"What do you say, Hitori, do you want to rest for a while in the Onsen Village?"
Kitahara Makoto's face was filled with righteous indignation:
"I keep my word, I guarantee I won't take advantage of Hitori today, unless Hitori wants to be taken advantage of by me."
"I-I wouldn't want that kind of thing…"
Hitori's small face was crimson, and she stammered a soft rebuttal. After hesitating for a while, she finally shyly said:
"Then I'll trouble Kitahara-kun…"
(It's nothing if I fall and get hurt, but if I break the little motorcycle, it'll cause trouble for the instructor, right?)
(No!)
(Someone like me should just stay hidden in a dark cardboard box. Now I'm not only out in the sun, but if I cause more trouble for others, everyone will definitely hate me, right?)
(Absolutely not that!)
"Let's go, we'll go to the fire escape." Kitahara Makoto got up and walked out of the lounge, "We still have half an hour before class starts, which is enough time for us to rest."
"Mm-hmm."
Hitori nodded quickly, following nervously behind Kitahara Makoto like a small tail, looking pitiful, weak, and helpless.
"Hitori, don't lower your head."
"Huh?"
"Everyone is suspecting us."
"…"
The two of them were previously in the driving school's main lounge, where many students were resting.
Hitori indeed felt many strange gazes directed at them, making her even more nervous: "Wh-why are they looking at us?"
Kitahara Makoto mused, "They probably think I'm bullying Hitori."
Because of her extreme social anxiety, Hitori always preferred to walk with her head down, giving off a timid impression. She looked easy to take advantage of, and now, due to shyness, her steps were flustered. To an uninformed outsider, it truly looked like she was being taken advantage of.
Hitori: "..."
(N-no!)
(I don't want Kitahara-kun to be misunderstood!)
(Although Kitahara-kun can be excessive sometimes, he never forces others, nor does he engage in bullying behavior...)
Listening to her rapidly beating heart due to nervousness, Hitori took a deep breath and then straightened her chest.
(N-not enough...)
Noticing the suspicious glances from around her, Hitori felt that just looking up and puffing out her chest wasn't enough.
(I want to clear Kitahara-kun's name...)
Hitori parted her lips, but she was too nervous to make a sound. However, Hitori didn't give up and quickly thought of another way to prove Kitahara Makoto's innocence.
"Hoo..."
Hitori took another deep breath, mustered all her courage, took two quick steps, and transformed from a small tail behind Kitahara Makoto into walking shoulder-to-shoulder with him.
"Hitori?"
Kitahara Makoto looked over curiously.
"..."
Hitori didn't respond, but the cowlick on her head trembled slightly from nervousness, her small face turned into a ripe apple, her peach blossom eyes shyly fluttered through her bangs, yet her actions were not slow at all. She quickly extended her arms and embraced Kitahara Makoto's arm.
Unfortunately, after embracing Kitahara Makoto's arm, Hitori's courage was completely exhausted. Her previously straightened head once again dropped in embarrassment.
(Ah, I did it... I really did it!)
(But I didn't say anything, I just suddenly hugged Kitahara-kun's arm... Will it cause trouble for Kitahara-kun?)
Kitahara Makoto paused slightly, quickly understanding why Hitori dared to make such an intimate gesture in public. His gaze softened, and he whispered, "I truly like Hitori the most."
"..."
The cowlick on Hitori's head trembled slightly, and her already lowered head almost buried itself in her chest.
A moment later.
A gentle voice reached Hitori's ears:
"Hitori, we've entered the Onsen Village."
"Eh?"
Hitori quietly lifted her small face, her peach blossom eyes shyly peeking out through her bangs, and only then did she realize they had indeed arrived at the Onsen Village.
"Wh-when did that happen?"
Hitori blinked, her voice muddled.
Earlier, to prove Kitahara Makoto's innocence, she had bravely hugged Kitahara Makoto's arm in public. Unfortunately, after her courage was exhausted, only overwhelming embarrassment remained.
Hitori felt dizzy, as if her feet were treading on marshmallows. She had no idea where she had walked, and she didn't expect to look up again and find herself already in the Onsen Village.
"Hitori, why did you suddenly hug my arm just now?"
