Chapter 25 Male and Female Dormitories

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At night, Zhao Wuji returned from the bathhouse, feeling refreshed.

"Ahh, nothing beats a good shower!" Zhao Wuji said cheerfully, strolling down the quiet country road with a towel slung over his shoulder.

Today, Zhao Wuji's memory was fuzzy. He vaguely recalled seeing the blue sky and dark soil before he passed out. Why he'd been knocked out? He couldn't remember, but it didn't bother him much. Zhao Wuji was tough enough to shrug off life's little mysteries.

Still, something nagged at him—a feeling he'd forgotten something important. He shook it off. "Eh, it's probably nothing," he muttered, strutting confidently down the path, his steps bold and carefree like a character from his favorite tales. The rural road was muddy and uneven, but Zhao Wuji was used to it. Shrek Academy, built near a small village, wasn't exactly known for paved streets.

A cool breeze rustled the grass, creating a soothing, almost musical sound in the night. Zhao Wuji whistled, enjoying the peaceful walk.

But as he passed a patch of tall grass, a shadowy figure in a hood emerged silently from the darkness.

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*The Next Day*

"Huh? Zhao Wuji didn't come back?" Flanders stretched and glanced at Zhao Wuji's empty room, puzzled. "Probably got caught up in town with Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, chatting about something new," he chuckled, shaking his head. Zhao Wuji wasn't always the most punctual, and Flanders was used to his occasional late nights.

"Well, time to check on our new students!" Flanders said, energized. Shrek Academy had welcomed some talented newcomers yesterday, and he was eager to see them in action.

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*Boys' Dormitory*

Splash!

A bucket of cold water drenched a sleeping figure, who leapt up with a yelp.

"Whoa! Who did that?!" Cu Chulainn, looking like a soaked puppy, glared around the room.

A chuckle came from a red-clad figure nearby. "Just helping you wake up, Cu!" Emiya said with a grin, hands raised innocently. "It's morning—time to get moving!"

Cu Chulainn growled, grabbing Emiya's collar. "You—!"

"Whoa, hold on!" Emiya Shirou stepped in, waving his hands. "We're all friends here. No need to fight first thing in the morning."

Cu Chulainn huffed but let go. "Fine, but you owe me one."

Emiya just smirked, unbothered. The commotion woke the other boys, who groggily began preparing for the day and headed to the cafeteria.

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*Girls' Dormitory*

"Mmm… Third Brother…" Xiao Wu mumbled, rubbing her eyes as she woke from a dream. She sat up in her pink pajamas, realizing she was no longer at Notting City Soul Master Academy but at Shrek Academy. Glancing around, she saw she was the first awake.

"Time to get everyone up," she decided, hopping out of bed.

She approached Ning Rongrong's bed. "Rongrong, wake up!" she said, gently shaking her.

"Mm… just a bit longer…" Ning Rongrong murmured, waving an arm sleepily without opening her eyes.

Xiao Wu giggled and moved on. "Where's Illya?" she wondered, noticing Illya's empty bed. She'd hoped to chat with her early, but Illya was nowhere in sight.

Then, a soft voice came from Zhu Zhuqing's bed. "Mmm… Illya, don't move…" Illya mumbled in her sleep.

Xiao Wu tiptoed over and smiled at the sight: Illya, curled up like a kitten, was snuggled against Zhu Zhuqing, who slept peacefully. The two looked cozy and comfortable, like close siblings.

"So cute!" Xiao Wu whispered, admiring Illya's peaceful expression. She resisted the urge to poke her cheek, not wanting to wake them. "Wish I had a way to capture this moment," she thought, smiling.

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*Shrek Cafeteria*

"What's wrong, Emiya? Not hungry?" Ma Hongjun asked between mouthfuls of breakfast, eating with enthusiasm.

Emiya stared at his plate, unimpressed. "This food could use… some help," he said tactfully. He tied on an apron and called out, "Shirou, let's fix this!"

"Coming!" Emiya Shirou replied, following him to the kitchen. The two worked together like pros, their cooking skills practically second nature.

Soon, they returned with plates of steaming, delicious food. "Wow, Emiya, this is amazing!" Ma Hongjun said, giving a thumbs-up.

"What about mine?" Cu Chulainn asked, raising an eyebrow.

Emiya pointed to a plate of perfectly cooked eggs with a smirk. "Right there, buddy."

Cu Chulainn grinned, satisfied, and dug in.

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(End of Chapter)

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