"Anon, do you want to visit the campus at night?"
Kitahara asked seriously.
"No~"
Anon gave a charming little huff, refusing with a hint of disdain:
"I'm sorry, even though scumbag-kun has now been promoted to boyfriend, I really can't agree to such a perverted hobby. Please allow me to refuse one hundred percent."
Kitahara picked up Anon and stood up:
"Then Anon should scream for help."
"Eh?"
Anon looked up, puzzled.
Kitahara's voice was low:
"There are only the two of us in the room. Even if Anon screams until her throat is hoarse, no one will come to save her."
Anon: "…"
The moment this pink-haired girl refused, Kitahara knew Anon's true intentions.
Girls always like to say one thing and mean another. Sometimes saying 'no' doesn't truly mean 'no'. For example, at this very moment, although Anon said she refused one hundred percent, her eyes, tone, and demeanor all indicated that she wasn't truly resisting.
Also, as Kitahara got up and walked towards the mirror, if Anon truly didn't want to go, she would have already started struggling. She wouldn't be as still as a cat.
Simply put, it was due to a girl's modesty.
You ask if you can play the 'campus at night game'?
Asking, of course, is not allowed.
But if it's a situation where she's involuntarily forced, then there's nothing she can do. It's normal for a helpless little girl to be unable to resist a boy's forceful actions, right?
"Hana, this is the toll."
Kitahara took out a box of small cakes, handed them to Hana watching anime, and then said:
"Take us to the school's club room."
When Kitahara took the mirror out of the Onsen Village in the morning, he had already summoned Hana to mark the coordinates, so going there to play now was not a problem.
"Scumbag-kun is so mean, hurry up and put me down! I have no interest in the campus at night at all…"
Anon's pretty face was flushed, and while she continued to refuse, she gently distorted her body to express her attitude.
Kitahara naturally paid no attention:
"Anon, don't beg me to go to school to play later."
You say it's very mean, but your struggle strength is weaker than a newborn human infant. You're clearly just deceiving yourself!
"Hmph~"
Anon's cheeks quickly puffed up:
"I would never beg scumbag-kun for such a terrible thing!"
"Call me boyfriend."
"Nyah nyah nyah~"
"…"
As they spoke, with Hana's help, the two passed through the mirror and arrived at the campus.
"Hana, you can go back now."
Kitahara rubbed Hana's little head, then waved her back.
"Hoo…"
As Hana entered the mirror and left, Anon quietly let out a sigh of relief, nervously looking around and whispering:
"The school is so dark at night, it feels a bit scary."
Japan practices relaxed education, so high school students are dismissed at 3 PM. After school is club activity time, and the school closes by around 7 PM at the latest. Now, it was naturally pitch black and exceptionally quiet.
What?
You ask if children under the relaxed education system can get into university?
The answer is, of course, they cannot.
Fly-by-night universities that accept anyone who pays don't count. True good universities require you to have sufficient knowledge reserves, and the knowledge gained from relaxed education is far from enough.
Students in Japan who want to get into university must attend cram schools, also known as 'after-school tutoring classes'. According to statistics, over half of students start attending cram schools from elementary school, and by high school, the proportion soars to over eighty percent.
In other words, the classmates who are 'happily slacking off' with you at school during the day might very well be intensely competing in cram school classes behind your back at night…
Kitahara looked down at Anon, his gaze burning as he said:
"Club room, classroom, rooftop, office… Anon, choose one yourself."
Anon's pretty face immediately flushed rapidly:
"I don't want to choose any of them! They all sound terrible!"
Kitahara nodded:
"Understood. Anon chooses to have them all."
"I didn't say I wanted them all! Scumbag-kun, don't mishear me!"
"Then let's go to the classroom first."
"…"
What happened next, of course, cannot be elaborated upon.
Ten minutes later.
In the empty, dim classroom, a whimpering sound, like a cry, suddenly drifted out:
"I, I'm sorry… I'm Scumbag…"
"I'm very sorry I couldn't satisfy Kitahara-sama…"
After changing to a new environment, Anon, who was already a weakling, became even more vulnerable. In short, she was a complete Scumbag.