Kitahara Makoto asked with a smile.
"Th-that..."
Hitori frantically lowered her small head, the temperature on her already flushed face rose again, and white steam quickly emerged from the top of her head.
Her courage was completely exhausted, and now she was filled with nothing but shame, unable even to speak.
Seeing Hitori quickly enter a state of extreme embarrassment, Kitahara Makoto didn't push her. He extended his right hand and gently stroked Hitori's small head:
"Hitori, go take a quick shower first, then soak in the onsen for a bit before getting some good rest."
"Oh..."
Hitori immediately breathed a sigh of relief, a little worried: "Will it delay class?"
Hitori had rarely been to an onsen, so her perception of the 'ten to one' time flow wasn't strong, making her inevitably a bit worried.
"Rest assured, I'm here," Kitahara Makoto said softly. "I'll watch over Hitori while she sleeps, ensuring we don't miss class."
"Mhm, mhm."
Hitori hastily nodded.
She trusted Kitahara Makoto one hundred percent. Since Kitahara Makoto said they wouldn't miss class, she naturally wouldn't worry.
A moment later.
Hitori quickly finished her shower and walked out wrapped in a white bath towel.
"Hitori, come here," Kitahara Makoto said gently. "Before you soak in the onsen, let me share the Kidneys brave ability with you. I guarantee you'll wake up fully refreshed."
Upon hearing about sharing the ability, the temperature on Hitori's small face rapidly rose. She shyly lowered her small head and stammered, "Kitahara-kun just promised... n-not to take advantage of people..."
"Sharing the ability is entirely for Hitori's benefit, so of course it's not bullying," Kitahara Makoto replied righteously. "Hitori, rest assured, besides kissing, I absolutely won't do anything else."
Hitori: "..."
(Ah, that sentence sounds so familiar...)
(I-I remember!)
(Last time Kitahara-kun taken advantage of me, he also said he would only kiss and not do anything else, but... but...)
Kitahara Makoto stepped forward and said with a smile, "If Hitori doesn't say anything, then I'll take it as your silent agreement."
Hitori: "..."
(I did not silently agree!)
Unfortunately, the words of protest only dared to circle in her mind and could not be spoken aloud.
Seeing Kitahara Makoto lean down to kiss her, Hitori hastily closed her eyes in embarrassment, and then quickly discovered something extremely shameful.
(S-strange... Why are my heels lifting on their own?)
(And my neck... Why is it arching back?)
(N-no, don't be so practiced!)
Hitori closed her eyes tightly in embarrassment, her small head filled with chaotic, shameful thoughts. However, as the familiar heat enveloped her, coupled with Kitahara Makoto's advances, Hitori quickly became dazed and lost the ability to think.
"Boop~"
With a soft sound, Kitahara Makoto satisfactorily released Hitori, who was almost out of breath:
"Today, it's a plum-flavored little Hitori. The taste is excellent. Thank you for the treat."
"Hoo... hoo..."
Hitori's small face was flushed, her breathing rapid, and she could barely stand steady. Faced with Kitahara Makoto's teasing, she could only pretend to be an ostrich and hide in his embrace.
"Let's go, to the onsen."
Kitahara Makoto gently wrapped his arm around her, picked up Hitori, and then walked into the onsen pool, beginning their shared mixed-gender onsen bath.
After an unknown amount of time.
Hitori's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes, her small face filled with the daze of just waking up.
"Awake?"
A familiar voice entered her ears.
Hitori turned her small head, her voice indistinct, sounding as lazy as a cat just waking up:
"Mmm, Kitahara-kun... What time is it?"
Kitahara Makoto said softly:
"Don't worry, I'm watching the time, we haven't missed class."
As her consciousness cleared, Hitori quickly recalled what had happened, and her small face rapidly flushed.
The onsen was very comfortable.
Kitahara Makoto's embrace was even more comfortable.
Coupled with staying up all night yesterday, Hitori's sleepiness quickly overcame her shyness after soaking in the onsen, and she soon fell asleep in Kitahara Makoto's embrace.
"S-sorry!"
Hitori quickly apologized with a flushed face:
"Kitahara-kun's arm must have gone numb from me pressing on it, right?"
