"Can Hana pick the fruit from that tree?"
Kitahara Makoto looked down, asking expectantly.
Hearing this, Hana's already round eyes widened, and her usually expressionless small face uncharacteristically showed a flustered expression. She turned and hugged Mai's thigh:
"Good person, help!"
Kitahara Makoto said speechlessly:
"Why are you calling for help?"
Hana hugged Mai's thigh tightly:
"Hana will be 'gobbled up' in one bite."
Mai gently hugged Hana and glared at him playfully:
"Scumbag-kun scared Hana, apologize quickly."
"I'm sorry, I was wrong." Kitahara Makoto said innocently, "I was just asking."
It was obvious.
Hana couldn't do it.
The Eden Tree that dominated the entire small island was quite powerful; Hana was no match for it at all.
"I won't think about the fruit for now, maybe another time." Kitahara Makoto exhaled lightly, "Let's go back to the real world first, I've really had enough of the Otherworld."
"Hana."
Kitahara Makoto looked down at Hana:
"Make another vine ladder."
Hana obediently squatted down, placing her hands on the edge of the cliff. Soon, flowers and vines grew out, quickly forming a vine ladder that extended down the cliff.
"Climbing down is more dangerous than climbing up." Kitahara Makoto extended his right hand and looked at Sakurajima Mai, "Senpai, I'll carry you down."
"Okay."
Sakurajima Mai nodded slightly in agreement.
"Senpai actually agreed right away?"
Kitahara Makoto was surprised.
"Otherwise?"
Sakurajima Mai crossed her arms and tilted her head, looking at him.
"Does Scumbag-kun want me to refuse three times and then finally say, 'I'll reluctantly agree'?"
Kitahara Makoto put his hands together: "Please, you must perform it once."
"I'm sorry." Sakurajima Mai's eyes showed disdain, "Tsundere is already outdated, but…"
"But what?"
"After we go down later, Scumbag-kun needs to be prepared for his harem to catch fire."
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
Senpai, don't be like this, it makes people so flustered!
At the same time.
The vine ladder was complete.
Kitahara Makoto casually picked up Hana, letting Hana sit on his shoulder, then wrapped one arm around Mai's slender and soft waist, and with the other hand grabbed a vine, quickly sliding down to the ground.
"Kitahara-kun, you're finally back!"
"You didn't come back for so long, everyone was super worried."
"Finally, we can leave."
The girls who had been waiting for a long time rushed over.
When they got closer.
Several girls involuntarily looked at Sakurajima Mai.
Beauty is a universal pass; as long as one is beautiful enough, they can charm both men and women.
Scientific research has long proven that not only do boys like to look at pretty girls, girls also like to look at beautiful women.
Clearly, Mai's beauty was of the level that charmed both genders.
Togawa, Soyo, and others were confident in their own looks, but standing in front of Sakurajima Mai now, they all involuntarily felt the urge to retreat — not because they felt inferior, but because they had been in the Otherworld for several days and had no way to wash or groom themselves. Even with natural beauty, they inevitably looked haggard.
When everyone was equally disheveled, it was naturally fine, but now that the radiant Mai appeared, she instantly outshone everyone.
"Kitahara-kun, who is this?"
Togawa Sakiko asked softly.
Kitahara Makoto was about to speak when Sakurajima Mai suddenly stepped forward, smiling:
"Hello everyone, Makoto-kun has caused you trouble."
"Eh?"
"M-Makoto-kun?"
"Isn't that too intimate a way to address him?"
"…"
The girls all showed subtle expressions.
"Senpai, what are you doing?"
Kitahara Makoto looked at Mai nervously.
Just outside the island, she kept calling him Scumbag-kun, and now suddenly she's calling him Makoto-kun. You're making me so flustered!
Sakurajima Mai smiled sweetly, full of presence:
"Makoto-kun and I have lived together for ten years, and I sincerely apologize for his abrupt behavior during this time."
"Eh, lived together for ten years?" Chihaya Anon blinked her eyes and exclaimed, "Could it be childhood sweethearts?"
I'm sorry.
Actually, it's even more intimate than childhood sweethearts.
Although he didn't know what Mai wanted to do, Kitahara Makoto knew very well that at this moment, he just needed to keep his mouth shut. If he dared to undermine her, he would definitely be in trouble later.
Mai continued to smile:
"In any case, I will properly discipline Makoto-kun from now on and ensure he won't cause you any more trouble."
"…"
Hearing this, Togawa Sakiko's delicate brows furrowed.
What kind of status allows one to apologize on behalf of another?
Of course, it's someone very intimate.
Not only Togawa, but Soyo also felt a bit uncomfortable, the gentle smile on her face having quietly disappeared.
This hostess-like tone and attitude… she clearly sees herself as the main wife, doesn't she?
While Anon had a small desire to be the main wife, it was only a thought. The girl in front of them was proving her status with actions.
"We should be the ones apologizing." Togawa Sakiko took a deep breath, "We caused trouble for Kitahara-kun."
Kitahara Makoto whispered:
"Actually, it's no trouble…"
"Hmm?"
Mai looked at him sideways.
"…"
Kitahara Makoto silently shut his mouth.
The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.
Seeing everyone's gaze on him, Kitahara Makoto could only brace himself and say:
"Let's talk about it when we get back… Hana, open the door quickly, we're going back to the real world."
"Okay."
Hana looked up: "Hold hands."
Sakurajima Mai stepped forward, took Hana's hand, then raised her slender hand, not speaking, but just looking at Kitahara Makoto with her eyes.
"Stare—"
Several girls looked over.
Kitahara Makoto braced himself and took Mai's soft hand, then his gaze shifted to Takamatsu Tomori, who was the easiest to talk to:
"Tomori, give me your hand."
"Okay."
Takamatsu Tomori silently stepped forward and extended her small hand.
There was nothing more to say after that. Everyone held hands and stood in a line, closed their eyes, and were led forward by Hana.
Before long, a dizzy sensation quietly came over them.
When they opened their eyes again, everyone had returned to the real world.
"We're back, we're back!"
Chihaya Anon almost cried tears of joy: "I need to take a shower, I feel so uncomfortable!"
"Let me check the time." Nagasaki Soyo quickly picked up her phone, "It's already ten o'clock in the morning on the second day… Thank goodness, Mom didn't call, it seems Mom didn't come home last night."
Takamatsu Tomori said nervously:
"Dad and Mom called many times… Makoto-kun, what should I do?"
"Don't panic, just say your phone broke." Kitahara Makoto comforted her gently, "Make a video call, as long as they confirm you're safe and sound, and then have Anon provide false testimony, staying out all night won't be so important."
"What, 'false testimony' sounds so bad."
Chihaya Anon grumbled and complained from the side.
Kitahara Makoto then looked at Togawa Sakiko:
"Togawa, to be safe, don't stay in the house for now. Move out after you've washed up, and wait until tomorrow when the question cooldown resets to ask if it's safe before deciding."
Togawa Sakiko nodded gently: "I understand."
At the same time.
Sakurajima Mai had already walked to the entrance and turned to look over:
"Makoto-kun, it's almost time to go home, don't cause trouble for others."
Kitahara Makoto: "…"