Eren was standing in front of a known apothecary. An apothecary that could be seen to be closed for business. But he knew it would welcome him. This was the home he had come to call his own after his parents abandoned him after all.

'You are here!'

Eren thought to himself as he felt a familiar, non-hostile mana sense wash over him. He flashed his signature grin that was borderline evil to look at. He then took a deep breath before heading towards the entrance. His slanty grin was still plastered on his face.

Eren didn't knock on the door. The resident of the home knew he was there. So he just stood in front of the door waiting for it to get opened.

"Tch. You are no fun, Erni. You should have broken the door in your eagerness to meet me. Your patience tells me you are not passionate."

A soft female voice spoke with dramatic irritation. The irritation also contained a lot of warmth, which he was unable to ignore.

The door was gently opened and the source of that gentle yet firm voice came into Eren's view. This was a pretty lady that looked to be in the prime of her life.

She looked much younger than the last time Eren saw her. Her smooth and supple skin now appeared to be more attractive because of its light tanned hue. Her figure was even more seductive. Her features were even more beautiful than Eren remembered.

"You you didn't tell me you broke through into B-Rank?"

Eren said and stepped forward to embrace the most caring woman he had known since his childhood without worrying about her ranking status. The latter also did the same opening her arms wide to hug him with equal eagerness.

"Hehe. Just like you didn't tell me you broke through. Guess we both wanted to surprise each other."

Nina placed her head on Eren's chest as she hugged him gently at first. Her hug became tighter the moment she inhaled his scent.

"You you have changed so much too, Eren. I saw your changed look on the spectral call and was surprised by it. But this? Meeting you in person makes me wonder if that breakthrough was something normal.

You downplayed the risks while telling me about them, didn't you?"

Nina pinched the skin of his left chest as she asked him in a part worry and part caring voice. The latter caressed her back and closed the door behind him by using his left leg.

Eren smiled mirthlessly when he heard Nina's observation which was right on spot. He sighed before responding:

"I changed but I also didn't. I'm still that Eren that you have taken care of and raised for so many years now.

You are even more of a home to me than this brick-and-mortar place. So in that sense, I'm still me."

Nina rubbed her head against Eren's chest when she heard him endearingly speaking about her. She responded quickly after:

"Your glib tongue would not save you this time, little rat. I want the details.

How did you breakthrough? Did you gain any insights? I want them answered in full detail along with the questions I'll be asking you regarding your first-year experience."

Eren smirked and gave Nina a big hug once again his hands on her buns. He gave them a firm squeeze out of the blue before responding:

"Of course. We also need to "catch up" on this, don't we?"

Nina felt a wave of excitement wash over her. But she controlled it and allowed Eren's hands to rest on her buns for a while before lifting them. She gave a cunning smile of her own and commented:

"You need to work hard from scratch if you want us to "catch up". Take me on another date, Eren. it should be different from the one we had last time, understood?"

Nina nodded before pinching Eren's cheeks with both her hands:

"Alright, little rat, we have so much to talk about and do. I know you must have been thinking we don't need to go on a date to be intimate anymore. I also yearned for you all these months. But I want you to take some effort.

I don't ask much, Eren. I just want us to be more than our physical relationship.

Hehe. But I understand you must have been, should I say, pent up thinking about me. I am too, I won't lie. Let's just consider this as a consolation prize for both of us for now."

The pinching of cheeks turned into the hold as Nina drew Eren's face close to her. After looking him in the eye, she planted a kiss on his lips.

Eren closed his eyes and embraced her once more. He let his hands roam all over her back. The butcher caressed her buns and squeezed them once again while inserting his tongue inside Nina's mouth.

"Hmmmmmmm!"

Nina moaned in a suppressed voice and hugged Eren's torso tighter. She also rubbed her groin against Eren's freshly formed bulge.

The pair stayed in that position for a few minutes. Eren was getting bolder by the moment. Grabbing Nina's tits and buns with his hands, he began to excite her on two fronts.

Nina was enjoying this. But she didn't let her need to be with Eren take the best of her.

She forced herself and Eren to break their smooch and got a step away from him while puffing her cheeks in false anger:

"This was supposed to be a teaser. No getting ahead of our schedule, little rat. I want a memorable date like last time. You better give me one. Otherwise..hmph!"

Eren pursed his lips when he heard Nina wanted him to woo her all over again. He thought that with Nina, it would be a straightforward fuck that he could indulge in. But that didn't discourage him from recovering from his surprise and flashing a smile and commenting:

"Of course, we both have our rank ups. We need to celebrate. Let me plan a few things. We'll schedule a date in a few days. You also need to tell me how you broke into the Master rank and how your experience in Ranker's utopia was."

Nina nodded at Eren with a charming smile. She replied as if they were on a schedule:

"Alright! Chop chop, Erni. Go get fresh first. I cleaned your room for you. I hope you are hungry because I made pancakes. I'll be waiting downstairs."