"Ryo-senpai, don't stir up trouble."
Seeing the interested expression on Ryo's face, Kitahara Makoto immediately became nervous.
Yamada Ryo usually showed little interest in anything besides music and food, but once she did become interested, she often did unexpected things.
"Ah…"
Yamada Ryo tilted her head and looked over:
"Is Kitahara going to hide it from Nijika forever?"
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
No.
Why did that sound so familiar?
He remembered now; he had said the exact same thing to Seika not long ago.
Karma truly comes full circle, and no one escapes the heavens…
"At least don't stir up trouble now," Kitahara Makoto said in a low voice. "Seika-nee just put a gag order on me. If Nijika-senpai finds out, I feel like my legs will be broken."
Yamada Ryo said slowly:
"Well, if you want me not to tell, that's also possible. It just depends on Kitahara's sincerity."
Kitahara Makoto said bluntly:
"Ryo-senpai, just state your demands."
"Hush money," Yamada Ryo extended her right hand. "Give me a thousand yen, and I promise to keep my mouth shut."
How could she shamelessly ask for hush money so openly? Her skin was too thick!
"…I'll give it."
Kitahara Makoto had no choice but to agree, silently pulling out his wallet from his pocket.
"Eh heh~" Yamada Ryo pressed her hands together, her eyes sparkling. "I'm so grateful. I like Kitahara-sama the most."
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
He had never seen such a shameless girl.
As they spoke, Soyo walked out of the kitchen, her voice gentle:
"The food is ready. Everyone, wash your hands and eat."
"Coming, coming."
"Soyo-san made potato beef stew today. I'm looking forward to it."
"It smells so good."
"…"
The girls all got up, some carrying bowls, others taking chopsticks, beginning to help with the preparations.
Half an hour later.
Dinner was over.
Everyone gave it full marks, saying only that the cooking towel was super useful.
After lunch, Kitahara Makoto took the Kessoku Band to the amusement park. When he returned, the girls had already cleaned up, and it was now nap time.
The girls left one after another, until only Mutsumi, the energetic Kita-chan, and Soyo, who were always there, remained.
"Soyo-chan, why don't you go take a nap for a bit?"
Kitahara Makoto said softly.
"Okay."
Soyo nodded gently, agreeing.
Once she fell asleep, she would be able to confirm whether last night's dream was a coincidence or a means by the Wish Note to force her to fulfill Mutsumi's wish.
Kitahara Makoto lowered his voice:
"Is Soyo going to nap in the onsen or upstairs?"
Soyo's pretty face flushed slightly, and her bright eyes shot him a glare:
"It's daytime now!"
"It's not like we haven't in the daytime…"
"No! Mutsumi-chan and Kita are still here!"
Soyo quickly refused, getting up and hurrying upstairs.
Kitahara Makoto withdrew his gaze, looking at Kita, who was sitting on the sofa watching TV but was clearly distracted. Then he sat down beside Kita:
"Kita, is there something you want to tell me?"
"No way~"
Kita shook her head guiltily.
She said no, but she usually went back to practice guitar after eating. Today, she was dawdling and refused to leave, so she clearly had something on her mind!
Kitahara Makoto wasn't in a hurry, he said slowly:
"Since there's nothing, then let's watch TV."
"Mm…"
Kita's cheeks puffed out slightly, and she could only turn her gaze to the television.
After watching TV for a while, Kita couldn't sit still. She quietly extended a finger and poked Kitahara Makoto's waist.
"Poke, poke, poke—"
Kitahara Makoto extended his right hand, grasping Kita's warm, soft hand, then intertwined their fingers:
"Kita, just say what you want to do directly."
Kita's face turned red as she glanced at Mutsumi beside them, and she whispered:
"Um… Kitahara-kun, do you remember what you said a few days ago?"
Kitahara Makoto's mind spun, and he already understood, but he feigned ignorance:
"I've said too many things these past few days. Kita, remind me."
Kita quickly puffed out her cheeks and turned her head:
"I won't say it! If Kitahara-kun doesn't remember, then forget it."
Kitahara Makoto smiled:
"If Kita kisses me, I might just remember."
Kita pouted: "No kissing."
"A hug would actually be fine too."
"No hugging."
"Then you don't have a choice."
