As Yukino temporarily left, Haruno quickly walked over.
"Natsuki-kun~" Haruno walked over and sat down, not advocating for 'justice' for Yukino. Instead, she rested her right hand on her chin, leaned slightly forward, closed one eye, lightly stuck out her tender tongue, and breathed out fragrant air, saying, "Yukino is still just a child, let me do it."
Natsuki: "…"
What about being blood sisters?
Your personalities are too different!
One is cold and ascetic, like a high-mountain flower, not to be defiled, while the other is like a little devil, always intentionally or unintentionally teasing others, completely two extremes.
But it must be said, this Haruno was indeed quite beautiful. Her playful cuteness in her charming smiles, even knowing it was deliberate cuteness, made it impossible to feel any aversion.
Natsuki said seriously:
"I'm sorry, Haruno, I'm still a high school student."
"Isn't that just perfect?" Haruno lowered her voice, her tone charming, "I'm a university student, elder sister can teach Natsuki-kun experience hand-in-hand, you know."
Don't be a keyboard warrior.
A university student with no actual combat experience, how dare she talk about teaching by example? It's completely armchair theorizing!
Having just collected the 'family' renewal fee from Yukino, Natsuki kept his word and certainly wouldn't make a move on Haruno. So no matter how Haruno teased him, Natsuki remained unmoved, maintaining his distance and saying:
"Haruno, aren't you concerned about why Yukino is participating in the operation?"
"…"
Hearing this, Haruno's sweet smile disappeared. She gently exhaled, her long and slightly curled beautiful eyelashes lowered, and she said softly:
"Although Yukino won't tell me, I can actually guess… Besides Mother, there's no one else."
Natsuki raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this and said:
"You know why you don't stop her?"
"Because Yukino is actually like Mother; they both have very stubborn personalities," Haruno sighed softly and whispered, "Once they decide on something, no one else can change it."
"That's not necessarily true," Natsuki picked up his drink, took a calm sip, "I can persuade Auntie to change her mind."
"Eh?" Haruno raised her hand to cover her mouth, her beautiful eyes wide, looking at him in shock, "Natsuki-kun actually wants to be my and Yukino's father?"
Natsuki's hand trembled, almost spilling his drink, and he couldn't help but retort:
"Haruno, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Haruno covered her chest with both hands and said cautiously:
"Mother's personality is super stubborn. Once she decides on something, ten oxen can't pull her back. I don't think Natsuki-kun can persuade Mother, unless Natsuki-kun uses the Wife Stealing title skill to make Mother fall madly in love with you."
"Once Mother falls in love with you, wouldn't Yukino and I have to call you Daddy?"
Natsuki took a deep breath, speechless:
"Can't I use other methods to persuade Mother?"
"Can't do it, definitely can't do it," Haruno leaned slightly forward, closer to him, and breathed out fragrant air, "Natsuki-kun really hasn't thought about making Yukino and me call you Daddy?"
Natsuki straightened his face and said:
"Absolutely not."
"Eh… what a pity," Haruno's lips curved slightly upwards, revealing a pleasant smile, her voice charming and melodious, "If Natsuki-kun wants to hear it, I don't mind calling you Daddy, you know."
Natsuki: "…"
Can't win.
Absolutely can't win.
Although Sayu would also act coquettishly and call him Daddy, she was sincere, without a hint of falsehood. But with this Haruno, it was impossible to tell which words were true and which were false.
In a blink of an eye, it was noon.
The first batch of players preparing to deploy gathered again, taking the Strange Tales Management Bureau's special vehicle to the hotel. Natsuki and Haruno followed in a car.
The journey was silent.
After getting off the special vehicle, Natsuki saw a hotel surrounded by construction fences. The hotel was luxuriously decorated and very large, but it was quiet inside, completely empty.
It was unknown what kind of anomaly had erupted in this hotel; hundreds of guests and staff inside had all disappeared overnight. Subsequent investigation teams that went in also never came out. To be safe, the entire hotel building was sealed off.
However, this hotel was located in a bustling commercial district, with people coming and going every day, exceptionally lively. Keeping it sealed indefinitely was not an option, and the hundreds of guests and staff couldn't just be left unaccounted for. Behind them were hundreds of families; alive, they had to be seen; dead, their bodies had to be found.
So, after eliminating the anomaly in Kabukicho, the Strange Tales Management Bureau immediately organized an operation to arrange for players to eliminate the anomaly in the hotel.
