"Eh, why isn't Ikuyo-chan in the room?"
Mrs. Kita asked curiously.
Actually, she was just in the room, but too embarrassed to face Mom.
Kitahara Makoto coughed lightly:
"Kita-chan went to the bathroom."
"I see..." Mrs. Kita blinked, her gaze passing over Kitahara Makoto, and she suddenly saw clothes scattered by the bed, subconsciously saying, "Strange, why did Ikuyo-chan go to the bathroom without her clothes on?"
Kitahara Makoto: "..."
Kita Ikuyo: "..."
(Ahhhhh! I was so focused on hiding under the covers quickly that I forgot to put away the clothes I took off!)
From under the covers.
Kita Ikuyo's small face instantly flushed, so embarrassed that smoke was practically coming from her head.
(Even if you saw the clothes, Mom, you shouldn't have said it out loud!)
"Oh, I'm sorry, did I disturb you two?"
Mrs. Kita blinked innocently, a look of understanding finally appearing on her face, and she quickly handed over the fruit plate, "You two carry on."
"..."
Kita Ikuyo's small face was crimson under the covers, and her whole body squirmed into a caterpillar beneath the blankets.
(Oh no, Mom must have misunderstood!)
Before the door even closed, Mrs. Kita stopped and reminded them:
"Well, I shouldn't pry too much into you young people's business, but you must be careful, Mom doesn't want to be a grandmother just yet."
Kita Ikuyo: "..."
(What on earth is Mom talking about!)
(I haven't even done 'that' with Kitahara-kun, so you can't be a grandmother even if you wanted to!)
Even with Kitahara Makoto's thick skin, he blushed slightly this time, and immediately promised:
"Auntie, don't worry, we'll definitely take safety measures."
(Stupid Kitahara!)
(I haven't even agreed to do 'that' with you, so there's no need for safety measures!)
"That's good." Mrs. Kita was very understanding, "I'll go downstairs now, you two carry on."
"..."
Bang.
The door closed.
Kitahara Makoto placed the fruit on the desk, then walked to the bed and sat down:
"Auntie has gone downstairs, Kita-chan can come out now."
The quilt was quietly pulled open a crack, and Kita Ikuyo peeked out her crimson face, her voice filled with shame and her eyes teary:
"Mom comes neither early nor late, but precisely at this moment... I'm going to hold my breath and commit suicide, I can't face Mom tomorrow."
"Steady, don't panic." Kitahara Makoto comforted her, "We are in a proper dating relationship, so it's nothing if Auntie saw us. If she sees us more often in the future, you won't be so embarrassed."
"I don't want her to see us more often!"
Kita Ikuyo was so ashamed and angry that she reached out to hit Kitahara Makoto, but due to her exaggerated movement, her slime accidentally became exposed.
"Ugh..."
Kita Ikuyo quickly covered her chest, her small face crimson as she glared at him:
"Y-you're still looking!"
"I'm sorry." Kitahara Makoto's tone was sincere, "That was an auto-aim function just now, completely uncontrollable."
Kita Ikuyo: "..."
Boys are indeed all Boobians!
"Quickly use Hand of Deprivation to steal the side effect." Kita Ikuyo's face was burning hot, "My chest feels so stuffy, I can barely breathe."
"Helping is certainly no problem, but..." Kitahara Makoto said with burning eyes, "I want Kita-chan to pre-pay the reward."
Kita Ikuyo blinked, and whispered:
"What reward does Kitahara-kun want?"
Kitahara Makoto lowered his voice and said:
"I want to eat ice cream."
"Ice cream?" Kita Ikuyo's voice was bewildered, "There's none in the room, it's all in the kitchen fridge..."
Kitahara Makoto's eyes burned: "I want to eat Kita-chan's ice cream."
"What, I don't have any ice cream..."
Halfway through her sentence, Kita Ikuyo suddenly realized, and white steam quickly rose from her head:
"Wait, are you talking about...?!"
"That's right, it's Kita-chan's ice cream."
"No way, go away..."
Kita Ikuyo was terribly embarrassed, refusing in a small voice.
Kitahara Makoto didn't speak, he just lowered his head and gently blocked Kita-chan's pink, moist lips.
Girls are creatures that are naturally 'duplicitous'. Sometimes they want something but say they don't, and sometimes they don't want something but say they do.
It's actually very simple to judge whether a girl is willing or not.
It's physical contact.
For example, holding hands, which represents the progress of intimacy in a relationship between a man and a woman; if she truly doesn't want you to hold her hand, you'll know what 'dodging like an electric shock' means.
Kita-chan's current state was like this.
If you directly ask Kita-chan if it's okay, her maidenly reserve would definitely make her shake her head and say no, but if you directly kiss her, Kita-chan, apart from the maidenly shyness and reserve of wanting to refuse but also wanting to accept, had no other resistance.
Not to mention crying in grievance, she didn't even use a bit of strength to push Kitahara Makoto away; all there was was a burning, crimson face, and tightly closed, shy eyes.
Several minutes later.
Kitahara Makoto successfully tasted Kita-chan's limited edition ice cream.
Looking at the red-haired girl whose small face was burning hot, tightly covering her lips with the back of her hand to prevent herself from making a sound, Kitahara Makoto couldn't help but want to taste more.
Unfortunately, upon sensing Kitahara Makoto's movement, Kita Ikuyo quickly grabbed his wrist, so embarrassed that tears welled up in her eyes:
"N-no more, really... Mom is still downstairs, the sound will be too loud and she'll hear it, and we still have to film a movie tomorrow."
Feeling the strength in Kita-chan's hand, Kitahara Makoto knew that her 'no' now was a genuine 'no', so he naturally wouldn't force Kita-chan. He wiped the corner of his lips and said gently:
"Then we'll stop here today... Kita-chan, thank you for the treat."
"Whew..."
Kita Ikuyo immediately breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that.
Although she almost couldn't resist just now, wanting to pretend to be an ostrich and let Kitahara Makoto take advantage of her, it really wasn't possible now.
Mom was right downstairs, surely she would hear if the sound was too loud, right?
She absolutely did not want such an embarrassing thing to happen!
"Kita-chan, get up." Kitahara Makoto stood up and walked to the bedside, "Let's first try to Seize the side effect."
"I can't get up..." Kita Ikuyo's voice was aggrieved, her small face almost bleeding, "I have no strength left in my body."
"Then shall I help you?"
"No, I'll be fine after resting for a while... Kitahara-kun, quickly turn around, don't peek."
Kitahara Makoto said speechlessly:
"I clearly already ate just now..."
"D-don't say it!" Steam surged from the top of Kita Ikuyo's head again, and she shouted in shame, "Forget what just happened!"
"..."
A moment later.
Kita-chan's shy voice sounded behind Kitahara Makoto:
"Y-you can turn around now..."
Kitahara Makoto turned around upon hearing this, looking at the red-haired girl kneeling on the bed in a seiza position.
Under the bright light, Kita-chan's originally fair and delicate skin was now completely flushed pink.
"Don't look, hurry up and help."
Kita Ikuyo covered her body with her arms, shyly turning her small face away, completely daring not to make eye contact with Kitahara Makoto.
Kitahara Makoto extended his right hand, assumed a posture, and then suddenly hesitated:
"How about we leave it for today and see how long the side effect lasts, then I'll come back tomorrow morning to Seize the side effect for Kita-chan?"
"No way!" Kita Ikuyo puffed out her cheeks in shame, covering her body with her hands, and couldn't help but retort, "Stupid Kitahara clearly just wants to continue bullying me tomorrow morning, doesn't he?"
Seeing his little thoughts exposed, Kitahara Makoto wasn't ashamed and said calmly:
"This is a limited edition [Boobian Kita-chan] right now. You might only encounter it once in your life, so it would be too regrettable to miss it easily."
Kita Ikuyo's cheeks puffed up high: "You really are a Boobian!"
"..."
At Kita-chan's strong insistence, Kitahara Makoto finally tried to use Hand of Deprivation on Kita-chan.
[Ability: Hand of Deprivation]
[Category: Active]
[Description: You can select a target and randomly Seize an external object from their body. The target must be within your line of sight.]
[Note: This ability consumes mental power. Continuous use in a short period will double the consumption.]
Buzz.
A wisp of fragmented starlight floated out from Kita-chan's body, landed in Kitahara Makoto's palm, and then quickly disappeared into the air.
"F-finally it's gone..."
Looking at the once again unhindered fried egg, Kita Ikuyo immediately breathed a sigh of relief:
"Hand of Deprivation really works."
Kitahara Makoto, on the other hand, sighed, his tone regretful:
"I actually wished Hand of Deprivation wouldn't be useful."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you." Kita Ikuyo puffed out her cheeks and glared at him, "Quickly turn around, I'm going to get dressed."
"..."
By the time Kita-chan was dressed, it was already nine o'clock in the evening without them realizing it.
"It's already so late." Kita Ikuyo checked the time on her phone and whispered, "Kitahara-kun, you can go home now."
"It's still early, no rush." Kitahara Makoto speared a sliced apple and offered it to Kita-chan's mouth, "We haven't studied yet."
"You have the nerve to say that." Kita Ikuyo couldn't help but retort, "We went upstairs at half past seven, and it's nine o'clock now, we haven't done anything proper."
"Who says we haven't?" Kitahara Makoto speared another grape and offered it, "Serving Kita-chan is also proper business."
"Pfft~"
After chatting for a while, Kitahara Makoto and Kita finished their fruits, and it was already half past nine in the evening without them realizing it.
The study progress was still zero.
"It's about time I head back," Kitahara Makoto stood up and stretched, "Beauty is truly the archenemy of studying."
"What do you mean?" Kita Ikuyo's face flushed slightly, and she couldn't help but retort, "You were the one who kept wanting to kiss and hug, always unwilling to study, alright?"
Kitahara Makoto said righteously:
"If I focused solely on studying and ignored Kita, wouldn't Kita get angry instead?"
"Hmph," Kita Ikuyo wrinkled her delicate nose, letting out an tsundere hum, "I wouldn't get angry over such a small thing."
Kitahara Makoto looked at Kita and suggested:
"I'll go downstairs first to say goodbye to Mrs. Kita, then I'll climb back in through the window. When I do, Kita can go to my house through the mirror, and we can study in a dream?"
The efficiency of studying in a normal state was too low. The best method was actually [Magic Cookie] + [Sudden Enlightenment], and then studying in the dream woven by Hana. One night of studying would be equivalent to someone else's
a week's worth.
"No way!"
Kita Ikuyo quickly shook her head.
She almost couldn't control herself just now; if she secretly snuck over at night, she would definitely be completely devoured, right?
They still had to film the short movie tomorrow, so she definitely didn't want to be unable to get out of bed!
Kitahara Makoto raised his hand and said:
"Hana-chan and I can come over too."
"No, I want to rest well tonight," Kita Ikuyo stretched out her hands, pushing Kitahara Makoto's lower back, her voice sweet and charming, "You should hurry home, it's already very late~"
Kitahara Makoto stopped at the room door:
"Before I leave, I want Kita to kiss me."
"No way."
"Then I won't leave."
"..."
Having no choice, Kita Ikuyo could only blush, stand on her tiptoes, lightly peck Kitahara Makoto's lips, and then wave him away:
"Go back, go back~"
There's no need to say more about what happened next.
Kitahara Makoto first retrieved the cup from outside the windowsill; the liquid inside was already more than half full, but he and Kita didn't plan to drink it for now.
Immediately after, Kitahara Makoto walked to the living room, greeted Mrs. Kita who was watching TV, politely declined Mrs. Kita's invitation to stay overnight, and then bade farewell and left.
After leaving the house, Kitahara Makoto circled the building and arrived below Kita's room, then took out his phone to text Kita.
"I'm under the window."
Whoosh.
The window quickly opened a crack. Kita Ikuyo poked her head out, confirmed Kitahara Makoto's identity, and then fully opened the window.
Kitahara Makoto sent another message: "Kita, step back a few steps."
Kita Ikuyo: "I'm already standing in the corner."
Kitahara Makoto put away his phone, leaped lightly, directly jumped to the height of the second-floor window, and then easily climbed into Kita's room.
It would take at least half an hour to get back from Kita's house, plus the weather outside was hot, so Kita suggested Kitahara Makoto go back through the mirror, which was both easy and quick.
"I'm back again," Kitahara Makoto opened his arms, "Long time no see, Kita-sama, come here quickly and help replenish some Kita energy."
"What do you mean?" Kita Ikuyo couldn't help but softly retort, "It hasn't even been ten minutes since you just left."
Kitahara Makoto said calmly:
"It's already been ten minutes since I last saw Kita, so it's normal to miss Kita, right?"
Kita Ikuyo: "..."
Although she knew it was sweet talk, hearing it still made her happy.
"Just a hug, no other things allowed."
Kita Ikuyo had no choice but to walk forward with a slight blush, gently hugged Kitahara Makoto once, and then urged him:
"Hurry back."
"This time I'm really going back, so..." Kitahara Makoto pointed to his cheek, "Kiss me one more time."
"No, I just kissed you."
"Then I won't leave?"
"...Take advantage of!!"
Kita Ikuyo had no choice but to stand on her tiptoes, blushing, and kissed him again.
Just as she finished kissing and wanted to leave, she was suddenly pulled directly into Kitahara Makoto's embrace:
"Tit for tat, now it's my turn to kiss."
"You're cheating... Mmm..."
A few minutes later.
