"Eh, how did Misaki-senpai come out?"
Togawa Sakiko was also somewhat surprised and asked in confusion:
"Did someone else play the piano and summon Misaki-senpai?"
"No." Ghost-senpai floated over, her voice clear. "I don't know what's going on either, but I feel like I've gotten stronger. Now I can freely come out of the piano, but I still can't leave this music classroom."
"…"
Kitahara Makoto and Togawa Sakiko exchanged glances, both having a guess in their hearts.
Everything has a reason.
Ghost-senpai couldn't possibly just become stronger out of thin air; there must be a reason behind it.
"So… is it because of the Otherworld?"
Togawa Sakiko gently pursed her lips.
Kitahara Makoto had already told the girls the truth about the subway incident, and Togawa Sakiko immediately thought of the anomalies in the real world these past few days.
Kitahara Makoto said with a grave expression:
"It should be."
The real world wasn't the only abnormal existence like ghost Senpai; if every ghost Stories became stronger, the situation would only get worse.
"Where's Soyo-chan?" Ghost-senpai looked around curiously. "Why didn't she come with you today?"
Kitahara Makoto snapped back to reality and subconsciously said:
"Soyo is not feeling well; she needs to rest today."
"Hmm?"
Togawa Sakiko crossed her arms, tilted her head, and narrowed her eyes as she looked over:
"Strange… Why did Soyo tell me she went to visit relatives today?"
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
Damn, I forgot to coordinate our stories with Soyo.
But it's not a big problem.
"I misremembered." Kitahara Makoto said casually, "It seems Soyo told me yesterday that she wasn't feeling well."
Togawa was half-believing, half-doubting, and was about to speak when ghost Senpai impatiently started clamoring:
"Let's have a big meal! Let's have a big meal!"
"…"
Distracted by ghost Senpai, Togawa Sakiko finally stopped asking questions. After ghost Senpai possessed her, the two left the music classroom together.
Next was the eating and shopping time. During this period, Kitahara Makoto also completed the last daily task of [Big Eater Challenge], successfully getting today's lottery chance.
"Give me the lottery."
Kitahara Makoto always believed that a single draw could create a miracle, and once he got the lottery chance, he would never save it for the next day.
Unfortunately, he had only just obtained the ability [Night Song] yesterday, so his good luck had clearly run out, and today he only dropped an ability fragment.
Just as he was disappointed, a prompt suddenly popped up in front of Kitahara Makoto:
"Detected a fusible ability fragment. Do you want to fuse it?"
"Fuse."
Kitahara Makoto's eyes lit up, not expecting such a pleasant surprise.
The ability fragment successfully fused, and an ability light cluster quietly appeared at Kitahara Makoto's fingertips.
This thing was different from abilities obtained directly from the lottery; it could even be given away, but there was no need for that.
Kitahara Makoto gently pinched it with two fingers, and the ability light cluster quietly shattered, merging into his body.
Ability: Hekiryoku
Category: Active
Description: You are skilled at using various musical instruments. The music you play can enhance your allies' various attributes and weaken your enemies' attributes.
Note: Ally determination is decided by the ability user's thoughts.
"This is a standard support skill, isn't it?"
Kitahara Makoto gently raised an eyebrow and tried to use the ability, but a realization came to him: he must have a musical instrument in hand.
"It seems there's no gender restriction; I just don't know how much it can boost attributes…"
"Wait."
A thought suddenly occurred to Kitahara Makoto:
"If I sign a Familiar Contract and share the Hekiryoku ability with everyone, and then everyone uses the ability together to support me, can the attribute boosts stack?"
"If they can stack, the effect would definitely be terrifying."
"Plus the passive talent effect of [Child of the Night]…"
Kitahara Makoto couldn't help but clench his fists:
"The strongest creature on the surface of the earth, that would be me!"
"…"
After the eating and shopping ended, ghost Senpai, feeling satisfied, detached from Sakiko's body and then disappeared into the night sky.
Kitahara Makoto took Togawa's soft hand, and the two walked together in the nearby park to aid digestion, and then took the tram to send Togawa home.
"I want to come up for a cup of tea…"
Kitahara Makoto's eyes were full of anticipation.
"No, 100% rejected!"
