"S-Sakiko, come over quickly..."
"What happened?"
"Kitahara-kun, he... he actually..."
"..."
A moment later.
A figure rushed hurriedly through the door into the tea room.
"Phew..."
Seeing the two sitting peacefully by the table sipping tea, Sakiko let out a sigh of relief, followed immediately by her cheeks puffing up in annoyance.
Sending the message with such urgency had made her think some massive disaster had occurred, running over the whole way, only to find nothing had happened at all!
"Sakiko..."
Soyo looked up, her eyes brimmed with a hazy mist, crystalline dewdrops threatening to spill over.
Seeing the damp mist in Soyo's eyes, the heart Sakiko had just set at ease seized up once more as she knelt down beside Soyo:
"Soyo, what happened?"
"Kitahara-kun just revealed the future he foresaw..."
With tears welling in her eyes, Soyo poured out all the details of the future she had just heard.
A moment later.
"Why... why do you have to sacrifice yourself?"
Sakiko bit her lower lip tightly, tears welling in her eyes as she firmly grasped Kitahara's right hand:
"Staying in the Onsen Dimension forever would be fine too, wouldn't it?"
"If there were a choice, hiding inside the Onsen Dimension for a lifetime naturally wouldn't be a problem," Kitahara clasped Sakiko's slender hand in return, intertwining their fingers. "Unfortunately, it won't work. The Onsen Dimension is no untouched paradise; hiding inside will still lead to discovery. Rather than sitting idly awaiting death, it's better to stake everything on a gamble. At the very least, my odds of success are quite high."
"How high is 'quite high'? What if... what if an accident happens?"
Sakiko clamped her lower lip tightly, attempting to hold back the soreness in her eyes, but in the end failed to endure it as glistening tears quietly streamed down her cheeks.
Kitahara raised his right hand, wiping away the glistening moisture from Sakiko's cheek:
"Weak Sakiko has already died; Sakiko needs to be strong."
"I don't want to be strong," Sakiko sniffled, nuzzling her face against Kitahara's palm. "I want to remain weak forever by Kitahara-kun's side."
"Sakiko, drink some tea first and calm down." Soyo's eyes were similarly rimmed with red, though she had managed to regain her composure by now, pouring a cup of black tea and passing it to Sakiko. "Since Kitahara-kun has already made up his mind, we just need to silently support him. What we need to do now is cherish every single minute and second of this moment."
Pausing, Soyo looked over expectantly:
"Sakiko rushed over so anxiously, you must have worked up a sweat; would you like to take a bath?"
"Eh?"
Sakiko looked back blankly through her tear-blurred eyes.
They had just been discussing Kitahara-kun's matter; how did it turn into taking a bath in the blink of an eye?
"I happen to have broken into a light sweat as well," Soyo said in a gentle tone. "Shall we go soak in the hot springs in the Onsen Dimension together?"
Sakiko: "..."
No wonder she only messaged me and didn't tell anyone else; Soyo obviously just wanted to team up to soak in the onsen!
Under normal circumstances, Sakiko would certainly have refused.
Raised under noble etiquette since childhood, self-esteem and pride were ingrained deep into Sakiko's bones; unless absolutely forced by circumstances, she had always been unwilling to team up with others to play games, as it was simply too shameful.
Yet right now...
Raising a hand to wipe the wetness from the corners of her eyes, Sakiko's face blushed faintly, looking down toward the black pantyhose on her feet as she replied in a small voice:
"I... I truly did sweat a little..."
"Then let's soak together." Soyo's eyes instantly brightened up, looking over at Kitahara and winking slyly. "Kitahara-kun, hurry up, hurry up."
Kitahara: "..."
Wait, why does it feel like you're way more interested in Sakiko!
It was a rare occasion for Sakiko to agree to team up, so Kitahara naturally wouldn't let the chance slip by, taking both girls into the Onsen Dimension to begin their three-person co-ed bath.
