"...Mutsumi, girls should cherish themselves and not indulge in that kind of thing!"
Togawa Sakiko's pretty face was flushed, and she whispered her shameful advice.
After secretly listening to the wall with her phone this afternoon, strong Sakiko had always been the one controlling the body.
But after wearing the bracelet and joining the shared car team, the immense shame directly made strong Sakiko shut down, and weak Sakiko took over the body again.
Mutsumi tilted her head in confusion:
"I don't understand."
"What don't you understand?"
"It's just wearing a bracelet, why does that mean not cherishing oneself?"
Togawa Sakiko: "..."
Nothing wrong with that.
Strictly speaking, everyone just put on a bracelet.
Mutsumi's tone was confused:
"Onee-sama clearly felt very comfortable too, right?"
Togawa Sakiko: "...I'm sorry, it wasn't comfortable at all!"
Mutsumi: "Onee-sama has changed, now she's saying one thing and meaning another."
Togawa Sakiko: "..."
Mutsumi was always like that, silent and uncommunicative, because once she spoke, she would likely choke someone to death.
"In any case, don't wear the bracelet anymore," Togawa Sakiko exhaled lightly. "It's too dangerous."
(If this continues, Mutsumi will definitely fall into it, right?)
(Once a person falls, they can never go back!)
At this moment, Togawa Sakiko suddenly remembered her scoundrel father who had left home.
Regarding alcoholism and gambling, Togawa Sakiko didn't know how many times she had spoken about them, but it was all useless. At most, he would last a few days before the scoundrel father would revert to his old habits, once again indulging in them.
Togawa Sakiko was super disappointed at the time, feeling that with an adult's willpower, it should be a very easy thing to quit a gambling addiction.
It wasn't until today that Togawa Sakiko finally realized that she had clearly overestimated the willpower of ordinary humans. Once some things are touched, it becomes incredibly difficult to quit...
Gambling, prostitution, and drugs live up to their notorious reputation.
Knock, knock, knock.
A knock on the door suddenly sounded.
Togawa Sakiko jumped in surprise and quickly turned her head to look:
"Who could be knocking?"
"I don't know." Mutsumi was expressionless. "However, Makoto-kun and Ryo-senpai are currently [beep], so the person knocking should be Hitori-chan."
Togawa Sakiko's pretty face flushed, and she couldn't help but retort:
"Mutsumi! As a girl, don't use such words!"
"Why?"
Mutsumi tilted her head slightly, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.
"There's no why. A girl must cherish and respect herself. In short, you absolutely cannot say that word!"
..."
Togawa Sakiko finished speaking quickly, then took a deep breath and turned to walk towards the door.
The door opened.
As expected, a 'Hitori' indeed stood outside the door.
"Hitori-chan, good evening."
Togawa Sakiko lowered her voice, greeting her as nonchalantly as possible.
Their souls hadn't swapped back yet, so Ryo-senpai's soul was still in Hitori's body. Seeing Sakiko's pretty face flushed and her gaze flickering evasively, Ryo-senpai already understood, and said lightly:
"Togawa-chan, you just wore the bracelet, didn't you?"
"Eh?!"
Togawa Sakiko's heart suddenly accelerated, and her sense of shame exploded instantly, almost making her flee out the door.
"I'm sorry, I..."
Togawa Sakiko subconsciously wanted to deny it, but the words caught in her throat, and she forcefully held them back.
(Since Hitori-chan asked that, she clearly has a good grasp... In other words, Hitori-chan also knows the secret of the bracelet, and most likely has experienced it just like Mutsumi!)
Thoughts intertwined in her mind, Togawa Sakiko lightly bit her teeth, grabbed 'Hitori's' wrist, and pulled her into the room.
Bang.
The door quickly closed.
Togawa Sakiko sat cross-legged on the tatami, her pretty face flushed, suppressing her shame, and asked in a low voice:
"I was indeed curious and wore the bracelet just now..."
Ryo-senpai preempted her: "How does it feel?"
Togawa Sakiko: "..."
How could such a terrible feeling be spoken aloud?!
"Very happy." Mutsumi next to her joined the conversation. "It's like a leaf falling on the surface of the sea, and the soul can leave the body at any time. In short, it's super comfortable."
"...Mutsumi, don't be so detailed!"
Togawa Sakiko took a deep breath and quickly changed the subject:
"Hitori-chan, can you explain what's going on?"
