"It should be the next day in the real world. Should everyone go back first?"
Ijichi Nijika made the suggestion.
After a brief discussion, the girls all cast their votes in favor.
The Otherworld outing was novel at first, but it became boring after a while, and there were many inconveniences in terms of daily life—the most important of which was the internet.
For people accustomed to surfing the internet, days without internet and Wi-Fi were simply too difficult to endure.
"Then the Otherworld outing ends here," Kitahara Makoto nodded, looking down at Hana. "Hana, let's go back."
Hana's eyes lit up, and she quickly extended her small hand:
"Go back, little cake!"
The girls held hands, closed their eyes, and under the guidance of Hana, successfully passed through the spatial node and returned to the real world.
"We're back, we're back."
"Soaking in seawater for too long is uncomfortable. I really want to take a hot bath."
"Let's check the current time first…"
"Hmm, it's already eight o'clock in the morning of the second day..."
"No wonder it's already bright outside."
"…"
The girls chattered happily.
They had just eaten in the Otherworld not long ago, so they weren't hungry. After a few simple words, the girls prepared to go home.
"Kitahara-kun, thank you."
The golden-haired girl waved goodbye, her eyes sparkling as she said, "You can always ask me for help if you need anything."
"Stare—"
The 'Ryo-senpai' next to her crossed her arms and cast a warning gaze.
Kitahara Makoto looked straight ahead and politely said, "Rinko, you're too kind. Please take care."
Seeing that Kitahara Makoto had no intention of flirting with her cousin, Ijichi Nijika quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Nijika, when are we going to switch our bodies back?"
Yamada Ryo quietly approached Nijika.
"Ah…"
Ijichi Nijika jumped, covering her chest and taking half a step back:
"Ryo, why do you walk without making a sound?"
Yamada Ryo tilted her head and said, "Perhaps it's because my chest is too light, which makes my body feel much lighter, so I float when I walk."
"What do you mean!" Ijichi Nijika immediately got angry. "Ryo, you're not that much bigger than me, okay!"
As long as she worked hard, she could easily catch up… They were all people from the flat-chested planet, so no one should look down on anyone else.
"Then let's take off our clothes and compare…"
"No way!"
"Let's talk business. When is Nijika going to switch our bodies back?" Yamada Ryo said expressionlessly. "After returning to the real world, there will be many things to face. Not to mention our respective families, Nijika used to help out at the live house every day during summer vacation, right?"
"Summer vacation is a time for relaxation. I don't want to become a workhorse."
Ijichi Nijika's eyes drifted as she said, "Wait, wait until I'm mentally prepared…"
Nijika doesn't have a self-indulgent personality, so after the Soul Swap, no matter how Ryo-senpai reminded her, Nijika either pretended not to understand or was afraid and shrank back… In short, nothing happened.
"How long will it take Nijika to be mentally prepared?" Ijichi Nijika crossed her arms. "It only took me three minutes at the time…"
"Three minutes is too fast!"
Ijichi Nijika couldn't help but retort:
"For such an important matter, you should have thought about it longer before making a decision!"
"Three days."
Yamada Ryo issued an ultimatum.
"Eh, what do you mean?"
Ijichi Nijika looked over in confusion.
"If Nijika still hasn't switched our bodies back within three days, then it will be assumed that Nijika has chosen for me to handle it," Yamada Ryo said airily. "At that time, I'll take Nijika's first time."
Ijichi Nijika: "…"
The one who took the first time was clearly Kitahara-kun, not you, okay!
"Th-three days is too short…" Ijichi Nijika stammered, haggling, "At least a week."
"Four days, a week is too long."
"Five days!" Ijichi Nijika's pretty face flushed, and she gritted her teeth, making a military pledge, "Within five days, I will definitely switch our bodies back!"
"It's a deal."
"…"
Kitahara Makoto, carrying his backpack, walked out of the house with a few girls. The scorching sun immediately fell on them, reminding everyone of the fear of being dominated by the hot summer.
"It's so hot." Kita raised her hand to shield her forehead. "Going to the Otherworld to escape the heat is actually quite nice."
Kitahara Makoto heard this and lowered his voice, saying, "We can go anytime. Do you want us to go to the Otherworld to escape the heat alone?"
"Pfft~"
Kita lightly spat, her small face flushed as she glared over:
"I wouldn't go escape the heat with you!"
He dared to take advantage of people in such an excessive way in front of Bocchi-chan. If it was just herself and Stupid Kitahara going to escape the heat alone… she would definitely be completely taken advantage of!
"Go home, go home." Kita Ikuyo quickly distanced herself, waving to Hitori, "Bocchi-chan, I'm going home now."
Gotō Hitori nodded and said, "Goodbye, Kita."
Kitahara Makoto said from the side, "Kita-san, see you this afternoon."
"Eh, what do you mean?"
Kita immediately looked over warily.
Kitahara Makoto reminded her:
"We're going to discuss filming with Miss Shiraishi this afternoon. You haven't forgotten, have you?"