"That's enough for today."
Kitahara sighed helplessly.
Facing the tearful Anon who was waving a white flag, he couldn't possibly continue to take advantage of her regardless.
After quickly tidying up, Kitahara carried Anon back to the club room, then summoned Hana and fast-traveled home.
"I, I'll go back first…"
Anon was full of shame and fled in a hurry.
9:30 PM.
The bathroom door was quietly pushed open, and a pink-haired girl cautiously peeked her small face out. It was Hitori.
Kitahara noticed a gaze on him, turned his head, and smiled:
"Hitori's done with work?"
"Mhm, mhm."
Hitori quickly nodded, pushed open the door, and walked out of the bathroom, saying softly:
"I just finished cleaning the shop, and then I came back."
Kitahara stood up and said:
"Let's go, I'll take Hitori home first, so your aunt doesn't worry."
Hitori stammered softly:
"I, I can walk back myself…"
"It's too dangerous to be alone," Kitahara said with a righteous expression. "Hitori also doesn't want to encounter another abnormal person like the windbreaker woman, right?"
"…"
Hitori immediately quieted down and didn't continue to refuse Kitahara's offer to walk her home. Instead, she opened her backpack, took out a shopping bag, and opened it, whispering, "Um… these are some small cakes I bought this evening. They seem to have gotten cold…"
"You can just heat them up in the microwave," Kitahara said, walking in front of Hitori. "Where's my small cake?"
"It's, it's here…"
Hitori's face flushed crimson as she quickly took out a small cake and handed it over.
Kitahara took it with both hands:
"This is the first small cake Hitori has given me. I'm going to pass it down as a family heirloom."
The blush on Hitori's face instantly deepened. She shyly lowered her head to look at her toes, stammering with embarrassment, "N-no… Small cakes will go bad if they're kept for too long… Kitahara-kun, eat it quickly!"
Kitahara pretended to hesitate:
"But this is a small cake from Hitori. It has great commemorative significance. It feels like such a waste to eat it."
"It's not a waste at all!"
Hitori's face was burning, and her voice was filled with embarrassment:
"Please, please eat it quickly!"
Kitahara finally agreed: "Alright, then I'll just eat it directly?"
"Mhm."
"…"
Seeing Kitahara eat the small cake, Hitori finally breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly took out two small cakes and handed them to Hana:
"Hana, these are your small cakes… Thank you for your hard work."
Hana took the small cakes expressionlessly:
"Good person~"
After distributing the small cakes, Kitahara changed into his shoes and left with Hitori.
"Should we walk back or ride bikes back?"
Kitahara asked softly.
"Ah, it's not far… Let's walk back, okay?"
Hitori stammered softly.
(If we walk back, I can spend more time with Kitahara-kun…)
"Then let's walk back."
As Kitahara spoke, he extended his right hand and naturally took Hitori's small hand.
Hitori's face quickly turned red. She nervously lowered her head to look at her toes and, without even a symbolic struggle, allowed Kitahara to lead her forward.
There was nothing she could do; they had held hands so many times that even though Hitori had an extremely strong sense of shame, she had long since gotten used to it.
"The Magic Cookie is ready. Hitori, go home and get a good rest tonight. Don't intentionally take a cold bath to make yourself sick."
Kitahara chatted with Hitori as they walked.
"Ah…"
Hitori looked down guiltily, stammering softly, "I, I, I, I wouldn't do something like that…"
Her voice was trembling from guilt; she clearly had considered it!
Kitahara said softly:
"Anyway, with me here, running the marathon will definitely be no problem."
"Okay…"
"Were there many customers at the store today?"
"Just as many as before, super many…"
"No one caused trouble, right?"
"With the manager there, everyone was very civilized and polite."
"…"
Talking all the way, they unknowingly arrived at the Gotō's doorstep.
"We're home."
Kitahara stopped.
"Ah…"
Hitori looked up at her home's door, which had appeared before her, and felt a strange, slight regret in her heart.
