On the neglected shelf in the corner, something was indeed emitting a faint glow.
"Optimizable item…"
Kitahara Makoto walked over calmly.
After a simple search, he quickly found a fake lure.
This thing was a pencil-shaped popper, with a red and blue gradient color, looking quite beautiful.
Before Kitahara Makoto came, he had briefly understood relevant information about fake lures, knowing that this thing was a surface-lure bionic bait, the principle of which was to make the lure splash water by operating the popper rod, like a small fish struggling on the water surface on the verge of death, stimulating large target fish species through sound and splashes, thereby catching the target fish species.
[You have found an optimizable item. Do you want to optimize it now?]
As expected.
As Kitahara Makoto picked up the fake lure, the corresponding prompt quickly appeared before his eyes.
"Later."
Kitahara Makoto calmly chose to refuse.
The item was already in hand, he could completely buy it and optimize it outside, no need to rush.
Holding the fake lure and drinks, Kitahara Makoto enthusiastically walked around the store again, but unfortunately, he didn't see any more glowing items.
"Alright, one shouldn't be too greedy."
Kitahara Makoto dispelled his regret and walked over to Tomori and Taki.
The two girls were still choosing sun hats. When men buy things, they usually see something they like, pay directly, and leave. But for girls, it's different; color, style, comfort… everything needs to be carefully selected.
So, by the time Kitahara Makoto walked around and came back, the two girls still hadn't chosen their sun hats.
"Makoto-kun, how about this hat?"
Tomori asked softly.
"Hmm…"
Kitahara Makoto stared intently at Taki, beginning to scrutinize her.
This was a white sun hat, complementing Taki's black hair, looking quite good.
One second passed.
Two seconds passed.
Ten seconds later, Kitahara Makoto still hadn't spoken.
"…What in the world have you been staring at?!"
Taki's small face felt slightly hot, and she couldn't help but glare at him.
"I'm sorry." Kitahara Makoto showed an expression as if he had just come back to his senses, "Taki wearing this hat is simply too cute, I couldn't tear my eyes away."
Girls, from three years old to eighty, all like to be praised.
As long as you're asked for an opinion, praising them is never wrong.
"Pfft~"
Taki's small face quickly flushed, and she glared at him in annoyance:
"Stop spouting nonsense!"
But even as she complained, Taki clearly felt her heart rate quietly accelerating, and her lips inexplicably wanted to curl up slightly…
(Ahhhhhh! Hold it in! Don't laugh no matter what!)
(To actually be happy because of this guy's praise… Damn it!)
(Taki, show some backbone!)
Kitahara Makoto retorted:
"Does Taki think she's not cute?"
Taki: "..."
If she said she wasn't cute at a time like this, even Tomori wouldn't believe her, right?
It's well-known that when girls stand in front of a mirror, they all have the illusion of being 'super cute,' just like boys, after showering, all feel their looks have greatly improved.
"Taki is indeed very cute." Tomori said softly, "Let's buy this hat then."
Taki lightly bit her teeth, still wanting to refuse, but Kitahara Makoto was already beside her, saying:
"Actually, what's truly cute is Taki, not the hat. Even if Taki wore other hats, I would still say she's super cute."
"..."
Hearing such shameless words, Taki naturally gave up the idea of changing hats, her small face flushed as she chose the white sun hat on her head.
A moment later.
The three of them, having paid the bill, carried their drinks and various items to the small boat.
"Who among you knows how to row a boat?"
Kitahara Makoto asked.
"I haven't rowed before." Tomori gently shook her head, "This is also my first time fishing."
"Then Tomori-chan's two firsts belong to me." Kitahara Makoto smiled and waved, "Come here, Tomori-chan, I'll teach you how to row."
"Okay."
Tomori's eyes brightened, and she stood up and sat beside Kitahara Makoto.
Although there was no change in her facial expression, Taki could clearly feel that Tomori was very happy now.
A subtle thought suddenly flashed through Taki's mind:
"If only I and Tomori-chan had come to row and fish today, Tomori-chan definitely wouldn't be this happy, would she?"
"..."
"Taki, come quickly."
A gentle, pleasant voice reached her ears, waking Taki.
Tomori said softly:
"Makoto-kun says he'll teach us to row together."