Kita Ikuyo: "…"
Oh no!
She really had forgotten!
In that case, wouldn't she be alone with the perverted Kitahara this afternoon?
She must be extra, extra careful!
The group chatted as they walked to the Train Station, then separated.
Ryo and Nijika went to the live house together, Rinko went back to her rented apartment, and Kita went straight home to rest… Finally, only Kitahara Makoto and Bocchi-chan were left, plus a Hana.
"The train's here, let's get on."
Kitahara Makoto carried their backpacks and walked in front.
"Mhm, mhm."
Gotō Hitori held Hana's hand, following closely behind like a little tail.
After getting on the train, without Kitahara Makoto even needing to speak, Gotō Hitori voluntarily walked in front of Kitahara Makoto—Bocchi-chan had unknowingly developed a habit of instinctively hiding in the safe space in front of Kitahara Makoto when riding the train with him.
"It's still early, so how about we go to the Shopping Center to buy two swimsuits first, and then go home?"
Kitahara Makoto looked down at Hitori and whispered.
"Eh?"
Gotō Hitori's small face quickly turned red, then she quickly shook her head:
"No, no, I'm fine with just my school swimsuit."
Kitahara Makoto said seriously, "While school swimsuits are great, you also need to wash them. You can't wear them every day, can you?"
Gotō Hitori: "…"
That was true.
In the Otherworld, everyone else had brought spare swimsuits, but she had worn her school swimsuit from beginning to end.
"Um…" Gotō Hitori stammered softly, "I can buy them myself…"
"I don't believe you." Kitahara Makoto said bluntly, "If Hitori dared to buy them herself, she wouldn't be wearing a school swimsuit."
Gotō Hitori: "…"
There was no conversation along the way.
Under Kitahara Makoto's lead, Bocchi-chan, with a flushed face, followed him into a Shopping Center.
"There's a place selling swimsuits on the second floor… We're here."
Arriving at the entrance of a swimsuit store, seeing Bocchi-chan's flushed face and hesitant expression as if she wanted to run away, Kitahara Makoto simply extended his right hand and grasped Hitori's soft hand:
"Once we're inside, you don't need to say anything. Just leave everything to me."
"Good morning, welcome!"
A female sales assistant smiled and greeted them.
"Hello." Kitahara Makoto politely replied, "I'm here to buy two swimsuits for my girlfriend."
"Girl, girlfriend…"
Facing Kitahara Makoto's shameless words, steam immediately rose from the top of Gotō Hitori's head, and her already lowered head almost hid in her chest.
She wanted to explain, but the words caught in her throat and she couldn't utter them.
Firstly, facing a stranger sales assistant, her social anxiety acted up again.
Secondly… weren't the kisses in the school storage room and the hugs in the Otherworld all things that only couples could do?
Although she hadn't agreed to join his harem, the things they did were clearly things that could only be done after dating… So it wouldn't matter if she said they were dating, right?
"Alright, please follow me, both of you." The female sales assistant smiled and led the way, bringing them to a row of hangers. "These are all the latest swimsuits released this year… May I ask, what is your girlfriend's size?"
Kitahara Makoto subconsciously cupped his left hand and mused, "It should be E."
"Eh?"
Gotō Hitori's small face burned, and she looked up in shock.
(Why… why would Kitahara-kun know my size?!)
(Ah, I remember now…)
(When I was choking in the sea, Kitahara-kun personally measured it…)
The female sales assistant showed surprise on her face and praised, "Your girlfriend has a very good figure."
If it were other compliments, Gotō Hitori would unconsciously get carried away, but she wouldn't be happy about being complimented on her figure.
Ever since junior high, when her body developed rapidly, far surpassing her peers, Gotō Hitori gradually became self-conscious and troubled—it was uncomfortable when running because of the swaying, and during swimming lessons and showers, other girls would curiously stare at her. In short, it was just troublesome.
If she could choose, Bocchi-chan would super want to have a flat chest like Kita's, so she wouldn't have to worry about being stared at when wearing a tight shirt.
"All these swimsuits meet the requirements." The sales assistant quickly brought over a stack of swimsuits. "The fitting rooms are to your left. You can take your time trying them on."
"Thank you." Kitahara Makoto politely thanked her, then said, "We'll look ourselves and call you when we've chosen."
"Alright."
The female sales assistant bowed slightly and turned to leave.
Kitahara Makoto looked down at Bocchi-chan and said softly:
"The sales assistant is gone, Hitori can lift her head and look at the colors and styles she likes."
Gotō Hitori then lifted her crimson-flushed face, her peach blossom eyes hazy with mist, but after looking for a long time, she still couldn't make a choice.
"Can't you choose?" Kitahara Makoto said unhurriedly, "Then try on all these swimsuits that fit…"
"N-no!"
Gotō Hitori immediately shook her head in a panic and quickly stepped forward to grab a conservative orange-red swimsuit.
"This is it!"
(There are so many swimsuits, if I tried them all on… I'd die, wouldn't I?)
(I'd definitely die, ahhh!)