I Won't Have the Leisure to Keep Remembering

(Heartfelt thanks to Fengdiehua Qiming for the 5,888 reward, Qu Meifeng for the 1,888 reward, and Rainy Road Love for the reward!)

Late at night...

In the pitch-black room, Asia and Koneko slept together on the bed that should have belonged to Noah, their breathing steady and rhythmic as they lay with their eyes tightly shut, lost in dreams.

Noah lay on the bedding spread across the floor, his eyes closed as well, seemingly asleep.

Yet at one point, Noah suddenly opened his eyes without any warning. A sharp glint flashed through his black eyes, deeper than the night itself, in the dim space. He slowly rose and put on his clothes.

Just as Noah was about to head for the door, a deliberately hushed voice softly rang out.

"...Teacher..."

Noah paused and turned toward the bed.

There, Koneko, dressed in brown pajamas with a cat design on the chest, had awakened at some point and was staring straight at Noah.

"Are you going out?"

Noah smiled and nodded as he put on the coat in his hands.

"I'm going out to deal with some annoying rats."

Koneko nodded without the slightest surprise.

"Do you need my help?"

"No." Noah walked over to the bedside, reached out, and gently stroked Koneko's head as he spoke softly.

"Stay here and protect Asia."

If it had been a week ago, Koneko would definitely have slapped Noah's hand away for making such an intimate gesture.

But over the past week, Koneko herself had often crawled into Noah's blankets while half-asleep. Before she knew it, she had stopped rejecting his touch.

It was just like a cat wary of humans gradually being tamed and beginning to show its gentle side to its owner.

Thus, under Noah's head pat, Koneko's expression gradually softened. Though she