In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 95

Shokuhou gave a soft snort, but her gaze softened. She gracefully tidied her disheveled hair, turned and walked towards the poolside rest area, not forgetting to give Mikoto a "I'll let you off this time" look.

Mikoto was furious, but Higashino's hand was still on her head, making it inexplicably impossible for her to vent her anger. She could only sullenly sit back on the recliner, letting Kuroko continue her sunscreen project.

Seeing this, Higashino secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If he hadn't already used his ability to subconsciously instill the concept of "not being jealous" in the girls, such blatant affection from Takitsubo Riko would probably have already caused a huge uproar.

Even the most magnanimous Haru and Ruiko couldn't possibly ignore so many potential rivals. Jealousy and a little temper tantrums were inevitable.

"Higashino-kun!"

Misaki's voice suddenly came from the poolside, interrupting his thoughts. He saw that the Queen had changed into a sexy black bikini and was lying lazily on a floating bed, swirling a glass of juice in her hand.

"Won't you come swimming with me?" She winked, her tone clearly provocative.

Before Higashino could answer, he heard a "splash" behind him—it was Ruiko excitedly jumping into the pool, splashing water that directly soaked Shokuhou's sun hat.

"Saten-kun!"

Misaki sat up in a huff, spilling half of her juice.

"Haha, sorry, sorry!"

Tears welled up in his eyes as he offered a half-hearted apology, his face bearing a triumphant smile.

This was her way of getting a little revenge on her friend, and also a way to stop her from inviting her senior.

Higashino couldn't help but laugh out loud. He felt that daily life with the girls was much more comfortable, and dealing with various incidents was just too troublesome.

Chapter 123 Girl, Swimsuit, the Best!

"Into the water! Into the water!"

After seeing Ruiko go into the water first, Frenda couldn't resist the urge to go in too.

"Takitsubo! Kinuhata! Mugino! And those guys over there! Everyone, change into your swimsuits! What kind of pool party is it if you don't get in the water!"

As she spoke, she began to untie the belt of her gothic dress with astonishing speed.

"Wait, wait, Frenda! Go to the changing room and change!"

Tears quickly swam to the surface.

"That's right, senior is a boy!"

Chu Chun quickly moved closer, fearing that Frenda might strip naked on stage.

"So what! We're all girls anyway!"

Frenda didn't care, but with the combined efforts of Ruiko and Haru, she was dragged towards the locker room.

Shirai Kuroko watched as Frenda was dragged away, then glanced at Mikoto, who had already applied sunscreen to all her exposed areas. She clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling: "Onee-sama! The sunscreen is all done. Now, to capture your precious swimsuit moment, please allow Kuroko to choose the most suitable swimsuit for you! Kuroko has some treasured ones here that perfectly showcase Onee-sama's youthful vitality..."

Don't even think about it!

Mikoto immediately interrupted her, blushing as she stood up and pulled Misaka 9999, who was still in a daze.

"Come on, 9999, come with me to change my clothes."

She didn't want the trolls to get their hands on her treasured swimsuit.

"Understood. Misaka 9999 will ensure that Onee-sama changes clothes smoothly." Misaka responded and carried out the order. Misaka 9999 calmly followed.

"Misaka Misaka will help Onee-sama change into her swimsuit too! Misaka Misaka happily makes this decision!"

Last Order happily followed behind Mikoto.

Fubuki Toshinobu breathed a sigh of relief, finally able to temporarily escape the task of taking care of the child.

She quietly walked to the parasol by the pool, found a corner to sit down, and took out her tablet. Even though Higashino had ended the plan, there were many follow-up matters that required her attention; these were the tasks Higashino had given her.

Kinuhata, watching Frenda and Mikoto's group being dragged away, pouted and said, "That idiot Frenda, so~ troublesome..."

Even so, she still walked towards the changing room at a leisurely pace.

Mugino Shizuri also stood up, arms crossed, looking rather uninterested: "Swimsuits, huh..."

Takitsubo Riko didn't move. She simply stood quietly beside Higashino and asked softly, "Higashino...aren't you going to change?"

Before Higashino could answer, Index couldn't wait any longer: "Yu! I want to go swimming too! Himekami and I bought swimsuits at that store last time!"

She tugged at Higashino Yu's sleeve, gazing longingly at the clear pool, eagerly anticipating changing into her swimsuit.

She had been pestering Himekami Akisa to teach her how to swim, but after a while Himekami finally admitted that she couldn't swim, and Miya knew nothing about it either.

"Okay, go change them all."

Higashino smiled helplessly and, along with Takitsubo, Index, and Himegami Akisa who had just arrived, headed towards the locker room.

Miyuki Miya floated on the other side of Higashino Yu like a silent shadow. She had absolutely no interest in swimming, since as a ghost, she couldn't swim at all.

