In less than three minutes.
Chika had changed her clothes and reappeared on the balcony.
Perhaps because of her natural beauty, coupled with eating well and sleeping soundly, secretary Chika's skin was always excellent. She rarely wore makeup, and even when she did, it only took a few minutes.
"President, I'm here!"
Before her words finished, Chika leaped down from the balcony.
Thump!
Natsuki opened his arms and steadily caught Chika.
"Be careful." Natsuki looked down and said speechlessly, "At least say hello before you jump."
"Eh heh~"
Chika stuck out her pink tongue, a triumphant smile appearing on her pretty face, and said:
"President will definitely catch me, so I'm not scared at all."
"What if I didn't catch you?"
"Hmm... If you didn't catch me, I'd cry for President to see."
It's easy to say, but you need to have the ability to cry on command!
Natsuki's gaze shifted downwards, landing on secretary Chika's soft and moist lips, and he couldn't help but feel a flutter in his heart as he said:
"I smell durian."
"Eh?" Chika was startled, blinking her eyes in confusion, "No, I haven't eaten durian today."
"I definitely smell it." Natsuki slowly leaned closer, "It seems to be the smell of your lip balm."
Chika retorted:
"President must have smelled wrong. My lip balm clearly smells like green apple."
Natsuki said, "I don't believe it, unless you let me taste it."
Chika: "..."
No wonder he suddenly mentioned a durian flavor; he was clearly just looking for an excuse to kiss me!
Slap.
Chika extended her right hand, blocking Natsuki's mouth, and puffed out her cheeks, saying, "I won't let the President kiss me!"
Natsuki asked, "Why not?"
Chika: "I'm still angry!"
"Impossible." Natsuki shook his head and said, "I heard that Chika-sama is open-minded and optimistic, broad-minded, and has the capacity to embrace all, never holding grudges overnight."
"Hmph hmph~" Hearing a string of rainbow praises, Chika's lips couldn't help but curl up slightly. She wanted to hold back her smile, but she couldn't at all. Yet, she said, "Don't think that just by praising me, I'll forgive the President. Announcing your relationship with someone else was too much, President."
"Yes, yes." Natsuki said, "Can I kiss you now?"
Chika puffed out her cheeks and said, "Of course not!"
Natsuki looked disappointed and said, "Then when can I kiss you?"
"Wait until I'm happy." Chika's pretty face flushed slightly, and she lifted her chin, saying, "In short, not now… Mmph!"
Before she finished speaking, Natsuki quickly lowered his head and covered secretary Chika's soft, rosy lips.
"How… how dare you!" Chika's beautiful eyes widened, and she glared angrily, "The President actually ambushed me!"
"I'm sorry." Natsuki's eyes were innocent. "Chika-sama's posture just now was too perfect for an ambush; I couldn't resist."
"The President is so shameless!"
"..."
A moment later.
Natsuki released secretary Chika and said contentedly, "Let's go, let's go on a date."
"It's shopping, not a date." Chika retorted, "President, don't talk nonsense."
"Yes, yes."
"..."
The two left Fujiwara together, took the train, and headed to the station.
Enoshima is located in Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and is one of Japan's three ancient capitals. Its main industry is tourism. Because it is very close to Tokyo, Natsuki and Chika were naturally not visiting for the first time; they had already been there many times.
No words were exchanged along the way.
At ten o'clock in the morning.
Natsuki and Chika arrived in Kamakura.
"Kamakura, I'm here!"
Chika spread her arms and happily shouted.
"Go see the Great Buddha of Kamakura?" Natsuki suggested.
"I've seen it many times already." Chika shook her head. "I've even been inside the Buddha statue. Let's do something else."
"Hase-dera Temple?"
"Been there twice."
"Meigetsu-in Temple?"
"I've taken many photos there with friends; every corner is super familiar."
"..."
"That makes it difficult." Natsuki pondered, "It's only ten o'clock in the morning. The fireworks festival and food exhibition are both in the evening… I know where we should go."
"Eh?" Chika asked curiously, "Where does the President want to go play?"
Natsuki stepped forward and said, "Don't ask, just follow me."
