"Open the door! Big sister, open the door quickly!"
Futari's soft, sweet voice came from outside the house:
"I already saw big sister and Onii-chan kissing!"
"I'm going to tell Mom right now, so Mom can come home early tonight to prepare red bean rice!"
"…"
Listening to Futari's voice from outside, Hitori's small face turned explosively red, and she was completely flustered:
"Ahhhhhh! Don't let Mom find out!"
Kitahara Makoto said languidly:
"Since we've already kissed, does Hitori-chan not want to take responsibility?"
"No, no, not at all." Hitori quickly shook her head, explaining anxiously, "When I stayed out all night before, I said I was at a friend's house, I didn't mention Kitahara-kun's matter. Now, if Mom suddenly finds out… it feels super embarrassing…"
"I see." Kitahara Makoto said understandingly, "As long as Hitori says she likes me, it's fine to keep our relationship a secret."
Hitori: "…"
Something feels off…
I'm not the one who should be worried, okay?
"It's too late now," Hitori said pitifully. "Futari saw us, so Mama will definitely find out."
Kitahara Makoto mused, "What if we buy Futari more snacks and ask Futari to keep it a secret?"
"No way." Hitori's eyes were particularly resentful. "Kitahara-kun doesn't understand five-year-olds. Futari absolutely cannot keep a secret until morning."
"Then there's no helping it…"
Kitahara Makoto smiled:
"Next time I visit, I'll be coming as Hitori's boyfriend."
Hitori: "…"
There's no need to say more about what happened next.
Kitahara Makoto got up and opened the door, letting the two little lolis in.
"Onii-chan, good morning!"
The little pineapple-head cheered and barraged Kitahara Makoto with questions.
Kitahara Makoto's expression was as usual. He calmly dealt with the elementary schooler's various questions. It was just a kiss that was caught; he wouldn't panic in the slightest.
In contrast, Hitori buried her face in the sofa, facing down, not responding to anything Futari asked, single-mindedly playing the ostrich.
Futari didn't mind either. She quickly called Hana, and the three elementary school students started playing together.
During this time, Hana quietly activated her protective domain.
Noon arrived in a blink of an eye.
Kitahara Makoto took Hana and bid farewell.
"Next up is today's daily quest…"
Yesterday, being with Kita, he couldn't complete the daily quest. Today, he absolutely couldn't miss it again.
Taking Hana to the dessert shop and buying a bag of cupcakes, Kitahara Makoto went directly to the park to start his ten-kilometer long run.
Time flowed by.
The two fitness quests were quickly completed.
"Hoo…"
Kitahara Makoto exhaled lightly, walked to the vending machine, bought two bottles of drinks, casually tossed one to Hana, and slowly drank the other himself. After strenuous exercise, one couldn't drink a large amount of ice water; excessive temperature differences could potentially endanger life, so it had to be sipped slowly.
"In the afternoon, I need to do the weight loss business."
"The last quest, [Nothing to do today, listen to music at the brothel], is very simple. Just go to the exhibition hall in the evening."
"It's a good time to contact Ryo-senpai in advance, and then go to the Otherworld to pick Eden Fruit…"
After clearly planning his afternoon in his mind, Kitahara Makoto screwed on the drink bottle cap and took Hana to a family restaurant for a meal.
After eating and drinking their fill, they returned home to rest.
There's no need to say more about the weight loss business with Togawa in the afternoon; everything was as usual, with no unexpected incidents.
It was five o'clock in the afternoon in a blink of an eye.
Kitahara Makoto took Hana and headed to the exhibition hall.
"Ryo-senpai, good afternoon."
Upon arriving at the exhibition hall, Yamada Ryo was propping her chin with her right hand, selling tickets at the entrance.
"Well, good afternoon…"
Yamada Ryo looked up, a hint of schadenfreude appearing on her pretty face:
"Kitahara is in trouble."
Kitahara Makoto paused, lowering his voice:
"What kind of trouble am I in?"
"Won't say." Yamada Ryo cupped her fair cheek with her right hand. "You'll know once you go inside."
Kitahara Makoto looked at her speechlessly:
"Ryo-senpai, don't be a riddle-maker."
Yamada Ryo said lightly:
"But being a riddle-maker makes me happy."
"Happy, huh?" Kitahara Makoto lowered his voice. "When Ryo-senpai cries and begs for mercy, I won't stop."