Taki lightly bit her lower lip with her pearly teeth. Although there was a tiny bit of temptation, she still refused verbally:
"I'll pass, I'm not interested in rowing."
Kitahara Makoto moved the oars, and the small boat pushed aside the waves, quietly gliding into the lake:
"Many forms of happiness, before they are discovered, have another name. Taki, do you know what it is?"
Taki, holding a fishing rod in her arms, hummed lightly at his words:
"Not interested."
Tomori looked up with her small face:
"Makoto-kun, what's the name?"
Kitahara Makoto said softly:
"The other name is an ordinary and common day."
"...Huh?"
Taki raised her delicate eyebrows, just about to retort, when she heard Kitahara Makoto continue:
"Taki, you've seen the news, you know the typhoon is landing tonight, right?"
"I saw it, and then?"
"So, for the next few days, it's impossible to have such fine weather as today."
Kitahara Makoto rowed the small boat to the center of the lake:
"Summer vacation is almost over, and perhaps until school starts, there won't be another chance to come here to row and fish."
"For Taki, today is an ordinary and common day, but if we step out of the current scale and look at it in the context of a person's entire life, then today should be…"
At this point, Kitahara Makoto paused slightly, raised his eyes to look at Taki, and then said softly:
"Looking back, that was sixteen-year-old Taki, in the first summer of her high school days, a distant afternoon spent rowing and fishing with a close friend."
Taki: "..."
Kitahara Makoto continued:
"By next year, sixteen-year-old Taki will never come back. In half a month, the first summer of high school will never return… So, Taki, do you really not want to cherish this day at all?"
Taki: "..."
Damn it!
It was just a very ordinary summer afternoon, how did it become an incredibly important day in her life?
Something must have gone wrong!
The key was that Taki actually felt it made strange sense, as if today was indeed a day worth cherishing…
"Makoto-kun is very right," Tomori said, her eyes bright. She extended her right hand and asked expectantly, "To cherish today with Taki, would you like to come learn how to row a boat together?"
"…"
Taki parted her lips. As expected, she couldn't refuse Tomori's expectant gaze. After letting out a soft breath, she stood up to walk over.
However, Taki forgot that the three of them were not on land at the moment, but on a boat. Suddenly standing up and stepping forward not only caused the boat to sway, but she also lost her balance. In a panic, she nearly fell into the lake.
Fortunately, Kitahara Makoto was quick-witted. He reached out and pulled Taki directly into his arms.
"Taki, don't be nervous," Tomori's calm voice rang out, "It's alright now."
"Whew…"
Upon realizing she was sitting in Kitahara Makoto's arms, Taki couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. Immediately, her small face flushed red, and she said indignantly:
"Let go of me, quickly!"
To actually sit in scumbag Kitahara's arms in front of Tomori, how terrible!
It was truly awful!
"Don't move," Kitahara Makoto tightened his grip slightly, "Taki doesn't want the boat to capsize, does she?"
"…"
Upon hearing the words "capsize," Taki immediately became still, still feeling lingering fear. The swaying sensation just now was too terrifying.
Kitahara Makoto said earnestly:
"The boat is too small. Taki, just sit in my arms. I'll teach you both how to row."
Taki's voice was filled with shame:
"I don't want to!"
No sooner had she spoken.
A 'click' sound suddenly rang out above their heads.
"Huh?!"
Taki's small face turned crimson:
"You, you even took a picture?!"
Kitahara Makoto said shamelessly:
"Today is a very memorable day, so of course I want to take a picture as a souvenir… Tomori-chan, isn't that right?"
Tomori said softly:
"Makoto-kun is right."
Taki puffed out her cheeks:
"If you want to take pictures, you and Tomori-chan take them yourselves! Don't include me!"
If someone saw her sitting in this guy's arms, they would definitely misunderstand!
Kitahara Makoto said solemnly:
"I promise not to send it to anyone else, I'll keep it for myself."
Taki: "Not even for yourself!"
Kitahara Makoto: "Tomori-chan, Taki is being mean to me."
Taki: "…"
He even complained to Tomori! This guy is too shameless!
There's no need to say more about what happened next.
