A night without words.
The next day.
After breakfast, Kitahara went out, got on his bicycle, and sped all the way to the Gotō.
Because he left early today, he happened to meet Mrs. Goto who had just come out.
"Auntie, good morning."
Kitahara parked his bicycle and greeted her politely.
Mrs. Goto smiled radiantly:
"Makoto-kun, good morning. Are you here to play with Hitori so early today?"
Kitahara smiled in response:
"Summer vacation is about to end, and I want to give Hitori an unforgettable and beautiful memory before it's over."
"Oh, Makoto-kun is so thoughtful." Mrs. Goto clasped her hands together, her face full of a loving mother's smile, "Hitori used to be so shy, she would tremble just talking to ordinary people. I was worried she would end up lonely in old age, but I didn't expect her to meet Makoto-kun so soon after starting high school. I can finally rest assured."
Kitahara: "…"
I'm sorry.
You're happy too soon.
Daily quests occasionally increase Kitahara's permanent charm attribute, and coupled with Kitahara's already high charm value, he is now almost like a male succubus. Plus, his polite demeanor makes it very easy to gain the favor of wives.
But if Mrs. Goto knew that Kitahara was a man determined to build a harem, she probably wouldn't be smiling…
"Ah, it's getting late, I still have to catch the subway to work." Mrs. Goto exclaimed softly, then stretched out a finger, pointed to the door behind her, and whispered a secret, "Makoto-kun, goodbye. Futari reported to me that Hitori waits for you by the door every morning for a long time~ So, you two should get married after high school."
…
After Mrs. Goto left, the tightly closed door finally opened with a 'click', and Hitori, like a mouse foraging outside, poked her head out cautiously, and only after confirming that her mother was truly gone, did she sneak out.
"Hitori, good morning."
Kitahara greeted her.
"G-good morning…"
Hitori's face was flushed, and she stammered softly:
"Um… What did mom just say to Kitahara-kun?"
Kitahara's face showed a troubled expression:
"Auntie just asked me to keep it a secret."
…Secret?
Hitori couldn't help but look up, her heart even more curious.
(How could mom have a secret with Kitahara-kun?)
(I want to know!)
(I really, really want to know!)
Seeing Hitori's pitiful expression, Kitahara smiled:
"Does Hitori really want to know?"
"Mm-hmm."
Hitori nodded quickly.
"It's not impossible to tell you…" Kitahara deliberately drew out his words, "But Hitori has to make a choice: either kiss me, or say 'I like Kitahara-kun'."
Hitori: "…"
(This is the street, kissing is too embarrassing…)
(If the neighbors see it, people will definitely point fingers behind my back, right?)
(N-no! Absolutely no to such a terrifying thing!)
If it were anyone else saying such a frivolous thing, Hitori would have already trembled and crawled into a cardboard box by the roadside, but under Kitahara's continuous teasing, Hitori had long forgotten the escape option.
"I-I like Kitahara-kun…"
Curiosity quickly triumphed over shame. Hitori's face was flushed, and she nervously looked left and right, confirming that no one was around, before finally stammering out the words softly.
Kitahara made an expression of listening intently:
"Hitori, your voice is too low, I didn't hear clearly. Say it again."
"Ugh…"
Hitori's rosy cheeks quietly puffed out.
Even a sugar figurine made of dough would get angry if it was taken advantage of too much.
Unfortunately, Hitori couldn't curse. At most, she would just say 'Take advantage of', which completely didn't live up to Hitori's identity as an online surfing expert.
Kitahara stretched out a finger and poked Hitori's exceptionally bouncy little face, then smiled:
"Hitori, are you ready?"
"Huh?"
Hitori's expression was puzzled.
Kitahara said softly:
"The secret Auntie just told me is that Hitori waits for me by the door for a long time every morning, so she suggested we get married after high school so we don't have to be separated."
…
Hitori hurriedly lowered her head, and white steam quickly whistled out from the top of her head. Overwhelmed with shame, she felt dizzy and wanted to hide back home.
"Calm down."
Kitahara was quick-witted and grabbed Hitori, who was trying to escape home:
"Hurry up and get on the bike, we're going to draw for the moped."
…
Hitori couldn't escape. She could only lower her head and shyly sit on the back seat of the bicycle.
A silent journey.