"This is an ordinary bracelet that Nijika made herself when she had nothing to do, intending it as a decoration for everyone in the Kessoku Band." Ryo-senpai's gaze shifted downwards, looking at the bracelet on the tatami, and explained, "Hana enchanted the bracelet. Now, as long as any two parties wear the bracelet at the same time, they can synchronously share the five senses of the other person... No one in the world can truly empathize, but now we can."
So that's how it is.
Togawa Sakiko finally knew the truth, and biting her lower lip in shame, she couldn't help but retort:
"I already tried it just now, the bracelet can be taken off at any time... Why would Yamada-senpai wear the bracelet?"
Togawa Sakiko couldn't understand it no matter what.
When doing such things, one should do it secretly, without letting anyone know, right?
If it were her, she would never wear the bracelet!
"Wait, does Kitahara-kun know the secret of the bracelet?"
Togawa Sakiko suddenly thought of a possibility, biting her lower lip with her pearly teeth:
"Or even, he's the one who made everyone wear the bracelet?"
Ryo-senpai's expression was calm, her eyes not even blinking, and she asked indifferently:
"If it were Togawa-chan, would you tell a boy the secret of the bracelet?"
"Of course not."
Togawa Sakiko subconsciously shook her head.
"Neither would we." Ryo-senpai said in a low voice, "Everyone has already agreed to keep it a secret from Kitahara-kun."
This statement was not a lie.
Indeed, no one told Kitahara Makoto the secret of the bracelet... because there was no need to tell him. Kitahara Makoto was the instigator in the first place.
"Wait." Togawa Sakiko keenly noticed the blind spot in that statement. "What does 'everyone' mean?"
Ryo-senpai said nonchalantly:
"Well, there are four bracelets after all, supporting up to four people sharing the 'driving' at the same time."
Togawa Sakiko: "..."
In other words, at least four people have already shared that experience?
Now, Mutsumi and herself must be added... Oh no!
It's truly terrible!
"I still need the bracelet later." Ryo-senpai inquired, "Do you two want to share for a bit longer? If not, I'll take it."
"No!"
"I want it."
Two voices sounded almost at the same time.
Needless to say, the one who refused was naturally Togawa Sakiko, and the one who wanted it was Mutsumi.
Mutsumi, lacking emotions, had an exceptionally weak sense of shame and would say whatever she wanted.
Togawa, on the other hand, was the exact opposite, with an extremely strong sense of shame. If it weren't late at night, she would want to leave immediately.
"Togawa-chan actually doesn't need to suppress herself." Ryo-senpai turned to look at her. "Because bad things will happen."
"Eh?"
Togawa Sakiko was slightly startled, and she lightly furrowed her delicate brows, saying:
"What does Hitori-chan mean?"
"It's simple." Ryo-senpai said softly, "Togawa and Wakaba Tongxue have both eaten the Eden Fruit, right?"
Mutsumi answered every question: "Yes, I have."
"Although the Eden Fruit is miraculous, it's not entirely without side effects." Ryo-senpai said unhurriedly, "The answer book clearly states that under certain circumstances, the original sins on a person will be infinitely magnified by the Eden Fruit."
"And original sins do not disappear; they only accumulate little by little. Unless they are released, one day, one might even lose their sanity because of them."
After a pause, Ryo-senpai lowered her voice:
"The original sin of lust happens to be the original sin that modern people accumulate most easily."
Togawa Sakiko: "..."
This statement was not a lie.
That night, when Ijichi Nijika couldn't resist joining the sharing, she found pink hearts in her eyes and deduced it was the sin of lust, one of the original sins, naturally causing her some worry.
So the next day, when Kita was filming the short film, she specifically asked Kita to inquire the answer book, and then learned the information above.
"Blocking is worse than guiding." Ryo-senpai's lips were persuasive. "Constantly suppressing yourself can lead to very bad things... So, Togawa, do you want to wear it for a bit longer?"
Togawa Sakiko: "..."
Of course not!
She had only worn it for less than a minute; it wouldn't accumulate much original sin, would it?
"I want it..."
Mutsumi was exceptionally honest.
"Here, for you."
Ryo-senpai directly handed over the bracelet.
Togawa Sakiko: "..."
I'm still here! You two should restrain yourselves a bit!
"Whew..."
Togawa Sakiko exhaled lightly, narrowing her eyes as she looked at the 'Hitori' in front of her.
(Something's not right.)
(Ten thousand things are not right.)
(The Hitori-chan in my memory never dared to look directly into other people's eyes when speaking, and no matter what she said, she always liked to start with 'ah'. The Hitori-chan in front of me is completely different, almost as if she's a different person...)
Togawa Sakiko parted her lips, wanting to ask, but the words caught in her throat, and she silently swallowed them back.
