"C-child?!"

Mrs. Sakurajima’s body suddenly trembled, finally unable to control her facial expression, her body even shaking slightly:

"Mai, you really have a child?!"

Sakurajima Mai placed her right hand on her lower abdomen, the image of Nana appearing in her mind, and softly said:

"That’s right, you’re going to be a grandmother."

Regarding her daughter Nana, Sakurajima Mai had originally planned to take it slow, revealing it little by little later. But after experiencing today’s mist disaster, Sakurajima Mai suddenly realized that if some words weren’t spoken in time, there might never be another chance to say them.

During those ten years in the Dream World, Nana often asked about her grandmother.

She remembered that her Dream World self was always silent. Now that Nana had come to the real world, she absolutely couldn’t let Nana be disappointed.

"...Did I really become a grandmother?"

Mrs. Sakurajima leaned against the headboard, her entire being seemingly drained of energy.

If it had been ten minutes ago, she definitely wouldn’t have believed Mai’s words, only taking them as Mai’s words spoken out of spite.

But now...

She had no choice but to believe it.

First, Mai had kissed that boy right in front of her. If it were a fake relationship, Mai would absolutely not have such intimate contact with him.

Then there was the glow on Mai’s face just now...

As someone who had been through it, she naturally knew what that was.

Undoubtedly, it was the glow of motherhood.

Even if Mai was a very talented actress, she could never truly act like a real mom.

So...

Her daughter really got pregnant before marriage, got pregnant before graduating high school...

Time passed by quietly, second by second.

Watching her silent mom, Sakurajima Mai slowly grew nervous.

After revealing Nana’s existence, Mai had already prepared herself to face the storm.

Given her mom’s strong personality and her obsessive need to control her, upon hearing that she was not only dating a boy but also had a child, she would surely be incredibly angry and furious, perhaps even breaking down and scolding her harshly?

Sakurajima Mai believed she had considered all possibilities, yet her mom’s attitude at this moment was completely beyond her expectations.

Silence.

The room was filled with a suffocating silence.

Compared to the suffocating atmosphere, Sakurajima Mai actually preferred her mom scolding her.

"Mai, don’t panic."

Noticing Sakurajima Mai’s nervousness, Kitahara Makoto gently squeezed the girl’s fingers, giving her a reassuring look:

"I’ve got this."

Although there was no way to rewind time, with Hana around, it was possible to restore Mrs. Sakurajima’s memory to ’factory settings.’ Once her memory was gone, the atmosphere would naturally return to normal.

The next second.

Kitahara Makoto suddenly felt Mai tightly grip his right hand, followed by Mai’s trembling voice in his ear:

"Mom, you..."

Kitahara Makoto turned his head and saw that Mrs. Sakurajima was silently weeping, tears rolling down her cheeks like broken pearls.

"Why..."

"Why did you have to follow the same path as mom..."

Kitahara Makoto quickly understood.

Mrs. Sakurajima was still very young, only in her thirties by the looks of it, while Mai was already eighteen this year. In other words, Mrs. Sakurajima had given birth very early.

It was even possible that, just like Mai, she had a daughter before even graduating high school...

Sakurajima Mai’s eyes widened as she watched her mom cry, covering her face, clearly a little flustered.

Mai had imagined countless possibilities, but she had never thought her mom would cry directly in front of her.

When she was not yet one year old, her irresponsible father abandoned them and remarried someone else. She grew up depending on her mom, and in Mai’s memories, her mom was an exceptionally strong person, as if the words ’weakness’ had never existed for her.

But at this very moment, the mom who was so strong in her memories was actually crying weakly in front of her...

Sakurajima Mai took a deep breath, biting her lower lip tightly, and turned her head to say:

"Kitahara-kun, please go outside first."

"Okay."

Kitahara Makoto nodded gently, turned, and exited the room, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.

The knot and estrangement between the mom and daughter could only be untied by themselves.

Half an hour passed in a flash.

A soft ’click’ came from behind him.

Kitahara Makoto turned his head and saw Mrs. Sakurajima walking out.

To be able to give birth to such a beautiful daughter like Mai, Mrs. Sakurajima’s beauty goes without saying. At thirty-something, time had not left any marks on her face; instead, it gave her a charm different from that of a naive young girl.

