"Huff… huff…"
At night.
Kamishiro came running, gasping for breath, back to his sanctuary, Grand Blue Dive shop.
That was terrifying. Absolutely terrifying!
Even now, just thinking about it made him tremble.
Originally, since there was still some time before the return bus, Kamashiro had wanted to take Hanabi to visit one of his "close friends."
Yes.
That friend was none other than the owner of the Tiger-Dragon Love Hotel.
Someone once said: When you seriously like a girl, you should take her to meet your friends.
That way, she would understand your sincerity.
Kamashiro believed in this wholeheartedly.
So, in his mind, he was being very romantic by taking every girl he dated to "tour" his buddy's hotel.
What?
Meeting your friend after just one day—wasn't that too fast?
Not at all!
Kamashiro firmly believed in love at first sight (or more accurately, lust at first sight)!
Even if the relationship wasn't confirmed—love at first sight was still love at first sight!
As for what his hotel-owner friend thought?
"I swear to god, I need to start charging that damn brat extra next time!"
After all, having to suppress his own jealousy every day was torture!
(っ╥╯﹏╰╥c)
Luckily, he still had a wife. But then he'd think of her—tiny, wielding a wooden sword, chasing him around swinging it at his head…
And that only made him more depressed!
Domestic violence! That was straight-up domestic violence!
ahem
Back to Kamashiro—
This strategy, which had never failed before, was immediately seen through by Hanabi.
She didn't go inside the hotel like Kamashiro expected. She just shot him a sharp look and continued casually strolling down the street.
Hmph. She had done her research during this time!
The internet said: Never let your boyfriend get what he wants too easily.
If he gets it too easily, he won't cherish it. Love should be like fishing—always keep the Kamishirot just out of reach!
After reading that post, Hanabi understood.
She'd been keeping Kamashiro at bay these past two days, and she already had plans—once they returned to Kanto, she was going to toss that pigeon-headed scoundrel into a little black PR room and train him properly!
Hmph.
Not coming back?
There's no way he wouldn't come crawling back!
That damned pigeon still has an anime to supervise.
Thinking about how that pigeon would be orbiting around her constantly afterward, Hanabi couldn't help but smile knowingly.
She was kind of looking forward to it!
However—
Not long after...
Hanabi realized she was completely wrong. And not just a little wrong—wildly wrong.
She had forgotten one critical detail: that strategy guide was only meant to work on normal guys!
Not on a sea king like Kamishiro!
Originally, since Hanabi didn't seem to have those kinds of feelings, Kamishiro didn't push it. He had planned to just send her off to the station properly.
But who would've thought—
Kiyoko suddenly popped up halfway!
And then...
Sakurako emerged from around the corner!
Judging by her expression, Kiyoko was clearly here for him. As for Sakurako—that one really was just a coincidence!
But even so, it still turned into a battlefield of jealous women!
________________
Outside GB (the dive shop)
Thinking back to the scene earlier, Kamishiro, who had just calmed down, shuddered again.
He couldn't afford to dwell on it.
Having barely escaped from the clutches of three women, he was now heading back to his paradise!
Even if it meant drinking with muscle-bound guys, he'd choose that over returning to that warzone.
It was terrifying over there. Yeah... his own dog life was way more important!
But hey—at least he got Hanabi safely to the station. Mission accomplished!
Just as expected from me!
________________
Creak~
As the door to the dive shop swung open, a familiar scent wafted out.
It was the scent of alcohol and passion!
"URRAAA!!!" ×n
Looking at a room full of naked men, Kamishiro smiled.
Now this is the proper way to open a PaB gathering!
That romantic stuff in Okinawa? So not their thing!
"URRA!"
"Kamishiro! Come drink!"
"Hurry up, it's the welcome-back party for you guys!"
The seniors quickly noticed him standing at the door and immediately hoisted him up, one on each side.
Beers were passed around!
Clothes were taken off!
Strip rock-paper-scissors began!
Watching the afro-senpai chugging down drink after drink from losing to him, Kamishiro twitched.
You guys are way too experienced at this!!!
Wait...
Am I also way too experienced now?!
Before he even realized what was happening, the game had ended.
This was...
Freakin' awesome!!!
Kamishiro's dazed expression gradually morphed into a smug grin.
Raising a big glass, he shouted, "ANYONE ELSE?!"
