This Blow Pierces the Stars!

The male lead in her dream was naturally that person.

"Even though we agreed last time that it would be the last time, but..."

She bit her lip, her beautiful eyes flickering uncertainly.

After a while, she whispered to herself, "This time will be the last time."

But she herself hadn't realized that the word "disqualified" had long since been stamped on her.

That night, Fushimi Makoto once again experienced Matsukaze Mayu's incredibly gentle back-scrubbing service.

It was also because of this that he finally saw the light—and the most attractive of the Four Divine Beasts to men.

All he could say was, no wonder they were the Four Divine Beasts.

They really were divine and beastly.

Just looking at it, he could almost feel the might of a tiger's roar.

Fushimi Makoto didn't head home until nine that night.

He'd originally wanted to stay there longer and keep her company.

After all, the divine beast had been interrupted by the Tangible Hand and frightened, so she clearly needed someone by her side.

But Matsukaze Mayu was so terribly embarrassed this time that she simply pushed him out the door.

Before the front door closed, though, her voice—small and pitiful, like a mosquito's buzz—said, "It's not like we won't have another chance. Go home and get some rest first."

As soon as Fushimi Makoto left, Matsukaze Mayu finally made it back to the sofa, then flopped down onto it, limp as a rag.

Her gaze was so hazy it practically looked like it was melting.

"He's so bad. He just keeps getting handsy."

She murmured to herself.

In truth, she understood that if she hadn't been willing, how could Fushimi Makoto have gotten away with feeling her up?

Besides, it felt completely different from when she did it herself.

It was more exciting.

And easier to...

The variety show on TV had reached an exciting part. A guest who'd been sitting peacefully beside the pool suddenly had his chair launch him into the air.

As the guest screamed in panic, the production crew maliciously slowed the footage down, capturing his contorted expression frame by frame as he flew through the air.

And because it was in slow motion, the splashes that flew up when the pranked guest fell into the pool stood out all the more.

Matsukaze Mayu stared intently at the splashing water.

Just then, her phone rang.

Matsukaze Mayu quickly snapped out of it and saw that Hiratsuka Shizuka was calling.

"Mayu, want to grab dinner together tomorrow? I found a new ramen shop today. It's doing really well, so I bet the food's delicious."

"Sure, sure."

"Huh? What's wrong with your voice? Do you have a cold?"

"No! I'm fine!"

Matsukaze Mayu jumped, then answered guiltily.

She knew she'd been bottling up her feelings for too long, and now that she'd finally let them out, her voice was at its strangest.

"Oh, good. I'm glad you're all right," Hiratsuka Shizuka replied, her tone peculiar.

But she was thinking, Why does Mayu's voice sound so much like mine when I'm taking care of my loneliness by myself?

That's it. It must be!

The longer they talked, the more certain the long-single Hiratsuka Shizuka became.

But in truth, Hiratsuka Shizuka was only half right.

Matsukaze Mayu had someone to keep her company.

As for Hiratsuka Shizuka, she only had battery-powered toys for company.

Chapter 34: This Strike Pierces the Stars!

Six the next morning.

Fushimi Makoto was making breakfast in the kitchen.

He'd already decided how he was going to spend "today."

Yukino's mission reward multiplied her rate of progress, while Nakano Ichika's reward raised the upper limit of what she could gain.

And the system had also given him an "Old Man's Counterattack" badge.

That meant his training routine in the Time Loop was very simple: if it didn't kill him, he'd train until it did. He could always reset and start over.

When he finished making breakfast, Yukino sent him a greeting: "Good morning, Fushimi."

Since Yukino had agreed to greet him every day, she wouldn't go back on her word.

After Matsukaze Mayu got up, Fushimi Makoto carried breakfast over to her place.

Since she'd had her first experience with an emergency wash-up yesterday, as well as Fushimi Makoto's Tangible Hand, she was sure to still be feeling embarrassed.

Fortunately, Fushimi Makoto was good at keeping the mood light. By the time they finished eating, Matsukaze Mayu had more or less returned to her usual self.