Her upbringing from childhood prevented Togawa Sakiko from rudely prying into other people's privacy.
"...I'm going to the bathroom."
Togawa Sakiko silently got up and left the room.
Although the sharing time just now was only a brief minute, her underwear still needed to be changed.
She walked into the bathroom.
Togawa Sakiko's pretty face was flushed as she quietly changed into a new set of underwear.
On her way back, passing by Kitahara Makoto's room, Togawa Sakiko subconsciously slowed her steps, and then a subtle impulse arose in her heart:
"If I pressed my ear against it, would I be able to hear the sounds inside?"
Upon realizing her thought, Togawa Sakiko's pretty face quickly flushed red.
(...This is too terrible!)
(I actually had such a terrible thought, it's simply too embarrassing!)
(Could it really be related to the side effects of the Eden Fruit?)
Togawa Sakiko bit her lower lip lightly, quickened her steps, and fled the hallway, but couldn't help but feel worried.
(If one day the original sin accumulates too much... what should I do?)
No need to elaborate on what happened next.
Togawa refused to join the shared car pool again no matter what, and firmly hid to the side.
Mutsumi, on the other hand, didn't mind, but halfway through the sharing, her phone suddenly rang, and then she went to the side to answer the call. When she came back, she was silent and didn't know what had happened.
In this situation, Hitori finally managed to switch her body back without much trouble.
The night passed uneventfully.
The next day.
Hitori woke up from exhaustion and saw the morning light shining outside the window. She suddenly became wide awake and got up excitedly:
...I can finally go home!
Quickly putting on her clothes, Hitori dashed downstairs, truly eager to return home.
(Mom and Dad, and Futari and Jimihen, I'm back!)
For Hitori, returning to her little nest at home was the most urgent thing in her life right now.
There was no other way. The outside world was too dangerous for the timid Hitori, who was like a marmot. Only by returning home could she find a sense of security.
"Hitori is up?" Kitahara Makoto heard the movement and poked his body out from the kitchen. "Wash your face and brush your teeth, and you can have breakfast soon."
"N-no, I won't eat..."
Before their eyes even met, Hitori had already nervously lowered her head to look at her toes, her small face rapidly turning red at a visible speed.
"I have other things to do, so I'm going home first!"
Although it was Ryo's body last night, the soul was Hitori's soul. They hadn't even started dating yet, but they had already done things that only married couples could do, and the girl's sense of shame quickly exploded.
"Alright then."
Kitahara Makoto naturally wouldn't force her. He knew very well that Hitori wouldn't dare to see anyone for a short time. "When are we going to learn to drive?"
"L-later..."
Hitori replied while quickly putting on her shoes and slipping away.
As they spoke, the thumping sound of footsteps rang out again.
Ryo-senpai, Mutsumi, and Togawa, the three girls came down from upstairs together.
"Sakiko, good morning."
Kitahara Makoto greeted them as if nothing had happened.
"Stare—"
Togawa Sakiko crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes, looking over.
"Sakiko, why are you looking at me?"
Kitahara Makoto feigned confusion.
After Ryo and Hitori switched bodies back last night, they mentioned Mutsumi and Sakiko joining the 'shared' car pool. So Kitahara Makoto knew very well that with Togawa's thick skin, she would never reveal last night's secret.
"Hmph."
Togawa Sakiko let out a soft snort, her pretty face tense, and shifted her gaze away, saying:
"Mutsumi, we're going back too."
Mutsumi softly said:
"I want to eat the breakfast Makoto-kun made."
Togawa Sakiko looked at her speechlessly:
"We'll eat breakfast at the convenience store."
Mutsumi's emotional deficiency was quite severe. She had almost no shame or modesty as a girl. If this continued, Togawa Sakiko was very worried that Mutsumi would just give herself away...
"No," Mutsumi shook her head and said, "I have something very important to ask Makoto-kun."
Kitahara Makoto looked over curiously:
"Mutsumi-san, what is it?"
"Mom called last night and said that Dad suddenly became incredibly irritable, his eyes were bloodshot, and he even tried to hit Mom..." At this point, Mutsumi, whose pretty face was usually devoid of emotion, rarely showed a concerned expression. "Dad has never hit Mom before. I'm very worried and want to ask Makoto-kun for help."
Kitahara Makoto raised an eyebrow slightly and naturally agreed:
"Alright, leave it to me."
Togawa Sakiko bit her lower lip lightly, then realized what had happened, and apologized:
"Mutsumi, I'll go with you."
☰