At this moment, the combination of a strong woman’s aura and slightly reddened eyes made her truly enchanting.

Of course, Kitahara Makoto was merely appreciating her; there were no impure thoughts in his heart.

Tap, tap, tap.

Mrs. Sakurajima, wearing high heels, walked up to Kitahara Makoto, her sharp eyes gazing at him.

Behind Mrs. Sakurajima, Mai followed, her eyes also slightly red. It was unclear what the mom and daughter had discussed in the room, but it was evident that the tragic thick barrier between them had significantly melted away.

Kitahara Makoto had already stood up, neither humble nor arrogant, saying:

"Auntie, please speak your mind if there’s anything."

Mrs. Sakurajima’s voice was stern:

"Do you truly like Mai?"

Kitahara Makoto said seriously:

"Since it’s our first meeting, it’s normal for Auntie not to trust me, but please do trust your daughter’s judgment."

Praising himself at this moment was useless; praising Mai was just right.

Mrs. Sakurajima heard this and turned to look at Sakurajima Mai.

"Hmph ~"

Sakurajima Mai’s pretty face flushed slightly, and she let out a soft hum, turning her head to look elsewhere.

Mrs. Sakurajima was silent for two seconds, then crossed her arms and said:

"When do you plan to get married?"

Kitahara Makoto said directly:

"If possible, we’ll get married right after graduating high school."

"Too early."

"Huh?"

"Feelings during high school are not stable enough; it’s easy to act impulsively. If you are still together after graduating from university, then I will agree to your marriage."

After speaking, Mrs. Sakurajima walked towards the entrance, clearly preparing to leave:

"I’m going back first."

Just before leaving, Mrs. Sakurajima paused slightly, turned to look at Mai, and instructed:

"Mai, be careful with safety measures; don’t cause any fatalities."

"..."

Watching Mrs. Sakurajima leave, Kitahara Makoto looked at Mai, curious:

"What did Senpai and Auntie talk about? Her attitude changed so much."

"Sorry, that’s a secret conversation between mom and daughter. Scumbag-kun, don’t be so curious." Sakurajima Mai crossed her arms, clearly in a much better mood. "If Scumbag-kun has nothing else, you can leave now."

"Of course I have something."

Kitahara Makoto decisively opened his backpack and pulled out a Bunny Girl uniform:

"This is the uniform Mai-senpai left at my house when we first met. Please keep your promise, put on the Bunny Girl uniform, and then help me with weighted push-ups."

Sakurajima Mai’s delicate brows raised slightly, and she tilted her head, saying:

"Is Scumbag-kun sure you just want me to help with weighted push-ups, and not to step on you?"

Kitahara Makoto spread his arms, his face full of righteous indignation:

"If Senpai stepping on me makes you happy, then I am willing to sacrifice myself."

"Heh." Sakurajima Mai let out a soft hum, "For Scumbag-kun, that’s actually a reward, isn’t it?"

"Please reward me fiercely, Senpai."

"...Hentai!"

Sakurajima Mai tensed her pretty face, took the Bunny Girl uniform, and turned to walk into the bedroom.

A moment later.

Kitahara Makoto saw the Bunny Girl again after many days.

The daily quest for [Weighted Push-ups] was quickly completed, Kitahara Makoto’s physical strength was permanently increased, and he also received today’s lottery chance.

Unfortunately, he had gotten a good draw yesterday, so naturally, he couldn’t draw an ability today, only getting an ability fragment.

However...

Kitahara Makoto recalled the firm and elastic touch on his back just now, and only one thought was in his mind:

A massive profit, no loss!

Having Mai wear a Bunny Girl uniform and sit on his back as a weight for push-ups was already a huge reward in itself!

With today’s daily quest done, only one last thing remained.

"Senpai, should we go to the Dream World to see Nana now, or talk about it tonight?"

Kitahara Makoto asked softly.

Sakurajima Mai’s pretty face clearly showed nervousness, and she took a deep breath, saying:

"Let’s go now."

"Okay."

"..."

The two lay down on the bed, holding hands, and entered the Dream World woven by Hana.

An hour later.

Sakurajima Mai’s long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes, which were hazy with mist.

