"What is this?"
Looking at the [optimized] coin in his hand, Kitahara Makoto was immediately shocked:
"It's actually a Revival Coin?!"
The 50 yen coin that had fallen under the vending machine and no one was willing to pick up, after optimization, actually gained the [Revival] entry. Kitahara Makoto's current mood was as pleasantly surprised as winning a five-million-yen lottery.
No.
It should be said that it was many times more surprising than winning five million.
The most precious thing a person has is life.
Every person only has one life, but now with the Revival Coin, it's like having an extra life—this is truly an invaluable treasure!
"Kitahara-kun, your drink…"
A faint voice of a girl echoed in his ears.
Hitori held two cans of fruit juice in her hands and softly asked:
"Which can would Kitahara-kun like to drink?"
Kitahara Makoto snapped back to reality, his gaze intensely fixed on Hitori.
"Eh?"
Hitori was startled by Kitahara Makoto's gaze and frantically tried to retreat, but before she could react, Kitahara Makoto already pulled Hitori into his embrace and then lifted her high up.
"Ah…"
Hitori couldn't help but let out a soft cry, anxiously extending her arms and tightly wrapping them around Kitahara Makoto's neck, her small face flushed red, as she softly pleaded:
"N-not outside…"
Kitahara Makoto lifted Hitori and spun her around three times, then forcefully kissed the girl's rosy cherry lips.
"I love Hitori the most."
"Ugh…"
Hitori shyly closed her eyes.
Knowing that Hitori was extremely thin-skinned, Kitahara Makoto naturally wouldn't go too far. After a simple kiss, he put down the dizzy, flushed girl and smiled:
"Get in the car, let's go home, go home."
"…"
Riding the bicycle at full speed, he quickly arrived outside the Gotō home.
After getting off the bicycle, Hitori's sense of shame finally cooled down. With a red face, she handed both cans of drinks to Kitahara Makoto, then turned and scurried home.
Kitahara Makoto rode his bicycle back home, quickly washed up, changed clothes, then took out his phone and sent a message to Anon.
It was almost noon, twelve o'clock. It was too late to take a car to the filming location now, so Kitahara Makoto chose to use the quick travel through the mirror.
One minute later.
Kitahara Makoto passed through the mirror and appeared beside Chihaya Anon.
"This is… the changing room?"
Kitahara Makoto looked around and quickly identified his surroundings.
"Suddenly telling me to find a mirror, there's no other place besides the changing room, right?"
Chihaya Anon grumbled under her breath.
Kitahara Makoto casually asked:
"How was the morning's filming progress?"
Chihaya Anon: "It concluded perfectly."
Kitahara Makoto praised: "Anon-chan is getting more and more amazing now."
"Hmph, of course. Ayane-nee even praised me for having great acting talent."
Hearing the compliment, Chihaya Anon proudly lifted her chin. It was a pity she didn't have a tail, otherwise, it would surely be wagging happily by now.
"Eh, wait, don't change the subject—"
Chihaya Anon quickly came back to her senses:
"You said you'd come early to wait for me, why did you suddenly have to come through the mirror?"
Kitahara Makoto hesitated for half a second, then chose to tell the truth:
"I went to learn driving with Hitori and came back a bit late, so I didn't have time to go to the restaurant."
For a harem not to collapse, one must be open and honest. If one always uses lies to cover up the truth, it might work for a while, but not forever, and eventually, it will lead to a tragic end.
"Ugh—"
Chihaya Anon's rosy cheeks immediately puffed up:
"So you just finished a date with someone else. Scumbag-kun must be really busy."
Kitahara Makoto corrected: "It was a driving lesson, not a date."
Chihaya Anon's small fangs at the corner of her mouth glinted coldly, wanting to bite: "A date is a date, scumbag-kun actually said it so openly, how annoying!"
Kitahara Makoto said with an innocent expression:
"So, Anon, do you prefer me to lie and hide it, or be open and honest?"
Chihaya Anon: "…"
Although she wasn't happy about him saying it openly, she thought that if Kitahara Makoto deliberately hid it from her, she would definitely be even angrier.
"Hmph."