"Eh…?"
Kitahara Makoto reached out and gently pulled Kita, directly lifting her onto his lap.
"You, you, you, you… what are you doing?!"
Kita's face quickly flushed, and she frantically tried to get up.
Being hugged when they were alone was fine, but kissing and hugging in front of others was just too embarrassing, no matter how she thought about it!
"Don't move, or I'll kiss you."
Kitahara Makoto threatened in a low voice.
"…"
Kita quickly tensed her body, not daring to move anymore, only looking at Mutsumi with a shy, nervous expression.
Looking at Kita's shy and sulky little expression, Kitahara Makoto's appetite was piqued, and he couldn't help but want to tease her.
Unfortunately, Mutsumi was beside them, and Kita's skin wasn't thick enough. A hug was already the limit; a kiss was definitely out of the question.
Kitahara Makoto whispered:
"The thing Kita wanted to say just now, was it to remind me about the Adachi Ward fireworks festival tonight?"
Kita's eyes sparkled as she looked over:
"Kitahara-kun, didn't you already forget?"
"Of course not," Kitahara Makoto said in a low voice. "If I really forgot, Kita would definitely cry when she went back, wouldn't she?"
Kita turned her head in embarrassment: "I wouldn't cry!"
She wasn't a three-year-old child; how could she cry at the drop of a hat? But she definitely wouldn't talk to him for the next week!
Not only did he fail to keep his promise, but he even completely forgot about it… No matter how she thought about it, it was too much!
"I've always kept our date in my heart, Kita," Kitahara Makoto took out his phone and held it up to Kita. "Look, I've already booked the hotel."
"Ho-hotel?!"
Kita's face quickly flushed, and she completely panicked.
(St-Stupid Kitahara, what about watching the fireworks festival together as we agreed?)
(Why book a hotel?)
(Are we going to… that kind of thing after watching the fireworks festival? That's too soon!)
(And it's definitely going to hurt, right?)
(N-No!)
"You're mistaken," Kitahara Makoto corrected. "I booked a high-end revolving restaurant. It has an open view and a nice ambiance, so there's no need to worry about Kita getting lost."
Kita nervously glanced at her phone, saw that it was indeed a restaurant reservation message, and finally breathed a sigh of relief:
"I wouldn't get lost… but I feel like the food stalls by the river are more lively."
The food stalls being lively was only one aspect; she actually wanted to save Kitahara Makoto money, as a high-end restaurant on the night of the fireworks festival would surely be very expensive.
Kitahara Makoto said softly: "Have you ever watched the fireworks festival from a revolving restaurant, Kita?"
Kita shook her head: "No."
"Then you will tonight," Kitahara Makoto said simply. "Make sure to really experience what it's like to watch the fireworks festival from a revolving restaurant."
"Then, then alright…"
Seeing that Kitahara Makoto's mind was made up, Kita could only agree.
"Do you want to wear a yukata tonight?"
Kitahara Makoto asked softly.
"Of course I do!" Kita quickly said. "This is a once-a-year fireworks festival. Wearing a yukata makes it feel more ceremonial."
It's not once a year; fireworks festivals are held in various regions during both summer and autumn. If you don't mind the effort and hassle, you can attend many fireworks festivals.
Kitahara Makoto nodded: "Got it. Anon helped me pick out my yukata. If you mind, Kita, shall we go buy a yukata when we go out later?"
Kita replied softly: "One yukata doesn't matter."
Ever since her mother encountered danger at the subway station that day and Anon busied herself helping, the relationship between the two girls had become completely intimate, so Kita didn't care about the yukata.
"Then it's settled," Kitahara Makoto said softly. "I'll pick you up at five o'clock, Kita."
"Okay!"
Kita was finally satisfied: "I'm going back to practice guitar first. See you this evening, Mutsumi."
"…"
Watching Kita leave, Kitahara Makoto took out his phone and sent a message to Taki.
"Taki, should I come to your place, or will you come here?"
Dates are dates, but daily tasks still need to be completed.
The message quickly showed as read.
Taki: "…Mutsumi-chan is at your place, right?"
Kitahara Makoto: "That's right."
Taki: "Then you still want me to come over?!"
Kitahara Makoto: "Mutsumi-chan is very tight-lipped; she definitely won't tell anyone."