Since ancient times, passion has only brought regret; good dreams are always the easiest to wake from.

Reuniting with her daughter in the dream was naturally inexpressibly joyful, but once she woke up, the cold reality naturally seemed even more cruel.

Kitahara Makoto woke up at the same time, reached out, and gently pulled Mai into his arms:

"Don’t cry, Senpai. Nana has already woken up. The next step is to find a way to truly reincarnate her."

Sakurajima Mai gently bit her lower lip, her eyes slightly red:

"Can such a thing... truly be done?"

Kitahara Makoto said softly:

"Otherworld is so magical; it’s normal for there to be ways for people to reincarnate. Unfortunately, today’s question limit has been used up. Tomorrow, as soon as I wake up, I’ll ask the answer book what conditions are needed."

Sakurajima Mai was about to speak when her pretty face suddenly flushed, and her right hand reached directly to Kitahara Makoto’s waist, pinching hard.

"Ow, ow, ow." Kitahara Makoto exaggeratedly cried out in pain, "Senpai, have mercy."

Sakurajima Mai bit her teeth, glaring at him in embarrassment:

"Quickly take your hand out!"

Kitahara Makoto coughed twice, taking his hand out from under Mai’s skirt:

"My deepest apologies, I don’t know how my hand just ended up in there..."

Sakurajima Mai’s eyes were sharp, and she wasn’t so easily fooled:

"With such practiced movements, how many times has Scumbag-kun touched other people?"

"..."

Facing Mai’s murderous gaze, Kitahara Makoto scurried away.

Back in Tokyo.

It was exactly nine o’clock in the evening.

Kitahara Makoto took a shower, rested briefly, and then girls began to fast travel over one after another.

A week had passed, and the girls had developed a habit of going to the Onsen Village to soak in the onsen before bed every night. Compared to a small bathtub, an open-air onsen pool was, of course, much more comfortable.

"Good evening, scumbag-kun~"

Chihaya Anon, the pink-haired girl, was the first to arrive today. Seeing no one in the living room, she couldn’t help but ask curiously:

"Eh, where’s Mutsumi-chan?"

Kitahara Makoto casually replied:

"On the balcony."

"Heh-ho~"

Chihaya Anon’s eyes darted around, and she simply sat on Kitahara Makoto’s lap, her voice sweet and playful:

"Yoru-chan said she wanted to thank scumbag-kun. After the fog dispersed, she went to her neighbor’s house next door and learned the secret of scumbag-kun’s divine arrival from the neighbor auntie. If it weren’t for scumbag-kun, the neighbor’s family of three would have been in trouble."

Kitahara Makoto gently wrapped his arm around Anon’s soft, slender waist:

"Besides verbal thanks, is there any more practical gift?"

"What kind of gift does scumbag-kun want?" Chihaya Anon quickly smiled, "Yoru-chan has a good figure and very fair skin. If scumbag-kun wants Yoru-chan’s contact information, I can give it to you."

She said it nicely, but if I really asked for her friend’s contact information, she’d be a jealous mess!

Kitahara Makoto was expressionless, and his right hand gently pinched Anon’s waist.

"Ah..."

Chihaya Anon couldn’t help but let out a soft gasp. The waist is always a sensitive spot for girls, completely off-limits to strangers.

As Anon’s cherry lips parted, Kitahara Makoto quickly leaned in and swiftly covered Anon’s lips.

"Mmm..."

Chihaya Anon’s eyelashes trembled shyly. She originally wanted to close her eyes, but out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly caught sight of Mutsumi walking over from the balcony. Her sense of shame immediately overflowed, and she hastily pushed Kitahara Makoto’s shoulders.

Even she would feel shy engaging in intimate contact with Kitahara Makoto in front of others.

But she couldn’t push him away.

It was because Kitahara Makoto heard Mutsumi returning that he chose to ’punish’ Anon.

"Stare—"

Mutsumi had no intention of avoiding them. Holding her mysterious cup, she walked straight over, watching with unblinking curiosity.

(N-No, don’t stare!)

Chihaya Anon had no choice but to shamefully close her eyes, playing the self-deceiving ostrich.

A moment later.

Pop~

A soft sound echoed in the living room.

