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"How about the storage room?"
"…"
Kita Ikuyo said nothing, indicating her agreement by default.
"Let's go."
Kitahara Makoto naturally understood, turned and led the way, with Kita Ikuyo following behind with a red face.
A moment later.
The two, one in front and one behind, arrived at the secluded storage room where Bocchi-chan had hidden yesterday.
Kitahara Makoto pushed the door open and entered. Bocchi-chan was indeed not there; the most dangerous place is often the safest place.
Walking to a corner and sitting down, Kitahara Makoto looked at Kita beside him:
"Eating bento first might leave a smell, so how about we seal the curse first?"
Kita's cheeks turned crimson, her body stiffening. She glanced around nervously and whispered, "I…I just came here to eat the bento…Kitahara-kun, don't go too far…"
Kitahara reached out with his right hand, gently taking hold of her slender wrist.
"Isn't it okay as long as I'm not going too far?"
"Of…of course not…"
"You said before that you wanted to try what it feels like to eat a bento in the sports warehouse, right?" Kitahara teased.
Seeing Kitahara leaning closer and closer, Kita had grown so nervous she couldn't speak. Instinctively, she panicked and closed her eyes. She had already mustered the courage to come here, so naturally she knew what was about to happen.
The next moment, a familiar, burning sensation spread across her lips.
(…I… I've been kissed again…)
Kita Ikuyo clenched her small fists nervously.
(This is already the second time…!)
(We're not even dating, I should just run away… Don't think too much! It's only mutual help between friends!)
After a brief moment.
The heat on her lips faded.
Shyly, Kita opened her eyes, her face flushed, ready to run away.
"I-I'll… I'll go back…"
But before she could finish speaking.
Her words were cut off again, leaving only panicked whimpers.
This time, it wasn't a fleeting, light touch.
This was an entirely new experience Kita had never felt before.
Her mind went completely blank.
Her entire soul felt as if it had flown out of her body, drifting aimlessly.
An electrifying shiver coursed through her, making her feel lightheaded and dazed.
As her soul floated.
Memories of the time she had eaten a bento in the sports warehouse—watching others in intimate contact—suddenly resurfaced.
Back then, she had been curious what it felt like… whether it might feel pleasant.
Now, Kita Ikuyo finally had her answer.
"It… it really does feel like being struck by electricity…"
Several minutes later.
Her breathing grew shallow and labored.
Finally, she clenched her tiny fists and lightly pounded on Kitahara's chest.
"Hu… hu…"
Her rapid, distressed breathing echoed through the secluded storage room.
"Taking advantage… of me…!"
Kita wiped at her face with her hand, flustered and embarrassed.
She glared at Kitahara, but her eyes were misty and shimmering.
Her flushed cheeks made her look delicate and intoxicating—utterly without any intimidating force.
"I… I'm sorry, I really couldn't help myself just now," Kitahara said sincerely, apologizing plainly without trying to excuse his actions.
Then he straightened and said seriously:
"Kita-sama, please rest assured, I will take responsibility…"
"You don't need to be responsible at all!"
Kita Ikuyo shook her head quickly, her embarrassment pushing her a little further away.
"Just… that was… only mutual help between friends!"
Her face was flushed red, and even she didn't quite believe the words coming out of her mouth.
Friends?
What kind of friend would kiss like that just now?!
"You already kissed, and you're still saying we're just friends," Kitahara said softly.
"Could it be that Kita doesn't want me to take responsibility?"
"Pfft~"
Hearing that, even usually mild-tempered Kita couldn't help but get angry.
You took advantage of me, and now you expect someone else to be responsible?!
Bang!
She kicked Kitahara, puffed her cheeks in anger, quickly grabbed her schoolbag, and dashed out of the storage room.
"I'll never care about you again!"
Watching Kita flee in a panic, Kitahara didn't chase after her.
He calmly wiped his lips.
In this world, some things happen only once, or countless times—there's never a "next time" that doesn't exist.
After finishing his bento alone, Kitahara walked into the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror.
Sure enough, the red color in his eyes had already disappeared.
After washing the bento box, Kitahara walked back toward the classroom.
His steps suddenly faltered.
"Wait—"
Thanks to Kita's "friendly assistance," the red-eye problem had been temporarily sealed.
Now that his eyes had returned to normal, what should he do after school?
Earlier that morning, he had sent a message to Nijika, making her take responsibility.
Now that the problem was solved, how could he make Nijika responsible?
"Or… should I just buy a pair of red-colored contact lenses?"
"….."
Time passed, and soon it was time to go home.
Kitahara grabbed his schoolbag, said goodbye to his classmates, agreeing to meet at six o'clock, and then headed straight home.
The idea of buying red-colored contact lenses was tempting, but after some careful thought, Kitahara decided to go home directly.
You can deceive someone for a while, but not forever. Lies are always exposed sooner or later, so it's better to admit the truth from the beginning.
If he wanted to achieve a true harem ending, using deception would definitely not work.
He walked home in silence.
