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 had204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAu1O7yzXj
just gotten off the plane, taken a train and bus for another hour, and was204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SDeaPzuYX
wrapped in layers of thick clothing. Yet, the starry sky didn’t captivate her.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡql7SblmyRo
Exhausted, she dragged two heavy suitcases and a backpack, struggling to204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcpVoU3adK
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 her204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBpDDd4MCo
housemates had planned to return to their hometowns, and the landlord decided204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAAls9kKSq
to take his family on a vacation. He had repeatedly instructed everyone to lock204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFr7Nw91Lo
all windows and turn off the devices before leaving. After the last housemate204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZdGVuyzgn
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 and204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWTitQA7EI
reached into her backpack to find her keys, but after searching for a while,204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfaRDRG62f
she couldn’t find them! Panic began to set in. The landlord and her housemates204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuFqxUEaqv
were all gone, and there was no one inside to help her. She was completely alone204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrU5mbuYpUF
and helpless—was she going to be locked out? Just as she was debating whether204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmzDdcoBSX
to break in and pay for the damages later, the door suddenly opened from the204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOix42080Mg
inside! Startled, she stepped back, but then recognized her housemate, Lloyd.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MqOCc16aX
Relieved, she was also puzzled—no one was supposed to be home. Why was he still204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVvcgQGrgx
inside?
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"Welcome back! Come on in, it’s freezing outside,"204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZHhjIIia7
Lloyd said with a smile. Just as she was about to ask him why he was still204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nzlt2lIbE
there, she noticed that Lloyd was wearing nothing but a towel around his waist,204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOK254DZD5p
his upper body completely bare. Shocked, she nearly screamed, but Lloyd seemed204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOJweMV0Lo
unfazed, remaining calm as he helped carry her suitcases inside. Swallowing her204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGU7OSTpSmh
questions, she awkwardly suggested, "It's really cold—maybe you should put204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFjUXfI2ka
on some clothes first." Only then did Lloyd realize he had just come out204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12VsYCB6nt
of the shower. Still calm, he carried her suitcases upstairs, promising to get204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1jQ0n5dE0
dressed afterward.
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After Lloyd left her suitcases outside her room and she204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKo0I6HLyzh
thanked him, he returned to his room and closed the door. Behind it, he covered204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSkBfAS0cZ
his face, cringing at the embarrassing situation. "That was so204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCi3fMBmu1
awkward!" he thought. Little did he know, inside her own room, Tresa’s204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccAbyBjiTa
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 Lloyd204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJG9OHZVWU
got dressed and went downstairs to prepare dinner. Knowing they were the only204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJjwSHoXYZ
two in the house, Lloyd knocked on Tresa’s door and asked, "I’m making204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡks5mDwYUIl
noodles. Would you like some?" Without warning, she opened the door and204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNXbxBV6yk
handed him a large bag of snacks with a smile. "I’ve got a ton of snacks.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvBsTGMGzc
Let’s have them together after the noodles!" she said, then quickly shut204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ax4C4Hy56
the door before he could respond.
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Lloyd blinked in confusion. Did that mean he was supposed to204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Gnj8UOeYs
cook for her too? Shrugging, he decided to make an extra portion anyway—he204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRIlQ72Asv
figured he could eat it if she didn’t. He took the large bag of snacks she had204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzr3Y9CLDha
given him and placed it on the dining table before heading to the kitchen. When204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB23hBezZvh
the noodles were ready, Tresa came downstairs with a disappointed expression.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6wjEs8oM1
"I wanted to help, but I guess I was too late!" she said. Lloyd waved204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7bte5QDLi
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 before204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3MF4psm9l
she put down her utensils, dug through the snack bag, and pulled out a variety204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjdMAKAb8G
of instant snacks—dried eggs, mini sausages, and other unfamiliar foods.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZqDaVMWzT
Curious, Lloyd watched as she went to the kitchen to grab scissors, came back,204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7044caU2ri
and started cutting open the packages, sprinkling the snacks into her noodles204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5m9NyRaPAY
and mixing them. She took a bite, her face lighting up with satisfaction.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhgXGNBAjF
Noticing Lloyd staring at her, she pushed the bowl toward him, offering him a204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuS5VTgq0n
taste. Hesitant, Lloyd pointed at her bowl. She nodded, encouraging him to try.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5Q3RYpCnS
After confirming a few times, Lloyd finally took a bite. To his surprise, he204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5pHrRyMId
said, "It actually tastes pretty good like this!"
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Smiling, Tresa handed him some of the same snacks, along204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9NQN3ETzP
with the scissors. "Want to make yours the same?" she asked. Without204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfzoAoEt3X
hesitation, Lloyd took them, mixed the snacks into his own bowl, and after a204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtrlXVip3y
bite, nodded in approval. "This is really good!"
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As they ate, Tresa suddenly remembered something.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3iu3GxXuH
"Weren’t you supposed to go home for the break? I thought I’d be the first204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuzMvBIGkX
one back. Good thing you were here to let me in."
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Lloyd shrugged. "Yeah, I just got back. Nothing special204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDxLySeyrS
at home."
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"Really? Don’t you miss your family?" she asked,204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwNcIfgS4o
recalling a night when he had silently cried while gazing at the moon. Lloyd204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtztUw0Qo9d
paused for a moment, then softly said, "…My grandma passed away last year.204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF6UoObqPT
After that, I haven’t had any family left."
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Tresa was stunned by his words. She lowered her voice and204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvqTT3slcS
said, "I’m so sorry to hear that."
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Lloyd shook his head gently. "It’s okay. I just went204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jubpz1oCu
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 go204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuep3eJmA1
check it out!" She grabbed her coat and pulled Lloyd outside. Together,204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXE3r4l0fxh
they looked up at the night sky, watching as the snowflakes fell like countless204Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbEwm78NUg
tiny diamonds under the light of the full moon—beautiful and serene.
End
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