"Strange, didn't they say I would completely disappear?"
16-year-old Seika put her hands on her hips, her voice full of curiosity:
"How did I appear again?"
"I don't know."
Kitahara Makoto shook his head. Although he had some suspicions, he didn't jump to conclusions.
As for the truth… he would know once he asked the answer book when he got back.
"How long has it been since I disappeared?"
Seika asked curiously.
Kitahara Makoto said softly:
"Three days."
"That's quite a while…" Seika looked over curiously. "So, when will I disappear this time?"
"I don't know."
"Tsk, you don't know this, you don't know that, so useless~"
Seika hummed softly, but the corners of her lips were slightly upturned, clearly indicating she was in a very good mood:
"To secretly date you behind Nijika's back, my future self must really be desperate."
The 30-year-old store manager Seika wasn't desperate; it was just a chance encounter!
Kitahara Makoto hesitated slightly, just as he was wondering whether to tell her the truth, he heard Seika's clear voice say:
"Since we're going on a date, let's make the most of our time. I haven't experienced what a date feels like yet, and I don't know when I'll disappear, so not a single minute or second can be wasted!"
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
Standing before him was the 16-year-old Seika. Although her mother was a ghost, she was at least by her side in an alternative way, so she didn't need to independently support the family. Nijika had already grown up and didn't need to be looked after anymore.
At this moment, the 16-year-old Seika had only the breeze and the moon on her shoulders, so she was filled with nothing but curiosity and anticipation for the world before her.
Kitahara Makoto silently swallowed the truth that had reached his lips and whispered:
"The weather's a bit hot. Seika-sensei, would you like to get some cold drinks first?"
Seika answered decisively:
"Yes!"
Kitahara Makoto nodded and said:
"Follow me. I know a famous cold drink shop nearby."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go, let's go." Seika put her hands on her hips, walked up to Kitahara Makoto and walked beside him. "Lead the way."
After only a few steps, Seika suddenly stopped and whispered:
"Wait, wait a moment."
"What's wrong?"
Kitahara Makoto stopped and looked over curiously.
Seika frowned slightly, her pretty face inexplicably flushed, and her eyes drifted as she said:
"My… stomach feels a bit uncomfortable. I want to go to the bathroom."
This was a lie.
Seika wasn't suffering from a stomachache, but rather some unmentionable discomfort she was too embarrassed to speak of.
(Strange, what's going on…? Why does it feel so sticky and uncomfortable?)
Unfortunately, the 16-year-old Seika had not inherited memories, so she didn't know what had happened on the train.
Kitahara Makoto nodded and said:
"Go ahead, I'll wait for you."
"…"
After watching Seika enter the bathroom, Kitahara Makoto pondered for two seconds, took out his phone, and sent a message to Nijika.
Since the 16-year-old Seika had appeared again, he should tell Nijika no matter what.
Nijika: "Eh, eh, eh, my 16-year-old sister appeared again?"
Kitahara Makoto: "That's right."
Nijika: "But why?"
Kitahara Makoto: "I don't know. Nijika, if you have time, you can ask the answer book."
Nijika: "Okay, I'll go to Kitahara-kun's house right away and ask about the situation."
"…"
A moment later.
Seika still hadn't come out, but Nijika's message popped up first:
"I just asked the answer book. It said it's related to the evil spirit mark on my sister's wrist."
"As expected…"
Kitahara Makoto nodded slightly.
He had also guessed it was related to the evil spirit mark before; only supernatural power could make the 16-year-old Seika reappear.
Nijika sent another message:
"I just asked Ryo to help me ask again if the evil spirit mark is harmful to my sister, and it said there's only a slight harm… Kitahara-kun, what should we do?"
Kitahara Makoto: "If I can persuade Seika-nee, I could help with Stripping the evil spirit mark."
Nijika: "My sister definitely won't agree to that… But even if the harm is slight, we can't just let it be, can we?"
Kitahara Makoto: "Why don't we ask Seika-nee's opinion?"
Nijika: "That makes sense, this kind of thing should really be decided by my sister herself… Oh, by the way, Kitahara-kun, how are you with my sister?"