Before he could finish speaking, Togawa Sakiko, with a flushed face, directly refused him.
Drinking tea is just an excuse; your real intention is definitely to 'repay kindness', isn't it?
Such an embarrassing thing, absolutely no second time!
Kitahara Makoto looked pitiful: "It's so hot, I'll die of thirst without tea."
"If you don't drink tea, you can drink beverages." Togawa Sakiko glared at him playfully, turned, and walked to a vending machine, bought two bottles of drinks, and then handed them all to Kitahara Makoto, waving him away, "Kitahara-kun can go home now."
"Alright." Kitahara Makoto looked regretful, turning back three times with each step, "Then I'm going back?"
Togawa Sakiko said crisply: "Go quickly, go quickly."
Kitahara Makoto's expression was 'lonely', and he finally turned and left.
No choice.
If he sent Togawa to her doorstep and then rushed back without a word, Togawa would definitely become suspicious, but if he proactively suggested coming up for tea, Togawa would surely be embarrassed and chase him away, thus avoiding a crisis of a love triangle.
Some unimportant small matters can certainly be concealed; saying everything would only bring trouble upon oneself.
The journey was silent.
Half past eight in the evening.
"I'm back."
Kitahara Makoto pushed the door open and entered the genkan.
Thump-thump-thump.
Hana scurried over on her short legs.
"Makoto-kun, welcome home."
Behind Hana, Mutsumi, with a blank expression, also walked over.
Kitahara Makoto: "..."
No, you actually came!
Staying overnight at a boy's house for two consecutive days, aren't you really afraid of encountering danger?
Kitahara Makoto's lips twitched slightly, and he handed the Cupcakes he bought on the way to Hana:
"Hana-chan, you and Mutsumi each get one."
Whenever he went out, Kitahara Makoto never came home empty-handed; he would basically bring some snacks or cakes.
Hana hugged the Cupcakes: "Thank you, Daddy."
Mutsumi said expressionlessly: "Thank you, Makoto-kun."
You could at least politely refuse, don't snatch snacks from a child!
"I'll take a shower first; I'm all sweaty."
Kitahara Makoto put down his backpack, said hello, then took his change of clothes and went into the bathroom.
Kita and Nijika had not arrived yet; after all, it was only half past eight, and their part-time jobs hadn't ended.
Ten minutes later.
A refreshed Kitahara Makoto walked out of the bathroom and looked up to see Mutsumi sitting beside Hana, one large and one small, engrossed in watching "cherry maruko."
Kitahara Makoto walked over and sat down beside Mutsumi:
"Mutsumi, don't your parents worry about you staying out all night every day?"
Mutsumi said expressionlessly:
"I've already told Mom and Dad."
Kitahara Makoto raised an eyebrow and said:
"Since your parents know, they're still willing to let you come over and play?"
Mutsumi seemed cold and unapproachable, but after getting to know her, one would find that she wasn't actually cold, just lacking in emotion, and very trusting of others.
If it were his own daughter, Kitahara Makoto would definitely keep a strict watch and wouldn't allow her to stay out all night.
Mutsumi turned her head to look over:
"Mom said I've grown up and can choose my own life..."
I didn't realize your parents were surprisingly open-minded!
Mutsumi raised her right hand, gently pressed it on her lower abdomen, and said expressionlessly:
"Mom also said that as long as I take safety precautions and don't get pregnant, she won't interfere..."
What the heck!
This isn't open-minded; it's irresponsible!
Kitahara Makoto tried hard to control the urge to retort, covering his forehead and changing the subject:
"Mutsumi, how's your dad doing these past few days?"
All signs indicated that the curse on Mutsumi was inseparable from her father.
Now that the curse was lifted, something unpredictable might happen to Mutsumi's father.
Mutsumi shook her head and said:
"Dad is very busy; I haven't seen him these past few days."
"Alright." Kitahara Makoto nodded, indicating understanding, as it was normal for a famous artist to be too busy to come home, but he still reminded her, "If anything unexpected happens to your dad, remember to tell me immediately."
Mutsumi earnestly agreed: "Okay."
"One more thing, I can't help Mutsumi with her insomnia tonight," Kitahara Makoto continued, "Other friends are coming to stay overnight."
Mutsumi tilted her head and looked over:
"Makoto-kun is going to sleep with other people tonight?"
Kitahara Makoto: "..."
Don't be so blunt; try to be more subtle!
Half past nine in the evening.
The doorbell rang.
Kitahara Makoto got up to open the door, and as expected, outside were Nijika and the others.
"Kitahara-kun, good evening, we're here to play games~"
Ryo-senpai raised her hand to greet him.
"Good evening."
Kitahara Makoto replied while looking behind Ryo.
Nijika and Kita were both there, and a small tail, Bocchi-chan, was hiding in Kita's shadow.
Kessoku Band was all present.
"Come in, everyone." Kitahara Makoto moved aside the door, "Have an ice cream and enjoy the air conditioning."
Several girls walked in one by one.
Except for Ryo, who looked indifferent, Kita and Nijika were clearly a bit nervous, especially Kita, who was the first to go into battle tonight. Her eyes only briefly met Kitahara Makoto's before she nervously looked away, shyly lowering her head to her toes.
Under the bright light, one could see that Kita's face was already flushed, even her neck and earlobes were tinged with crimson.
It seemed that it wasn't Yamada Ryo's body that couldn't blush, but rather Ryo-senpai's low moral baseline; she simply didn't feel shame, so the blushing mechanism couldn't be triggered.
Several girls came into the living room and naturally saw Mutsumi sitting properly on the sofa.
"Let me introduce you, this is Wakaba, a good friend from Tomori's previous Kessoku Band..."
Kitahara Makoto began to introduce.
He had no intention of hiding Mutsumi from the beginning and had already sent messages to everyone, emphasizing that a clear conscience fears no slander.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the girls quickly discovered Mutsumi's emotionless nature, and so their focus immediately shifted to Kitahara Makoto.
"Wakaba is really cute."
Kita hugged her chest with both hands, smiling as she looked over, though it was clearly a fake smile.
Kitahara Makoto said seriously:
"Not as cute as Nijika-senpai at all."
Kita was in Nijika's body at the moment, and Kitahara Makoto was'still unaware,' so of course, he praised Nijika.
He paused, then Kitahara Makoto raised his hand and swore:
"I have no feelings for Wakaba."
At least for now, he really had no feelings.
"A man's mouth, a deceiving devil."
Ijichi Nijika puffed out her cheeks, unable to resist scoffing.
Kitahara Makoto looked over:
"I'm sorry, I'm a pure love."
"Pfft~"
"Everyone, take a shower first." Ryo-senpai, however, was completely unconcerned. She had already taken an ice cream and was eating it as she said, "It's already late, don't forget we have important business tonight. If we don't hurry, we might not be able to get up tomorrow."
This single sentence instantly made Nijika and Kita's faces flush, and they temporarily stopped criticizing Kitahara Makoto.
"Hitori, won't your aunt and uncle worry if you don't go home tonight?"
Kitahara Makoto's gaze shifted to Hitori.
"I've already messaged Mom and Dad." Gotō Hitori's face was slightly red as she whispered, "The performance is tomorrow, but everyone has their own things to do, and we haven't practiced together these past few days, so Nijika suggested we all practice in the dream tonight."
"I see." Kitahara Makoto nodded slightly, his tone subtle, "Then Hitori, practice well tonight."
Kitahara Makoto had previously told Ryo-senpai about Hitori noticing something wrong with the bracelet.
Ryo-senpai bringing Bocchi-chan along this time most likely meant she was going to drag Bocchi-chan into it as well.
..."
Needless to say, the next part was the girls' washing up time.
After washing up and chatting for a while, it was already half past ten in the evening without realizing it.
As for the game space, they had challenged it after showering, but unfortunately, except for Ryo-senpai and the unaware Bocchi-chan, everyone else was distracted, so they naturally couldn't defeat the Boss slime.
"So sleepy~"
Yamada Ryo raised her hand to cover her mouth, yawned, and stood up:
"I've been busy all day at the store; it's been so tiring... Shall we go upstairs to sleep?"
Kitahara Makoto said nonchalantly:
"Since everyone's sleepy, let's go upstairs to rest. See you in the dream later."
There were three rooms on the second floor. Kitahara Makoto slept in one, and there were two smaller guest rooms. One of the guest rooms was given to Hana, but if needed, they could completely sleep with Hana.