"My arm is fine," Kitahara Makoto shook his head. "But my leg is numb."
"Eh?"
Hitori looked over blankly.
Kitahara Makoto spread his arms and shamelessly said:
"My leg is super numb right now, I can't stand up anymore. Only Hitori's kiss can make me stand up."
Hitori immediately breathed a sigh of relief, shyly lowered her small head, and stammered in a low voice, "Kitahara-kun promised... not to take advantage of people..."
Kitahara Makoto said righteously, "It's clearly because Hitori slept too long that my leg went numb. How can you say I'm bullying you?"
"..."
Hitori parted her lips, unable to utter a rebuttal.
"Hitori, hurry up," Kitahara Makoto urged. "It's almost time for class, you don't want to be late, do you?"
Hearing that it was getting late, Hitori immediately became nervous. She shyly lifted her small face, held her breath, and leaned in to kiss Kitahara Makoto.
(No choice, being late for class would cause trouble for the coach, right?)
(I can't cause trouble for others, so... so I can only kiss...)
A moment later.
Kitahara Makoto, satisfied, released Hitori:
"Thank you for the treat."
"Hoo... hoo..."
His reply was the girl's rapid breathing.
Hitori was completely unathletic, with very poor stamina and equally poor lung capacity. She would get out of breath after just a short kiss.
Splash.
The sound of water echoed.
Kitahara Makoto picked up Hitori and walked towards the shore:
"I'll help Hitori get dressed. Once you're dressed, we'll go to class."
Hitori hastily shook her head in embarrassment:
"I…I'll put them on myself…"
Kitahara Makoto's voice was full of regret:
"You really don't want my help putting on your clothes?"
"No, no!"
(No! Having a boy help me put on clothes, no matter how I think about it, is too embarrassing!)
(I'm not Futari from kindergarten; I haven't needed help putting on clothes for a long time. I definitely don't want that!)
"Alright then." Kitahara Makoto looked down, "Kiss me one more time, and I'll let Hitori put on her own clothes."
Hitori: "…"
A moment later.
The light distorted slightly, and their figures appeared in the fire escape.
"Class starts in three minutes." Kitahara Makoto glanced at the time on his calibrated phone. "Perfect, not a single moment wasted."
Upon hearing this, Hitori couldn't help but purse her slightly swollen lips, her peach blossom eyes looking over with a hint of resentment.
(He said he wouldn't take advantage of me…)
(They're…they're all swollen…)
"Hitori, what are you peeking at me for?"
Kitahara Makoto turned his head to look over.
"N-nothing." Hitori hurriedly lowered her small head.
Kitahara Makoto shamelessly said:
"I didn't go back on my word. A kiss doesn't count as bullying. The true bullying will be that afternoon when Hitori goes to the recording studio to record a song."
"…"
Hitori's small face quickly flushed red, and steam began to rise from the top of her head again, clearly recalling what happened that afternoon.
"Let's go, time for class."
There's no need to say more about the class itself.
During their dream cultivation, he and Hitori had already mastered the driving skills of the small motorcycle, almost ready to play real-life Violent Motorcycle. Now, they just needed to complete the required class hours to directly take the exam.
After finishing two classes, Kitahara Makoto rode his bicycle and headed home with Hitori.
"It's ten-thirty now…"
Kitahara Makoto glanced at the time on his phone, pondered for a moment, and then decided to go to Shibuya Station to take photos and check in, completing today's third daily task.
As for lunch, he just needed to hand the cooking towel to Nijika or Soyo. Being a hands-off manager was completely fine; the truly amazing thing was the cooking towel, not him.
"Excellent, it's decided."
Kitahara Makoto sat on the sofa, took out his phone, and sent messages to Nijika and Soyo, asking who had time.
Soyo: "I'm free right now."
Kitahara Makoto: "Then today's head chef position goes to Soyo."
Soyo: "No problem, I've been wanting to experience the magic of the cooking towel."
"…"
Having chosen today's head chef, Kitahara Makoto took a quick shower, changed into a clean and fresh shirt and shorts, and then left again, heading to the train station.
Shibuya Station was a bit far, and cycling would definitely be inconvenient, so he had to choose the train.
