"Mmm..."
Nijika hummed softly in a daze, irresistibly leaning towards the source of warmth.
"A familiar scent that brings peace of mind..."
Although she hadn't opened her eyes, Nijika had instinctively determined the source of the warmth.
"It's Kitahara-kun..."
A gentle voice soon entered Nijika's ears: "Nijika-senpai, are you awake?"
Nijika's slender eyelashes trembled lightly, and she opened her eyes. The uneven rock cave came into view.
"Eh...?"
Nijika blinked, and her mind quickly cleared.
(I remember, everyone is in the cave in the Otherworld...)
"Eh eh eh, where are Kitahara-kun's clothes?!"
Her gaze fell on Kitahara Makoto's naked body, and Nijika's pretty face quickly flushed red.
As her consciousness returned, Nijika quickly recalled everything.
This was the cave on Eden Island in the Otherworld, and she had caught a cold and fever due to the chill...
But why was Kitahara-kun, who wasn't wearing clothes, lying beside her when she woke up?!
Nijika quickly covered her chest in embarrassment, and suddenly felt a sudden chill.
She looked down.
Nijika's eyes widened in disbelief: "My, my clothes are gone?!"
It turned out that not only was Kitahara Makoto naked, but she herself was also completely unclothed.
"Nijika-senpai, lie down first." Kitahara Makoto's voice rang out, "Your clothes were naturally taken off."
Nijika quickly covered her chest, her pretty face flushed, and she looked over in embarrassment: "Why did Kitahara-kun take off my clothes?"
Kitahara Makoto's expression was innocent, unwilling to take the blame, "It was Ryo-senpai."
"Ryo?"
Nijika lightly furrowed her delicate brows: "Why did Ryo take off my clothes?"
Kitahara Makoto said calmly: "Nijika-senpai, lie down first before we talk."
"I don't want to!"
Nijika refused in embarrassment.
A man and a woman lying together without clothes, that's too shameful!
"Hurry up and lie down, or you'll catch a cold again."
Kitahara Makoto reached out and pulled Nijika directly into his arms.
"Mmm..."
Nijika let out a soft hum, naturally without the slightest ability to resist, and could only puff out her cheeks and return to Kitahara Makoto's embrace.
The familiar warmth enveloped her, an indescribable comfort that made a hint of daze flash in Nijika's eyes; it seemed quite nice to just embrace like this.
Unfortunately, the daze only lasted for two seconds before Nijika's pretty face flushed crimson and she began to struggle:
"Let me go quickly, it'll be terrible if Ryo-senpai sees us."
Kitahara Makoto said with righteous indignation: "Nijika-senpai has already agreed to date me, so it doesn't matter if we're seen, right?"
"Pfft~"
Nijika couldn't help but lightly spit, scolding him blushingly:
"I didn't agree to you!"
"Let's talk seriously." Kitahara Makoto applied a little force to his hand, holding Nijika to his chest, using his body to help warm her, and then began to explain, "Nijika still remembers the fever before, right?"
"...I remember."
"At that time, I gave Nijika-senpai medicine, but the fever kept coming back and wouldn't go down. I originally wanted to leave the Otherworld and go to the hospital for treatment, but Nijika just happened to wake up again and refused to go back no matter what, insisting on staying."
Nijika blinked, and a hazy impression quickly surfaced in her mind.
That's right.
The above events were indeed true.
"...And then?"
Nijika asked curiously.
Kitahara Makoto said softly: "Then Ryo-senpai asked the answer book if there was a way to help Nijika-senpai's fever go down, and the answer the book gave was for me to hold Nijika and sleep."
Nijika's pretty face flushed crimson as she said: "Even so... why did we have to take off our clothes?"
Kitahara Makoto said with righteous indignation: "Does Nijika-senpai usually wear clothes when she sleeps?"
Nijika: "..."
Thinking about it carefully, there was no problem at all.
After all, it was for treating a cold and fever, so sleeping while embracing was fine, and it wasn't like they hadn't slept together before...
"My cold is already gone." Nijika said in a lowered voice, "Kitahara-kun, get up quickly."
"No." Kitahara Makoto said shamelessly, "Nijika-senpai's cold just got better, she still needs to be held to consolidate for a while."