Clearly, today was one of those times when it was needed.
"Ahem..."
Nijika, in Kita's body, coughed twice lightly, then shyly lowered her head and said:
"Tonight, I want to sleep with Hana-chan and use Hana-chan as a pillow."
"A-and me." Kita, in Ryo's body, followed suit, her voice trembling slightly, "I'll be with Kita; otherwise, the room won't fit everyone."
Gotō Hitori tilted her head and looked over, her eyes clear and naive:
"Kita and Ryo-senpai's relationship is getting better and better."
..."
Kita Ikuyo bit her lower lip, tears welling up, the grievance in her heart completely unspeakable.
It's not because their relationship is good!
If she had a choice, she wouldn't have come tonight!
These past few days, in order not to expose their identities, Kita could only bring Nijika home to deal with her parents, which resulted in a lot of chaos. Tonight, she absolutely had to switch bodies back.
"Then I'll share a room with Hitori and Wakaba."
Ryo-senpai stood up, "Let's go; it's time to rest."
"Mhm, mhm."
Gotō Hitori quickly followed her upstairs.
As for Mutsumi, since Kitahara Makoto had greeted her before, she didn't say anything shocking, just quietly got up and followed them upstairs.
Kitahara Makoto turned off the living room lights and walked upstairs with the girls.
"Good night, everyone."
Kitahara Makoto greeted them, then returned to his room first.
"Kita, Nijika~" Ryo-senpai leaned over and whispered, "It seems like tonight you two will have to initiate the night raid."
...
Kita and Nijika exchanged glances, both blushing, and quickly hid in their room.
Bang.
The door quickly closed.
The room immediately fell silent.
Kita and Nijika sat on the bed, the two girls speechless, neither of them speaking, only Hana, oblivious to the subtle atmosphere in the air, lay playing on a tablet.
Time quietly passed without them noticing, and ten minutes went by in a flash.
Ijichi Nijika finally broke the silence, calling softly:
"Kita..."
"I-I'm here!"
Kita Ikuyo's face was flushed, and she subconsciously sat up straight.
"It's almost eleven..." Ijichi Nijika's face was also burning, but as someone who had been through it, she was ultimately calmer than Kita, "We have a performance tomorrow, we can't delay any longer."
Everyone had only swapped bodies; their abilities hadn't been inherited. They had a performance tomorrow, so they absolutely had to switch their bodies back.
"I-I understand..."
Kita Ikuyo clenched her small fists, so nervous that her nose was slightly sweating, and stiffly got up:
"Then I'll go..."
After taking two steps, Kita Ikuyo couldn't help but whimper, asking the question she had frequently asked these past few days:
"I-Is there any other way?"
"No." Ijichi Nijika gently shook her head, "I've already asked the answer book, there's only one way."
"I-I understand..."
Kita took a deep breath, clutching her small fists tightly, like a soldier about to bravely rush into battle, and turned to leave.
"Wait a moment." Ijichi Nijika reached out and pulled Kita back, her face red as she whispered, "Kita, you forgot to take something."
"Huh?"
Kita Ikuyo looked down and saw that what Nijika handed her was a small blue item, and steam immediately rose from the top of her head.
"Be careful." Ijichi Nijika's pretty face was flushed, and she whispered in her ear, "Even though it's Ryo's body, you absolutely cannot agree to 'that kind of thing'."
"'That kind of thing'... what do you mean?"
Kita Ikuyo, dizzy and trying to suppress her rapidly pounding heart, secretly walked out of the room, and with a heart full of shame, arrived at Kitahara Makoto's door.
(I-I'm really going to do 'that kind of thing'...)
(Not only do I have to use Ryo-senpai's body to do 'that kind of thing', but my first time I actually have to take the initiative to do a night raid... This is terrible! It's absolutely terrible!)
(If I hadn't been so careless that day and hadn't put on the bracelet in the bathroom, nothing would have happened, right?)
Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret in the world. Kita Ikuyo could only suppress her almost exploding sense of shame, nervously raising her right hand and tapping lightly on the door, almost inaudibly.
While feeling nervous and ashamed, Kita Ikuyo also had a small glimmer of hope:
"The knock is so faint, Stupid Kitahara probably won't hear it, right?"
