"Futari, come home with me. When we get back, I'll give you ice cream."
Bocchi-chan still wanted to struggle a bit.
"Ice… ice cream?"
The antenna on top of Futari's head trembled, and her eyes suddenly lit up.
Kitahara Makoto walked directly to the refrigerator, opened it, and said with a smile:
"Futari, come here. Pick one ice cream and one ice pop. After you finish, we'll continue the puzzle."
Futari raised her small hands and cheered:
"Long live Onii-chan!"
Gotō Hitori: "…"
Futari, despite her young age, still knew how to share:
"Onii-chan, Hana wants some too."
"I know."
"And Sister."
"I'll get ice cream for Hitori."
Kitahara Makoto took an ice cream and walked to Bocchi-chan's side, gently touching the ice cream to Bocchi-chan's face.
"Ah…"
Gotō Hitori instinctively let out a soft cry, then fumbled to take the ice cream, blushing as she quietly thanked him:
"Tha… thank you."
"Hitori, rest assured," Kitahara Makoto said in a low voice, "I promise I won't take advantage of you in front of Futari."
Bocchi-chan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then looked up pitifully.
She could, of course, understand the subtext: if Futari wasn't around, he would definitely take advantage of her.
"Considering Hitori's diligent studying today, I might even let you go home," Kitahara Makoto said lightly, "but Hitori must make a choice."
Bocchi-chan's small face immediately showed anticipation:
"What choice?"
"Choice one, we continue the Pocky punishment challenge."
Kitahara Makoto held up one finger.
"A-and the other choice?"
Bocchi-chan's small face quickly flushed, and she hurriedly asked.
"The second choice is much simpler," Kitahara Makoto held up his second finger and said in a low voice, "Just like last night, as long as Hitori says 'I like you,' I'll let you leave."
Gotō Hitori: "…"
One was physical bullying, the other was mental bullying. Both choices were super embarrassing!
"Ten-second countdown," Kitahara Makoto decided to apply some pressure. "If Hitori doesn't make a choice, then we'll consider both chosen."
"No… no…"
"Ten."
Kitahara Makoto began to slowly count down.
"Nine."
"Eight…"
As the countdown grew shorter, Bocchi-chan immediately panicked, nervously looking in Futari's direction. After making sure her words wouldn't be overheard, she shamefully closed her eyes and whispered, blushing:
"Li… like…"
"Like what?"
"That… that…"
"If you can't say it clearly, it doesn't count."
Hitori's eyelashes trembled nervously, and she stammered:
"I… I like Kitahara-kun…"
Kitahara Makoto felt all the pores on his body open up in comfort.
Although it was somewhat coercive, if he didn't take advantage of her, waiting for Bocchi-chan to speak up on her own would be a long, long wait.
"I didn't hear clearly. Say it again."
Kitahara Makoto smiled.
"Ugh…"
Gotō Hitori opened her eyes, her rosy cheeks involuntarily puffed out:
"Bu… bullying me…"
He clearly heard it, yet he still wanted her to say it again. That was too much!
Resistance!
Gotō Hitori clenched her small fists, determined to resist Kitahara Makoto's tyrannical rule.
However, the next second, Kitahara Makoto unhurriedly took out his phone from behind his back and held it up to Bocchi-chan:
"I was too excited yesterday and forgot something very important. Luckily, I didn't forget today… I recorded it."
"Eh eh eh?!"
Seeing the recording interface on the phone, Bocchi-chan immediately panicked.
Kitahara Makoto smiled:
"Hitori, say what you just said again, otherwise, I'll play the recording for Futari."
"P-please, absolutely not!"
Gotō Hitori shook her head rapidly. If Futari and Hana weren't nearby, she would have almost prostrated herself.
(Futari is only five years old; she can't keep secrets at all. She'll tell Mom and Dad everything.)
(Once Futari knows, she'll 100% tell Mom and Dad. Then Mom will definitely prepare red bean rice, and Dad will hang a banner outside the yard…)
(No, no, no!)
(Absolutely not that embarrassing thing!)
With 'leverage' in hand, Gotō Hitori reluctantly chose to compromise.
Kitahara Makoto was in a great mood and decided to quit while he was ahead, so as not to truly make Hitori cry from bullying.
"Don't worry, this is a precious thing worth treasuring for a lifetime," Kitahara Makoto promised. "The recording just now will absolutely not be played for anyone else."
"…"
Habit is a terrifying thing.
She said 'I like you' for the first time last night, and for the second time today. As she keeps saying it, Bocchi-chan will naturally get used to it.
So there's no need to rush; just take it slow.
Hearing what he wanted to hear, Kitahara Makoto kept his promise and didn't continue to take advantage of Bocchi-chan. He waited for Futari and Hana to finish the puzzle together, packed most of the snacks and fruits bought at noon, and then let Hitori leave.
Before leaving, Bocchi-chan's eyes were filled with resentment; she had already sensed Kitahara Makoto's intentions.
(Isn't this clearly boiling a frog in warm water?)
(It must be, right?)
(What's more, she's that frog girl…)
5:30 PM.
Kitahara Makoto changed his clothes and went out again.
Besides resting, he could also earn money on his day off.
"Togawa, sorry to keep you waiting."
Kitahara Makoto got off the train and looked up to see a blue-haired girl standing gracefully in the corner.
Although she was in a corner, her beauty and cuteness were impossible for anyone to ignore, and people would secretly glance at her from time to time.
"I just arrived not long ago myself."
Togawa Sakiko gently shook her head.
That's right.
This week's weight loss business was about to begin again.
After the word-of-mouth advancement last time, plus Soyo's mother's help, there were many customers participating in the weight loss business this time. Even if he split the profits fifty-fifty with Togawa, he could still earn at least several million yen, which was more than most Japan office workers' annual salaries.
Was the fee expensive?
Of course, it was expensive.
But don't forget, the weight loss business was already a high-end service, primarily targeting wealthy and leisure-rich madams.
This world never lacks rich people. Ordinary people would hesitate over a two-hundred-yen hotel for one night, while rich people would stay in a two-hundred-thousand-yen hotel for one night without a second thought.
Painless, harmless, and rapid weight loss, no longer having to worry about gaining weight or their figures deforming. Many wealthy madams even wished Kitahara Makoto would operate every day.
"The scheduled time is 7 PM, so it's still very early," Kitahara Makoto checked the time on his phone. "Let's go eat something first, otherwise we'll definitely be hungry tonight."
"Okay."
Togawa Sakiko gently nodded: "What do you want to eat, Kitahara-kun? I'll treat."
Kitahara Makoto asked curiously:
"Why are you suddenly treating?"
Togawa Sakiko raised her hand to tuck a strand of blue hair behind her ear and said softly:
"This trip to the Otherworld was thanks to Kitahara-kun; otherwise, everyone might not have been able to return… So I'll treat."
Kitahara Makoto raised his right hand:
"Can you exchange the treat for a hundred points?"
Togawa Sakiko's pretty face slightly froze:
"Kitahara-kun, do you think that's possible?"
Kitahara Makoto said seriously:
"People always need dreams. What if Togawa, moved, agreed?"
Togawa Sakiko crossed her arms over her chest and playfully glared at him:
"Sorry, people can have dreams, but they can't daydream."