Kitahara Makoto told the truth: "I came to Shibuya for something and happened to run into Seika-nee on the train."
Nijika: "My sister was probably going to meet friends for a meal… For now, I'll leave my sister in Kitahara-kun's care."
Kitahara Makoto: "Taking care of Seika-nee is no problem, but I want a reward."
Nijika sent a fish-shaped emoticon hitting a head:
"No reward!"
After a pause, Nijika added:
"Don't take advantage of my sister!"
Kitahara Makoto: "What if Seika-nee takes advantage of me?"
Nijika: "…"
If her sister really wanted to, should she stop her?
"Also, I just feel like Kitahara-kun's words were a bit off…"
"My sister has been a bit off these past two days too…"
"Nothing should have happened… right?"
After finishing chatting with Nijika, Kitahara Makoto played on his phone for a while longer. Seika finally walked out slowly, though her posture was slightly awkward and strange.
"Seika-sensei, are you feeling unwell?"
"Nosy!" Seika's pretty face flushed slightly as she glared at him. "It has nothing to do with you, don't meddle!"
Am I supposed to tell you the secret that I'm not wearing underwear right now?
Dream on!
I won't say a single word!
Just now in the bathroom, Seika only felt sticky and uncomfortable, so she naturally wanted to change her underwear. Unfortunately, she was no longer a real high school student and didn't have a treasure-pouch-like large schoolbag, only a simple small bag. She searched through her bag but couldn't find a spare pair of underwear, so in the end, she gritted her teeth and walked out directly.
(I'm a delinquent girl anyway, I've always wanted to experience what it feels like to not wear underwear, and now's a good time to try it…)
(Besides, I'm wearing a dress today, so I definitely won't expose myself, right?)
"Tsk~"
Kitahara Makoto clicked his tongue lightly and didn't continue to ask.
A leopard cannot change its spots.
Nijika was absolutely right. Whether it was the 30-year-old Store Manager Seika or the 16-year-old Seika in front of him, her personality hadn't changed much; she was still tsundere, tsundere, tsundere.
Too much haughtiness, too little coquettishness.
Compared to her, the coquettish Anon was indeed more adorable.
Next was shopping time.
Kitahara Makoto walked with the 16-year-old Seika through the streets of Shibuya.
"There are still just as many people more than a decade later." Seika looked left and right curiously, finding everything new and strange. "It's just that many of the shops I remember have changed."
"Seika-sensei, have you been to Shibuya before?"
"Of course. School ended after three in the afternoon, and I had nothing else to do, so of course I went out to play with friends."
Seika's walking posture had returned to normal, showing no signs of abnormality.
As a 16-year-old delinquent girl, her psychological fortitude was naturally excellent.
As they spoke, the two walked to the Hachiko statue in front of the station square. Kitahara Makoto took out his phone and snapped a photo.
[Daily Quest Three: Shibuya Hachiko]
[Current Status: Completed]
[Quest Reward: Your photography skills have permanently improved.]
"Phones nowadays are amazing. I remember when I wanted to take photos with friends, we could only go to photo booths."
Seika complained while taking out her phone and said unceremoniously:
"Kitahara, teach me how to use it."
"It's very simple…"
Kitahara Makoto leaned closer and explained how to take photos with a phone.
The 16-year-old Seika was at an age of strong curiosity, filled with inquisitiveness and a desire for knowledge about everything. So, she quickly mastered how to take photos with a phone, holding it up and snapping away haphazardly.
After taking a few photos, Seika quickly frowned:
"So ugly."
Kitahara Makoto glanced at them and nodded in agreement:
"They are indeed very ugly."
Taking photos seems simple, but there are many details involved, such as composition and lighting. Even if you are naturally beautiful, if you choose the wrong angle, the photos will be unbearable to look at.
"Huh?"
Seika glared at him fiercely:
"How dare you say I'm ugly? You really want to die, don't you!"
Kitahara Makoto said helplessly:
"I clearly said the photos were ugly."
Seika put her hands on her hips and said:
"I'm in the photos, so if you say the photos are ugly, aren't you saying I'm ugly?"
Indeed, girls are born to be unreasonable.
"Stop talking." Kitahara Makoto raised his phone. "Let me take photos for Seika-sensei. I guarantee they'll turn out super beautiful."
