A moment later.
The room door quietly opened, and Nijika walked in, tired.
"Nijika-senpai, you worked hard."
Kitahara Makoto stepped forward to greet her.
"Eh, why is Kitahara-kun at the door?"
Nijika quickly took two steps, coming in front of Kitahara Makoto:
"How is my sister? She sent me so many messages earlier, but I was busy checking inventory at the time and didn't see them. Could it be something very urgent?"
In a sense, it was indeed something very urgent.
Judging from Seika-nee's distressed expression earlier, she had clearly reached her limit of endurance. If you came back now… she would definitely leak!
Kitahara Makoto lowered his voice and said:
"Now there's good news and bad news. Nijika-senpai, which one do you want to hear first?"
Seeing Kitahara Makoto still keeping her in suspense, Nijika knew that her sister was probably fine. Her bright eyes lightly glared at him:
"Let's hear the bad news first."
Kitahara Makoto whispered:
"Seika-nee wet the bed."
"Eh eh eh?!"
Nijika's eyes instantly widened, and her golden side ponytail almost stood up.
Kitahara Makoto added:
"Don't worry, it was just almost."
Thump!
Nijika angrily headbutted Kitahara Makoto's chest, her cheeks puffed out:
"Next time, finish what you're saying in one go!"
"Yes, my deepest apologies."
"…"
Letting out a light breath, Nijika helplessly rubbed her forehead and said:
"And the good news?"
Kitahara Makoto softly said:
"I've already had Hana bring over the Moon-Star Chalice."
"What kind of good news is that…?"
Nijika couldn't help but retort.
However, after speaking, seeing Kitahara Makoto remain silent and not continuing to joke around, Nijika quickly reacted and nervously asked:
"Seika-nee… what's wrong?"
Kitahara Makoto opened his arms and gently embraced Nijika:
"After Seika-nee woke up, her legs lost all sensation."
"H-how could that be…?"
Nijika's body trembled, and her eyes immediately welled up with misty tears.
"It's my fault…"
"It's all my fault. If I hadn't made that wish, Seika-nee wouldn't have gotten hurt…"
Kitahara Makoto lowered his head, kissing Nijika while comforting her:
"Nijika-senpai, don't panic. With the all-healing cup, Seika-nee will be fine soon."
Nijika looked up with teary eyes:
"Where is Seika-nee? I want to see her."
"In the bathroom," Kitahara Makoto said softly. "Seika-nee wanted to use the bathroom earlier and messaged Nijika-senpai, but you never replied. She couldn't wait, so I carried her to the bathroom."
"Thank you, Kitahara-kun…"
Nijika wiped her eyes and hurried to the bathroom.
Kitahara Makoto stopped and waited quietly outside the door.
"Seika-nee, I'm sorry…"
Nijika's apologetic voice came from the bathroom.
Following that was Seika's voice:
"It was my own carelessness; I slipped while showering. It has nothing to do with Nijika, okay?"
"Actually, it was me…"
"Stop talking. Help me back to the room first; my back hurts from sitting for so long."
"Oh…"
"…"
A moment later.
The bathroom door opened a crack, and Nijika poked her pretty face out, whispering:
"Kitahara-kun, I can't carry Seika-nee… Please help."
Clearly, Seika's legs still had no sensation, and while Nijika could assist her sister, carrying her out was beyond her strength.
Kitahara Makoto put away his phone and was about to enter the bathroom:
"Coming."
"Don't rush," Nijika quickly reached out her right hand, pressing against Kitahara Makoto's chest. "I'll go to the room first to get Seika-nee a nightgown."
Thump thump thump.
Nijika closed the bathroom door behind her and scurried back to the room, returning shortly with a nightgown.
"Do you need my help?"
Kitahara Makoto asked.
Nijika glared at him with her bright eyes:
"Seika-nee's legs just can't move; she doesn't need help putting on a nightgown… Don't you dare have any ideas about Seika-nee!"
Kitahara Makoto was incredibly innocent:
"I genuinely just wanted to help."
That kind of sister sandwich thing, surely no one would actually want to try it, right?
