Journey Through Dimensional Worlds

Chapter 18 Campus

Yuzuriha Inori lay on the unfamiliar bed, staring at the ceiling.

The pajamas were given to her by He Quan. They were light pink cotton long-sleeved shirts with delicate lace trim on the cuffs and neckline. They were a little loose on her, and the neckline slipped to one side, revealing a small section of her fair shoulder.

Soon, she felt the fabric of her pajamas against her skin, suddenly warm, as if something alive was awakening from the fibers.

Yuzuriha Inori's breathing quickened.

She didn't move or make a sound, just lay there, her deep red eyes staring at the ceiling, letting the warm touch spread from her collarbone to her shoulder, from her shoulder to her back, and from her back to her waist...

The sensation didn't disappear until much later.

Yuzuriha Inori closed her eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep in the warm afterglow.

......

Morning light streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting a thin, golden band of light across the ceiling.

Yuzuriha Inori opened her eyes and sat up. Her long, light pink hair fell over her shoulders, with a few strands clinging to her cheeks. The neckline of her pajamas was askew, revealing most of her shoulder.

She lowered her head and looked at the bed sheets.

There was a large dark stain on the light-colored cotton bed sheet.

Yuzuriha Inori tilted her head.

"Sweat?" she said softly.

No one answered her.

She stared at the mark for a few seconds, then threw back the covers and stepped barefoot onto the floor.

She walked into the living room.

Breakfast was already set on the table, steaming hot, as if it had just been brought out of the kitchen.

He Quan sat on the sofa, legs crossed, holding a magazine in his hand.

He was relaxed, with a faint smile on his lips. His eyes were closed, as if he was savoring something.

Yuzuriha Inori walked to the dining table, sat down, picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of tamagoyaki, and put it in her mouth.

taste good.

"Aren't you going to eat?" she asked.

He Quan opened his eyes, glanced at her, and said, "I've already eaten."

Yuzuriha Inori didn't ask any more questions.

I ate my breakfast quietly.

......

Tianwangzhou Middle School, Grade 2, Class A.

When the classroom door was opened, the previously noisy space instantly fell silent.

He Quan stood on the podium, one hand in the pocket of his tracksuit, the other casually resting on the edge of the lectern.

"This is our new transfer student today, Yuzuriha Inori."

His voice wasn't loud, but everyone could hear him clearly.

Yuzuriha Inori walked into the classroom. She wore a red school uniform blazer, a white shirt, and a red ribbon tied neatly at the collar.

The plaid skirt stopped just above her knees, black over-the-knee socks covered her slender calves, and she wore a pair of dark brown loafers.

Her features were so exquisite they seemed unreal, like a meticulously sculpted doll.

Her light pink long hair was tied into pigtails and fell over her shoulders. Her deep red eyes gazed calmly ahead, without any extra emotion.

The classroom was silent for about two seconds.

Then, it exploded.

"So cute!!!"

"So cute!!!"

"This is so cute!!!"

The boys jumped up from their seats. Some slammed their fists on the table, some grabbed the arms of the students next to them and shook them wildly, and some opened their mouths but couldn't speak, only able to utter "ah ah ah" sounds.

The girls' reactions were much more varied. Some had their eyes light up, some whispered among themselves, and some looked like they thought, "Oh no, a formidable rival has arrived." But no one could deny that this transfer student was truly beautiful.

Shu Ouma slumped over his seat by the window, having slept poorly the night before, his mind still replaying the events that unfolded in the ruins yesterday.

Why did Teacher He Quan hit him? What exactly is hidden in those ruins?

My head hurts a lot, I want to sleep for a while.

Then he heard a scream.

He looked up, rubbed his eyes, and lazily glanced at the podium. Then, he saw Yuzuriha Inori.

Light pink twin tails, deep red eyes, and features so exquisite they seem unreal.

She looks exactly like the girl on his phone wallpaper.

Shu Ouma suddenly stood up, the chair legs scraping against the floor with a screeching sound.

All eyes turned to him, and Ouma Shu's face instantly turned bright red.

"I...I..."

He sat down awkwardly again.

He Quan withdrew his gaze and patted Yuzuriha Inori on the shoulder.

"Relax and enjoy campus life."

His tone was casual, like that of a teacher who genuinely cares about his students. Then he turned and walked out of the classroom.

Yuzuriha Inori was seated by the window. She walked over, sat down, and placed her hands properly on her knees.

The moment the bell rang, Yuzuriha Inori's seat was surrounded by a huge crowd.

"Inori Yuzuriha! You're the lead singer of Egoist, right?! Right?!"

"I absolutely love your songs! I've listened to them hundreds of times!"

