"Oh, and one more thing, that evil spirit mark on your wrist…"
Kitahara Makoto had never forgotten about the evil spirit mark.
"My body feels perfectly fine; hurry up and send me back." Seika bit her teeth and urged, "Besides, that Swimming Pool Spirit has already been eliminated by you, so there's no need to worry about the mark, right?"
Seika lied.
Her body actually felt uncomfortable, but she chose to hide it. She just wanted to escape home quickly and silently process the current shame.
She was thirty years old, after all, and yet she was being held in a princess carry by a high schooler, and he was even her sister's significant other… How embarrassing!
It was truly too embarrassing!
"…That makes sense."
Kitahara Makoto hesitated for a moment and gave up on further inquiry.
The Swimming Pool Spirit had already been eliminated; a mere evil spirit mark surely couldn't cause any big waves, could it?
However, he still needed to send a message to Nijika later, reminding Nijika to pay attention.
Gathering his thoughts, Kitahara Makoto quickly sent Seika into the mirror.
The process of going through the mirror was indescribably wonderful. Due to being drunk, Seika only felt dizzy for a short while, and then a familiar voice rang in her ears:
"Sister, you're back?"
Seika's body stiffened slightly, and even the dizziness from being drunk lessened significantly. She looked at her sister guiltily, coughing twice and saying:
"Cough cough… I'm sorry, I made Nijika worry…"
"Eh?"
Nijika tilted her head in confusion.
"Wh-what's wrong?"
Seika's hands were slightly clenched, and she felt so nervous that her palms were faintly sweating. Her gaze involuntarily drifted elsewhere.
Having just forcibly kissed her own sister's boyfriend, she now had no face to meet Nijika.
"Nothing, I just feel like after onee-san went out and came back, she changed so much." Nijika rested her right hand on her chin, curiously complaining, "Onee-san's personality is clearly tsundere, tsundere, tsundere, tsundere, tsundere, never admitting when she makes a mistake. But just now, she actually said things like 'sorry.' It feels like the sun rose from the west."
"Phew…"
Hearing Nijika's complaint, Seika immediately breathed a sigh of relief, crossed her arms over her chest, and tried her best to project a onee-san's authority:
"Then I take back what I just said."
"Eh, no~" Nijika gave a thumbs up, giggling, "A onee-san who occasionally shows weakness and apologizes is actually even cuter."
Seika lightly snorted, covering her forehead and saying:
"I drank a lot before I sobered up, and now my head is a bit dizzy. I need to rest for a while."
"Onee-san, go shower and change first, then go back to your room to rest." Nijika pinched her nose, urging, "I don't know how much you drank, you reek of alcohol. Kitahara-kun was clearly by onee-san's side, so why didn't he stop onee-san?"
Hearing Kitahara Makoto's name, Seika's eyes instantly flickered, a hint of guilt flashed across her face, and she lightly snorted:
"I do what I want. It's a good thing that kid didn't stop me, otherwise I would have broken his legs."
Nijika muttered softly:
"Kitahara-kun was doing it for onee-san's own good. Breaking legs is too much."
Seika lightly snorted:
"What, are you already siding with him?"
"No way~" Nijika's pretty face flushed, and she pouted, "I'm just telling the truth."
"Hmph, I'm not talking to you anymore." Seika turned and walked away, "I'm going to the bathroom to shower."
"Huh?"
As they brushed past each other, Nijika's face suddenly showed a hint of confusion.
Seika's heart suddenly felt a pang of guilt, and her eyes darted around as she said:
"What is it now?"
Nijika extended her right hand, pinching a strand of hair from Seika's shirt front, and asked in confusion:
"Why does onee-san have Kitahara-kun's hair on her chest?"
Seika felt even more guilty upon hearing this and quickly explained:
"I drank too much just now, was dizzy and couldn't stand steady. When I fell, that kid helped me up… That's it!"
"…"
Immediately after, without waiting for Nijika to speak, Seika quickly hid in the bathroom.
She was still drunk, her mind wasn't clear enough. The more she spoke, the more mistakes she'd make; the less she spoke, the fewer mistakes. If she accidentally let slip that she had forcefully kissed that kid, she would only be able to commit seppuku to apologize!
A moment later.
"Phew…"
Sitting in the bathtub, Seika let out a satisfied sigh, then quietly raised her right hand, her fingertips gently touching her lips, a hint of confusion involuntarily flashing in her eyes.
