Nakano Itsuki froze, completely caught off guard by Ichika's sudden words. She stood there for several seconds, at a loss for how to respond.
Ichika had expected that. Taking advantage of Shirase being occupied by the overly enthusiastic shop owner, she lowered her voice. "Even though we're quintuplets, there's never been a real line between who's older or younger. But in the end, we're still family. When one of us feels hurt or troubled, the rest can't help but notice, right?"
Itsuki blushed and nodded faintly. That was true.
Seeing her react, Ichika smiled warmly. "That's why—seeing you so down lately, and knowing you don't dare tell Shirase—I can't just go to him myself either."
"Don't—don't tell him!" Itsuki waved her hands frantically, panic flashing across her face.
Ichika chuckled softly and took her hand. "Relax. I wouldn't make that decision alone. I'd at least ask you first."
"…Thank you."
"No need to thank me." Ichika released her hand with an easy grin. "Now, back to business. Yukinoshita reminded me earlier that equipment is the most crucial part of this whole film project. So, I thought I'd drag you two along while I handled that."
"You planned this from the start?"
"Of course," Ichika said breezily, glancing toward Shirase—still expressionless as the store owner continued his relentless pitch. "I can't just side with you because you're upset. That wouldn't be fair to Nino."
"…I know. It's just…" Itsuki's voice faltered, her expression sinking again. "I don't know what to do."
Ichika smiled lightly. "Don't worry so much. Honestly, Nino's bound to struggle too before long."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that Yukinoshita-san and Shirase seem a bit… suspicious."
Itsuki froze.
She instinctively searched Ichika's face, trying to tell whether she was joking.
"Don't look at me like that—I'm serious." Ichika's teasing tone softened, her eyes thoughtful. "It's just my own impression, but… you've heard the rumors about Yukinoshita at school, right? Cold-hearted, no friends, untouchable genius—stuff like that."
She paused, her voice turning faintly meaningful. "But from the first time I met her, I knew that image was nonsense. Without that 'genius girl' label, she's just an ordinary girl."
"W-what are you implying…?" Itsuki bit her lip. She already suspected where this was going, but hearing it aloud made her uneasy.
Ichika's gaze softened with quiet resignation. "Because I've seen more of her true self, I think her feelings toward Shirase might not be simple. At least from her side."
"What about Shirase?" Itsuki's heart tightened.
Ichika glanced over at him unconsciously. "Aside from Nino, have you seen him treat any other girl differently?"
After a beat of hesitation, Itsuki murmured, "Does Kana-nee count?"
Ichika burst into laughter. "Kana-nee? You're kidding, right? Trust me, unless the world ends, Kana-nee and Shirase will always just be normal siblings."
Itsuki fell silent again.
"What's going through your head now?" Ichika asked gently, noticing her gloomy expression.
Itsuki mumbled, "I just realized… whether it's Nino or Yukinoshita, they're both so far ahead of me. It's like that fairy tale…"
"Like the ugly duckling?" Ichika finished bluntly. "Don't pity yourself. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Besides, the Itsuki who's always stuffing her face—with that soft, squishy belly—is super cute to me."
"The last part was so unnecessary!" Itsuki sputtered, her face burning red. Why would she bring that up?
Still, Ichika's words struck home. Self-pity wouldn't get her anywhere.
Taking a deep breath, Itsuki straightened up with a bright, determined smile. "Then let's all hang out later!"
Ichika's lips curved with satisfaction. "Sure. Where to?"
"Anywhere's fine—we'll just relax and have fun."
Itsuki clenched her small fists, a faint blush on her cheeks.
Ichika was right!
I'll show Shirase how bright I can shine. I won't be the ugly duckling anymore—I'll become a beautiful girl, like Nino.
No, even better—a graceful white swan.
Ichika quietly watched her sister's shift in mood and sighed inwardly. Love really is troublesome… it almost makes me not want to fall in love at all.
After that, Itsuki returned to her usual cheerful self.
...
While Shirase haggled with the store owner, Itsuki busied herself comparing rental prices, jotting notes with serious focus. Next to Ichika's laid-back attitude, she looked especially earnest—and honestly, kind of adorable.
Shirase couldn't help noticing her sudden enthusiasm.
He still had no clue why.
"What were you two talking about earlier?" he asked when he got a moment alone with Ichika.
"You're ranked first in the whole school," she said teasingly. "Use that genius brain of yours and figure it out."
Shirase sighed. He wasn't in the mood for riddles, but he made a mental note to dig into it later.
That evening, the trio texted their families that they wouldn't be home for dinner and ducked into a nearby restaurant.
Itsuki had carefully logged every store they'd visited, while Ichika—the so-called initiator of the project—seemed entirely casual.
After wandering until around six-thirty, the Nakano sisters decided to head home.
Not because they wanted to leave—but because Shirase had other business to attend to.
"You'll still be tutoring us this week, right?" Itsuki asked shyly, clasping her hands behind her back. Her cheeks flushed as she peeked up at him.
"Of course," Shirase said. "But you two better prepare yourselves—I'm going to whip you into shape."
"Whip? That sounds kind of sinister," Ichika chimed in, smiling. "By the way, were you serious about what you said earlier at the Service Club?"
"What did I say?" Shirase blinked.
"Sexy sailor uniforms," Ichika answered helpfully.
Itsuki immediately turned crimson, tugging at Ichika's sleeve. "Ichika, why bring that up now?"
"Because it sounds fun." Ichika winked at Shirase, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Since you're tutoring us and helping with the short film, I'll let you make one request of me. Anything you want."
By the end, her tone was teasing—almost seductive.
Itsuki blinked in confusion. Wasn't the short film his idea? Why does it sound like Ichika's paying him back?
Shirase, however, understood perfectly.
"Anything?" he asked, sounding intrigued.
"Anything," Ichika repeated with a gentle flutter of her lashes, her smile dazzling.
Shirase nodded solemnly. "Then, Ichika—please accomplish what Kana-nee once failed to do."
"What's that?"
"Break a stone slab with your chest."
"…"
Without another word, Shirase turned and walked off.
He left nothing behind—except two speechless girls.
Itsuki's face turned red again as she tried not to laugh. "How do you even break a stone slab with your chest?" she whispered.
"How should I know?" Ichika groaned, rolling her eyes before letting out a soft laugh. "I'd never do something that sounds that painful—or that stupid."
She pressed a hand lightly against her chest.
These are treasures. A girl's treasures.
And there were five sets, all just as magnificent.
Thinking that, her mind inevitably began to wander—straight to Nino.
Ichika couldn't help but wonder—now that Nino and Shirase were so close, had they already kissed? Touched each other?
And what did it even feel like—to be touched by a boy?
Before she realized it, her gaze had drifted toward Itsuki's chest.
"What are you doing?" Itsuki's face went scarlet as she instinctively stepped back, alarmed.
Even if she didn't know what Ichika was thinking, that look alone was enough to make her wary.
Ichika's lips curved into a radiant, teasing smile. "It's been a while since we've bathed together, hasn't it?"
Itsuki stiffened. "And then…?"
"And then… I'll give them a little squeeze!"
"Not happening!"
...
Instead of heading straight home, Shirase followed his memory and soon arrived at a large massage parlor.
Two young women stood at the reception desk. When they first saw him, they froze—then their eyes briefly lit up in surprise.
But the moment they noticed his school uniform, all traces of excitement vanished.
Flirting with a minor? Yeah, that was a fast track to prison.
"Hello, I'd like to see your most skilled masseuse," Shirase said directly.
The two receptionists exchanged glances, forcing polite smiles. "Are you here for relaxation? If so, we have another package that's a great deal."
"No need. I just want to meet your best," Shirase said seriously, his tone more like someone issuing a challenge than a customer making a request.
"Um… our best masseuse charges quite a bit," one of them offered hesitantly.
"That's fine. I only came to take a look," he replied honestly.
His calm determination—and strikingly good looks—were enough to convince them to call for the parlor's most famous masseuse.
She appeared a few moments later, dressed in a simple white T-shirt and fitted skirt, her legs wrapped in sheer black stockings.
Shirase greeted her politely, studied her face carefully, and nodded. "Thank you for your time."
The masseuse smiled professionally. "You're welcome. Would you like to begin your session now, or—"
"I just wanted to meet you. Now that I've done that, I'll take my leave. Goodbye."
With that, Shirase turned and walked out without hesitation.
Three stunned women were left standing there in silence.
After a long pause, one of the receptionists finally asked, "Do you… know him?"
"No idea," the masseuse said, equally baffled.
"So he really did just come in to look?" the other receptionist asked, incredulous.
He had said so at the start: I just want to meet your best masseuse.
And that was exactly what he'd done.
Of course, none of them could have guessed that Shirase had come solely to memorize the woman's face and figure—so he could later recreate her in his training simulation for [Immersive Hosting].
"I'll master the basics in three days," Shirase decided firmly on his way home.
With the [Triple-Experience Card] in hand, three days would be plenty.
He could simultaneously study in his mental simulation through [Immersive Hosting] and refine technique using [Fixed Hosting].
When he got home and slipped off his shoes, Kojima Kana appeared in loose loungewear, watching him curiously. "Mafuyu just called. She said you promised to give her a massage? And that you're secretly some kind of massage expert?"
"I might not be now," Shirase said with absolute seriousness, "but in two days, you can call me Massage Technician No. 10—Shirase Haruto."
Kana blinked, then laughed. "Why No. 10?"
"Because that's my jersey number. You really needed me to explain that?"
"You cheeky brat! Come here and take your punishment!"
Kana still didn't quite understand why he'd suddenly decided to become a masseur, but since he said it with such confidence, she decided to humor him.
Stretching out on the couch, she rested her cheek on one arm and grinned. "When you're ready in a couple of days, you can give me a massage first."
"Do you have back pain too?" Shirase asked, half-distractedly peeling an apple.
A faint blush rose on Kana's cheeks. "Who said you need to be in pain to enjoy a massage?"
"That's true enough."
"Exactly! When the time comes, massage my legs, my back, my waist—places that ache from sitting too long."
"Anything else?" he asked casually.
"Also…" Kana blinked, her eyes suddenly turning mischievously bright. "Massage my butt too."
Shirase burst out laughing. "Sure. What's next—want me to massage the front as well?"
Kana's entire face went red. "I—I don't know anything about that! You decide when the time comes!"
"Looks like Kana-nee's secretly a little naughty."
"I am not! Stop talking nonsense!"
Later that night, Shirase sat down at his desk and began searching online for materials on joint anatomy and professional massage techniques.
Once he'd finished setting up his simulation parameters, he activated [Immersive Hosting].
In the next moment, the image of the parlor's top masseuse appeared vividly before him.
"I want to learn massage," Shirase declared solemnly. "I'm going to become Tokyo's Massage King."
---
T/N: hehehe sorrgeee well not really but i actually forgot about webnovel LMAOOOO anyway heres ur 4 chapssss
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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