"Hmph~"
Nijika let out a soft snort, shot him a warning glance, and then walked into the bathroom with the nightgown.
A moment later.
The door quietly pushed open.
"Kitahara-kun, you can come in now."
Nijika poked her pretty face out, speaking softly.
"Coming."
Kitahara Makoto stepped into the bathroom, easily picked up Seika, and then walked back to the room with a righteous expression, not looking askance.
After placing Seika on the bed, Kitahara Makoto silently retreated to a corner; it was naturally time for the two sisters to chat.
Time quietly flowed by.
It was suddenly eleven o'clock at night.
"Nijika-senpai, the cup is full."
Kitahara Makoto walked in from the balcony, holding the Moon-Star Chalice.
"As long as I drink that, I'll be healthy again?"
Seika's voice was anxious, clearly very nervous.
Humans always realize the value of something only after losing it.
Seika had never thought having legs was so wonderful before, but after lying in bed for less than an hour, she now deeply yearned for her legs to recover their health.
"Seika-nee, don't worry, it's really super effective," Nijika comforted softly. "You'll see the results very quickly after drinking it."
"It looks quite beautiful…"
Seika looked over curiously, seeing that the liquid's color was quite dreamlike, a magnificent blue, with tiny, scattered starlight floating within it.
"It has no strange smell, just like Shimizu," Nijika said softly. "Seika-nee can drink it without worry."
Kitahara Makoto reminded her from the side:
"There might be some side effects after drinking it. Seika-nee, if you feel uncomfortable anywhere, remember to tell me and don't secretly endure it."
"It's normal for medicine to have side effects."
Seika's tone was dismissive, not realizing that the side effects here were not 'side effects' in the conventional sense. She tilted her head back and drank the liquid in the cup in one gulp.
"Hmm… it really has no taste."
Seika put down the cup and asked expectantly:
"How long will it take to take effect?"
Kitahara Makoto responded:
"Very quickly."
"How quick is very quick…?" Before she could finish her sentence, Seika felt a tingling, warm current rush into her legs, and she immediately widened her eyes, quickly saying, "Nijika, help me pull back the blanket."
"Eh?"
"Hurry up."
"Ah, okay…"
"Oh, not the blanket on top, but the one below, expose my feet."
"…"
Nijika finally realized and quickly pulled back the blanket from Seika's legs.
It must be said that although Seika was almost thirty, her feet were quite beautiful, delicate and elegant, snow-white and smooth.
Of course, whether they were beautiful or not didn't matter.
What mattered was that her toes were wiggling.
"Seika-nee, your toes can move?"
Nijika exclaimed in surprise.
"That's right." Seika's face also showed surprise. "After drinking it just now, I felt a strange warm current flow into my legs, and then my toes could move."
Kitahara Makoto smiled from the side:
"I told you it would be quick."
Seika nodded in satisfaction:
"Not bad, not bad. Kitahara is indeed super fast."
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
Although it was a compliment, why did it sound so awkward?!
The panacea lived up to its reputation.
It took effect as promised, in just a few minutes, Seika completely regained sensation in her legs. Under the gaze of the three, first her toes, then her feet, and finally her knees, gradually regained their ability to move… Although it still seemed a bit clumsy, it was already enough to be a pleasant surprise.
Fortunately, Seika had not been bedridden for long, otherwise, she would definitely be crying tears of joy right now.
"Seika-nee, do you feel anything strange in your body?"
Nijika asked softly.
While asking, she also checked Seika's body to see if there were any weird side effects.
"Nijika, don't worry, I feel great now. I'll be able to get up and practice karate soon…" Seika, in turn, comforted her sister, but as she spoke, she suddenly felt her eyelids incredibly heavy and involuntarily yawned. "So, so sleepy… I need to sleep for a bit…"
As soon as her voice fell, her head drooped directly.
"Eh?" Nijika was startled, turning to look at Kitahara Makoto. "Kitahara-kun, have the side effects appeared?"
"Probably."
Kitahara Makoto stepped forward and placed a finger under Seika's nose:
"Seika-nee's breathing is very steady. Perhaps it's a kind of sedative side effect?"