Seika walked to the Hachiko statue and stood, putting her hands on her hips and saying:
"You better keep your word. If the photos aren't good, you're dead."
"Seika-sensei, don't worry." Kitahara Makoto made an OK gesture and began to look for a suitable shooting location. "Don't put your hands on your hips; that's a child's pose."
Seika: "…"
A moment later.
Kitahara Makoto handed the phone to Seika:
"See how they turned out."
"Is this really me?"
Looking at the figure on her phone, Seika's eyes widened in disbelief. Probably feeling it damaged her image, she quickly cleared her throat twice:
"Hmph~ It's barely acceptable."
Don't be so tsundere! Tsundere was popular over ten years ago, but it's already outdated now!
Kitahara Makoto casually said:
"Want me to take a few more photos for Seika-sensei?"
Seika turned her pretty face away:
"Whatever you want, it's your phone, I can't stop you."
Tsundere is indeed not cute at all.
Click, click.
Kitahara Makoto took a few more photos, let Seika check them one by one, then said:
"Let's go get some cold drinks. I'll send you the photos later."
Seika lingered:
"Leaving so soon?"
Kitahara Makoto was startled:
"What else does Seika-sensei want?"
"…Nothing."
Seika turned her pretty face away, looking at the tourists nearby.
As a landmark of Shibuya Square, there were naturally many tourists taking photos in front of the Hachiko statue. Not far from them, a couple was taking a selfie with a selfie stick.
Kitahara Makoto followed her gaze and quickly understood:
"Seika-sensei wants to take a couple's photo?"
"I'm not, I didn't, don't talk nonsense!" Seika, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, glared at him in embarrassment and anger, "I'm Nijika's older sister, I wouldn't want to take a couple's photo with you!"
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
I clearly said a "two-person photo" just now, and it turned into a "couple's photo" in your mouth. You clearly really want to take one!
Kitahara Makoto said speechlessly:
"Seika-sensei, how about we take a few photos like them?"
"No!"
Seika turned her head, pretending to leave.
Kitahara Makoto slowly said:
"Seika-sensei might disappear at any time. If we don't take them, there might never be another chance."
"…"
Seika's right foot, which had been lifted in mid-air, was forced back down.
16-year-old Seika didn't know why she reappeared, but she knew she could disappear at any time. Because of this, she wanted to experience things she had never experienced in her life.
If this was her last appearance… she still wanted to take a couple's photo after all.
Although the young man in front of her was Nijika's boyfriend.
Although they weren't in a dating relationship.
But they had already kissed, so what did a few couple's photos matter?
16-year-old herself, if she didn't even have a photo with a boy she had a good impression of, it would be too regrettable no matter how she thought about it.
"Hmph." Seika turned her head away, showing a reluctant expression, "If you want to take pictures, hurry up. It's so hot. After we're done, let's go get ice cream."
Kitahara Makoto smiled and said:
"If Seika-sensei doesn't want to, then shall we just leave?"
Thump!
Seika elbowed him.
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
No wonder your elbowing on the train was so skilled; you've been practicing it since you were little!
"Let's start."
Kitahara Makoto opened the selfie function, raised his phone, pulled Seika to his side, and then took two couple's photos with a click-click.
Seika looked over curiously, and quickly furrowed her brows:
"It feels so stiff…"
Of course it does, you're intentionally putting on a straight face, it would be strange if it wasn't stiff!
Seika crossed her arms over her chest, glanced at the couple not far away, and said aloud:
"…Their poses are quite good."
Kitahara Makoto suggested:
"Then shall we copy their poses?"
"Hmph~"
Seika let out a soft hum, not refusing, clearly agreeing.
So much effort.
Not only is she tsundere, but she always makes people guess what she means when she speaks. No wonder she has no boyfriend even at thirty.
With a model to imitate, they finally got into the swing of things.
Seika was a bit reserved at first, but fortunately, as a delinquent girl, her adaptability was very strong. Soon, she was posing quite well, even actively adjusting Kitahara Makoto's poses.
However, after a short while, the imitating couple changed to a new pose again. This time, they were facing each other, embracing, with the girl kissing the boy's cheek.
