"...Are you free this weekend?"
Hearing Tiara's question, Izumi Sora was slightly taken aback.
Looking at the girl with straight bangs, her pretty face slightly red and her eyes expectant, Izumi Sora hesitated slightly.
While he was thinking about how to answer, Tiara hurriedly waved her hands to explain:
"Izumi-kun, please don't misunderstand. The School Festival is about to begin, and I'll be very busy during this time, without any time to go to the library to study. Also, the final exams aren't far away... So, if Izumi-kun is free this weekend, could I trouble you to help me with tutoring?"
"So it's for tutoring."
Izumi Sora agreed upon hearing this:
"I have things to do on Saturday, but Sunday happens to be free."
He had agreed with Yanami and Elf yesterday to climb Mount Fuji on Saturday, which would take at least a day.
"Thank you, Izumi-kun!"
Tiara breathed a sigh of relief, a bright smile quickly blooming on her pretty face.
Izumi Sora took out his phone, casually saying:
"I'll send you the address. Sunday morning at nine o'clock, Tiara will come to my house to study."
"G-Go to Izumi-kun's house?"
Tiara's straight bangs trembled slightly, and her pretty face rapidly turned red.
(G-Go to Izumi-kun's house to study together?)
(What do I do, what do I do?)
(I've never been to a boy's house before. Will Izumi-kun do strange things...)
(Don't overthink! Izumi-kun is not that kind of person!)
Seeing Tiara stammering, her eyes shy, Izumi Sora explained:
"I mentioned it before, I am neighbors with Elf and Mahiru. On Sunday, Elf and Mahiru will both come over to study, so Tiara can join us."
"Phew..."
Hearing this, Tiara immediately breathed a sigh of relief, setting her mind at ease, her expression serious:
"Unless I get into a car accident, I will definitely arrive on time!"
"...There's really no need to be that dramatic."
"Izumi-kun, please rest assured, I definitely won't be late!"
"Then it's settled... I'll head out first if there's nothing else?"
"..."
Waving goodbye to Tiara, Izumi Sora took a copy of the approved proposal and left the student council office.
A moment later.
Izumi Sora returned to the club activity room.
"Sora, you're back."
"How is it, how is it?"
"Did it pass the student council's review this time?"
"..."
Yanami, Elf, and Komari—none of the three girls had left. They were sitting around the table, eagerly awaiting his return.
Even the timid and shy Komari mustered up her courage, shivering while looking over with an expectant small face.
This scene made Izumi Sora feel a subtle emotion, feeling as if he were a tired old father returning home, facing three daughters waiting to be fed:
"Good news, it has passed the student council's review."
Yanami raised her hands above her head: "Yay!"
Elf lifted her chin, her voice smug: "That's an activity proposal we wrote together, it's only natural that it passed."
"T-Thank you, everyone!"
Komari Chika slumped back in her chair, a relieved smile also appearing on her small face.
Yanami smiled and looked over: "Komari looks very cute when she smiles, you should smile more often."
"P-Please don't tease me..."
Komari Chika blushed and hurriedly looked down at her toes.
"It's getting late." Izumi Sora spoke up at the right moment. "That's all for today, time to go back."
The sky gradually darkened.
Outside the window, the sun was setting, and the evening glow was dim.
The three girls followed Izumi Sora, happily leaving the activity room, and then headed home together.
The journey was silent.
By the time they reached his door, the streetlights were already on.
"I'm back."
Izumi Sora took out his keys and opened the door.
"...Welcome back."
Shiina Mahiru, wearing an apron around her waist and a headscarf, walked out of the kitchen, her eyes gentle:
"Everyone, go wash your hands first. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes."
"Okay~" Yamada Elf happily agreed. "I'm just hungry."
Yanami bent down to change her shoes, saying:
"My mom has to work overtime tonight, so I came over to eat with everyone. I hope I'm not causing Mahiru any trouble?"
"It's fine." Angel-sama's voice was soft. "Sora-kun messaged me earlier, so I deliberately cooked an extra bowl of rice. Don't worry, Yanami."
After saying that, Shiina Mahiru's gaze shifted to Izumi Sora, and she said softly:
"Sora-kun, after you wash your hands, go upstairs and call Sagiri down for dinner."
"Okay."
Izumi Sora accepted the task, put down his schoolbag, washed up, and then headed upstairs.