Chihaya Anon softly snorted, crossed her arms over her chest, and turned her pretty face away, saying:
"I don't care, in short, I'm angry now. Scumbag-kun, hurry up and coax me."
Of course, there would be anger, but having already accepted Kitahara Makoto's bad behavior of having a harem, there wasn't much indignation, mostly just wanting Kitahara Makoto to coax her.
Kitahara Makoto softly said:
"I like Anon."
"Hmph." Chihaya Anon tightened her pretty face, "Not enough at all."
Kitahara Makoto continued:
"I super like Anon."
Chihaya Anon's eyes shifted slightly, and she glanced over with bright eyes: "How much do you like me?"
Kitahara Makoto spread his arms wide to illustrate:
"It's like the distance from Earth to the Moon, that much liking."
"I don't believe you."
She said she didn't believe him, but the rosy lips of this pink-haired girl clearly curved upwards into a happy arc.
"I also brought a gift for Anon."
Kitahara Makoto opened his backpack, took out a shark plushie, and handed it over.
"What an ugly plushie." Chihaya Anon complained, "Not cute at all."
"Then I'll take it back?"
"No, hurry up and give it to me."
Chihaya Anon snatched the plushie away:
"You want to take back a gift you've already given? Scumbag-kun, you're too much."
Kitahara Makoto said speechlessly:
"You said it wasn't pretty."
"Not pretty doesn't mean I don't want it." Chihaya Anon put the plushie into her bag, put her hands behind her back, and said coquettishly, "I'm so hungry, let's go eat quickly. After eating, we still need to buy yukata."
"…"
After confirming that no one was in the hallway, Chihaya Anon quietly led Kitahara Makoto out of the changing room, then secretly snuck away from the filming location. As for Hana Hana, she had already gone back through the mirror.
Next, the two first went to explore a shop, preparing to eat the treasure eel rice that Anon highly recommended.
"Nana, this is the shop." Chihaya Anon pointed, her voice clear, "Although the shop is small and the location is very secluded, the taste is super good, and the price is also very cheap."
Compared to going to high-end restaurants, Chihaya Anon preferred to explore various small shops and alleys with Kitahara Makoto.
"Eel rice, huh… I'm really curious what it tastes like."
Kitahara Makoto, filled with curiosity, followed Anon into the shop.
The shop was indeed very small, with a narrow aisle at the entrance. If a large American woman came, she might get stuck.
The price of the eel rice was indeed very cheap, starting from only six hundred yen, but the eel meat was relatively little. The most expensive was only one thousand two hundred yen.
Kitahara Makoto, being wealthy, naturally wouldn't shortchange himself. He directly ordered two of the most expensive eel rice sets, then sat down with Anon in a corner.
"Scumbag-kun~"
As soon as they sat down, the girl's sweet and charming voice of coquetry rang in Kitahara Makoto's ears.
"Hmm?"
Kitahara Makoto looked up.
"Nana." Chihaya Anon extended both hands, holding two exquisite and cute bracelets in her palms, "When I passed by the convenience store this morning, I saw the latest summer collection of accessories. They looked pretty good, so I bought two bracelets. Which one do you want?"
The bracelets were a matching set in color and style, clearly standard couple items.
Kitahara Makoto softly said:
"I want the bracelet that Anon likes the most."
"Ugh…" Chihaya Anon blinked, then handed over the bracelet from her right hand, "Then this bracelet is for scumbag-kun, the camellia on it is super cute."
Kitahara Makoto took the bracelet, then said:
"Anon-chan, extend your right hand."
"Eh?" Chihaya Anon paused slightly, "What is scumbag-kun going to do?"
Kitahara Makoto's expression was calm: "Extend it and you'll know."
"So mysterious…"
Chihaya Anon mumbled softly while extending her right hand.
This pink-haired girl's wrist was slender, and her skin was fair, making one inexplicably think of the poem 'fair wrist like congealed frost and snow.'
Kitahara Makoto held Anon's wrist, then put the bracelet on Anon, praising:
"Anon has good taste, the bracelet really looks great."
"Hmph." Chihaya Anon proudly snorted, lifting her pretty chin, "Of course, my taste has never been bad… Scumbag-kun, quickly extend your left hand."
Kitahara Makoto heard this and extended his right hand, allowing Anon to put the bracelet on him.