(So this is what kissing feels like…)
(My sixteen-year-old self was actually so bold and impulsive, even taking the initiative to extend…)
A few seconds later.
Seika suddenly woke up with a start, quickly withdrew her finger, and nervously looked towards the bathroom door. Although Nijika wouldn't find out, a strong sense of guilt, like a thief, still surged in her heart.
(This is as far as it goes. The age gap is too big, it's simply impossible!)
(Moreover, that kid is Nijika's boyfriend. If Nijika found out, I would only be able to commit seppuku to apologize, right!)
(But that kid is dating Ryo at the same time as Nijika, perhaps Nijika doesn't mind…)
(Stop it! Don't let your imagination run wild!)
(Just treat it as CPR. After a bath, get some sleep, and tomorrow will be a new day!)
(Anyway, there won't be a second time…)
A look of loneliness appeared on Seika's face, and then she slowly closed her eyes.
At the same time.
On the other side.
After sending Seika back, Kitahara Makoto took out his phone to message Nijika, reminding her about the evil spirit mark, then leisurely walked out of the fast-food restaurant.
His bicycle was still parked outside, so he couldn't directly fast travel home.
Arriving outside the store, Kitahara Makoto got on his bicycle and slowly rode back. As for the small amount of alcohol he had drunk, it was negligible in front of his strong physical constitution.
"Two fitness tasks have been completed. The remaining two tasks don't have character restrictions, but the last one, the [Dream Weaver] task, is a bit interesting…"
Kitahara Makoto rode his bicycle home while thinking about his other arrangements for the day.
"In the afternoon, I'll go to Mai's apartment and go to the Dream World with Mai-senpai to accompany Nana.
"It's time for playing again. In the evening, I'll go shopping with Togawa to accompany Ghost-senpai."
"At night, I still have to go for weight loss business. Although the official announcement of abnormalities exists, as long as the world doesn't end, life must go on as usual. Making money can't stop…"
"And the fireworks festival I promised Kita…"
"Last night, Ryo-senpai said that Kessoku Band got another performance opportunity, and it's in a few days…"
The journey was silent.
The bicycle quickly reached his doorstep.
Kitahara Makoto carried the small cake he had just bought in one hand and took out the key to open the door with the other.
"Makoto-kun, welcome back."
The girl's emotionless voice sounded immediately.
Mutsumi, who was sitting on the sofa, silently got up and walked over expressionlessly.
"I'm back."
Kitahara Makoto handed over the small cake:
"Everyone has already left?"
"They left."
"What about Kessoku Band?"
"Ryo-senpai put it back in the amusement park."
"What about the kitchen hygiene?"
"Soyo and Togawa cleaned it up."
"How was lunch?"
"Delicious."
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
Such a standard Q&A, the feeling of an AI NPC is especially strong!
Kitahara Makoto changed into his slippers and looked at Mutsumi in front of him, who was wearing his shirt. Her long hair reached her waist, her skin was fair, and her face was exceptionally beautiful. No matter how he looked at her, she was a super cute beautiful girl.
Unfortunately, she was an NPC girl.
Although her emotions were slowly recovering, she was still too stoic. If he didn't actively talk to Mutsumi, Mutsumi would likely not speak a word all day.
Kitahara Makoto felt this was not good.
Although Hitori was extremely socially anxious, she could now say quite a lot of words when she was with him. Although her voice was still very soft, the progress was very obvious.
"Mutsumi-chan, you can talk more when you have nothing to do."
Kitahara Makoto couldn't help but say.
Mutsumi was silent for a moment, then said expressionlessly:
"Since I was little, whenever I spoke, things would turn bad…"
Because you are a classic atmosphere killer, often one sentence can freeze the atmosphere!
Kitahara Makoto remembered today's [Dream Weaver] task, so he said:
"Mutsumi-chan, do you have any wishes you want to fulfill?"
Mutsumi shook her head: "No."
Kitahara Makoto said speechlessly:
"What about the [Wish Note] I gave Mutsumi-chan yesterday? Did you not write anything?"
Mutsumi: "I really didn't write anything."
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
Good heavens!
You don't even have a wish you want to write down on paper. Aren't you too much of a slacker!
Kitahara Makoto pressed his forehead and said:
"Then let's not talk about wishes… Mutsumi-chan, is there anything you want to do?"
Mutsumi's eyes lit up slightly: "Eat cucumbers."
