The most primitive and intense human emotion is fear, but due to the Kessoku Band's own particularity, it is quite difficult to secretly absorb idealistic energy.
Since that was the case, Kitahara Makoto decided to change his thinking and try a different approach.
"When people are happy and joyful, they also dissipate idealistic energy."
"And I just got the cooking towel."
"When eating absolutely delicious food, happiness and joy should overflow, right?"
Kitahara Makoto's thoughts gradually became clearer.
"Tomorrow, I can try making luminous delicacies, then call everyone over to eat together and see what the charging efficiency is like…"
Keeping the idea in mind, Kitahara Makoto returned to the amusement park's Haunted House through the mirror and put the Pandora's Box back into a hidden corner on the roof.
Leaving it at home would be too wasteful. Even a mosquito's leg is meat, so it's better to put it in the Haunted House and let the Pandora's Box continue to absorb idealistic energy.
After dealing with the trivial matters, it was already evening without realizing it.
Kitahara Makoto changed his clothes, picked up his backpack, and then left for the old house.
The journey was uneventful.
Not long after arriving at the old house, Yamada Ryo and Nijika arrived together.
"Nijika, good afternoon."
Kitahara Makoto greeted warmly:
"It must be hot outside, what would you like to drink?"
Nijika crossed her arms over her chest, her pretty face taut, and said:
"I'm not thirsty, don't talk to me."
"Mommy."
A Hana trotted over and hugged Nijika's calf.
"Hana, good afternoon."
Nijika's eyes instantly softened, and she couldn't help but bend down to pick up Hana.
Yamada Ryo's eyes flickered as she looked at Kitahara Makoto:
"Kitahara-kun, I'm thirsty."
Kitahara Makoto nodded and said:
"What would Ryo-senpai like to drink?"
"Apple juice."
"There's some in the fridge, I'll get it for you."
"…"
After getting the juice, Yamada Ryo tilted her pretty face and said without changing her expression:
"Kitahara didn't even ask if I was thirsty just now, I'm unhappy, so Kitahara has to feed me."
Kitahara Makoto saw Ryo's expression and knew that Ryo-senpai wanted to cause trouble again, so he immediately cooperated:
"How does Ryo-senpai want me to feed her?"
Yamada Ryo raised her right hand, her slender fingers tapping her lips, her voice casual and indifferent:
"Kitahara takes a sip first, then feeds it directly to me."
Nijika: "…"
His true intention was not the drink.
Yamada Ryo was naturally free-spirited and didn't like to act spoiled like Anon. Her desire for Kitahara Makoto to feed her a drink was fake; her real purpose was clearly to tease him.
Kitahara Makoto glanced at Nijika, who was sitting next to him playing with Hana, as if she hadn't heard anything, and readily agreed:
"Understood, I'll feed Ryo-senpai right away."
They had already done the most intimate things, so feeding a drink was naturally not a problem.
The only problem was probably that it was even more stimulating in front of Nijika.
"Hmm… Tsk…"
Sizzling sounds entered their ears.
Nijika originally didn't want to look, but her eyes wouldn't obey, and she couldn't help but secretly glance over.
Seeing Ryo extend her arms, wrap them around Kitahara Makoto's neck, and even actively solicit, Nijika's rosy cheeks couldn't help but puff up.
Too much!
Absolutely too much!
They clearly wanted to provoke her, didn't they?
I won't let you have your way!
Nijika bit her teeth lightly, took a deep breath, and tried to continue ignoring them.
But after a while, the sounds in her ears became more and more outrageous. Nijika couldn't help but look over, shocked to see Ryo's right hand actually reaching into…
"You two, that's enough!"
Nijika could no longer bear it and finally cried out in embarrassment.
"Well, that's enough for now." Ryo-senpai raised her hand to wipe away the thread from the corner of her lips, saying lightly, "After all, Nijika is jealous."
Nijika naturally wouldn't admit it:
"I'm not jealous, okay?"
Ryo crossed her arms over her chest: "Liars will be disliked by Hana."
Nijika: "…"
One sentence rendered Nijika speechless.
She absolutely did not want to be disliked by her 'daughter'.
Seeing Nijika both embarrassed and angry, about to go into a red-hot state, Kitahara Makoto changed the subject from the side:
"It's almost time, Nijika, Ryo-senpai, hurry up and change into your swimsuits, we're going to Otherworld."