In the blink of an eye, it was noon break.
Kitahara stepped out of the room to start his date with Tomori.
The girl who drew the Five of Hearts was none other than Tomori.
"Makoto-kun, I want to sing."
Tomori tilted her small face upward, looking over with anticipation.
Evidently, compared to draining Kitahara dry, Tomori preferred quietly staying by his side.
"I just happened to want to hear Tomori sing too." Kitahara reached out, stroking Tomori's soft hair. "Let's go singing."
The hotel featured dedicated KTV private rooms; Kitahara gave Sato a heads-up, and she personally delivered the key up in no time.
Bang.
The door was gently closed.
Only Kitahara and Tomori remained inside the private room.
"Makoto-kun, let's sing together, okay?"
Holding the microphone in her right hand, Tomori reached out with her left, her eyes sparkling brightly.
Kitahara hesitated: "I don't sing very well..."
"I don't care, I just want to sing together with Makoto-kun." The usually well-behaved Tomori acted spoiled for once. "Please?"
Kitahara: "..."
Faced with Tomori utilizing her ultimate weapon of acting spoiled, giving in was the only option.
"Then I'll sing one song."
Kitahara reached out and picked up a microphone.
"A while back, I had a dream. In the dream, Makoto-kun, everyone else, and I formed a band together; we practiced hard, took part in all kinds of competitions, and eventually stood on the stage at Nippon Budokan. I was super happy after waking up..." Picking up the remote, Tomori found a song. "So even if it's the end of the world, I still want to sing with Makoto-kun."
The others had all sorts of personal motivations for joining a band, but Tomori's was the purest; from start to finish, her dream had always been conveying her feelings through song.
It had to be said that although Tomori was normally quiet and reserved, the moment she started singing, her entire presence shone brightly.
Kitahara accompanied Tomori in singing a few songs; once satisfied, Tomori looked up at him again:
"Makoto-kun, I want a lap pillow."
"Lap pillow, coming right up."
Sitting on the sofa, Kitahara patted his lap.
Tomori lay down on her side, nuzzling against Kitahara's thigh, her small face wearing a blissful expression like a kitten hugging dried fish, her eyes brimming with longing:
"Makoto-kun, clean my ears."
"Right away."
Kitahara activated [Scale of God], and an earpick quickly appeared in his hand.
"Makoto-kun, I want a hug."
"..."
"I want kisses too."
"..."
Evidently, compared to lewd matters, Tomori far preferred intimate private moments together.
Time slipped quietly by amidst Tomori's affectionate pampering.
Seeing that time was almost up, Kitahara gently pinched the girl's bouncy, supple cheek, and then revealed the foreseen future.
Unsurprisingly, even the placid, gentle-spirited Tomori found tears misting over her eyes.
"Don't cry. I was unwilling to speak of it last night because saying it would only make you cry, but things are different now." Kitahara reached out to wipe the tears from the corners of Tomori's eyes, saying softly, "After Nijika-senpai's hair ribbon was optimized, it turned into an incredible tool. All of you just need to tie knots into it with your own hands, and upon untying them yourselves, you will be able to remember me once more..."
"I don't want Makoto-kun to go save the world," Tomori said tearfully, hugging Kitahara tightly. "I only want to be together with Makoto-kun forever."
"I have no interest in saving the world. If Tomori and the world were placed on two ends of a balance scale, I would choose Tomori without the slightest hesitation," Kitahara patted Tomori gently on the back, comforting her softly. "But it won't work. The Onsen Dimension isn't safe; only by resolving all the trouble once and for all can I protect you all."
"Makoto-kun..."
Biting her lower lip, Tomori sat up straight, wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes:
"Shall we go to the Onsen Dimension?"
Kitahara reminded her: "Our date time is about to end."
"The person who drew the Six of Diamonds is Taki." Tomori took her phone out from her pocket. "I'll text Taki to call her over, and we can date together."
"..."
Moments later.