Arriving on the second floor.
Izumi Sora was just about to knock on the door when he suddenly noticed that Sagiri's door wasn't fully closed, leaving a crack.
Reaching out and gently pushing, the door opened inward without a sound.
Looking down.
He saw a girl wearing a sailor suit lying motionless on the floor.
"...Passed out again?"
The corner of Izumi Sora's mouth twitched slightly. He suddenly remembered the terrifying torture Kuroneko subjected him to last night, so he half-crouched down:
"I heard that in the Middle Ages, there was a cruel punishment called the 'Goat's Tongue'. Has Sagiri ever heard of it?"
"..."
Sagiri lay on the floor, motionless.
"The process is actually very simple..."
Izumi Sora explained unhurriedly, then grabbed Sagiri's small foot and gently tickled the sole of the girl's snow-white foot with his finger.
"Mmm—"
With just a gentle touch, Sagiri, who was pretending to be unconscious, instantly couldn't hold on. Her small body suddenly tensed, her toes—as white and tender as freshly peeled lotus seeds—curled up abruptly, and her small foot retreated in a panic.
"I-Idiot Onii-chan!"
Sagiri's small face was flushed, glaring angrily:
"You actually tickled the sole of my foot!"
Izumi Sora remained expressionless: "An unconscious person wouldn't feel anything, so don't move, I'll continue tickling."
"I-I don't want to!"
"It's up to me whether I do it or not."
"..."
"Onii-chan, I'm angry! I'm ignoring you from now on!"
"Continue."
"I-I-I... I'll sneak attack you tonight! I won't let you sleep!"
"Continue."
"Wuu wuu... I'm sorry Onii-chan... I was wrong..."
Sagiri was stubborn at first, but under the torment of the 'Goat's Tongue', she surrendered in less than a minute, tearfully admitting her mistake and begging for mercy.
"You should have apologized earlier."
Izumi Sora released his right hand and instinctively brought his fingers to his nose to sniff.
Don't misunderstand.
It wasn't because he had a perverted fetish; it was purely an instinctive action. Sniffing your fingers after touching feet is an instinct in human genes.
This action was seen by Sagiri, who had sat up. The teary-eyed silver-haired loli's small face rapidly turned red. She hugged her knees, a disgusted expression on her small face:
"D-Disgusting!"
"Lewd!"
"Y-You actually smelled it... Onii-chan is an idiot! Blockhead! You're not allowed to touch me ever again!"
What do you mean I'm not allowed to touch you?
I never intended to touch you in the first place, alright!
Izumi Sora was composed, completely devoid of guilt:
"Your feet smell..."
Hearing this, Sagiri's pink cheeks instantly puffed up, getting angry like a Koromon, and she raised her small foot to stomp on him.
"They do not! My feet are clearly super clean, they don't smell at all!"
Izumi Sora took a half-step back, avoiding the attack:
"Mahiru has finished cooking. Hurry up and go downstairs, wash your hands, and eat."
Hearing this, Sagiri immediately bit her lower lip.
"Onii-chan hasn't cooked a meal himself in so long..."
Even though this is the second playthrough, why did I still let that bad woman invade?
She really wanted to drive Angel-sama away, but what frustrated Sagiri was that she couldn't find a reason no matter what.
"Hmph~"
Sagiri snorted lightly, crossed her arms over her chest, and averted her small face:
"I don't want to go downstairs to eat today. Onii-chan, bring the food up."
Izumi Sora raised an eyebrow: "It's livelier eating together."
"No! I don't want to!" Sagiri acted like a spoiled child. "Anyway, I just don't want to go downstairs to eat!"
"Alright." Izumi Sora wasn't angry either. "I'll bring the food up later."
People who are picky eaters, smack their lips loudly, or pick through dishes with their chopsticks are the truly annoying brats.
In contrast, Sagiri just wanted her food brought to her door, and after finishing, the bowls and chopsticks would be neatly placed outside. This was actually quite normal.
"Onii-chan, during my afternoon nap, I had a very interesting dream..."
Sagiri lightly snorted, averting her small face, and recounted her dream:
"In the dream, technology was very advanced. A company developed a virtual reality game where players' consciousness could enter the game world. Onii-chan and I bought the gaming helmets together. In the game, Onii-chan's ability was dual-wielding, and then because of a mastermind behind the scenes, everyone was trapped in the game, struggling to survive..."