Consolidation is fake, wanting to take advantage of her is the truth!
"Get up quickly." Nijika was both embarrassed and nervous, "What if Ryo-senpai and Kita see us?"
"Nijika-senpai doesn't need to worry." Kitahara Makoto comforted her gently, "Ryo-senpai and Kita went to patrol the island outside together. They just left not long ago and will take a long time to come back."
"Eh, will they be in danger going out alone?"
Nijika immediately became worried upon hearing this.
"Rest assured." Kitahara Makoto said softly, "I had Ryo-senpai bring a mirror. If they encounter danger, they can always return through the mirror."
"That's good..."
Nijika let out a soft sigh of relief, feeling at ease.
Knowing that they wouldn't be suddenly seen, Nijika stopped struggling and even leaned gently into Kitahara Makoto's embrace.
Outside was a desolate, uninhabited apocalyptic world.
She and the boy she liked embraced in a cave, warming each other with their bodies.
The entire world seemed to be left with only the two of them.
The scene at this moment perfectly matched Nijika's usual fantasy of the apocalypse.
Unfortunately, it wasn't long before Nijika had to open her eyes and recognize that reality was reality, and fantasy was fantasy.
In the fantasy world, two people quietly embraced, silently listening to each other's heartbeats.
But reality was...
"Take your hand off!"
Nijika opened her eyes in shame and anger.
Kitahara Makoto's expression was very innocent:
"I was just measuring Nijika-senpai's body temperature."
"Pfft~"
Nijika couldn't help but lightly spit.
A lie!
A lie that even elementary school students wouldn't believe!
To measure body temperature, you should touch the forehead, why are you reaching for someone's chest!
"Warming up is warming up, no random touching."
Nijika's eyes flickered, she glared at Kitahara Makoto in shame and anger, then wiggled and changed to a position with her back against Kitahara Makoto's embrace.
However, the moment she changed positions, Nijika regretted it.
(Eh eh eh?!)
(A terrifying beast has awakened!)
Nijika's body stiffened slightly, feeling the terrifying killing intent coming from behind her. Her already crimson face quickly turned explosive red, even her crystal-clear, doll-like earlobes and neck were tinged with a blush.
"You... you change your position."
Nijika's voice was full of shame.
"Why should I change positions?"
Kitahara Makoto asked knowingly.
"You, you..."
"Me what?"
Nijika: "..."
Too much!
Absolutely too much!
How could she possibly say such a thing!
Nijika lightly bit her teeth, her pretty face flushed, preparing to move herself.
However, it was fine if she didn't move, but the moment she did, she found the killing intent behind her was even more terrifying. Plus, the folding bed was only so big, just enough for two people to lie on, so there wasn't much room to dodge.
So, not long after, Nijika regretted it even more.
(I should have known not to move...)
Nijika wanted to cry but had no tears, she turned her head to glare at Kitahara Makoto, her pretty face flushed crimson as she said:
"You... take it off quickly!"
"Do it yourself, and you'll have plenty." Kitahara Makoto said at his leisure, "For something Nijika can do herself, of course, she should do it herself."
Nijika lightly bit her teeth:
"...Take advantage of!"
Kitahara Makoto smiled:
"No choice, bullying Nijika-senpai is super fun."
Nijika: "..."
Seeing that Kitahara Makoto was clearly intent on bullying her, Nijika puffed out her cheeks, originally intending to ignore it and pretend it didn't exist, but unfortunately, it still didn't work.
With continuous physical contact, past memories quickly flooded Nijika's mind.
After swapping bodies with Ryo, and then swapping bodies with Kita due to an accident, plus the later wristband sharing... Nijika was already an experienced veteran.
As an experienced person, although her will wanted to ignore it, her body had already quietly prepared itself.
Heartbeat accelerating.
Breathing quickening.
Dry mouth and throat...
"D-darn it... it's getting more and more out of hand!"
"If this continues, I might not be able to control myself... It's better to be safe than sorry."
Nijika took a deep breath and chose to do it herself, ensuring her own abundance.
"Hiss~"
Kitahara Makoto lightly inhaled.
Nijika bit her teeth in shame and anger: "Don't speak!"
"I didn't speak." Kitahara Makoto's voice was aggrieved, "That was clearly breathing just now."
