"Senpai, you're acting strange today."
Just after leaving the house.
Kitahara Makoto couldn't help but mutter in a low voice.
"Something is very wrong!"
Sakurajima Mai crossed her arms over her chest, looking straight ahead, her tone indifferent: "What does Scumbag-kun think I'm doing?"
Doing what?
Of course, it's fanning the flames!
Just now, you were calling him Makoto-kun, and now it's Scumbag-kun. Mai-senpai, you clearly want to see blood flow!
"Those four girls just now, are they also candidates for Scumbag-kun's harem?"
"...That's right."
Kitahara Makoto admitted it.
He dared to reveal he was starting a harem, so of course, he had the courage to admit it.
"I thought Scumbag-kun's harem targets were only Bocchi-chan and them, but I didn't expect there to be others." Sakurajima Mai tilted her head slightly, looking at him with a gaze usually reserved for kitchen waste. "The level of greed and shamelessness is truly astonishing."
Kitahara Makoto: "..."
Alright.
Kitahara Makoto also felt he was too greedy.
However, the previous self-explosion about starting a harem was mainly to avoid being 'chai-daoed' in the future, not necessarily to follow through.
But now... people who have entered the Otherworld can no longer live normal lives.
In short, everyone's destinies are already intertwined, and the possibility of a harem has increased.
Sakurajima Mai crossed her arms over her chest, her face expressionless:
"Bocchi-chan and the four of them, plus the four girls just now, a few more and you could form a soccer team. Does Scumbag-kun want to find a few more?"
"There are really only nine of you." Kitahara Makoto raised his right hand to swear, "I promise there won't be any more."
"How many people there are has nothing to do with me. What I just said was only for Nana."
Sakurajima Mai's face was expressionless, stating her attitude.
"For Nana?"
Kitahara Makoto was surprised.
"So far, has anyone explicitly agreed to join Scumbag-kun's harem?"
Mai tilted her head and asked.
"Not a single one."
Kitahara Makoto told the truth.
"Then that's right. A harem is something no normal girl can accept. If it weren't for coincidences and an unbreakable bond, Scumbag-kun would have already been blacklisted by everyone..."
Sakurajima Mai sighed lightly, helpless:
"If this continues, no one will agree to join your harem, so we must create a sense of crisis and urgency to break the deadlock."
Kitahara Makoto finally understood:
"Mai-senpai, are you helping me start a harem?"
"I'm not helping you." Sakurajima Mai tightened her pretty face. "I'm only doing it for Nana."
"I asked the answer book." Kitahara Makoto said gently, "Nana's soul is too weak right now and needs to rest for a while, so she can't be pulled into the dream yet, but she will be able to by summer vacation."
"Mai-senpai, come home with me first. We'll take a bath and change clothes." Kitahara Makoto suggested, "I won't go to school this afternoon. I'll go to the amusement park to recharge the necklace. The weather is nice today, we can ride the roller coaster."
"No need."
"Hmm?"
Sakurajima Mai took out the mysterious necklace: "I have a better target that will definitely generate a lot of emotional fluctuations."
Kitahara Makoto raised an eyebrow: "Who is it?"
Mai lightly said the answer: "Naturally, Hitori-chan."
Kitahara Makoto: "..."
No more words were needed after that.
The two walked home while talking.
On the way, they passed a cake shop, and Kitahara Makoto ordered a small cake for Hana. As the owner, he always made good on his rewards.
After arriving home, Kitahara Makoto took a good bath and changed clothes, then went out to eat with Sakurajima Mai.
After lunch, Mai left gracefully, despite his attempts to keep her.
"What now?"
Kitahara Makoto looked at the empty house and, after much thought, decided to go to school.
Although he skipped half a day of classes in the morning, it wasn't a big problem. As long as he found a suitable excuse to fool them, the teachers would generally turn a blind eye.
"Decided."
"I'm going to school now, and after school, I'll continue to study with Bocchi-chan at the library."
The journey was silent.
Upon arriving at school, the seat behind him was empty. Togawa hadn't come, clearly having just returned from the Otherworld and having many things to do.
Kitahara Makoto quietly finished two classes and then got up to go to the library.
Arriving at their usual secluded study corner, it wasn't long before he saw Bocchi-chan, carrying her guitar and looking down at her feet, walk over.
Behind Hitori, there was even a Kita.
"It's just after school, and Kita is already impatient?"
Kitahara Makoto looked over in surprise.
"Who's impatient? Don't talk nonsense!"
Kita Ikuyo's face quickly flushed, and she glared at him in embarrassment:
"It's just that I don't have anything to do today, and I wanted to come and study with Bocchi-chan, that's all!"
"Then welcome Kita-san to the study group."
Kitahara Makoto responded with a smile.
"Hmph~"
Kita Ikuyo gave a soft hmph and sat down next to Bocchi-chan.
"Hitori, there's something I need to tell you today."
Kitahara Makoto spoke softly, looking at Hitori.
"Ah..."
Gotō Hitori quickly sat up straight, like an elementary school student facing a teacher, listening attentively.
"It's like this..."
Kitahara Makoto briefly explained the situation of accidentally entering the Otherworld, then reached out and patted Bocchi-chan's head, using the ability [Sudden Enlightenment]:
"Today's question quota has been used up, so no cookies for now."
"I, I understand..."
Gotō Hitori's face was red, and she quickly agreed.
"No wonder I didn't see her at noon." Kita Ikuyo mumbled softly, "So she wasn't at school at all."
Kitahara Makoto continued:
"It's been over half a month since we last entered the Otherworld. Soon, everyone should start encountering strange phenomena. After the final exams, let's call Nijika-senpai and Ryo-senpai, and everyone can go to the Otherworld together."
"This time, upon entering the Otherworld, I discovered a spatial node that can be used as a base..."
That's right.
Kitahara Makoto had already started considering establishing a base in the Otherworld.
According to Nijika's cousin, once a person has entered the Otherworld, they will be branded. Within half a month to a little over a month, they must enter the Otherworld, otherwise, they will encounter various strange phenomena.
The Otherworld is unpredictable and dangerous. Instead of an unfamiliar environment, it's best to choose a spatiotemporal node for permanent residence.
The island with the Eden Tree is the first choice.
Firstly, the island is quite safe; all dangers have been cleared by the Eden Tree.
Secondly, there's the Fruit of Eden that can grant eternal youth. Although this item isn't currently obtainable, it definitely shouldn't be missed.
If possible, Kitahara Makoto even wanted to build an Eden...
"Study, study." Kitahara Makoto withdrew his right hand and then looked at Kita Ikuyo. "Kita, do you want to experience the effects of Sudden Enlightenment?"
"No way." Kita Ikuyo's face was slightly red, and she nervously looked around. "What if people spread rumors?"
"Good point..."
Kitahara Makoto nodded, then suddenly had an idea:
"Kita can squat under the table, so you won't be discovered."
"No way!!!"
"..."