Nijika sighed in relief:
"Then let Seika-nee get a good sleep… I just don't know how long the side effects will last. Seika-nee wouldn't stay unconscious like Sleeping Beauty, would she?"
"Nijika-senpai, rest assured," Kitahara Makoto said softly. "If Seika-nee is still asleep tomorrow, I'll come over again to perform Stripping on the side effects."
Nijika nodded gently:
"That's the only way… Eh, Seika-nee woke up?"
Kitahara Makoto looked down and indeed saw that Seika had opened her eyes at some point.
(She woke up so quickly… So, it's not a sedative side effect?)
After a brief moment of confusion, Seika suddenly sat up and threw a punch at Kitahara Makoto.
Slap.
Kitahara Makoto raised his hand to block, saying inexplicably:
"Seika-nee, what are you doing?"
"…"
Seika didn't speak but quickly raised her right leg, sweeping out with a fierce roundhouse kick.
Bang.
Kitahara Makoto easily blocked it again, then grabbed Seika's ankle and pressed Seika onto the bed.
"Bastard! Let go of me!"
Seika struggled fiercely.
Nijika came to her senses and quickly shouted:
"Sister, what are you doing?"
"Who are you?" Seika looked over warily, "Why are you calling me sister?"
"Eh eh eh eh eh?!" Nijika was instantly shocked, "Sister doesn't recognize me? I'm Nijika!"
"Tsk, liar." Seika snorted disdainfully, "Nijika just started kindergarten this year, if you want to lie to me, at least find a suitable reason."
Nijika: "..."
She was seventeen now, she had graduated from kindergarten many years ago, alright?
"Could it be that Sister has amnesia?"
Nijika looked over anxiously.
"It should be." Kitahara Makoto was also a bit unsure, "Seika-nee, how old are you this year?"
"Who are you calling 'nee', kid?" Seika glared over, with a bit of a delinquent girl's swagger, "I'm only sixteen this year, you look older than me, alright!"
Kitahara Makoto turned his head and looked at Nijika:
"Congratulations, Nijika-senpai, you now have a younger sister."
Nijika: "..."
Seika was twelve years older than Nijika. If the person in front of her was truly a sixteen-year-old Seika, then in her perception, Nijika should only be four years old, indeed just starting kindergarten.
"Who exactly are you two?"
"Why did you break into my room?"
"Do you believe I'll call my sisters over and have them tear you to pieces in minutes, you bastards!"
"..."
Seika struggled while fiercely uttering threats.
Kitahara Makoto's lips twitched slightly, and he couldn't help but say:
"So Seika-nee used to be a delinquent girl?"
"I can't remember..." Nijika's expression was subtle, and she covered her forehead, saying, "I was very young when Sister was in high school, I only remember that Sister was... very cool at the time."
The leader of delinquent girls, how could she not be cool!
"Perhaps... maybe... Sister really was a delinquent girl in high school?"
Nijika's tone was hesitant.
She had been to the Ochanomizu musical instrument store where Sister used to work, and the staff said Sister's nickname back then was 'Ochanomizu Demon King'... No normal girl would have such a title, right?
Also, Sister had repeated two grades in high school.
The university she attended was an unknown university that accepted anyone who paid.
In her memory, Sister also smoked, drank, and played rock music during university...
"No, I can't think about this anymore!"
Nijika quickly shook her head, pushing the jumbled memories out of her mind.
"If I keep thinking, Sister's image will completely collapse!"
"That's right~" A faint, ethereal voice sounded, "Little Seika used to be quite a headache."
"Mom, why are you out?"
Nijika quickly called out.
Kitahara Makoto released Seika, whom he had been holding down with one hand, and politely said:
"Good evening, Auntie."
The person who arrived was Nijika and Seika's mother. After offering a few Eden Fruit, Ijichi-san's Spirit Body had clearly solidified a lot, but she still couldn't appear twenty-four hours a day and needed to return to the Buddha niche to rest from time to time.
"Mom...?" Seika's eyes widened, "How... did you become like this?"
"Mom is a mother now."