The two soon arrived at the car dealership.
Balloons were piled up at the entrance of the dealership, banners were hung, and a notice board was displayed at the entrance, stating today's lottery event and its corresponding rules.
Kitahara casually scanned it and found that the rules were very simple: one only needed to fill in basic personal information and contact details. The first prize was a motorcycle, the second prize was a shopping discount coupon, and the third prize was some related items, such as helmets, raincoats, and fuel vouchers.
It is human nature to try to get something for nothing, and naturally, many people were interested in such an event. The car dealership had already gathered quite a few people, men, women, old, and young.
With too many strangers, Hitori's social anxiety was triggered again. She completely hid in Kitahara's shadow, only daring to cautiously peek out of the corner of her eye.
"So many prizes… won't the car dealership lose money?"
Kitahara leaned close to Hitori's ear and whispered, "Not only will they not lose money, they'll make money."
"Ah?"
Hitori tilted her small face up slightly, casting a questioning gaze.
Kitahara said in a low voice, "Firstly, the event is excellent publicity for their own reputation. Secondly, if Hitori gets a time-limited discount coupon for a supermarket, what would she usually do?"
Hitori blinked her eyes and replied softly, "Um… use the coupon before the time limit expires?"
"Correct answer." Kitahara snapped his fingers. "It's human nature to take advantage of small benefits and get something for free. Once a discount coupon is drawn, even if one doesn't use it themselves, they will definitely give it to family or friends, because wasting it would be too regrettable. It seems like the shop is losing out, but don't forget, the cost price and selling price of a motorcycle are completely different."
Hitori's small eyes were a bit bewildered:
"I think I understand…"
"Let's go." Kitahara squeezed Hitori's fingers. "We'll register first, then wait for the drawing."
"…"
Hitori lowered her small head, her small face flushed, allowing Kitahara to hold her hand, with no intention of pulling it away.
Although holding hands in front of so many people was embarrassing, if Kitahara wasn't holding her hand, she wouldn't dare to move alone surrounded by so many strangers.
The person responsible for information registration was the female salesperson from yesterday. Seeing Kitahara and Hitori approach, she greeted them with a smile.
Kitahara naturally responded politely, while Hitori, as usual, dared not look up.
After registering their information, Kitahara led Hitori to a corner to continue passing the time.
A moment later.
The lottery event finally officially began. Kitahara took out the fox mask and had Hitori put it on, then started queuing with Hitori.
The car dealership had brought in a large gachapon machine instead of the traditional cardboard box draw, to avoid the possibility of behind-the-scenes manipulation. Participants only needed to operate it like drawing a gachapon, and then it was all up to luck.
As the lottery queue moved quickly forward, Hitori couldn't help but become nervous, stammering softly, "The first prize must be very hard to win… Should we just go back?"
Kitahara said softly, "We're already at the last moment. Even if we don't win, we have to try, otherwise, wouldn't it be a wasted trip? Besides, with the fox mask, Hitori must believe in her luck."
Hitori still had no confidence at all:
"But, but I've never won a prize since I was little…"
Kitahara thought for a moment and said, "Since Hitori doesn't believe in her own luck, then just believe in me."
Luck only improves luck, it doesn't make Hitori a chosen one. There is indeed a possibility of failing to win a prize, but Kitahara said it was still himself.
The gachapon machine's drawing probability is completely random and is not controlled by a computer or by human intervention, so… quantum mechanics, understand?
"Mm-hmm."
Hearing this, Hitori immediately felt confident.
If it were just her alone, even with the fox mask, she still wouldn't have confidence, but as long as Kitahara made a promise, confidence immediately surged.
A moment later.
Kitahara and Hitori finally reached the front of the lottery queue.
"I'll go first."
Kitahara stepped forward and turned the gachapon machine's knob.
The gachapon machine's drawing probability is completely random. As he turned the knob, Kitahara's mind suddenly buzzed lightly. He felt his vision suddenly rise, entering an endless quantum sea, and the appearance of each gachapon appeared before his eyes.
Kitahara quickly found the gachapon representing the first prize and then made his choice.
Click.
A gachapon dropped down.
Kitahara bent down and picked up the gachapon.
The female staff member responsible for announcing the results smiled and looked over, wanting to take the gachapon from Kitahara's hand and announce the winning result.
