Nothing to say for the day.
By the time the 'poker game' ended, Yamada Ryo was already teary-eyed, without even the strength to move a finger.
Kitahara Makoto naturally took the initiative to shoulder the responsibility for the post-event cleanup, carrying Yamada Ryo to the bathroom for a bath.
Adhering to the principle of conserving water resources, the two naturally took a bath together openly, without needing to be secretive like last time with Anon.
Another half an hour passed in a flash.
Yamada Ryo was feeling unwell at this moment and couldn't unlock the bathroom map. Although Kitahara Makoto was disappointed, he still prioritized Ryo-senpai's well-being.
After they finished bathing, Kitahara Makoto dutifully carried Yamada Ryo back to her room before turning on his phone.
Looking at the several messages and missed calls that popped up on his phone, Kitahara Makoto felt a strange sense of guilt.
He had only come to take care of the sick Yamada Ryo, but it ended up like a race on Akina Pass. Nijika would surely be angry if she knew, right?
But if time were to rewind, Kitahara Makoto would still choose to turn off his phone.
Once you evolve from a herbivore to a carnivore, there's no going back...
"Hmm, two calls, several messages. Nijika is really worried about us."
Yamada Ryo leaned against the headboard, the blush on her pretty face not yet completely faded, her brows filled with languor and tenderness, "...Kitahara-sama, should we hide it from Nijika?"
This isn't a multiple-choice question at all, it's a death sentence!
He had just 'eaten' Yamada Ryo clean, and then to choose to conceal the truth as soon as they put on their clothes? Even the self-willed Yamada Ryo would be tempted to pull out a knife!
Kitahara Makoto took a deep breath, and said seriously:
"If Ryo-senpai doesn't know how to face it, then let me tell her."
"Tell her what?"
"Naturally, the truth."
"..."
Since he had 'eaten' Yamada Ryo clean, he naturally had to take responsibility.
Even if Nijika got angry, he had to bear it.
"Well, since Kitahara's answer was satisfactory, I'll do it."
Yamada Ryo picked up her phone, "If you say it, Nijika will definitely be very angry."
"If I say it, it won't matter, and I can even drag Nijika into it..."
Kitahara Makoto looked over in shock:
"What do you mean by 'drag her into it'?"
"Ah, I misspoke."
Yamada Ryo said earnestly, "It means to share blessings and misfortunes."
Kitahara Makoto: "..."
With such a broad mind, Yamada Ryo must be the legendary saint!
"Ugh..."
Yamada Ryo shifted slightly, accidentally pulling at her wound, and her slender eyebrows immediately furrowed slightly:
"I must ask Nijika for help, otherwise, before long, I'll turn into one of those ahegao girls from the manga, making a peace sign, sticking out their tongues, and rolling their eyes, right?"
That's enough! What normal person would put themselves in a manga character's shoes!
Yamada Ryo finished editing the message and clicked send:
...Nijika, help!
At the same time.
In the underground live house.
Ijichi Nijika was serving drinks, but she was constantly distracted, occasionally checking her pocket.
When the shop was quiet in the afternoon, she had gone to visit Yamada Ryo, as both their homes were in Shimokitazawa, not far apart.
But for some reason, no one answered the doorbell, messages remained unread, and calls wouldn't go through, and it was the same for both Kitahara and Ryo... In short, it was incredibly concerning.
There was nothing she could do.
Ijichi Nijika couldn't just keep waiting under the hot sun, so she could only return to the underground live house, constantly checking her phone, but even until now, there had been no news.
Buzz, buzz.
The phone in her pocket suddenly vibrated.
Ijichi Nijika quickly took out her phone and saw that it was a message from Yamada Ryo. She immediately became excited and quickly greeted Ijichi Seika:
"Sister, I'm going to the bathroom!"
After saying that, she disappeared in a flash.
"Ryo, why are you only replying now?"
"I couldn't reach you by phone, and you didn't reply to messages. I was incredibly worried, you know!"
"Is Kitahara-kun still at your place?"
"And what does 'help' mean?"
Arriving at the bathroom, Ijichi Nijika sent several messages in one breath.
However, Yamada Ryo simply replied with a few words, which instantly made Ijichi Nijika's pupils widen:
"I'm sorry, Nijika, I made the mistake every girl makes."
"Nya?"
"I did it."
"..."
Looking at the message on her phone, Ijichi Nijika's eyes widened blankly, feeling her mind instantly go blank, and her entire being became bewildered.
"Did it... what does that mean?"
"Could it be..."
"Impossible!"
"Absolutely impossible!"
Ijichi Nijika took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down:
"Ryo must be joking, right?"
Yamada Ryo: "I'm not joking. Because I watched a terrible video, I really wanted to try what it felt like, and then I couldn't stop."
"..."
Looking at the message on her phone, Ijichi Nijika's heart immediately sank.
Although Kitahara Makoto had already revealed his intention to have a harem, hearing that the two had done 'that' still left Ijichi Nijika with an unspeakable bitterness in her heart.
This is a woman's nature; even a saint cannot remain indifferent.
Yamada Ryo sent another message:
"Nijika, help me."
"Help… what does that mean?"
Ijichi Nijika took a deep breath, biting her lower lip tightly.
"C-Could it be that she wants me to buy and send over morning-after pills?"
I'm the clown here.
