"Makoto-kun said he wouldn't force anyone, right?"
Nijika's bright eyes shifted, her pretty face red as she said:
"You're not going to fail to keep your word, are you?"
"Tsk~"
Kitahara Makoto let out a soft tsk.
"I didn't expect Nijika-senpai to use reverse psychology."
"In short, one must be true to their word." Nijika lifted her snow-white chin. "No means no."
"Alright, of course, I will keep my promise and guarantee not to force Nijika." Kitahara Makoto raised both hands, saying words that put Nijika at ease, then changed the subject, "However… Nijika must at least kiss me once. After you kiss me, we'll go back to the cave."
"Eh?"
Nijika was half-skeptical:
"Just one kiss and we can go back?"
"Otherwise?" Kitahara Makoto raised an eyebrow slightly. "Or is Nijika expecting me to be rougher?"
"Ptooey~"
Nijika's pretty face was crimson as she lightly spat.
"I would never expect you to do anything bad!"
"…"
Human nature always likes compromise. For example, if you say this room is too dark and needs a window here, everyone will definitely not allow it. But if you advocate tearing down the roof, they will compromise and be willing to open a window.
For Nijika, being taken advantage of by Kitahara Makoto outside was too shameful, but if it was just a kiss, then there was no problem.
"Senpai…" Kitahara Makoto sat on a large rock. "Kiss me quickly."
"Just a kiss, no other things allowed."
Nijika's pretty face was flushed as she cautiously reminded him, then stood on tiptoe and shyly leaned forward.
She originally intended to just touch him lightly and end it, but her waist was quickly embraced by Kitahara Makoto. Only after confirming that Kitahara Makoto was just quietly holding her and not making any other moves, did Nijika quietly relax.
There wasn't much difference between a quick kiss and a longer one, so Nijika quickly closed her eyes, and her arms quietly rose to embrace Kitahara Makoto's neck.
However, Nijika forgot one thing.
The Eden Fruit had the side effect of triggering original sin, and the Sudden Enlightenment ability, in addition to improving reading efficiency, also had the side effect of making one want to 'assault their teacher'.
The two side effects superimposed, unknowingly creating an effect greater than the sum of its parts. By the time Nijika realized it belatedly, her body could no longer stop…
Two hours later.
Kitahara Makoto and Nijika returned to the cave.
"You're back?"
Yamada Ryo's voice rang out, without any complaint or worry, as casual and indifferent as ever:
"It took you so long to patrol the island. You two were really secretly eating behind my back, weren't you?"
Kitahara Makoto had a thick skin and showed no change.
Nijika, however, had wandering eyes, and a blush of shame appeared on her face:
"I, I didn't…"
There was no need to judge her micro-expressions; Nijika almost had 'guilty conscience' written on her face.
Ryo did not pursue it, only leaning close to Nijika's ear and lowering her voice:
"Well, it's nothing to secretly eat, but Nijika, remember to wear the bracelet next time so I can share…"
Nijika bit her lower lip in shame and anger:
"I won't wear that kind of thing!"
"…"
No need to say more about what happened next.
There was still some time until the game disc cooled down, but there were already many entertainment options in the cave: handheld consoles, comics, light novels, board games. One person might be lonely, but three people together were perfectly fine.
During the break.
Although Yamada Ryo really wanted the three of them to play games together, Nijika firmly refused, and Kitahara Makoto naturally wouldn't force her.
Clearly, Yamada Ryo's surprise attack last night was the best method. Even in Otherworld, Nijika still wouldn't be taken for granted.
The game disc finished cooling down.
Kitahara Makoto, Nijika, and Ryo entered the game space. Without a hitch, they successfully defeated the Boss slime again, obtained the Unyielding Will ability, and then, following the same method, harvested five Eden Fruits.
Tomori ate two, finally feeling full. The remaining Eden Fruits were just enough for one each for the three of them.
After achieving their goal, the three quietly returned to the real world.
"We're back." Nijika exhaled softly, looking out the window. "Oh, the sky outside is already slightly bright."
Kitahara Makoto picked up his phone and checked the time:
"It's five-thirty in the morning now."
"Eh?" Nijika was surprised. "It's already light so early?"
"It's summer after all, so it's normal for it to get light early." Yamada Ryo stretched. "I want to take a bath."
