"Come inside when you're done weeding. I've cut watermelon."
"There's even fruit to eat… Are you still the Old woman I know? Could you have been swapped?"
"Brat, your share is gone."
"Hey, no, don't. I was wrong… This is enough, having to humble myself just to eat watermelon…"
As for watermelon, in his previous life, Akira wouldn't even have the thought of eating it; mainly because he had eaten too much before.
But watermelon is indeed a fruit that carries summer memories, just like oranges in winter.
However, in Neon, watermelon is an expensive fruit. Generally, when visiting someone's home, bringing a whole watermelon as a gift is a very thoughtful gesture.
In fact, besides the Flower Country, watermelon is not cheap anywhere in the world, after all, the Flower Country accounts for 60% of the world's watermelon production.
That's why there's the term 'melon-eating masses' specifically representing domestic people, which can be said to be quite apt.
"Does Akira-kun often eat watermelon?"
"Well, pretty much."
"Granny Kobayashi and I bought this watermelon together. I've never eaten such an expensive fruit before… But looking at the price of watermelon today, it's much cheaper than I imagined. I remember when I was little, watermelon was still very expensive. I don't know when the price started to drop."
Upon hearing this, Akira secretly glanced at Granny Kobayashi. Although she didn't speak, Akira still saw a hint of pride on her face.
It seems that the drop in watermelon prices was mostly Mr. Lin's masterpiece. Perhaps it was the melon-eating masses' enthusiasm for the melon itself that drove him to do this.
No wonder the stingy Old woman was willing to buy fruit; it was because it wasn't expensive at all.
Truly great, Grandpa Lin… Akira's admiration for Mr. Lin reached a new height.
Since there was watermelon to eat, Akira also planned to finish the weeding as soon as possible, so he reached out to Miyako and said.
"Give me the sickle. I'll finish weeding the rest. You go inside first."
"But…"
Miyako hesitated a bit. Weeding was her own accepted task, and she still wanted to finish it by her own strength.
Akira also knew that Miyako had a very strong personality, but at the moment, he couldn't bother to cater to her feelings. Sometimes, efficiency had to be prioritized.
"Listen to me, you've been working under the hot sun all day. Your stamina must be exhausted by now. I haven't used much stamina just attending class. I'll definitely be much faster than you, and me helping you is also for my own sake."
Akira gave Miyako a look that said, 'You should understand what kind of relationship we have.' Miyako, who was good at reading others' emotions, fully understood.
That's right… She and Akira-kun had a collaborative, unified relationship. There was no need to distinguish so clearly.
"Okay… Then take this too."
Miyako obediently handed the sickle to Akira, then took off her work gloves and gave them to him.
"Alright, then you go inside and take a cool shower first. Eating iced watermelon after a shower will be even more refreshing."
"Mm."
Afterward, Akira quickly finished cutting the remaining weeds, which took less than ten minutes.
Because Miyako had worked very meticulously, there were no areas that needed patching up; he just needed to clear the weeds near the warehouse and it would be done.
After finishing the work, Akira put the sickle and work gloves back into the warehouse, and then also went inside the house.
Granny Kobayashi was not in the living room. On the dining table, there was half a watermelon and two spoons. On the kitchen cutting board, there were still juice stains from cutting watermelon, and two other plates of sliced watermelon.
Akira walked over and saw a note written in Chinese on top.
[Take these to Hijkata and Tashiro. You two eat what's on the table.]
These two plates weren't even half a watermelon, only a quarter. It was estimated that some were taken for herself and some offered to Mr. Lin.
At this time, Hijkata was probably still asleep, and Tashiro hadn't finished work yet, so Akira put these two plates of watermelon in the refrigerator, planning to bring them later that night.
When he returned to the living room, Miyako, who had just finished showering, also came downstairs.
"Oh, you're done washing. Then come eat melon… Uh."
Then Akira was stunned again.
It wasn't that Miyako came out only wrapped in a bath towel; she was still wearing that old-style gymnastics uniform, but her originally bare legs were now covered by translucent white over-the-knee socks.
Between the tight super-shorts of the gymnastics uniform and the over-the-knee white stockings, a expanse of plump, fair thighs was left exposed, which was even more evocative than any negative space.
And the edges of the white stockings curved slightly inward, with a slight constricting feel that was alluring but not uncomfortable…
This was the super-absolute territory!
In his previous life, this outfit had no relation to students whatsoever; it could only be seen in the photo sets of suggestive cosplayers. It was already a seductive outfit that evoked lustful thoughts, with the same level of visual impact as translucent school swimsuits.
But Miyako was a genuine, active High School student. Although she was semi-dropout, no one was more suited to this attire than her. The destructive power of this white-stockinged gymnastics uniform was terrifying.
If someone were to photograph her for a magazine cover, it would probably triple the sales of that issue.
Just two extra white stockings elevated the eroticism to a new level, adding a tempting, crime-inducing allure to the pure girl. This was the charm of stockings! The magic of thighs!
Moreover, beautiful legs in stockings were right in Akira's strike zone, so he was even more excited watching.
Akira admired her while justifying himself internally: I told you, I'm a foot fetishist.
And being stared at like this by Akira, Miyako, already feeling somewhat shy, became even more self-conscious. She couldn't help but shrink her shoulders, her hands not knowing where to rest. She wanted to cover her lower body a bit, but also didn't want to block Akira's view… After all, she had worn it for him to see.
However, Akira's undisguised gaze was too fervent, making Miyako feel like her freshly cleaned body was about to sweat again, so she still reminded him softly.
"Um, Akira-kun…"
"Oh…"
Akira also knew he had been staring too much. He raised his hand to cover his eyes; if he didn't, it would be very difficult to look away.
Perhaps he had underestimated Miyako's charm before. Her beauty was just the foundation of her charm; he hadn't considered the charm bonuses from clothing and makeup.
So, such a sudden display made Akira a bit unsettled for a moment.
If makeup and clothing could transform an ordinary-looking girl into a beautiful girl, and Photoshop could do even better, then for a naturally beautiful girl, if she were meticulously dressed, she would directly transform into a succubus, automatically captivating the hearts of passersby she encountered.
Thinking of this, Akira inwardly sighed with regret. Just changing into a gymnastics uniform + white stockings was so alluring. If she were professionally styled by a makeup artist and paired with more extravagant clothing, it should be able to turn her into a true 'goddess', right?
Akira could imagine the scene when she appeared in the public eye; countless spotlights would probably focus on her, and she would become a generation's film and television goddess amidst widespread attention…
However, in the deepest part of Akira's heart, a hint of possessiveness, "not wanting other men to see her like this," began to sprout… but it was quickly extinguished.
It wasn't that Akira had fallen for her; it was just a mentality similar to seeing a hunt and feeling excited. This was a man's nature; they all wanted to keep a beautiful woman hidden away.
But Miyako did not belong to him.
She belonged to no one, nor should she belong to anyone.
Only then would she be the unique Shionomiya Shion.