"…"
After the two girls went upstairs to change into their swimsuits, Kitahara Makoto changed into his swimming trunks, then opened his memo to check the purchased supplies again.
With the Kessoku Band poster, Eden Island could be built into a Suiryuu-kei paradise.
A moment later.
Nijika and Ryo came downstairs together.
"Let's do some warm-up exercises first." Kitahara Makoto stood up, "Nijika can't be lazy this time, so you don't catch a cold and fever again."
"You don't have to tell me."
Nijika's pretty face was slightly red, and her tone was particularly resentful.
Last time she went to Otherworld, if she hadn't caught a cold and fever, she definitely wouldn't have been taken advantage of so easily. Now, not only did she lose her chastity, but Ryo was also full of thoughts about double-row exercises.
Ten minutes later.
Kitahara Makoto, Nijika, and Ryo held hands and, led by Hana, passed through the spatial node to Otherworld.
The light distorted slightly.
The three figures instantly disappeared.
Plop, plop.
The cold sensation of falling into the sea struck, Kitahara Makoto immediately closed his mouth and nose, then quickly swam to the surface.
"Ryo-senpai?"
Splash.
A short-haired girl emerged from beside him.
"I'm here."
Kitahara Makoto then called out:
"Nijika?"
"Over here."
Nijika followed closely, surfacing and spitting out the seawater with two "Pah, pah" sounds.
"Very good, landing successful." Kitahara Makoto relaxed, "Everyone put on your swim rings, let's head to Eden Island."
Nijika and Ryo both put on their swim rings, and then the three of them swam towards Eden Island together.
The journey was uneventful.
During this time, the sea was calm, and no dangers were encountered.
After climbing onto the rocky beach, Kitahara Makoto had Hana weave a vine ladder, then he and the two girls climbed over the cliff and officially entered the island.
"Phew~ We're back."
Looking at the familiar cave, Nijika finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"So tired." Yamada Ryo stretched, "Kitahara, open the folding bed, I need to rest for a while."
"Rest later." Nijika put her hands on her hips, her aura fully unleashed, "At least dry the water off your body first, then change into clean clothes."
"There it is, the terrifying aura of the head of the household."
Yamada Ryo covered her chest and took half a step back, then turned to look at Kitahara Makoto, a pitiful expression on her face:
"Kitahara, what do you say?"
Kitahara Makoto said seriously:
"Nijika is the head of the household, so of course, what Nijika says goes."
Nijika's pretty face flushed slightly, and she glared at him with bright eyes:
"Don't just stand there talking, hurry up and get the heater."
"Yes, yes."
"…"
After drying herself and changing into the clean clothes left behind earlier, Nijika didn't stop to rest but busily began to clean the cave.
"It's only been a few days since we were here, but it feels like a lot of dust has accumulated…"
Kitahara Makoto helped from the side:
"It's a few days in reality, but in Otherworld, it's probably ten days to half a month, so it's normal for dust to accumulate."
After cleaning up, Nijika began to organize the supplies in the cave, neatly categorizing the things that were previously placed haphazardly. She was full of energy, or rather, she was destined to be a busy person, always finding things to do. In contrast, Yamada Ryo was already lying in a rocking chair nearby, reading comics.
Finished tidying up.
Kitahara Makoto took out the game disc, had Hana guard by the side, and the three of them entered the game space.
As the number of times they played increased, their teamwork naturally became more synchronized. After playing a few rounds of duo, the slime missiles' clothing-shredding effect was nothing. So, relying on their cooperation and strength, they steadily defeated the Boss slime and successfully obtained the Hero-exclusive skill [Unyielding Will].
"Hoo…"
Her consciousness returned to her body. Yamada Ryo clenched her fists, stretched her arms overhead, and tilted her head, saying:
"I feel like our teamwork suddenly improved a lot. Is it really the effect of playing duo yesterday?"
Nijika's pretty face instantly flushed, and she glared at Ryo in embarrassment:
"It's clearly practice makes perfect!"
"We can't rule out the effect of playing duo either." Ryo-senpai said with a face full of anticipation, "Do you want to try again, as a control group?"
"Absolutely not!" Nijika crossed her arms over her chest, "In any case, there won't be a next time!"
"Well, Nijika was clearly very comfo—"
"Hm?!"
Nijika's pretty face instantly tensed.