Rowing was not difficult. Under Kitahara Makoto's patient, hands-on guidance, Tomori and Taki successively mastered simple rowing techniques. Fishing was even less difficult, after all, fishing enthusiasts always have a beginner protection period.
As Taki caught her first fish, the 'Fishing Tycoon' quest was quietly completed.
An hour and a half later.
Fishing ended.
Kitahara Makoto leisurely sat on the boat, letting Taki and Tomori row the boat back to the shore, then got up to return the fishing gear.
"Makoto-kun, what should we do with the small fish we caught?"
Tomori looked over expectantly.
"I asked," Kitahara Makoto said softly, "You can release them all back into the lake, or choose a few to take home and raise."
Tomori's eyes brightened:
"I want to take a few home to raise, and then put the pebbles we found together by the river that day with Makoto-kun, and the small fish, all together in a fish tank."
Kitahara Makoto's thoughts instantly returned to that day two months ago.
To complete the 'Childish Fun' quest, he went to the river to catch fish and shrimp, and happened to meet Tomori. On a whim, he gave Tomori a few pebbles, and thought Tomori had long since thrown them away, but he didn't expect her to have treasured them so well.
Thinking of this, Kitahara Makoto couldn't help but raise his right hand and gently stroked Tomori's head, saying warmly:
"There aren't enough of those pebbles. After the typhoon passes, shall we go to the river again to find some more pebbles?"
Tomori's eyes sparkled, and she softly agreed:
"Okay."
"…"
Taki stood by, watching Kitahara Makoto and Tomori conversing intimately, and a feeling of sullenness welled up again.
(How… how annoying!)
Upon realizing her emotional change, Taki immediately bit her teeth.
People can deceive others, but they can't deceive themselves.
Although she didn't want to admit it, Taki clearly knew that this sullen feeling was clearly jealousy.
(To actually be jealous of Tomori… How embarrassing! Too embarrassing!)
(Quickly draw a clear line with this guy, ahhh!)
"Taki," Tomori turned to look at her, "Makoto-kun gave me a small fish, you give me one too, I'll take them back and raise them together, okay?"
Taki: "…"
Although she really wanted to refuse, facing Tomori, whose eyes were clear and bright, completely without any impurities, she simply couldn't say no.
"…Okay."
Taki could only agree softly.
Tomori's rosy lips curved slightly upwards:
"We'll raise them together when we get back, symbolizing that we will never be separated."
Taki: "…"
To never be separated from Tomori, would that only mean joining scumbag Kitahara's harem?
Kitahara Makoto went to the store again, bought a fish tank, fish food, and other supplies, then led Tomori and Taki towards the bathroom:
"Taking the car back is a bit troublesome, the small fish might die from lack of oxygen on the way. Shall we just fast travel back?"
The two girls naturally had no objections and both agreed.
A moment later.
Kitahara Makoto returned home, took off his hat, put down his backpack, and then went to the bathroom to shower.
"Now it's loot time…"
Kitahara Makoto opened the System while showering, claimed today's lottery chances, and then decisively started drawing.
"Alright, as expected, nothing good came out."
The ability roulette dropped a fragment.
Just as Kitahara Makoto was feeling regretful, a prompt suddenly popped up in front of him:
"Found a fusable ability fragment. Fuse?"
Kitahara Makoto's eyes lit up:
"Fuse it for me."
When all roads seem to end, a new path appears. As expected, it's better to do single draws; ten consecutive draws are simply impossible to save up for.
A moment later.
An ability orb quietly appeared at Kitahara Makoto's fingertips.
Pop~
Kitahara Makoto used a little force with his thumb and forefinger, directly crushing the ability orb. Tiny starlight quietly merged into his body.
"Ability: Extraordinary Vision"
"Category: Passive"
"Description: Your vision has been elevated to an extraordinary level. Your eyesight is sharper, and you can see clearly even in complete darkness. You can see existences that ordinary people cannot, and phenomena like ghost walls will have no effect on you."
"Note: To be clear, Extraordinary Vision does not grant X-ray vision."
Kitahara Makoto only felt his eyes enveloped by a cool sensation, feeling exceptionally comfortable.
Once the cool sensation dissipated, Kitahara Makoto opened his eyes and expressed great satisfaction:
"A very good ability."