Upon arriving at the train station, the train was already full of passengers. Kitahara Makoto couldn't find a seat, so he casually stood in a corner and then took out his phone to send a message to Taki.
The pet and owner role-playing game… What if Taki just agreed?
"Taki, there's something I want to ask you."
The message quickly showed as read.
Taki: "What is it?"
Kitahara Makoto: "I'll tell you, but you can't hit me."
Taki: "Then you don't have to say it."
Kitahara Makoto: "No, Taki, at least listen first."
Taki: "Although I don't know what Kitahara-kun wants to say, it must be something super infuriating, right?"
"…"
Although he and Taki weren't truly dating, their relationship had long surpassed the scope of ordinary friends, so Kitahara Makoto directly laid out his cards:
"I want to play the pet and owner role-playing game with Taki."
Taki: "Huh?!"
Kitahara Makoto: "It's Taki wearing a pet collar, and then I lead you with a leash…"
Taki: "The worst! Disgusting!! Idiot!!!"
Even through the phone screen, one could feel how high Taki's anger level was at that moment.
Have me wear a pet collar and then let you lead me?
That's clearly the legendary alphabet game!
Let alone not dating, even if they were, she wouldn't agree to something so insulting!
Kitahara Makoto: "That day when we were fishing, Taki lost the bet and said she'd grant me a request."
Taki: "I did say that, but your request, you scumbag, is too perverted! You didn't lose a game of truth or dare with someone else and are just trying to mess with me, are you?"
Kitahara Makoto simply started a video call, letting Taki see clearly:
"I'm on the train, alone, not playing truth or dare. The reason I want to ask Taki for help is because completing tasks allows me to become stronger."
Taki: "I don't believe you."
Well, as expected, telling the truth wouldn't be believed.
Kitahara Makoto had no choice but to pull out his trump card:
"If Taki doesn't agree, then I'll go take advantage of Tomori?"
Taki: "Take advantage of her if you want. It's not like I can stop you two forever. If Tomori is willing, then it's fine."
A few days ago in Onsen Village, after Taki's soul-state possessed Tomori and personally experienced mutual service, Taki completely saw things clearly.
Tomori had already been thoroughly eaten, so blocking them had no meaning anymore.
"Tsk~"
Kitahara Makoto had a headache. Taki really wouldn't agree to his unreasonable request, but since it concerned lottery chances, he didn't want to give up easily:
"How can Taki be willing to help?"
Taki: "Role reversal. Let me be the master first, and Kitahara-kun be the pet wearing the collar, then I'll agree."
"…"
Taki's idea was simple.
It was to use his own methods against him.
Wearing a pet collar and being led by a leash, such an insulting role-playing game, just by switching identities, he would know how insulting it was, right?
Who knew that after the message showed as read, a reply immediately popped up:
"It's a deal."
"Huh?!"
Taki thought she was hallucinating.
The scumbag Kitahara actually agreed?
He couldn't have seen the message clearly, could he?
Kitahara Makoto: "I saw it clearly. Role reversal is fine."
Taki: "...Aren't you ashamed?"
Kitahara Makoto: "If it were anyone else, I'd definitely be angry, but with Taki, it's fine."
Face isn't something you can eat, and Kitahara Makoto's motto has always been that the thicker your skin, the more you eat. Besides, he'd worn a pet collar before when picking Eden Fruit.
Finally, he had already kissed and hugged little Taki, so playing some intimate games behind closed doors was, of course, no problem.
Taki: "Why?"
Kitahara Makoto: "Of course, because I like Taki."
Taki: "You, you, you…what nonsense are you talking about?!"
Even through the phone screen, one could feel Taki's panic and shyness at that moment.
Kitahara Makoto: "Taki, you're a woman of your word, you won't go back on it, right?"
Taki: "...I said it, and I won't go back on it!"
Kitahara Makoto: "It's a deal. Let me prepare the props first, then I'll message Taki."
"…"
Putting away his phone, Kitahara Makoto was in a great mood.
Although he had to switch roles with Taki, it was completely worth it.
As he spoke, the train swayed to a stop at a platform. Passengers got on and off, and a familiar figure suddenly followed the crowd onto the train.
"…Seika-nee?"