"Everyone, please return safely."
Miss Mitsui bowed.
The precautions had already been stated before, and not just once, so there was no need for further elaboration. The ordinary players preparing to lead the charge all showed serious and solemn expressions, becoming cautious. No one could predict what would happen on this trip.
"Yukino, be careful," Natsuki whispered, "If things become unmanageable, hide and wait for us to find you."
"…Mm."
Yukino nodded lightly, indicating she understood.
"Yukino, doing impulsive things once is enough," Haruno stepped forward, leaned close to Yukino's ear, and whispered, "If there's a next time, I'll get intimate with Natsuki-kun right in front of you."
Yukino's cheeks puffed slightly, and she crossed her arms, saying:
"Sister can do whatever she wants, it has nothing to do with me."
"Yukino, you can say that again," Haruno smiled, "I'll hug Natsuki-kun and get intimate right now. Sister always keeps her word."
"…"
Yukino bit her lip and said nothing.
Her sister did indeed keep her word on many things. To watch her sister get intimate with that harem scumbag… she really couldn't do it.
"You must take good care of yourself," Haruno whispered, "If you encounter danger, don't worry about anyone else; protecting yourself is the most important thing."
"…"
The casual chat quickly came to an end.
Yukino gently exhaled, looked at Natsuki and Haruno, and softly said:
"I'm going in."
Several ordinary players passed through the temporarily opened passage and entered the hotel one by one, their figures quickly disappearing from sight.
The vast hotel remained quiet, with no sound emanating from within.
After waiting for a few more minutes, the satellite phones and communication conches in the staff's hands still showed no activity. Miss Mitsui exhaled softly, frowning:
"It seems like the anomalous door; it's very likely another space inside."
In fact, before the players entered the hotel, staff had already deployed drones, detection robots, and so on. However, after penetrating a few meters into the hotel, the instruments completely lost contact. At that time, some people speculated that a different dimension had formed inside the hotel, distinct from reality. Now, it seemed highly probable.
Natsuki withdrew his gaze and looked at Haruno, saying:
"Haruno, let's go back first."
"Okay," Haruno nodded lightly, raising her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, "It all depends on tomorrow."
The first batch of players to enter the hotel were not aiming to eliminate the kaidan, but rather to collect information, and they were required to come out within twenty-four hours.
If no one emerges within twenty-four hours, meaning everyone has been wiped out, then the Strange Tales Management Bureau will dispatch a second batch of players.
If the second batch of players is also completely wiped out, this hotel will be completely sealed off and left for future handling.
The journey was silent.
"I'm home."
Natsuki pushed the door open and entered the room.
"Welcome back..." Kaguya saw Haruno and paused slightly, "Haruno-senpai?"
"Kaguya-chan, sorry to bother you." Haruno waved her hand and said with a smile, "I need a good night's rest tonight to prepare for tomorrow's operation, so I'll be staying over for a day."
Kaguya asked curiously, "Tomorrow's operation?"
"It's like this..."
Natsuki recounted what happened at the Strange Tales Management Bureau.
"Yukino is also participating in the operation?" Kaguya's delicate brows furrowed slightly, "Why?"
"Because of family reasons." Haruno said softly, "Even I only found out this morning, otherwise Yukino would have secretly gone alone."
"The first batch of players is mainly focused on gathering intelligence..." Natsuki explained the Strange Tales Management Bureau's operational arrangements, "Perhaps it won't be long before we receive a call from Mitsui, saying that the operation was successfully completed, and Yukino and the others even defeated the anomaly in the hotel and returned triumphantly."
"..."
Unfortunately, no call from Mitsui was received until evening.
Clearly, the intelligence gathering team had not sent any news.
"Let's send a message to everyone." Kaguya said softly, "If they still haven't come out tomorrow, we'll go into the hotel."
"Understood."
Natsuki took out his phone, contacted everyone, and explained the situation.
"Eh, Yukino-chan actually went to the hotel to eliminate anomaly?" Chika was the first to reply, "I'm coming right over!"
Marin: "Yukino-chan is too impulsive, why didn't she tell us?"
Tsubame: "How is Haruno-nee now?"
"..."
The girls sent messages one after another.
After Natsuki replied to each of them, everyone quickly decided to meet and discuss in detail.
He met Yukino at the Hospital in the painting, and later cleared instances like Stormy Mountain Villa, Mist Village, and Summer Time Rendering together. They also eliminated the 'Forgotten' strange tale in reality, so their relationship could be said to be quite close. Her quietly entering the hotel to eliminate anomaly was not only concerning but also quite worrying.
