"Taki, keep going, you're almost out."
"Don't give up."
"Inhale, suck in your stomach, push hard."
"…"
Tomori and Mutsumi stood on either side of Taki, continuing to help push her bottom.
Unfortunately, due to the wardrobe malfunction just now, Taki was already beyond caring, completely giving up on struggling.
Helpless, Tomori could only turn her head and ask Kitahara Makoto for his opinion:
"Makoto-kun, Taki seems unable to get out… What should we do now?"
"Perhaps you two aren't strong enough." Kitahara Makoto lightly raised an eyebrow, "Step aside, let me push her bottom."
"…I don't want your help!!!"
Tomori, who had originally become a salted fish, upon hearing Kitahara Makoto's words, somehow found the strength to force herself into the mirror.
"See?" Kitahara Makoto spread his hands, "It really had to be me."
Tomori: "…Makoto-kun, don't show an expression of regret when you speak."
Kitahara Makoto shamelessly said:
"I'm regretting not being able to help."
Mutsumi tilted her head and looked over:
"Makoto-kun is lying."
"I am not."
"When Makoto-kun lies, his eyes subtly shift to the right."
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
You know my small habits that I haven't even noticed myself, you know me too well!
"Enough with the small talk." Kitahara Makoto quickly said, "The space is already unstable, you two hurry and get out."
As the elementary school student left, the Fear Space immediately became transparent, clearly about to disappear soon.
It's temporarily unclear what would happen if the space disappeared directly, so they had to hurry.
"Tomori." Kitahara Makoto turned his head and looked over, "Hurry back to the real world."
"Wait, wait a moment." Tomori's voice was uncharacteristically nervous, "Taki got stuck, will we get stuck too?"
Kitahara Makoto's gaze shifted downwards, and he mused:
"Highly likely."
Although Tomori didn't show it, she was taller than Taki and had developed more than Taki, so the probability of her getting stuck was quite high.
Tomori's small face flushed slightly, and she put her hands behind her to cover her buttocks:
"Makoto-kun, ask Hana if we can leave through other mirrors besides the one in this room?"
"Well…"
"So that means we can?"
"…"
Upon learning that they could leave through other mirrors, the two girls naturally didn't want to go back into the small mirror that would get people stuck.
The three of them went directly to the bathroom, and the two girls easily slipped into the half-length mirror in the bathroom, returning to the real world.
Before leaving, Mutsumi didn't forget to remind him:
"Makoto-kun, maid."
"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten."
Kitahara Makoto nodded slightly, watched the two girls disappear into the mirror, then decisively activated [Sage Time], leaving the crumbling small space to search for maid.
Hard work pays off.
After a search, Kitahara Makoto successfully found maid, but her condition was quite bad; she had fallen into a coma, with only faint breathing and pulse remaining.
Kitahara Makoto was not a doctor and did not attempt to wake maid on his own. Instead, he directly took her into the mirror and returned to the real world.
"They're back, they're back."
"Kitahara-kun, are you hurt?"
As soon as Kitahara Makoto jumped to the ground, Soyo eagerly came up to him.
If everyone else hadn't been there, she would have already started examining Kitahara Makoto's body to see if he had any injuries.
"I'm hurt."
Kitahara Makoto clutched his chest, his voice weak.
"Eh?" Soyo was extremely nervous, "Where?"
Kitahara Makoto lowered his voice and said:
"A place inconvenient to mention. Soyo, help me check it privately this afternoon."
Hearing this, Soyo immediately understood the truth. Her pretty face flushed slightly, and she gave him an annoyed glare:
"Don't have such perverted thoughts all the time!"
"…"
Kitahara Makoto stretched his limbs and quickly nodded with satisfaction:
"Very good, not a single one is missing."
Hana, Soyo, and Sakiko stayed outside and did not enter the mirror space. Tomori, Taki, and Mutsumi were all there, as well as the elementary school student Sakura and the unconscious maid… In short, everyone was present, all accounted for.