"It's barely acceptable."
Chihaya Anon arrogantly snorted.
Kitahara Makoto was about to pull his hand back when Chihaya Anon quickly held him down:
"Wait, don't move."
Kitahara Makoto was puzzled: "What is Anon going to do?"
"You idiot scumbag-kun, after buying such pretty bracelets, of course, we have to take pictures to commemorate it."
Chihaya Anon complained while taking out her phone, placing her arm and Kitahara Makoto's arm side by side, then 'click, click' taking photos.
It wasn't until the two eel rice sets were served that Chihaya Anon reluctantly put away her phone.
"Scumbag-kun, you're not allowed to take off the bracelet today."
Chihaya Anon made her demand.
"Yes, yes."
"…"
Next, needless to say, it was mealtime.
Speaking of which, it was Kitahara Makoto's first time eating eel rice, which is highly revered in Japan. He could only say the taste was alright, nothing particularly amazing, and the sauce was mostly on the sweeter side.
Kitahara Makoto felt that in less than a week, he would forget the taste of today's eel rice. The fish dish that truly left a deep impression on him was indeed the stinky mandarin fish from his previous life.
"It smells bad, but it tastes good. Stinky mandarin fish is always a god."
"..."
Having eaten their fill and checked in, Kitahara Makoto and Chihaya Anon left together.
"Let's go to the barbershop and get a haircut first." Chihaya Anon put her hands behind her back. "Scumbag-kun, your hair is a bit long."
Kitahara Makoto sighed and closed his eyes: "...I'll let Anon do whatever she wants this afternoon."
"Pfft~"
Chihaya Anon's bright eyes glared over, and she couldn't help but retort:
"Getting a wash, cut, and blow-dry is clearly a very happy thing, why do you boys always look so resistant?"
Kitahara Makoto raised an eyebrow and looked over:
"Anon has cut hair with other boys too?"
Thump!
Chihaya Anon huffed, puffing out her cheeks, and gave Kitahara Makoto a small punch:
"Of course not! It was with my dad!"
"..."
The two of them playfully bickered. After getting their hair cut, Anon led them to buy yukata.
"Hmm, this row of yukata looks really good." Chihaya Anon's eyes sparkled, and she looked over expectantly, "Anyway, there's still plenty of time this afternoon, why don't we try them all on?"
Hearing Anon's suggestion, Kitahara Makoto was immediately speechless:
"Trying on so many clothes will trouble the shopkeeper, won't it?"
"No way." Chihaya Anon put her hands on her hips, "If a physical store doesn't allow trying on clothes, then what's the point of coming to a physical store? Might as well buy them online directly."
Kitahara Makoto pressed his forehead and said:
"Trying on too many clothes makes me feel uncomfortable all over."
"What do you mean?" Chihaya Anon asked, puzzled, "Why would it be uncomfortable?"
"Perhaps it's a gender difference between males and females." Kitahara Makoto shook his head and said, "For example, you girls like shopping, but boys prefer playing games."
"Hmm…"
Chihaya Anon blinked, a blush suddenly rising on her pretty face. She stood on tiptoe, leaned close to Kitahara Makoto's ear, and whispered, her breath like orchids:
"If scumbag-kun is willing to accompany me to try on all the yukata, I can give you a reward, you know."
Kitahara Makoto raised an eyebrow and looked over:
"What reward?"
The blush on Chihaya Anon's pretty face deepened, and she lowered her voice:
"It's… the servitude game from last night."
She's actually willing to play the servitude game?
Then I'm not uncomfortable at all!
Kitahara Makoto's spirits suddenly lifted, and he said decisively:
"It's a deal. Anon-chan, don't go back on your word."
"Pfft~"
Chihaya Anon lightly spat, complaining with disdain:
"You boys really have nothing but lewd thoughts in your heads."
"..."
The rest goes without saying.
Kitahara Makoto accompanied Anon and began trying on all sorts of yukata.
Although each yukata had different colors and styles, in Kitahara Makoto's eyes… there wasn't much difference.
In contrast, Chihaya Anon was full of enthusiasm. She tried on clothes for two hours straight and didn't feel tired at all. Every time she changed outfits, she would take a selfie with Kitahara Makoto. In short, she was tireless.
