"...Damn pervert!"
Seika was so angry she almost bit through her teeth.
It's outrageous! It's outrageous!
This pervert is clearly turning the tables!
The one who should be most afraid of Nijika finding out is you, right? And now you're even threatening others in reverse, how dare you!
Do you believe I'll sacrifice everything now and call Nijika in?!
"Nijika is right outside the door, Seika-nee can call her in."
Kitahara leaned close to Seika's ear, whispering with impunity.
Call Nijika in?
For a tsundere woman, face is everything.
Whether it's being involved with a high school student as an adult, or secretly having something with her sister's boyfriend, both are super embarrassing things. If there were two buttons in front of her right now, one that would make the Earth explode if pressed, and another that would reveal their secret to Nijika, Seika would definitely choose the Earth exploding without hesitation.
"D-Damn it!"
The hot breath on her ear made Seika's body tremble slightly, and the blush on her neck quickly spread, soon even dyeing her earlobes crimson.
(I can't take it anymore!)
(I'm going to have a showdown with this pervert right now!)
Unfortunately, when the words reached her lips, Seika found herself like a gourd with a sawed-off mouth, completely unable to make a sound.
(If I call Nijika in, I'll definitely have to explain the whole story...)
But Seika remembered very clearly that the whole thing started because her side personality, when drunk, wanted to know what kissing felt like... But the reason wasn't important.
What was important was that she had actively kissed her sister's boyfriend. How could she possibly say something so embarrassing out loud!
"Sister, is your back hurting again?"
Nijika's concerned voice came from outside the door:
"I asked Kitahara-kun to help move things just now. Sister, you can just rest; there's no need to run up and down with him."
Seika took a deep breath, trying hard not to let her voice tremble, and lightly snorted, "There's no need for that brat's help at all. I can handle it perfectly fine by myself. At most, it just means a few more trips."
Nijika's gently chiding voice came from outside the door:
"Sister, don't say that. The weather is so hot, Kitahara-kun must be very tired helping move things. Calling him a brat is a bit too much."
Calling him a brat is too much?
If you weren't standing outside the door, I would have just called him a pervert!
Inside the bathroom.
Kitahara lowered his voice and whispered into her ear:
"It seems Seika-nee has a very strong prejudice against me."
"Pfft!"
Seika felt like punching him after hearing that. It would be strange if she didn't have a prejudice when he was cornering her in the bathroom behind Nijika's back!
"It seems I need to remind Store Manager how she took away my innocence when she was drunk..."
Kitahara's gaze was burning as he lowered his head.
"D-Damn it!"
Seika wanted to dodge, but the bathroom was only so big, and she was also worried that too much movement would alert Nijika. In the end, she had no choice but to comply obediently.
"Sister, why aren't you talking?"
Nijika's worried voice came from outside the door.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Seika took two breaths, glared at Kitahara with a mix of shame and anger, then quickly raised her hand to wipe the corner of her lips, stammering, "I'm fine, I just washed my face!"
"Eh, but why didn't I hear the sound of the faucet?"
Nijika's voice sounded puzzled.
"...I used a wet wipe!"
"Oh."
Nijika's voice sounded normal, seemingly without suspicion:
"Sister, there are so many customers today, and there should be a lot for a while. How about borrowing a cup from Kitahara-kun and drinking the panacea to cure your back injury?"
As soon as Seika heard 'panacea,' she remembered the side effect that caused her 16-year-old self to appear, and immediately gritted her teeth:
"I will absolutely never drink that stuff again!"
"Alright..." Nijika's voice was helpless, and a little confused, "It gets better after drinking it, so why does Sister seem so extremely resistant?"
Why?
It was precisely because she drank that cup of panacea that she embarked on a path of One Goes Without Return!
Being cornered in the bathroom by a hateful high school pervert, unable to resist, unable to punch him—the root of all evil was that cup of panacea!
"No reason." Seika gritted her teeth, her tone firm. "I just don't want to drink that stuff!"
"Okay, then I won't mention it again." Nijika's voice was a little puzzled. "Where's Kitahara-kun? He helped out, and now he's gone. Sister, have you seen him?"
That brat isn't gone; he's right here in the bathroom, just a door away!
Seika opened her mouth, but the truth was impossible to say. She could only hum in a muffled voice, "I don't know. Maybe he's outside. Go look for him yourself."