"I won't say anything, I won't say anything." Yamada Ryo raised her hand to cover her mouth, then turned to look at Kitahara Makoto, "Nijika is scolding me."
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
She's always trying to stir up trouble, so who else would she scold but you!
After obtaining the Hero-exclusive ability [Unyielding Will], the three of them naturally didn't waste any time. They walked directly out of the cave and arrived at the Eden Fruit picking location they had chosen earlier.
There was no need to say more about what happened next.
Kitahara Makoto immediately stripped off all his clothes, not even leaving his shorts, then put on the collar and went to pick the Eden Fruit.
A moment later.
Five Eden Fruits were successfully acquired.
"Mommy, I want to eat!"
Hana looked up with her small face and quickly tugged at Nijika's skirt.
Nijika bent down and picked up Hana, her voice gentle:
"Don't rush, let's go back to the cave."
Saying that, she glanced at Kitahara Makoto, her pretty face slightly flushed, and said:
"Kitahara-kun, hurry up and put your clothes on."
Kitahara Makoto sighed faintly and began to put on his clothes:
"I worked so hard to pick the Eden Fruit, but Nijika didn't even show a word of concern. Her eyes are only on Hana."
Nijika: "…"
What are you feeling wronged about!
I was watching you without blinking from beginning to end, and you're not injured, so there's no need for comfort at all!
Back in the cave.
Kitahara Makoto, Ryo, and Nijika each ate one Eden Fruit, and the remaining Eden Fruits were all given to Hana.
Hana's stomach was like a bottomless pit; she swallowed them all in one go.
"It's too early to go back to the real world now. Let's stay here for a while, wait for the game disc to cool down, pick Eden Fruit again, and then go back, okay?"
Kitahara Makoto suggested.
"No problem." Yamada Ryo licked her rosy upper lip, "I really want to eat another one."
"Then let's stay."
Nijika nodded lightly, also having no objections.
Before coming to Otherworld, she had greeted her older sister, and her sister's eyes had clearly lit up at the time. Although she didn't say it, she clearly wanted to eat Eden Fruit, and Nijika naturally wouldn't disappoint her sister.
All the Eden Fruits picked earlier had been eaten, so she would have to wait until the next picking to take her share home.
Thump.
Yamada Ryo lay down on the folding bed, comfortably picked up a manga, and said:
"Nijika, it's your turn next."
"Eh?" Nijika was startled, "My turn for what?"
"Of course, it's your turn to patrol the island with Kitahara." Ryo-senpai said as a matter of course, "Before, it was always Kitahara and I who went out to patrol. Today, I want to rest properly."
Nijika: "…"
The reason you two went every time before was because you wanted to secretly eat with Kitahara!
Kitahara Makoto looked at Nijika upon hearing this and said seriously:
"Nijika really hasn't patrolled the island with me since we've been in Otherworld for so long… Senpai, shall we go?"
"No."
Nijika's pretty face was flushed, and she shook her head, refusing.
Going out to patrol the island alone with Kitahara Makoto felt quite dangerous.
"It was always me who went before. Today, it should definitely be Nijika's turn." Ryo-senpai said airily, "Nijika wouldn't be irresponsible, would she?"
"…"
For Nijika, who had been extremely responsible since childhood, being irresponsible was definitely not an option.
Kitahara Makoto raised his right hand and guaranteed:
"Nijika can rest assured, I guarantee I won't force Senpai."
"Pfft~"
Nijika couldn't help but spit upon hearing this.
You say you won't force me, but what happened last night?
It was clearly forced!
"That's not true." Ryo-senpai seemed to have mind-reading abilities and said casually, "Nijika, don't forget, last night you were crying and begging me for help, asking me to assist you. There was no forcing you at all."
"How could that be…"
Nijika parted her rosy lips, about to retort, when vague memories suddenly flooded her mind, followed by her pretty face rapidly reddening at a visible speed.
I remember now…
I remember everything…
Ryo was not wrong.
After Ryo appeared last night, she just stood by leisurely watching the show, and in the end, it was indeed I who couldn't hold on and actively asked for help…
It was just that the scene at the time was too embarrassing, so I subconsciously chose to forget it.
"It seems Nijika remembers now." Yamada Ryo's lips curved slightly upwards, "So, we didn't force Nijika."
