"Shoko~ Did you watch the fireworks festival just now?"
Shuuko hugged her daughter and excitedly gossiped:
"Mom has never seen such a wonderful fireworks festival in her life."
"The fireworks could even turn into various small animals, the panda was the cutest!"
"And the final heart confession, super romantic!"
"The current fireworks production technology is actually so wonderful, why haven't I heard about it before?"
"..."
Listening to her mother chattering in her ear, Komi just blushed and looked down at her toes.
Mom was wrong.
The fireworks blooming into various small animal shapes in the sky were not production technology; they were an impossible miracle.
"By the way, why didn't Natsuki come with you?"
Shuuko asked.
Komi softly said, "Natsuki dropped me off at the intersection just now, and then he went back first."
Shuuko said with a hint of resentment, "Mom understands, Natsuki is unhappy because Mom was a third wheel, right?"
"That's not true at all."
Komi softly retorted.
The mother and daughter talked as they walked towards the yukata shop, preparing to return the innerwear.
"Didn't Natsuki say he was giving you a gift?" Shuuko asked curiously, "Was it just flowers?"
Komi's eyes sparkled, and she softly said, "There are other gifts."
Shuuko tilted her head and asked, "What are the other gifts?"
"There's also... there's also..."
There was also the most splendid fireworks festival, which Mom had just seen.
And then there was the ring on her hand, but she still couldn't bring herself to say it.
"Eh?" Shuuko had very sharp observation skills. Even though Shoko didn't say anything, she quickly noticed the ring on Shoko's right hand and asked curiously, "Shoko, why do you have a ring?"
"That is..."
Komi's pretty face turned crimson, and she wanted to pull her hand back.
Shuuko smiled and said, "Let me guess... is it a gift from Natsuki?"
"Yes."
Komi did not deny it and admitted it.
Shuuko extended a finger, smiling as she continued:
"What a beautiful ring... Is it an engagement ring? Shoko is willing to wear it, so has she already prepared for marriage?"
"..."
Komi's face flushed even redder, steam faintly rising from her head. She looked down at her toes, neither denying nor refuting.
Seeing this scene, Shuuko's smile subtly froze.
She didn't even refute it once; her daughter was clearly completely lost!
"I've changed my mind!"
Shuuko suddenly puffed out her cheeks.
"Huh?"
Komi looked up in confusion.
Shuuko put her hands on her hips and said:
"I've changed my mind. You two cannot get married after high school graduation. If you want to get married, you must at least wait until after university graduation!"
Komi: "..."
At the same time.
Natsuki had already boarded the Shinkansen and was returning to Tokyo.
His phone vibrated softly.
He took it out and saw a message from Hayasaka.
"President, I've organized a few abilities with strong side effects. Take a look."
Natsuki: "You've worked hard."
Hayasaka: "Running off to have a good time and pushing troublesome matters onto others, then lightly saying 'you've worked hard' afterward, it really makes one angry."
Natsuki: "Of course, the gift is already prepared. I'll send it to you tonight. Wait for me after you've showered."
Hayasaka: "Bah ~"
"..."
After chatting with Hayasaka for a while, Natsuki opened the document Hayasaka had organized and found the first ability quite interesting.
[Ability: Mad Alice]
[Category: Passive Talent / Purple]
[Specific Attributes: The ability user's mind permanently stays at the point of awakening, and physical growth stops, accompanied by permanent mental damage. They cannot learn or understand normally. The ability effect is to project imagination into reality, even distorting reality. The worse the mental state, the more dangerous the projected creatures and environments become.]
"Tsk ~"
Natsuki clicked his tongue softly.
Distorting reality with fantasy, what a dangerous ability.
The ability is very strong, but the side effects are also truly significant, inevitably turning the user into a mental patient and a fantasist.
(Alice: Madness Returns, though an old game, is of good quality. Highly recommended.)
Below, there was also Hayasaka's note:
[This ability belongs to a female high school student. It is said that her condition is very poor, and she has already started experiencing frequent visual and auditory hallucinations. It is currently unclear if it is limited to female users, but the skill has no special notes, so there should be no gender restrictions.]
"Mark it down for now."
Natsuki was very interested and temporarily marked this ability.
An ability that can change reality with fantasy—Natsuki had already thought of application scenarios. After all, if Shirou Emiya, who cleared the Holy Grail War overnight, could master and learn it, he might also be able to summon Unlimited Blade Works.
He continued to look down and soon saw a familiar ability.
[Skill: Blood Burn]
[Category: Active Skill]
[Attributes: Activate skill, enter Blood Burn Overlimit state, greatly increase internal blood circulation and body temperature, enhance athletic ability and sensory reactions.]
Simply put, this ability can be understood as Luffy's Gear Second, an extremely practical body enhancement ability.
However, the side effects are also obvious: once Blood Burn is activated, it will overdraw life force and cause various damages to the body.
Players do not have the monstrous physique of Luffy, who can fully recover by eating and drinking. After using Blood Burn, players will inevitably fall into a weakened state, with specific symptoms including sore lower back and knees, weak limbs, dizziness, tinnitus, pale complexion, and mental fatigue, among others.
Walking on the road, there's a high probability of being mistaken for severe kidney deficiency.
However, with the ability of quantum entanglement, Natsuki didn't have to worry about kidney deficiency at all.
[Ability: Stone Heart]
[Category: Passive Talent]
[Attributes: Never lose consciousness, permanently immune to negative states related to soul and will.]
This skill is a mental defense ability. Simply put, once one possesses [Stone Heart], they will no longer have their memories rewritten, not even by a rule-type Strange Tales.
Below, there was also Hayasaka's note, an ability that a new player had just recorded and uploaded yesterday. It has now been verified by the Strange Tales Management Bureau and can ignore the mental distortion of [Evil Neighbor].
But the side effects are also obvious: the ability user's seven emotions and six desires will gradually decay, the entire person will become cold and indifferent, and eventually all emotions will disappear, living only for the sake of living.
The reason that new player uploaded the ability information was because he was horrified to find his seven emotions and six desires continuously diminishing. In his panic, he wanted to seek help from the Strange Tales Management Bureau.
After all, for a person to live, there must be emotions and something to rely on. If all emotions disappear, simply living for the sake of living is not much different from a walking corpse.
Natsuki silently commented:
"Harm a hundred enemies, lose a thousand to yourself."
Monsters that distort will and modify memories are not common, but the reduction of seven emotions and six desires is an ongoing process. Players who accidentally draw this ability will surely regret it immensely.
There were several other abilities that were powerful but also had strong side effects, but it was difficult to make a decision for the time being, so they would have to be discussed later.
No words were exchanged along the way.
At 9:30 PM.
Natsuki returned to Tokyo and was about to take a car home when he suddenly received a message from his Senpai.
"Junior, are you free now?"
Natsuki: "Does Senpai miss me?"
Tsubame: "Of course not."
Natsuki: "Senpai doesn't miss me at all, I'm so sad."
Tsubame sent a head-tapping emoji, then got to the point:
"It's Momo. Her eyes have turned red again."
Momo, who came from another world, had fused with a strange object: a bone mask covering half of her face. The sign that the strange erosion had reached a certain stage was her eyes turning red.
After her eyes turned red, Momo would experience insomnia, excessive dreaming, hallucinations, and other conditions. In short, it was quite difficult for her, unable to even get a stable sleep, which is why Tsubame sent a message, wanting him to come and help.
Natsuki: "I'll be right there."
Tsubame: "Thank you, Junior."
Natsuki: "I don't want verbal thanks, Senpai. Prepare the reward first."
Tsubame: "..."
Turning around, Natsuki boarded the train and headed straight for his Senpai's home.
No words were exchanged along the way.
"Senpai, good evening."
Standing outside his senpai's home, looking at Tsubame, who was wearing pajamas with pink hair reaching her shoulders, Natsuki smiled and greeted her.
"Junior, good evening." Tsubame's pretty face showed a bright smile as she waved and said, "Come in, come in."
"Excuse me for the intrusion."
Natsuki stepped into the house.
"Here, Junior, the slippers you wore last time. I cleaned and put them away."
Tsubame bent down and took out a pair of sandals from the shoe cabinet.
Momo stood not far away, one eye indeed turned blood-red again. With her arms crossed, she said discontentedly:
"They're just slippers. That guy can get them himself, can't he?"
Natsuki looked at Momo and said seriously:
"Slippers that Senpai helps to get are more comfortable to wear."
"Bah!"
Momo's gaze was disdainful.
Natsuki put on the slippers. Not seeing his daughter, he casually asked:
"Senpai, where's Aoi-chan?"
Tsubame raised her hand to tuck the strands of black hair behind her ear and softly said:
"It's already past ten o'clock. I told Aoi-chan to go to sleep first."
Momo interjected from the side, complaining:
"You've been out of the dungeon for several days now, and you haven't even come to see Aoi-chan once. Saying something like that now is too perfunctory."
Natsuki turned his head and said:
"Momo-senpai seems to have a great misunderstanding and prejudice against me."
Momo snorted softly, gritting her silver teeth and saying:
"You know it well!"
He's already provoked so many girls, and he's still taking advantage of Tsubame. A guy who openly runs a harem, he should just explode on the spot!
"Alright, alright, Junior has been very busy these past few days, that's why he hasn't had time to come see Aoi-chan." Tsubame said softly from the side, "Momo, don't be angry."
Momo looked over helplessly, her face showing an expression of disappointment:
"He's clearly out having a good time, so don't worry about him."
Natsuki extended his right hand and wrapped it around his Senpai's soft, slender waist, saying nonchalantly:
"Senpai is my girlfriend, so it's only natural for her to consider her boyfriend, isn't it?"
"Bastard!"
"..."
Momo clenched her fists, huffing and wanting to hit him, but with Senpai by his side, hitting him was naturally impossible.
After a few more words, urged by his Senpai, Natsuki began to help Momo remove the symptoms of the strange erosion.
There's nothing much to say about the process. Tsubame watched the entire time, and Natsuki was naturally well-behaved, keeping his eyes downcast and not looking away.
"It's done."
Looking at Momo, whose eyes had lost their blood-red color, Tsubame softly sighed and said gently:
"Thank you, Kouhai."
Natsuki got up, took a sip of water, and said:
"The one who should be thanking me is someone else."
"Hmph ~"
Momo softly snorted, moving her lips, but the words of thanks were stuck in her throat, unable to come out no matter what.
"Alright, Junior, hurry home." Tsubame said softly, "It's already super late."
Natsuki took out his phone, checked the time, and then said:
"It is indeed very late. I've expended too much energy today, and now I'm dizzy and lightheaded. I'd like to stay overnight."
"Eh?"
Tsubame's pretty face quickly flushed. Before she could speak, Momo, who was beside her, said, "Don't even think about it!"
Momo quickly stepped forward, hugged Tsubame's arm, and said vigilantly, "This guy definitely has ill intentions. If we let him stay overnight, he'll definitely do something super outrageous tonight."
"Cough..." Tsubame coughed nervously. She actually wanted to say that she wasn't afraid of Natsuki doing anything outrageous, but she was too thin-skinned to say it out loud.
At this moment, Natsuki suddenly waved his hand and said, "In that case, I'll head back first."
Tsubame parted her lips and softly said, "Then, Kouhai, please be careful."
Natsuki nodded slightly and walked out. As he passed by, he subtly shook his phone.
Their eyes met.
Tsubame naturally understood Natsuki's meaning. Suppressing the slight nervousness in her heart, she saw Natsuki out the door, then bid Momo goodnight, and returned to her room as if nothing had happened.
"Phew..." Secretly letting out a breath, Tsubame took out her phone and saw a message appear on it.
Natsuki: "Senpai, open the window."
"Eh?" Tsubame gently bit her lip, got up and walked to the window, pulled back the curtains, opened the window, and peered down with her pretty face.
"Senpai, I'm back again."
Natsuki emerged from the shadows of the bushes.
Tsubame's pretty face was slightly red, and she asked knowingly, "Junior, why aren't you going home? What are you doing under the window?"
