She patted her face, trying to gather her thoughts.
Rose struggled to keep Ashe's image from filling her mind.
But for some reason, the harder she tried,
the clearer Ashe's image became.
She couldn't take it anymore.
Rose abruptly got out of bed.
She picked up the bath towel lying nearby and went into the bathroom.
"Hey, I'm going to take a shower. It might take a while, so if you need the toilet, use the one in the teaching building."
Before Ashe could reply,
the bathroom door slammed shut.
Looking at the tightly closed door,
Ashe's lips curled into a faint smile. Her phoenix-shaped eyes narrowed slightly, and with her playful expression and the beauty mark at the corner of her eye,
she gave off the impression of a chaste married woman at first glance.
"Okay," Ashe murmured in reply.
She reached into the ample cleavage of her towel and pulled out the small device tucked there.
The little gadget she'd redeemed from the system glowed pale blue in her hand.
"Brainwave Cinema Player: Want to feel like you're really there? Want to experience true virtual reality? The Brainwave Cinema Player doesn't act on the eyes; it projects images directly into the brain."
"Forget sensory input. The player sends the movie's images straight to your brain. Note: Ineffective on second-generation Super Soldiers and above."
Ashe casually turned off the recording of herself wearing a yukata, then tossed the device into Dark Plane Space.
After thinking it over, Ashe muttered, "This should work on Rose as she is now."
"Whatever. Half an hour is enough for tonight. She's had plenty of perks already, and if this works, it'll leave an impression in her mind."
It was just a little trinket that cost 100 Nurturing Points to redeem. Ashe had originally gotten it so she could watch horror movies with Qilin. She hadn't expected to use it on Rose first.
Putting that out of her mind, Ashe tightened the bath towel around herself.
She looked at her reflection and sighed.
"I wonder when the clothes I ordered will arrive. Even I can't resist myself dressed like this!"
She swayed her slender waist from side to side, then brushed two fingers over her snowy-white neck.
Suddenly, Ashe had an idea.
"Next time I go to One Mind Realm for training, should I conjure up extra desserts to bribe that shut-in of a master into dressing like this for me?"
Ashe considered how best to coax her shut-in master into it.
In the end, she decided to borrow a couple of Rose's outfits first.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom,
Rose stood under the cool water and felt Ashe's image finally fade from her mind.
Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
She swept her long hair back from her forehead, brushing it all the way behind her head.
Rose looked at herself in the mirror.
Her hand, however, drifted unconsciously to her rear.
Why did her butt still hurt a little?
Twenty minutes slowly passed.
(The bathroom scene is paid content... Please pay to unlock it. Smirking Dog.jpg)
After getting her thoughts in order, Rose came out. She didn't pay any mind to Ashe wearing her clothes.
The two chatted a little, exchanging a few words here and there.
They went out and had a meal together, and before long, night fell.
Once Ashe's ordered bedding and clothes arrived, she and Rose slept in the same bed.
They each said good night.
Then they fell asleep.
Or so you'd think...
Lying in bed, Rose listened to the steady breathing beside her.
After confirming that Ashe, who had Gender Identity Disorder, hadn't done anything to her,
Rose took a deep breath.
Only then did she relax and fall into a deep sleep.
Another hour passed.
Listening to Rose's even breathing beside her,
Ashe opened her eyes, the corners of her mouth lifting in a triumphant smile.
Once she'd confirmed Rose was asleep,
Ashe gently lifted Rose's slender arm.
Then she placed it around her waist.
She shaped Rose's hand into a loose grip.
After making sure she was being held—no, embraced—securely enough,
Ashe turned around, deciding to face away from Rose.
That way, Rose wouldn't wake up in the morning, see herself holding her, and blush with embarrassment.
Mm. She really did think of other people.
Ashe felt a little touched by her own thoughtfulness.
She turned off her phone alarm and decided to sleep in tomorrow.
After all, if she woke up before Rose, wouldn't that ruin the act?
Though, thanks to her martial arts training, Ashe could already wake herself at any time just by giving her brain a strong enough suggestion.
But putting on a convincing act meant minding the details. If Rose later found out she could wake up whenever she wanted without an alarm, wouldn't that be bad?
It was all about the details, bro. It was all part of the performance.
With that thought, Ashe fell into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile, Qilin had just finished being nagged by her parents.
She sighed and flopped down flat on her bed.
Glancing at her screensaver, a photo of Ashe,
she murmured, "What's Ashe doing right now?"
Qilin rallied herself.
She got up and started packing.
Since Ashe hadn't brought any luggage with her,
Qilin decided to sort out all of Ashe's clothes.
After all, she had plenty of them here.
"Mm, Ashe looks good in this."
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