"..."
The two were not in a hurry and simply wandered leisurely through the ancient city of Kamakura, walking slowly.
A moment later.
Natsuki stopped and said, "We're here."
"Eh?" Chika blinked, curiously looking around. "Is there anything fun nearby?"
"Of course there is." Natsuki looked at Chika, his tone subtle, "It's hot in summer, and you're covered in sweat. Is it more comfortable to shop on the street, or to stay in a room with air conditioning and drink cola?"
Chika decisively said, "Of course, it's more comfortable to have air conditioning and drink cola."
Natsuki smiled and said, "Right? So let's go enjoy the air conditioning."
"..."
After walking a few more steps, when Natsuki led her to the entrance of a Love Hotel, Chika finally realized what was happening, her pretty face quickly flushed, and she said in shame, "The… the President was talking about a place like this?!"
"You can enjoy air conditioning, free drinks, affordable prices, and rest as you please." Natsuki said seriously, "Don't worry, we're just going in for the air conditioning. I promise we won't do anything else."
"I don't believe the President at all!"
Chika's pretty face was crimson, filled with shame and anger.
He said we were going on a date, didn't he?
When others go on a date, they at least go shopping and watch movies first, spending the whole day eating, drinking, and playing outside. Who goes straight to a place like this?!
Natsuki held secretary Chika's right hand and said seriously, "Chika is very familiar with all the fun sights. After thinking about it, only this place is the most fun."
Chika puffed out her cheeks and shouted, "Liar President! This place isn't fun at all!"
"..."
Chika wanted to refuse.
She was clearly still angry, and today he actually wanted to take advantage of her, completely disregarding her feelings.
Too much!
Absolutely too much!
But for some reason, her heart was involuntarily beating faster, and her breathing became slightly hurried. After Natsuki held her hand, her body softened, and she had no strength to pull away. She could only refuse verbally while blushing and lowering her head, allowing Natsuki to lead her into the hotel.
"There are many themed rooms…" Natsuki came to the self-service machine and asked Chika, "Do you want to choose, or should I?"
Chika's pretty face was crimson, and she stammered, "Don't ask for my opinion on this kind of thing… No, President, let go of me, I want to leave."
"Then I'll choose." Natsuki pretended not to hear. "Train theme?"
Chika puffed out her cheeks and said, "No, the train is too terrible!"
"How about the church theme?"
"No to that either."
"Prison theme?"
"Refuse! Refuse them all!"
"..."
Chika was very embarrassed at first, but she was not a shy girl like Shoko after all. Before long, she raised her head, curiously looking at the self-service screen in front of her, and began to choose: "I don't want any of those weird themes… Eh eh eh, there's even a tomb theme?!"
Natsuki shrugged and said, "There are many special fetishes in this world, so some strange themes are normal."
Chika couldn't help but retort, "A tomb theme isn't just strange; it's perverted!"
After watching for a while, Chika asked curiously, "What is that mirror room?"
"I don't know, it's the first time I've heard of it." Natsuki shook his head. "Do you want to choose it and take a look?"
"Mmm…"
Chika hesitated at his words.
"Then it's that one." Natsuki ordered and paid, all in one swift motion.
"The President's hands are too fast." Chika's pretty face was crimson, and she whispered, "I haven't even decided yet."
Natsuki held secretary Chika's small hand and walked upstairs: "You were the one who said you were curious."
"Just curious, I didn't say to choose it… It might be very strange."
"No investigation, no right to speak. Let's go in and see. If it's strange, we'll switch rooms."
"..."
Nothing to say for the rest of the day.
At half past one in the afternoon, the two finally emerged from the hotel.
"The mirror room was too, too, too terrible!" Chika's pretty face was crimson, and she felt a bit dizzy all over. "Don't ever choose that one again!"
Natsuki commented, "I actually think it was quite good."
"That's the President." Chika puffed out her cheeks, "Anyway, I think it was super terrible!"
There was nothing much to say about what happened next. Because of excessive physical exertion, Natsuki and Chika decided to find something to eat. After walking for a while, they happened to encounter a newly opened ramen shop.