The KTV room door was tapped lightly.
"Come in."
Kitahara called out.
"I'm coming in..."
A petite girl with long straight black hair pushed the door open and stepped inside—it was Taki.
"What did Tomori call me over so urgently for... Huh?!"
Seeing Tomori's swollen red eyes clearly, Taki's expression stiffened; striding forward on her short legs, she rushed over, flung both arms open to shield Tomori, puffed her cheeks, and glared at Kitahara:
"You pervert Kitahara, what on earth did you do to make Tomori cry this sorrowfully?"
The tear stains and expression on Tomori's face clearly signified weeping from heartache and grief; while doing that sort of thing could also draw out tears, it definitely wouldn't look like this!
Taki had seen her own weeping reflection in the mirror before, so she had plenty of authority to speak on this.
"Taki, don't falsely accuse people." Kitahara raised both hands. "I didn't take advantage of Tomori."
"If you didn't take advantage of her, how could Tomori cry so miserably?"
"Taki..."
Tomori reached out her right hand to clasp Taki's wrist, her eyes swimming with tears:
"Listen to me finish first..."
"Don't cry, Tomori." Taki sat down beside Tomori, gently patting her back. "Tell me what happened; I'll uphold justice for you."
"..."
Ten minutes later.
"Idiot..."
"Idiot, idiot, idiot!"
Taki continuously wiped her eyes with both hands, her voice choked with sobs:
"Nobody asked you to sacrifice yourself in silence; you could at least ask for other people's opinions!"
"I did ask," Kitahara spouted sheer nonsense with a straight face. "The Earth's will, Gaia, contacted me, saying that as long as I save the world, it will arrange a full hundred girlfriends for me."
"H-How trashy..."
Sniffling, Taki couldn't help retorting:
"To actually want a hundred girlfriends—your body wouldn't even hold up!"
"I wouldn't hold up?" Kitahara raised an eyebrow, standing up abruptly. "It seems I need to help Taki recall the sight of you crying and begging for mercy earlier."
"Bah~"
Her face reddening, Taki spat bashfully in annoyance.
Just as she was about to lash out, a hand suddenly reached over; Tomori requested in a small voice:
"Taki, I want to go to the Onsen Dimension too."
Taki: "..."
As for what they were going to the Onsen Dimension to do, Taki naturally knew full well.
If it had been anyone else, Taki would never have agreed under any circumstance, but now that Tomori had brought it up...
Seeing Taki blushing without saying a word, Kitahara smiled and looked over:
"Taki, why aren't you saying anything?"
"...Damn it!"
Catching sight of the teasing smile on Kitahara's face from the corner of her eye, Taki clenched her delicate fists in flustered irritation, stomping down onto the tip of Kitahara's foot.
"Since Taki isn't refusing, I'll take that as your agreement." Kitahara gently reached out, drawing Taki into his embrace.
Tomori stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Kitahara's other arm:
"Thank you, Taki."
Taki: "..."
Time slipped away quietly.
In the blink of an eye, the sun was already setting in the west.
Gazing out through the hotel's floor-to-ceiling windows, one could see a crimson sun slowly sinking beneath the sea surface; magnificent fiery sunset clouds layered one over another, blanketing the entire sky in an exceptionally grand spectacle.
Yet the dark clouds of Apocalypse hung heavily over everyone's heads; the streets outside were completely empty and utterly desolate, and even when an occasional pedestrian hurried past, their steps were rushed and their expressions vigilant, with no one having the leisure to pay any mind to the scenery in the distance.
"Makoto-kun, I'm here."
With her hands clasped behind her back, Mutsumi strolled over with brisk, light steps, tilting her head to smile at Kitahara, her voice clear and melodious:
"Makoto-kun, I miss my little cucumbers. After so long, I don't know if anyone has watered them, or if anyone has eaten them... Let's pick the school for our date location, okay?"
Kitahara nodded: "The little cucumber has the final say."
"Eh?" Mutsumi blinked her eyes. "Why does Makoto-kun call me little cucumber?"
"Because Mutsumi loves little cucumbers the most."
"Little cucumbers were super delicious to begin with, after all..."
"..."
Bringing Mutsumi along, Kitahara used Fast Travel to arrive in Tokyo.
In Kagoshima the sunset was breathtaking and the scenery magnificent, but Tokyo was still blanketed in thick fog, with feelings of oppression and suffocation washing over them.
"Makoto-kun, hold me." Mutsumi opened her arms wide, looking up with anticipation. "I want to experience what it feels like to fly to the academy."
Kitahara nodded, scooping up the little cucumber into his arms, and then leaped into the air, flying straight toward Tsukinomori Girls' Academy.
A moment later.
The two touched down in a secluded garden corner of Tsukinomori Girls' Academy.
An academy that was originally supposed to be filled with sweat and youthful vitality was exceptionally deserted right now, quiet enough to be described as deathly silent.
"The little cucumbers haven't been picked by anyone yet."
Mutsumi's eyes lit up as she cheered happily, paying no heed whatsoever to the grim, eerie atmosphere all around.
Kitahara strode up to the trellis and saw several small cucumbers hanging from the vines; unfortunately, no one had watered them for days, leaving them looking noticeably wilted.
"Makoto-kun, shall we water the little cucumbers?"
Mutsumi looked up with eager anticipation.
"No problem."
Kitahara naturally wouldn't refuse; together with Mutsumi, he found a watering can, filled it with water, and returned to water the little cucumbers.
"Makoto-kun, do you want to eat a little cucumber?"
Mutsumi looked up and asked.
"I really do want to eat a little cucumber," Kitahara said with deep meaning in his voice. "Just not the ones that were freshly watered."
"Eh?"
Mutsumi blinked her eyes, taking an imperceptible step backward:
"What Makoto-kun says is completely incomprehensible."
"Eat this cookie first." Kitahara produced a miraculous cookie, offering it right in front of the little cucumber. "Hana's abilities aren't limited to weaving dreamscapes; she can manipulate souls as well."
"Last night I already told Hana to wake you up..." Kitahara put on a stern face. "Little cucumber, what kind of punishment do you want?"
"I'm sorry, I was wrong." The second personality, 'Little Cucumber', apologized decisively. "Makoto-kun, please forgive me."
"I don't forgive you."
"H-How could you be like this..."
"Eat the cookie first, and then tie your hair up."
"..."
Knowing she couldn't escape, Mutsumi could only eat the miraculous cookie, looking over with a pitiful gaze:
"Makoto-kun, what kind of cookie is this?"
Kitahara revealed a devilish grin: "It's a miraculous cookie that cranks sensitivity up to maximum."
Mutsumi: "..."
Under ruthless punishment and discipline, tears quickly welled in the little cucumber's eyes to the point where she could no longer speak coherently; seeing that she was on the verge of breaking down, Kitahara finally stopped, granting the little cucumber a brief moment to catch her breath.
"So terrifying... so terrifying, so terrifying, so terrifying..." Mutsumi's breathing was rapid and shallow, her gaze entirely dazed. "I-Is it over?"
"Over?" Kitahara looked over with a warm smile. "That was merely the warm-up."
"N-No way!"
"..."
Nine o'clock in the evening.
Kitahara brought Mutsumi back to Kagoshima, leaving only the very last dating partner.
"Hitori, good evening."
Looking at Hitori as she sneaked stealthily out of the room, Kitahara smiled:
"Auntie agreed to our marriage long ago, so there's no need to sneak around like a thief, right?"
"P-People will see us..." Hitori glanced nervously left and right. "Mom hasn't gone to sleep yet, let's hurry."
Kitahara followed Hitori into the stairwell:
"How does Hitori want to spend our date?"
"Um... can we go home?"
Hitori tilted her little face upward, looking over expectantly.