Izumi Sora: "..."
Why does your dream feel so familiar?
The more I listen, the more it sounds like Sword Art Online!
For a while now, Sagiri had been frequently sharing various 'dreams', and they were all very suitable as ideas for light novels... Plus her sudden clinginess without warning, Sagiri was indeed acting very strange.
But Izumi Sora didn't delve deeper; after all, everyone has secrets.
"Onii-chan~"
Sagiri tilted up her small face, her eyes expectant, her voice unconsciously softening:
"The game is finished now, so you can continue writing your next work, right?"
Izumi Sora's tone was meaningful:
"Sagiri seems to be looking forward to my light novel?"
Sagiri's small face turned red, twisting her head away: "Since you haven't written a new work in so long, the people who support Onii-chan must be very worried... It's totally not because I want to read Onii-chan's light novel."
Izumi Sora reached out his right hand and rubbed Sagiri's small head:
"Since Sagiri wants to read it, I'll start preparing. The game is still under review, so I won't be busy for a while..."
"Don't touch my head." Sagiri muttered, but her body didn't move. "When Onii-chan's light novel is written, I can help draw the illustrations."
"Then I'll leave it to Sagiri."
Pausing, Izumi Sora said smoothly:
"Sagiri's dream feels very good, very novel. As for the title... how about 'Sword Art Online'?"
Sagiri's eyes sparkled brightly, but she gave a tsundere hum:
"Hmph, it's barely acceptable."
"Then let's change the title." Izumi Sora pondered for two seconds. "'Trapped in a Game World, I Spam Basic Attacks with Cleave'?"
"No." Sagiri quickly wrinkled her cute nose. "That name is terrible, stick with the previous one!"
"..."
The casual chat ended.
Izumi Sora walked downstairs; dinner had just been prepared.
After explaining the situation, Mahiru quickly prepared the food according to Sagiri's usual portion, which Izumi Sora then carried upstairs.
Next was dinner time for the Izumi household.
With Mahiru's max-level cooking skills, everyone ate very happily. Especially 'Inmate Eight's' blissful expression after eating delicious food, which could make others eat an extra half bowl of rice.
After eating and drinking their fill, Angel-sama brewed tea. After drinking the tea, it was unknowingly 7:00 PM.
Izumi Sora teleported Yanami home, while Mahiru and Elf played until 9:00 PM before saying their goodbyes.
The next few days passed in a flash.
Izumi Sora attended classes during the day, went to the library with Mahiru and Elf to read after school, then went to the club room to make activity props. After returning home at night, he had to prepare his new work under Sagiri's urging. His days were busy and fulfilling.
In the blink of an eye, it was Saturday.
8:00 AM.
A crisp doorbell shattered the tranquility of the early morning.
Izumi Sora got up to open the door and saw a girl with an ahoge standing in the sunlight. She wore a white tracksuit, and the smile on her pretty face could clearly rival the sunlight. It was none other than the gluttonous sea otter.
"Sora, good morning~"
Yanami Anna put her hands behind her back, her voice crisp and bright:
"I'm here."
Izumi Sora was speechless: "The agreed time was eight-thirty, right? You're here too early... Why didn't you sleep in today?"
"Thinking about climbing Mount Fuji today, I woke up at six-thirty and couldn't go back to sleep." Yanami Anna looked up, her eyes clear and azure, reflecting the sky and white clouds. "Has Sora eaten breakfast yet?"
Izumi Sora pointed to the dining table: "I was just about to."
"Then hurry up and eat, Sora." Yanami Anna stepped inside. "We have to meet up at eight-thirty."
"I'll eat first."
Izumi Sora turned and walked to the table to sit down.
There was leftover rice from last night, which had been kept in the fridge overnight. So when he woke up this morning, he made a plate of fried rice. He added chopped green onions, corn kernels, diced carrots, and diced shiitake mushrooms. The oil he used wasn't vegetable oil, but lard he bought specifically from Amazon. It could be described as fragrant and exceptionally appetizing.
Unfortunately, after taking just two bites, Yanami sat opposite him, leaning on the table, staring unblinkingly at him. There was even a glint of drool at the corner of her mouth.
The corner of Izumi Sora's mouth twitched slightly. He felt that 'Inmate Eight' right now looked exactly like a pet dog expecting to be fed:
"Freshly fried egg rice, do you want to eat some together?"
