...Kissing makes people happy?
Togawa Sakiko's eyes widened. After realizing what Mutsumi intended to do, she quickly tried to stop her:
"Wait--"
But she was a step too late.
Mutsumi never procrastinated. Whatever she decided to do, she would act on it immediately. Coupled with her lack of shame and reserve, she kissed him quite decisively.
If it were peacetime, Kitahara Makoto would surely be able to dodge.
But at this moment, he was in a state of self-destruction. The entire world had turned black and white, and he was using all his willpower to fight the pain, with no time to spare for anything else.
The next second.
A soft and slightly cool sensation quietly imprinted itself on his lips.
Kitahara Makoto's eyes shifted slightly, looking at Mutsumi who had leaned in to kiss him.
Their eyes met.
Mutsumi's eyes were clear and bright, with no intention of closing them. She quietly met Kitahara Makoto's gaze, and both could clearly see their own reflections in each other's eyes.
"Mutsumi..."
Togawa Sakiko lightly bit her lower lip with her pearly teeth, her expression complex, finally turning into a helpless sigh.
Having grown up together since childhood, Togawa Sakiko naturally understood Mutsumi very well.
Although Mutsumi usually appeared silent due to her lack of emotions, she was not stupid at all. On the contrary, she was very intelligent, consistently ranking among the top students in her grade in exams.
With sufficient intelligence, no lack of common sense, and the fact that a lack of emotion doesn't mean no emotion at all, a girl taking the initiative to kiss a boy in this situation... what it meant was already self-evident.
(I was first... If this continues, Mutsumi will catch up to Soyo, won't she?)
Under her subtle and complex thoughts, Togawa Sakiko lightly bit her lower lip, silently watching Mutsumi, who had offered a kiss. She regretted following along; if she hadn't come, she could have avoided seeing it. Yet, she also felt that if she hadn't followed, with Mutsumi's three-no-expression attribute, who knew what terrible things she might have done.
A moment later.
Mutsumi tilted her head back slightly, voluntarily ending her first kiss in life. She raised her right hand and wiped her lips with the back of her hand, muttering to herself:
"So this is what kissing feels like."
Togawa Sakiko looked over in surprise:
"Mutsumi has never kissed before?"
After speaking, Togawa Sakiko quickly reacted. Last night, when she was with Ghost-senpai, Kitahara Makoto had emphatically guaranteed that he hadn't made a move on Mutsumi. Now it seemed it wasn't an empty boast.
"No." Mutsumi shook her head, her face expressionless, "When I joined the shared car team with the bracelet, perhaps there was kissing, but my brain was completely blank at the time, and I can't remember at all..."
"That's enough!" Togawa Sakiko quickly interrupted, "Don't bring that up again!"
Mutsumi silently turned her head and looked at Hana beside her:
"Hana-chan, has the pain in Makoto-kun's body lessened a bit?"
Hana extended her small hand, and a transparent, soft tendril quietly entered Kitahara Makoto's body. Then she pinched her fingers:
"A tiny, tiny bit less."
According to Hana's description, the amount of pain that had decreased was probably about the size of a strand of hair.
"Hana-chan, can we completely eliminate the pain in Kitahara-kun's body?"
Togawa Sakiko asked softly.
"Yes."
Hana was always a woman of few words.
Next, Togawa Sakiko asked several more questions seriously. After careful inquiry, she learned that if the pain were returned to Mutsumi's father's body, his depression would worsen significantly, which is known as hitting rock bottom and bouncing back.
Mutsumi's father was already severely depressed, on the verge of refusing to eat. If the pain were returned, the consequences would surely be unimaginable.
However, with Kitahara Makoto choosing to endure it himself, this pain was like rootless water, requiring only a little bit of attrition and neutralization.
The method of attrition was also very simple: to melt the pain little by little with joy and warmth.
Although the process would consume a lot of time and energy, it was safe and worry-free, and would not leave any sequelae.
"As long as it's effective, that's fine." Mutsumi's eyes were firm, "Just kiss him a few more times, and Makoto-kun will recover."
Togawa Sakiko couldn't help but retort:
"If one kiss only reduces it by a tiny, tiny bit, it would take at least tens of thousands of kisses for Kitahara to recover, wouldn't it?"
She let out a soft sigh, Togawa Sakiko raised her hand to her forehead and said, "Let's forget about kissing for now. We'll think of other ways..."
Mutsumi said decisively:
"I've already thought of another way."
"Eh?" Togawa Sakiko looked over curiously, "What way?"
"Stick it in."
Mutsumi's voice was exceptionally calm, without a hint of shame.
"Stick..."
Togawa Sakiko paused slightly, quickly reacted, and seeing Mutsumi actually lean forward, preparing for a 'tongue battle', she quickly stepped forward and held Mutsumi's arm:
"No!"
Mutsumi looked up with her pretty face, her voice puzzled:
"Is onee-sama going to do it herself?"
Togawa Sakiko's pretty face flushed: "Of course I'm not!"
It was fine when they were alone, but in front of others, she simply couldn't bring herself to have intimate contact!
Mutsumi: "Then let me do it."
Togawa Sakiko: "No!"
"I don't understand." Mutsumi's tone was puzzled, "If onee-sama won't kiss him herself, why won't you let me?"
Of course, it's because it's too shameful!
Although she had tacitly accepted Kitahara Makoto's harem, watching Kitahara being intimate with other girls was something she truly couldn't do.
And doing it herself was simply too awful.
However, these words reached Togawa Sakiko's lips, and she silently swallowed them back down.
Kitahara was now enduring the pain alone, and Mutsumi chose to sacrifice her purity to help, while she herself was held back by shame and reserve, even wanting to stop Mutsumi...
No.
She couldn't be so excessive.
"Hoo..."
Togawa Sakiko took a deep breath, her gaze quickly firming, and she said softly:
"The effect of kissing is a bit poor. Perhaps there are other ways to quickly dissolve the pain. Let's think carefully first, and then we can achieve twice the result with half the effort and higher efficiency."
Mutsumi agreed:
"Onee-sama makes sense."
"That's good..."
Togawa Sakiko quietly breathed a sigh of relief and began to ponder a countermeasure.
However, the next second, the emotionless girl's indifferent voice rang out again: "I've thought of it."
Togawa Sakiko looked over: "What method?"
For some reason, she had a feeling the next method would be even worse.
Mutsumi's lips slightly parted, and she uttered a shocking suggestion without changing her expression: " [CENSORED]."
Because it was too terrible, it was directly censored. If it were spoken, it would 100% invite a dimensionality reduction strike called 'Censorship'.
"Eh? Eh? Eh?"
Togawa Sakiko's pretty face quickly flushed, and she hurriedly rejected: "That kind of thing is absolutely not allowed!"
It's too dangerous.
Thankfully, she had followed along, otherwise, Mutsumi would have already gone all the way!
Mutsumi said calmly: "That kind of thing should be the quickest way to gain the most happiness."
Togawa Sakiko: "…"
That's true, but there's no way she could agree!
"Girls should cherish themselves," Togawa Sakiko advised in a low voice, her pretty face crimson. "Don't easily do that kind of thing, or you'll definitely regret it later."
"Then Big Sister can do it." Mutsumi didn't show any jealousy. "Big Sister has already done that kind of thing with Makoto-kun, right?"
"Of course not!"
Togawa Sakiko retorted indignantly.
At most… at most it was just an act of gratitude, and they hadn't stepped onto the final adult ladder.
"Let's search online first, maybe there's a better way."
"Okay."
"…"
The two girls each took out their phones and searched for ways to make a boy happy.
Kitahara Makoto, on the other hand, sat quietly on the sofa, fingers interlaced, propping up his chin, fighting the pain of depression with willpower.
"Found it."
Mutsumi's voice was the first to ring out:
"Someone said the fewer clothes a girl wears, the happier a boy is."
Togawa Sakiko: "…"
Although she wanted to refute, Togawa Sakiko couldn't find a point to refute for a while.
Mutsumi continued:
"Also, the more girls without clothes, the happier a boy is."
Togawa Sakiko: "…"
"The number of likes is super high, I think it should be the correct answer." Mutsumi looked over, "What do you say, Big Sister?"
Togawa Sakiko gently moved her lips and softly said: "The answer might not be wrong… but we can't fulfill it, can we?"
This is Kyoto, a few hours drive from Tokyo. Soyo and the others are beyond reach, so it's clearly not suitable to call them over.
Mutsumi tilted her head and suggested: "Go to the beach?"
It has to be said that although Mutsumi is emotionless, she is quite intelligent. In a short time, she thought of a man's paradise, which is a summer beach.
Togawa Sakiko gently shook her head, looked at Kitahara-kun who was sitting with his head down on the sofa, and softly said: "Kitahara-kun probably can't go to the beach right now…"
As soon as she finished speaking, a flash of inspiration suddenly crossed Togawa Sakiko's mind:
"Oh, right, we can go swimming in the swimming pool!"
"As for the number of people…" Togawa Sakiko's eyes shifted to the waterproof backpack not far away. It contained various optimization tools. "If I remember correctly, when we left Tokyo, Kitahara-kun packed posters inside. We can use the posters to summon everyone from the posters to help."
