After chatting with Yamada Ryo for a while, seeing a customer come to buy tickets, Kitahara Makoto waved his hand and turned to walk into the live house.
Upon entering, he looked up and saw Ijichi Nijika wearing a staff uniform, carrying a tray, moving swiftly among the customers. The girl's golden side ponytail swayed gently as she moved, displaying the youth and vitality unique to a high school student.
As if sensing his gaze, Ijichi Nijika seemed to notice, instinctively turned her head, and upon seeing Kitahara Makoto standing at the entrance, a bright smile appeared on her pretty face.
So dazzling!
Her whole being was sparkling!
"As expected of Shimokitazawa's Great Angel…"
Kitahara Makoto was slightly dazed and lost in thought.
Seeing Nijika's bright smile, he felt as if the entire live house had brightened up.
However, the first person to greet Kitahara Makoto was actually Ijichi Seika.
"Young man, back to play again?"
Ijichi Seika, sitting behind the bar, her eyes suddenly brightened. She had been lazily propping her chin, but now she quickly sat upright, speaking while looking around behind Kitahara Makoto.
"Seika-nee, good afternoon."
Kitahara Makoto responded politely.
"Are you alone today?"
Ijichi Seika couldn't help but ask.
Kitahara Makoto naturally understood the hidden meaning:
"Hana is at home. I'm just here by myself today."
Upon hearing this, Ijichi Seika's anticipation immediately turned into disappointment. She rested her right hand back on her chin and waved dismissively:
"Then go play."
"…"
You just said Hana wasn't here, and immediately waved me away. You're too impolite!
Kitahara Makoto walked to a table and sat down, looking at Ijichi Nijika as she passed by:
"Nijika, an orange juice, please."
Ijichi Nijika stopped:
"Bocchi-chan is behind the counter. If you want to order, you should go find Bocchi-chan."
Kitahara Makoto sighed faintly:
"Alright, it seems I can only tell the truth."
"Eh?"
"Actually, I missed Nijika. The orange juice is just an excuse; my real purpose is to talk to Nijika more."
Ijichi Nijika's pretty face quickly flushed red:
"W-What are you saying? It's only been two days, alright."
"It's been more than two days in the Otherworld," Kitahara Makoto whispered. "I really, really missed Nijika. If there's even half a lie, may I be kicked out…"
"Don't say strange things!"
Ijichi Nijika couldn't help but glare at him, giving a mock kick, then turned and scurried away:
"I'll go get your orange juice!"
"…"
A moment later.
Ijichi Nijika walked over, carrying a glass of orange juice.
"Here you go."
Ijichi Nijika set down the iced orange juice and prepared to leave.
Kitahara Makoto spoke up:
"I haven't paid yet…"
Ijichi Nijika: "Go to the bar and give it to Bocchi-chan!"
"Alright." Kitahara Makoto took a sip of the fruit juice. "Since that's the case, I'd like to use a universal exchange ticket."
When he saved Nijika's cousin from the Otherworld, Ijichi Nijika had given him many exchange tickets at once, enough to last a long time even if he used one a day.
"Kitahara-kun, what are you going to do?"
Ijichi Nijika immediately became nervous.
"Don't worry, I definitely won't do anything that Nijika would dislike," Kitahara Makoto said unhurriedly. "It's just been too long since we last met, and I want to replenish Nijika's angel energy."
Ijichi Nijika said speechlessly:
"Sorry, I don't have anything like what Kitahara-kun is talking about."
"I know better than Nijika whether you have it or not," Kitahara Makoto said seriously. "I was full of fatigue when I just arrived, but now that I've seen you, I feel completely relaxed, so I want more angel energy."
Ijichi Nijika's pretty face flushed slightly, and she couldn't help but glare at him:
"Even if you say that… how does one replenish that kind of thing?"
"It's very simple," Kitahara Makoto lowered his voice, "Nijika just needs to let me hug her for a while."
"You..."
"Don't worry, it's definitely not now."
Kitahara Makoto quickly said, "After the performance starts and Nijika-senpai is free, then let me recharge."
"I..."
"Nijika-senpai personally issued the exchange voucher back then. She wouldn't go back on her word, would she?"
Ijichi Nijika: "..."
You've said it all, how could I go back on my word?
"I understand." Ijichi Nijika bit her silver teeth lightly, lowering her voice, "Wait until I finish being busy... But it's agreed, only hugs, no other things!"
"Yes, yes."
"..."
There's no need to say more about what happened next.
Kita, Bocchi-chan, Nijika, and Ryo were all working in the store, so Kitahara Makoto naturally couldn't disturb them frequently. He held a fruit juice drink and sat alone in a corner, slowly drinking it.
Six o'clock in the evening.
The performance officially began.
The several girls who had been busy working finally had some free time.
Ijichi Seika walked behind the bar, taking over the salesperson's job, and let Nijika and the others come to observe the performance and learn from the experience.
"It's been half a month since we last left the Otherworld. Have you encountered any abnormal phenomena?"
Kitahara Makoto walked over to the girls and asked in a low voice.
"No."
Nijika and the others shook their heads.
"Not now, but it should be soon." Kitahara Makoto said softly, "So it's necessary to prepare early."
Kitahara Makoto watched the performance while softly narrating his experience in the Otherworld, finally stating his plan:
"I think that small island is quite good. Although the environment is average, it's safe enough. With the Eden Tree there, no abnormal existence dares to appear. Instead of going to chaotic places, it's better to build the small island into the Eden of the Otherworld. In the future, we can enter once every half a month to safely refresh our status... What do you all say?"
Ijichi Nijika thought seriously:
"According to Kitahara-kun, it's indeed very suitable as a long-term base."
"I agree." Kita raised her small hand, "The infinitely looping subway station is too scary. I still dream about it from time to time... It would be best to be able to stay in the Otherworld safely for a day."
"Mhm, mhm." Gotō Hitori nodded in agreement, "Kita makes sense."
Only Yamada Ryo tilted her head and looked over:
"Is Kitahara-kun the only male on that island?"
"That's right."
"The landing point is also in the sea, so it's best to wear swimsuits when entering the Otherworld..." Ryo-senpai said airily, "It sounds a bit like a Mizuryu Kei work."
Kitahara Makoto's mouth twitched slightly, and he couldn't help but retort:
"Ryo-senpai's knowledge base is too broad, isn't it?"
"Thank you for the compliment." Yamada Ryo's expression didn't change, and her heart didn't pound, "I just like to learn more than others."
You should learn some proper knowledge!
"Eh?" Ijichi Nijika asked in confusion, "What is this Mizuryu Kei you're talking about?"
"Cough, cough." Kita quickly coughed twice, reminding her in a low voice, "Nijika-senpai, don't ask. In short, it's something very bad."
Kitahara Makoto silently turned his head, his tone subtle:
"Kita actually knows about it. Could it be that she's seen it too?"
"I haven't seen that kind of thing!" Kita Ikuyo's small face quickly flushed red, and she clenched her small fist in embarrassment, "I've only heard about it, Kitahara-kun, don't tarnish my innocence!"
Yamada Ryo crossed her arms over her chest and added a jab from the side:
"It is said that the more guilty a person is, the louder their voice tends to be."
Kita: "..."