"You're back! What happened?"
"Sprained it, got startled by a small crab."
Looking at Hoshino Sora carrying Yuigahama back, Ya Xiang, who was building a sandcastle, immediately stood up. With a hint of concern in her eyes, she stepped forward and then noticed Yuigahama's swollen ankle.
"I have liniment here. From the looks of it, it doesn't seem too serious. After applying the medicine, it should be much better in a day, but to be safe, it's better not to move around too much."
After examining Yui Yuigahama's ankle, Ya Xiang gave a diagnosis that relieved everyone. Then, after helping her onto a lounge chair for wound treatment, Yuigahama was left "tragically" to sunbathe at the base, accompanied by Kitagawa, while Ya Xiang and Rika went with Hoshino Sora to buy lunch for everyone.
"Because of the Summer Festival tomorrow, this place looks quite prosperous."
Looking at the row of food stalls in front of him, Hoshino Sora's face was filled with interest. Because tomorrow was the Summer Festival, there were many vendors here.
It stretched from the foot of the mountain to the shrine on the mountain, with both food and games. There was a century-old ancient tree at the shrine, said to enshrine the great god 'Susanoo,' whose full name was 'Kanagawa Susanoo Grand Shrine.'
"They have freshly made takoyaki here! The octopus pieces look so big! Sora, can I buy this? It looks so delicious!"
"Buy it, buy it. I'll go over there and buy a few servings of seafood yakisoba. The black pepper smell is so strong, it's wafting all the way over here."
Nodding, Hoshino Sora said and walked towards the seafood stall not far away. The rich aroma wafted to his nose from a distance. In fact, judging by the business, this shop was much better than the others.
Lining up, Hoshino Sora observed the owner's technique while waiting. Normally, street yakisoba made on a griddle is shoveled from both sides to the middle and then tossed. Here, it was stir-fried back and forth.
Large shrimp, vegetables included carrots, green and red peppers, shiitake mushrooms, chives, onions, and silver sprouts (bean sprouts with heads and tails removed). The base seasoning was likely black pepper and salt.
The rich aroma filled the air, but wouldn't yakisoba taste even better when eaten at a temple fair at night? Eating it during the day just felt a bit off in terms of atmosphere.
Never mind, it doesn't matter, as long as it tastes good.
After queuing for more than ten minutes, Hoshino Sora finally got their yakisoba as desired. One serving cost 1,600 yen, which wasn't particularly expensive for a tourist spot, at least more affordable than the seafood sushi stall next door.
"Sorry for the wait, let's head back."
Looking at Ya Xiang and Rika, who were holding a bag of snacks and water, Hoshino Sora said with a smile. Then the three of them headed towards the meeting point. Along the way, Hoshino Sora noticed a few familiar figures.
"What's wrong, Sora?"
"I just feel like those big guys over there are very familiar, but I can't remember where I've seen them."
Looking at the two muscular men buying yakisoba not far away, one had yellowish, somewhat messy hair, and the other had short, side-parted black hair. Their most prominent features were their thick eyebrows and large eyes.
If he had seen them before, he should have remembered such distinctive people, but he only felt a strange familiarity without being able to recall any related memories. He saw them holding over a dozen servings of yakisoba.
"It must be an illusion. There are many people who look alike in the world. Maybe you've seen people who resemble them before." Ya Xiang replied, following Hoshino Sora's gaze.
"That makes sense."
"Let's hurry back, I'm so hungry~"
Seeing the two stop, Rika rubbed her fair, soft belly with a somewhat plaintive expression.
——————
"You two are really enjoying yourselves."
Looking at the two women wearing sunglasses, with their fair legs crossed, lying on lounge chairs, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but complain. What was this? A pure and sensual style? There should be a glass of juice next to them.
"Sunbathing feels so good! Have you bought lunch? It smells so good! Let me see what delicious food it is~"
Hearing the movement, Kitagawa, who was sunbathing, sprang up and came to Hoshino Sora like a foraging puppy, naturally taking the bag.
"If you don't put on sunscreen, your skin will peel later. The afternoon sun is not like the morning. Let's help each other apply it later."
Looking at the carefree Yuigahama and Kitagawa, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but remind them, "Don't enjoy sunbathing now and regret it later. If you don't apply sunscreen properly, your skin will get two shades darker and uneven when you go back."
"Indeed, that's a big problem. Then, I'll trouble you to help apply sunscreen this afternoon, Sora. Make sure to apply it to 'every inch' of my body!"
As she spoke, Rika came to Hoshino Sora with the yakisoba, enunciating each word carefully, putting particular emphasis on "every inch."
"Why don't you just ask Asaka-nee to help?"
"No, Ya Xiang's application feels uneven, and my fair skin will get sunburned by the sun. I need Sora to help!"
"Me too, I don't trust Rika. I want Sora to apply the sunscreen 'personally' for me."
Flanking Hoshino Sora, the two sisters spoke, one after another. Although they knew there was little hope, teasing their younger brother was their fun.
"Alright, then tell me if you change your mind after I finish eating."
Seeing the two sisters vying for his favor, Hoshino Sora's mindset changed slightly. A month ago, he would have found a way to decline, but now...
In two days, he would be heading to Far Moon, and he didn't know when he would return. Although he knew his two sisters wouldn't change their minds, he still had some worries.
So, before that, Hoshino Sora wanted to take practical action. It had been over two months since he acquired the system, and his mindset had also changed a little. Wasn't a pure love harem good?
Some people might think pure love and harem are incompatible, but he didn't. That was it. After all, life was for himself, and others' opinions had little impact on him.
However, to truly have a harem in a modern city, honestly, the difficulty was not small. At this moment, he couldn't help but sigh, wishing he had superpowers like Saiki Kusuo that could change people's perceptions.
Or get Doraemon's Devil Passport. It didn't seem impossible for the system to get stronger in the future. In short, life still had to be lived with hope, only then would there be drive!
"Eh, really?"
Her voice was a little surprised, clearly not expecting Hoshino Sora to actually agree to their suggestion. Although she was puzzled, she was more surprised. Could this level of request already be agreed to by him?
Then, how close was she to taking another step forward? Was her wish about to come true?!
"Um... can we apply it back at the hotel, Sora?"
Ya Xiang accepted the situation, but Rika became a bit shy, her cheeks visibly reddening. To do it in front of so many people...
Although she was extremely reserved internally, she only showed it to Hoshino Sora. In front of outsiders, she was a very shy and innocent girl.
Although she acted very openly in front of Kitagawa and Yuigahama, that was after they had become familiar. For her, having sunscreen applied in public, with people watching, was a huge challenge.
"The hotel is a bit far, not just the distance but also going back to the room. Otherwise, we could go behind the rocks near the hotel, not many people go there.
But going back and forth is quite troublesome, honestly. Or how about you two apply it for each other? If an outsider sees me, a guy, they'll gossip. It wouldn't be good if it caused my sisters not to be able to marry."
Hoshino Sora was telling the truth. In the early morning, there might still be some people enjoying beachcombing because the temperature wasn't very high.
But in the afternoon, with the sun high in the sky, it was the hottest time of the day. Not to mention it was a huge challenge to one's willpower, even the seafood buried in the sand wasn't very active.
So, for applying sunscreen, choosing a shady rock was the most suitable option, if you felt shy.
"No, we want you to apply it for us!"
With unexpected synchronicity, Ya Xiang and Rika spoke in unison.
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