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"Hana-sama, please, please don't tell anyone about what just happened!"
Kita pressed her hands together and immediately slid to her knees.
It actually didn't matter if someone else saw the kiss just now, after all, it was an accident, an act of God. But it absolutely could not be spread around by Hana.
The Beast Eared Girl had no common sense of human society. She usually spoke with missing words, making people guess to understand.
If the accidental touch just now came from Hana's mouth, it would definitely cause misunderstandings!
The Beast Eared Girl extended her small hand, expressionless, and said:
"Two cupcakes."
"Eh?" Kita's eyes widened as she looked on in shock, "Hana actually learned to take advantage of others?"
Kitahara Makoto pondered: "It's probably because it's related to Buddha's cupcakes, so her intelligence increased."
"Two it is, then..." Kita Ikuyo had no choice but to open her wallet, heartbroken, take out a banknote, and hand it to Kitahara Makoto, pitifully saying, "Please, Kitahara-kun, buy two cupcakes on your way back."
There was no other way. To keep the secret, she could only spend money to avert disaster now.
"Leave it to me." Kitahara Makoto took the banknote. "As for why I was at the amusement park with Soyo-san..."
"Eh, why?"
Kita had originally planned to slip away quietly. Although it was an accident, it was still a kiss, and her face was already flushed. However, upon hearing the gossip now, her right foot, which had been raised mid-air, suddenly couldn't be put down.
Kitahara Makoto smiled and said:
"That's a long story. I'll tell you after I buy things and come back."
Kita: "...Commit seppuku!"
Leaving the house.
Kitahara Makoto headed straight for the nearby convenience store.
There were more customers today. Besides soy sauce and cupcakes, Kitahara Makoto also bought some fruits and snacks, then returned home carrying large bags of items.
"I'm home."
Pushing the door open and stepping into the entrance, besides the Beast Eared Girl running over, none of the other girls appeared. Instead, strange conversations reached Kitahara Makoto's ears.
"Ah, Soyo-san is amazing!"
"Nijika-senpai didn't lie, she really swallowed it!"
"That posture looks like it gives one a strange urge..."
Amidst the discussions, there was also the distressed voice of the Tsundere Young Miss:
"So, so uncomfortable...Please, everyone, pull me out..."
"Don't move, you can't pull." Then came Nijika-senpai's voice, "The more you struggle, the tighter it gets stuck. Last time, I couldn't pull it out, and my waist almost broke instead."
Yamada Ryo's tone was flat: "Who was pulling the radish when Nijika got stuck last time?"
"Th-that kind of thing isn't important!" Ijichi Nijika's voice was embarrassed, "Soyo-san, quickly take off your clothes, and then you can get out!"
"..."
Kitahara Makoto's expression was subtle. He took off his shoes, passed through the entrance, and soon saw several girls all crowded in the Toilet.
As expected, the Tsundere Young Miss was somehow stuck in the washing machine and was slowly trying to free herself under Nijika's guidance.
"She's out, she's out!" Kita Ikuyo exclaimed in surprise, "Soyo-san is finally out!"
Plop.
The Tsundere Young Miss, who had finally managed to free herself, directly fell to the ground in a duck-sitting posture, her pretty face slightly red, hair disheveled, and breathing rapid.
Clearly, being stuck in the washing machine and being watched by everyone in public, even the Tsundere Young Miss with her ample chest, was utterly mortifying at this moment.
"Onii-chan, good afternoon!"
Futari was the first to notice Kitahara Makoto. She looked up with her chubby baby face and called out softly and sweetly.
"Good afternoon." Kitahara Makoto handed over the cupcakes, "Cupcakes I bought for you."
"Thank you, Onii-chan!"
Hugging the cupcakes, Futari thanked him happily. An elementary schooler's happiness was that simple.
"...Kitahara-kun?!"
Seeing Kitahara Makoto standing behind the girls, Nagasaki Soyo's pretty face instantly flushed crimson, and she frantically covered her body with her hands.
Only then did the girls notice Kitahara Makoto. Ijichi Nijika quickly spread her arms, blocking Nagasaki Soyo, and couldn't help but scold him:
"Kitahara-kun, why didn't you say anything when you came back?"
Kitahara Makoto said speechlessly:
"I did say something. You were all focused on Soyo-san, so no one noticed me at all."
"Kitahara-kun, don't look!" Kita urged, "Quickly turn around!"
"Yes, yes."
Kitahara Makoto turned his body while complaining:
"I already said it when I first entered the room, the washing machine is very dangerous, don't get close. Why did Soyo-san still get sucked in?"
Nagasaki Soyo's pretty face was crimson, almost dripping blood, and she bit her lower lip in shame:
"I just finished using the bathroom, and when I passed by the washing machine, I suddenly got very curious… Who knew it would really suck people in…"
So that's how it was.
