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As it turned out.
Kita was indeed much more formidable than Bocchi-chan.
Yesterday and today, Bocchi-chan had already undergone two challenges, but she hadn't moved an inch from beginning to end, merely nervously holding the biscuit stick, leaving everything else to Kitahara Makoto.
Kita, on the other hand, was different now. Not only did she not close her eyes, but she also kept them wide open, attempting to overwhelm Kitahara Makoto with her gaze.
Crunch, crunch.
The sound of them eating the biscuit stick echoed clearly in the storage room.
Besides the crunching sound, Kita Ikuyo could also hear another rapid sound—
Thump, thump, thump!
That was the sound of her heart beating rapidly.
(Why… why is my heart beating so fast?!)
(It's just the Pocky Challenge, it's not like I haven't played it before…)
As a popular game at parties, Kita Ikuyo had naturally played the Pocky Challenge with friends before. Of course, all the participants at those parties were girls.
At that time, Kita Ikuyo had only felt a little novelty, nothing else.
But now it was completely different.
Although the process hadn't changed, just because the challenge opponent had become Kitahara Makoto, her heart felt as if a deer was wildly crashing around inside. Kita was even nervous that Bocchi-chan might hear her heart beating so loudly.
(Is it because Bocchi-chan is nearby?)
(No.)
(When I played the Pocky Challenge before, there were more friends around.)
Their eyes met.
Looking at her increasingly clear reflection in Kitahara Makoto's eyes, Kita Ikuyo, though unwilling to admit it, ultimately couldn't lie to herself.
(It… it really is because I like Kitahara-kun…)
Snap!
When only a tiny bit of the biscuit stick was left, Kita Ikuyo finally panicked and subconsciously flinched, causing the already fragile biscuit stick to break.
"Challenge failed." Kitahara Makoto lightly clicked his tongue. "It seems Kita's resolve is only so-so."
"I wasn't ready just now!"
Kita Ikuyo huffed, puffing out her pink cheeks, her small face flushed crimson, and said indignantly:
"Again! This time I definitely won't flinch!"
"Then let's do it again."
Kitahara Makoto pulled out another biscuit stick and held it in front of Kita.
"A-Wahhh—"
Kita Ikuyo opened her mouth to take it, clenched her small fists, and her eyes were firm.
(This time, no matter what, I won't flinch!)
Crunch, crunch.
Kitahara Makoto bit the other end of the biscuit stick, and the two began to eat again.
However, there was ultimately a gap between ideals and reality.
As the distance between them rapidly closed, Kita could even feel the warmth from Kitahara Makoto's body. Coupled with Bocchi-chan's curious gaze nearby, out of embarrassment, Kita Ikuyo subconsciously closed her eyes.
The next second.
A familiar burning sensation was directly imprinted on her lips.
"D-d-damn it…!"
Kita Ikuyo's eyelashes trembled in panic, and her small head quickly tilted backward.
"Kita-san, thank you for the treat."
Kitahara Makoto raised his hand to wipe the corner of his lips.
"You, you, you… you actually…"
Kita Ikuyo covered her chest, glaring at him with embarrassment and anger.
"I was too fast just now, couldn't stop." Kitahara Makoto said unhurriedly, "And why did Kita close her eyes?"
"My eyes were a bit itchy just now…" Kita Ikuyo's small face was flushed, and she gritted her small silver teeth. "Again, there definitely won't be any problems this time!"
A moment later.
Kita Ikuyo was kissed again. This time, the biscuit stick accidentally broke.
The third time, she accidentally brushed her eye.
The fourth time, her head suddenly felt itchy.
The fifth time…
"A-again…!"
Kita Ikuyo's small face was flushed, and her eyes were teary.
Being kissed so many times in front of Bocchi-chan, Kita Ikuyo's eyes welled up with mist.
Gotō Hitori finally couldn't bear to watch anymore. She gently tugged at her friend's sleeve and stammered softly, trying to persuade her:
"W-why don't we do it tomorrow? If we keep kissing, Kita's lips will swell up…"
Kita Ikuyo: "…"
Pursing her slightly pink lips, Kita finally conceded defeat unwillingly.
"Although you've failed repeatedly, I acknowledge Kita's determination to protect Hitori." Kitahara Makoto stood up, waved, and left the storage room. "So… we'll continue tomorrow."
"…"
He walked out of the teaching building.
The plum rain was still drizzling non-stop.
Kitahara Makoto opened his umbrella and walked into the misty rain. As he headed out of the school, he sent a message to Togawa:
"Have you packed everything?"
Togawa Sakiko: "Just finished packing. Kitahara-kun can come over now."
Kitahara Makoto: "I'll be right there."
Twenty minutes later.
Togawa Sakiko's old apartment.
"Togawa, I'm here."
Kitahara Makoto walked into the room and saw that everything had been neatly arranged. "Did your rotten old man send any news today?"
"Rotten old man just messaged me," Togawa Sakiko said, biting her lower lip lightly. "He said he's already in the South and told me not to worry, and to take care of myself from now on."
Her luggage was actually packed long ago. Togawa Sakiko waited an extra day to move because she wanted to wait and see if her rotten old man would come back… Then she just received a message that her rotten old man had already run off to the South, almost leaving Japan.
"You can contact him anytime with your phone." Kitahara Makoto opened his schoolbag, took out the answer book, and handed it over, changing the subject. "You're officially moving in soon, Togawa. First, ask the answer book if the new house has any dangers."
"Okay."
Since it concerned her own safety, Togawa Sakiko naturally didn't refuse. She took the answer book and started asking.
Whoosh.
The answer book quickly flipped pages, and a line of text soon appeared on the blank paper:
[No Danger]
"Then it's fine." Kitahara Makoto casually picked up two large canvas bags. "Since the rain outside has stopped, shall we leave now?"
Since there was no danger, she could move in with peace of mind.
As for the occasional strange noises inside the house, that would probably be left for the 'Approaching Science' program to explain.
"Mm."
Togawa Sakiko softly agreed, picked up the remaining luggage, and walked out of the house with Kitahara Makoto.
A dozen meters away.
Togawa Sakiko stopped, turning to look at the old house she had lived in for almost a year. In this house, she had experienced the most despairing and lowest days of her life, but starting today, she could finally break free from the past and embrace a new life.
"Oh, by the way, since you can make your rotten old man run away through dreams, perhaps you can also make the criminal who killed ghost Senpai confess through dreams…"
Kitahara Makoto walked and spoke his thoughts.
Togawa Sakiko pursed her beautiful lips at his words:
"That sounds feasible… but there's a problem. Hana's dream-weaving limit is only ten meters. It would be difficult for us to get close to that criminal, right?"
"That's ghost Senpai's parents' business," Kitahara Makoto said calmly. "We don't need to do everything ourselves; we just need to handle the most important part."
Togawa Sakiko gently nodded: "You have a point. I'll contact Fukada-sensei tonight."
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