"Tsk." Yamada Ryo's pretty face flushed slightly, but that was all. There was no shame or fear at all. "Let's talk after Kitahara passes today's test."
"…"
Kitahara Makoto was truly at a loss, not understanding what riddle Yamada Ryo was playing. Seeing that Ryo-senpai refused to say more, he simply bought two tickets and then took Hana into the exhibition hall.
"Ha, you brat actually dared to come!"
A cold voice suddenly rang out from behind the bar.
Kitahara Makoto looked over at the sound, puzzled:
"Seika-nee, why do you seem so angry?"
He hadn't been here to listen to music at the brothel for quite some time. During this period, there was no interaction at all, right?
Besides, Ijichi-san was able to wake up thanks to him! You should be grateful and thankful!
Ijichi Seika tightened her pretty face and said, "You brat, get over here."
Kitahara Makoto took half a step back: "Sorry, I suddenly don't want to go over there."
Although he didn't know what happened, Ijichi Seika was clearly very angry. Only an idiot would go and touch a raw nerve.
"Huh?"
Ijichi Seika's slender eyebrows arched upwards, and then she simply walked out from behind the bar:
"Since you won't come over, then I'll go to you."
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
No.
What exactly happened? You should explain it clearly!
Ijichi Seika stood before Kitahara Makoto, arms crossed over her chest, her aura formidable.
Their eyes met.
Kitahara Makoto's expression was innocent, neither flinching nor avoiding.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds passed…
A faint blush clearly appeared on Ijichi Seika's pretty face, and her gaze drifted away first.
No choice.
Kitahara Makoto's charm attribute, through daily accumulation, could now be perfectly described as a 'Male Succubus'.
Although Ijichi Seika was almost thirty, she had no dating experience whatsoever. After just a few seconds of eye contact, her heart rate had already unconsciously accelerated, and she was about to give in.
(No wonder Nijika was so flustered. If the age gap wasn't so big, even I…)
(Stop thinking nonsense!)
Ijichi Seika quickly shook her head, dispelling the chaotic thoughts in her mind.
(What if he's good-looking?)
(A man can't just be judged by his looks. Character, temper, ability, knowledge—every aspect is more important than appearance!)
"You brat are quite something."
Ijichi Seika said with a sneer, arms crossed over her chest:
"Building a harem, are we?"
"Dating multiple people, are we?"
"Deceiving and toying with Nijika's feelings, are we?"
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
No wonder she was like a powder keg when they first met. So she knew the truth!
"Seika-nee, listen to me explain…"
Kitahara Makoto quickly tried to appease her.
"Don't explain." Ijichi Seika grew angrier as she spoke, gritting her teeth and directly striking. "No matter how you explain, it won't change the fact that you toyed with Nijika's feelings. I'm going to break your legs today!"
Bang.
Kitahara Makoto helplessly caught Seika's fist: "Seika-nee, calm down a bit first."
"I can't calm down at all." Ijichi Seika gritted her teeth. "If your sister's feelings were deceived and toyed with, could you calm down?"
"I said I didn't toy with Nijika's feelings…"
"Less nonsense!"
"…"
Ijichi Seika, relying on her black belt in karate, wanted to beat Kitahara Makoto to vent her anger. Unfortunately, in Kitahara Makoto's eyes, her punches and kicks were as soft and weak as a child's, easily suppressed.
So, in a short while, Ijichi Seika's hands and feet were already restrained, and she herself was even pressed against the wall by Kitahara Makoto.
From afar, the posture inevitably looked a bit awkward.
"Seika-nee, can you calm down now?"
Kitahara Makoto raised an eyebrow and looked over.
"I can't calm down!"
Upon realizing that she was easily suppressed, Ijichi Seika became even angrier.
"Tsk~"
Kitahara Makoto lightly clicked his tongue, raising his eyebrows:
"Seika-nee, if you keep this up, I won't be polite."
Ijichi Seika immediately tensed up: "W-what do you want to do?"
Kitahara Makoto said seriously:
"Of course, it's to perform a dogeza and beg for Seika-nee's forgiveness."
Ijichi Seika: "…"
Even if he performed a dogeza, she wouldn't let her sister's feelings be toyed with!
At the same time.
A voice of disbelief rang out behind the two of them.
"You… what are you two doing?!"
Kitahara Makoto turned his head to look.
The small girl behind him had a golden side ponytail, a tiny ahoge on top of her head, and beautiful red eyes… Who else could it be but Nijika?
