"...Older sister, this is my boyfriend!"
Shiina Taki grabbed Kitahara Makoto's arm, choosing to declare her ownership to nip her older sister's good impression in the bud.
Sorry, Tomori.
I can't just watch my older sister go astray; I can only pretend to be his girlfriend for a bit...
"Eh?"
Shiina's older sister paused slightly, and a visible expression of disappointment appeared on her pretty face:
"Taki and Kitahara-kun are actually dating?"
"That's right."
Shiina Taki raised her head and puffed out her chest.
"But I've never heard Taki mention this before, and a few nights ago at home, Taki was even saying on the sofa, 'A man's words are the devil's lies,' and that there's not a single good man in the world..."
"..."
Shiina Taki felt extremely guilty.
The person she was scolding at the time was Scumbag Kitahara.
Running a harem in modern society, and using the reason 'wanting to give happiness to everyone'—what else could he be if not a scumbag?
However, Shiina Taki had never expected the boomerang to come back so quickly.
If Kitahara Makoto got angry and exposed her lie, she would never be able to face anyone again, right?
Amidst her nervousness and apprehension, Kitahara Makoto's gentle voice rang out:
"Shiina's older sister, although Taki and I have only known each other for a few days, we are indeed dating."
"Eh?" Shiina's older sister was surprised. "You and Taki started dating in just a few days?"
"Because after meeting Taki, I realized that true love at first sight really exists in the world..."
Kitahara Makoto's expression was serious as he held Shiina Taki's small hand, changing to an intertwined finger position.
"The first moment I saw Taki, I fell in love with her at first sight."
Shiina Taki: "..."
Liar!
Indeed, a man's words are the devil's lies!
Saying 'love at first sight,' you're clearly just treating me as part of your game!
But even though she knew Kitahara Makoto was lying, the temperature on Shiina Taki's face still rapidly rose, her heart pounded faster, and she felt incredibly ashamed.
After all, she had studied in an all-girls school since she was little, let alone dating experience, she had never even been confessed to by a boy. At this moment, in front of her older sister, being held hand-in-hand and having a boy declare his ownership, of course, she couldn't remain indifferent.
"...Huh?!"
Taki's older sister widened her eyes and instinctively let out a gasp.
As expected of biological sisters, both of them clearly had the same verbal tic.
Shiina Taki frowned slightly, tightening her small face as she looked over:
"What do you mean, older sister? Is there a problem with someone falling in love with me at first sight?"
"Of course not." Taki's older sister quickly shook her head. "It's just too shocking; it's hard to accept right away... I absolutely didn't mean anything else."
"Hmph." Shiina Taki lightly snorted. "Since older sister is fine now, call home. Mom and Dad must be worried sick."
"Um, my phone, bag, and instrument are all in the stadium..."
"Use my phone."
"Thank you, Taki."
"..."
Watching her older sister walk to the side to make a call, Shiina Taki lowered her voice, biting her teeth lightly:
"Scumbag-kun, let go of me quickly!"
"Cough..."
Kitahara Makoto released his right hand and coughed, clutching his chest.
"Are you alright?"
Shiina Taki unconsciously looked over with concern.
"I'm fine, just a small injury..." Kitahara Makoto's voice was weak. "There were three Mind Demon inside; I was careless and got surrounded."
Shiina Taki became even more nervous after hearing that:
"Let's go to the hospital for a check-up."
"No need for such trouble." Kitahara Makoto shook his head. "Don't forget, I'm an exorcist. I just need someone to help me harmonize the chaotic aura on my body."
Shiina Taki looked up:
"How do you harmonize it?"
Kitahara Makoto's expression was hesitant:
"Never mind, Taki definitely won't help..."
Demanding repayment for kindness is too low-class. Of course, he should make Taki willingly throw herself into his arms!
"Idiot! Hurry up and tell me!" Shiina Taki crossed her arms over her chest and glared. "If you don't say it, how will I know if I won't help?"
"Then I'll say it." Kitahara Makoto coughed weakly again, lowering his voice. "I need to absorb positive energy... The method is simple: I just need to hug a girl for ten minutes."
"H-hug?"
Shiina Taki's small face quickly flushed, and her gaze immediately became evasive.
Letting Scumbag Kitahara hug her for ten minutes, it seemed awful no matter how she looked at it, right?
Let alone ten minutes, even one minute was unacceptable!
But...