Before they knew it, it was four o'clock in the afternoon.
Chihaya Anon finally decided on the yukata she wanted to buy, and she and Kitahara Makoto each bought two sets, then paid and left with light steps.
"Phew…"
Stepping out of the store, Kitahara Makoto couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, then said:
"Anon-chan, what time are you coming over tonight?"
"Eh?" Chihaya Anon was startled, "Coming over for what?"
Kitahara Makoto said:
"To serve me, of course."
"No way am I coming over." Chihaya Anon remembered the 'reward' she had promised earlier, and her pretty face flushed slightly. "Tonight we're going to see the fireworks festival, and it'll definitely be very late when we get home. We'll talk about it later."
"Talking about it later is fine." Kitahara Makoto held up two fingers, "But I want two servitude sessions."
Chihaya Anon's pretty face was flushed, and she couldn't help but glare over: "…Scumbag-kun is too greedy!"
Kitahara Makoto raised an eyebrow and said:
"Then tonight…"
"Two times it is." Chihaya Anon turned her pretty face away, "Let's hurry to the Sumida River to see the fireworks festival."
Kitahara Makoto was surprised: "It's only a little past four now, isn't it a bit early to go?"
Chihaya Anon retorted upon hearing this:
"When we get there, Kitahara-kun will know it's not early at all."
"..."
The two of them walked into the bathroom, summoned Hana, had Hana take their clothes and backpacks back, and then, dressed in yukata, headed to the Sumida River area.
The journey was silent.
When they arrived at Asakusa Station, Kitahara Makoto finally understood what Anon had meant earlier.
Even though it wasn't dark yet, the crowd was already explosive. Forget finding a place to sit, just being able to stand was already good enough.
"It's said that over a million people will come to watch tonight's fireworks festival." Chihaya Anon held a small round fan in her hand, fanning herself gently, "Many people came yesterday to claim their spots."
Kitahara Makoto took out his phone: "I remember you can reserve seats on the riverboats…"
"Don't bother, and the seats are definitely all booked up already." Chihaya Anon extended her right hand and took Kitahara Makoto's fingers. The couple bracelets on their wrists were particularly conspicuous. "Let's just watch from here at Senso-ji Temple. It's livelier with more people."
After a pause, the pink-haired girl said in a nonchalant tone:
"Where you watch the fireworks festival isn't important, what's important is who you watch it with."
Kitahara Makoto turned his head, looking at the girl's lustrous earlobe, clearly tinged with a blush, and softly called out:
"Anon."
"Hmm?"
"I want to serve Anon right now."
Chihaya Anon couldn't help but lightly spit, covering her yukata as she stepped back half a pace, and glared over in embarrassment and anger:
"Scumbag-kun, don't have nothing but lewd thoughts in your head!"
"..."
What happened next needs no further explanation.
Kitahara Makoto accompanied Anon and began trying on various yukata.
Although each yukata had different colors and styles, in Kitahara Makoto's opinion… there wasn't much difference.
In contrast, Chihaya Anon was full of enthusiasm. She tried on clothes for two hours straight and didn't feel tired at all. Every time she changed outfits, she would take a selfie with Kitahara Makoto. In short, she was tireless.
It was four o'clock in the afternoon in the blink of an eye.
Chihaya Anon finally decided on the yukata she wanted to buy, and she and Kitahara Makoto each bought two sets, then paid and left with light steps.
"Phew…"
Stepping out of the store, Kitahara Makoto couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, then said:
"Anon-chan, what time are you coming over tonight?"
"Eh?" Chihaya Anon was startled, "Coming over for what?"
Kitahara Makoto said:
"To serve me, of course."
"No way am I coming over." Chihaya Anon remembered the 'reward' she had promised earlier, and her pretty face flushed slightly. "Tonight we're going to see the fireworks festival, and it'll definitely be very late when we get home. We'll talk about it later."
"Talking about it later is fine." Kitahara Makoto held up two fingers, "But I want two servitude sessions."
Chihaya Anon's pretty face was flushed, and she couldn't help but glare over: "…Scumbag-kun is too greedy!"