"Are we still taking pictures?"
Kitahara Makoto asked softly.
Seika's pretty face flushed slightly. She originally wanted to leave directly, but the memory of their last kiss involuntarily surfaced in her mind.
They had already unlocked a mouth-to-mouth kiss, so what did a kiss on the cheek matter?
16-year-old herself had never kissed a boy's face before.
After this disappearance, she might never appear again…
At this thought, Seika lightly bit her teeth, stood on her tiptoes, and leaned in to kiss Kitahara Makoto, her eyes shyly indicating:
"…Keep taking pictures!"
Thirty-year-old Store Manager Seika wouldn't kiss Kitahara Makoto. If it were the real 16-year-old Seika, she also wouldn't actively kiss Kitahara Makoto. However, the delinquent girl Seika, who knew she was merely a floating weed in the wind and that her life could end at any moment, was capable of anything.
Click.
The photo was captured.
Seika quickly raised her hand to wipe her lips, a look of disgust on her face:
"Ptooey~ So disgusting."
You say it's disgusting, but you didn't hesitate at all when you leaned in for the kiss just now!
After taking the couple's photos.
Seika carefully checked the photos, and after confirming there were no ugly ones, she said with satisfaction:
"Send me the photos later."
"Got it." Kitahara Makoto agreed, "Can we go get ice cream now?"
"Let's go, let's go!"
"…"
A moment later.
The two arrived at a famous cold drink shop.
"There are so many beautiful cold drinks I've never seen before." Seika's eyes sparkled, "It would be great if I could try them all."
Kitahara Makoto complained beside her:
"If you eat them all, your stomach will explode. If Seika-sensei wants to eat them, we can come back later."
Seika's gaze fell:
"I don't have a later, do I?"
Kitahara Makoto said softly:
"That's not necessarily true."
"Eh?" Seika looked over expectantly, "What do you mean?"
Kitahara Makoto mused:
"Since Seika-sensei can appear once or twice, it's entirely possible for her to appear again someday in the future."
That evil spirit mark won't disappear on its own. If Seika doesn't let him help remove the mark, 16-year-old Seika is very likely to reappear.
Seika's eyes suddenly lit up. She parted her lips, seemingly wanting to speak, but in the end, she just pointed and said:
"That's it! I want that super-sized ice cream!"
"…"
After buying two ice creams, a family of three happened to leave a corner table, so Kitahara Makoto and Seika went to sit down in the corner, resting and enjoying their cold drinks.
"Hmm~ The taste is so-so."
After one spoonful of ice cream, Seika's eyes quickly curved, and she couldn't help but show a happy expression, though her mouth remained as stiff as ever.
Kitahara Makoto sat beside her, eating his cold drink and thinking about their next plans.
Store Manager Seika had an appointment for dinner, and now 16-year-old Seika was in control of the body. He wondered if there would be any trouble…
After finishing their cold drinks, Kitahara Makoto waited quietly.
Seika's speed was also not slow; she quickly finished that large ice cream.
"It tastes much better than the ice cream from my time." Seika covered her lower abdomen, the happy expression still on her face, "If I have a next time, I want to come back and eat ice cream again."
Kitahara Makoto said softly:
"We can leave after you finish eating."
"Wait a moment." Seika picked up her bag, "I'm going to the bathroom."
However, the hem of her dress seemed to be stuck to the seat by something. When Seika realized it after standing up, she instinctively pulled hard, and the skirt instantly flew up.
A flash of snowy white immediately entered Kitahara Makoto's eyes.
"Ugh—!"
Seika quickly covered her skirt, her pretty face rapidly reddening at a visible speed, and she turned to look at Kitahara Makoto:
"You…"
Kitahara Makoto closed his eyes: "I didn't see anything."
"I haven't even asked anything yet!"
Even 16-year-old Seika was so ashamed at this moment that she wanted to find a hole to crawl into. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly felt a surge of dizziness, and her body swayed precariously.
Fortunately, it was only for a brief moment, and Seika's gaze quickly regained clarity.
"Why…" Seika's pretty face was burning, and she gritted her teeth, covering her skirt, "Did 16-year-old me come out again?!"