Half an hour later.
All the girls arrived.
"Haruno-nee."
"Why did Yukino-chan go to eliminate the anomaly without saying a word?"
"It's for investigation."
"It's pretty much the same thing."
"..."
Chika and the others had actually already understood the situation on their way here. Now, the main thing was to discuss what to do.
Natsuki complained:
"Everyone doesn't need to worry too much. Perhaps Yukino is possessed by the God of War, wreaking havoc, and will eliminate the anomaly and break out of the hotel soon."
Juju glared over: "Stupid Natsuki, it definitely won't be that simple. Don't underestimate kaidan."
Marin nodded in agreement:
"Juju is right. We should now consider what to do if Yukino and the others can't get out."
"Of course, we're going in to save them!" Chika clenched her pink fist, her voice firm, "I originally wanted to eliminate the anomaly in the hotel, and now there's even less room to back down!"
Sayu raised her hand: "Whatever Natsuki says, I'll do."
"..."
After a while of discussion, the problem finally came back to Natsuki.
Natsuki already had a plan. After a slight pause, he said:
"Everyone, get a good rest tonight. Tomorrow, if the hotel's kaidan haven't been eliminated, it will be our turn to step up."
"..."
It was already evening, the sky had darkened, and it was dinner time.
Kaguya didn't let anyone leave. Instead, she and Marin prepared dinner together.
"President, President." Chika walked over and asked curiously, "Has Pochi's dream girl been found?"
Natsuki shook his head:
"Haven't looked at all."
"Eh?" Chika's eyes widened, and she puffed out her pink cheeks, "Why didn't you help look?"
Natsuki complained:
"I can't talk to animals, so of course I can't find her. On the contrary, you said you'd help Pochi find his dream girl, but you haven't come over for a single day."
Chika's pretty face flushed, and her gaze drifted: "That... I've been quite busy lately."
The last time she came over was to thank him for Moeha's matter, and Kaguya wasn't around, so to repay him, she could only help scrub his back in the bathroom... There can't be a second time!
If she couldn't control herself, she might get pregnant with a baby!
Natsuki narrowed his eyes and said:
"Moeha already told me that you've been shopping these past few days, clearly having a lot of fun."
"Traitor Moeha!" Chika puffed out her pink cheeks, "Anyway, I'm just very busy... Let's go, let's go, we'll go walk the dog now."
With so many people around now, Chika was not afraid of being called into the bathroom to scrub his back after walking the dog.
Natsuki leaned back on the sofa and said:
"You go by yourself."
"Eh?" Chika's eyes widened, "President isn't coming with me?"
Natsuki said:
"At the park, I can't kiss or hug you, so I'm not going."
"It's not even dark yet!" Even the good-tempered Chika-sama couldn't help but puff out her pink cheeks, reaching out and pinching Natsuki's waist, "How could I let you do that kind of thing in the park!"
Chika picked up the leash and took the dog out for a walk.
"Heh heh."
A mocking sneer sounded from beside him.
"Hmm?" Natsuki turned to look at Juju, and said calmly, "Why do I feel like Juju is looking down on me?"
Juju crossed her arms over her chest and snorted disdainfully:
"Good that you know."
A scumbag is a scumbag. He only knows how to smile and trick girls' feelings, not doing anything proper!
All in all, Juju was unhappy watching Natsuki talk to other girls.
A girl's possessiveness is quite terrifying, especially after...
But that kind of love triangle is when girls fight for ownership of one boy. Now this guy has already openly started a harem, which is clearly even more infuriating!
Natsuki turned his head and looked at the the timid girl:
"Shoko, I'll tell you a story."
"Hmm?"
Komi looked over in confusion.
Natsuki said in a melancholic tone:
"It was a bright and sunny morning. I woke up from my sleep and found on my chest..."
"Ah ah ah! Shut up!"
Juju's small face suddenly flushed crimson, and she directly jumped over, covering Natsuki's mouth with both hands.
If you talk nonsense in front of Shoko, you won't see tomorrow's sun!
After dinner, Natsuki began to stick 'Evil Spirit Banishing' talismans on the girls again. Since they were going to act tomorrow, it was necessary to get a good night's rest and avoid harassment from evil spirits.
Of course, some people chose to stay over directly, such as Marin, Tsubame, and Haruno...