Nijika's voice came through:
"Possibly. Kitahara-kun worked hard helping move things, and it's so hot. I'm going to treat him to a drink... I'll go get busy now. Sister, call me if you need anything."
"Got it." Seika immediately breathed a sigh of relief. "Hurry up and go."
"..."
Thump thump thump.
The footsteps outside the door quickly receded.
Seika exhaled, then quickly tensed her pretty face, glaring at Kitahara with murderous intent:
"Pervert, you went too far today!"
Kitahara, knowing when to stop, quickly darted back to create distance, while saying:
"If it were anyone else, Seika would have kicked their head off by now, wouldn't she?"
Seika blurted out:
"Of course!"
Kitahara smiled:
"But Seika-nee only pinched me just now, she didn't kick my head at all, so that proves I didn't actually go that far."
Seika: "…"
Seeing Seika raise her right foot, Kitahara quickly darted out of the bathroom.
"…I'll kick you next time!"
Seika sighed, then turned to look at herself in the mirror.
Normally, she was always full of laziness and apathy, as if nothing could rouse her, but at this moment, the face in the mirror was flushed like fire, and her eyes were moist.
After meeting her own gaze in the mirror for two seconds, Seika quickly averted her eyes.
Splash, splash.
Seika turned on the faucet, letting the Shimizu pour out, then quietly raised her right hand, guiltily touching her lips, which were still slightly numb.
Although she was very unwilling to admit it, secretly doing this with Kitahara behind Nijika's back, besides guilt and a bad conscience, there was indeed an indescribable thrill… Could it be the legendary sense of immorality?
The shop was bustling with business, and they were busy until ten o'clock at night before finally cleaning up the shop and closing for the day.
It was very late, so the girls didn't choose to take the train home. Instead, they used the mirror to quickly travel back to their respective homes. Sakiko's fast travel ability was incredibly useful; once experienced, there was no going back.
Next was the pre-sleep onsen time, the process of which naturally needs no further explanation.
Taki was still unwilling to show up because of the previous body swap; she read messages but didn't reply, as if she had completely disappeared. Anon was too shy and temporarily too embarrassed to come over.
When the girls finished their onsen and were about to leave, Kitahara quietly looked at the blonde, side-ponytail girl:
"Nijika-senpai, don't forget your promise tonight."
Nijika's pretty face flushed, and she shyly pouted at him:
"…Don't have a head full of lewd thoughts!"
As she spoke, Ryo had already walked in front of Sakiko, saying expressionlessly:
"Sakiko, take me home."
"Eh?"
Seeing Ryo about to leave, Nijika immediately panicked and quickly went forward, whispering:
"Ryo is going home tonight?"
There was no other way; Kitahara was a standard uniform-lover. If she wore a uniform tonight, it would definitely give him extra attack speed and critical hit bonuses. She would be super dangerous alone, so she needed Ryo to help share the burden.
Ryo crossed her arms over her chest, her tone indifferent:
"Mom and Dad are home today for a change. I haven't seen them in a long time. I'm going back to chat with them and maybe get some money out of them."
Nijika: "…"
"Nijika, is something the matter?"
Ryo tilted her head and looked over.
"I…"
Nijika parted her lips. Such an embarrassing thing, of course, she couldn't bring herself to say it. Blushing, she averted her gaze and whispered:
"I'm fine…"
"Hmm~ Let me deduce."
Ryo rested her right hand on her chin, a look of interest appearing on her pretty face:
"Nijika asked me if I was going home tonight. If I deduce backwards, she actually wants me to stay?"
"She asks the reason but doesn't say it, which means it's something she's too embarrassed to mention…"
"Nijika was just whispering with Kitahara… So this matter is related to Kitahara-kun?"
"Indeed, there is only one truth—"
Ryo lowered her voice and said:
"Nijika wants to play games in a party tonight?"
Nijika: "…"
You're so smart, why don't you study properly and stop coming in last on every test!
"Looks like I guessed correctly."
Ryo showed a slight smile on her face.
"You guessed completely wrong, okay." Nijika put her hands on her hips, denying it guiltily, and quickly found an excuse, "I just wanted Ryo to go back and clean her room, that's all. Your room is almost filled with your things."
"Eh…"
Ryo drew out her voice, then suddenly took out her phone and snapped a picture.
"What are you doing, Ryo?"