Taki: "No, my sister is still home. Come over after my sister leaves!"
"…"
Having settled the time, Kitahara Makoto was about to put away his phone when a message suddenly popped up on the screen.
Soyo: "I'm tossing and turning… completely not sleepy."
Japan high school students don't have the concept of an afternoon nap; their lunch break is only one hour, and they also eat and drink, so there's no time to sleep. Plus, worrying about the terrifying Mutsumi she met in her dreams, Soyo couldn't fall asleep.
Kitahara Makoto: "Wait for me to come upstairs."
"…"
Two minutes later.
Kitahara Makoto appeared in the guest room.
Bang.
Closing the door behind him, Kitahara Makoto walked towards the bed with burning eyes:
"There are many reasons for not being able to sleep, but I have a way to help Soyo-chan fall asleep quickly."
Soyo already felt a premonition: "Eh, what way?"
"It's very simple," Kitahara Makoto smiled. "When a person is extremely tired, they can fall asleep even standing up."
"…"
Soyo's pretty face quickly flushed red. She naturally knew what Kitahara Makoto wanted to do and shyly hugged her knees:
"No, Mutsumi-chan and Mutsumi are still downstairs."
"Kita has already gone back."
"But there's still Mutsumi-chan…"
"Mutsumi-chan has already watched the live broadcast, so she knows what she knows."
"…"
Kitahara Makoto had already walked to the bed, took Soyo's right hand, and entered the Onsen Village with Soyo.
It proved true that people can fall asleep quickly when extremely tired.
Soyo was still one stroke away from completing the tally mark on her leg when she was already teary-eyed and had fallen into a deep sleep.
Since it was an afternoon nap, Soyo's sleep wasn't long. After waking up, she said that the terrifying puppet Mutsumi still appeared in her dream.
Kitahara Makoto heard this and said:
"Once is a coincidence; twice is definitely not an accident."
Soyo bit her lower lip:
"So, it really is Mutsumi-chan's Wish Note?"
"Most likely," Kitahara Makoto nodded slightly. "What do you plan to do, Soyo?"
"I…"
Soyo parted her lips and looked over pitifully.
"Why didn't Kitahara-kun appear in my dream just now?"
"Only if Soyo dreams of me can I enter your dream," Kitahara Makoto explained. "The Dream World adventure is actually Hana-chan's ability."
"Alright…" Soyo blinked, still too shy to decide on a live broadcast. "After we finish bathing in the onsen tonight, I want to stay over. At that time, Kitahara-kun can come into my dream to see if we can resolve the dream's troubles. If not… then we'll consider other methods."
Kitahara Makoto's eyes lit up:
"Soyo is staying over tonight?"
"No, Kitahara-kun, go find Togawa," Soyo covered her chest with both hands and shook her head in a panic. "My body really can't take it anymore."
"…"
A moment later.
The two, now neatly dressed, arrived in the living room.
"Stare—"
Mutsumi, hearing footsteps, turned her head and stared unblinkingly at the two.
"Cough, cough…"
Soyo coughed twice, her pretty face slightly red, and chose to guiltily escape:
"Goodbye, Mutsumi-chan, I'm going back now."
"…"
Watching Soyo leave, Mutsumi turned to Kitahara Makoto and said expressionlessly:
"Makoto-kun, I want ice cream."
Kitahara Makoto naturally wouldn't refuse:
"I'll go get it."
"…"
Just one ice cream was enough to coax her. Mutsumi was indeed super well-behaved.
Time flew by, and it was three o'clock in the afternoon.
Kitahara Makoto, seeing that it was almost time, picked up his phone and messaged Taki:
"Has Maki-nee left yet?"
Seeing the message pop up on her phone, Taki's small face quickly flushed red, a hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes, but she ultimately replied:
"…My sister has left."
Although she really wanted to lie and say her sister hadn't left, she just couldn't do it.
Firstly, Taki hated it when others lied, so she herself wasn't willing to lie.
Secondly, Kitahara Makoto had Maki's contact information, and the lie could be exposed at any time.
Thirdly… turning the scumbag classmate into a pet should be quite interesting, right?
One minute later.
Kitahara Makoto stepped out of the full-length mirror and entered Taki's room.
"I thought Taki would say Maki-nee hadn't left."