Misaki Shokuhou watched as Higashino Yuu left with the two girls, her starry eyes narrowing slightly. She chuckled softly, a sound only she could hear, "Hmph, they really are... having a good time."

She gracefully picked up the chilled juice that was placed to the side and took a small sip.

Soon, the area around the pool became lively.

The first to rush out was Flanda, who had indeed changed into an extremely daring black bikini. The top was made of thin straps, the bottom was made of short briefs, and a transparent black tulle cover-up was worn over it, which revealed glimpses of her youthful vitality to the fullest.

She twirled proudly by the pool: "How about it? Isn't Lady Frenda's swimsuit amazing?"

Wow! Frenda, you're so charming!

Ruiko had also changed into her swimsuit, a vibrant orange-yellow two-piece sports swimsuit, with a tank top and short swim trunks, making her look healthy and sunny. She showed it off confidently, without any shyness.

Haru Shiori hid behind Ruiko, looking a little awkward. She was wearing a very conservative light blue one-piece swimsuit with a fluffy skirt and cute ruffles. She was still wearing a floral headband, making her look like a little princess.

Next up was Mikoto. She was wearing a classic dark blue one-piece swimsuit, with a simple tank top on top and shorts on the bottom, and a white cardigan over it for sun protection.

She was clearly uncomfortable, clutching the hem of her cardigan tightly, her eyes darting around.

"Big sister!"

Shirai Kuroko appeared instantly beside Mikoto, wearing a pink bikini similar in style to Frenda's, with a sheer short-sleeved shirt over it, and her nose was on the verge of bleeding.

"You look...you look...so attractive! Please let Kuroko give you a massage, Kuroko's massage skills are professionally trained..."

"Get away from me, you idiot!"

Mikoto pushed away Kuroko, who was almost touching her, in embarrassment and anger.

"My sister is so cute when she's shy! Ah—!" Before Kuroko could finish speaking, she was suddenly pushed backward by an invisible force and fell into the pool with a "plop," splashing a lot of water.

Everyone was stunned and looked toward the source of the power, Mugino Shizuri, who had just walked over.

She changed into a sexy red halter-neck bikini, perfectly outlining her mature and alluring figure. Her eyes were sharp, carrying a hint of displeasure: "So noisy, it's an eyesore."

"What are you doing?!" Kuroko protested, splashing around in the pool.

Mugino Shizuri ignored her and walked straight to a lounge chair by the pool, sitting down with her long legs crossed, her posture languid and alluring.

Kinuhata Saiai also appeared, wearing a simple light blue sports swimsuit, and quietly walked to the edge of the pool to start warming up.

Following closely behind were Misaka 9999, Last Order, and Toshinobu Funazuka. After waiting for Mikoto to change into her swimsuit, they set their sights on Toshinobu Funazuka.

Originally, Toshinobu Fubuki didn't want to swim and wanted to continue working, but he couldn't resist the passion of the final project and changed into a white one-piece swimsuit.

The newly released Last Order excitedly screamed, "Water! Misaka Misaka wants to play in the water!"

After saying that, he grabbed number 9999 and ran towards the shallow water area.

"Slow down!" Fushiki Tsushin reluctantly followed to take care of them, since she was now in charge of looking after the two of them.

Index changed into an adorable two-piece swimsuit covered in strawberry patterns, its skirt billowing. Like a happy little rascal, she ran around the poolside, eager to dip her toes in the clear water: "Yuu! Can I go in now?"

Himegami Akisa was wearing a very simple and conservative black one-piece swimsuit, the long skirt almost reaching her knees, creating a stark contrast with her fair skin. She remained quietly standing by the pool, seemingly with no intention of going into the water.

Higashino had also changed into his swimming trunks and casually put on a white T-shirt. He walked to the poolside and nodded to Index: "Go ahead, be careful, take your swimming ring, and don't go into the deep end."

"Yay!" Index cheered, put on the swimming ring next to the escalator, carefully went down the escalator into the water, and immediately started splashing around happily.

Higashino's gaze swept across the bustling pool. Ruiko was teaching Haru how to float, Frenda and Kuroko, who had just climbed out, were splashing and playing with each other, Mikoto sat in the shallow end with Last Order playing in the water, and 9999 stood guard by her side like a dutiful bodyguard, while Toshinobu Fubuki sat wearily on the edge of the pool watching them.

Kinuhata Saiai and Mugino Shizuru both went swimming. Takitsubo Riko had also changed into a light purple swimsuit at some point and sat quietly on the steps in the water not far from Higashino, with the water up to her chest.

Misaki Shokuhou remained elegantly seated on her personal recliner, watching the chaotic scene in the water with a faint smile on her lips, lost in thought.