"Can I get your autograph? Sign it here! Sign it here!"

"Yuzuriha Inori, why did you transfer here? Is it because you're releasing a new song?"

"What shampoo do you usually use? Your hair smells so good..."

"Make way! Make way! I want to see! Let me see too!"

A hand reached in from the periphery of the crowd, holding a notebook and a pen. The notebook was open, filled with clippings from various Egoist magazines and online images.

The owner of the hand was a boy with messy hair and an expression so agitated he was almost crying.

"Ms. Yuzuriha Inori! I'm your biggest fan! I've been following you since your debut! I've bought every single one of your songs! Please, please, please give me an autograph!"

Yuzuriha Inori looked up at him.

Her expression remained calm, and there was no extra emotion in her deep red eyes.

But she reached out, took the notebook and pen, lowered her head, and signed her name on the title page.

Souta Tamagatsu took the notebook with both hands, hugged it to his chest, and tears really streamed down his face.

"I...I will cherish this for the rest of my life..."

A hand came to rest on his shoulder.

"That's enough, isn't it?"

Han Chuan Gu Xun walked out from behind the crowd. He had short, light golden hair, regular features, and wore his school uniform neatly. He exuded the air of a good student.

But his eyes weren't dull; instead, they carried a composure beyond his years.

He looked at the classmates surrounding Yuzuriha Inori, his tone gentle but undeniable: "Look, everyone, Yuzuriha Inori looks very troubled."

The students watching exchanged bewildered glances, and someone whispered, "It's Han Chuan..."

Then the crowd began to loosen up.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Hanchuan Gu Xun turned to the side, pointed at Sota who was still wiping away tears, and said with a hint of just the right amount of helplessness in his tone.

"Excuse me, this guy's name is Sota Tamagatsu, and he's a huge fan of yours. I hope you won't mind his rudeness."

He paused, then pointed to himself: "By the way, I am Hanchuan Gu Xun."

"That guy over there is called Ouma Shu." Gu Xun's voice had a hint of amusement in it.

Yuzuriha Inori's gaze swept across the crowd and landed on Ouma Shu.

He was slumped over the table, his short, dark brown hair a little messy, with traces of red still lingering on the tips of his ears.

"Everyone, please don't get too excited."

Gu Xun turned back to the students who were watching and clapped his hands: "We're all in the same class, so we'll see each other every day from now on. Don't make things difficult for Yuzuriha Inori."

He spoke naturally, without any sense of command in his tone; it sounded more like a reasonable suggestion.

But the crowd really started to disperse. Some people went back to their seats, some continued to whisper with their friends, and some looked back again and again with reluctance.

Hanchuan Gu Xun is that kind of person; he has a natural social skill that makes everyone feel comfortable. He can remember everyone's name and interests in the class, and he knows how to say the right thing at the right time.

Shu Ouma lay on the table, his face buried in his arms, pretending to be asleep. He could hear Inori Yuzuriha's voice.

The responses are very light and brief, mostly simple ones like "um" or "thank you".

But the sound was like a tiny feather, gently scratching his eardrums.

He couldn't help but look up and steal a glance.

Yuzuriha Inori was bowing her head, signing her name in a notebook.

Light pink pigtails cascaded down her shoulders, the ends gleaming slightly in the sunlight.

Her profile was soft and delicate, with long eyelashes that cast subtle shadows on her eyelids.

So beautiful...

......

Physical education class.

The sun was shining brightly on the playground.

The air was crisp and the sun felt warm and pleasant on my skin, not hot at all.

He Quan was wearing sportswear, with a silver whistle around his neck and a scoreboard in his hand.

He stood in the center of the playground, relaxed, a stark contrast to the middle-aged physical education teachers who wore faded old tracksuits, were out of shape, and blew their whistles at the top of their lungs.

"Today is an endurance run."

He Quan's voice wasn't loud, but every student heard him clearly. "Two thousand for boys, one thousand for girls. Run laps around the track. Those who finish can have free time."

The girls let out a wail.

"Teacher He Quan, I don't want to run away."

"It's so sunny today."

"I'm not feeling well..."

He Quan glanced at them. "Those who don't want to run can rest."

The girls were stunned for a moment. "Really?"

"Um."

He Quan nodded casually, "Girls are okay. Boys aren't."

The playground fell silent for a moment. Then the girls burst into cheers.

"Teacher He Quan is the best!!!"

"Long live Teacher He Quan!!!"

"Teacher He Quan, I love you!!!"

The boys looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Teacher, this is so unfair!"

"Why can the girls not run while we have to?"

He Quan turned his head to look at the boy who had spoken. His expression remained calm, with a faint smile on his lips.