Yamada Ryo: "Kitahara-kun is too scary; I can't handle him alone. I feel like I'm going to break. Nijika, hurry and come help."
Ijichi Nijika's pretty face quickly flushed, and she finally understood what 'help' meant:
"I'm not helping with that kind of thing!"
Yamada Ryo: "Back in elementary school, Nijika said we'd share blessings and hardships, and she wouldn't bear to stand by and watch me die, right?"
Ijichi Nijika: "Sorry, my heart is harder than ice right now."
Yamada Ryo: "Actually, that kind of thing feels good… Nijika, don't you want to experience it?"
Ijichi Nijika: "Absolutely not!"
Yamada Ryo: "You can experience it without actually doing that kind of thing. Nijika, remember to wear the Kessoku Band bracelet and experience it yourself. You'll know how good it feels."
Ijichi Nijika's pretty face was burning hot:
"I'm not wearing that kind of thing!"
Facing Yamada Ryo, who was openly trying to drag her into this, the sense of grievance and resentment in Ijichi Nijika's heart quietly dissipated by more than half, transforming into nervousness and shyness.
After wearing the bracelet, one could share the five senses, and indeed, experience it in advance… but that kind of thing would be too terrible!
At the same time.
"It's done."
Yamada Ryo put down her phone.
"I've already guided the conversation and diverted Nijika's attention. Nijika is now more shy and curious, so you don't have to worry about her getting angry."
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
Yamada Ryo is terrifying.
Kitahara Makoto had originally planned to stay overnight at Yamada Ryo's house, but unfortunately, as soon as evening came, Yamada Ryo mercilessly kicked him out.
It was true that good sisters shared blessings, and it was also true that she was afraid of being taken advantage of and breaking down. She really couldn't handle him alone and dared not let Kitahara Makoto stay overnight.
"Alright, then I'll head back."
Kitahara Makoto could only regretfully bid farewell and leave:
"Ryo-senpai, see you tomorrow."
The journey was uneventful.
On his way back, Kitahara Makoto went directly to a game store and bought the physical game disc of Black Myth: Wukong, intending to play it on his PS5 when he got home, which would save him download and decompression time.
After returning home, eating dinner, and taking a shower, Kitahara Makoto sat in front of the TV, excitedly starting Black Myth: Wukong.
Lingxuzi, taken down!
Tiger Vanguard?
Beaten to death with a stick!
In action games, being bad is the original sin; if you can't beat it, practice more.
If you still can't beat it after practicing, then go ask for Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Ancestor.
Kitahara Makoto's nerve reflexes were quite strong now. He easily cleared the first level and checked the time; it was already nine o'clock in the evening.
"That's enough for today…"
Kitahara Makoto put down his game controller and opened the System.
Today's four daily missions were all completed, and he got one more lottery draw.
Upholding the belief that a single draw can create a miracle, Kitahara Makoto used his lottery draw without hesitation.
A moment later.
A ball of ability light fell from the lottery wheel and then instantly merged into Kitahara Makoto's body.
"It actually worked?"
Kitahara Makoto's eyes lit up, and he immediately sat up straight, eagerly checking the newly acquired ability.
[Ability: Night Emperor]
[Category: Passive / Innate Blessing]
[Description: Perpetual Motion Machine. Your energy is inexhaustible. No matter how much energy you expend, you can restore your body to its peak state through sleep.]
[Note: This ability can only restore energy and cannot provide immunity to genetic mutations from within the body.]
Kitahara Makoto's expression was quite strange.
Although the ability seemed a bit bad, to be fair, its attributes were very good. Being able to restore the body to its peak state through sleep might not seem like much to high school or college students, but anyone older would know how valuable this ability is.
"Is it related to being 'counter-attacked' by Ryo-senpai?"
Kitahara Makoto's thoughts wandered.
"The good news is that even if I have a harem, I won't have to worry about being squeezed dry in the future…"
The night passed uneventfully.
The next day.
The fifth day of summer vacation.
The summer heat was scorching.
Cicadas chirped loudly.
It was the hottest time of the year.
Kitahara Makoto stayed at home all day until five in the afternoon, when he finally geared up and left with Hana Hana.
Walking on the road, people occasionally glanced at him – he had a large backpack on his back, and his hands were not idle, also carrying two large backpacks, looking as if he was moving house.
"It's so hot." Kitahara Makoto stood under the sun waiting for a taxi, and soon sweat was pouring down him. "It seems I need to get a motorcycle license when I have time."
It was inconvenient to take the train with so many bags, and it was foreseeable that to build Eden, he would need to transport more supplies in the future, so getting a driver's license was very necessary.
In Japan, you can get a car driver's license at eighteen. Kitahara Makoto couldn't get one now, but you can get a motorcycle license at sixteen. Getting one when he had time would make it much more convenient to ride a motorcycle back and forth in the future.
The journey was uneventful.
Kitahara Makoto took a taxi to the house Togawa had rented last time.
Because the spatial node was unstable and he might be suddenly drawn into the Otherworld at any time, Togawa had already moved to a new house. This house was currently vacant, but it had not been unrented. Kitahara Makoto even had plans to buy the house outright when he had enough money.
"Kitahara-kun, you're here!"
A clear and bright voice suddenly entered his ears.
Kitahara Makoto looked in the direction of the voice. Under the shade of a tree not far away, a red-haired girl was happily waving on her tiptoes.