From the planetarium all the way here, Scumbag Kitahara had never made any demands of her, and he was injured because he saved her older sister; she absolutely couldn't ignore it.
Shiina Taki's life motto was simple: repay kindness, avenge grievances.
If she didn't repay kindness, she would surely lose the right to be human, right?
"Taki, don't force yourself." Kitahara Makoto's voice was weak. "I'll go find Tomori for help."
"Don't go!"
Shiina Taki took a deep breath, and after a moment of hesitation, she quietly made a decision, saying in a low, flushed voice:
"It's already very late; don't disturb Tomori's rest... I'll help."
Kitahara Makoto's tone was hesitant:
"Taki, don't force yourself..."
"Urusai!"
Shiina Taki took two steps forward, opened her arms, and with a flushed small face, hugged Kitahara Makoto.
Feeling the pressure from his chest, the weakness on Kitahara Makoto's face immediately vanished.
The fourth daily quest was finally done.
Ten minutes later.
The last daily quest in the System quietly received a green checkmark.
[Daily Quest Four: Heavy Girl Terminator]
[Quest Content: Hug Shiina Taki for ten minutes]
[Current Status: Completed]
[Quest Reward: Your Charm attribute has permanently increased]
"More charm..."
Kitahara Makoto was quite speechless.
He already had enough charm points; if it increased any further, he'd really turn into a male succubus!
After complaining a bit in his mind, Kitahara Makoto claimed today's lottery draw chances and then decisively started drawing.
"...Single draw for a miracle!"
Unfortunately, no miracle occurred; he only obtained one ability fragment.
Just as Kitahara Makoto was disappointed, a prompt suddenly popped up, saying that it detected ability fragments that could be fused together.
Kitahara Makoto's eyes lit up as he silently chanted, "Fusion."
A ball of ability quietly appeared at his fingertip before sinking into Kitahara Makoto's body.
[Ability: Swiftness]
[Category: Passive/Active]
[Passive Effect: Your reflexes are superior to ordinary people]
[Active Effect: You can actively activate Swiftness state, which will greatly increase your reaction speed and attack speed in a short period, but it will consume a lot of stamina. Once your stamina is exhausted, you will fall into a state of exhaustion]
"Looks like it's a combat skill…"
Kitahara Makoto pondered in his heart, suddenly recalling the special item, the samurai sword, he had obtained in the Otherworld before.
"I have to go to the dream to practice some swordsmanship."
"..."
There's no need to say much about what followed.
The three Mind Demon had already been dealt with by Kitahara Makoto, the crisis was resolved, and Japan's Mobile Team finally appeared to 'clean up'.
Kitahara Makoto didn't want to waste time. After waving goodbye to Shiina Taki, he turned around and quietly went home.
The journey was uneventful.
Pushing open the door and stepping into the entrance hall, a girl's clear and pleasant voice rang out:
"Makoto-kun, welcome home."
Kitahara Makoto slightly moved the corner of his mouth, looking towards the emotionless girl sitting on the sofa watching TV:
"Mutsumi is having insomnia again?"
Mutsumi nodded lightly, speaking with extreme directness, as if she was completely incapable of feeling shy:
"I can't sleep because of insomnia. I want to sleep while hugging Makoto-kun tonight."
Running over every couple of days to treat her insomnia, does she really not know how scary male high school students can be!
Kitahara Makoto silently handed over the Cupcake:
"You and Hana can have one each. I'll go take a shower first."
"Thank you, Makoto-kun." Mutsumi accepted the Cupcake, knowing to return the favor, "I brought Makoto-kun some cucumbers. They've already been washed clean."
Crack!
Kitahara Makoto picked up a small cucumber and took a bite.
"It tastes like cucumber."
Even if it was a small cucumber personally grown by Mutsumi, it still tasted like cucumber and wasn't particularly delicious.
Speaking of which, Kitahara Makoto had seen a type of 'fruit cucumber' in the supermarket before. He wondered if there was any difference in taste compared to ordinary cucumbers…
After showering and brushing his teeth, it was unknowingly already eleven o'clock at night.
"Mutsumi, did you brush your teeth after eating the Cupcake?"
Kitahara Makoto asked.
Mutsumi raised her eyes to look over: "Not yet."
"Then go brush your teeth." Kitahara Makoto waved his hand, "Go upstairs to sleep after brushing."
"Okay."
"..."
A moment later.
Mutsumi, having finished brushing her teeth, walked out of the bathroom and followed Kitahara Makoto upstairs.