"Go home..." Kitahara was briefly taken aback, quickly catching on. "Back to Tokyo?"
"Mhm, mhm." Hitori nodded hastily. "The little hamster Futari takes care of hasn't been fed all day; I want to go back and feed the hamster. Also, mom is very worried about the grandmother living next door; we happen to have quite a bit of food left at home, so I want to take it over to the neighbor grandma."
Hitori rambled on softly, talking entirely about everyday household trivia.
As an extreme shut-in, Hitori felt truly at peace only when staying at home.
"Alright, let's go home."
Kitahara took Hitori's little hand and used Fast Travel to return to Tokyo.
"We were clearly only away for a single day, but it feels like such a long time has passed..."
Returning to her familiar domain, the ahoge atop Hitori's head instantly began swaying with joy.
Over the time that followed, Kitahara accompanied Hitori to feed the hamster, packed up the food at home, quietly delivered it to the elderly grandmother next door, and finally arrived in Hitori's bedroom.
"Ehehe~"
Hitori dove forward, flopping straight onto her bed, hugging her panda body pillow and rubbing her face against it in pure bliss.
"My own room really is the most reassuring after all..."
Kitahara surveyed his surroundings, seeing nothing but familiar items.
There were the plushies he had gifted her, the manga he had given her, photos they had taken together, and even a heart-shaped stone, all washed cleanly and treasured away with meticulous care by Hitori.
"Kitahara-san, I want to play the guitar!"
Hitori soon sat up from the bed, balling her little hands into fists:
"I haven't updated my guitarhero account in so long; I'm going to update the account today!"
Kitahara: "..."
It's already the end of the world, yet you still want to update your account—your fans will definitely cry tears of joy!
"Even though the new guitar I got from the lottery is very nice to use..." Hitori suited action to the word, sticking out her rear as she rooted around for her old guitar. "I still love the old guitar best after all."
Kitahara sat down cross-legged beside her:
"What good luck; today I get to enjoy a private performance from guitarhero-sensei all to myself. Everyone else would cry from pure envy."
"It's not that exaggerated..."
Her cheeks flushing a faint red, Hitori began strumming her guitar.
Recording videos and uploading them to the web, time quietly slipped past unnoticed.
"Phew~ all done!" Hitori stretched luxuriously in joy, the ahoge atop her head swaying gently. "Who knows when I'll be able to come back next time."
Kitahara reached out his right hand, stroking Hitori's little head:
"Don't worry, Hitori won't become displaced and homeless; you'll be able to return home very soon."
"Eh?"
"Come tomorrow, I will be able to bring an end to everything..."
Kitahara softly began recounting the future he had foreseen.
"N-No..." Hitori hastily raised her hands to rub her eyes, yet no matter how she wiped, the tears simply wouldn't stop flowing. "Kitahara-san, don't leave me behind..."
"Don't cry," Kitahara said gently. "Thanks to the Extra Life Coin Hitori picked up back then, I can restart my life. It's just that after time rewinds, I will lose all my memories, so when that time comes, it will be Hitori's turn to capture my heart."
Wiping her eyes unceasingly, Hitori gripped the ribbon hair tie tightly:
"I... I will definitely capture Kitahara-san!"
"..."
Once Hitori tied the [Knot of All Things], Kitahara stood up and said:
"Let's head back."
"W-Wait a moment..."
Hitori suddenly reached out, gripping Kitahara's wrist tightly; her little face was flushed bright red like fire, blushing so hard it looked ready to drip blood, yet she forced herself not to avert her gaze:
"To the Onsen Dimension..."
Kitahara feigned ignorance: "What is Hitori going to the Onsen Dimension to do?"
"I-I-I-I..."
Hitori's face was scalding hot, steam faintly puffing from the crown of her head:
"I want to do that kind of thing too..."
"But it's already very late today."
"C-Could it be that Kitahara-san can't keep going anymore?"
"...Very well, to the Onsen Dimension we go right now!"