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"I actually forgot to ask the most important question…"
Ijichi Nijika covered her forehead, on the verge of tears.
Her current mood was like sacrificing stamina and energy, finally clearing a weekly dungeon, just waiting for materials to drop, only to find out she had entered the wrong weekly dungeon… Regret.
In short, it was regret in capital letters.
Yamada Ryo said softly, "As long as we keep walking left, we can still find cousin."
Nagasaki Soyo moved her pink lips, unable to resist reminding him, "If we walk left, we'll have to go through that forest… That forest is even more dangerous than the village."
Kitahara Makoto looked at Nijika. "Let's rest for a while. Nijika, consider whether to continue or go back for now and resume tomorrow."
"Let's go back first." Ijichi Nijika took a deep breath and quickly made a decision. "The answer book's questions have all been used up, and everyone is very tired now. We can't continue… Let's stop here for today."
She didn't know how big the Otherworld was, nor how far they would have to walk to find her cousin. Continuing would be too dangerous. Although Ijichi Nijika was worried, she wouldn't act impulsively because of it.
After all, today was only the second day, and cousin could last at least three more days.
"Phew…"
Hearing this, Nagasaki Soyo couldn't help but sigh in relief.
If she was curious about the Otherworld before and wanted to explore it, now she just wanted to go home quickly.
Dangerous!
The Otherworld was simply too dangerous!
"Then, that's all for today." Kitahara Makoto agreed and looked at the Beast Eared Girl. "Hana-chan, open the door, we're going back."
The Beast Eared Girl had been quiet the whole way, encountering no dangers. Hearing this, she tilted her small face upwards. "Little cake…"
Kitahara Makoto interrupted her. "You won't miss out on your little cake. I'll have your mom buy it when we get back."
"…"
The group arrived in front of a dilapidated door. The Beast Eared Girl extended her small hand and pressed it against the door. Flowers, existing between illusion and reality, began to grow, quickly covering the entire door.
"Let's go back."
Kitahara Makoto pushed the door open first and stepped inside.
The light before his eyes distorted slightly, and the next second, Kitahara Makoto found himself in the living room.
He didn't know what time it was; the house was dark, with only the faint moonlight streaming through the window.
Clap.
Kitahara Makoto turned on the ceiling light. As the light, representing civilization, spread, the girls finally relaxed.
"Finally back."
"So tired."
"Is it completely dark…" Nagasaki Soyo quickly took out her phone to check the time, and her eyes soon widened. "Eh, it's already one in the morning?"
"The Otherworld naturally has its own time flow." Kitahara Makoto looked at the Tsundere Young Miss. "It's too late to go back now. The trains and subways must have stopped running. Let's rest for the night and go back tomorrow."
"Then I'll be imposing on Kitahara-kun…"
Nagasaki Soyo silently bit her lip, agreeing, her heart filled with nervousness.
(I'm staying out all night. Will Mom find out?)
(Probably not.)
(Only Mom's room has a security camera, and I don't usually go in there. Mom is busy with overtime and definitely won't be home… That's right, don't panic!)
Kitahara Makoto then looked at Nijika and Ryo and said softly, "Nijika-senpai, Ryo-senpai, you two go take a bath first. It's already one o'clock. Get some rest after you wash up, and you can go back tomorrow."
"I'm fine with anything." Yamada Ryo tilted her head. "What does Nijika say?"
What to say?
Of course, she's staying.
It's already one in the morning. If they left now, there would be no way to get home.
"We'll impose on Kitahara-kun tonight." Ijichi Nijika thanked him softly. "Ryo, hurry up and take a bath."
"Okay…"
"After you shower, give your clothes to Kitahara-kun. Don't touch the washing machine yourself, so you don't get stuck again."
Yamada Ryo was expressionless. "It's fine, you get used to it after getting stuck a few times."
Ijichi Nijika: "Don't get used to that kind of thing!"
"…"
It wasn't until two o'clock in the morning that the three girls finally finished washing up, still wearing Kitahara Makoto's shirts. After all, they were on an adventure in the Otherworld, not a picnic, and their backpacks were only so big, so they couldn't possibly pack clothes.
"So tired…" Yamada Ryo's eyes were hazy, and she yawned. "I want to sleep."
Kitahara Makoto said, "The room on the left upstairs has been tidied up. You'll have to squeeze in for tonight."
"It's fine." Ijichi Nijika pursed her pink lips, her pretty face slightly flushed, and said, "Kitahara-kun, could you put our clothes in the washing machine?"
The front-loading washing machine only got girls stuck, so washing clothes had to be entrusted to Kitahara Makoto.
Kitahara Makoto nodded and threw the clothes into the washing machine. "You rest first. When the clothes are done, I'll help hang them to dry."
"No need." Ijichi Nijika quickly shook her head. "It's not too late to dry them tomorrow."
Kitahara Makoto raised an eyebrow. "The weather is quite hot now. The clothes might smell if left until tomorrow."
"Ryo, Soyo, you two go back to the room and rest first." Ijichi Nijika bit her silver teeth upon hearing this and quickly made a decision. "I'll wait in the living room for a bit. Once the clothes are done washing and hung to dry, I'll go to the room."
"Then we'll leave it to Nijika…"
Nagasaki Soyo raised her hand to cover her mouth and yawned. She had never stayed up late before, and today she had been constantly fleeing in the Otherworld. She felt so sleepy that she couldn't even keep her eyes open.
"Anything is fine." Kitahara Makoto naturally didn't mind. He turned and walked into the bathroom. "I'll go take a bath first."
"…"
Washed up.
When Kitahara Makoto walked out of the bathroom, the living room had already quieted down, with only the girl's breathing clearly audible.
He walked over and saw Ijichi Nijika sitting on the sofa, her small head nodding up and down like a monk tapping a wooden fish, clearly struggling to stay awake.
"Nijika-senpai, I'm done with my shower."
Kitahara Makoto walked over and sat down, speaking softly.
"Eh…" Ijichi Nijika reluctantly lifted her head, her eyes hazy with sleep, looking like a dazed hamster, extraordinarily cute. "My clothes…"
"Your clothes aren't washed yet," Kitahara Makoto said gently. "Nijika, you can sleep for a bit; I'll wake you when they're ready."
"I, I'm not sleepy…"
Ijichi Nijika rubbed her eyes, trying to stay awake, but once sleepiness hit, nothing worked unless she was suddenly startled awake—not even pinching herself.
Despite saying she wasn't sleepy, Nijika-senpai's eyelids involuntarily drooped, and soon, her entire body leaned against Kitahara Makoto.
Although it had warmed up during the day, the evening was still quite cool. Perhaps feeling the warmth from Kitahara Makoto, Ijichi Nijika quickly burrowed into Kitahara Makoto's embrace, like a cat afraid of the cold.
Smelling the faint fragrance from Nijika's hair, Kitahara Makoto raised his right hand and gently stroked Nijika's small head…
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