Kitahara Makoto: "Change it."
Mutsumi: "Eat ice cream."
Kitahara Makoto: "Change it again."
Besides intimate contact, is there nothing else you want to do in your head?
Mutsumi fell silent, a thoughtful expression appearing on her pretty face:
"I want to see Makoto-kun and Soyo [BEEP] again."
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
What did you just say?
Why did it become a censored word?
Mutsumi raised her right hand and pressed it to her chest, saying expressionlessly:
"It was that night, when Makoto-kun and Soyo [BEEP]. My heart was beating so fast then, it felt so strange, I want to understand more."
It's not strange at all, that's because your brain has awakened its primal instincts and is frantically secreting dopamine!
It's really you. If it were anyone else, even Ryo, they wouldn't be able to say such a wish expressionlessly!
Kitahara Makoto closed his eyes and sighed:
"Even if I agree, Soyo won't agree. Mutsumi-chan, you should change it."
Rustle, rustle.
A strange sound entered his ears.
Kitahara Makoto opened his eyes in confusion and saw Mutsumi pull out a pen from who knows where, writing a wish on the [Wish Note]. As the last stroke fell, the [Wish Note] quickly turned into white light and dissipated into the air.
A bad premonition surged in his heart, and Kitahara Makoto couldn't help but ask:
"Mutsumi-chan, what wish did you just make?"
Mutsumi said expressionlessly:
"I want to see Makoto-kun and Soyo…"
"Don't say it." Kitahara Makoto raised his hand to cover his forehead, "I'll fulfill your first wish, go eat cucumbers!"
"…"
Kitahara Makoto quickly showered, came out, and sat down next to Mutsumi. Two washed cucumbers were already laid out.
Crunch, crunch.
After finishing the cucumber with Mutsumi, Kitahara Makoto opened his mission panel and found that the Dream Weaver's mission had been quietly completed.
In a sense, Mutsumi's life could be said to be super simple…
Evening arrived in the blink of an eye.
Kitahara Makoto first went to Kamakura to accompany Nana in the Dream World with Mai, and after that, he returned to Tokyo to be Ghost-senpai's playmate.
Six o'clock in the afternoon.
Outside Tsukinomori Academy.
"Kitahara-kun, I'm over here~"
As soon as he reached the academy gate, a cute brown-haired, blue-eyed girl stood on her tiptoes and waved at him. It was Soyo.
"Soyo, good afternoon." Kitahara Makoto stepped over, "Has Togawa not arrived yet?"
Soyo clasped her hands over her lower abdomen and said softly:
"I just messaged Togawa, she'll probably be here in about ten minutes."
After speaking, she looked around, and after confirming that there was no one around, Soyo lowered her voice and said:
"Kitahara-kun, did you bring the [Wish Note]?"
Kitahara Makoto nodded and said:
"I brought it."
This thing could indeed restore itself, but very slowly. Kitahara Makoto checked it in the afternoon and found that only one could be produced per day.
Soyo's eyes lit up, and she said expectantly:
"Kitahara-kun, quickly give it to me."
Kitahara Makoto took out the [Wish Note] and said in a subtle tone:
"There's something I need to tell Soyo."
"Eh?"
Soyo blinked her eyes, suddenly feeling an ominous premonition:
"What does Kitahara-kun want to say?"
Kitahara Makoto said softly:
"Mutsumi-chan used the [Wish Note] to make a wish this afternoon."
Soyo was already the closest person in the world, so of course, he wouldn't hide anything. Telling Soyo in advance would also allow Soyo to be mentally prepared.
Soyo was actually quite intelligent. Her eyes darted around, and she immediately understood:
"Is Mutsumi-chan's wish related to me?"
"That's right." Kitahara Makoto nodded and lowered his voice, "Do you remember that night when Soyo stayed over, and the noise was too loud and woke up Mutsumi-chan, and then Mutsumi-chan pushed the door open and watched?"
Soyo's pretty face quickly flushed, clearly recalling the events of that day, and she couldn't help but glare at him:
"It was clearly Kitahara-kun who was too rough at the time!"
"Yes, yes, it's all my fault." Kitahara Makoto lowered his voice and said, "Mutsumi-chan's wish is to have the scene recreated and watch again to satisfy her thirst for knowledge and curiosity."
"Wh-what?"