"If he doesn't hear it, I can stay in the hallway a little longer..."
Unfortunately, Kita's tiny hope was shattered.
Just a few seconds later, the door was quietly pulled open.
"Ryo-senpai?"
Kitahara Makoto stood behind the door, his gaze burning.
"T-That..." Kita Ikuyo quickly lowered her head, her heart instantly leaping to her throat, flustered, "I-I wanted to ask..."
Before she finished speaking, Kitahara Makoto had already reached out, grabbed Kita's arm, and then suddenly pulled Kita into the room.
Bang.
The door quickly closed.
Only Kita's panicked trailing sound remained in the air.
"W-meow..."
The moment she was pulled into the room, Kita Ikuyo's dizzy head had only one thought.
This must be what they call a lamb entering a tiger's den, right?
Bang.
A few seconds later, another soft sound echoed in the room.
But this time it wasn't the sound of a door closing, but the sound of a bed shaking.
"W-Wait a minute..."
Kita Ikuyo quickly picked up a pillow and held it in front of her chest, her face red as if on fire, and shamefully pulled out the item Nijika had just kindly given her:
"You must, you must..."
"No problem." Kitahara Makoto's gaze was burning, "Kita, first agree to one condition of mine."
"Huh? What condition?"
Kitahara Makoto lowered his voice and whispered.
A few seconds later.
Kita Ikuyo's eyes suddenly widened, and she immediately became furious like a rolling beast, huffing and wanting to bite someone:
"Stupid Kitahara! You actually want me to call you master... Die!"
"Then Ryo-senpai can do it herself."
"Eh eh eh?"
...
At the same time.
In another guest room.
Ryo, Bocchi-chan, and Mutsumi, all three girls were lying on the tatami mat.
The guest room was a Japanese-style room, without a wooden bed. They just spread a blanket and slept on the tatami, so it was fine for three people to sleep there.
However, compared to Kita and Nijika next door, the atmosphere in this room was more subdued.
Bocchi-chan was introverted and socially anxious, not daring to speak in front of strangers.
Mutsumi had a 'three-no' attribute, meaning she wouldn't actively start conversations.
Yamada Ryo, though leisurely playing on her phone, also had no intention of chatting.
After an unknown period of time, Yamada Ryo suddenly spoke softly:
"Bocchi-chan, are you asleep?"
Gotō Hitori opened her eyes and whispered:
"Not yet... Is something wrong, Nijika-senpai?"
Ryo was still in Nijika's body at this point, so Bocchi-chan naturally called her 'Nijika'.
"My stomach hurts." Yamada Ryo said lightly, "I'm going to the bathroom, it might take a while, Bocchi-chan don't worry about me."
"Mhm mhm."
Gotō Hitori quickly nodded, indicating understanding.
"Then I'll go out..."
Yamada Ryo sat up and waved to Bocchi-chan, the Kessoku Band bracelet on her wrist particularly noticeable.
"Huh?"
Gotō Hitori's eyes widened, her gaze falling on 'Nijika's' wrist.
The small night light in the room was still on, so Gotō Hitori could clearly see the Kessoku Band bracelet on 'Nijika's' wrist.
"In the middle of the night, why would Nijika-senpai wear a bracelet?"
Gotō Hitori's mind involuntarily brought up the answer she had read in a book.
"Is Nijika-senpai really having a stomach ache?"
"Or does she want to do something else?"
...
"I'm sorry, Bocchi-chan."
After confirming that Hitori saw the bracelet, Yamada Ryo turned and walked out of the room as if nothing had happened:
"Good sisters should share blessings."
"The bracelet is in the backpack..."
Gotō Hitori turned her head and glanced at Mutsumi, who was lying on her side, seemingly asleep, then quietly sat up, opened her backpack, and found the Kessoku Band bracelet from within.
Ever since she learned yesterday that everyone's abnormality was related to the bracelet, Gotō Hitori had not left the bracelet at home, but kept it with her at all times.
Under the light of the small night lamp, the black Kessoku Band bracelet looked unremarkable.
But for some reason, Gotō Hitori had a strange premonition that once she put on the bracelet, she might never be able to go back.
"However... as long as I put on the bracelet, I'll be able to know the truth of everything, right?"