"Eh, the signboard says 'Big Eater Challenge'!" Chika's eyes brightened. "The winner not only gets a free meal but can even have their name written in the Hall of Fame?"
Natsuki led Chika into the ramen shop: "The owner is still too young. Come on, Chika-sama, let's teach him a lesson."
"Mhm, mhm." Chika nodded in agreement, then realized, "Wait, the President isn't participating in the challenge?"
Natsuki said, "I'll just have a regular bowl of ramen."
"No way." Chika hugged Natsuki's arm and said coquettishly, "Since we're already here, of course, we'll challenge together. I've encountered similar events in Tokyo before, but unfortunately, no one wanted to participate with me, and even if they reluctantly did, they couldn't last until the end."
Of course, they couldn't last until the end; not everyone can compete with you in eating capacity!
Natsuki reluctantly agreed and signed up for the Big Eater Challenge with secretary Chika.
An hour later.
The two finished their business and left, their good deeds hidden, leaving behind only the signatures and legends of the couple of big eaters.
After lunch, Chika absolutely refused to rest anymore, so the two went directly to the sea, bought swimsuits, and played there for half a day.
After dark, they took a car to Enoshima to participate in the fireworks festival and food festival.
The fireworks scattered, and the splendor ended.
Natsuki held secretary Chika's hand and strolled along the sea, saying, "Let's rest here for the night and go back tomorrow morning."
Chika's pretty face flushed, and she shook her head, saying, "No, Moeha will definitely worry if we don't go back."
"Just send Moeha a message saying we're playing outside," Natsuki coaxed, "Besides, it's already very late. It'll take over an hour to go back by car, and then washing up at home, we won't be able to rest until after midnight. It's too tiring."
Chika: "...Staying here will only be more tiring!"
Natsuki raised his right hand and said seriously, "I promise not to do anything."
Chika was so angry that she raised her hand and pinched Natsuki's waist:
"President, go away! I'll never believe that again!"
"..."
Unknowingly, they strolled until ten o'clock at night.
It was late, and returning to Tokyo now would indeed be very difficult. With no other choice, Chika could only choose to stay.
The night passed without incident.
The next day.
At seven in the morning, Natsuki and Chika took the Shinkansen back to Tokyo.
"Wake up, it's time to get off."
As the train arrived in Tokyo, Natsuki gently woke secretary Chika, who was leaning on his shoulder.
"Hmph..."
Chika opened her sleepy eyes, raised her hand to cover her mouth, and yawned, "President, are we there?"
"Almost there," Natsuki said softly, "Get ready to get off."
"Oh."
"The meeting time is at noon. Go back and sleep a bit more. We're about to enter the instance, so you need to maintain your mental state."
Upon hearing this, Chika immediately got angry and couldn't help but extend her right hand to pinch Natsuki's waist:
"How dare President say that! It's clearly President's fault that I'm not energetic!"
She had just fallen asleep, only to be woken up again and taken advantage of, several times over, tossing and turning. In short, she hadn't rested well all night, so it would be strange if she weren't tired.
"I apologize profusely," Natsuki said sincerely, "Chika-sama, please forgive me."
"I won't forgive you," Chika said with puffed cheeks, "In any case, there won't be a next time."
"..."
The two talked as they got off the train, then went their separate ways home.
Natsuki's mental state was quite good. After returning home, he took a quick shower, rested for an hour, then got up and left, heading to his childhood friend, the lazy girl's house.
"Eh, why is Natsuki here?"
Miko was wearing pajamas, with dark circles under her eyes, sitting at the table eating bread. Her hair wasn't even neatly combed, clearly having just woken up not long ago.
Natsuki walked over and sat beside Miko, casually asking, "Where's Kyosuke?"
"He went out to play."
"Perfect, then," Natsuki said softly, "There's something I want to ask Miko..."
Miko's pretty face hardened, and she took a big bite of bread, saying, "Sorry, I refuse."
Last night, he didn't come home again, he must have gone out to fool around again!
Leaving her alone at home, facing the harassment of evil spirits, trembling and unable to sleep, and now he actually has the nerve to come and ask for her help, how could he even open his mouth!