"Kitahara-kun, have some water." Sakiko handed him a bottle of drink. "Taki was super thirsty after coming out just now and drank a lot of water. I thought Kitahara-kun would probably be very thirsty too."
"Thank you, Sakiko."
Kitahara Makoto turned his head at the sound, looking at Taki with a subtle gaze.
"You're dead if you talk nonsense!"
Taki's small face was flushed, and her fierce eyes warned him.
Unfortunately, after less than three seconds of eye contact, this little potato nervously shifted her gaze, not daring to continue looking.
Drinking the entire bottle of drink in one go, Kitahara Makoto let out a comfortable sigh, then said:
"Sakiko, you can call Mrs. Takagi in now."
"Okay."
Sakiko nodded slightly and turned to walk out of the room.
The rest goes without saying.
After receiving the notification, Mrs. Takagi eagerly rushed in, tears streaming down her face with excitement. Unfortunately, the elementary school student Sakura was clearly a bit scared and nervously hid behind Tomori.
Tomori and Mutsumi, the two girls, cooperated to recount what happened behind the mirror space.
Upon learning that she had become the most terrifying presence in her daughter's heart, Mrs. Takagi immediately broke down, finally covering her face and crying out apologies—most parents' first wish for their children is actually for them to grow up safely and soundly. It's just that with the passage of time, most parents have forgotten their original wish.
After this reunion, Mrs. Takagi would surely have a soul-searching reflection.
Finally, it was Kitahara Makoto who reminded Mrs. Takagi that the maid was still unconscious. She quickly called for help to send maid for medical attention.
Unbeknownst to them, it was already twelve noon.
After expressing her endless gratitude, Mrs. Takagi even offered to treat everyone to lunch, but Kitahara Makoto politely declined.
With the mother and daughter reunited, there were naturally many things to talk about, and since it was just a client relationship, it wasn't appropriate to stay for lunch at someone else's home.
"Let's go, everyone, let's go eat barbecue." Kitahara Makoto felt relaxed, "Lunch is on me."
Taki turned her small face away. Although the specific details of the mirror space weren't spoken of, she was still too ashamed to face anyone:
"I don't have an appetite, I'll just go back first…"
Tomori said expectantly:
"I want Taki to come along."
Taki: "…"
Facing Tomori's expectant gaze, Taki simply couldn't bring herself to refuse.
On the way to the barbecue restaurant, Mrs. Takagi transferred the commission fee, super fast, without any delay.
After finishing the barbecue, it was already 1:30 PM, and then the girls each went home.
"Go back and rest well."
Kitahara Makoto stretched, then subtly winked at Soyo, his eyes signaling:
"Soyo-sama, please stay later to help me check my body."
"Bah~"
Soyo's pretty face flushed slightly. She naturally understood Kitahara Makoto's gaze and gave him a soft glare.
Their small interaction went unnoticed by the others, only Sakiko saw it clearly.
With a subtle and complex feeling, Sakiko lightly bit her lower lip and quietly said:
"Soyo, didn't you say we were going shopping together today?"
"Eh?"
Soyo was slightly startled, and a hint of excitement immediately appeared on her pretty face.
Being able to go shopping with Sakiko was naturally an unbidden joy.
However…
"I've been too tense today, I feel a bit tired." Soyo put her hands together and said, "Shall we go shopping tomorrow instead?"
Although she really wanted to go shopping with Sakiko, both her body and soul involuntarily chose Kitahara Makoto.
To sum it up in one sentence, Soyo had completely transformed into Kitahara Makoto's shape…
"…Okay."
Sakiko was silent for two seconds, then quietly agreed.
Watching Sakiko silently walk onto the train, Soyo felt something was off. She pursed her lips, pretended to play on her phone for a while, and after the train left, she eagerly tiptoed, searching for Kitahara Makoto.
Buzz buzz.
A message was sent.
"At the cold drink shop."
Soyo raised her beautiful eyes, and upon seeing Kitahara Makoto's figure in the cold drink shop, her eyes immediately lit up, and she walked over with light steps.
"Here."
Kitahara Makoto walked out holding two ice creams and casually asked:
"Soyo-sama, what theme do you want to experience today?"
"Don't have such perverted thoughts all the time!" Soyo's pretty face flushed, and she took the ice cream, shyly glaring at him, "I already said last time that I wouldn't go to that kind of place again!"
"Yes, yes."
Kitahara Makoto said with a composed expression:
"I was injured earlier, Soyo-sama, can you help me check my body?"
"Hmph~"
Soyo let out a soft hum, looked down at Hana eating ice cream at her feet, and said with a flushed face:
"What about Hana?"
"Simple." Kitahara Makoto casually took Soyo's soft hand and, as he walked along the street, said, "Just get two rooms."
Thump.
Soyo clenched her small fist and couldn't help but lightly hit Kitahara Makoto, glaring at him with embarrassment:
"Hana-chan is still a child! Don't take her to strange places!"
Kitahara Makoto took a bite of ice cream: "From a universal rational perspective, Hana-chan's age is likely older than both of us combined."
Soyo: "..."
Hana's true age might be great, but her appearance was indeed that of an elementary school student. Taking her to a Love Hotel would likely cause trouble, so at Soyo's suggestion, Kitahara Makoto temporarily 'deposited' Hana at a dessert shop, buying a pile of sweets for Hana to eat freely. All three parties were delighted.
"Will Hana-chan get lost?"
Soyo was a little worried.
"Rest assured, Hana-chan is not human; it's impossible for her to get lost." Kitahara Makoto said with burning eyes, "Soyo, can you examine my body now?"
Soyo's pretty face flushed: "No, go find a doctor."
Although she said no, Soyo's body was clearly quite honest. After only a slight struggle, she allowed Kitahara Makoto to lead her across the road.
Things in the world have always been this way.
Once a bottom line is crossed, countless subsequent times become a matter of course.
Kitahara Makoto held Soyo's soft hand and walked towards the Love Hotel across the street:
"No doctor is needed. Soyo-sama is my cure."
"A man's words are a devil's lies."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"I wasn't complimenting you!"
"..."
The first time is unfamiliar, the second time is familiar.
When they entered the Love Hotel, Soyo no longer nervously kept her head down the entire time; instead, she dared to secretly observe the hotel's environment.
"Train station theme?"
"No, that sounds awful."
"Nurse's examination room?"
"Perverts, go away."
"What about the Pirates of the Caribbean themed room?"
"That sounds strange, and it must be even stranger in reality."
"..."
After a series of complaints, Soyo finally chose a [Snowy Country] theme with a blush.
"By the way, Sakiko seems a bit off today."
After entering the room, Soyo pursed her pink, moist lips, trying to distract herself from her nervousness by talking.
Kitahara Makoto turned his head to look:
"Soyo, did you finally notice?"
"Eh?" Soyo was slightly startled, "Kitahara-kun knows why?"
"Of course I know." Kitahara Makoto lowered his voice, "Do you remember what I told Soyo this morning about being happy too soon?"
Soyo puffed out her cheeks slightly:
"Hurry up and tell me, don't be a riddle."
"Alright."
Kitahara Makoto said softly:
"Sakiko already knows our secret of tasting the forbidden fruit."
"Eh?!"
Soyo's eyes widened in disbelief:
"H-how is that possible...? Why would Sakiko know?"
Kitahara Makoto whispered:
"That day we were at the hotel, Soyo accidentally started a video call. Although she couldn't see anything at the time, Sakiko clearly heard... The phone running out of battery was most likely because Sakiko never ended the call."
Soyo: "...!!!"
Upon learning the truth, Soyo instantly felt terrible:
"No wonder at the train station just now, Sakiko suddenly suggested going shopping, and after I refused, Sakiko's expression was so strange... It's over, Sakiko won't talk to me anymore."
Kitahara Makoto retorted:
"Did Sakiko not talk to you today?"