The eyes are the most important information-receiving organs for humans. Now that he had obtained the 'Extraordinary Vision' ability, he no longer had to worry about encountering things like ghost walls.
After washing up.
Kitahara Makoto put on his clothes, walked out of the bathroom, and then took out the fake bait he bought in the afternoon from his backpack.
The fishing ground was crowded and had too many prying eyes, so it was really not a good place to optimize items. Therefore, after buying it, Kitahara Makoto just threw it into his backpack. Now he could finally take it out.
"Makoto-kun, want some ice cream?"
Mutsumi's eyes were bright as she looked over expectantly.
"Okay," Kitahara Makoto sat down on the sofa, "I'll have one."
"I'll go get the ice cream."
Mutsumi stood up expressionlessly and walked briskly towards the refrigerator.
Kitahara Makoto lowered his head to look at the fake bait in his palm, and silently issued a command:
"Optimize."
A moment later.
The item optimization was complete.
[Item: Fishing Bait]
[Current Status: Optimized]
[New Trait: Enemy of the Culter alburnus. After activating the Fishing Bait, the target will involuntarily rush towards the Fishing Bait. Only by breaking free or destroying the Fishing Bait can they escape.]
"It feels like a taunt-type item…"
Kitahara Makoto simply played with the Fishing Bait for a bit, then put it away.
Although it wasn't as surprising as the 'Onsen Village' item, the trait was decent, and it might come in handy someday.
"Makoto-kun, here's the ice cream."
Mutsumi sat down, a faint hint of expectation on her pretty face.
"Today, I'll feed Mutsumi-chan."
Kitahara Makoto was in a very good mood. He reached out, took the ice cream, and fed Mutsumi.
Five thirty in the afternoon.
Kitahara Makoto took out his phone and sent a message to Togawa:
"It's time to go shopping with Ghost-senpai again. I'll head over to Togawa-chan's place first, and then we can go to Tsukinomori Academy together, okay?"
The message quickly showed as read.
Sakiko quickly replied: "No, let's just meet directly at the entrance of Tsukinomori Academy."
Kitahara Makoto: "It's hot outside, I don't want to walk."
Sakiko: "Then I'll just go by myself."
Kitahara Makoto: "No, it's too dangerous for Togawa-chan to go alone. See you at six o'clock."
Sakiko: "..."
Half an hour later.
At the entrance of Tsukinomori Academy.
Not long after Kitahara Makoto arrived, he saw a blue-haired girl walking towards him.
Their eyes met.
Sakiko's pretty face quickly flushed red, and then she quickly turned her head to look elsewhere.
"Togawa-chan, good afternoon."
Kitahara Makoto greeted her as if nothing had happened.
"...Good afternoon."
Sakiko's lips moved slightly, her pretty face suffused with a red glow, completely avoiding eye contact with Kitahara Makoto.
If it weren't for the agreement today to come and accompany Ghost-senpai, she wouldn't want to meet Kitahara Makoto so soon, because as soon as she saw Kitahara Makoto, the scenes of being taken advantage of in the Onsen Village that night would clearly resurface in her mind.
Lewd!
Just thinking about some of those positions felt incredibly lewd!
"Here." Kitahara Makoto extended his right hand, handing Togawa a blue enchantress rose. "When I was coming over just now, I saw someone selling flowers by the roadside, so I bought one casually. I feel this color matches Togawa-chan perfectly."
Sakiko reached out and took the flower, her pretty face taut as she said:
"Let's go pick up Ghost-senpai quickly."
"..."
A moment later.
The dilapidated music classroom.
After Ghost-senpai possessed her, Kitahara Makoto and Togawa left Tsukinomori Academy and began their accompanying journey.
They ate, drank, and played along the way, and in a blink of an eye, it was eight o'clock in the evening.
Ghost-senpai was preparing to leave, but before she did, a faint voice came from Togawa's body:
"...You two are acting strange."
Kitahara Makoto said calmly:
"How are we acting strange?"
Ghost-senpai's voice drifted out:
"Togawa-chan blushes every time she looks at you today, and her gaze is always flickering and dodging... What exactly happened between you two? Don't tell me you've eaten the forbidden fruit?"