Kitahara Makoto had thought a love triangle had erupted, and someone was deliberately bullying Nagasaki Soyo, but it turned out she had brought it upon herself.
Girls are indeed like felines; each one possesses an extremely strong curiosity. Even knowing the danger, they can't help but try.
At the critical moment, Ijichi Nijika stepped forward again and said softly:
"Her clothes got caught in the washing machine and are now wet and unwearable… Soyo-san, why don't you just wear Kitahara-kun's clothes for now?"
Nagasaki Soyo lightly bit her lower lip: "Thank you, Nijika-senpai…"
Kitahara Makoto said speechlessly:
"No, you haven't even asked for my opinion yet."
Ijichi Nijika put her hands on her hips and looked over: "Does Kitahara-kun have an opinion?"
"Absolutely not." Kitahara Makoto silently raised both hands, "Nijika-senpai can take any clothes from the closet."
"…"
Soyo was quite disheveled at the moment. Kitahara Makoto staying outside wouldn't help and would only get in the way, so Nijika-senpai quickly pushed him into the kitchen.
A moment later.
Looking at Nagasaki Soyo, who had put on a white shirt and regained her composure, Nijika-senpai let out a sigh of relief and turned to look towards the kitchen.
"…Do you need help?"
Looking at Kitahara Makoto's lonely figure, Ijichi Nijika's pretty face showed a hint of hesitation.
Bocchi-chan is too shy. Soyo-san is currently only wearing a boy's shirt. Kita, for some reason, is now directly walking around the kitchen. As for Ryo… it's better not to mention her.
If it were before, in such a situation, Ijichi Nijika would definitely walk into the kitchen without hesitation to help.
But now…
Facing the shameless guy who said he wanted to start a harem, it's right to stand by and do nothing, isn't it?!
After hesitating for a few seconds, Ijichi Nijika lightly bit her lower lip and still pushed the door open to enter the kitchen:
"Kitahara-kun, do you need help?"
There was no other way. As the great angel of Shimokitazawa, kindness and helpfulness were already etched into her bones. She truly couldn't stand by and do nothing.
Kitahara Makoto heard the movement, turned to look at the blonde side-ponytail senpai who had entered, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.
"Soyo-san is already settled." Ijichi Nijika's pretty face was slightly flushed, and she said as if nothing had happened, "I just saw you preparing the meal alone and it seemed a bit difficult. Don't overthink it… If you don't need help, I'll go out."
"Of course, I need Nijika-senpai's help." Kitahara Makoto quickly said, "Nijika-senpai, please wash the ginger for me."
"Okay."
Ijichi Nijika stepped over, neatly rolled up her sleeves, and helped wash the ingredients.
"It's clean… What now?"
"Can you julienne the ginger?"
"Eh, julienne?"
"I'm going to stir-fry the ginger with shredded potatoes."
"…Kitahara-kun, are you a devil?!"
Under Nijika-senpai's strong objection, Kitahara Makoto ultimately regretfully gave up the idea of julienning the ginger.
"Nijika-senpai, the ribs should be almost done. Please taste them."
Kitahara Makoto picked up a piece of braised ribs with chopsticks and handed it over.
Ijichi Nijika shook her head and refused: "You taste it yourself."
Kitahara Makoto said seriously:
"Whether it tastes good or not, my word doesn't count. Of course, Nijika-senpai has to be the judge."
"…"
"Eh?"
Ijichi Nijika thought for a moment, found nothing to refute, and could only take the chopsticks, gently blew on the ribs, then lightly opened her pink lips and took a small bite.
"Hmm—"
Nijika-senpai's eyes suddenly widened.
"It should taste pretty good, right?" Kitahara Makoto smiled, "As the saying goes, to conquer a girl's heart, you must first conquer her stomach. To get Nijika-senpai, Kita, and Bocchi-chan to join my harem, I've worked hard to practice my cooking skills."
Ijichi Nijika stiffened her pretty face and couldn't help but glare at him:
"I will absolutely not agree to that!"
Of course, Kitahara Makoto was just talking big. He never intended to get Nijika-senpai to agree to a harem with just one meal. That kind of thing only happens in dreams.
Kitahara Makoto continued to make the next dish: "Oh, right, the fruit we bought earlier hasn't been washed yet. Nijika-senpai, please wash the fruit and bring it out to eat."
"Hmph~"
Nijika-senpai lightly snorted, stiffened her pretty face, and began to wash the fruit.
After washing, she took out a fruit knife, preparing to peel an apple.
"Ahhhhhh—"
A startled cry suddenly rang out from outside. Ijichi Nijika, who was about to peel the apple, was startled, and the fruit knife slipped directly towards her finger.
"Be careful!"
Kitahara Makoto's gaze sharpened. In a moment of urgency, he quickly reached out and grabbed the fruit knife. His finger was unfortunately cut, and blood immediately gushed out.
"How's your finger?"
Ijichi Nijika immediately looked over with concern.
"It's nothing, just a small cut." Kitahara Makoto shook his head, "Let's first see what Kita is shouting about."
"So much blood is flowing, how can it be nothing." Ijichi Nijika bit her lower lip, "…I'll go get the first-aid kit!"
Ijichi Nijika hurried out of the kitchen and saw the other girls gathered in front of the Toilet again, because another girl was stuck in the drum washing machine.
"Kita, why did you also get stuck?"
Ijichi Nijika lightly twitched the corner of her lips, unable to help but ask.
"I…I was very curious…" Kita Ikuyo mumbled, lying in the drum washing machine, "Although Soyo-san couldn't get out, maybe I could…"
Kitahara Makoto heard Kita's words from the kitchen and was instantly speechless.
Watching the Tsundere Young Miss get stuck in the washing machine, and now she's repeating the same mistake, she's clearly an idiot!
"Nijika-senpai, I was wrong." Kita Ikuyo wiggled her little butt, "Quickly save me, I'm really stuck, I can't get out no matter what!"
"You already know the method, get out yourself. I have other things to do." Ijichi Nijika raised her hand to cover her forehead, feeling that this home would fall apart sooner or later without her.
Following the future scene in her mind, Nijika-senpai quickly found the medicine box in the cabinet, but after opening it, she found it was empty. There were no band-aids at all.
"What should I do if there are no band-aids?"
Ijichi Nijika lightly bit her lower lip, her gaze falling on her side-ponytail. Her eyes quickly firmed, and she quickly turned and returned to the kitchen.
"Nijika-senpai, don't worry." Kitahara Makoto said softly, "Pressing it for a while will stop the bleeding."
"The wound is so deep, pressing it for a while definitely won't work."
Ijichi Nijika took a deep breath, and suddenly untied the ribbon holding her hair. Her originally neat blonde hair immediately fell softly, reaching her waist.
Kitahara Makoto was startled: "Nijika-senpai, what are you doing?"
"Give me your hand." Ijichi Nijika instructed, "First, I'll use this ribbon to simply bandage it and stop the bleeding."
Kitahara Makoto hesitated:
"This is a very precious treasure of Nijika-senpai. It wouldn't be good if it got stained with blood, would it?"
If he remembered correctly, this ribbon from a dessert box was a precious item that Nijika-senpai always wore, no matter how she dressed.
"That kind of thing isn't important at all." Ijichi Nijika urged, "Quickly give me your hand, let's stop the bleeding first."
"…"
Kitahara Makoto silently extended his hand.
As he stopped pressing the wound, blood flowed out again.
"I just washed the ribbon last night, so it's still clean." Ijichi Nijika widened her eyes, took Kitahara Makoto's right hand in front of her, her red pupils full of seriousness, "I'll simply bandage it to stop the bleeding first. I'll go to the convenience store right away to buy you band-aids and disinfectant."
It was still early. The golden sunset shone in through the window, falling on Ijichi Nijika. Nijika-senpai seemed to be radiating light.
The great angel of Shimokitazawa, indeed worthy of her reputation.
"Nijika-senpai…"
Kitahara Makoto suddenly called out softly.
"Eh?"
Ijichi Nijika looked up.
Kitahara Makoto shamelessly said: "Join my harem!"
"…"
Ijichi Nijika was expressionless and pulled the ribbon with force.
"Ow, ow, ow."
Kitahara Makoto quickly begged for mercy.
"If you know it hurts, then don't say strange things next time." Ijichi Nijika's pretty face was slightly red, and she glared at him in annoyance, "I'm going to the convenience store."
"…"
Nijika-senpai was very fast.
Just as Kitahara Makoto finished one dish, Ijichi Nijika ran back, panting slightly, not bothering to wipe the sweat from her forehead. She held her breath slightly and carefully helped Kitahara Makoto clean the wound, then put on a band-aid.
"Hoo…"
After everything was done, Ijichi Nijika gently exhaled and instructed:
"It should be fine now, but don't let your guard down. If you feel uncomfortable with the wound, remember to go to the hospital for a check-up immediately."
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
As expected of Nijika-mama, she's like a mother, meticulously considering everything for you.
"I'll go wash the ribbon first."
Ijichi Nijika, holding the ribbon, was about to leave the kitchen.
"Huh?"
Kitahara Makoto's gaze fell on the ribbon, and his expression suddenly became serious.
The originally ordinary ribbon from the cookie box was now emitting a faint glow for some unknown reason.
What's going on?
In the blink of an eye, how did the ribbon become an optimizable item?
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for dozens of advance chapters for over a dozen fics | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter