"Let's ask others if they want to come for breakfast…"
Kitahara Makoto pondered for a moment, then sent messages to the other girls.
It's better to worry about unevenness than scarcity.
If you want to have a harem, you naturally have to be fair to everyone.
Kita: "I want to go. Mom has already left for work. I'll get up and wash my face and brush my teeth first, then I'll come over to help."
Unfortunately, except for Kita's enthusiastic response, the other girls did not plan to come for various reasons.
Taki, needless to say, after proclaiming her sovereignty in front of her sister, she certainly wouldn't have the face to see anyone.
Soyo had to stay home to prepare food for Mrs. Nagasaki.
Tomori's parents were both at home, and she had a habit of eating breakfast with them.
Originally, with Anon's personality, she should have come to join the fun, but Anon's sense of shame had clearly not cooled down yet, and she also didn't want to come.
After confirming the number of people, Kitahara Makoto was about to cook when his phone suddenly vibrated softly.
Yamada Ryo sent a message:
"I'm in Nijika's room. I'll go with Nijika to have breakfast later."
Kitahara Makoto: "Nijika just said she wasn't coming."
Yamada Ryo: "That's because Nijika has to prepare breakfast for Seika-nee. Kitahara, you just need to prepare one extra portion."
Kitahara Makoto: "No problem, leave the cooking to me."
"..."
Twenty minutes later.
A girl with brilliant red hair walked out of the bathroom.
"Kitahara-kun, good morning~"
The girl's voice was clear, and her abundant energy was like the rising sun outside, making people dare not look directly at her.
"I'm here!"
It was Kita.
"Morning."
Kitahara Makoto looked at Kita at the sound, openly admiring her.
Today, Kita was wearing a small floral white dress, with white over-the-knee socks on her feet. Her small face was fair with a rosy blush, her skin was tender, and her thin lips were coated with lip balm, looking moist and shiny with a jelly-like luster that made one want to taste them carefully.
"Kitahara-kun, why are you staring at me?"
Kita Ikuyo's small face flushed slightly, and she couldn't help but glare at him playfully.
Kitahara Makoto said seriously:
"Because today's Kita is too cute, I can't take my eyes off her at all."
"What do you mean~" Kita Ikuyo hummed softly, her voice sweet and charming, "I haven't even combed my hair or put on makeup, I just simply washed my face and brushed my teeth. Kitahara-kun is exaggerating too much."
Kitahara Makoto said earnestly:
"It's not me exaggerating, it's that Kita is completely unaware of her own cuteness."
A sixteen-year-old high school girl is already at the cutest age. She doesn't need much careful dressing up to make people unable to take their eyes off her.
Kita Ikuyo's small face was hot, and she twirled a strand of hair by her ear:
"My outfit today is pretty much the same as before, right? Why didn't Kitahara-kun praise me before?"
"Wrong." Kitahara Makoto shook his head, "Today's Kita is completely different."
"Eh?"
"Kita is wearing white over-the-knee socks today, and there are even bows on the stockings, that's an instant ten points."
"..."
Kita Ikuyo covered her skirt with both hands, and couldn't help but glare at him playfully:
"Stocking pervert!!"
Kitahara Makoto showed no shame on his face, but instead argued righteously:
"If a man doesn't like stockings, then he should go see a psychiatrist."
Kita Ikuyo: "Kitahara-kun is shameless~"
Kitahara Makoto: "Thanks for the compliment."
Kita Ikuyo: "I wasn't complimenting you at all!"
"..."
Walking into the kitchen, Kita Ikuyo said in a clear voice:
"Oh, by the way, weren't Nijika-senpai and Ryo-senpai supposed to come? Where are they?"
"They probably haven't finished getting ready yet."
"Then is there anything I can help with?"
"The fried rice is just waiting to be served…"
Kitahara Makoto originally intended to say no, but halfway through, he suddenly said:
"There is indeed something I need Kita to help with."
"Eh, what is it?"
Kitahara Makoto raised his right hand, pointed to his eyes, and said:
"Kita, look at my eyes, is there something missing?"
Kita Ikuyo widened her eyes and looked over, puzzled:
"Nothing's missing… Your eyes are normal, there isn't even any redness."
Kitahara Makoto shook his head:
"Come a little closer, and look carefully again."
"Hmm…"
Kita Ikuyo leaned in, widening her eyes, and examined carefully:
"Still nothing…"
Before he finished speaking, Kitahara Makoto suddenly reached out and pulled Kita into his arms.
"How mean!"
Kita Ikuyo quickly raised her hands, propped them against Kitahara Makoto's chest, and quickly puffed out her cheeks:
"Kitahara-kun clearly just wanted to trick me into coming over!"
"I didn't trick Kita.", Kitahara Makoto shook his head and said, "There is indeed something missing in my eyes, and I need Kita-sama to help replenish it."
Kita Ikuyo pouted and said:
"What are you missing?"
"I'm missing light.", Kitahara Makoto said seriously, "My eyes are dim and lifeless, so I can only ask Kita to help me replenish my vitality."
Kita Ikuyo: "..."
Saying 'replenish vitality', he clearly just wanted to take advantage of people!
Unfortunately, Kita was caught off guard and had already fallen into Kitahara Makoto's trap. There was no chance to escape now, so she could only blush, trying her best to hide her tongue tip back in embarrassment to prove her 'resistance' determination.
A few minutes later.
Kitahara Makoto wiped his lips and said with satisfaction:
"It's back, the feeling of being full of vitality is back."
Kita Ikuyo's face was flushed, and she was panting. Hearing this, she couldn't help but pinch Kitahara Makoto's waist.
"Ouch."
Kitahara Makoto immediately begged for mercy.
"Pfft~", Kita Ikuyo couldn't help but spit, "I didn't even use much force, okay?"
Kitahara Makoto reached out and rubbed Kita's little head:
"The meal is ready. Do you want to go wash your face, Kita, or have another round..."
"I'm going to wash my face!"
Kita Ikuyo fled in a hurry.
A moment later.
Ryo and Nijika walked out of the bathroom together.
"Kitahara-sama, I'm starving."
Yamada Ryo clasped her hands together and looked over pitifully.
"In the kitchen.", Kitahara Makoto pointed, "Ryo-senpai, go wash your hands first, then serve yourself."
"Thank you for the god's grace~"
Yamada Ryo's eyes sparkled, and she scurried into the kitchen.
"Nijika-senpai, good morning."
Kitahara Makoto looked at Nijika, his eyes burning with undisguised fervor.
"...Good morning."
Nijika's pretty face flushed slightly, and she couldn't help but take half a step back, but she quickly relaxed.
Kita, Hana, and Mutsumi were all here. Kitahara couldn't possibly take advantage of people in front of everyone, could he?
As for Ryo...
Nijika didn't even want to mention her anymore.
When the three of them were alone, Ryo was even more dangerous.
"Why did Kitahara-kun ask everyone to come over for breakfast this morning?"
Nijika asked, puzzled:
"It must be very hard to prepare a meal so early in the morning, right?"
Kitahara Makoto said gently:
"Because everyone is very busy. If we don't eat breakfast together, we might not see each other all day."
"…"
The feeling only lasted a few short seconds.
Nijika quickly glared at him, unable to resist complaining:
"It's summer vacation now. Kitahara-kun, you're so busy every day, you should look for the reason yourself."
"Let's eat first.", Kitahara Makoto's expression was calm, completely unfazed by Nijika's subtle sarcasm, "After we eat, I have a surprise to tell you."
"Eh?", Nijika asked curiously, "What surprise?"
"I'll tell you after we eat."
"So mysterious..."
"…"
Next was breakfast time.
Although it was just ordinary egg-fried rice, with the blessing of the cooking towel, it was still absolutely delicious and quickly received unanimous praise from the girls.
After breakfast, Kita Ikuyo was playing with her phone when she suddenly let out a soft cry:
"Eh, why does it feel like Resident Evil..."
"What's wrong, Kita?"
Nijika looked over curiously.
"I just saw a video posted on Twitter. Besides the police, there were also medical personnel in white protective suits. Could it be a Resident Evil outbreak?"
Yamada Ryo immediately became interested upon hearing this:
"Let me see."
"Okay..."
Kita Ikuyo agreed, but soon a surprised look appeared on her small face:
"It's been deleted."
Kitahara Makoto heard this and said:
"The video was deleted?"
"That's right.", Kita Ikuyo quickly said, "It was just visible a moment ago, but then it was deleted in a flash."
"A video that was posted not long ago and then suddenly deleted is actually quite concerning.", Yamada Ryo leaned back on the sofa, "After all, lies don't need to be worried about, only the truth needs to be hidden. I smell a storm brewing."
"Ryo, don't be a conspiracy theorist."
Nijika complained while cleaning the kitchen:
"There's also the possibility that the video uploader deleted it themselves, okay?"
Kitahara Makoto was drinking tea nearby and said:
"It's actually very simple to find out which situation it is. You can just send a private message to the other party. If the other party's private messages are blocked, then Ryo-senpai is right."
"That makes sense... I'll try."
Kita Ikuyo held her phone and tried to send a private message.
"Hmm, the private message can't be sent... The other party's account has been banned."
Kitahara Makoto heard this and said:
"It seems that some people used coercive measures to delete the video in order to conceal the truth."
"Eh, eh, eh?"
Kita Ikuyo suddenly let out a soft cry.
"What's wrong, Kita?"
Nijika looked over curiously.
"That"..., Kita Ikuyo looked up at Kitahara Makoto with her small face, "I just checked the other party's homepage, and the address is Kamakura City."
"Kamakura?"
Kitahara Makoto's expression immediately became serious.
Nijika pursed her lips, looked up at Kitahara Makoto, and said softly:
"If I'm not mistaken, Mai-chan seems to live in Kamakura, right?"
Kita Ikuyo urged:
"Kitahara-kun, quickly send a message and ask about the situation."
Kitahara Makoto was indeed very concerned, so he immediately took out his phone and sent a message to Mai.
Medical personnel in protective suits?
It couldn't really be Resident Evil, could it?
"Mai-senpai, has there been any strange incident in Kamakura?"
The message quickly showed as read.
Very good.
It seemed that the internet was not affected.
Sakurajima Mai: "I haven't heard any news about strange incidents. Why are you suddenly asking such a question?"
"Kita just saw a video on Twitter, and the posting address is Kamakura City..."
Kitahara Makoto naturally wouldn't hide anything and explained the situation in detail.
Sakurajima Mai: "I'm in the apartment, I'm safe now, nothing has happened."
Kitahara Makoto: "In short, it's very concerning. Mai, why don't you come over?"
Sakurajima Mai: "Sorry, I don't want to disturb Scumbag-kun's harem."
Kitahara Makoto: "I have a bad feeling."
Sakurajima Mai: "Scumbag-kun, please don't jinx it. Strange incidents are breaking out all over the world now, and Tokyo might even be more dangerous... In short, I'll take care of myself."
Kitahara Makoto helplessly: "Okay, Senpai, let me know if anything happens, and I'll come over immediately."
"…"
Seeing Kitahara Makoto put down his phone, Nijika asked curiously:
"What did Mai-chan say?"
Kitahara Makoto shook his head and said:
"Mai-senpai said she's safe now and doesn't want to come over. She told us not to worry, that strange incidents are breaking out all over the world, and it might just be a normal small strange incident."
"That's true.", Nijika nodded gently, "After all, Mai-chan's relatives and friends are all in Kamakura, so she definitely can't abandon them."
Yamada Ryo tilted her head and looked over:
"What was the surprise Kitahara just mentioned?"
Kitahara Makoto kept them in suspense:
"Do you like onsen?"
"Of course I do.", Kita Ikuyo's voice was clear, "Kitahara-kun, are you going to ask us to go to an onsen?"
"Although I like it, I'd rather not go to an onsen.", Yamada Ryo leaned on the sofa, "It's summer now, and if we go out, we'll definitely melt like ice cream."
Nijika finished cleaning the kitchen, took off her apron, and put her hands on her hips, saying:
"Kitahara-kun, don't keep us in suspense, tell us quickly."
Kitahara Makoto smiled and said:
"As long as you like it, you can soak in the onsen without leaving your home from now on."
"Eh?"
"Last night at Taki's house, I found something good…"
Kitahara Makoto spoke, picking up the onsen courtyard model from the corner and directly activating it with spiritual power.
Kita Ikuyo looked left and right, searching everywhere:
"How did it suddenly disappear?"
Nijika blinked: "Could Kitahara-kun's talk of soaking in the onsen be related to the miniature model just now?"
Yamada Ryo sat up curiously: "This is getting interesting."
Mutsumi: "…"
When there are many people, Mutsumi basically doesn't speak, belonging to a passive trigger NPC, only responding when others actively initiate conversation.
"Everyone hold hands," Kitahara Makoto instructed, "I'll take you to see the [Onsen Village Dimension]."
The girls became interested and quickly held hands, standing in front of Kitahara Makoto.
"…Let's go."
Kitahara Makoto held Yamada Ryo's right hand, took a step forward, and as space slightly twisted, the figures of several people instantly vanished.
The next second.
Kitahara Makoto and the girls arrived in the tranquil, Zen-like onsen courtyard.
"This is the Onsen Village…"
Kitahara Makoto took the girls on a quick tour of the onsen courtyard, finally arriving at the outdoor onsen pool.
"Eh eh, what a big onsen pool!"
Kita Ikuyo's eyes sparkled.
Kitahara Makoto said from the side:
"The onsen here not only moisturizes the skin, making it fairer and more supple, but also soothes the spirit, eliminates fatigue, and allows for high-quality sleep… In short, there are many benefits, and everyone can come here to soak in the onsen every night from now on."
"No problem." Yamada Ryo readily agreed, "I'll stay with Nijika later and go back after soaking in the onsen."
Nijika's pretty face instantly flushed red, and she said shyly:
"I don't want to, Ryo can soak by herself if she wants to!"
Yamada Ryo blinked, pretending to be puzzled:
"It's just soaking in the onsen, why is Nijika blushing?"
Kita looked over curiously upon hearing this:
"Strange, Nijika is really blushing, it feels like there's a secret."
Nijika: "…"
Are you trying to soak in the onsen together?
You clearly want to do something terrible together!
Kitahara Makoto said with a composed expression:
"Does everyone want to soak in the onsen for a while now?"
"Of course not." Nijika crossed her arms over her chest, her pretty face flushed, "My sister should be awake, I need to go back!"
Nijika was determined to escape, and Kitahara Makoto couldn't force her to stay.
"Something's not right."
Kita held her left hand to her chest and propped her chin with her right hand:
"I always feel like you're hiding a secret from me."
Ryo looked over upon hearing this:
"Actually, Ryo and Nijika have already…"
"Don't say it!"
Nijika flashed behind Ryo and quickly covered Ryo's mouth.
Kita Ikuyo became even more curious:
"What exactly is the secret that makes Nijika so embarrassed?"
Everyone was part of the bracelet team, what secret can't be told?
Kitahara Makoto said from the side:
"Then I'll send Nijika out, but I hope someone can stay and help verify the specific situation of the [Onsen Village]. I already asked the answer book this morning, and humans can live in the [Onsen Village] long-term…"
Many things needed to be verified, such as whether hot food would get cold if brought inside.
Whether the time flow rate in the [Onsen Village] is the same as in the real world, or if a whole day spent in the Onsen Village would only be a blink of an eye in the real world, etc… In short, there were many things to explore.
Kitahara Makoto alone certainly wouldn't be enough, so he naturally needed help from others.
"I'll stay and help."
Yamada Ryo raised her right hand, volunteering, and tilted her head to look at Kita, saying in a subtle tone:
"Kita, do you want to come with me?"
"Eh?"
Kita Ikuyo instinctively sensed something amiss and quickly shook her head:
"I'll pass… I've made plans with a friend to go shopping today."
Yamada Ryo leaned into Kita's ear and whispered:
"Kita, remember to wear your bracelet when you go back."
"…"
Kita Ikuyo's small face instantly flushed red.
No!
I already swore I'd never wear a bracelet again!
And even if I and Nijika leave, Mutsumi is still here, you wouldn't possibly do that kind of thing in front of Mutsumi, would you?
The next second.
Kitahara Makoto's voice rang out:
"Mutsumi, please go buy ingredients for lunch today."
(What?)
(He actually sent Mutsumi away like that?)
Kita Ikuyo immediately puffed out her cheeks, unable to help but glare at Kitahara Makoto.
"What's wrong, Kita?"
Kitahara Makoto looked over in confusion.
"Hmph~"
"…"
Yamada Ryo remained in the Onsen Village, while Kitahara Makoto took Nijika, Kita, and Mutsumi back to the real world together.
After Nijika and Kita left, Mutsumi went out with Hana to buy ingredients for cooking and cupcakes.
Next, Kitahara Makoto poured a cup of hot tea, preparing to take it into the Onsen Village to verify the heat changes in the Onsen Village, and at the same time took out an hourglass for timing, remembering the time in the real world to compare the time flow rates of the two worlds.
Kitahara Makoto's figure flickered, entering the [Onsen Village].
He put the things down, then looked intently at Yamada Ryo:
"Ryo-senpai, no one will come to save you even if you scream your lungs out now."