I really don't want to be reborn.

"Okay, I understand. You've explained it three times already, we all understand."

Kyosuke Kousaka wanted the black cat to chime in: "Kuro, don't you think so?"

Xiao Hei was lost in thought and ignored him.

"Anyway... just don't overthink it, Kousaka."

Kasumigaoka Utaha, who was walking ahead, turned around. Her bright black hair fluttered slightly as she turned, making her even more alluring in his eyes.

What do you think I should think about more?

"That would be best, nothing at all!"

The moment the two locked eyes, a dizzying silence fell over the black cat. This silence was unlike the forced silence in the office where someone had pried open its mouth and shoved dog food and cat food into its mouth, leaving it choked.

The silence here is as beautiful as a soft chime, lingering with its final notes.

Even the black cat, a complete outsider, felt its heart flutter and its emotions swayed with those deep red eyes.

Kasumigaoka Utaha turned around again, her steps gradually slowing down, indicating that the shyness in her heart was slowly turning into a kind of tsundere, shy, and sweet psychological hormone.

…………

"Kasumigaoka Utaha, were you in heat during the day?"

The only person who would dare to say such a thing to her face, given the current situation, is probably none other than her best friend, Eriri Sawamura.

It's nighttime now, and sitting here you can gaze out the window at the Rainbow Bridge. As a suspension bridge that crosses the northern part of Tokyo Bay and connects Shibaura in Minato Ward and Odaiba, the Rainbow Bridge is as dazzling and beautiful at night as the Tokyo Tower.

Further away, you can see half of a large sphere—that's the logo of Fuji Television, the same 'cx' that Kyosuke Kousaka mocked in Dengeki Bunko.

Of course, he was also well aware that since Fuji Television acquired Nippon Broadcasting System, which is also part of the Fuji Sankei Group, at the beginning of this year and obtained a one-third stake, it has become increasingly confident, so it doesn't matter what tricks others play.

Anyway, they're rich, they can do whatever they want, and they want to do whatever they want!

Similarly, Ms. Eriri Sawamura, the daughter of a diplomat, is equally wealthy and willful. Not only did she book two luxury rooms in the hotel, but she also reserved the entire hotel pool.

The only hotel in Tokyo with a view of the Rainbow Bridge and a double room with a balcony is the Hilton Odaiba Hotel.

Kasumigaoka Utaha, mindful of the favor she had done, didn't bother arguing with her: "You dragged me into this just to say this? I originally planned to go see the Statue of Liberty next to the bridge, but I feel like spending time with you is a waste of time."

No, no!

Eriri looked at her friend's ample, white breasts, which were clearly several sizes larger than her own. Even through the bikini, she could imagine how proud those two cherries must be.

Then, subconsciously, he touched his own...

"I always felt that inviting you all here was a huge mistake."

"Can we get down to business?"

Eriri Sawamura sneakily leaned close to her ear, and the way the two beautiful girls were so close really resembled a blooming lily.

"How far have things progressed between you and him? Have you officially settled things yet?"

Her golden hair was styled in a bun, a hairstyle reminiscent of a young Artoria.

(Well, Akizuki Airi, who has the same hairstyle as Sawamura Eriri, won't appear for another three years, so please be patient.)

"What do you ask for this?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at her strangely, and seeing the complex and subtle expression on her friend's face, she understood a little.

That's often how things are.

You have a disease, and then you hope that everyone around you has the same disease.

You lost a dog, and found that the streets were full of stray dogs, but none of them were the one you lost.

A heartbroken girl hopes her friends will find love and get married soon, but deep down she may also have a disgusting thought of hoping they break up.

This idea is normal, especially for women.

Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled without saying a word. She decided to show her love through her actions, so she went to the side to get a hot towel and then stood in front of Kousaka Kyosuke.

Kyosuke Kosaka doesn't really like swimming and isn't very interested in playing in the water, so he just lies on a lounge chair by the pool, rocking back and forth, half asleep.

Then the heat spread from the towel and covered my face.

"Well?"

"Don't move, your face is a little dirty."

Actually, it wasn't dirty at all. She just wanted to express to Eriri-san that Kasumigaoka Utaha liked Kousaka Kyosuke, and that Kousaka Kyosuke also liked Kasumigaoka Utaha.

This is true, and I hope that even though Eriri is heartbroken, I can still receive her blessings.

Kyosuke Kosaka had no idea about the complicated relationship between them; he only felt someone place a towel on their palm and gently wipe his forehead, cheeks, and lips.