"URRA!!!"
"OHHHH!"
________________
After a few rounds of drinking, Kamishiro staggered toward the sofa, still taunting the seniors.
"Pfft, trash, the lot of you!"
(¬‿¬)
The girls sitting on the sofa looked at him in exasperation.
That damn guy is showing off again!
Azusa casually threw an arm around his neck and pulled his head into her soft chest, rubbing it vigorously.
"Hahaha! Kamishiro, your underwear's amazing! It's definitely a legendary item!"
"Buh... Don't talk nonsense! This is 100% pure skill! If you don't like it, come challenge me!"
Kamishiro mumbled from her chest, making no effort to get up.
Just let him drown in this softness...
(♡˙︶˙♡)
"Hahaha, I'm not nearly as brave as the rest of them~"
Azusa didn't care about Kamishiro's provocation at all, and even dragged him down to lie on the couch with her.
She was a very rational woman.
Unless Kamishiro took off his underwear, they couldn't play any "real" games!
Due to the narrowness of the sofa, their bodies were practically glued together.
They could feel each other's breathing, and for a moment, both of them began to drift into daydreams.
Azusa: Ehehehe, I haven't seen Kamishiro in a while. Tonight, I'm definitely cuddling him to sleep!
Kamishiro: Azusa nee's gotten even bigger... I need to thoroughly investigate tonight!
As the two of them lost themselves in fantasies about their long-awaited reunion night, an urgent, flustered voice interrupted them.
"Azusa san! Kamashiro! You two, get up!!"
Not wanting to try "Dragon Claw Technique" again, Aina rushed over to pull them apart.
Even though there were probably no spies from Kiyoko's group here, Aina still felt a lingering sense of danger after just surviving her own torture session.
She couldn't let Kamashiro go wild!
Aina felt so drained—like a firefighter constantly rushing to put out flames wherever they appeared.
Damn it!
Why was Kamishiro so heavy?! That blonde over there, help out, would ya!?
Faced with a crisis, Aina instinctively turned to her "reliable" partner.
But what she saw was...
A shadowy figure radiating gloomy energy, back turned toward her.
"I wish I could turn into a mushroom…"
Apparently, he hadn't learned much from Kanako either.
Aina: (눈_눈)
At least help separate Kamishiro and Azusa san before becoming a mushroom!!
________________
In the end, it was Azusa who couldn't bear seeing Aina's defeated expression and took the initiative to let go of Kamishiro.
If it weren't for the fact that Aina still looked at Iori with such a troubled expression, Azusa might have suspected that she'd fallen for Kamishiro on the trip.
She was curious—what exactly did this group experience during their time away?
She wasn't the only one curious.
Kamishiro also wanted to know what happened while he was gone.
(・・?)
"What's that idiot doing now?"
Seeing Kitahara Iori dressed in full armor from who-knows-where, Kamishiro was speechless.
When PaB drinks, nobody wears clothes—
And you show up in armor?!
"Shh!"
Iori, like a startled mouse, glanced around nervously. Only after confirming no danger was present did he whisper in Kamishiro's ear:
"I sense a very strong killing intent nearby!"
"…."
Kamishiro glanced behind Iori.
And there—
Was a woman smiling sweetly, but with a literal aura looming behind her, staring at them.
Iori: {{(°△°; "}}!
"Yes! That's the feeling! It's back again!!"
Feeling that familiar murderous pressure, Iori whipped around—
Only to see Nanaka's sweet smile.
…Was it just his imagination?
Confused, Iori turned back and asked, "Kamashiro, do you know something?"
Kamishiro looked again.
The aura behind Nanaka now had a twisted, demonic face and was glaring straight at him.
'Little bro, you better say something smart~'
Gulp.
"Nope! No idea at all! It must be your imagination!"
Kamishiro answered with unshakable conviction while stripping the armor off Iori.
Then, with curiosity piqued, he leaned toward Azusa nee.
"So what exactly happened? Why did Nanaka-nee suddenly go dark mode?"
He asked quietly.
"Oh, that~"
Azusa smiled, patting her messy hair and speaking in an innocent tone.
"I just told her that Iori went on a trip with Chisa, and she's been like that ever since."
"Ahh, I see now~"
It all made sense.
Azusa nee, you really are the root cause of everything.
