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"Tsk, the optimizable item turned out to be a biscuit box."
"Stick a sticky note on the surface of the biscuit box, eat the magical biscuit generated the next day, and temporarily increase a certain ability of the body?"
"It looks pretty good."
"I just don't know how much it can actually increase…"
Kitahara Makoto pondered, his gaze involuntarily looking downwards.
If it could really increase a certain ability, then of course it would be…
"Increase learning ability!"
Kitahara Makoto had never forgotten his life goal—to get into Todai, enter the system, start a laid-back life, and then live to ninety-nine without illness or disaster.
Todai is truly difficult to get into. Many people, in order to get into Todai, enroll in extracurricular cram schools as soon as they enter high school and start fiercely competing, but whether they can get in is still up for debate.
Although Kitahara Makoto has the System at hand, doing daily tasks can occasionally improve his intelligence and learning ability, but it's still not enough. If tomorrow's biscuit can increase learning ability, then it's definitely a good thing.
"Young and ignorant of the charm of rich women… No, it's young and ignorant of the importance of early diligence."
"To cross social strata, the only reliable way is to study. Becoming an internet celebrity or marrying into a wealthy family are not reliable."
Kitahara Makoto opened his schoolbag, found a sticky note, wrote down his wish to improve his learning ability, stuck the sticky note on the biscuit box, and then put the biscuit box into the drawer.
"Next is to wait until tomorrow, and that so-called surprise…"
Kitahara Makoto was still a little curious about the 'surprise' mentioned at the end of the entry. Many times, surprise and fright are often just a thought away.
After tidying up, Kitahara Makoto took clean clothes to the bathroom to shower. After washing up, he let the Beast Eared Girl go in to shower, then poured a glass of water, and sat down at his desk feeling refreshed, beginning to study.
He didn't know how much time had passed.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
The vibration of his phone woke Kitahara Makoto from his deep concentration on studying.
"Phew…"
Kitahara Makoto exhaled lightly, looked at his phone beside him, and a hint of surprise appeared on his face.
"It's a message from Bocchi-chan?"
Never mind anyone else, the fact that Bocchi-chan actually took the initiative to send him a message was incredibly rare.
Gotō Hitori: "Th-that… Kitahara-kun, are you free now?"
Kitahara Makoto: "Of course I am, Hitori. Just tell me what you need."
Gotō Hitori: "Mom just messaged that she's about to get off work. It's already very late, and Mom is walking home alone at night. She's a bit worried if she'll encounter that strange woman from yesterday, so… so I want to ask for a favor…"
Kitahara Makoto: "Say no more. Wait for me at the door."
Gotō Hitori: "Eh?"
Kitahara Makoto: "I'll be there in five minutes."
"…"
Putting away his phone, Kitahara Makoto changed into his clothes and shoes, ready to go out.
Hearing the movement, the Beast Eared Girl, who was showering, pushed open the door and ran out barefoot without even wearing clothes, looking up at Kitahara Makoto with her small face:
"Go."
Looking at the water stains on the floor, Kitahara Makoto's eyelid twitched slightly: "Don't come out of the bathroom before you've dried yourself. What do you want to go out for?"
The Beast Eared Girl covered her stomach with her small hand and said expressionlessly:
"Hungry…"
Hungry for what? She just ate so much food outside. Anyone else would have been stuffed by now!
Kitahara Makoto said speechlessly: "I'm not going out to eat."
"Stare—"
The Beast Eared Girl widened her eyes, her beautiful red pupils staring unblinkingly.
"I'm really not going out to secretly eat without you." Kitahara Makoto rubbed the Beast Eared Girl's small head helplessly, and compromised, "…How about this, I'll buy you a small cake when I get back."
"I want two."
"…"
Having received the promise of two small cakes, the Beast Eared Girl then pattered back to the bathroom.
"Raising a mount is really troublesome…"
Kitahara Makoto sighed wearily and turned to leave.
Five minutes later.
At the Gotō entrance.
Bocchi-chan, wearing a pink jacket with her ahoge swaying, was hiding in the shadows where the light couldn't reach, cautiously peeking out her small face to look down the street.
"Hitori, I'm here." Kitahara Makoto stopped at the door and waved, "Shall we go?"
"…"
With Kitahara Makoto's arrival, the temperature on Gotō Hitori's small face quickly rose. She cautiously walked out of her hiding spot in the shadows and slowly approached Kitahara Makoto:
"I-I'm sorry for troubling Kitahara-kun so late…"
Now that Futari wasn't around, Bocchi-chan didn't dare to speak, only daring to send messages on her phone.
Kitahara Makoto glanced at the message on her phone and said softly:
"It is quite late. If it were anyone else calling me out this late for help, I probably wouldn't have time, but if Hitori needs me, I'm always available."
This statement was not meant to deceive Bocchi-chan, but was Kitahara Makoto's sincere words, though it clearly delivered a critical hit.
"…"
Gotō Hitori froze for half a second. Her already flushed small face immediately turned explosively red, and she almost ran away in embarrassment.
(Ah, ah, ah, ah! I really want to hide in a sewer!)
(But… I can't…)
(Mom is still on her way back, what if she encounters danger?)
(For Mom, I must muster up courage… No, I cannot run away!)
Looking at Bocchi-chan, who was clenching her small fists, her face full of shame and panic, Kitahara Makoto smiled slightly, knowing when to stop.
He couldn't rush it; he had to take it slowly, otherwise, he would really scare Little Miss Anxiety away.
"Hitori, how much longer until your mom gets off work?"
Kitahara Makoto quickly changed the subject.
Gotō Hitori's small head was almost touching her chest; she dared not speak, only daring to send messages on her phone: "Mom said she just got on the Train. She'll be back in twenty minutes."
"Then it's getting late, let's go wait at the Train Station first." Kitahara Makoto pondered for a moment and suggested, "I won't show myself then; I'll follow you in the dark, so Hitori won't have to awkwardly explain. How about it?"
"Mhm, mhm."
Gotō Hitori immediately breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and nodded quickly.
(If Kitahara-kun and Mom met, it would be like, like meeting…)
Gotō Hitori just imagined that scenario for a moment and was so embarrassed she almost fainted.
Now that Kitahara-kun had proactively suggested not showing himself but staying behind to protect them from the shadows, Gotō Hitori finally felt at ease.
(Kitahara-kun is actually very considerate of others…)
"Shall we go?"
"Mhm, mhm."
"…"
It was already past nine in the evening, the street was deserted and empty, with only occasional pedestrians passing by.
Passing by the scary alley from last night, Gotō Hitori nervously quickened her pace, following closely behind Kitahara Makoto like a small tail.
"By the way, won't Futari be scared alone at home?"
Kitahara Makoto naturally wouldn't let the atmosphere go cold, actively looking for topics to encourage Bocchi-chan to chat.
"After bathing Futari, Futari had already gone to sleep."
Gotō Hitori still used her phone to speak.
"That's good. Next time you take Futari out, don't let her get lost again."
"I-I didn't get lost…"
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