Kitahara soon arrived at his house.
Not long after he got home, the doorbell rang.
It was Ichiji Nijika.
"Kitahara-kun, sorry to bother you."
Outside the door, Nijika stood alone. Today she had come to help "strengthen the seal," and apparently, even senpai hadn't been informed.
"Come in, it's hot outside," Kitahara said warmly, opening the door.
"I just bought lychees and watermelon. Nijika-senpai, go wash your hands first and get ready to eat some fruit."
Thump, thump.
Puu ran over in a flash, tilting her small face up:
"Mommy, small cake."
"Here~"
Ichiji Nijika handed over the small cake, deftly slipped on her slippers, and walked into the living room to sit on the sofa.
Watching Kitahara busy in the kitchen, Nijika blinked, a trace of suspicion in her eyes:
"You seem unusually… enthusiastic today. Could it be that you…"
"Pfft!"
Silently, she pursed her lips, her cheeks turning pink as she shook her head quickly.
At most, she could allow a kiss—anything else was completely out of the question!
But there was no way to escape now. Since she had come, she had to take responsibility.
"Senpai, here's the watermelon."
Kitahara quickly brought out the fruit.
"Thank you…"
Ichiji Nijika said softly, her gaze lingering on Kitahara's face.
"Wait… your eyes… they're back to their normal color?"
Kitahara said quietly:
"A lot happened at school today…"
Nijika's expression stiffened, her eyes sharp and piercing in an instant.
Eyes back to normal… what else could it mean besides what happened at school with someone else?
Why was he suddenly so enthusiastic, bringing drinks and serving fruit? Clearly, he felt guilty!
Early in the morning, he had sent a message, saying he wanted her to take responsibility.
Yet she had quietly come over, and in the meantime, he had already done that kind of thing with someone else.
Too much!
"I really can't help you, can I?" Ichiji Nijika bit her lower lip, immediately stood up, and prepared to leave.
"Goodbye, I'm going back."
"Wait, senpai, finish the fruit before you go back."
"I don't even want to eat."
Kitahara could only pull the beast-eared girl forward.
"You're leaving so soon, Hana will be sad."
Hearing Kitahara's inner command, the beast-eared girl tilted her small face.
"Mommy, don't go."
With the beast-eared girl there, Ichiji Nijika finally did not leave immediately, but she kept her delicate face tense and refused to talk to Kitahara.
She stayed like that until evening before saying goodbye and leaving.
As expected, there is no girl in the world who doesn't get jealous.
Kitahara sighed, feeling a headache coming on.
Making everyone get along peacefully would be a long and difficult task.
Six o'clock in the evening.
Outside a beauty center.
The evening breeze gently blew.
A blue-haired girl stood in the sunset.
Her skirt and hair fluttered slightly in the wind.
Her delicate and cute face caught the attention of many passersby.
"Sakiko, I'm sorry, I'm late." Kitahara stepped forward.
"I just got here as well." Togawa Sakiko tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said softly, "Mrs. Sato is already inside. Kitahara-kun, shall we go in now?"
A few days had passed since the last intimate encounter.
Togawa Sakiko seemed calm and was able to speak normally.
Kitahara nodded.
"Let's go, and get ready inside."
The beauty center was luxuriously decorated and clearly very high-end.
Togawa Sakiko must have come early to check everything, moving confidently.
She quickly led Kitahara into the elevator, which took them to the fifth floor.
"Kitahara-kun, long time no see."
Entering a private room, they saw Mrs. Sato in a black long dress, smiling warmly at them.
Kitahara greeted her politely.
"Good evening, Mrs. Sato."
Mrs. Sato was not only tonight's client but also someone who had helped introduce other clients.
Kitahara naturally would not be neglectful and took the initiative to ask about her daughter.
After the cursed oil painting was burned, Mrs. Sato's daughter had returned to normal and had not experienced any further episodes.
Apart from still being a bit physically weak, there were no other issues.
She had returned to university yesterday to continue her studies.
As for where that cursed oil painting came from, that remained unknown.
"Tonight, besides me, there are four other guests. They are all my friends," Mrs. Sato said with a smile.
"Kitahara-kun, you must perform well."
Kitahara replied seriously:
"Thank you, madam."
When someone helps bring in clients, it is always proper to show gratitude.
Mrs. Sato smiled warmly, then suddenly lowered her voice:
"Kitahara-kun, when you express your thanks, you should prepare a little 'thank-you gift.'"
Kitahara: …
That day, after finishing the exorcism and leaving the villa, Mrs. Sato had even scratched his palm.
Kitahara knew very well what kind of "thank-you gift" she had in mind.
The problem was, her daughter was about to graduate from university.
How could he feel comfortable making a move on a high school boy?
Japan is said to have the highest infidelity rate in the world, and for some wealthy wives, it's already an unspoken agreement: each spouse enjoys themselves as they please, and that's enough; nothing else matters.
The problem was, Kitahara was currently earning money quite easily.
He really didn't need to live off wealthy women.
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