Though every so often, she'd stare at Fushimi Makoto's fingers and get lost in thought.

So long and nimble.

No wonder I gave up a losing-scene CG so quickly.

Matsukaze Mayu started letting her thoughts run wild again.

Fushimi Makoto pretended not to notice.

During the previous Time Loop, he'd already seen the layout of her apartment, but Matsukaze Mayu had just gotten out of the bath then and was wearing only her underwear.

Yesterday had been different. It was beauty without a single thing to hide it.

To put it plainly: he'd gotten hard.

After she left for school, Fushimi Makoto returned home and immediately started the Time Loop.

[The host has activated the Time Loop. One Experience Card has been used. No points will be deducted.]

[Note 1: Missions cannot be triggered during the Time Loop.]

[Note 2: The host may end the Time Loop or restart this day at any time.]

[Note 3: Since the host has completed the beginner mission, you may choose to preserve any target's memories from the Time Loop.]

Oh?

A new way to play?

Compared to being forced into the Time Loop right after transmigrating, Fushimi Makoto was in a great mood this time.

He did aerobic exercise at home until Mrs. Yukinoshita's music teacher got in touch with him. Only then did he take a shower and head out.

He spent the entire morning studying.

At lunchtime, he received quite a few messages.

One was from Ichika, one from Itsuki, and one from Yumiko.

He replied to them all.

Finally, there was a message from Yukino.

Yukino: [I ran into Ichika at school. She said you weren't there today.]

Fushimi Makoto: [I'm busy with serious business.]

Yukino: [What serious business?]

Fushimi Makoto: [I'm busy with serious business.]

Yukino: [?]

The corners of Fushimi Makoto's mouth lifted. [I've been trying very hard to remind you. When we're discussing serious business, please address me with the title you'd use in a formal setting.]

Yukino didn't reply.

Fushimi Makoto wasn't worried in the least. He continued typing. [Are you going to go back on your word?]

Two minutes later, Yukino finally replied: [Big brother.]

A furious panda sticker followed.

That made it clear she'd been struggling with herself.

Fushimi Makoto: [Text messages don't mean anything at all.]

Yukino: [What do you mean?]

It was a simple question, but Fushimi Makoto could almost see her furious little face.

Fushimi Makoto wasn't afraid of that.

He immediately called her.

Three seconds later, Yukino picked up. "What do you mean?"

She made no effort to hide the anger in her voice.

Fushimi Makoto: "When we're discussing serious business, please use a different form of address."

He immediately heard Yukino take a deep breath.

The next moment, Yukino said coldly, "Do you think this is fun?"

"Does it sound like I'm having fun?" Fushimi Makoto said seriously.

Yukino didn't respond at all.

Fushimi Makoto suddenly asked, "Have you been studying the technical side of photography in private lately?"

Yukino finally spoke, her tone noticeably unsteady. "You guessed again?"

Fushimi Makoto didn't answer. "How about this? I'll put together a summary of what I've learned and send it to you later. It should help."

Yukino's voice remained cool. "Then what's the price?"

Fushimi Makoto replied, "There's no price. If you want to improve, I'll help you. I've spent a long time studying this, so with my help, you'll make progress more efficiently."

"Is it really that simple?"

"That's all there is to it."

Yukino was silent for a while. At last, she spoke, sounding utterly embarrassed. "You win, Fushimi Makoto."

Then, even more embarrassed, she softly called him, "Big brother."

Fushimi Makoto: "Hahahaha, bro, you're so cute."

Yukino: "You're dead, Fushimi Makoto!"

The call ended.

Fushimi Makoto continued studying in high spirits.

That afternoon, after his lesson, Fushimi Makoto went to the supermarket.

He needed to buy groceries so he could have dinner with Matsukaze Mayu.

When he came out of the supermarket, he happened to run into Nakano Nino, who'd come to buy groceries too.

The girl looked pleasantly surprised. "What a coincidence."

"Yeah, what a coincidence." Fushimi Makoto took the opportunity to ask, "You're five sisters. How come you're the only one out here buying groceries?"