Kitahara Makoto appeared with two cans of coffee, looking at the long-haired black-haired girl sitting at the computer desk.
"Hmph," Taki crossed her arms over her chest and softly snorted. "I always keep my word and never break promises."
Kitahara Makoto praised:
"Indeed, Taki, beneath your serious exterior, you actually have a very cute inner self."
"You, what nonsense are you spouting?!"
Taki's black hair trembled slightly, her small face quickly flushed red, and her eyes, both shy and annoyed, glared at him:
"You've already dated so many people, and you're still not satisfied, saying things like this to every girl you see…"
"Worst!!"
"Terrible!!!"
Kitahara Makoto's expression was innocent:
"Today, I've only said 'cute' to Taki."
"Hmph!"
Taki turned her head, indicating she didn't want to talk to Kitahara Makoto.
"Let's hurry," Kitahara Makoto opened his backpack and took out the pet collar and leash he bought at the convenience store at noon. "Taki, do you want to put it on yourself, or should I help you?"
Taki glared at him with a red face:
"We agreed this morning, if you want me to play such a terrible game, I have to be the master first, and you be the pet!"
"Of course."
Kitahara Makoto's expression was normal, and he quickly got into character.
When he ate the Magic Cookie before, he often turned into an animal, and he also needed to wear a collar to pick Eden Fruit, so he had no resistance to it at all.
Looking at Kitahara Makoto, who was handing over the leash, Taki's lips twitched slightly, and she couldn't help but complain:
"You… don't you feel ashamed at all?"
Kitahara Makoto replied without changing his expression:
"I am very ashamed."
"Liar!" Taki didn't believe a single word. "Your face didn't even turn red!"
"That's Taki's prejudice," Kitahara Makoto said seriously. "Blushing is blushing, and shame is shame. The two cannot be confused. It's like Mutsumi-chan, she doesn't blush when she's ashamed."
"Mutsumi-chan has no shame, alright."
"…"
While chatting, several minutes passed in a flash.
"There's enough time," Kitahara Makoto took off the collar and handed it to the black-haired girl. "Now it's Taki's turn."
Taki parted her lips, her small face flushed as she took the pet collar.
Kitahara Makoto said expectantly:
"Do you want me to help Taki put on the collar?"
"No need!" Taki immediately refused. "I'll put it on myself!"
One of Taki's life principles was to keep her word.
Now that Kitahara Makoto had kept his promise and played the role of a pet, Taki naturally wouldn't go back on hers.
"Hoo…"
Taki took a deep breath, suppressed the shame of wanting to throw the collar away, and with a red face, put on the pet collar.
"Taki is even cuter with the collar on."
Kitahara Makoto gave a thumbs up, not stingy with his praise.
It had to be said that although Taki had a stubborn personality, her appearance was quite high. She had the standard long black hair, and although her height was only a little over one meter fifty, her petite and delicate figure made her even cuter.
Now, with the black pet collar on, the color of the collar contrasted with her snow-white skin, coupled with her flushed, humiliated expression, it was simply excellent.
Taki said, embarrassed and annoyed:
"To think that something so insulting could be cute, how perverted!"
Kitahara Makoto ignored her:
"If you put on a white cat ear hair accessory, then Taki would be even cuter."
"Dream on!" Taki gritted her teeth, wanting to hit him. "Impossible!"
(He even wants me to wear cat ear hair accessories?)
(You're the one taking an inch and wanting a mile!)
Clang.
Because she was too excited, Taki accidentally knocked over the pen holder next to the computer desk, scattering the pens and pencils inside.
"Damn it…"
Taki squatted down and began to pick up the items.
"I'll help."
Kitahara Makoto naturally wouldn't stand by, but squatted down to help.
"Hmm, there's one more under here…"
Seeing another pencil under the desk, Taki reached out and tried, finding that her arm couldn't reach. She could only kneel on the floor, supporting herself with one hand, and reaching under the desk with the other.
Looking at Taki kneeling on the floor, and then at the leash in his hand, Kitahara Makoto's expression subtly changed.
The black-haired girl kneeling on the floor, the black hair scattered from her shoulders, the pet collar on her neck, and finally the leash in his hand…
Oh no.
What should he do? He really wanted to take a picture!