"Don't breathe either."
"People will die if they don't breathe, right?"
"..."
Nijika complained to distract herself, while enduring her rapid heartbeat, doing it herself and ensuring her own abundance.
However, Nijika quickly realized that everything she did was futile, even like adding fuel to the fire. Not only did she fail to extinguish the flames, but she also made her situation increasingly dangerous.
Upon realizing her actions were useless, Nijika prepared to withdraw her right hand in shame.
However, as soon as she made a move, Kitahara Makoto immediately stopped her.
"You..."
"Senpai, I want to kiss you."
Kitahara Makoto's voice was hot.
"Don't..."
Nijika's pretty face was flushed, her gaze drifting and dodging.
Unfortunately, Kitahara Makoto's previous words were a declarative sentence, not a question, so Nijika's subsequent words were quickly blocked in her mouth.
The temperature in the cave quietly rose.
The air quietly turned pink.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Nijika's eyes were dazed, her breathing rapid, and she felt dizzy, unable to think anymore.
(Don't...)
(W-why not?)
"Anyway, I've already done that kind of thing with Ryo's body…"
"Besides, Mom has already agreed for us to date together."
"But onee-san hasn't agreed yet…"
"Onee-san is just worried I'll regret it, being with Kitahara Makoto… I won't regret it…"
"But… it seems like I forgot something…"
The dizziness in her head grew stronger, and Nijika quickly gave up thinking, surrendering her body to her instincts.
So, with teary eyes, Nijika instinctively stretched out her arms and wrapped them around Kitahara Makoto's neck.
The night passed without a word.
This time, Nijika finally used her own body to convert theoretical knowledge into practical experience.
Time quietly slipped away.
Nijika no longer knew how much time had passed, only remembering flowers blooming and falling, falling and blooming… until her physical strength was completely exhausted and she fell into a deep sleep.
"Hoo…"
Waking up from her sleep, Nijika groggily opened her eyes, her mind not yet fully online.
Just then, a light voice sounded beside her:
"Nijika, you're awake?"
"Eh?"
Nijika blinked, then turned her head to look at Yamada Ryo sitting beside her.
"I didn't expect Nijika to sneak a bite while I was away."
Yamada Ryo tilted her head and looked over.
"What sneak a bite…"
After two seconds of stunned, Nijika's previous memories flooded back, and then her small face rapidly flushed red at a visible speed. She grabbed the corner of the quilt and hid herself completely inside it.
"Ahhhhhh!"
"I-I actually did that kind of thing… And when I woke up, Ryo was sitting next to me, oh no! This is too terrible!"
"I finally remembered what I forgot…"
"That is, as long as Ryo comes back, she'll definitely find out!"
"Well, Nijika, don't be shy." Ryo-senpai said indifferently, "I've finally waited for Nijika to taste the forbidden fruit, now we can unlock the double-team mode."
"D-Double-team?"
Although hidden inside the quilt, Nijika could still hear the sounds outside.
"What does double-team mean?"
"I don't understand."
"I don't understand at all!"
Yamada Ryo slowly said:
"Since Nijika isn't speaking, does that mean you agree?"
"I didn't agree at all!"
Nijika's embarrassed voice muffled from inside the quilt.
"But Nijika alone definitely can't handle it, right?" Ryo-senpai tilted her head and looked over, suggesting excitedly, "If no one helps, it'll definitely break, right?"
Nijika: "…"
"So Ryo really does have some special fetish, right?"
"She actually wants three people together…"
"Doesn't she feel embarrassed at all?!"
"Nijika, it's about time you got up." Yamada Ryo said unhurriedly, "Kitahara Makoto will be back soon after his shower, and the game disc has cooled down. We need to hurry and pick the Eden Fruit."
"…"
Business first.
Although she really wanted to hide in the quilt forever, Nijika still endured her embarrassment and slowly peeked out her small face.
"Mom, water."
Hana brought over a cup of water.
Nijika subconsciously reached out her right hand. The cold air touching her skin made her shiver slightly, and only then did she remember she wasn't wearing clothes. Her pretty face immediately flushed crimson as she said:
"Hana, wait for me outside the cave first."
