"Ah…"
Hitori let out a small gasp, only then remembering that she hadn't asked for Kitahara's opinion. She quickly turned her head and asked softly:
"Um, inviting Kita to come travel with us… Is that okay?"
Kitahara said gently:
"Of course, there's no problem. Hitori is in charge of today's date arrangements."
Hitori sighed in relief, blushing as she whispered:
"Thank you, Kitahara-kun…"
The discussion concluded.
Kitahara looked at Kita in the video:
"Kita, change your clothes first. Hitori and I will find a secluded, uninhabited corner. Once you're ready, summon Hana-chan and have her send you over."
"Wait for me, wait for me~"
Kita's voice was light and cheerful, as she leaped from the bed:
"I'll be there very soon!"
"…"
Ending the video call, Kitahara and Hitori continued riding their Honda Cub, then stopped in an uninhabited coconut grove.
Immediately after, Kitahara entered the Onsen Village and brought out a life-sized floor mirror. Everything was ready, just waiting for Kita to arrive.
"Makeup and dressing take time, so Kita will probably be a while. So…" Kitahara looked intently at shy girl beside him, "So Hitori knows what I want to do, right?"
Hitori quietly tilted her small face up, and as her gaze met Kitahara's, her small face instantly flushed red, clearly understanding what Kitahara wanted to do.
Besides kissing and hugging, there would certainly be nothing else.
"N-No…"
Hitori stammered, lowering her head in shame, not daring to look at anyone.
"That's not up to Hitori," Kitahara's voice suddenly turned sinister, "This is a desolate, remote forest. No one will come to save you even if you scream yourself hoarse."
Hitori: "…"
A moment later, her phone quietly vibrated.
As expected.
It was a message from Kita:
"I'm ready! Coming right away!"
As she spoke, gentle ripples appeared on the surface of the mirror, and then a petite girl with red twin tails nimbly emerged.
"Hana-chan, thank you~"
Kita lowered her head and waved her hand to thank Hana, her voice clear, her smile bright, and her energetic, positive demeanor made Hitori feel as if a small sun had suddenly appeared in the forest, so dazzling that she couldn't open her eyes.
Hana looked up with an expressionless small face:
"Cupcake."
"Let's put it on tab for now," Kita said crisply, "I'll double it when I get back."
Having received the desired reward, Hana contentedly slipped back into the mirror.
"Hitori, Kitahara-kun, good morning."
Kita turned around and greeted Kitahara and Hitori with full energy.
"G-good morning…"
Hitori responded softly, her head lowered.
"Eh, Hitori's face is so red…" Kita quickly spread her arms, blocking Hitori, and puffed out her cheeks, "Did Kitahara-kun take advantage of Hitori again?"
Kitahara nodded frankly:
"That's right."
"Huh?"
Kita's eyes widened:
"Y-You actually admitted it just like that?"
Kitahara stepped forward, his gaze intense:
"I'm about to take advantage of Kita too, what's there to not admit?"
"Don't come closer!"
Kita immediately sensed trouble and quickly raised her arms to shield her chest:
"Kitahara-kun, don't go too far!"
Kitahara's voice was low, transforming into an evil villain:
"This is Kagoshima, thousands of kilometers from Tokyo. Even if Kita screams herself hoarse, no one will come to save you."
Kita: "…"
A simple round of kissing, hugging, and lifting quickly made Kita and Hitori's faces flush red, becoming exceptionally well-behaved and docile.
Kitahara wiped the corner of his lips, satisfied:
"Kita-sama, thank you for the treat."
Kita's small face was crimson, and she glared at him in shame:
"In front of little Hitori… How mean! If there's a next time, I'll get angry!"
Kitahara smiled:
"So, Kita isn't angry now?"
Kita: "…"
After a brief chat, Kitahara put the mirror back into the [Onsen Village], then took the two girls back to the road, preparing to continue their journey along the coastal road.
"Kita, get on."
Kitahara pointed to his Honda Cub.
"No," Kita said, her hands crossed over her chest, her red twin tails gently swaying in the sea breeze. She lifted her pale chin, her voice sweet and clear, "I want to ride Hitori's scooter."
"Are you sure, Kita?" Kitahara reminded her casually, "Hitori just got her driver's license. She's a typical novice female driver. When she encounters an unexpected situation, she might close her eyes and mistake the accelerator for the brake."
"Eh?"