Nijika was startled.
"Just wanted Nijika to see your expression right now…"
Ryo said, turning her phone over:
"Before, when you asked me to clean, Nijika never blushed."
"…"
Looking at her own flushed face in the phone, Nijika truly had nothing to retort.
"I can help, you know." Ryo put away her phone and said slowly, "But tonight, when I'm tired, Nijika has to help me with a back massage."
Nijika: "…"
The night passed without incident.
The next day.
Kitahara woke up on time in the morning, got out of bed, and pulled open the curtains, only to see a gloomy sky outside, with strong winds and heavy rain.
Without any surprise, the typhoon arrived on time and would last at least two or three days. It was impossible to have clear weather before the end of summer vacation.
"…First, I'll go wash my face and brush my teeth."
Kitahara unhurriedly went downstairs, and after a simple wash, he took out his phone and sent a message to Hitori:
"Is Hitori awake?"
The message quickly showed as read.
Hitori: "Already awake…"
Kitahara: "Have you gotten out of bed yet?"
Hitori: "Just got up."
Kitahara: "I'll come pick you up in a bit, Hitori. Come have breakfast first, then we'll go on a date."
Hitori: "B-but the typhoon is here, and it's very windy and rainy outside…"
Kitahara: "I can't make the typhoon turn, but traveling on a small motorcycle under the sun, I guarantee I'll make that happen. Go wash your face and brush your teeth first, I'll come pick you up in a bit."
Hitori: "I-I understand…"
After waking up in the morning and seeing the strong winds and heavy rain outside, Hitori was indeed a little disappointed.
It wasn't that she was disappointed Kitahara hadn't kept his word, but rather disappointed that today's ride was canceled, and she also felt guilty. If they had decided to travel earlier, they wouldn't have encountered typhoon weather.
However, upon receiving Kitahara's message, a bright light of hope reignited in Hitori's eyes.
Except for always breaking his promise not to take advantage of people, Kitahara always kept his word on other matters.
So…
"Wash my face and brush my teeth! Then wait for Kitahara-kun to come over!"
Hitori clenched her small fists, her fighting spirit ignited, and she thumped out the door to wash up.
A moment later.
Kitahara stepped out of the mirror and entered Hitori's room.
"Hitori, good morning."
Kitahara greeted with a smile.
"G-good morning…"
Hitori responded softly. She had already changed into summer clothes suitable for going out, and she slightly tilted her small face, her peach blossom eyes looking over expectantly.
"I will definitely keep my promise to Hitori." Kitahara extended his right hand and ruffled Hitori's small head, no longer being enigmatic, "In mid-August, Sakiko and I went to Kagoshima…"
Kitahara briefly explained the beginning and end of the Kagoshima trip. Of course, he did not mention the unexpected encounter with a strange phenomenon on the cruise ship, nor did he reveal the secret of having his way with Sakiko:
"Last night at the shop, I searched on my phone. The typhoon won't pass through Kagoshima, so Kagoshima still has sunshine, beaches, and blue skies and seas."
Hitori blinked, quickly understood, and her voice was expectant:
"Ah… We can travel there quickly through the mirror?"
"Correct answer, full marks."
Kitahara gently embraced Hitori, pulling her into his arms, and shamelessly said:
"Since Hitori actively answered and got full marks, Hitori must be rewarded."
Seeing Kitahara lean down, Hitori's small face quickly flushed. She naturally knew what the reward was, and she stammered, shyly trying to dodge:
"N-no…"
Unfortunately, it was useless.
The girl's shy voice was quickly muffled.
A few minutes later.
With a soft 'pop,' Kitahara temporarily let go of the shy girl, who was almost out of breath, and smiled:
"Hitori-sama, thank you for the treat. I feel like I'll be full of energy all day today."
"Hoo… hoo…"
Hitori was breathing rapidly, her small face burning hot, and she shyly lowered her small head, no longer daring to look up at anyone.
"Hitori, where is your Honda Cub?"
Kitahara knew when to stop and resisted the urge to continue bullying Hitori, after all, they were going to Kagoshima soon.
"I-in the garage… It's with Dad's car…"
Hitori didn't dare to look up at anyone, stammering shyly in response.
Kitahara said directly:
"Let's go down and temporarily put the small motorcycle into the [Onsen Village], then we'll set off for Kagoshima."
"Okay…"