Natsuki looked up and said, "Don't you know what I want to do, Senpai?"
Tsubame: "...I have no idea at all."
"Then I'll have to explain it to you slowly, Senpai."
Natsuki walked under the window, then with a leap, jumped directly into the second-floor room.
Tsubame's pretty face was flushed crimson, and she whispered, "Shoes, change your shoes first."
"Yes, yes."
Natsuki took off his shoes, placed them on the windowsill, then took out a pair of slippers produced by the game. They had no extra attributes; they were just ordinary slippers, mainly for cleanliness and hygiene.
Natsuki looked at Senpai with burning eyes and smiled, "Senpai, should I eat you first, or take a bath first?"
Tsubame's pretty face turned even redder, and she gave him a charming glare, whispering, "Of course, you should take a bath first."
Natsuki said, "I did sweat a bit. Senpai, come bathe with me, and I can also help you apply a skill."
"I don't want to..." Tsubame turned her pretty face away, then asked curiously, "What skill?"
Natsuki lowered his voice and said, "I have Super Long Delayed Reaction."
Tsubame was slightly startled and asked, puzzled, "Why would you apply Super Long Delayed Reaction?"
Natsuki's tone was meaningful as he said, "Of course, it has a special purpose."
...
Tsubame blinked, suddenly understanding what 'special purpose' meant. Her pretty face was burning, and she couldn't help but lightly spit.
"Kouhai, how vulgar!"
Natsuki shamelessly said, "Having vulgar thoughts about Senpai is very reasonable and normal. Hurry to the bathroom to wash up, you're covered in sweat."
Giving Natsuki a light glare, Tsubame turned and walked towards the door, whispering, "Let me check if anyone's in the hallway... No one, Kouhai, come out."
Natsuki followed her out of the room and went to the bathroom with Senpai.
At the same time.
Momo hadn't gone to sleep yet. She opened the window, intending to secretly gaze at the moon for a while, but then she suddenly glimpsed a pair of athletic shoes on the windowsill of a nearby room.
"Are those... a man's shoes?" Momo's delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she tilted her head to look over: "And it's Tsubame's room!"
"Why would there be a pair of men's shoes on the windowsill of Tsubame's room?"
"I remember clearly, they weren't there before."
"And it's already so late, why hasn't Tsubame turned off her lights and gone to bed?"
"Could it be... a man secretly snuck in?!" A thought surfaced in her mind.
Momo clenched her fists and quickly walked out of her room, ready to transform into the home security team.
The lights in the hallway were not on, making it dim.
Momo strained her ears and soon heard faint sounds coming from downstairs.
"Could it be that scumbag is back again?"
Momo held her breath, raised her guard, and cautiously walked down the stairs. She soon found a faint light emanating from the bathroom.
Quietly approaching the bathroom, the indistinct sounds quickly became clear, drifting into Momo's ears.
First, a familiar voice she had heard not long ago: "Senpai, I'll help you scrub your back."
Damn it! Momo immediately gritted her teeth, huffing with anger and wanting to punch someone.
Whose voice could that be if not that scumbag Natsuki!
No wonder he left so readily, without any fuss. So he was just fooling her, only to sneak back again!
"I don't want to..." Tsubame shyly refused.
However, the next second, Tsubame's refusal turned into a charming gasp.
...Ah!
Followed by Tsubame's embarrassed whisper: "Wait, wait a minute, not there..."
Slap! A crisp slapping sound suddenly rang out, though it was unclear what happened inside.
"Stand still, don't move around." Natsuki's voice was low as he instructed, "You need to be completely clean, all over."
"Ah..."
Bastard! Bastard, bastard, bastard!
Momo felt like murdering someone. What on earth was that scumbag Natsuki doing to Tsubame in the bathroom? Tsubame clearly sounded like she was about to cry!
Momo wanted to barge in, but she also knew very well that this was Tsubame's voluntary act, and it was perfectly normal for a couple to bathe together...
Conflicted, Momo gritted her teeth, wondering whether to go back, but as various sounds from the bathroom filled her ears, her legs inexplicably refused to lift, and her body even went soft, leaning against the wall.