Kitahara Makoto raised an eyebrow and said:
"Then tonight…"
"Two times it is." Chihaya Anon turned her pretty face away, "Let's hurry to the Sumida River to see the fireworks festival."
Kitahara Makoto was surprised: "It's only a little past four now, isn't it a bit early to go?"
Chihaya Anon retorted upon hearing this:
"When we get there, Kitahara-kun will know it's not early at all."
"..."
The two of them walked into the bathroom, summoned Hana, had Hana take their clothes and backpacks back, and then, dressed in yukata, headed to the Sumida River area.
The journey was silent.
When they arrived at Asakusa Station, Kitahara Makoto finally understood what Anon had meant earlier.
Even though it wasn't dark yet, the crowd was already explosive. Forget finding a place to sit, just being able to stand was already good enough.
"It's said that over a million people will come to watch tonight's fireworks festival." Chihaya Anon held a small round fan in her hand, fanning herself gently, "Many people came yesterday to claim their spots."
Kitahara Makoto took out his phone: "I remember you can reserve seats on the riverboats…"
"Don't bother, and the seats are definitely all booked up already." Chihaya Anon extended her right hand and took Kitahara Makoto's fingers. The couple bracelets on their wrists were particularly conspicuous. "Let's just watch from here at Senso-ji Temple. It's livelier with more people."
After a pause, the pink-haired girl said in a nonchalant tone:
"Where you watch the fireworks festival isn't important, what's important is who you watch it with."
Kitahara Makoto turned his head, looking at the girl's lustrous earlobe, clearly tinged with a blush, and softly called out:
"Anon."
"Hmm?"
"I want to serve Anon right now."
Chihaya Anon couldn't help but lightly spit, covering her yukata as she stepped back half a pace, and glared over in embarrassment and anger:
"Scumbag-kun, don't have nothing but lewd thoughts in your head!"
"..."
The fireworks festival was scheduled to start at 7 PM and last until 8:30 PM. Since it was still early, Kitahara Makoto and Anon strolled around Senso-ji Temple, eating, drinking, stopping, and taking photos occasionally. Unconsciously, the sky darkened.
"One minute left." Chihaya Anon lifted her pretty face, her eyes sparkling, "The fireworks festival is about to begin."
"Finally, it's here."
Kitahara Makoto looked up, following her gaze to the night sky.
"Poke—"
His waist was suddenly gently poked.
Kitahara Makoto turned to Anon:
"What's wrong?"
The pink-haired girl's eyes shifted, and she said nonchalantly:
"I'm a bit tired from standing for so long."
Following Chihaya Anon's gaze, not far away stood another couple. However, they weren't holding hands; instead, the boy was embracing the girl.
Kitahara Makoto understood in his heart. He reached out and gently pulled the pink-haired girl into his embrace:
"Anon-chan, are you still tired now?"
"Hmph."
Chihaya Anon lightly hummed, the corners of her lips subtly curving upwards:
"It's hot, don't hug me."
She said not to hug her, but this Anon clearly leaned her entire body into Kitahara Makoto's embrace.
Bang!
As they spoke, a firework finally swayed and rose into the sky from the riverbank, then exploded loudly in the night sky, marking the official start of the fireworks festival.
Kitahara Makoto and Chihaya Anon stood by the river, quietly embracing, watching the fireworks festival together.
The fireworks were sparse at first, becoming grander towards the end. It must be said, the fireworks were indeed super beautiful, but they were a bit dirty. Kitahara Makoto could clearly feel many granular debris falling onto his hair.
The entire fireworks festival lasted an hour and a half. Kitahara Makoto and Anon stood embracing for a while, and then the pink-haired girl began to whine:
"It's so hot~ Kitahara-kun, I want matcha ice cream."
Kitahara Makoto looked speechlessly at two elementary school students passing by, each holding a matcha ice cream.
"Being hot" was fake, wanting to eat the elementary school students' ice cream was the real reason, wasn't it!
Kitahara Makoto turned his head to search, and not far away there was a small ice cream cart:
"Anon, stay here, don't move. I'll go buy two ice creams."
However, before he even reached the small cart, Kitahara Makoto suddenly saw a familiar, teary-eyed figure in the crowd…