The smile on Kita's face stiffened. She glanced at Hitori beside her, involuntarily stepping back half a pace, and said, "Kitahara-kun, don't talk nonsense. Hitori is super reliable and not unreliable at all."
Hitori: "..."
(Although what Kita said made me happy... but... but don't keep backing away!)
Kitahara gently put his arm around Kita and pulled her onto the scooter:
"Sit tight, don't move."
"Mmm..."
Kita's face flushed, and she obediently sat in Kitahara's embrace.
(Hitori, I'm sorry. Although I really want to trust your driving skills, Kitahara-kun's scooter is still more reassuring...)
"Let's go."
The two scooters quietly started, continuing along the coastal road, heading towards the boundless azure sea.
After riding for a while, Kita suddenly turned her face and looked over nervously:
"Wait a minute... I remember you can't carry passengers on these scooters, right?"
"Legally, you can't carry passengers on a scooter," Kitahara nodded. "But as long as you're not caught by the police, it's fine."
The riding rules for scooters in Japan are similar to those for bicycles, such as not being able to ride side-by-side with others, not being able to wear headphones to listen to music while riding, not being able to ride with one hand and hold an umbrella with the other, and not being able to carry passengers... There are many regulations, but in Japanese dramas and anime, you often see scenes of carrying people on bicycles.
The reason is simple.
Although there are many rules, as long as you are not caught by the police, it's fine. Even if you are unlucky enough to encounter the police, it will most likely be a verbal warning, and at most a fine.
"Um... Is this okay?"
Kita's voice was hesitant.
Kita, who had been a good girl since childhood, was naturally very nervous now that she was suddenly doing something 'illegal'.
"For high school students, skipping class is a huge deal, but once you go to university, you'll find that many people don't even go to class at all," Kitahara pinched Kita's cheek. "So just relax, carrying someone on a scooter is really not a big deal."
"Stupid Kitahara!" Kita's cheeks puffed out nervously, like a hamster with its mouth full of melon seeds, and she shouted nervously, "Ride with both hands, don't pinch my face!"
"..."
I have to say, with Kita here, the journey was indeed much more joyful.
Hitori was a novice female driver, completely focused while riding, and basically didn't talk. Now with Kita by her side, it was like having a clear, chirping nightingale, chattering non-stop all the way.
"Ah, the beach ahead is so beautiful!" Kita's eyes sparkled. "Kitahara-kun, stop for a moment, Hitori and I want to take pictures."
Kitahara nodded and stopped the scooter.
Hitori followed closely, carefully parking her scooter.
Next was naturally photo time. Kita was a typical social butterfly. When Kita took photos, she liked to share scenery and delicious food.
"It feels like it's super photogenic, no need for editing at all..."
After admiring the newly taken photos with satisfaction, Kita quickly shared them on social media.
Kitahara looked at Kita's post and reminded her speechlessly:
"Auntie and Uncle will see this, how will you explain?"
"Don't worry," Kita said, closing her right eye, raising her thumb, and smiling proudly. "I thought of that long ago, so I've already blocked mom and Dad. One hundred percent no problem."
Kitahara couldn't help but retort:
"Every time Kita is full of confidence, it feels like she's setting a flag."
"How mean."
Kita puffed out her cheeks, put her hands on her hips, and glared at him:
"Kitahara-kun, don't be a jinx."
Ding-dong ~
A notification sound came from her phone.
"Someone already liked my post so quickly..."
Kita eagerly looked down at her phone, and then the smile on her face suddenly stiffened, slowly disappearing.
"What's wrong, Kita?"
Hitori asked softly.
"The person who liked it is my aunt..." Kita said in a panic, "Ah, ah, ah, I need to tell my aunt quickly not to tell mom and Dad!"
"Tsk ~"
Kitahara lightly clicked his tongue beside her:
"Sure enough, once people are too happy, they will soon be overjoyed and then sad."
"..."
While Kita was frantically trying to fool her aunt, Kitahara saw the number of likes on her phone rapidly increasing, and a familiar ID quickly appeared among them.
"Ah, it's Nijika-senpai..."
Hitori exclaimed softly, apparently also seeing Nijika's like:
"It's stormy in Tokyo, but we're taking pictures by the sea. Nijika-senpai must be very curious, right?"
As soon as she finished speaking.
Hitori's phone vibrated.
"It's a message from Nijika-senpai... Kitahara-kun, what should we do?"
Hitori looked up, seeking advice.
Kitahara casually said:
"Today is Hitori's date time, Hitori can do whatever she wants."