Other things were fine in Otherworld, but bathing was as inconvenient as ever.
Ryo tilted her head and looked over, saying casually:
"Kitahara-kun, help me scrub my back."
Nijika: "…"
I was the one who used to help scrub your back!
After washing up.
The sky became completely bright.
Tomori sent Kitahara Makoto and the two girls to Nijika's home through the mirror.
"Seika-nee, good morning."
Looking at the figure on the sofa, Kitahara Makoto greeted her neither humbly nor arrogantly.
Clearly.
Ijichi Seika, just like last time, hadn't returned to her room to rest but was sitting on the sofa waiting for Nijika to return.
"Hmph." Ijichi Seika let out a soft snort, her gaze sweeping over the three of them. "Are any of you injured?"
"Don't worry, onee-san." Nijika hurriedly said, "Everything went smoothly, no one was injured."
"…That's good then."
"Onee-san, please wait a moment. I'll first offer the sacrifice to Mom, and then all the remaining Eden Fruits will be for onee-san."
Ijichi Seika's throat clearly moved. She turned her head away, stubbornly saying:
"Don't save any for me. Offer them all to Mom. I don't want to eat any at all."
"Tsk~"
Kitahara Makoto secretly tsked.
He had noticed before that Seika-nee, who was almost thirty, was still a tsundere.
"Did you just tsk, kid?"
Ijichi Seika's eyebrows shot up.
"I didn't, I didn't." Kitahara Makoto simply took half a step back, put away the Kessoku Band poster, and then left with Tomori. "Seika-nee, goodbye."
"…"
The spatial coordinates of the old house had been unlocked.
Tomori first took Kitahara Makoto back to the old house, then Kitahara Makoto went out, got on his bicycle, and slowly rode home with Hana.
No words were exchanged along the way.
After returning home, Kitahara Makoto handed the cupcake he bought to Tomori, then sat on the sofa and looked through today's daily tasks.
"…Very good, all can be completed."
The first two daily tasks were, needless to say, still fitness tasks. The third task was 'Gourmet', requiring him to taste a dish and give a corresponding review. The last task was 'Lap Pillow Master', requiring him to collect three different lap pillows.
Kitahara Makoto could only say it was effortless.
He ate a little something, then sent messages to the girls:
"I've returned from Otherworld. Tomori can continue to open the shelter domain. No need to fight over it, everyone gets a share. Who wants to go first?"
Now, Anon, Tomori, Taki, Sakiko, and Mai were left. With Tomori's energy reserves, everyone would indeed get a share, so there was no need to worry about favoritism.
The first person to reply was Anon:
"Kitahara-kun, come over. Mom and Dad have both gone to work."
It was eight o'clock in the morning, so office workers had indeed already left.
Kitahara Makoto: "Tomori and I are coming over."
One minute later.
Tomori quickly traveled with Kitahara Makoto, appearing in Anon's home bathroom.
"Mirror travel is super convenient." Chihaya Anon was still wearing her pajamas at this point, her pink hair softly falling to her waist, clearly having just woken up. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. "It's simply a god-like ability for traveling the world!"
Chihaya Anon then sounded a little worried:
"But short distances are fine, can it really work for too far a distance? Will the energy consumption be too great, causing us to get stuck halfway, like Taki before?"
"No need to worry at all." Kitahara Makoto comforted her. "The ability of a strange tale inherently doesn't follow physical rules."
"That's true…"
Chihaya Anon blinked, feeling that it made a lot of sense.
Newton and Einstein's coffin lids couldn't hold them down anymore; worrying too much was simply being overly anxious.
"Tomori, open the domain."
Kitahara Makoto looked down at Hana.
"Okay."
Tomori agreed, and with her body as the center, a Flower Sea quickly grew out, rapidly covering the entire house.
"Thank you, Tomori~" Chihaya Anon thanked happily. "I have snacks in my room, I'll give them all to you later."
Kitahara Makoto said from the side:
"After thanking Tomori, shouldn't you also thank me?"
"What are you talking about? It was all Hana's hard work, Kitahara-kun, don't take all the credit." Chihaya Anon gently snorted, her voice cute and pleasant. "However, since scumbag-kun didn't contribute, but put in a lot of effort, I can share some snacks with you."
