join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr
The morning passed quickly.
Because Kitahara Makoto had been wearing glasses and deliberately concealing his eyes, no one noticed the problem of his eyes turning red.
In a flash, it was lunchtime.
After the bell rang, Kitahara Makoto picked up his bento box, which had been washed yesterday, and left the classroom directly, walking to the secluded stairwell corner from yesterday, waiting for Kita to come and feed him.
Before long, Kita Ikuyo came scurrying over with her school bag, taking small steps.
"Kitahara-kun, your bento… Eh?"
Kita Ikuyo looked up, curiously asking, "Why are you wearing glasses today?"
Kitahara Makoto pushed up the glasses on his nose, not hiding anything: "My eyes turned red again, so I'm wearing glasses to cover it up."
"Your eyes… turned red?"
Kita Ikuyo quickly reacted, her small face involuntarily showing worry: "Let me see quickly."
Kitahara Makoto took off his glasses, revealing his reddened eyes.
"It's exactly like that day…" Kita Ikuyo took two steps forward, carefully examining Kitahara Makoto's eyes. After confirming, she immediately became anxious, "Why is this happening? We clearly already… Why did Kitahara-kun's eyes turn red again?"
Kitahara Makoto softly explained:
"Because that day was only a temporary seal; it didn't fundamentally solve the problem."
"Then what should we do?"
Kita Ikuyo's tone was worried.
Kitahara Makoto had intended to say not to worry, that he could last until after school, and then ask Nijika to help 'seal' it. However, the words reached his lips, then he silently swallowed them back.
Nijika didn't admit she would help in the afternoon, only saying she was coming to visit Little Miss Anxiety. If he exposed her, she would definitely become angry out of embarrassment.
"Don't worry," Kitahara Makoto said softly, "Although it's a bit uncomfortable now, I can still hold on."
"How can I not worry?!"
Kita Ikuyo anxiously bit her lower lip, unable to help but say, "Kitahara-kun was so scary back then. If we let it go, it will definitely get worse, right?"
Although she disliked Kitahara Makoto's harem-building behavior, she still worried when Kitahara Makoto was in danger.
"Oh, the answer book!"
Kita Ikuyo's eyes suddenly lit up, and she quickly said:
"Is that book with Kitahara-kun?"
"It's in the classroom," Kitahara Makoto said softly, "I've already asked, and it's very difficult to completely cure the problem on me. Kita doesn't need to ask again."
"So mysterious…" Kita Ikuyo complained, "What kind of method is it exactly?"
"Can't say." Kitahara Makoto shook his head, "Even if I did, Kita definitely wouldn't help, and might even scold me."
"Hmph~"
Kita Ikuyo softly snorted, putting her hands on her hips and saying:
"You say I wouldn't help? Don't look down on people. I'm definitely helping with this… Bring the book over, I'll ask myself."
"You're the one who said you'd help," Kitahara Makoto said meaningfully, "Kita, don't regret it later."
"I won't regret it!"
"…"
A moment later.
Kitahara Makoto walked back, carrying his school bag.
"Give it to me, give it to me."
Kita Ikuyo didn't waste words, quickly took the answer book, and asked how to completely solve Kitahara Makoto's problem.
Rustle, rustle.
The answer book flipped pages by itself without wind, and a line of text quietly appeared, revealing the exact same answer as when Nijika had asked last time.
"Eh, eh, eh?!"
Looking at the answer given in the book, Kita Ikuyo's small face immediately flushed rapidly, and she flusteredly threw the book back to Kitahara Makoto:
"Lewd!"
"Too lewd!"
Kitahara Makoto's expression was innocent: "I told you, Kita would definitely scold me."
Kita Ikuyo's small face was fiery red, and she gnashed her teeth in embarrassment:
"Kitahara-kun is too perverted!"
To think that kind of thing is necessary for a complete cure… How could she possibly agree?!
Kita Ikuyo couldn't help but recall Kitahara Makoto's battle form that she had seen at the swimming pool that day, and she was utterly panicked.
Such an ugly big monster… will it break?
It will definitely break, right?!
"Kita, don't be troubled," Kitahara Makoto said softly, "Actually, there's no need to solve the problem once and for all. Sealing it with the method from the train that day can make me return to normal."
The sealing method on the train… couldn't he just say kissing?
Kita Ikuyo's small face was crimson, and she nervously shook her head, saying:
"No, no, no… Kitahara-kun, find someone else to help."
"Alright, if Kita isn't willing, then so be it." Kitahara Makoto sighed, his tone dejected, "Although I am shameless, not only do I like Kita, I also like everyone. But there's one thing I will never do, no matter what."
Kita couldn't help but look up:
"What thing?"
Kitahara Makoto's tone was firm: "That is, I will absolutely never force anyone, unless Kita willingly agrees to help."
Only by making the girls willing could he possibly avoid a bad end; other actions would most likely lead to failure.
Hearing this, Kita Ikuyo suddenly felt a little soft-hearted.
"Otherwise…"
Wait!
Kita Ikuyo suddenly realized.
Not forcing others and respecting a girl's wishes are the most basic things in a relationship, right?
It's not worth emphasizing at all!
"Hmph, I'm going back."
Kita Ikuyo softly snorted and turned to leave.
Kitahara Makoto nodded:
"Kita, go back first. Don't worry about me."
"…"
Thump, thump, thump.
Kita Ikuyo left quickly without looking back.
After exiting the stairwell, Kita Ikuyo slowly stopped, a hesitant expression on her small face.
"He really didn't call me back…"
"Should I just go back to the classroom and eat my bento?"
"But Kitahara-kun must be very uncomfortable, right…"
After hesitating for a few seconds, Kita Ikuyo lightly bit her silver teeth, turned around with a red face, and quietly walked back.
She peeked up and saw Kitahara Makoto standing alone, his bento box unopened. His back looked especially lonely and dejected.
"Idiot…"
Kita Ikuyo clenched her small fists, took a deep breath, and walked into the stairwell with a flushed face.
"Kita?" Kitahara Makoto looked over in surprise, "Why are you back again?"
The reason Kitahara Makoto hadn't opened his bento box was that he disliked the unclean stairwell and didn't want to sit directly on the stairs. Yesterday at noon, he ate bento with Little Miss Anxiety, and Bocchi-chan most likely changed her hiding spot today. Plus, with the time spent going back and forth to get the book, he was wondering if he should take it easy today and eat his bento alone.
"I…" Kita Ikuyo parted her pink lips, turned her small face away, and with a subtle feeling she didn't even understand, nervously whispered, "I just saw you looking pitiful alone. Today, I'm being generous and will reluctantly accompany Kitahara-kun to eat bento."
"…"
Although Kitahara Makoto wasn't a master of emotions, he wasn't a slow-witted idiot either. After hearing her, he knew the true meaning hidden in Kita's words.
Accompanying him for bento was false; wanting to help was true.
It was just that with Kita's thick skin, she definitely wouldn't be able to say it directly.
Looking at the red-haired girl with a crimson face and eyes filled with shame, Kitahara Makoto felt his heartstrings gently plucked, and his gaze softened:
"If Kita feels very reluctant…"
"Annoying!" Kita Ikuyo snorted in embarrassment, "If you don't need me, I'll go back!"
"Then let's eat bento together," Kitahara Makoto suggested, "To the rooftop?"
"The rooftop is too hot."
"How about the storage room on the top floor?"
"…"
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr