COTE: Horikita Is My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter 182: Daily Clothes: Shiina Hiyori

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"You're welcome~" Shiina said, raising her eyebrows while holding the matcha soda with both hands. "Thank you for the drink, Rin."

"You're welcome."

Rin and Shiina exchanged smiles before continuing their walk toward the dormitory building.

As they walked, Shiina, still holding her matcha soda with both hands, said softly, "Rin, I'm actually not very good with electronic devices or technology."

"Yeah, I've noticed," Rin replied with a nod. Whether it was using a mobile phone or a self-service beverage vending machine, Shiina's clumsiness was evident.

Turning his head to look at the elegant girl beside him, Rin offered a reassuring smile.

"It's nothing to worry about. If you spend more time with them in the future, Shiina, you'll naturally become more comfortable. Once you're familiar with them, everything will feel easier."

"Mm, I'll try!" Shiina nodded firmly.

The two of them reached the third floor via the elevator.

"Rin, I'll go back to my room first and then come over to yours. Make sure to leave the door open for me," Shiina said in a playful tone.

"Got it," Rin replied.

"By the way, do you have guest slippers? If not, I can bring mine."

"I do. Feel free to come over."

Previously, Horikita had complained about Rin not having slippers for guests, so he'd gone out after school one afternoon and bought a pair.

"But…"

Rin's gaze instinctively traveled from Shiina's delicate chest to her slender waist, down to her snow-white legs, and finally to her feet, which were clad in round-toed leather shoes.

Her feet looked small and dainty, as if they could fit perfectly in one hand.

"Shiina, maybe you should bring your own slippers. I think my guest slippers might be a bit too big for you."

"It's fine~" Shiina replied with a light smile.

Rin shrugged. "If you don't mind, then you can wear my guest slippers."

"Alright~ See you soon, Rin."

"See you."

Shiina waved at Rin, her expression bright and cheerful, before unlocking her dorm room door and stepping inside. Rin opened his own dorm room and left the door slightly ajar for Shiina.

As he entered his room, Rin took stock of his surroundings. The quilt on his bed was a mess, his pajamas were tossed haphazardly on top of it, and Shiina's book [Whose Body?] was sitting at the head of the bed. His desk was cluttered with a USB flash drive, eye drops, and various small items.

Looking around, Rin let out a subtle sigh.

"The room's a bit messy… Should I try tricking Horikita into helping me tidy up again?"

However, he quickly realized that might not work. Horikita wasn't a fool and wouldn't be easily convinced to clean his room for him.

With no other options, Rin picked up the messy quilt and pajamas from the bed and stuffed them into his closet. He also tidied up his desk a little, putting the scattered items in order.

About five minutes later, he heard Shiina's soft, light voice coming from the door.

"Rin, I'm here~"

Rin turned toward the door and saw Shiina standing there, looking adorable as always. She was holding her backpack in her hands.

After returning to her dormitory, Shiina had changed out of her school uniform into simple everyday clothes. The outfit she chose was extremely plain, with no patterns or embellishments to add flair.

The only decoration was a red belt tied around her waist, which gathered the fabric and subtly revealed her slender, soft waist.

The simplicity of her attire only enhanced her gentle and virtuous temperament, exuding a quiet charm from the inside out. It was proof that someone truly beautiful can make even the simplest clothing look stunning.

Standing at the entrance of Rin's dormitory, Shiina was greeted with a warm smile.

"Shiina, come in, and please close the door behind you. The blue slippers are for guests," Rin said.

"Okay~"

Shiina placed her backpack on the floor, but when it landed, it made a strange "bang" sound. The noise was loud enough for Rin, standing a few steps away, to hear.

"Shiina, what on earth did you put in your backpack? It sounds so heavy," Rin asked curiously, walking over to her and picking up the bag.

Hiss… it really is heavy, he thought.

"It's filled with all my favorite mystery novels~" Shiina replied softly as she removed her round-toed leather shoes, revealing her slender feet wrapped in shiny gray stockings.

She slipped her small, delicate feet into Rin's guest slippers.

As expected, the slippers were far too big for her, making her feet appear even smaller and more dainty in comparison.

Rin's gaze briefly fell to her feet before he quickly looked away. Picking up her backpack, he walked into the room.

Shiina didn't seem to care whether the guest slippers fit or not. She simply put them on and followed Rin inside.

Once inside, she looked around with curiosity, observing every detail of his dormitory room.

The furniture and appliances in Rin's dorm room were identical to those in Shiina Hiyori's own room. However, there was one distinct difference—the air itself.

Shiina could smell a refreshing natural scent in the room, like the aroma of nature after a rainstorm. It was soothing and comfortable, a scent she realized she had also smelled on Rin himself.

Rin placed her backpack on the desk and turned to her.

"What about you, Shiina? Where do you want to sit?"

"I'll sit on the stool," she replied before noticing where Rin intended to sit. "Wait… you're going to sit on the bed?"

"Yeah," Rin said casually.

"That won't do!" Shiina protested immediately.

She felt that if she sat on the stool while Rin sat on the bed, the distance between them would be too great, making it difficult to have a proper conversation.

"Rin, wait here for a moment. I'll go grab a stool from my room!"

"Do you need help?" Rin offered.

"No need~ But while I'm gone, can you help me take out all the novels in my backpack?"

"Alright."

Rin unzipped her backpack and began removing the books one by one.

As he pulled them out, he couldn't help but let out a soft whistle. "Wow, four books—and all of them are thick hardcover editions. No wonder your backpack is so heavy…"

He read the titles as he placed them neatly on the desk:

The Dawn of Death by Cornell Woolrich

The Mystery of the Egyptian Cross by Ellery Queen

Eight Million Ways to Die by Lawrence Block

The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov