"...Taki, you wouldn't want the world to be destroyed, right?"
A few seconds after sending the message, it displayed 'Read'.
Obviously.
In all likelihood, Taki was currently eating her bento while playing on her phone.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Kitahara: "Taki still remembers last night's promise, right? Today there happens to be a mission to save the world that needs your help."
Taki: "What kind of incident?"
Kitahara: "It's very simple. Taki just needs to wear a maid outfit and then lift up her skirt with a look of disgust."
Taki: "..."
You call this very simple?
This is clearly just humiliating someone, okay! No matter how you look at it, it counts as harassment!
"Ugh..."
Looking at the message on her phone, Taki's cheeks puffed up involuntarily, and she almost squeezed the boxed fruit juice in her hand until it burst.
"Taki, what's wrong?"
Sitting in front of Taki, a girl with medium-long hair and side-swept bangs tilted her head and looked over.
"Cough, I'm fine..." Taki quickly turned off her phone screen and placed it to the side nervously. "I just saw a frustrating piece of news on Twitter, that's all."
The girl with side-swept bangs drank her juice while speaking, her tone cold, giving off the impression of an ice-cool beauty:
"Is Taki dating a boy?"
"H-How could that be!"
Taki nervously shifted her gaze away and hurriedly defended herself:
"Umiri, don't talk nonsense!"
"..."
Yahata Umiri didn't speak either; she simply held up her phone.
Snap.
Hearing the sound of a photo being taken, Taki subconsciously turned her small face away:
"Umiri, what are you doing?"
"Taking a photo of Taki." Yahata Umiri turned her phone around. "Here, see for yourself, Taki."
Part 1
"See what..."
Taki's gaze fell onto the phone, and she instantly became speechless.
In the photo, her small face was bright red, and she had a blatantly guilty expression that would look super suspicious to anyone.
"I haven't seen a shy Taki before."
A blonde girl, with her hands behind her back, looked over with a smile and a teasing voice:
"I suddenly remembered a saying: a girl's blush speaks louder than a long confession."
Taki's small face burned hot, and she looked around nervously:
"Uika, don't speak so loudly. What if someone hears you?"
"Yes, yes~" Misumi Uika looked over with a smile, a strand of golden hair falling past her ear. "Taki is only worried about being heard, but you're not denying that you're dating a boy?"
Taki: "..."
Yahata Umiri put away her phone and looked over while biting her lower lip:
"Originally it was just a suspicion, but Taki is actually this shy... Are you really dating a boy?"
"I'm not, I haven't." Taki denied nervously. "At most... it's just a crush, that's all."
Even though she had already hugged, kissed, bathed together, and even engaged in more embarrassing mutual service with that pervert Kitahara, as long as she didn't admit it, it didn't count as official dating!
Yahata Umiri's right hand subconsciously tightened, quietly crushing the juice box in her grip, her expression solemn:
"Many boys are two-faced. After using sweet talk to trick a girl into a relationship, once the novelty wears off, they resort to cold violence and growing tired of her. Taki, you must keep your eyes open."
Even though she knew Yahata Umiri was caring about her, Taki couldn't help but refute in a low voice:
"He's not that kind of person..."
Things like growing tired or cold violence definitely wouldn't happen.
Besides, even if she herself were blind and easily tricked, it's impossible that everyone's eyes were bad, right?
"I'm really curious."
Misumi Uika rested her chin on her right hand, her pretty face full of curiosity:
"Just how impressive is the boy who managed to make Taki's heart flutter?"
The three girls were not only classmates in the same class, but also seated directly in front of and behind each other, so they could naturally chat about more private topics.
"My heart didn't flutter." Taki shifted her gaze away nervously, her face burning, unwilling to answer such an embarrassing question. "Just eat your food properly and stop asking around."
Yahata Umiri crossed her arms over her chest, lightly knitting her brows, and suddenly offered an invitation:
"Taki, call the boy you're dating this afternoon. You, me, and Uika, the four of us can go to a KTV together to sing."
"Huh?"
Taki looked over in confusion.
Yahata Umiri made no attempt to conceal her intention at all, her tone serious:
"I want to see what kind of person that boy is, and whether he'll play with Taki's feelings."
Taki: "..."
I already said we're not dating! Going to a KTV together would be super embarrassing, okay!
"Sorry, I refuse. I have very important matters this afternoon, so I don't have time to go singing."
Taki delivered a decisive triple refusal.
"What about tomorrow?"
"I don't have time tomorrow either."
"The day after tomorrow?"
"No time, no time! In short, I just don't have time."
"..."
Misumi Uika drank her fruit juice beverage and lightly poked fun from the side:
"Taki won't keep it hidden from us for her whole life, right?"
Taki: "..."
It would be best if I could hide it for a lifetime, so that guy doesn't lay his hands on you guys too!
At the same time.
Seeing Taki's 'Read', Kitahara didn't mind either. He slipped his phone into his pocket and continued walking toward the club room.
Tomori, Anon, Kita, and Hitori—the four girls had all arrived. As for the succubus Sakiko, she was eating bento outside with Shimizu Rin, so he didn't need to worry about her.
"Kitahara, hurry, hurry!"
"We're just waiting for you~"
"I'm so hungry, I'm going to die if I don't eat something soon."
"..."
Facing the chirping girls, Kitahara couldn't help feeling a bit subtle, as if facing a flock of squawking nestlings awaiting food.
"I had some business that delayed me for a few minutes just now. Let's go, we're heading to the onsen village."
Kitahara extended his right hand and took the girls to the onsen village to eat dinner.
"Thanks for the food."
"Mmm~ Mapo tofu is super delicious, I feel like I could never get tired of eating it."
"As expected, it's the number one delicacy in the world."
"..."
After finishing dinner, the girls were all completely satisfied, giving full-mark praise one after another.
"You guys really never get tired of eating it."
While complaining, Kitahara brought Pandora's Box, which was floating in mid-air, in front of himself.
"The energy charge seems to have increased, yet it also seems like there's no movement..."
The school festival is about to start soon, and with the current energy charging progress, it might not be able to make it in time.
"Um..." Seeing Kitahara frowning slightly, Hitori plucked up her courage to raise her right hand, speaking in a hesitant, low voice, "What if we sell mapo tofu at the school festival?"
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, Kitahara's eyes lit up, finding it more and more feasible the more he thought about it. He reached out and rubbed Hitori's little head:
"Hitori really is a genius girl."
During the school festival, there is a large volume of customer traffic, which can indeed significantly speed up the energy charging progress. The only problem is that Pandora's Box floats against gravity, but as long as a domain is deployed, the problem can naturally be solved easily.
"Ehehe~"
Receiving praise, Hitori subconsciously narrowed her eyes, involuntarily showing a triumphant little expression.
"That sounds really good." Anon rested her chin on her right hand, her voice crisp. "But everyone has to help out in the classroom, so how are we going to sell the food?"
"That's very simple." Kitahara already had an idea. "We just need to have an idle person who isn't busy come over."
"Eh?"
Kita blinked her eyes and quickly guessed Kitahara's thought:
"The idle person wouldn't happen to be the store manager, right?"
"That's right, it's the store manager." Kitahara nodded. "Seika-nee has nothing to do in the morning and sleeps in every day, so we can just call her over to help."
Tomori reminded softly: "During the school festival, outsiders don't seem to be allowed to come in and set up stalls."
"There's also Aoi-chan." Kitahara had considered this as well. "We can just have sister Seika transform into someone else, and she can pass under the radar."
Kita couldn't help but complain in a quiet voice: "The store manager is so hot-tempered, what if she doesn't agree?"
Kitahara wasn't worried at all: "Don't worry, I have my own ways to get the store manager to agree."
"..."
The discussion concluded.
Kitahara soaked in the onsen with the girls again, then left the club room and went back to continue decorating the classroom.
Just as he reached the classroom door, Kitahara suddenly felt his phone vibrate. Pulling out his phone to take a look, it was a new message from Taki:
"...You're not allowed to buy strange, weird maid outfits!"
Seeing the content of the message, a smile appeared on Kitahara's face:
"Understood, Princess Taki, please rest assured."
It seems last night's self-detonation wasn't without benefits. If he hadn't self-detonated, Taki definitely wouldn't have agreed so easily to help complete the task.
Taki: "This matter must be kept secret, you're not allowed to tell anyone!"