Just then, a voice filled with obvious displeasure and irritation suddenly rang out by the pool:

"Hey! Higashino, having a lot of fun, huh? Aren't you afraid you'll end up in the hospital?!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Kihara Ayaki standing at the entrance of the pool, her hands on her hips, her long brown hair tied in a neat high ponytail, her face showing signs of travel fatigue and impatience. She seemed to have just come from a long journey, as there was some sweat on her forehead.

Surprisingly, she had also changed into a swimsuit!

Wearing a daring leopard-print bikini, she revealed her hot figure that was usually hidden under bandages. She casually draped an open, thin workwear-style shirt over it, paired with matching leopard-print shorts and flip-flops, exuding a wild and unrestrained vibe.

She had spent a long time choosing a swimsuit after receiving Higashino's notification. After a series of spatial teleportations, she saw a group of beautiful women already frolicking in the pool, while Higashino watched them with great interest.

"There are so many celebrities involved..."

Her sudden appearance caused a moment of silence to fall over the poolside.

Mugino Shizuri raised an eyebrow, glancing at Kihara's alluring leopard-print swimsuit, then at Higashino Yu. She hadn't expected a pretty girl to show up; what a flirtatious guy.

Misaki Shokuhou narrowed her starry eyes slightly, and placed the freshly poured juice beside her.

"Oh, how many people are we talking about?"

Mikoto looked at the unfamiliar, boldly dressed girl with a puzzled expression. She felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if she'd seen her somewhere before.

Chuchun and Leizi looked at each other, both showing helpless smiles.

Frenda whistled, "Wow! The new lady has a fantastic figure! Hotter than Mugino!"

Like Takitsubo, Kihara Awaki usually hides her stunning figure, but today her swimsuit revealed her perfect curves.

"Shut up, Frenda!" Mugino said coldly.

Kihara Awaki ignored everyone's gazes and walked straight to Higashino Yu, her brows furrowed, her tone laced with complaint: "Hey, you, you're getting more and more girls around you, aren't you afraid of being torn into pieces one day?!"

She walked closer, her gaze sweeping over Takitsubo Risa next to Higashino Yu, then over Frenda, Mikoto, and the others dressed in revealing clothes in the pool, before finally settling on Shokuhou Misaki, who was sitting elegantly. Her eyes became somewhat complicated and unfriendly.

She crossed her arms, her curves accentuated by the movement, exuding a flamboyant aggression. Her tone was clearly displeased: "Tsk, and they're all stunning beauties. Are you planning a 'beauty pageant'? Higashino Yu, you really are... quite the ladies' man!"

She emphasized the last few words, her gaze fixed intently on Higashino Yu.

"Haha, a beauty pageant is nice, but I think everyone is already beautiful enough, there's no need for another one!"

The girls looked amazing in their swimsuits, each with their own unique charm. He really liked them, and it would be very difficult for him to choose a number one!

Chapter 124: What's it like to be actively pursued by two girls?

"Sorry, Danxi, let's skip the beauty pageant and all that. Just relax. The pool is big, there are chilled drinks in the fridge, and a dessert table is over there."

Higashino pointed to the pile of desserts that Ruiko had brought.

"Please help yourself."

As his calm tone rang out, a realization quietly rose in Jie Biao's heart that she "shouldn't be jealous." Her previously rising resentment seemed to have been punctured, instantly deflated by more than half. She subconsciously pursed her lips, feeling a little thirsty. The words of complaint stuck in her throat, unable to be uttered. In the end, she just gave an awkward hum and turned her head away: "Hmph! I didn't really want to be in the beauty pageant..."

Instead of going into the water, she walked to the long table where cold drinks were kept, grabbed a bottle of chilled mineral water, and gulped down a few mouthfuls.

She was just saying it casually. If Higashino were to actually hold a beauty pageant, the winner would be fine, but the last place would be a complete clown.

The lively atmosphere in the pool was temporarily interrupted by this little incident, and things seemed to freeze for a moment. Frenda and Kuroko started arguing again, this time about Mugino and Mikoto's fashion preferences; Mugino, tired of their nonsensical comparisons, yawned boredly; Kinuhata Saiai had a float on the water, with Meiya watching her curiously from above.

Higashino watched as Takitsubo Ri sat quietly on the steps in the shallow end of the pool, where the water only reached slightly above her chest. She hugged her knees, her short, wet brown hair clinging to her cheeks, her gaze somewhat vacant as she stared at the water, her face still bearing that sickly and weary expression.

"Afterwards."

Higashino Yu walked over and sat down next to her, the hem of his T-shirt slightly damp from the water.

"Why are you sitting here all alone? Aren't you playing with them?" The water rippled gently, bringing a refreshing coolness.

Upon hearing the sound, Takitsubo Riko slowly turned her head, and when she saw Higashino's profile so close to her, she immediately perked up.

She shifted her position slightly, bringing her arm close to Higashino's.

"Higashino..."

Her voice was very soft, like the whisper of flowing water.