Not far behind Nijika, Yamada Ryo was leaning against the wall, clearly having brought 'reinforcements' from Yamada Ryo, but the timing of her appearance was quite poor.
Ijichi Seika's pretty face flushed, and she glared at Kitahara Makoto in annoyance, lowering her voice:
"Let go of me quickly!"
Kitahara Makoto silently released his hands and stepped back.
"Kitahara-kun!"
Ijichi Nijika walked over swiftly, her rosy cheeks puffed up high, like a golden retriever squirrel with its mouth full of chestnuts:
"What are you and Seika doing?!"
Kitahara Makoto was very innocent: "Then you'll have to ask Seika-nee."
Ijichi Seika took a deep breath and said:
"Nijika, move aside. Today, I'm going to break his leg for you."
Ijichi Nijika furrowed her delicate eyebrows:
"Why does big sis cowant to break Kitahara-kun's leg?"
Kitahara Makoto looked over in surprise.
So, Nijika still doesn't know that everyone's secret has been exposed?
Since Nijika didn't say anything, then why would Seika-nee know?
After thinking for a second.
Kitahara Makoto narrowed his eyes and looked at Yamada Ryo, who was watching the show with relish not far away.
Noticing Kitahara Makoto's gaze, Yamada Ryo raised her right hand and made a peace sign by her eye:
"Eh heh~"
Damn it!
It was Yamada Ryo who leaked the secret!
It's decided, next time I take advantage of someone, I won't stop even if you cry and beg for mercy!
"Kitahara-kun is a guest." Ijichi Nijika put her hands on her hips and stood in front of Kitahara Makoto, "Even if there's a problem, Seika cannot harm a guest."
"You…"
Ijichi Seika crossed her arms over her chest and snorted lightly:
"I already know all about your affairs."
"Eh?" Ijichi Nijika blinked, feeling a little guilty, "What affairs?"
Ijichi Seika gritted her teeth, and murderous intent reappeared in her eyes as she looked at Kitahara Makoto:
"It's about you being played with emotionally!"
"What is big sis talking about?" Ijichi Nijika's pretty face quickly flushed red, "I haven't been played with emotionally by Kitahara-kun at all."
"You're still defending him now?" Ijichi Seika couldn't help but say, "I already know everything. This guy wants to have a harem, right? And he's making you and Ryo date him together, right?"
Ijichi Nijika's eyes immediately darted around nervously: "Wait, how does big sis know?"
"That day when you were talking to mom, I heard some things." Ijichi Seika clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, "Is this guy using mom as a bargaining chip and then forcing you to join his harem?"
"Kitahara-kun is not that kind of person." Ijichi Nijika's pretty face was crimson, and she quickly explained, "Sis, don't speak so loudly, someone might hear us!"
Ijichi Seika huffed angrily: "You're about to join someone else's harem, and now you're embarrassed?"
"Let's talk upstairs!"
Ijichi Nijika's pretty face was burning, and she pulled Seika, running towards the living area on the second floor.
Kitahara Makoto thought for a moment and then followed.
Since Seika knew about his harem, he naturally had to step forward; he couldn't let Nijika face it alone.
"Kitahara, cheer up."
Yamada Ryo cheered him on from behind.
Kitahara Makoto looked over silently:
"Ryo-senpai, be prepared to not be able to get out of bed."
"…"
Second floor.
"Seika, please listen to me first…"
Ijichi Nijika, with a red face, recounted all the events everyone had experienced, finally saying:
"Kitahara-kun has never forced anyone, nor has he deceived anyone's feelings… And I haven't even agreed to join the harem yet!"
"Otherworld?"
"Kaidan Invasion?"
"Eden Fruit?"
Ijichi Seika furrowed her delicate eyebrows slightly, her eyes filled with suspicion:
"Nijika, you haven't been hypnotized, have you?"
"Of course not." Ijichi Nijika sighed helplessly, "Rinko was missing before, and the police couldn't find her, then she suddenly appeared. Does big sis really think it's that simple?"
"If you don't believe me, big sis can ask Rinko. I haven't said a single false word."
Kitahara Makoto said from the side: "Seika-nee, please rest assured, although I want to have a harem, I will never use deceptive or coercive methods. I will only let Nijika willingly join my harem… Please entrust Nijika to me."
Ijichi Nijika's pretty face was crimson, and she couldn't help but glare over:
"Don't talk."
