didn’t. He took the large bag of snacks she had223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUIA7q9M8g
given him and placed it on the dining table before heading to the kitchen. When223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sWXjs7yrh
the noodles were ready, Tresa came downstairs with a disappointed expression.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCkxgDaQHj
"I wanted to help, but I guess I was too late!" she said. Lloyd waved223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhd7kNciYbX
it off casually, "No worries, it’s just noodles. Let’s eat."
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As they sat down to eat, Tresa only took a few bites before223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAuh9cGESC
she put down her utensils, dug through the snack bag, and pulled out a variety223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRHy6nxsZc
of instant snacks—dried eggs, mini sausages, and other unfamiliar foods.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNG3Bf6TfpM
Curious, Lloyd watched as she went to the kitchen to grab scissors, came back,223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJtqGELcJU
and started cutting open the packages, sprinkling the snacks into her noodles223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXFFpDLBT3
and mixing them. She took a bite, her face lighting up with satisfaction.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvT4mLCdVpw
Noticing Lloyd staring at her, she pushed the bowl toward him, offering him a223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOvZbT0eNR
taste. Hesitant, Lloyd pointed at her bowl. She nodded, encouraging him to try.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ57XcYQp0F
After confirming a few times, Lloyd finally took a bite. To his surprise, he223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrykCo8cR0F
said, "It actually tastes pretty good like this!"
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Smiling, Tresa handed him some of the same snacks, along223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2pSuYsuPu
with the scissors. "Want to make yours the same?" she asked. Without223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1M0UOPjoG
hesitation, Lloyd took them, mixed the snacks into his own bowl, and after a223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMazV2PoGdk
bite, nodded in approval. "This is really good!"
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As they ate, Tresa suddenly remembered something.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmYVpAoZO4
"Weren’t you supposed to go home for the break? I thought I’d be the first223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4DmExm3xM
one back. Good thing you were here to let me in."
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Lloyd shrugged. "Yeah, I just got back. Nothing special223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOGG4M9BrF
at home."
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"Really? Don’t you miss your family?" she asked,223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBY9a6Xipq
recalling a night when he had silently cried while gazing at the moon. Lloyd223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ86B4VmYyX
paused for a moment, then softly said, "…My grandma passed away last year.223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjox9B11ZQf
After that, I haven’t had any family left."
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Tresa was stunned by his words. She lowered her voice and223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQBSTtwd6L
said, "I’m so sorry to hear that."
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Lloyd shook his head gently. "It’s okay. I just went223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CIl1s1CxD
back to visit her grave."
There was a brief, sombre silence. Looking for a way to lighten the mood, Tresa glanced out the window and noticed a change in the
scenery. She exclaimed excitedly, "Hey, it’s snowing outside! Let’s go223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsi6USzwiOz
check it out!" She grabbed her coat and pulled Lloyd outside. Together,223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1S4Wvgga9D
they looked up at the night sky, watching as the snowflakes fell like countless223Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFxaaTfYps
tiny diamonds under the light of the full moon—beautiful and serene.
End
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