"I saw this candy hairpin at the convenience store just now, and I think it suits Hitori. Here."
Kitahara Makoto took out a gift and handed it to Hitori.
Now, whenever he goes out, he always carries some small gifts with him. They aren't expensive, but they represent surprise and thoughtfulness.
"Thank you, Kitahara-kun…"
Hitori thanked him with a flushed face, then took out a pack of chewing gum from her bag.
"Th-That… Kitahara-kun, have some candy…"
Kitahara Makoto said seriously:
"I want Hitori to feed it to me."
Hitori nervously lowered her little head. Just that one sentence was enough to make her little face blush with shame, and she stammered:
"N-Not on the street…"
(Mom went to work, but the neighbors are still home…)
(Even if the neighbors aren't home, there are still pedestrians on the road…)
(No!)
(It's too embarrassing to be seen, absolutely not on the street!)
Seeing Hitori overheating, Kitahara Makoto naturally wouldn't go too far:
"Alright, I'll eat it myself. After we finish practicing cycling, you can feed me when no one's around."
"S-Sorry…"
Kitahara Makoto poured out a piece of chewing gum and put it in his mouth, then patted the bicycle:
"Get on and sit tight, we're ready to go."
"Oh…"
Hitori's little face was crimson, and she shyly sat on the back seat of the bicycle.
At first, she was worried about being discovered by the police, as the law prohibits carrying passengers on bicycles. However, after seeing a police officer also carrying a passenger on a bicycle a few days ago, Hitori felt relieved.
The bicycle whizzed by.
The street scene was no different from before.
Office workers hurrying along.
Retired grandpas strolling in the park.
Housewives walking their dogs.
It was as if the official announcement was for nothing.
Hitori gripped Kitahara Makoto's shirt with both hands and whispered:
"Even though the government officially announced the existence of anomalies, it seems like nothing has changed."
Kitahara Makoto replied while riding his bicycle:
"The joys and sorrows of people are not interconnected. Those who haven't personally experienced a strange tale can only see fragmented information online, severely lacking a sense of reality, and naturally won't take it to heart."
Hitori tilted her small face, looked up at the clear blue sky, and softly said, "Ah, I hope these peaceful days can continue indefinitely…"
Kitahara Makoto said faintly, "I feel like Hitori is setting a flag."
"Eh? Eh? Eh?" Hitori quickly raised her hand to cover her lips, her voice tense, "Take it back, take it back!"
"…"
The bicycle passed through streets and alleys, quickly arriving at the driving school.
"There are twenty minutes until class starts." Kitahara Makoto parked the bicycle, turned to look at Hitori, and said with burning eyes, "Hitori, pay me the reward first."
"Eh?"
Hitori tilted her small face in confusion.
"What reward?"
Kitahara Makoto reminded her, "The night before last, when I went to help catch sparrows, Hitori promised me ten kisses as a reward. Now there are nine left."
"N-no, there weren't that many!" Hitori widened her eyes and quickly shook her head, "There were clearly only four left!"
"It seems Hitori remembers very clearly." Kitahara Makoto smiled, "Since you've remembered, then quickly give me my reward."
Hitori's small face was flushed, and she said pitifully, "Th-that… after class…"
"Why not now?"
"B-because…"
Hitori's small face grew even redder. She shyly lowered her head to look at her toes, her voice so faint it was almost inaudible: "It's… too long…"
Kitahara Makoto raised his right hand and promised, "If Hitori lets me kiss her now, I'll only kiss her for three minutes. But if you wait until after class, it won't be just three minutes."
"Eh?"
Hitori looked up in surprise, her peach blossom eyes peering through her long bangs, gazing at Kitahara Makoto in confusion.
Her intuition told her that the truth didn't seem as simple as it sounded.
But three minutes was super tempting… If the kiss lasted too long, not only would it be hard to breathe, her head would feel dizzy, and she might even have to change her underwear…
Hitori hesitated for a moment, her expression conflicted.
"Hitori, don't worry, I keep my word." Seeing Hitori's hesitant expression, Kitahara Makoto continued to assure her, "Hitori can time it. If the kiss exceeds three minutes, then the remaining three rewards will all be waived."
"Kitahara-kun… isn't lying?"
Hitori's eyes lit up, and she looked over expectantly.
"Absolutely." Kitahara Makoto's face was filled with righteous integrity, "If I lie, then let Hitori hate me."
"…"
Hitori parted her lips, wanting to say that she wouldn't hate Kitahara-kun, but the words got stuck in her throat due to shyness.
Kitahara Makoto softly said, "Since Hitori isn't refusing, I'll take that as a yes?"
"…"
Hitori's small face was flushed, and she looked down at her toes, her silence indicating her choice.
"Very good." Kitahara Makoto smiled, "Let's start the timer now."
"N-no…"
Hitori's voice was full of shame, and she quickly shook her small head:
"Not outside…"
"Then let's go to the lounge."
"…"
Kitahara Makoto led Hitori directly to the lounge of the driving school.
Upon arriving at a private bathroom, he locked the door, took out his phone, opened the timer function, and held it in front of Hitori, smiling, "Hitori, look carefully, the countdown has started."
Hitori blinked, her small face flushed as she looked at the timer widget on the phone, then secretly glanced at the smiling Kitahara Makoto.
For some reason.
Although everything seemed normal, looking at the smile on Kitahara Makoto's face, Hitori felt a sense of danger quietly approaching.
Bang.
Kitahara Makoto placed his phone on the nearby washbasin, then took Hitori's small hand:
"Without further ado, let's head to the Onsen Village now."
"Eh? Eh? Eh?"
Hitori looked up in a panic, finally understanding where her unease came from.
Unfortunately, it was too late to back out now.
The next second.
The light in the bathroom subtly distorted.
The figures of the two instantly disappeared.
Looking at the familiar pavilions, terraces, and small bridges over flowing water in the Onsen Village, even Hitori's good temper couldn't help but puff out her cheeks:
"Kitahara-kun… you lied."
The time flow ratio between the Onsen Village and the real world is ten to one. In other words, three minutes in the real world means half an hour in the Onsen Village.
"The phone is still timing outside. Three minutes means three minutes. It's not lying if it doesn't go overtime." Kitahara Makoto revealed his true intentions, "I always keep my word."
Hitori softly retorted, "Kitahara-kun didn't say it was the Onsen Village…"
Kitahara Makoto said self-righteously, "Hitori didn't ask."
Hitori: "…"
"Hitori, don't stall for time." Kitahara Makoto pointed to his cheek, "Quickly kiss me."
"No…"
Hitori wanted to put up a small resistance.
"If that's the case, then let's go soak in the onsen."
Kitahara Makoto reached out and directly pulled Hitori into his arms.
"Eh? Eh? Eh?"
Hitori immediately panicked, her small hands nervously gripping Kitahara Makoto's collar. She couldn't help but recall the last time they soaked in the onsen together.
Not only was she kissed, but even her slime was taken advantage of, and in the end, her arms were sore and tired…
Horrible memories filled her mind, so Hitori naturally didn't dare to soak in the onsen and cried out in shame, "N-no, don't soak in the onsen…!"
Kitahara Makoto stopped, and said leisurely, "Then Hitori, you can proactively kiss me."
"…"
Hitori had no choice but to blush and shyly lean in.
Seeing Hitori looking wronged, utterly ashamed, and incredibly nervous, Kitahara Makoto was in a great mood.
Indeed.
Bullying Hitori was endlessly fun.
Three minutes later.
The light in the bathroom subtly distorted, and two figures appeared out of thin air: Kitahara Makoto and Hitori.
"The timing is just right." Kitahara Makoto picked up the phone he had left outside and held it in front of Hitori, "Two minutes and fifty seconds. I said three minutes for the kiss, it definitely won't go overtime."
"…"
Hearing such shameless words, Hitori's small face involuntarily showed a resentful expression.
(Three minutes… is too long!)
Next was driving practice time.
In the Dream World, Kitahara Makoto and Hitori had already completed all the courses, only lacking playing violent motorcycles. So, there was no need to elaborate on the driving practice process; once the class hours were completed, they could directly schedule the exam.
"That's all for today."
After finishing two lessons, Kitahara Makoto looked at Hitori beside him:
"Hitori, shall we go back?"
"Okay."
Hitori softly agreed. While Kitahara Makoto went to retrieve his bicycle, she secretly went to the vending machine and bought two bottles of fruit juice.
"Kitahara-kun, here…"
When Kitahara Makoto approached with his bicycle, Hitori offered him the drink with a flushed face.
"Thank you, Hitori." Kitahara Makoto thanked her warmly, took the drink, took a sip, and then said, "Come over for lunch."
"But Futari is still at home…"
"Then call Futari to come over too. I'm preparing pufferfish for lunch today." Kitahara Makoto said softly, "It would be a pity to miss it."
"…"
These past few days, due to various matters, he hadn't been able to charge Kessoku Band. Now that everything was settled, Kitahara Makoto decided to go all out, fully charge Kessoku Band, and then open the blind box.
To maximize the psychic energy emitted by the girls, the food quality naturally had to be as high as possible. Therefore, Kitahara Makoto set his sights on pufferfish, a legendary top-tier delicacy. He believed the psychic energy produced would definitely fill the Kessoku Band directly.
The bicycle whistled.
Kitahara Makoto rode Hitori back at full speed, first dropping Hitori off at her doorstep, then cycling home himself.
Shortly after arriving home, the doorbell rang.
Kitahara Makoto opened the door to find a very capable woman in a suit standing outside, who respectfully said, "Mr. Kitahara, your pufferfish."
Kitahara Makoto reached out to take it, casually saying, "You've worked hard."
The woman's tone was respectful:
"If you have any other needs, Mr. Kitahara, please feel free to instruct me."
Kitahara Makoto shook his head: "Not for now."
Upon hearing this, the woman in the suit respectfully bowed and then quickly took her leave.
Kitahara Makoto carried the cardboard box back into the house, opened it, and inside were several pufferfish, their mouths still opening and closing, looking exceptionally fresh.
Pufferfish are highly toxic and expensive, and cooking them requires a special license. Ordinary people can only buy pre-cooked pufferfish dishes at the supermarket; live pufferfish are simply unavailable.
Fortunately, Kitahara Makoto is no ordinary person. After resolving the Kamakura crisis, he has now become a 'privileged class'.
Privileges are meant to be used, so after deciding to prepare pufferfish for lunch today, Kitahara Makoto sent a message to the official liaison, asking them to help prepare the pufferfish. The woman just now was an official.
It proves that.
Privileges are indeed super useful.
Kitahara Makoto returned to the kitchen with the pufferfish, took out his phone, and sent messages to the girls, announcing today's pufferfish dish.
Within three minutes, the bathroom door was pushed open, and Yamada Ryo walked out, her eyes sparkling:
"Yay, no more eating grass for lunch today!"
Behind Yamada Ryo, Nijika followed, but her expression was a little worried:
"Pufferfish are highly poisonous; one mistake can send someone away… Can Kitahara-kun really cook it properly?"
"Rest assured," Kitahara Makoto took out a cooking towel, draped it over his shoulder, and poured the pufferfish out of the foam box. "Before we eat, Nijika-senpai can consult the answer book to ensure everything is foolproof."
Nijika breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this:
"That's good."
It wasn't that she doubted Kitahara Makoto, but the reputation of pufferfish was simply too notorious; one had to be extra careful.
Kitahara Makoto took out two aprons, handed one to Nijika, and then said:
"I'll handle the pufferfish; Nijika-senpai can wash the other ingredients first."
"Okay."
Nijika responded crisply. If she were just to sit and wait for the meal, she would feel uncomfortable.
"Kitahara, is there anything I can help with?"
Yamada Ryo pointed to herself.
Kitahara Makoto said languidly:
"Ryo-senpai can just wait to eat."
Ryo gave a thumbs-up:
"I'm good at that."
"…"
Neatly tying her apron, Nijika was about to start washing the ingredients when she suddenly saw Kitahara Makoto standing still. She tilted her head curiously and asked:
"Kitahara-kun, why haven't you started yet? Cooking pufferfish should take a long time, right?"
Kitahara Makoto spread his arms and said:
"I'm waiting for Nijika-senpai to help me tie my apron."
"Pfft~"
Nijika's pretty face flushed slightly, and she couldn't help but glare at him:
"Are you a three-year-old? Tie your own apron."
Kitahara Makoto said righteously:
"I'm taking such a big risk cooking pufferfish. It's already good enough that I'm not asking for Nijika-senpai's kiss. Just asking Nijika-senpai to help tie my apron is already pretty good, isn't it?"
"If you know it's dangerous, then don't challenge pufferfish cuisine," Nijika retorted. "There are clearly many other dishes to choose from."
"I don't care; Nijika-senpai, hurry up and help me tie my apron."