(So fast… If only it could have been a little further…)
As if Kitahara had heard Hitori's thoughts, he said softly:
"Hitori, do you want to walk a bit more?"
"Huh?"
Kitahara looked down at her and said gently:
"The moonlight is just right now, the evening breeze is pleasant, and it's the first day of school. I want to take a longer walk with Hitori."
Hitori's face quickly turned red. She shyly lowered her head to look at her toes:
"I, I'm fine with anything…"
"Then let's walk a bit more."
Kitahara, holding Hitori's hand, continued their stroll, and before they knew it, they arrived at a small park nearby.
"Let's sit down and rest for a bit."
Walking up to a long bench, Kitahara sat down first.
Hitori was about to sit next to him when Kitahara reached out and pulled Hitori directly into his embrace.
"Mm…"
Hitori let out a soft sound, her face flushed and tense as she closed her eyes.
However, after waiting for a while, she realized that Kitahara hadn't kissed her as expected. Hitori secretly opened one eye and saw that Kitahara was quietly looking up at the sky.
A silver moon hung high in the night sky.
Moonlight, like water, cast boundless clear radiance.
"...At this moment, we gaze at each other but cannot hear, wishing to follow the moonlight to illuminate you," Kitahara suddenly murmured softly.
Unfortunately, separated by a world, even the bright moon above their heads was no longer the same one.
"Kitahara-kun… Are you okay?"
Hitori looked up with a worried expression, asking softly.
As a socially anxious girl, Hitori was always extremely sensitive to others' emotions. At this moment, Hitori clearly felt a sudden, indescribable sense of loneliness and solitude emanate from Kitahara.
Kitahara withdrew his gaze and said softly:
"I'm fine… I just suddenly remembered some old memories."
"…"
Hitori didn't speak. Instead, with a flushed face, she bravely and secretly intertwined her fingers with Kitahara's right hand, holding his hand tightly.
After sitting and watching the moonlight for a while together, Kitahara stood up and said:
"It's about time to go back."
"Okay…"
The two left the small park and strolled to Hitori's doorstep.
"Hitori, see you tomorrow."
Kitahara waved goodbye.
"Kitahara-kun, see you tomorrow…"
Hitori replied softly.
Kitahara turned to leave when he suddenly felt his coat hem gently pulled.
"Hmm?"
Kitahara turned his head and saw Hitori extending her right hand, nervously grasping his coat hem.
"What's wrong, Hitori?"
"Th-that…"
Hitori stammered twice, then finally mustered the courage to look up at him:
"I… all of us will be by Kitahara-kun's side, so, so…"
(So don't show that lonely and solitary expression anymore…)
(It hurts.)
(Although I don't know what Kitahara-kun remembered, seeing Kitahara-kun unhappy makes me feel bad inside…)
Kitahara paused slightly, then quickly smiled:
"So Hitori wants a goodnight kiss?"
"N-no, I don't want that…"
Hitori's face quickly turned red as she hurriedly shook her head in a panic.
"But I want Hitori's goodnight kiss."
Kitahara leaned down to kiss her:
"Let me kiss you quickly. Only after I kiss you will I let you go home."
"Mm…"
Hitori had no choice but to nervously look around, and only after confirming no one was nearby did she, with a flushed face, nervously stand on her tiptoes.
A moment later.
With a soft 'pop' sound, Kitahara contentedly wiped the corner of his lips:
"Hitori-sama, thank you for the treat."
"…"
Watching Hitori flee home in embarrassment, Kitahara finally turned and walked back.
Next was the evening onsen time.
"Makoto-kun, good evening."
Tomori looked up and greeted softly:
"I asked Taki, and Taki's school is also holding a campus marathon tomorrow. Can you give Taki a biscuit?"
Kitahara said upon hearing this:
"There are enough biscuits; I just don't know if Taki needs one."
It had only been a few days since he last teased Taki, and the long-haired black-haired legal loli hadn't come to the onsen tonight.