"…"
Nijika's pretty face was burning hot, and she really had no face to stay any longer, so she covered her face and fled out of the cave.
"Senpai, wait for me."
Kitahara Makoto stepped out to chase her.
Arriving outside the cave, Kitahara Makoto quickly caught up to Nijika, then pulled the girl with the golden side ponytail into his embrace.
"Senpai, don't run around. You're not familiar with the surrounding terrain. What if you get lost?"
"Go away." Nijika's pretty face was flushed, and she struggled in embarrassment, "I'm not a child, I won't get lost."
"Better safe than sorry." Kitahara Makoto looked down, "If Nijika doesn't behave, I'm going to lose my temper."
"Eh?"
Nijika looked up in shock.
The one who should be losing their temper is clearly me! How dare you say that!
Taking advantage of Nijika's shocked gaze upwards, Kitahara Makoto quickly lowered his head, accurately blocking the girl's moist, rosy lips, then mercilessly launched an assault.
"Mmm…"
Nijika couldn't break free and could only close her eyes in embarrassment.
A moment later.
Pop~
With a soft sound, Kitahara Makoto raised his head and wiped his mouth clean:
"Nijika, are you still going to run around?"
"Hoo… hoo…"
Nijika's pretty face was burning hot, her breathing rapid, and her whole body had softened. She said softly, panting:
"Let, let go of me…"
Kitahara Makoto clicked his tongue lightly:
"It seems Nijika still wants to run around. It looks like I'll have to continue losing my temper."
"No, no more." Nijika quickly covered her rosy lips, shaking her head timidly, "I won't run around anymore."
Kitahara Makoto smiled:
"It seems Nijika has deeply realized her mistake."
"Ugh—"
Upon hearing this, Nijika's rosy cheeks involuntarily puffed out.
(I'm not wrong, okay?)
(The ones who are wrong are clearly you and Ryo… Oh no! Your two preferences are too terrible!)
"What?" Kitahara Makoto raised an eyebrow slightly, "Nijika seems to have an opinion?"
"N-no." Nijika swallowed her anger, quickly shaking her head, her golden side ponytail gently swaying, "Aren't we supposed to patrol the island? Let's go quickly."
"Let's go." Kitahara Makoto held Nijika's soft hand, "First, we'll patrol the island, and then we'll do the main business."
"…"
Next, Kitahara Makoto took Nijika, and the two began to patrol the island.
Though it was called patrolling, the journey was quiet and peaceful. Not to mention monsters, they didn't even see any birds or beasts. Except for humans with sufficiently strong self-awareness, any other living being that came to Eden Island would rush in like moths to a flame, becoming nourishment for the Eden Tree.
Two hours later.
The island patrol was completed.
"Senpai, have some water." Kitahara Makoto opened his backpack, took out a bottle of drink, and handed it to Nijika, "Replenish some fluids."
After walking such a long distance, Nijika was indeed a bit thirsty, so she naturally didn't stand on ceremony with Kitahara Makoto:
"I am a bit thirsty."
After drinking about half the bottle in one go, Nijika stopped and prepared to screw the cap back on.
Kitahara Makoto's voice sounded next to her. He reached out and pressed the top of Nijika's head, subtly using the skill [Sudden Enlightenment]:
"Nijika, try to drink more. It will be useful later."
"That's enough." Nijika hadn't yet reacted to the impending danger, "We'll be back in the cave soon, no need to drink so much."
Kitahara Makoto took a half-step forward, his gaze burning as he said:
"We'll go back to the cave after the main business is done."
"I've already finished the patrol..."
Before she could finish, Nijika met Kitahara Makoto's gaze, and immediately understood the meaning of 'serious business,' her pretty face quickly flushing.
"Kitahara-kun, don't mess around." Nijika covered her chest with one hand and her lower abdomen with the other, retreating in embarrassment. "The ground is too dirty!"
Kitahara Makoto's eyes burned as he embraced Nijika:
"It's okay, I can hold Nijika-senpai the whole time."
"Not even then!" Nijika was full of shame. "What if someone sees us?"
"There are no other creatures on this island except us."
"Anyway, it's just not possible…" Nijika bit her lower lip with her pearly teeth, her pretty face flushed like fire. Her personality wasn't as free-spirited as Yamada Ryo, so it was normal for her to be too shy to agree. "Kitahara-kun promised before that he wouldn't force me."