Kitahara Makoto let go of the panting Anon, wiping the corner of his lips as he said:

"Anon, tell your friend I’ve already received the gift and am very satisfied."

"Huff... huff..."

Chihaya Anon was breathing heavily, her eyes misty, clearly still a bit dazed:

"Wh-What do you mean?"

Kitahara Makoto said contentedly:

"The meaning is simple: Anon-chan is the best gift."

Chihaya Anon: "..."

What the heck!

She was clearly a human, not a gift to be given away!

Chihaya Anon complained in her heart, but the corners of her lips unconsciously curved upwards. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly heard movement from the direction of the bathroom and hastily got up from Kitahara Makoto’s embrace, just in time to see a Kita walking out.

Their eyes met.

Kita quickly puffed out her cheeks:

"Stupid Kitahara, don’t take advantage of Anon-chan!"

Ever since Anon helped save Kita’s mother at the subway station, the two girls had become very close friends.

Kitahara Makoto said without changing his expression:

"I was wrong. As compensation, why don’t you two share this cup of Moonstar flower?"

Mutsumi held the star cup in her hand, the liquid inside just filled to the brim.

"I won’t drink it!"

Two voices rang out in unison.

"Eh?"

Kita and Anon looked at each other in surprise, their gazes especially subtle, then their little faces simultaneously turned red.

(No way? Could Anon-chan have also turned into an Oppai Alien?)

(No way? Could Kita-chan’s abdomen have also developed succubus patterns?)

As they spoke, the girls arrived one after another, Togawa and Soyo together. Now only Hitori and Taki hadn’t arrived.

Once the girls were all present, Kitahara Makoto waved his hand and led them to the Onsen Village.

Next, of course, was onsen time.

Kitahara Makoto sat in a corner, soaking in the onsen with his eyes closed, listening to the girls chattering and gossiping.

"Everyone saw the news, right? The government actually admitted the existence of anomalies. I thought they’d find some so-called experts to keep covering it up."

"No choice. So many people in Kamakura witnessed the anomalies with their own eyes. It’s probably impossible to hide it anymore."

"Not only that, I heard even more terrifying anomalies have appeared abroad, and it’s already impossible to keep them secret. Announcing it is good, I heard that anomalies abroad were easy to resolve at first, but no one paid attention, which is why they eventually became super terrifying. Now that the truth has been announced, everyone will definitely be more vigilant, and many hidden dangers can be eliminated in advance."

"Now mom and Dad all know, and friends are all discussing this matter. I wonder if it will have a big impact on life."

"There will definitely be an impact, but it shouldn’t be too big, right?"

Kita’s curious voice came over:

"Kitahara-kun, what do you think?"

Kitahara Makoto closed his eyes, comfortably soaking in the onsen:

"I look with my eyes."

"..."

Humans are actually a species with incredibly strong adaptability. As long as their comfort zone isn’t broken, they won’t cause big waves.

Anomalies sound scary, but currently, they only affect a very small number of people. Compared to a global pandemic, the current anomalies are practically negligible.

No matter what happens today, the sun will still rise as usual tomorrow.

The night passed without a word.

The next day.

After the typhoon passed, the sky was exceptionally blue, like a clear, washed mirror, without even a single cloud.

At eight in the morning.

Kitahara Makoto was already dressed, riding his bicycle to Hitori’s doorstep.

He had just parked his bicycle and hadn’t even taken out his phone when a very sneaky Hitori secretly slipped out from around the corner of the wall.

"K-Kitahara-kun, good morning..."

Hitori greeted him softly.

"Good morning." Kitahara Makoto smiled, "Has Hitori had breakfast yet?"

Hitori hastily said:

"I have, mom prepared tamagoyaki this morning... Kitahara-kun, why do you look a little disappointed?"

Kitahara Makoto’s tone was regretful, and he honestly said:

"I thought Hitori would wear that pink tracksuit today. I’m so disappointed not to see it."

"Eh?"

Hitori blinked, her little face instantly flushed red at a visible speed, and she nervously covered her chest, clearly recalling the embarrassing experience of wearing a tracksuit to the recording studio to alleviate nervousness, only for her Oppai to get heat rash underneath...

(N-No!)

(Heat rash is truly terrifying, I absolutely don’t want Kitahara-kun to help apply medicine!)