"Now that the legend has been explained clearly, you two won't be curious anymore, right?"
Chitanda nodded. "Mhm, mhm. Anyway, the so-called hanging legend is actually the proprietress hanging up yukatas, and those people cursed by the Abyss Pool must have made it up."
Hinatsuru Akina also chimed in. "Although it's a rumor, it's better to clarify it. After all, if customers keep talking about the Abyss Pool, my inn's business won't do well."
With that, Hinatsuru Akina turned to look at Uchiha Ryo.
"Were the fireflies beautiful last night?"
"Of course. By the way, do you guys want to come and see them tonight? After all, once this season passes, fireflies will be hard to see again."
Fujiwara Chika showed an expectant look. "Okay, okay! Let's all go see them together after dinner."
Uchiha Ryo looked at Hinatsuru Akina. "Will the proprietress be going tonight too?"
The proprietress smiled. "I go every day. I'll take Ai-chan with me tonight."
Today was Sunday. Although they had come to the hot spring inn for a short trip, as Uchiha Ryo said, midterms were coming up. And after midterms... came the much-anticipated summer vacation.
During the day, the group of four worked on their holiday homework, then went for a soak in the hot spring, and played games in the room. For example... playing cards.
Fujiwara Chika, the self-proclaimed board game master, had studied board games from all over the world. And today! She, the Gambling Saint Chika, was going to lead everyone in a game of Fight the Landlord!
Then, because there was one extra person, Uchiha Ryo was directly excluded and could only watch the three girls play cards.
Uchiha Ryo: "Is it fun playing just like that? Want to add some stakes?"
Yukinoshita looked up. "There's nothing to bet. I don't spend much money usually."
Chitanda thought for a moment. "Betting money is indeed boring. Then what should we bet?"
Fujiwara Chika suggested, "How about we bet on lunch? The loser has to bring a bento for everyone tomorrow."
Betting on who makes bento, that wasn't bad. And Chitanda and Yukinoshita were already used to making their own bentos every day. Even if they lost, it would just be making a few extra portions.
Uchiha Ryo sat up. "That's great. Does that mean no matter who loses, I get to eat bento?!"
Yukinoshita had just played her hand. "It's the three of us playing. What does it have to do with you?"
"What's wrong with including me? Anyway, making three bentos is the same as making four, just adding a little more quantity."
Yukinoshita: "But as a spectator, why should you participate in our bet?"
Uchiha Ryo thought for a moment, then sat down next to Yukino and said.
"Just finish this round. Let me draw the cards for the next round. I'm quite confident in my luck."
Fujiwara Chika chuckled. "So Uchiha-kun has chosen to team up with Yukino-san, right? Then if you lose, you'll have to be punished together!"
Chitanda gathered the cards scattered on the floor and handed them to Fujiwara Chika, then looked at the smiling Uchiha Ryo and the reluctant Yukinoshita.
"If Uchiha-kun wants to play, I can let you play a round."
"Oh? Really? Then I'll play a round."
Uchiha Ryo got up and moved to Chitanda's side, then looked at Yukinoshita with a chuckle.
"Don't regret it, Yukino-san. Without me drawing the cards, victory in this round is already in my hands."
Yukinoshita was unmoved. "Is that so? Although I don't usually play these kinds of card games, once I know the rules, I won't admit defeat easily."
→
Chitanda stood up to pour tea for everyone. At this time, Fujiwara Chika had also shuffled the cards, waiting for the three to draw.
"Roar, the wind of victory is already blowing from behind me. As expected, this is my invincible hand."
The corner of Fujiwara Chika's mouth curled up. Although she didn't know why Uchiha Ryo was so confident, her hand was definitely not bad!
Let Uchiha Ryo be the landlord. I'll ambush him here and make a fortune quietly.
.....
Uchiha Ryo: "A 2."
Yukinoshita: "Pass."
"Hmm?" Fujiwara Chika felt something was wrong. Why did Yukinoshita pass when Uchiha Ryo played a 2? Could it be that she had the Rocket in her hand?!
Should I bomb it... Fujiwara Chika was a little conflicted. But the game had just begun, so what if she let him have the lead once?
Fujiwara Chika smiled disdainfully. "Seventeen cards, huh..... let him play."
Uchiha Ryo looked at Fujiwara Chika. "Are you sure?"
"Hmph! Can you one-shot me? If you can one-shot me, Fujiwara Chika, with seventeen cards, I'll eat this deck of cards right here and now!"
Rocket— Plane— Uchiha Ryo clapped his empty hands.
"Chitanda, you come back and continue. I've already won a round for you."
Then Uchiha Ryo took the initiative to gather the cards and placed them in front of Fujiwara Chika.
"Please!"
Don't be polite. It's just a deck of cards. If one deck isn't enough to eat, I can pay to buy more for Fujiwara-san.
Fujiwara Chika stood frozen in place. She looked at the cards Uchiha Ryo handed over, then licked her somewhat dry lips.
Humans can't eat this stuff!
"Ehehehe, um.... Uchiha-kun~ We're still playing cards. You step down first, switch Eru-san back in."
Uchiha Ryo stood up. "But didn't someone say something just now?"
Fujiwara Chika blinked and put on a pitiful expression. "Well, I only brought one deck of cards. If I eat it, we won't have anything to play with."
Uchiha Ryo put on an expression of realization. "Alright then. You guys continue playing. I'll go out and buy a new deck for you later."
"Wah! Uchiha-kun is a bully! Just you wait. When you come to the student council, you'll get what's coming to you! Shinomiya-san will help me teach you a lesson."
Uchiha Ryo waved his hand. "Okay, okay. You guys continue playing. Wake me up when it's time for dinner. I'm going to sleep."
Chitanda Eru rejoined the game, while Yukinoshita looked speechlessly at Uchiha Ryo lying beside her.
"Can't you go back to your room to sleep? What's the point of us renting two rooms?"
Uchiha Ryo also sighed. "Indeed, why did we rent two rooms?"
"You.... go to sleep! Shut up."
"OK!"
Uchiha Ryo lifted the blanket Yukino had slept in last night and lay down.
Yukinoshita didn't want to speak. Sleeping in broad daylight! Just sleep yourself to death! Hmph—
But Uchiha Ryo wasn't really sleepy. After these days of hard work, he had finally!! saved enough points to evolve into the Eternal Mangekyo.
The Mangekyo that affected reality was finally going to become eternal starting today!
Clicking upgrade in the system interface, Uchiha Ryo indeed felt his eyes begin the evolution of ocular power.
The Mangekyo has reached its peak. I won't think about the Rinnegan for now. I'll focus on the Flying Thunder God Jutsu. Hmm, I'll use the extra G-Points to exchange for some miscellaneous things, like Ninjutsu: Yin Healing Wound Destruction.