Hitori's face quickly flushed, and she stammered softly, "Th-then, why don't we invite Nijika-senpai to come play with us?"
"And Ryo-senpai..."
"Summer vacation is almost over, and we haven't traveled with everyone from the band yet."
Kitahara nodded gently:
"Hitori can decide."
"Hoo..."
Hitori took a deep breath, and after consulting Kita, who naturally raised her hand in agreement, Hitori began sending messages to Nijika and Ryo.
Tokyo was being ravaged by a typhoon, and everyone could only hide at home, quite bored. Now that they received Hitori's invitation, Ryo and Nijika naturally wouldn't refuse and both agreed to come play.
A moment later.
Ryo and Nijika quickly traveled to Kagoshima.
"Ryo-senpai, Nijika-senpai, good morning."
Kitahara smiled as he looked at them.
"Good morning..."
Nijika's pretty face flushed, and she quickly averted her gaze, not daring to continue making eye contact with Kitahara. Her golden side ponytail was exceptionally dazzling in the sunlight.
There was nothing she could do. Three hours ago, she was still with Kitahara, and they hadn't been apart for long... If it weren't for sharing the Kidneys brave ability, she would still be in a deep sleep right now, with no energy to come play.
"Well, good morning."
Ryo responded indifferently, her right hand covering her lower abdomen, her gaze sweeping around:
"I wonder if there's a difference in taste between the wild grass in Kagoshima and the wild grass in Tokyo. I'm super curious."
Kita couldn't help but retort:
"Ryo-senpai, why would you be curious about something like that!"
Ryo covered her stomach:
"Because I used up too much energy last night, and I'm really hungry now."
"Eh?" Kita was startled, and subconsciously asked, "What did Ryo-senpai do last night?"
Ryo pondered for two seconds:
"Running."
"What? But the typhoon arrived last night..."
Before she could finish speaking, Kita's face quickly flushed. She had clearly guessed the truth and glared angrily at Kitahara.
How mean, why don't you two restrain yourselves!
Kitahara said with his usual expression:
"Ryo-senpai, please wait a moment. I'll put the mirror back into the Onsen Village and get you some food."
"..."
After tidying up.
The girls were ready to continue their trip, but then a new problem appeared before them.
"There are only two scooters, but there are five of us... What should we do?"
Hitori looked up, her eyes pitifully looking at him.
They had impulsively called Ryo and Nijika over but hadn't considered the issue of transportation. Now they didn't know what to do.
"Don't worry, it's no problem," Kitahara said gently. "First, let Ryo-senpai and Nijika-senpai stay in the Onsen Village for a while. When we get to the next scenic spot, we'll put away the scooters and then rent bicycles to ride together."
Kita, Ryo, and Nijika all hadn't gotten their scooter licenses, so they could only ride bicycles.
The journey was uneventful.
Kitahara and Hitori quickly arrived at the next scenic spot. Just as they had rented bicycles, Kita suddenly raised her right hand:
"Um... Anon sent me a message asking how we're playing outside. What should I say?"
"Don't look at me," Kitahara turned to Hitori. "Ask Hitori what to do."
"Ah..."
Hitori immediately panicked. After hesitating for two seconds, she stammered softly, "Kita, just tell her the truth..."
Ryo crossed her arms and tilted her head, saying, "What if Anon wants to come play?"
Hitori pursed her lips, her expression a little troubled, and stammered, "Then let's call Anon-chan over..."
Before she could finish speaking, Kitahara suddenly reached out his right hand and placed it on Hitori's head.
"Don't force yourself."
"But..."
"I'll send a message to Anon and say that it's just the few of us playing today."
Kitahara made the final decision.
It's normal for people to have varying degrees of closeness.
For Hitori, Kita, Ryo, and Nijika were her most important friends; Anon was ultimately a bit more distant, and if she called Anon, then Tomori, Mutsumi, and others would likely come to play as well.
But Hitori has a social anxiety personality, and she would definitely feel uncomfortable with too many people, and she couldn't say no herself, so Kitahara simply stepped forward and took on everything.
"Hoo..."
Seeing Kitahara so assertive, Hitori quietly breathed a sigh of relief and obediently calmed down.
Ryo gave a thumbs-up, tilting her head and praising:
"Well... Kitahara is very cool now."
Nijika's eyes also sparkled, naturally understanding Hitori's predicament, but she couldn't help but retort:
"Ryo, stop praising him, or his tail will wag!"