Mutsumi took out her phone upon hearing this:
"I'll ask my mom."
A moment later.
Mutsumi looked up and said: "Mom said the hotel does have a private swimming pool, and she already booked it for us."
Mutsumi's mother, being a famous actress, had long achieved financial freedom. The hotel she stayed in was naturally a high-end one, complete with a private swimming pool, private gym, and everything else imaginable.
"Kitahara-kun, shall we go swimming in the swimming pool?"
Togawa Sakiko said softly.
"…"
Kitahara Makoto sat on the sofa, silent, continuing to fight the pain with willpower.
Mutsumi softly said: "Let's help Makoto-kun to the private swimming pool."
"Okay."
The two girls, one on each side, supported Kitahara Makoto's arms, helped him up, and then left the room to go to the private swimming pool.
A moment later.
Private swimming pool.
"I'll put up the posters."
Togawa Sakiko opened her backpack, found the Kessoku Band poster, then walked to the wall and posted the poster on the wall.
Posters are not user-limited items; anyone can post them. As long as the condition of being posted on a wall is met, the [People in the Painting] entry can be activated.
No glue is needed; simply pat the poster onto the wall, and it will automatically adhere.
As the poster was affixed, the motionless girls in the painting on the poster 'came to life', peeking out curiously.
Upon realizing that the person outside was Togawa Sakiko, several girls from the painting emerged.
"Future me, where is this place?"
Beloved Togawa's voice was clear and crisp, and she was the first to emerge from the poster.
Looking at her carefree middle school self, a hint of nostalgia flashed in Togawa Sakiko's eyes. She pursed her lips and softly explained the current situation.
"This is Kyoto…"
After carefully explaining the entire situation, Togawa Sakiko softly said: "For Mutsumi's dad, we can only digest the pain ourselves, so we need everyone's help to create happiness… What do you all say?"
"No problem." The Sakiko in the painting was the first to agree, her voice clear and sweet. "Kitahara-kun is in pain because of Mutsumi, so of course we won't stand by."
As beloved Togawa spoke, Soyo from the painting naturally followed suit, her voice gentle: "That's right, it concerns Mutsumi's father, so everyone will definitely help."
Several girls all agreed, no one refused to help. In a sense, Kitahara Makoto had given them 'life', so they naturally held a good impression of him.
"That's good." Togawa Sakiko nodded gently, "But can you all swim?"
"Absolutely no problem." The Sakiko in the painting made a peace sign, her smile bright and without a hint of gloom. "We've already tried swimming in the Otherworld."
All the girls in the painting retained their previous memories and would not have their memories 'reset' by removing the poster. However, once the poster was removed from the wall, they would no longer have any perception of the outside world.
"Then it's settled." Togawa Sakiko said softly, "Everyone, go change into your swimsuits first."
"…"
After sending the Kessoku Band girls to change into their swimsuits, Togawa Sakiko's gaze shifted, searching for Mutsumi's figure.
She had been busy putting up posters and explaining the situation to the girls in the painting, and for a moment, she hadn't noticed that Mutsumi had disappeared.
"Mutsumi?"
Togawa Sakiko called out softly while searching, and soon heard a response from the bathroom.
"I'm here."
Walking quickly to the bathroom door, Togawa Sakiko pushed it open, ready to enter, but she couldn't help but let out a soft gasp and quickly averted her gaze:
"W-what are you doing?!"
The bathroom lights were already on.
Under the bright lights, Kitahara Makoto stood in the middle, his clothes already stripped off, leaving only his last pair of boxer briefs.
Mutsumi's voice was calm, with no hint of shyness:
"We're going swimming soon, so I'm helping Makoto-kun change into his swimsuit."
Togawa Sakiko's pretty face was crimson, and she couldn't help but shout: "Why don't you let him take it off himself?!"
"I told him to." Mutsumi shook her head, "Makoto-kun didn't say a word and didn't move his body at all."
Togawa Sakiko: "…"
Looking at the silent Kitahara Makoto, Togawa sighed helplessly, knowing she couldn't ask for too much, as Kitahara Makoto was indeed not in good condition at the moment.
Mutsumi moved aside and asked: "Big Sister, do you want to help too?"
"Helping together is out of the question…" Togawa Sakiko said, her pretty face flushed, biting her lips as she walked into the bathroom, making up her mind, "Mutsumi, you go out, let me do it."
Mutsumi had no sense of shame at all. If she helped change his swim trunks, who knew what would happen, so she could only do it herself…