Kitahara Makoto, satisfied, let go of Kita, wiped the corners of his lips, summoned Hana, and then waved goodbye:
"Kita, good night."
After bidding farewell, Kitahara Makoto, with Hana's help, quietly slipped into the mirror.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Kita Ikuyo clutched her chest and gasped for a while, then walked to the wardrobe with a flushed face, opened it, and took out a clean set of underwear.
Although she had already taken a bathroom before, for some reason, she now had to take a bathroom and change her underwear again...
At the same time.
"Mirror travel is indeed super convenient."
The place Kitahara Makoto arrived at was the bathroom on the first floor of his home.
However, just as he emerged from the mirror, he heard a girl's questioning voice:
"Makoto-kun?"
Kitahara Makoto turned his head and saw a girl with an expressionless face sitting in the bathtub.
Who else could it be but Mutsumi?
Under the bright lights, the girl's skin was snow-white, truly like congealed cream, so delicate it seemed it could break with a touch. It was just that her expression was too calm, without any fluctuations, lacking the shyness and demureness of a young girl, which inevitably made it a bit less appealing.
"Mutsumi, I'm back."
Kitahara Makoto greeted her as if nothing had happened, casually saying:
"Why are you just taking a bathroom now?"
Mutsumi didn't just show up suddenly without a word; in fact, Mutsumi had sent a message in the evening saying she wanted to come over to treat her insomnia.
She just didn't expect to run into Mutsumi taking a bathroom in the bathroom.
"I was just watching 'Chibi Maruko-chan' with Hana-chan."
Mutsumi replied expressionlessly.
Alright.
So she was engrossed in watching TV with Hana.
Kitahara Makoto averted his gaze and reminded her:
"Mutsumi, you're exposed."
"It's okay." Mutsumi looked down at her 'little buns,' her face completely devoid of shyness, "My body has already been seen completely by Makoto-kun."
Kitahara Makoto: "..."
That's true, but you could at least show some shyness!
"Mutsumi, you go ahead and take your bath," Kitahara Makoto waved his hand, "I'll go out first."
Mutsumi looked up:
"Makoto-kun, do you want to wash together?"
"..."
Kitahara Makoto paused slightly, then replied without looking back:
"I'll pass for now. I'll take a bathroom after you're done."
Facing Mutsumi who was actively offering herself, Kitahara Makoto felt rather embarrassed to take advantage.
Firstly, bullying a stoic girl would cause him guilt.
Secondly, Sakiko had said before that she had to go first, and bathing together might make him lose control.
Arriving in the living room.
Hana ran to the sofa with a thud, continuing to watch TV.
Kitahara Makoto, on the other hand, walked to the refrigerator, opened it, took out a bottle of iced drink, and gulped it down.
After Mutsumi finished her bathroom, Kitahara Makoto chatted briefly with Mutsumi, then took his change of clothes and went to the bathroom to take a bathroom.
After washing up, it was already ten o'clock in the evening.
"Makoto-kun." Hearing Kitahara Makoto leave the bathroom, Mutsumi on the sofa turned to look at him, "The fruits are washed, come and sit."
"Okay."
Kitahara Makoto responded, walked over and sat down beside Mutsumi, and glanced at the table, seeing many fruits, which were clearly all bought by Mutsumi.
"Little cucumber."
Mutsumi's eyes were filled with anticipation as she offered a small cucumber with both hands.
Crunch.
Kitahara Makoto took a bite. He had to admit, the small cucumber tasted quite sweet.
"Lychee."
The girl peeled a red lychee with her slender fingers, then parted her lips slightly, gently bit the lychee, and turned to offer the fruit to Kitahara Makoto.
Kitahara Makoto: "..."
No wonder you bought lychees, so you wanted to re-enact the scene!
Since they had already kissed, Kitahara Makoto naturally wouldn't pretend to be proper. He opened his mouth to take the lychee, but besides the lychee, a certain clove-like object also came in with it...
"Makoto-kun, do you want more?"
Mutsumi tilted her pretty face slightly, her bright eyes looking at him expectantly.
Kitahara Makoto chose to follow his heart:
"...Eat."
A plate of fruit was quickly finished. Mutsumi wiped the corners of her lips clean with a tissue. On her usually expressionless pretty face, a slight happy expression appeared:
"Makoto-kun, thank you for the treat."
Kitahara Makoto: "..."
You're turning things upside down!
You're turning things upside down!
Kitahara Makoto took a deep breath, suppressed the urge to tease Mutsumi, and began to think about serious matters.
Today's four daily tasks had all been completed, but there was still one more thing, which was to recharge the Pandora's Box...