Soyo's eyes widened in disbelief, and her pretty face flushed crimson:
"Why would Mutsumi-chan make such a wish?!"
Kitahara Makoto spread his hands and said:
"Mutsumi-chan cannot be judged by common sense in the first place."
"Hoo…"
Soyo took a deep breath, clenched her fists and said:
"No! Absolutely no more being watched by Mutsumi-chan!"
Although she wanted to team up with Togawa for a double match, that didn't mean she was willing to live stream in front of Mutsumi.
Kitahara Makoto softly reminded her:
"The [Wish Note] has turned into white light, which means Mutsumi-chan's wish has been accepted. Based on previous experience, the wish will eventually come true."
"Th-then what should we do?"
Soyo looked over nervously:
"Kitahara-kun must have a way, right?"
During their lunch gathering, Soyo heard about what happened to Seika and already knew that the way the [Wish Note] fulfilled wishes was completely uncontrollable. At this moment, she inevitably felt a little panicked.
Kitahara Makoto said softly:
"I actually thought of a way."
Soyo said expectantly:
"Kitahara-kun, tell me quickly."
Kitahara Makoto softly explained his idea:
"Although the way the [Wish Note] fulfills wishes is uncontrollable, we can actively exert our subjective initiative, further emancipate our minds, and proactively face the difficulties."
"Meow?"
A hint of confusion flashed across Soyo's pretty face. Although she could understand every word, when combined, it was truly difficult to comprehend.
"It's very simple." Kitahara Makoto lowered his voice and said, "We can actively fulfill Mutsumi-chan's wish in advance before the unexpected happens, and the [Wish Note] should then have no use."
Soyo's pretty face quickly flushed, clearly understanding Kitahara Makoto's method:
"You actually want to proactively do it in front of Mutsumi-chan…"
"No!"
"How could something like that even be possible?!"
Kitahara Makoto naturally wouldn't force Soyo, he just said softly:
"I'm just making a suggestion. This method can avoid risks. If we let the [Wish Note] fulfill the wish, we don't know what will happen."
Soyo: "…"
Although she knew Kitahara Makoto was absolutely right, it was too shameful to even think about!
"Perhaps the [Wish Note]'s wish won't necessarily come true?"
Soyo still held onto a last glimmer of hope, but even she couldn't believe her own words.
Previous events had already proven that the [Wish Note] indeed possessed incredible magical power. Since it had acknowledged Mutsumi's wish, it was highly probable that it couldn't be avoided.
Kitahara Makoto said softly:
"Then we can only wait and see."
Soyo was about to speak when she suddenly caught sight of a figure approaching. She quickly composed her expression and forced a smile:
"Togawa, good afternoon."
"Good afternoon." Togawa looked over curiously, "Soyo, why does your expression seem a bit strange?"
"It's just a small matter, don't worry about it…" Soyo quickly changed the subject, "Let's go see Ghost-senpai."
"Okay."
The three of them skillfully walked into Tsukinomori Academy, arrived at the old music classroom, and soon saw Ghost-senpai.
What happened next goes without saying, it was naturally playtime for eating, drinking, and having fun.
In the blink of an eye, it was half past eight in the evening.
The playtime ended.
Ghost-senpai returned to Tsukinomori Academy, feeling satisfied.
"Soyo-chan, what have you decided?"
Kitahara Makoto asked in a low voice.
"How could I possibly have decided?" Soyo's pretty face was flushed, and she couldn't help but puff out her cheeks, "Kitahara-kun, why don't you care at all?"
Kitahara Makoto said self-righteously:
"Because I'm shameless enough."
Soyo: "…"
Next was the weight loss business hours. Kitahara Makoto and Togawa went to the beauty center together. Soyo, having nothing to do, also followed along to play.
Buzz buzz.
Sitting on the train, his phone suddenly vibrated.
"It's a message from the official liaison…"
Kitahara Makoto raised an eyebrow slightly:
"It says there's an abnormal event breaking out near Tokyo, and they want to entrust me to help resolve it."
Togawa looked over curiously:
"What does Kitahara-kun mean?"
"The remuneration is too little, not satisfactory." Kitahara Makoto handed over his phone, "Togawa can help negotiate. If the remuneration is suitable, it's fine to accept."
Abnormal events were more or less dangerous, and the remuneration was only slightly higher than the weight loss business, which made it completely uninteresting.
Togawa nodded gently, naturally taking on the role of private secretary:
"Leave it to me."