Then her gaze shifted, looking at Yamada Ryo:
"Ryo, you go out too."
"Well…" Yamada Ryo sat still, "Patrolling the island is so tiring, I don't want to move."
Nijika's pretty face was crimson, and she pointed towards the cave entrance:
"Hurry up and get out!"
"…"
After Ryo and Hana temporarily left the cave, Nijika secretly breathed a sigh of relief, covering her chest as she got up to put on her clothes.
"Ugh…"
After accidentally pulling a wound, Nijika quickly furrowed her delicate brows.
Fortunately, she soon discovered that other than being sore all over, she had no other discomfort, clearly Kitahara Makoto had helped wipe her body.
Not only that, but after waking up, her spirit was even more exceptionally full and vigorous.
"Kitahara-kun must have shared some strange ability…"
Nijika pursed her lips, quickly got up and put on her clothes, her gaze falling on her chest.
"Also… I shouldn't be too far behind Ryo now, right?"
Just as she finished dressing, Kitahara Makoto's voice sounded from outside the cave.
"Ryo-senpai, what are you two doing standing outside?"
Then Yamada Ryo's resentful voice came in:
"Nijika said she's the proper mistress now, so she kicked me out."
Nijika bit her teeth in shame and anger, unable to help but shout:
"I didn't say anything like that!"
As she spoke, Kitahara Makoto stepped into the cave, his gaze falling on Nijika, and he said gently:
"Nijika, how are you feeling? Do you want to rest a bit longer?"
Nijika's gaze drifted, she didn't dare to meet Kitahara Makoto's eyes, her voice full of shame:
"N-No need… I've already recovered."
Yamada Ryo stood with her hands behind her back, tilting her head to look over:
"Since you've recovered, why don't we try all three of us together…"
Nijika immediately puffed out her cheeks:
"You're still talking!"
Kitahara Makoto asked knowingly:
"What did Ryo-senpai want to say?"
"Nothing at all." Nijika glared over, "I'm hungry, I want to eat."
Kitahara Makoto said gently:
"I'll heat up the rice ball for Nijika."
Nijika was originally too embarrassed to see anyone, but facing Ryo's relentless and shameless pressing, she finally chose to throw caution to the wind.
What if she snuck a bite?
Speaking of sneaking a bite, Ryo was clearly the first one to sneak a bite.
And when they swapped bodies, they had already done everything… As long as she wasn't ashamed, she could pretend nothing had happened.
Anyway… they would definitely be together for the rest of their lives.
After eating and drinking her fill, Nijika got up and stretched her body a bit. Aside from a slightly awkward walking posture, there were no other issues.
"Kitahara Makoto, let's challenge the game."
Yamada Ryo looked over excitedly.
"Okay."
Kitahara Makoto nodded lightly and took out the game disc.
Still having Hana guard them, the three of them entered the game space with their consciousness to challenge.
This time, their luck was good. They successfully defeated the Boss slime, helping Kitahara Makoto obtain the much-needed ability.
"Ability: Unyielding Will"
"Category: Active"
"Description: After activating this skill, you will be immune to all crowd control for a short duration, lasting five seconds."
"Very good." Kitahara Makoto stood up, "Now we can go pick the Eden Fruit."
The three of them walked out of the cave together and arrived at the suitable spot they had chosen earlier. Then Kitahara Makoto opened his backpack, took out the pet collar and magic cookie, put on the collar, bit the biscuit, and began to take off his clothes.
A moment later.
Under the nervous gaze of the two girls, Kitahara Makoto successfully picked the Eden Fruit.
"Ryo, now!"
Nijika reminded nervously.
Yamada Ryo didn't even blink. The moment Kitahara Makoto turned into a dog-person, she decisively shook the bell and summoned Kitahara Makoto back.
The rest goes without saying.
After the magic cookie's transformation effect ended and Kitahara Makoto turned back into a human, the three of them took the Eden Fruit back to the cave, directly ate two of them, and then stored the remaining three in the poster space.
"It's over." Nijika stretched, "We can leave the Otherworld."
"Wait, there's one more thing." Kitahara Makoto took out the answer book and handed it to the blonde side-ponytail girl, "Nijika, help me ask whether Schrödinger's Cat or pandora's box is more powerful…"