The two entered the room. Kitahara Makoto had just turned off the lights and lay down when the girl's fragrant and soft delicate body pressed against him, a quiet fragrance like orchids and musk quietly drifting into Kitahara Makoto's nose.
"Even though the curse has been lifted, Mutsumi's body temperature is still lower than normal people…"
Kitahara Makoto was still thinking in his heart when he suddenly felt a hand touching his stomach.
"What are you doing touching my stomach?"
Kitahara Makoto lowered his head speechlessly.
There's a saying that goes, unfamiliarity doesn't matter, you'll become familiar as you sleep together, and it's super fitting when applied to Mutsumi.
When she first asked Kitahara Makoto to help her treat her insomnia, Mutsumi would only honestly hug one of Kitahara Makoto's arms, but now, one arm was clearly no longer enough to satisfy her, and her whole body was lying in Kitahara Makoto's arms.
Not only that, but her hands were actually not being well-behaved, directly reaching to Kitahara Makoto's abdomen to touch around!
"Stomach, very comfortable."
Mutsumi raised her eyes to look over, answering with extreme directness.
So it's okay to touch randomly just because it's comfortable?
Has she not heard the saying, 'Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself'!
Kitahara Makoto said speechlessly:
"Then can I also touch Mutsumi?"
Mutsumi didn't hesitate at all:
"Yes."
Kitahara Makoto slightly moved the corner of his mouth, unable to help but say:
"When girls go out, they need to protect themselves. Don't agree to whatever others say. Be careful of being deceived and played with."
"Others can't." Mutsumi's eyes were bright, "Only Makoto-kun can touch."
Kitahara Makoto was very speechless: "...Mutsumi trusts me too much, doesn't she?"
Mutsumi said softly:
"Everyone says Makoto-kun is very reliable."
Kitahara Makoto raised an eyebrow:
"Don't care about what others say. What does Mutsumi herself think?"
Mutsumi tilted her head, saying her answer:
"Makoto-kun can make me feel at ease, happy, and blissful. I want to stay by Makoto-kun's side forever."
Kitahara Makoto: "..."
This is bad.
Feeling at ease, happy, blissful… Could it be that I'm being seen as a father by Mutsumi?
"Father…"
The girl's clear and pleasant voice rang out in Kitahara Makoto's ear.
What?
Kitahara Makoto looked over in shock.
I was just complaining in my heart, and you called me father in the blink of an eye. Do you have telepathy!
Mutsumi said expressionlessly:
"Father came home today, and his state is completely different from before…"
Kitahara Makoto breathed a sigh of relief: "Next time, don't pause when you speak. Remember to say it all in one breath."
"Okay."
"What's wrong with your old man?"
"Father and mother quarreled. In the past, when father came home, he never quarreled with mother."
The curse on Mutsumi was clearly related to her old man. Now that the curse has been lifted, her old man has indeed experienced an unknown change.
"Do you know the reason?"
Kitahara Makoto asked softly.
"I don't know."
Mutsumi shook her head.
"Let's leave it for today." Kitahara Makoto pondered, "Let's ask the answer book tomorrow."
"Thank you, Makoto-kun."
"Sleep."
"..."
The night was quiet.
Kitahara Makoto closed his eyes, preparing to rest.
Mutsumi's voice suddenly rang out softly:
"Heartbeat slowed down."
Kitahara Makoto asked in a puzzled tone:
"What do you mean?"
Mutsumi stretched out her right hand, pressing it on Kitahara Makoto's chest:
"Just now, Makoto-kun's heartbeat suddenly accelerated."
Kitahara Makoto: "..."
Heartbeat suddenly accelerated?
Being called father by a beautiful girl with a beauty score of over nine, any normal boy would have an accelerated heartbeat!
"It's an illusion."
"It's not an illusion. Just now, when I called you father, Makoto-kun's state of mind… eh?"
Mutsumi slightly widened her eyes.
"Heartbeat accelerated again."
Kitahara Makoto: "..."
After a few seconds of silence.
Mutsumi called out softly again:
"Father?"
Don't shout randomly! Quickly go write the word 'shame' three hundred times!
"Makoto-kun really likes me calling him father." Mutsumi quickly discovered the truth, being quite clever.
Kitahara Makoto said one thing but meant another:
"I don't like it."
"Father~"
The girl's clear and pleasant voice, carrying a hint of coquettishness, fell into Kitahara Makoto's ears.
"..."
It has to be said that Mutsumi has a serious lack of emotions and really doesn't have much sense of shame.
Kitahara Makoto wanted to ignore it, but his heartbeat stubbornly became agitated and accelerated again.
Mutsumi raised her eyes to look over:
"Makoto-kun really likes me calling him father."
"Stop calling me that." Kitahara Makoto stretched out his right hand, pinching Mutsumi's small face, "Go to sleep quickly!"
"Good night, father."
"..."
Not long after, Mutsumi's breathing became even, but Kitahara Makoto had no intention of sleeping.
After tossing and turning for a while, he couldn't help but take out his phone and send a message to Soyo-san:
"Soyo, are you asleep?"
The message quickly showed as read.
Nagasaki Soyo: "I'm asleep."
Kitahara Makoto: "Then how can you reply?"
Nagasaki Soyo: "Someone woke me up again."
Kitahara Makoto quickly confessed: "Mutsumi-san is next to me."
"Eh?"
"To be precise, she's in my bed."
"… Commit seppuku!"
Kitahara Makoto quickly explained the situation, finally calming Nagasaki Soyo down.
"All in all, Mutsumi-san is treating me as a 'folk remedy' for insomnia; she comes over without warning now and insists on hugging me to sleep." Kitahara Makoto changed the subject, "If I recall correctly, Soyo and Mutsumi-san are very good friends, right?"
Nagasaki Soyo: "We are indeed very good friends… Kitahara-kun, what do you want to say?"
Kitahara Makoto: "Since that's the case, Soyo, pray in your heart and summon me over."
Nagasaki Soyo: "Eh?"
Kitahara Makoto: "Soyo wouldn't want Mutsumi to be taken advantage of by me, would she?"
Nagasaki Soyo: "…"
There was no other way. To protect Mutsumi's chastity, Nagasaki Soyo could only choose to sacrifice herself, clasping her hands together in front of her chest and silently praying, completing the summoning ritual.
Kitahara Makoto felt as if he suddenly gained an extra pair of eyes in the ethereal realm, directly 'seeing' Soyo's room, and a subtle premonition arose in his heart: if he willed it, he could instantly appear by Soyo's side.
Not only that, after arriving, he could also choose whether to 'return,' which was quite convenient.
The next second.
Kitahara Makoto's figure suddenly vanished, appearing out of thin air beside Nagasaki Soyo.
"Feels good." Kitahara Makoto stood up from his kneeling position. "I'm not dizzy."
"Shh~"
Nagasaki Soyo quickly put a finger to her lips:
"Quiet, Mom is sleeping next door."
"Indeed, we should be quieter." Kitahara Makoto nodded, his gaze burning as he looked at cunning young lady, "Soyo, go get a towel. Biting on a towel will make the sound less loud."
"Pfft~"
Nagasaki Soyo's pretty face quickly flushed, and she couldn't help but let out a soft snort.
"I summoned Kitahara-kun here just to ask you not to take advantage of Mutsumi, I didn't intend to do that kind of thing."
Nagasaki Soyo was saying one thing but meaning another.
Kitahara Makoto sat directly on the bed and waved his hand:
"Hurry up and get the towel. If the sound is too loud and wakes Auntie, don't blame me."
Nagasaki Soyo: "…"
With a flushed face, she glared at Kitahara Makoto, then let out a soft hum and turned to walk out.
No choice.
Mom was right next door. Although the room had good sound insulation, she definitely wouldn't be able to control the volume later, and there was still a possibility of waking Mom. A towel was very necessary…
A moment later.
Nagasaki Soyo quietly pushed the door open and returned.
Besides a clean towel, she also brought two cups of clean water.
"Good." Kitahara Makoto gave her an appreciative look. "Very thorough preparation."
Nagasaki Soyo's pretty face was crimson. She took a sip of water and, saying one thing but meaning another, said:
"I was just thirsty myself."
"Tsk~"
Kitahara Makoto let out a soft click of his tongue. After Soyo put down the two cups of water, he reached out and pulled cunning young lady directly into his embrace:
"Soyo-chan is only tough with her mouth right now."
"Get away… Mmph…"
The girl's soft snort was quickly muffled, and finally, only rustling, indescribable sounds remained.
The night passed without incident.
The next day.
After Soyo, exhausted and with fresh tear stains at the corners of her eyes, fell into a deep sleep, Kitahara Makoto activated the 'return' ability, and his figure flashed, instantly disappearing and returning to his own home.
To be precise, he returned directly to his own bed.
"Can the return location not be chosen?"
Kitahara Makoto pondered in his heart, then suddenly felt a gaze fixed on him.
He turned his head and saw Mutsumi with her eyes open, already awake.
"Sniff, sniff~"
Mutsumi, like a puppy, leaned in and sniffed around:
"Kitahara smells like Soyo."
Kitahara Makoto's mouth twitched slightly:
"Don't shout nonsense, go back to sleep!"
"…"
After getting up.
After a simple breakfast, Kitahara Makoto took out the answer book and handed it to Mutsumi:
"Mutsumi, ask about your dad's situation."
"Thank you, Daddy."
"Don't call me that during the day."
"…"
Mutsumi took the answer book and asked seriously.
Rustle, rustle.
The answer book rapidly flipped through pages, and finally, a line of text quietly appeared on the blank page:
[Moderate Depression]
"Depression, huh?"
Kitahara Makoto raised an eyebrow slightly.
The curse on Mutsumi was indeed intricately linked to her father. Now that the curse was lifted, it had only been a few days, and he already had moderate depression.
"What do you plan to do, Mutsumi-san?"
Kitahara Makoto asked softly.
"Have Daddy see a doctor." Mutsumi's expression was calm, "If you're sick, you should go to a doctor for treatment."
Kitahara Makoto nodded gently. He had no experience with depression and naturally wouldn't speak rashly. He said gently:
"Let me know anytime if there's anything."
"Okay."
"…"
After Mutsumi said goodbye and left, Kitahara Makoto completed his two fitness tasks for the day, then showered, changed clothes, and went out to work on weight loss with Togawa. After finishing, he also casually placed a bet on a horse race—
Horse racing is legal and compliant in Japan. With the answer book in hand, Kitahara Makoto would always make a profit no matter how he bet.
Of course, if he won every time, he would definitely be targeted, so Kitahara Makoto only placed bets every now and then, losing small and winning big, never being greedy.
He was already close to his goal of buying the old house.
After returning home and resting for a while, Kitahara Makoto went out again to attend the theory class exam at the driving school with Bocchi-chan.
"So, so many people…"
In the examination room, Bocchi-chan hid behind Kitahara Makoto, looking exactly like a marmot that would hide at the slightest disturbance.
"What should I do, what should I do?"
"I stayed home with Mom all day yesterday and forgot to do practice questions. What if I fail the exam?"
Bocchi-chan muttered softly.
Kitahara Makoto said in a low voice:
"It's okay if you don't pass, you can just take it again. But Hitori, don't forget the bet from that day."
"Eh?"
Hitori tilted her small face slightly, looking over blankly.
Kitahara Makoto reminded her:
"If you don't pass the exam, you have to go to the mixed onsen with me."
Bocchi-chan's small face quickly flushed, and she shook her head in a panic:
"No, no way…"
"Things that have been promised must, of course, be done." Kitahara Makoto's expression was serious, "Children who don't keep their promises will be punished, you know."
"…"
Hitori's face was burning hot, and she covered her chest, shyly taking half a step back.
Although she didn't know what 'punishment' Kitahara Makoto was talking about, it definitely had something to do with bullying.
"There's still an hour until the exam." Kitahara Makoto said in a low voice, "If Hitori wants to pass the exam, I can help."
"Eh?"
Hitori blinked, then quickly shook her head:
"I can't cheat…"
"Of course, we won't cheat." Kitahara Makoto pointed to his backpack, "I brought the cookies. Hitori, eat the cookies, activate your 'Hypermnesia' ability, and then quickly do practice questions in the remaining time. You'll definitely pass the exam."
The theory class exam was very simple; all questions came from a question bank. As long as one had a good memory, one pass was enough to pass the exam.
Hitori clenched her small fists, hesitated for only two seconds, then made up her mind:
"I want to eat the cookies!"
"Then let's go out and find a hotel." Kitahara Makoto said softly, "There are too many people in the examination room. I've already used up my question attempts this morning, and Hitori just asked about Auntie's health, so I can't ask now. We can only find a secluded and safe place."
"Mm-hmm."
Hitori nodded in agreement.
The two walked out of the driving school. After looking around, Kitahara Makoto quickly spotted a hotel with a flashing Japan sign in the corner, and said with a subtle tone:
"Looks like it's the only one."
Hitori looked up with her small face, and after two seconds of shock, her small face rapidly flushed at a visible speed:
"Lo-Love Hotel?!"
☰