Kitahara Makoto stepped forward and said, "I want to eat an appetizer."
"Eh?" Chihaya Anon blinked, hesitating, "I don't think any of the snacks I bought are appetizers."
Kitahara Makoto lowered his voice and said, "Isn't Anon-chan just an appetizer?"
"What?!"
Chihaya Anon's cheeks quickly puffed up, and she put her hands on her hips, questioning, "If I'm the appetizer, then who's the main course?!"
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
Sure enough, this Anon not only loves to act spoiled but also loves to be jealous even more.
Kitahara Makoto's eyes darted, and he whispered, "The main course is Anon at the fireworks festival."
"Eh?"
"When we watched the fireworks festival together, you spent half the afternoon trying on a yukata. Anon-chan hasn't forgotten her promise, has she?" Kitahara Makoto said as he stepped forward, "Even if Anon-chan forgets, I still have a recording."
Chihaya Anon took a half-step back, leaning against the bathroom wall, her pretty face flushed, and she said shyly, "Don't record weird things. What if someone else finds out?"
"So, Anon-chan remembers her promise?" Kitahara Makoto stretched out his right hand and pressed it against the wall beside the pink-haired girl's ear. "Anon-chan, fulfill your promise now."
"No, no…" Chihaya Anon's pretty face was burning, and she didn't dare to look him in the eye, feeling guilty. "We still have to film this morning. The shooting is almost over, and we can't make any mistakes these few days."
Kitahara Makoto reached out and lifted Anon's chin:
"Then feed me the appetizer."
Chihaya Anon's eyes were moist, and she said shyly, "Put it on my tab first. You hurry to Tomori's house… Hurry, hurry."
Kitahara Makoto, of course, wouldn't leave just like that.
Since he was already here, he certainly had to tease Anon a bit before leaving.
However, time was tight, and there wasn't enough time to savor it. After teasing Anon for a while and getting a lap pillow, Kitahara Makoto and Hana passed through the mirror and left.
Next stop, Sakiko's house.
Unlike Anon, who was still in her pajamas after just waking up, Sakiko was already neatly dressed and practicing the piano in the living room.
Seeing Kitahara Makoto and Hana emerge from the full-length mirror in the living room, Sakiko stopped playing, her eyes clear as she said, "Kitahara-kun, and Hana, good morning."
"Sakiko, morning."
Kitahara Makoto greeted her, "You're up so early playing the piano?"
"Playing the piano helps me relax. For me, it's actually a time for rest." Sakiko raised her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and whispered, "Did Kitahara-kun encounter any danger in Otherworld?"
"I encountered danger." Kitahara Makoto spread his arms, "Sakiko, quickly check my body for me."
Sakiko's pretty face flushed slightly, and she glared at him playfully, "Kitahara-kun is so energetic, he should go to the hospital himself."
Kitahara Makoto said shamelessly, "I just want Sakiko to quickly help me check my body."
"Go away." Sakiko turned her pretty face away. "Kitahara-kun, have you had breakfast yet?"
"I just had some bread."
"I just made omurice. Would Kitahara-kun like to have some with me?"
"Yes, I want to eat."
"…"
Sakiko walked briskly, her skirt swaying, and quickly entered the kitchen. Soon, she brought out three plates of omurice.
"I'm going to eat."
Kitahara Makoto put his hands together, solemnly declared, then picked up his spoon and started eating, a shocked expression soon appearing on his face, "There's actually such delicious omurice in the world?!"
"Eat properly." Sakiko's pretty face flushed slightly, and she couldn't help but glare at him, "Kitahara-kun's acting is too exaggerated."
Sakiko had a good sense of self-awareness; her cooking skills were only ordinary, not delicious.
However, even though she knew Kitahara Makoto was exaggerating, she still felt a little happy.
Kitahara Makoto took a large bite of omurice, "When are we going to Togawa for the commission today?"
"The time has been set," Sakiko pursed her lips and whispered, "Seven o'clock tonight."
"Understood." Kitahara Makoto nodded lightly, "We need to use the answer book, so we still need to find someone to help."
"I know." Sakiko replied softly, "I've already told Soyo and Tomori."
"Then we'll act tonight."