"Taki has better stamina than me, but…" Tomori's face was slightly red as she lowered her voice, "But Taki's chest is also very big, so running is always very difficult."
That was the truth.
Once a certain area becomes too large, it will sway back and forth when running, causing chest tightness and shortness of breath, seriously affecting the body's balance, and consuming a lot of extra physical strength.
Kitahara recalled the scene of bullying Taki last time, and lightly coughed twice, saying:
"The Magic Cookie won't be ready until tomorrow. I'll give it to Taki tomorrow morning, okay?"
Tomori thanked softly:
"Then I'll leave it to Makoto-kun."
"..."
After soaking in the onsen, the girls gradually returned to their respective rooms.
Kitahara sat on the sofa, took out his phone, and sent a message to Taki.
"Taki, you're not asleep yet, right?"
"..."
The message quickly showed as read.
Then... read but no reply.
Kitahara waited for almost a minute but didn't receive a reply from Taki. He twitched his mouth slightly and went straight to the point:
"Tomori said you're also participating in the campus marathon tomorrow morning. What time are you getting up tomorrow morning, Taki? I'll come over and give you the Magic Cookie; it can give you extra stamina."
Taki finally replied: "No need, I can finish it myself."
Kitahara: "Even if you can finish it, it must be very hard. I promised Tomori I'd give Taki a Magic Cookie... You should be getting up at 7:30 tomorrow morning, right?"
Taki finally stopped refusing: "You put down the biscuit and leave tomorrow. Don't do anything indecent!"
Kitahara: "Don't worry, I definitely won't take advantage of Taki."
Taki: "...That sentence has no credibility at all!"
Kitahara: "Good night, see you tomorrow."
Taki hummed softly, looked at the message on her phone, hesitated for a moment, and finally couldn't help but reply:
"...Good night."
Closing the chat interface with Taki, Kitahara sent another message to Seika.
"Seika-nee, the panacea is ready. Should I bring it to you now?"
The message quickly showed as read.
Seika finally chose not to continue pretending to be strong:
"Come over... Remember to be quiet and don't disturb Nijika!"
"Understood."
Kitahara put away his phone, told Mutsumi to return to her room first, then called Hana, and quickly traveled to Shimokitazawa.
A moment later.
"Seika-nee, good evening."
Kitahara stepped out of the full-length mirror and came to Seika's side, his gaze sweeping around:
"It's Seika-nee's bedroom. I thought it would be the bathroom."
"The bathroom isn't safe." Seika, wearing a moon-white nightgown, hugged her arms across her chest and said in a low voice, "It would be terrible if Nijika saw us."
Kitahara muttered in a low voice:
"It would be good if Nijika-senpai saw us. Then we wouldn't have to sneak around anymore."
Seika raised her foot and made a feigned kick, her eyes filled with annoyance:
"Brat, there's nothing between us!"
Kitahara's tone was faint:
"We've kissed, we've hugged, Seika-nee puts on a skirt and doesn't recognize people..."
"You're still talking!!"
"Alright, I won't say anymore." Kitahara opened his backpack and took out the Moon-Star Chalice. "Seika-nee, hurry up and take your medicine."
Seika reached out and took the cup, looking at the mysterious liquid with tiny starlight floating and sinking in it, her expression hesitant:
"There won't be any terrible side effects, will there?"
Kitahara said casually:
"Maybe there are, maybe there aren't. It's like the same medicine; some people aren't allergic to it, while others are. But Seika-nee, don't worry, with me here, even if there are strange side effects, I can help remove them immediately."
He paused, then Kitahara reminded her seriously:
"However, Stripping ability has great limitations; it cannot be used continuously more than three times in a short period. So... Seika-nee, do you want to take off your nightgown first?"
With Schrödingers Cat plus Hand of Deprivation combined, Kitahara could Seize whatever he wanted, but in front of Manager-san, there was no need to be so 'precise'.
"You wish!"
Seika raised her hand to cover her chest, her pretty face flushed as she glared at him in annoyance, then took a deep breath and tilted her head back, drinking the 'panacea' in the cup in one gulp...