"Mom, what nonsense are you talking about!"
"..."
The rest goes without saying.
The sixteen-year-old Seika didn't recognize Nijika and Kitahara Makoto, but she definitely recognized her own mother. With Mrs. Ichiji explaining, supplemented by Nijika, Seika finally accepted the current situation.
"Phew..."
Nijika relaxed with a sigh of relief, waving her hand and saying:
"Mom, you and Sister chat first, I'm taking Kitahara-kun back."
Kitahara Makoto politely said:
"Goodbye, Auntie, goodbye, Seika-nee."
"Hmph~"
Seika snorted lightly and turned her head away, clearly very unconvinced by the fact that she had been easily suppressed just now.
The two walked out of the room one after another and arrived in the hallway.
"Sixteen-year-old Sister... feels so much younger and livelier."
Nijika clasped her hands behind her back, her steps light, her golden side ponytail swaying, and she complained:
"Unlike thirty-year-old Sister, who constantly complains about being tired, either lying on the sofa playing on her phone or sleeping in bed playing on her phone."
Kitahara Makoto said softly:
"This is the first time I've seen a side effect of returning someone to sixteen... Do you not need my help to remove the side effect anymore?"
"No need." Nijika gently shook her head, "Kitahara-kun needs Sister to take off her clothes to use his ability, and the current Sister definitely won't agree, so let's just wait for the side effect to disappear on its own."
Kitahara Makoto naturally had no objection:
"Just right to see how long the side effect can last."
"..."
As they spoke, the two had already reached the bathroom door.
"Thank you, Kitahara-kun, for today."
Nijika stopped and thanked him softly.
Kitahara Makoto looked over with burning eyes:
"Please change 'thank you' to a kiss."
"Pah~"
Nijika's pretty face flushed slightly, and her bright eyes glared at him:
"No kiss."
"Then let me hug you for a while."
"No... I still need to go back to my room."
Kitahara Makoto sighed, and apologized faintly:
"I'm sorry, I was forcing Nijika-senpai."
Nijika: "..."
Although she knew Kitahara Makoto was deliberately feigning pity, she still couldn't bear it.
"...You turn around."
Nijika ordered, hands on her hips.
Kitahara Makoto turned around:
"Nijika-senpai, don't force yourself..."
"You're still talking!"
Nijika extended her right hand, poked Kitahara Makoto's waist, and then, blushing, stood on her tiptoes and leaned in to kiss Kitahara Makoto.
Having finally waited for Nijika to offer a kiss, Kitahara Makoto naturally wouldn't let it go. Seeing Nijika try to slip away after the kiss, he simply hugged Nijika's slender waist and began to 'conquer territory'.
A few minutes later.
Kitahara Makoto released Nijika contentedly, smiling:
"Thanks for the treat."
"Hoo... hoo..."
Nijika's pretty face was flushed, and she was panting. She raised her hand to wipe away the silk thread from the corner of her lips, and her bright eyes couldn't help but glare at him:
"Hurry up and go back."
Kitahara Makoto nodded and said:
"If there's any unexpected situation, remember to tell me immediately."
"Got it, got it~"
"..."
He quickly traveled back home.
It was already past eleven at night, but Kitahara Makoto wasn't sleepy at all. He quickly took a shower, then headed to Soyos.
"Auntie didn't suddenly come back, did she?"
Kitahara Makoto stepped out of the mirror, and the landing spot was clearly Soyos room.
Soyo's voice was gentle:
"No."
Kitahara Makoto's gaze was burning:
"Soyo-chan, do you want to go to the Onsen Village, or just stay in the room?"
Soyo's pretty face quickly flushed, and her eyes drifted as she said:
"The Onsen Village, I guess. It'll be a mess in the room and I'll have to clean up... Ah."
With a soft cry from Soyo, their figures suddenly disappeared.
They returned half an hour later.
Soyo's eyes were red and swollen, as if she had just cried, and her voice was a little hoarse. She lay softly on the bed:
"I've thought of a way..."
"What?"
"To fulfill the wish of being with Togawa, we can actually make a wish to the Wish Note, right?"
"..."