Kitahara: "I guarantee I won't tell anyone else, otherwise let it be so that I can never kiss Taki ever again in the future."
Taki: "Bah~ And you're not allowed to take photos."
Kitahara: "Then what about taking videos?"
Taki: "Even less allowed!"
Kitahara: "It's not okay even if I save them just for myself to look at?"
Taki: "None of it is allowed!"
"..."
After chatting for a few sentences, they agreed to meet after school. The specific time would wait for Taki to send a message notification, no later than 5:30 at the latest. Kitahara put away his phone and went into the classroom to continue busywork.
At three o'clock in the afternoon.
The haunted house was finally completely set up, just waiting to open for business at tomorrow's school festival.
Kitahara and Hitori got on the scooter and rode home together slowly.
Nothing happened on the way, and the two quickly arrived at the door of the Gotoh residence.
"Hitori, go back first." Kitahara waved goodbye. "I'll go to the supermarket to buy some things first. See you tonight."
Wanting to sell food at the school festival tomorrow, he naturally had to prepare in advance; making it while selling it would be too exhausting.
Kitahara had already thought it through. Taking advantage of the free time now, he could make the mapo tofu first and store it in advance inside the band poster, then directly take it out to sell the next day.
Once the band poster is taken down from the wall, everything inside will be in a frozen state, and tomorrow it will still be in a steaming hot, fresh-out-of-the-pot state.
"Um..." Hitori looked up over at him, speaking in a low voice, "I can help prepare the food too."
Hearing this, Kitahara pondered: "Is it okay for Futari to be home alone?"
"It's fine." Hitori shook her head gently, her tone envious. "Futari has many good friends and is playing at a friend's house this afternoon. I can just head home after five."
Show off your momentum as an older sister, don't have a face full of envy when you talk!
"All right then, shall we go directly to the supermarket?"
Hitori wanted to help, so Kitahara naturally couldn't refuse.
"Mhm."
Hitori nodded hurriedly.
"Well then... off we go."
The two got back onto the scooter and headed to the supermarket.
Arriving at the supermarket entrance, after parking the scooter in the designated spot, Kitahara and Hitori walked into the supermarket together.
"Hitori, I'm going to the restroom." Kitahara said softly, "Wait for me a moment."
"Mhm."
Hitori naturally nodded obediently, making one feel exceptionally at ease.
Watching Kitahara walk away, Hitori withdrew her gaze, turned her head to look toward an ice cream shop not far away, and lightly bit her lips:
"The weather today is still very hot. I'll go buy two ice cream cones, one for me, one for Kitahara..."
When Kitahara returned from the restroom, Hitori had already bought two ice cream cones and was standing at the shop entrance looking forward eagerly.
"Kitahara, ice cream."
Seeing Kitahara return, Hitori's eyes brightened slightly, and she hurriedly handed over the ice cream in her right hand.
"Thank you, Hitori."
Kitahara naturally didn't act politely for show. He reached out and took the ice cream, looked at the line in front of the ice cream shop, and a satisfied expression quickly appeared on his face.
(Kitahara's expression is so strange, it's like... like an old father watching his daughter who just learned how to walk?)
For some reason, Hitori always felt that something was very off.
(Ahhh! Don't overthink things! We're clearly peers, it's definitely not a father and daughter relationship!)
"I-Is there something on my face?"
Hitori nervously looked up with her small face and asked in a low voice.
Kitahara still looked over with a smile:
"Hitori's face is completely clean, there's nothing on it."
"Then what is Kitahara smiling at?"
Hitori plucked up her courage to ask softly:
"The smile... is so strange."
Kitahara extended his right hand and held down Hitori's little head:
"I'm happy because Hitori has already grown into an adult capable of standing on her own."
"Ah...?"
Hitori looked up blankly, her expression bewildered, clearly not understanding why she was suddenly being praised.
Kitahara raised his right hand and pointed to the queue not far away:
"Hitori bought the ice cream from this store just now, right?"
"N-No doubt." Hitori blinked her eyes and asked carefully, "Could it give us an upset stomach?"
"Of course it won't give us an upset stomach." Kitahara took a bite of the ice cream. "Hitori actually hasn't realized it yet."
Hitori nervously tilted her head up, her peach-blossom eyes peeking over:
"Realized what?"