Yanami Anna raised a hand to wipe the drool from the corner of her mouth, her voice crisp:
"I already ate breakfast this morning..."
"Then never mind."
"So I'll just have one bite!"
Izumi Sora: "..."
"Here."
Izumi Sora silently handed the spoon over.
Yanami Anna originally intended to reach out and take it, but her hand stopped in mid-air and suddenly retracted. Blushing, she looked left and right. After confirming there was no one else in the living room, she shyly lowered her voice, her eyes full of expectation:
"Sora, feed me."
"I've heard that food fed by others tastes better, I want to try it..." Yanami Anna's pretty face flushed slightly, urging shyly. "Hurry up, hurry up."
Ever since her 'self-destruction' on the day of the Sports Festival, 'Inmate Eight's' courage had been diminishing day by day. Now, too embarrassed to ask for kisses, she only dared to ask Izumi Sora to feed her.
"...Open your mouth."
Izumi Sora scooped up a spoonful of fried rice and brought it to Yanami's lips.
They had already kissed and hugged, so feeding 'Inmate Eight' was naturally no problem.
"Ah..."
Yanami Anna cooperatively opened her mouth, revealing two rows of pearly white teeth.
"Ah-woo!"
Swallowing the spoon in one bite, Yanami nimbly swept the fried rice clean. Her eyes quickly widened round, her expression like a kitten tasting dried shrimp for the first time. It had to be said, her facial expression was super cute.
"Super super super delicious!"
"My tongue is going to get pregnant!"
Hearing this, Izumi Sora complained:
"If I remember correctly, a certain someone said the night before last that Mahiru's cooking was the best in the world."
"Ehehe~"
Yanami Anna playfully stuck out her delicate pink tongue, not ashamed in the slightest:
"The day before yesterday was the day before yesterday. Sora is the best in the world today."
After swallowing the fried rice, Yanami Anna couldn't help but look over expectantly. She didn't speak, just stared eagerly at the spoon with the pleading gaze of a pet dog.
Faced with 'Inmate Eight' who had turned into a pet dog, Izumi Sora simply couldn't resist and silently handed the spoon over again.
"Thank you, Sora! Sora is indeed the best!"
Yanami Anna thanked him happily and ate the fried rice with an "ah-woo."
Taking turns, the full plate of fried rice quickly hit the bottom.
"Sora, I'll wash the dishes, you go change."
Yanami Anna quickly stood up, happily clearing the dishes and heading to the kitchen.
A moment later.
The two went out together, met up with Elf and Mahiru, and the four headed to the train station.
Mount Fuji is a popular tourist attraction with a super large crowd. Teleporting there would easily lead to being discovered, so during their discussion yesterday, everyone decided to take public transportation there and teleport back in the evening.
"Is Mahiru's foot okay?"
Yanami Anna looked at Angel-sama with concern.
"Don't worry." Shiina Mahiru wore a tracksuit today, her hair tied in a high ponytail, looking dashing and spirited, though her voice remained gentle. "My foot is much better. I'll climb the mountain with everyone first, and take the cable car if I can't keep going."
"That's good..."
Hearing this, Yanami Anna felt relieved.
Mahiru definitely won't be able to make it to the end, so my date plan won't be affected.
After a twisting journey, they arrived at the Shinjuku bus terminal, where a girl with long straight black hair was eagerly waiting.
"Ruri-chan!"
"Good morning, Ruri."
"We're here."
"..."
Looking at Kuroneko standing in the sunlight, Izumi Sora's eyes brightened slightly.
Today, Kuroneko wasn't wearing her dark gothic dress, but a white dress. Paired with her milky white skin, she looked exceptionally youthful and tender.
Noticing Izumi Sora's gaze, Kuroneko's small face flushed slightly, and she bit her lower lip while glaring at him.
"This is the first time I've seen Ruri-chan wear a white dress." Yanami's voice was crisp. "It feels like a different person, so cute."
Mahiru nodded in agreement: "Indeed very cute."
"Indeed very cute."
Izumi Sora dropped back two steps, quietly praising her.
"Go away." Kuroneko's small face flushed slightly, glaring shyly. "A mere mortal, don't speak to me."
"..."
"The bus is here." Yanami's voice was crisp. "Everyone, hurry up and get your tickets and board."