"…"
After eating the meal, the protective domain had naturally already been successfully activated.
Kitahara Makoto and Sakiko spoke a few more words, got a lap pillow, and then, with Hana's help, quickly traveled through the mirror to leave.
The third stop was Tomori's home.
Although he had never been to Tomori's house before, Hana had already recorded the coordinates, so they could still arrive directly.
"Makoto-kun, good morning."
As soon as he stepped out of the mirror, a familiar and pleasant voice sounded in his ear.
Looking at Tomori, who was standing by the mirror, eagerly looking forward, her face full of anticipation, Kitahara Makoto's voice couldn't help but soften, "Tomori, good morning."
Tomori, holding a box of Konpeito, said expectantly, "Makoto-kun, do you want to eat Konpeito?"
Kitahara Makoto, of course, wouldn't let Tomori down, "Yes, I want to eat."
"Here."
Tomori stood on her tiptoes and held the candy to Kitahara Makoto's mouth.
After eating the candy, Kitahara Makoto looked around and saw that the room was clean and tidy, but there were many strange collectibles: "This is Tomori's room, right?"
"Yes, Mom is off today and didn't go to work." Tomori lowered her voice and said, "So we need to be a little quieter."
"No problem." Kitahara Makoto reached into his pocket and quickly pulled out a stack of bandages. "I bought these bandages specifically for Tomori when I bought bento at the convenience store this morning."
Knowing that Tomori liked to collect bandages, Kitahara Makoto naturally wouldn't come empty-handed.
Tomori's eyes sparkled, and she happily took the bandages, "Thank you, Makoto-kun."
Tomori said as she opened a cabinet and took out a box from inside. When she opened it, it was full of various kinds of bandages, almost completely full.
"Makoto-kun, do you want to see the bandages I've collected?"
Tomori looked up, her small face full of expectation.
Kitahara Makoto sat next to Tomori, "I want to know the story of every bandage. Tomori, tell me slowly."
"Okay…"
Collecting hobbies are diverse and varied. Some people like to collect beer bottle caps, some like to collect cigarette cards. It's perfectly fine for Tomori to like collecting bandages. Kitahara Makoto understood, respected, and supported her.
After listening to Tomori for over half an hour, he finally understood the stories of all the bandages. During this time, Kitahara Makoto naturally didn't just go through the motions but listened attentively, asking interesting questions from time to time. All in all, happy times are always short.
"Tomori, do you like watching the fireworks festival?"
Kitahara Makoto held the girl's soft hand and asked softly.
"Eh?"
Tomori was slightly startled, her eyes suddenly brightened, and she answered firmly, "Yes, I like it."
Kitahara Makoto asked again, "Have you watched the fireworks festival this year?"
"Not yet." Tomori gently shook her head. "Taki asked me to go watch it with her, but I haven't agreed yet."
Kitahara Makoto smiled, "Tomori, why didn't you agree?"
"…"
Tomori's small face slowly reddened, and she turned her head away, not speaking.
Why didn't she agree?
Of course, it was because she wanted to go with Makoto-kun.
"Tonight we have to exorcise, so we don't have free time, therefore…" Kitahara Makoto warmly invited, "Tomori, do you want to watch the fireworks festival together tomorrow?"
Tomori looked up slightly, her clear and bright eyes clearly rippling with soft light. She suddenly leaned forward and gently pecked Kitahara Makoto's face, "I want to watch the fireworks festival with Makoto-kun."
"Then we'll go tomorrow night." Kitahara Makoto lowered his head and gently blocked Tomori's pink, moist, cherry lips, "See you there."
"…"
The protective domain had naturally already been successfully activated.
After teasing Tomori, Kitahara Makoto waved goodbye and left with Hana through the mirror.
The fourth stop was Taki's house.
Kitahara Makoto stepped out of the mirror and looked up to see a petite girl with long black hair waiting nearby, so he greeted her, "Taki, good morning…"
Before he could finish speaking, a small hand suddenly reached out and covered Kitahara Makoto's mouth. Taki's expression was serious, "Shhh, don't talk, be careful not to let my sister hear."
Kitahara Makoto nodded, indicating he understood.
Taki withdrew her small hand and cautiously peered out of the bathroom:
"Onee-san was so strange just now..."