"Wait a moment." Kitahara smiled and negotiated, "Wait until my girlfriend finishes drawing her gachapon, and I'll give them both to you."
"No, no problem…"
The female staff member was probably a part-time university student. Facing Kitahara's smile, her face immediately flushed, her heart rate suddenly accelerated, and she shyly looked away.
As for whether doing this would violate rules… with dozens of people and countless eyes on the scene, there was naturally no need to worry about Kitahara secretly swapping gashapons.
"Miss, please step forward and draw your prize."
The female staff member took a deep breath and looked at Hitori.
"Ah…"
Hitori's small face was flushed like fire. Because of Kitahara's earlier remark about her being his girlfriend, her small head almost buried itself in her chest. Hearing this, she hurriedly stepped forward, dizzily turning the knob.
Click.
A gachapon dropped down.
"I'll pick it up."
Kitahara stepped forward half a step, bent down, picked up the gachapon, and then handed it to Hitori.
"Here."
"Tha-thank you…"
Hitori parted her lips, wanting to say thank you, but there were too many strangers present, and she simply couldn't make a sound.
"Hello, you can open the gachapon now."
Kitahara's expression was normal as he handed the gachapon in his hand to the female staff member beside him.
The female staff member's face was slightly red. She took the gachapon, then opened it in full view of everyone, and took out the winning number inside:
"Congratulations, this gentleman is very lucky! It's the second prize!"
Kitahara thanked her softly, then pulled Hitori from behind him:
"Hitori, give her your gachapon."
"Okay…"
Hitori lowered her small head and hurriedly handed out the gachapon in her hand.
A moment later.
A soft exclamation suddenly rang out.
"Congratulations! This young lady has won today's first first prize!"
Hitori was dizzy, her head still hadn't processed it:
"Re-really won a prize?"
Kitahara said from beside her, "That's right, you can ride your little motorcycle home in a bit."
"…"
Both of them winning prizes one after another, and one being the first prize and the other the second prize, naturally caused a stir. However, no one jumped out to cry foul. The lottery process was completely public, with so many eyes watching, Kitahara and Hitori indeed just had a 'normal' draw.
Even if someone was curious why Hitori was wearing a fox mask, they couldn't possibly guess the mask's effect.
In short, in the eyes of the other participants, Kitahara and Hitori were just [a high school couple with super good luck].
"No rush to claim the prize. Hitori, take off your mask first, then be careful of bad luck."
Kitahara pulled Hitori to a corner and reminded her softly.
"Mm-hmm."
Hitori nodded hurriedly, took off the fox mask, handed it back, then nervously looked around, fearing that danger would suddenly strike.
"Don't be so nervous." Kitahara comforted her, "With me by your side, Hitori definitely won't encounter danger."
Hitori was about to speak when she suddenly widened her eyes, her small face rapidly flushed at a visible speed, then she quickly raised her arms and frantically covered her chest.
Kitahara was slightly stunned:
"What's wrong?"
Hitori's small face was completely flushed, her lips slightly parted, too embarrassed to speak at all.
Kitahara moved his lips slightly and lowered his voice:
"Could it be that your bra strap broke?"
"…"
Hitori nodded pitifully.
Insidious!
Too insidious!
Bad luck actually attacked from within, impossible to stop!
Kitahara's eyes were burning as he suggested in a low voice, "Since that's the case, shall we go to Onsen Village to change your underwear?"
Hitori's small face grew even hotter upon hearing this, and she quickly shook her head.
Once she went to Onsen Village, it wouldn't just be bad luck, but she would be severely taken advantage of.
Kitahara raised his right hand: "I promise I won't take advantage of Hitori."
Hitori: "…"
(He said that last time, and he still taken advantage of me. I won't believe it again!)
Kitahara lowered his voice, coaxing her patiently:
"Hitori, don't forget, bad luck won't just happen once. What if Hitori's skirt suddenly falls off later…"
"Ugh—!!!"
Hitori frantically widened her eyes, and the corresponding scene involuntarily appeared in her mind.
(N-no! Please no!)
(Absolutely not that terrible thing!)
Fear quickly overcame shame. Hitori covered her chest with one hand, and with the other, she clutched Kitahara's sleeve, her eyes teary and anxious:
"Go, go to Onsen Village…"