Here is the complete translation of the text you provided:
________________
Looking at Kitahara still searching for the source of the killing intent in the distance, Kamishiro felt like he should do something—after all, they had grown up together since childhood.
He turned around and walked toward Iori.
Then...
With a regretful expression, he patted Iori on the shoulder and said, "Go in peace. I'll stuff your coffin full of erotic magazines."
Iori: Σ(っ °Д °;)っ
"What the hell?! Why are we suddenly talking about coffins?!"
"Relax, I just thought you might need those mags."
"I was asking about the coffin!"
"If you don't want one, I could just cremate you along with the mags and mix your ashes together."
"You're a freaking demon!!!"
That idea shocked Iori so much he forgot what he was originally going to ask. Being one with the mags? Seriously?
But…
If there was another way, he really didn't want erotic magazines to solve this problem!
Kamashiro: "Be content. Dolls are too expensive. Self-sufficiency is best."
Iori: "Screw you! You scumbag have no right to say that!"
…
"Hey, Iori, Kamishiro, what are you two doing? Come play the game!"
The drinking party had gone on so long that most of the upperclassmen had moved elsewhere to lie down. Only the newcomers, plus Tokita-senpai, Kotobuki-senpai, and Azusa-nee, were left.
After all, the upperclassmen had been under a lot of pressure lately and were using this party to blow off steam—so they drank a lot.
Of course, the main reason for that was their overconfidence in challenging Kamishiro's boxer shorts.
They all failed miserably in the end!
Boxers: As expected of me!
"Oh? Is it game time? Don't tell me it's strip rock-paper-scissors again?"
Not that it's a bad game, but they just finished it. Doing it again would be kind of dull.
"Haha, of course not. This time we've got a new game."
"It was actually recommended by Nanaka. Seems pretty fun."
Tokita and Kotobuki explained with a smile. When it comes to games, they always take things seriously!
"Nanaka-nee…"
Kamashiro's mouth twitched as he glanced at Nanaka nee, who was smiling with her eyes shut. He felt like he suddenly understood the true purpose of this game.
So… after Kitahara dies, can he pretend to be him and collect his allowance?
Emmm...
Might be worth a try?
"Hey hey hey! That look in your eyes is seriously unsettling!"
Feeling Kamashiro's stare, Iori instinctively stepped back. That look made him feel like a lab rat!
"Anyway, what kind of game is it, senpai?"
Aina asked worriedly. Based on her firsthand experience… all of PAB's games involved alcohol!
However—
She really didn't want to drink right now!!!
Ever since she puked all over Iori, Aina had developed a bit of trauma. Who knew what she might do the next time she got drunk?
To prevent any more embarrassing incidents, she had decided to stop drinking for a while.
Even though quitting alcohol in PAB sounded absurd, even a short break would be better than nothing!
As long as she could erase that terrible memory!
(っ╥╯﹏╰╥c)
"Ah, it's the ten-yen coin game!"
Kotobuki-senpai held up a coin and explained.
In this game, each person holds a coin.
Heads means "yes."
Tails means "no."
Then, one person asks a question, and everyone secretly answers by placing their coin under a handkerchief.
It's basically an anonymous poll.
Everyone looked a little surprised at how... tame this game was?
Yes—tame!
Still, it sounded kind of interesting. That mystery of anonymity had its appeal.
Aina also breathed a sigh of relief. No alcohol—great.
Kamashiro: "So what kind of questions are we asking?"
The most interesting part of this game was the questions!
Since it's anonymous, the questions should obviously be spicy, right?
Tokita: "Let's go with something like 'I like Iori.'"
"PFFFT!!!"
Aina almost coughed up blood. If Tokita-senpai didn't look so sincere, she would've thought he was doing it on purpose!
Critical hit!
She instinctively grabbed her bestie Kohei's arm. "What do I do…"
"Stay calm, Cakey. Just lie with a blank face."
That's their specialty!
Hearing Kohei's advice, Aina's eyes lit up. That's right, she just had to lie!
Instantly, she was filled with confidence!
Until…
That modified lie detector showed up, the one Kotobuki-senpai had upgraded!
Even Kohei looked regretful. "That's rough…"
Lie Detector: Cheating is wrong, y'know~
At that moment, Aina's confident expression started to crack. So—who the hell thought of using this toy like that?!