"Eh?" Soyo was slightly stunned, then quickly realized, "Although Sakiko said very little today, she did talk to me."
"So don't worry." Kitahara Makoto said unhurriedly while helping Soyo bathe, "Don't forget your wish to have a threesome with Sakiko. If you panic now just because you've been discovered, how will you achieve your dream?"
Soyo was both shy and angry:
"I don't consider that kind of thing a dream!"
"..."
In a flash, it was six o'clock in the evening.
As evening arrived, the temperature finally dropped slightly.
Kitahara Makoto and Soyo left the hotel, found Hana eating cupcakes at the dessert shop, and the three of them went to eat ramen together. Then, they first sent the sore Soyo back, and slowly made their way home.
There was no conversation along the way.
By the time they arrived home, it was already eight o'clock in the evening.
Kitahara Makoto changed into his running shoes and went to the park for a night run. Regardless of wind or rain, the System's daily tasks had to be completed as much as possible, not to mention that today he could 100% get a lottery chance.
First was the [Tokyo Exorcist] task; after Hana devoured the female ghost, the task was quietly completed.
Then came [One Evil Deed a Day]; when he taken advantage of Soyo in the afternoon, the task was also completed unknowingly.
As for the last two fitness tasks, they only required time and sweat, with no difficulty at all.
At half past nine in the evening.
Both fitness tasks were completed.
Kitahara Makoto successfully obtained today's lottery chance, bought a can of drink by the roadside, walked back while drinking, and then, as usual, chose 'single pull for a miracle'.
"Take a chance, a bicycle can turn into a motorcycle..."
As his thought settled, the ability roulette began to spin rapidly.
Soon after, a ball of ability light quietly drifted down and merged into Kitahara Makoto's body.
"It actually worked?"
Kitahara Makoto's eyes lit up, and he curiously checked the new ability he had just drawn.
[Ability: Schrödinger's Cat]
[Category: Passive]
[Description: When a certain event is in an unobserved superposition state, you can actively choose to collapse it into a state you desire.]
[Note: When in doubt, quantum mechanics.]
"It's actually one of the four great beasts of physics." Kitahara Makoto tilted his head back, finished the drink in the can, then casually crumpled the can and threw it into the recyclable bin. "It seems like a very remarkable skill."
However, to be honest, Kitahara Makoto couldn't figure out how to use this ability for a while.
"I'm home."
Walking all the way home, as soon as Kitahara Makoto pushed open the door, he heard the sound of footsteps.
"Okaeri, papa."
Looking at Mutsumi, who walked over expressionlessly, Kitahara Makoto's mouth twitched slightly:
"Mutsumi isn't going home today either?"
Mutsumi's expression was calm: "I want to sleep with Makoto-kun; I'll have insomnia alone."
If you give yourself away so proactively, you won't be cherished!
"Here." Kitahara Makoto silently handed over the fruit he had just bought, "Go wash the fruit."
Mutsumi took the shopping bag with both hands, raised her pretty face and said:
"Do you want me to scrub your back, Papa?"
"No need." Kitahara Makoto raised a hand to press his forehead, "I can wash myself."
"..."
When Kitahara Makoto came out after showering, he saw that besides the fruit he bought today, there was also a plate of fresh, tender cucumbers on the coffee table.
"Makoto-kun, the fruit is washed."
Mutsumi looked over expectantly.
Kitahara Makoto sat on the sofa, and under the girl's expectant gaze, silently picked up a small cucumber and put it into his mouth, crunch, crunch.
After eating the fruit, Kitahara Makoto began to research how to apply [Schrödinger's Cat]. The first use he thought of was...
"Genshin, gacha!"
Kitahara Makoto opened the game and immediately did a ten-pull.
A moment later, looking at nine three-star weapons, plus a 'Go, Barbara!', he silently put his phone down again.
"The ability didn't trigger... It seems gacha won't work."
Thinking about it carefully, it's understandable. For ordinary players, what they get from gacha is completely unknown, but in the game company's server, everything has already been determined, so it's not an unobservable superposition state.