Feeling bewildered, she simply lay there, her body stiff, letting her wipe away the nonexistent dirt from her face, somewhat at a loss.

Eriri also had a hesitant expression, thinking that others would at most spend money to suffer.

She, on the other hand, spends a lot of money to buy dog ​​food.

Moreover, they buy several tons at a time.

"Ton ton ton".

After getting out of the pool, I drank several mouthfuls of the beverage before swallowing the cloyingly sweet stuff. But after swallowing it, the sweetness reached its peak, and then it turned bitter.

The blonde beauty sat by the pool, turning her head to look at the night view outside the window, especially the dreamlike rainbow bridge, which connected her with her past self.

I once liked you silently, enduring both the shyness of a young girl and the torment of jealousy.

Is that so?

I once loved you so sincerely and so tenderly, and now... I hope God will bless you, and that someone else will love you just as I once did.

"I like you, I like you, but why don't you like me back? Is that what you're thinking, Eriri? I can see a look of melancholy on your face right now."

Sawamura, unusually, didn't argue with her: "You're back from showing off your love with your boyfriend?"

"He was playing cards with the little black cat, and I came to offer some comfort to my friend."

Eriri Sawamura scoffed, "How do you comfort me? Like you said before at Dengeki Bunko, how about a hug?"

Then she was gently hugged.

"..."

"Canned food was invented in 1810, but the can opener wasn't invented until 1858. Sometimes things are like that; important things sometimes arrive a step late, Eriri, whether it's love or life."

She touched Eriri's somewhat thin cheek in an almost teasing manner: "Such a good girl, how come no one likes her? It must be because—"

Sawamura, who was feeling touched, was suddenly startled to find Kasumigaoka Utaha's other hand patting his chest, and heard the jerk's mocking tone suddenly change: "-So it's because your chest is too small!"

"I'll fight you to the death!"

The sound of their unrestrained playful fighting echoed by the pool. The black cat next to the rocking chair pointed over there and said, "They seem to get along very well."

Kyosuke Kousaka smiled: "Just like between you and Kirino..."

"No way!"

The black cat gave a haughty look, then noticed him laughing, its eyes darkening: "What are you laughing at? Are you still making fun of my swimsuit?"

For reasons unknown, the petite black cat chose a bizarre zebra-patterned swimsuit. The black and white stripes clung tightly to her youthful body, not particularly sexy, but rather somewhat comical.

"Hey, so what if I just laugh when I see a black cat that might have turned into a zebra? But don't be discouraged. Like the story of the Ugly Duckling, you might actually be a magnificent zebra... Okay, okay, stop scratching me!"

"Playing cards!"

"OK! Let's play cards."

With several red scratches on the back of his hand, Kyosuke Kosaka knew when to stop and handed over the playing cards: "Let's make it clear first, no games like King's Game."

The black cat gave a sinister smile and began shuffling the cards: "Do you know how to play poker?"

He honestly shook his head: "Not really, just a little bit."

The girl's face lit up immediately: "It's okay if I don't know how, I can just play around."

Kyosuke Kosaka narrowed his eyes: "Sure, but just playing around isn't very interesting. Ruri, how about we place some bets?"

She became alert!

When this person calls her name, they're most likely up to no good: "What do you want to bet?"

"Don't worry, I know you can't afford to bet on taking your clothes off, so we'll just bet small amounts. You spent a lot on renting the stall and printing the brochures, so we can bet very, very small amounts, how about that?"

"..."

The black cat put down the playing cards, crossed his arms, and remained silent.

It seems they rejected the proposal.

Kyosuke sighed helplessly: "...Well then, I'll take the loss. If I lose once out of ten times, I'll help you transport those printed doujinshi tomorrow morning."

"Well……"

"If I don't lose even once, you can't object to me holding Xiaozhuxi when I visit your house in the future."

Their true purpose has finally been exposed!

The black cat frowned deeply, and couldn't help but suspect once again that he was a lolicon.

Seeing that she remained silent for a long time, Kosaka wondered, "Do you want to try a different game? I actually know a little bit about card games, it's really no problem."

"……no."

The black cat finally spoke: "I just thought that I could also play around with taking off my clothes."

"???"

She stared at Kyosuke Kousaka, who was only wearing shorts, as if weighing some kind of probability: "How about we give it a try?"

------

Such a person is like a rainbow; you only know they exist when you encounter them.

Sigh, I have nothing...

Chapter Twenty-Three: Reluctant to Get Up Early, A Familiar Face Returns (3,000 words)

morning.