Ijichi Seika, on the other hand, suddenly tensed her pretty face, crossed her arms over her chest, and said:
"Don't even think about it, I will absolutely not hand Nijika over to you!"
But at this moment, a light, ethereal voice suddenly rang out:
"You can."
Ijichi Seika turned her head and looked over: "Mom? What can I do?"
In the room, a transparent figure floating in mid-air appeared, it was Mrs. Ichiji's ghost.
"I said as long as Nijika is happy, it's fine to date together."
"Mom, what are you talking about?" Ijichi Seika's eyebrows immediately furrowed, "This kid is playing with Nijika's feelings, and you're not angry, but instead, you support him?"
Kitahara Makoto innocently raised his right hand:
"I really didn't play with Nijika's feelings."
Ijichi Nijika's pretty face was crimson, and she quickly pressed Kitahara Makoto's right hand down:
"Don't talk."
Mrs. Ichiji's expression was calm, she looked at Ijichi Seika, her voice somewhat ethereal:
"Seika, what do you think is most important in life?"
"Hmm…" Ijichi Seika thought seriously for two seconds, "Peace and health, I guess?"
"Exactly, when every child is born, a mother's only wish is for the child to be safe and healthy. Besides that, every child's life choices should be respected." Mrs. Ichiji said softly, "Just like when Nijika cried and dropped out of school to play in a Kessoku Band, Mrs. Ichiji didn't force you back."
Hearing her past embarrassing history, Ijichi Seika blushed slightly: "That's two different things, they can't be mixed up, okay?"
"Why not?" Mrs. Ichiji's expression was calm, "Besides peace and health, the second wish of parents for their children should be happiness."
"After leaving the world in a car accident, I realized how much it's worth living the life you want."
"Take photos when you can, eat delicious food when you want to, because ten years from now, you definitely won't be able to take photos of how you look today. Every day is a day worth cherishing."
"You are not Nijika, you haven't experienced the same things as Nijika, even if you are her big sister, don't make choices for Nijika. The only person who can choose her own life is Nijika herself."
"If dating together is Nijika's own choice, we just need to respect it."
Ijichi Seika furrowed her delicate eyebrows and said:
"Nijika is still a child, can she really make choices for her own life?"
Ijichi Nijika couldn't help but say: "Seika, I'm seventeen years old, I'm not a child anymore."
Mrs. Ichiji said lightly: "That's right, seventeen is already the age for marriage and having children."
Ijichi Nijika's little face turned red, and she quickly said: "Not anymore."
"Why?"
Mrs. Ichiji looked over in confusion.
"Because the law has been changed, raising the minimum marriage age for girls from sixteen to eighteen."
"I see…"
Mrs. Ichiji nodded gently, then suddenly asked softly: "Nijika, what do you say?"
"Eh?"
Ijichi Nijika's eyes widened, not expecting to suddenly face the most important choice in her life.
"Nijika, come to my side." Ijichi Seika crossed her arms over her chest, "Stay as far away as possible from guys who play multiple women and toy with girls' feelings!"
"I respect Nijika's choice."
Kitahara Makoto said softly, his expression normal.
"You two…"
Ijichi Nijika parted her rosy lips, hesitated for a few seconds, and finally, with a red face, whispered:
"Seika, I'm sorry… Kitahara-kun did not play with or deceive anyone's feelings, nor did he threaten or force anyone to do anything unwillingly."
Hearing this, Ijichi Seika knew Nijika's choice, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and turned to leave: "…Don't you dare cry then."
Kitahara Makoto said from the side: "Seika-nee, don't worry, I definitely won't make Nijika cry."
Thump!
Ijichi Nijika's pretty face was crimson, and she couldn't help but give Kitahara Makoto an elbow:
"I told you not to talk!"
"It's definitely not okay to say nothing at all, right?" Kitahara Makoto turned around, looked at Mrs. Ichiji, and then bowed respectfully, "Auntie, please rest assured, Nijika's future life is in my hands."
Mrs. Ichiji smiled:
"Still calling me Auntie?"
Kitahara Makoto cleverly changed his address: "Mother-in-law?"
Thump!
Ijichi Nijika's pretty face flushed, and she couldn't help but give Kitahara Makoto another elbow, then, pulling Kitahara Makoto, she shamefully fled out the door:
"Goodbye, Mom, we're going downstairs to help out!"