"I got it."
Kitahara Makoto pondered for a while and quickly thought of a method. He got up and brought over an opaque paper cup for water and a 50-yen coin. Then he put the coin into the paper cup, inverted it on the table, and began to shake it.
Buzz.
A soft hum sounded in his mind. Kitahara Makoto felt his vision suddenly rise, as if he had fallen into an endless quantum sea, and a continuously spinning 50-yen coin appeared before his eyes.
Kitahara Makoto had an epiphany. With a slight thought, the heads side of the coin was fixed.
"What is Makoto-kun doing?"
Mutsumi tilted her head curiously.
"Guessing coins." Kitahara Makoto looked at Mutsumi and smiled, "Mutsumi, guess if it's heads or tails."
"Hmm..." Mutsumi blinked, "Tails, maybe?"
"Then I guess heads."
Kitahara Makoto picked up the paper cup, and without any surprise, the coin lay quietly on the table, heads up.
"Continue, Makoto-kun."
Mutsumi became interested.
"Then let's play a few more times."
Kitahara Makoto continued to test the limits of the ability and quickly discovered that [Schrödinger's Cat] seemed to have no cooldown limit. As long as the superposition condition was met, it could be triggered, with almost no consumption of energy, so he was ten for ten at guessing coins.
"Makoto-kun is wonderful!"
Mutsumi's eyes widened, filled with admiration.
"Just a small trick."
Kitahara Makoto rubbed Mutsumi's head, then put away the coin.
Flipping coins is fine, so rolling dice should also be fine. Perhaps in the future, he could unlock the profession of a gambling god... No, forget it. In this life, he is irreconcilably opposed to gambling and drugs.
As for other ways to develop the ability, he would have to explore them slowly in the future.
"Hana-chan, how's the ability analysis coming along?" Kitahara Makoto looked down at Hana.
Hana was swinging her little feet, eating cake and watching TV. Hearing this, she looked up with her small face: "Meow~"
"Stop meowing," Kitahara Makoto asked carefully, "Have you fully mastered your abilities?"
"No."
Kitahara Makoto then asked, "Once you've fully mastered them, will you be able to deter other strange tales?"
"No."
"Then never mind, go back to eating your little cake."
"..."
It was clear that Hana's evolution was not an overnight process; she still needed to continue hunting strange tales.
"Sleep, sleep."
The night passed without incident.
The next day.
After Kitahara Makoto woke up in the morning, before he even washed up, he opened the System to check today's daily tasks.
Yesterday's single pull had yielded a miracle, so today he naturally wanted to keep up the good work and turn his bicycle into a motorcycle again.
First were the two unmovable fitness tasks. The third task was to purchase and experience at least one hour of "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6." The first three tasks weren't very difficult, so Kitahara Makoto's gaze swept over them, but when his eyes landed on the fourth task, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
[Daily Task Four: Date A Live]
[Task Description: Invite Taki on a date, and the date must involve at least two different locations]
"No, isn't this a bit much?"
Kitahara Makoto was exceptionally speechless.
"We just had intimate contact yesterday, and today it's asking me to go on a date with Taki. Taki-san definitely won't agree."
It had to be Taki. If it were Mutsumi, completing the task would be effortless.
Headache or not, Kitahara Makoto was naturally unwilling to easily give up on the fourth daily task. He had to try first; what if he succeeded?
After getting up and washing up, Kitahara Makoto quickly made some breakfast, ate with Mutsumi, then took out his phone and sent a message to Hitori:
"Hitori, do you want to go learn to drive today?"
Hitori's sense of shame had not yet cooled down:
"S-Sorry, I caught a bit of a cold from showering yesterday, so I can't go learn to drive for now. My sincerest apologies."
Kitahara Makoto: "..."
Catching a cold from showering in the middle of summer? You wouldn't be intentionally taking a cold shower, trying every trick to get sick, just to avoid learning to drive, would you?!