Natsuki said softly, "I need Miko to help me paste some skills. I'm going to challenge an instance this noon."
"Eh?"
Miko froze, involuntarily putting down the milk in her hand.
Although she wasn't a player, she had heard Natsuki talk a lot about things in instances, so she naturally knew the dangers of instances.
"It's Mitsui-san. She wants to become a player, but she's worried about dying before even starting, so..." Natsuki explained the situation, then sighed, getting up dejectedly, "Since Miko isn't willing, then I'll go back."
Miko: "..."
"Miko, don't worry," Natsuki turned his head and said gently, "After clearing the instance, I'll come back and apologize to you."
"That's enough, don't deliberately set a flag!" Miko finally couldn't help but retort, reaching out and pulling Natsuki back, "Come back and sit down."
"..."
After Natsuki sat down, Miko extended her right hand and said with a stern face, "If you want to paste skills, do it yourself. Don't disturb me while I'm eating."
"Yes, thank you very much."
Natsuki held Miko's right hand, gently playing with the girl's slender, doll-like fingers.
Before long, a faint blush appeared on Miko's face, and she shyly tried to pull her hand away.
"Don't move," Natsuki said seriously, "The time for pasting skills hasn't arrived yet."
Miko lightly bit her silver teeth, saying, "Then you better behave yourself."
"I'm already behaving very well," Natsuki said shamelessly, "Otherwise, it wouldn't be as simple as just holding your fingers."
Miko: "..."
A moment later.
Skill pasting was complete.
Natsuki stood up, ready to bid farewell, saying, "Well then, I'll be going now. I'll send you a message after the instance is cleared."
Miko pursed her lips upon hearing this, and said softly, "You... be careful."
Natsuki smiled upon hearing this and said, "Just verbal warnings are meaningless. I need more practical encouragement."
"There's no such thing," Miko's pretty face hardened, naturally knowing what Natsuki was up to, and she waved her hand, saying, "Go, go, go, hurry up and leave."
Natsuki showed a surprised expression and said, "I've said all this, and Miko still won't let me kiss her?"
"Why should I let you kiss me?" Miko crossed her arms over her chest and lightly bit her silver teeth, saying, "You have so many girls around you, and now you're starting to stay out all night often. You don't need me anymore, do you?"
Even a lazy girl has a temper.
"Alright, since Miko isn't willing..." Natsuki nodded, then suddenly leaned down, "Then I'll take it myself."
Miko: "..."
Shameless!
Too shameless!
She thought that what he said just now might touch Natsuki's conscience a little, but now it seems that conscience, that kind of thing, had long been gone!
"It tastes like milk."
Natsuki received his reward, then patted Miko's head, and only then did he leave contentedly, leaving Miko with a flushed face, clutching her chest, and panting.
Leaving Miko's house, Natsuki headed straight for the hotel they had agreed upon.
"Natsuki-kun, you're here."
Mitsui-san, dressed in sportswear, greeted him warmly.
Natsuki nodded, greeted her, then looked at the other girls, who had basically all arrived.
Not everyone would enter this instance, so they had discussed it during the gathering the day before yesterday. The active participants were Natsuki, Chika, Kaguya, Yukino, plus Hayasaka, a total of five people.
At the time, he thought the team composition was quite good, but now he just wanted to eat a bottle of regret medicine.
Kaguya and Yukino were still at odds, not speaking to each other. Hayasaka firmly stood by Kaguya's side. The only one he had managed to appease was Chika, and now she was also united with the other girls against him and ignoring him.
In short, it was utterly miserable.
Mitsui-san also noticed the silent atmosphere but didn't ask much. Instead, she took everyone to have lunch first.
After eating and drinking their fill, the group arrived at the hotel's presidential suite. Mitsui-san bowed and said, "Thank you all for your help this time."
"Don't worry," Chika was the first to speak, "Although President is very excessive, it has nothing to do with Mitsui-san. We will definitely protect you."
The temporary contract was successfully signed.
As a spark of fire ignited from the contract, everyone felt a slight dizziness, and the instance officially began.
Sinful Park.