章 31: Adam’s Visit

Adam stood in front of Ani's house, his heart racing in nervous anticipation.

He felt hyper-aware of every sound around him as he waited, mentally rehearsing what he might say.

He took a deep breath, hoping to steady himself, and knocked at the gate.

The seconds felt like hours until finally, the door opened, revealing an elegant middle-aged woman.

Her hair was silver, flowing gracefully down her shoulders, and her eyes were a soft blue—almost like a glimpse into a calm, endless ocean.

She wore a simple, white house dress covered by an apron, which made it clear she had just come from the kitchen.

The woman looked at Adam, taking in his school uniform.

Recognition flickered across her face as she nodded with understanding. "Your uniform tells me you're from PK Academy," she said softly.

Swallowing his nervousness, Adam managed to smile and said, "My name is Adam. I'm a friend of Ani's."

The woman's expression shifted slightly, her eyebrows lifting in surprise. "Ani has a friend?" she muttered almost to herself, clearly caught off guard by the idea.

Adam sensed she hadn't expected her daughter to have friends from school visit.

Despite her surprise, she quickly regained her composure, offering Adam a kind smile. "I'm Naneko, Ani's mother," she introduced herself, her voice warm.

Adam nodded, bowing politely. "Miss Naneko, I… came to check on Ani."

Naneko's expression softened, and she gestured for him to come inside. "Well, don't stand out there. Come in."

Adam entered the house, his gaze moving to the right where a shoe rack was crowded with various sandals and shoes, a traditional touch he hadn't anticipated.

Nearby, an umbrella and raincoat hung from a coat closet. Respecting the household customs, Adam bent down to remove his shoes.

Just as he did, he noticed Naneko was already waiting with a pair of indoor slippers for him.

He was surprised by this thoughtfulness, but he smiled, slipping on the slippers out of respect.

Inside, the house was simple yet polished, with a noticeable warmth and cleanliness in every corner.

To his left, a large sliding Japanese-style door led to the living room, where a television stood in front of a sofa and a glass-topped table.

Various personal items, including family photos, adorned the walls, and he noticed a photograph of Ani's father.

Adam's eyes traveled to the staircase on the right, leading to the upper floor. Just as he looked up, Naneko turned to him, gesturing towards the stairs. "Ani's on the second floor. You can go up."

Nervously, Adam nodded, glancing once more at Naneko, then headed toward the stairs.

Thoughts raced through his mind. Should I really be doing this? But he pushed those doubts aside, deciding he couldn't turn back now.

As he ascended, he took note of the polished wooden floor and the meticulously kept rooms around him.

The second floor was equally spotless, filled with small decorative details that reflected a traditional yet modern Japanese home.

Reaching the top, Adam paused in front of a door on his left. A small, decorative butterfly plaque hung on the door, reading, Ani's Room. Taking a deep breath, he knocked gently.

"Come in," Ani's voice called from inside, sounding slightly distracted.

A mischievous thought crossed Adam's mind—why not surprise her? He took a deep breath, turned the door handle, and entered.

The first thing that struck him was the color scheme of the room, bathed in soft pink and pastel blue tones, giving it a warm and cheerful ambiance.

Teddy bears and plush animals lined the shelves, adding a whimsical charm.

Adam's eyes soon fell on Ani, seated at her desk, completely absorbed in her work.

She was wearing her pajamas, covered in small, vibrant prints of her favorite idol singers.

Her white hair fell loosely around her shoulders, framing her face in gentle waves.

Unable to hold back a small chuckle, Adam made a light noise, drawing her attention.

Ani's head whipped around, and her eyes widened in pure shock when she realized who stood before her. Instantly, she jumped up, flustered.

"A-Adam? How… how did you get here?" she stammered, pulling her hands up instinctively to cover the playful patterns on her pajamas, her cheeks bright pink with embarrassment.

Adam's gaze moved over her outfit, amusement dancing in his eyes.

Ani noticed this, and a surge of self-consciousness took over.

Without another word, she hurried over, grabbed him by the shoulders, and practically shoved him back out of the room, closing the door firmly behind him.

Outside, Adam, feeling equally embarrassed, sat on the floor with a sheepish smile, scratching the back of his head. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his thoughts, still processing how Ani had reacted.

Moments later, the door reopened, and Ani stepped out, her face flushed Clothes have been changed.

"I… I'm sorry," she stammered, unable to look him directly in the eyes. "I didn't mean to push you out like that."

Adam, now looking down at the floor, shrugged lightly. "No, no, I should have… I should have said it was me outside."

They both stood in awkward silence for a moment, each glancing anywhere but at each other, their faces still red. Just then, a voice from behind interrupted them.

"Are you going to keep your friend outside forever, Ani?" Naneko's voice cut through the tension.

Ani turned an even deeper shade of red, giving her mother a pleading look, but it was clear her mother wasn't going to let her off the hook.

Finally, Ani took a deep breath and gestured toward her room, glancing shyly at Adam. "You can come in now."

Adam gave a slight, appreciative bow before stepping back inside. He noticed the room even more in detail this time.

In the center of the room lay a soft pink mattress with panda prints, paired with a small Japanese tea table.

Adam took a seat on the mattress, feeling a little more relaxed now, while Ani sat across from him.

Moments later, Naneko entered, carrying a tray with drinks and a slice of cake.

"If you need anything else, just call for me," she said, setting down the tray before giving them both a gentle smile and quietly leaving the room.

A silence filled the room, neither Adam nor Ani knowing quite where to start.

Both were looking down, trying to compose themselves, their cheeks still flushed.

Out of nowhere, Adam heard Pratham's voice echoing in his mind, urging him to break the silence.

Clearing his throat, Adam finally said, "Your room… it's really nice."

Ani lifted her gaze to meet his, but the reminder of her earlier embarrassment made her cheeks flush again.

She murmured a quiet, "Thank you," before looking away, her face heating up as memories of Adam seeing her in her pajamas resurfaced.

Struggling with his own nerves, Adam pressed on. "You're feeling better, right?"

Ani nodded, managing a small smile. "Yes, much better now."

Just then, Pratham's voice echoed in Adam's head once more. "Lord Adam, Miss Ani is still working on the annual support festival documents."

Adam's brows knitted together in surprise, and he looked at Ani with concern. "Ani… I thought I told you not to overwork yourself."

Her eyes widened slightly at his serious tone. "What do you mean?" she asked, genuinely puzzled.

Adam gestured toward the stack of papers on her desk. "I told you not to put so much pressure on yourself, but here you are… doing exactly that."

Ani glanced at the stack of documents and shrugged, giving a soft laugh. "I just… couldn't sit idle. I thought I'd get a bit of work done."

Adam sighed, his voice gentle yet firm. "But do you really think you can finish all of this by today? When do you plan on stopping?"

Ani was caught off guard by his persistence, but she flashed him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I can handle it. I've done this sort of thing before."

Adam looked at her, a mixture of admiration and concern in his eyes.

Her determination was undeniable, but he couldn't shake the feeling that she was pushing herself too hard.

To be connected.....