"You…"
Seeing Kitahara Makoto act shamelessly, Nijika could only sigh, covering her forehead. She secretly turned to look outside, making sure Ryo was already sitting on the sofa, then stepped forward to Kitahara Makoto, her small face slightly red, and helped him tie his apron.
"Senpai…"
Splat!
Just as Kitahara Makoto was about to sneak an attack, Nijika swiftly reached out and covered Kitahara Makoto's mouth, a hint of smugness on her pretty face:
"I knew you wanted to sneak attack."
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
Next was cooking time.
While Kitahara Makoto was preparing the pufferfish, the girls arrived one after another via fast travel, and almost all of them curiously came into the kitchen to take a look at the pufferfish.
"The pufferfish looks so cute and round."
Chihaya Anon curiously extended a finger, wanting to poke the pufferfish in the sink.
Smack~
A hand suddenly slapped Anon's buttocks, the sound exceptionally crisp and loud.
"Ah—"
Chihaya Anon instinctively let out a soft cry, her hands quickly reaching behind her, shyly covering her buttocks. Especially the subtle gaze from Nijika nearby made her want to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Too much!
To hit me in front of others… that's too much!
Kitahara Makoto said with a serious expression:
"Anon, don't put your finger in front of the pufferfish. Be careful, or your finger might get bitten off."
Chihaya Anon, who had been unhappily puffing out her cheeks, now remembered how incredibly sharp a pufferfish's teeth were. A look of lingering fear appeared on her pretty face, and she whispered:
"I'm sorry, I forgot…"
"An apology won't make you remember." Kitahara Makoto beckoned, "Come here, I'll hit you again."
"No way!" Chihaya Anon shyly covered her buttocks and turned to flee. "I'm leaving!"
"…"
As Anon fled the kitchen, a resentful voice sounded from nearby:
"Kitahara-kun is really skilled."
Kitahara Makoto turned to look at Nijika, his expression calm:
"Nijika-senpai is jealous?"
"Hmph." Nijika turned her pretty face away. "I'm not jealous at all."
Kitahara Makoto lowered his voice and said:
"Nijika-senpai, don't go back this afternoon. I'll use my body to help you calm down."
"Pfft~"
"…"
After Anon left, Kita just happened to arrive via fast travel and asked curiously:
"What happened to Anon just now?"
Kitahara Makoto said while preparing the pufferfish:
"If Kita wants to know, just put your finger near the pufferfish's mouth."
Kita blinked, then quickly took half a step back:
"No, Kitahara-kun clearly has ill intentions."
"Kitahara-kun indeed has ill intentions," Nijika interjected from the side, exposing Kitahara Makoto's 'sinister thoughts'.
"No wonder Anon's face was so red." Kita covered her buttocks, her face flushed, and complained on behalf of her friend, "Kitahara-kun is too bullying."
Nijika blinked:
"Kita, you weren't hit, so why are you covering your backside?"
Kita: "Ahahaha… I'm going out first!"
"…"
Time quietly slipped away.
In a blink of an eye, it was noon, and the cooking was finally done.
Kitahara Makoto carried the dishes out of the kitchen, only to find that all the girls had already arrived. Hitori brought Futari, Tomori even called Taki over, and except for Mai who stayed in Kamakura, almost everyone was present.
"Pufferfish sashimi!"
"Pufferfish skin with ponzu sauce!"
"Wow, it looks so beautiful."
"Wait, the dish seems to be glowing?"
"High-end ingredients often only require the simplest cooking methods…"
"…"
The girls, some holding bowls, some holding chopsticks, all came to help, and soon the dishes were neatly arranged. Immediately after, Nijika picked up the answer book and asked if today's pufferfish dish was safe. After receiving an affirmative answer, the girls all relaxed.
During this time, Kitahara Makoto and Hana went to the amusement park and retrieved the Kessoku Band.
"Kitahara-kun, hurry and wash your hands."
"Time to eat."
"Hurry, hurry."
Kitahara Makoto walked towards the bathroom: "Soyo, there's plum wine in the refrigerator."
Soyo said softly:
"I'll get it right away."
Kita volunteered:
"I'll get the cups."
"…"
By the time Kitahara Makoto finished washing his hands and came out, two bottles of plum wine and cups were already set out. The girls were seated on both sides of the table, all looking towards Kitahara Makoto.
Kitahara Makoto sat down on a chair, picked up the plum wine, and smiled:
"Cheers!"
The girls all raised their cups in response:
"…Cheers!!"