"Are you questioning the teacher's authority?"

No one raised any further objections.

The boys stood on the track, looking dejected, and began running laps.

The girls dispersed in twos and threes. Some sat on the benches by the playground chatting, some took out their phones to take pictures, and some huddled together whispering about Teacher He Quan's clothes and figure today.

Kyojo Matsuri sat next to Ouma Shu. She was Ouma Shu's classmate and one of the few people he could talk to normally.

"Teacher He Quan is such a kind person."

She looked at He Quan in the center of the playground, her eyes shining: "Other PE teachers train boys and girls together regardless of their gender, but he's the only one who's willing to take care of the girls' physical condition."

Shu Ouma remained silent.

Yesterday, in the ruins, Teacher He Quan slapped him.

Shu Ouma touched his left cheek.

It doesn't hurt anymore, but he still remembers that burning sensation very clearly.

If he tells others about this, will anyone believe him?

He glanced at Ji beside him; she was smiling and waving at He Quan.

forget it.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of pink.

Yuzuriha Inori sat under a cherry blossom tree at the edge of the playground.

The tree trunk was thick and its branches and leaves were lush, casting a large patch of shade on the grass.

She was wearing the school's uniform sportswear, short-sleeved, with a white trim around the cuffs and collar.

The athletic shorts are dark blue with wide legs that reach just to the mid-thigh.

She sat on the grass, her legs together and slightly turned to one side.

Black knee-high socks hugged her slender calves, with the tops clinging tightly to the skin below her knees, outlining a slight indentation.

She was wearing a pair of white sneakers with the laces tied neatly.

She lowered her head, placed her hands on her knees, and let her light pink pigtails fall in front of her shoulders, the ends of her hair brushing against her collarbone.

The fabric of her sportswear clung to her body, outlining her slender yet not frail figure.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled patterns of light on her, which swayed gently in the breeze.

Like a painting.

Shu Ouma was somewhat lost in thought while watching.

Then he saw He Quan.

He Quan walked to the cherry blossom tree and sat down next to Yuzuriha Inori.

The two were very close, his shoulder almost touching Yuzuriha Inori's shoulder. Their dark blue tracksuits and school uniforms were close together, similar in color, like the same style for both men and women.

A strange feeling welled up in Shu Ouma's heart.

Jealousy? No. What right does he have to be jealous? Yuzuriha Inori and he have barely exchanged a few words.

Inori Yuzuriha is the lead vocalist of Egoist, an online idol, and an unattainable figure.

Mr. He Quan is the most popular teacher in the school. He is handsome, has a great physique, and the girls scream for him.

They sat together, and the scene was indeed very harmonious.

But the bittersweet feeling in my heart was impossible to suppress.

Then, he went for a run.

......

He Quan asked, "How are you feeling?"

Yuzuriha Inori lowered her head. A very faint pink tinge appeared on her cheeks, spreading from her cheekbones to her ears.

My breathing was a little faster than usual, and my chest was rising and falling slightly.

"I'm not used to it..."

Her voice was very soft.

He Quan looked at her; the sportswear wrapped around her body, the fabric clinging to her skin.

Collarbone, shoulders, back, waist, thighs... every inch of the skin covered by skin was within his perception.

"Can you please stop...?"

Inori Yuzuriha's voice grew even softer; she didn't know how to describe the feeling. It wasn't pain, it wasn't cold, it wasn't anything that any of the words she had learned could describe.

It was as if countless tiny feathers were growing out of the fibers of her clothes, brushing against her skin gently, slowly, inch by inch.

Her body would react on its own; her heart would race, her breathing would become erratic, and her skin would feel hot.

She couldn't control it.

"It feels... strange."

He Quan glanced at her.

Then, the sensation disappeared.

Yuzuriha Inori's breathing gradually calmed down, the blush on her cheeks began to fade, and her heartbeat returned to normal.

She raised her head, her deep red eyes looking at He Quan, her expression trying to understand what had just happened.

"What is this?" she asked.

He Quan did not answer; he was savoring the taste of Yuzuriha Inori.

A girl's voice came from the side.

"Teacher He Quan."

Kusama Hana stood beside the flowering tree.

Her voice was tinged with jealousy and shyness, her ears were flushed, and her hand, which had been behind her back, reached out to hold a sports drink bottle. The bottle was still cool from the freezer and covered with fine water droplets.

"Please use this."

He Quan did not refuse. He reached out, took the drink, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip.

"Thanks, Kanon-kun."

"No, you're welcome."

Kusama Kanon's ears turned bright red. She bowed, turned around and walked away quickly. After a few steps, she almost stepped on the same side, but she forced herself to adjust.

(End of this chapter)