Kitahara said gently:
"Just now, Hitori decided to buy ice cream all by herself, then lined up by herself, communicated with the server by herself, paid by herself, and bought two ice cream cones all by herself... If it were in the past, could Hitori have bought ice cream in a mall on her own?"
Hitori: "..."
After listening to these words, Hitori slowly widened her beautiful eyes and finally realized it in hindsight.
(Ehhh?!)
(I actually did such an amazing thing?)
As a person with severe social anxiety, Hitori has an extreme fear of crowded environments. Simply put, if something can be bought online, she will absolutely not go to a physical store; when forced to go to a physical store, she wouldn't even dare to look up at anyone when paying, let alone communicate with the server.
(But just now...)
Hitori hurriedly recalled what happened just now, and soon discovered in shock that from lining up to ordering, while even chatting softly with the server and choosing the ice cream flavors, she hardly felt afraid or panicked, let alone trembling all over or being too nervous to breathe.
"Why... why did this happen?"
Hitori muttered to herself, her gaze involuntarily falling onto Kitahara, her peach-blossom eyes clear and bright.
(As expected, it's because I met Kitahara that I became so amazing, right?)
"Hitori was super amazing today." Kitahara gave a thumbs-up, not holding back his praise at all. "Keep it up, and go all the way until we reach the Budokan."
"Ehehe~"
Hearing the praise, Hitori involuntarily switched into a triumphant stance, her chin slightly raised and her left hand resting on her waist, her appearance exceptionally adorable.
It wasn't until passersby nearby cast strange glances that Hitori hurriedly reined in her proud little expression, lowered her head with a blush, and looked at her toes:
"Thank you, Kitahara..."
"..."
After finishing the ice cream, Kitahara took Hitori to the ingredients section to shop, and after buying the ingredients, the two rode home together.
"Hana, good afternoon."
Hitori gently waved her right hand and greeted in a low voice.
After entering the door, they saw a beast-eared girl looking up with her small face, waiting in eager anticipation.
"Here."
Kitahara took out a small cake and handed it over, sending Hana away, then looked at Hitori:
"I'll carry the things into the kitchen first. Hitori, go wash your face, then grab two bottles of drinks from the fridge."
"Mhm."
Hitori hurriedly nodded and agreed.
Carrying the purchased ingredients into the kitchen, Kitahara let out a soft sigh, pulled out his phone again, and called his exclusive liaison officer.
Wanting to set up a stall at the school festival required preparing many things, such as a food cart, bowls and chopsticks, and so on. These odds and ends were rather troublesome to prepare, so Kitahara directly entrusted the liaison officer—one would be a fool not to use power when available.
"Hitori, help me tie the apron."
Kitahara opened his arms and looked at Hitori.
"Ah..."
Hitori agreed with a blush, holding the apron to tie it for Kitahara.
"Great, now it's my turn."
Kitahara brought over another apron with a smile.
Hitori hurriedly shook her head with a red face: "I-I can tie it myself."
"That won't do." Kitahara flatly refused. "Hitori helped me, so of course I have to help Hitori tie her apron too. It's called courtesy demands reciprocity."
Hitori had no choice but to agree with a red face, but she soon realized that Kitahara helping her tie the apron wasn't done from behind, but starting from the front. By the time the apron was tied, Hitori was already fully embraced in Kitahara's arms.
"I like Hitori."
Kitahara lowered his head and kissed her directly.
"Mmm..."
Hitori's small face burned scalding hot. Knowing she couldn't escape the fate of being teased, she could only close her eyes and 'lie flat'.
Lips met.
Hitori shrank back bashfully, but her mouth was only so big. In the end, she was still caught by Kitahara, and aggrievedly let herself be teased.
After teasing Hitori, next was cooking time.
Working together, a man and a woman don't get tired; Kitahara and Hitori busied themselves together, and as dusk fell, they successfully prepared the dishes to be sold tomorrow.
"It's almost six o'clock..."
Hitori checked the time on her phone and hurriedly said:
"Kitahara, I have to head home now."
"Stay safe on the way."
Kitahara nodded gently, saw Hitori out the door, then took out his phone and raised his eyebrows in confusion:
"Strange, why hasn't Taki sent a message yet?"