In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 52

at this time.

Wow?!

Early spring!

What are you doing?!"

A shocked voice rang out from the doorway!

Startled by the sound, Haru jumped out of bed. She frantically threw away the blanket she was holding, her face instantly turning as red as if it were about to bleed, like a child caught stealing food by their parents. Helpless, she looked at Saten Ruiko, who had appeared at the door without her noticing.

Ruiko stood in the doorway, one hand on her hip, the other holding a towel as she pointed at Haru, a smug smile on her face: "So that's why you were so quiet all this time, hiding here 'cheating'! Tsk tsk tsk, hugging your senior's blanket and inhaling the scent? Haru! You've gone bad!"

Actually, Ruiko felt something was off as soon as she got to Index's room. Why was she cleaning her own room while Haru was cleaning her senior's?

Without hesitation, she secretly turned back and witnessed the scene she had just witnessed.

Having spent so much time with Chuchun, she was still surprised by Chuchun's actions just now. This was the same Chuchun who would get shy if you just held her hand, yet she did something like this, just like a lovesick woman!

"I...I...Raiko! It's not what you think! I...I just..." Haru Shiori was so embarrassed that she couldn't speak coherently, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

If she could turn back time, she would definitely lock the door from the inside! That way, Ruiko wouldn't have discovered her little trick!

"No, it's not!" Leizi strode in with a grin, her goal clear.

Early spring is a time to go, and so am I!

"I want one too! I can't let you have it all to yourself!"

Ruiko lunged forward, landing heavily on the bed. She grabbed the blanket that Haru had just hugged, and mimicking Haru's gesture, buried her face in it, taking an exaggerated, deep breath. Then she let out a satisfied, incredibly affected sigh: "Hehe! This is the smell! Higashino-senpai's energy source! I feel the power! No wonder Kuroko loves hugging Misaka and inhaling her breath, so this is what it feels like!"

"Raiko!!" Uiharu Kazari looked at Ruiko's exaggerated actions and teasing words, feeling both ashamed and indignant, yet also amused.

If her senior were present, even Ruiko wouldn't have acted or said such things, right? Without her senior around, she's really letting loose!

Seeing Ruiko start rolling around in the water, Chuchun felt that she could be a little more unrestrained now. Anyway, her current posture wouldn't be noticed by her seniors, so she wouldn't lose points!

Thinking this, Chuchun went forward to pull Ruiko up or snatch the blanket back, but Ruiko pulled her down and she fell onto the bed as well.

"Hehe, since I've caught you, let's share the good fortune and enjoy it to our hearts' content!" Lei Zi grinned mischievously, pulling the blanket over them as if sharing a secret treasure. "Tell me, how does it feel? Aren't you especially safe and happy?"

"Ugh, don't ask so directly!" Chu Chun struggled, but with Ruizi pressing down on her arm, she didn't dare to use too much force. She could only protest softly with a blush on her face, but her body involuntarily moved closer to that comforting and familiar scent again, and a shy and sweet smile quietly curved her lips.

The two girls lay sprawled on Higashino Yu's bed, wrapped in his blanket, enjoying the tranquility of the moment.

After a while, Ruizi turned her head to look at Chuchun beside her and gently nudged Chuchun with her elbow:

"Ah, early spring..."

"Hmm?" Shiori Haruyuki snapped out of her reverie from the scent of the blanket and looked at Ruiko.

"You said..." Ruiko lowered her voice, with a hint of mystery, "Does Higashino-senpai usually secretly watch... um... 'that' when he's alone in his room?"

"'That'?" Uiharu Kazari blinked blankly, then realized what Ruiko meant and looked incredulous. "Rui... Ruiko! What are you talking about!"

"Oh, you know, that kind of stuff! H stuff! Magazines, comics, and stuff like that!" Ruiko said more bluntly with a grin. "Don't guys all like to look at those? Just think about Higashino-senpai!" She counted on her fingers. "He's so lecherous! Last time on our date, when he looked at our panties... cough cough, he even dared to openly 'comment' on our panties! His eyes were practically glowing! Isn't it normal to secretly look at that stuff when you're lonely by yourself?"

“Hmm…” Haruharu Shiori was rendered speechless by Ruiko’s string of well-reasoned accusations.

However, the thought of her senior secretly taking out those kinds of books to read when he was alone at night made Chu Chun's cheeks burn.

"I...I think...that's how it is with boys, right? I've heard...that's how it is with boys..."

"Right, right!" Ruiko excitedly sat up, pulling back a corner of the blanket as well. "This is a rare opportunity! While our senior isn't here, should we look for him?"

"Eh? Looking for... looking for that?!" Uiharu Kazari nearly jumped up in fright, waving her hands frantically. "No, no! That's so rude! It feels like... like we're invading your privacy..."

“How can this be called spying!” Leizi said with an air of righteous indignation. “We’re finding out what our boyfriends like! It’s about knowing your enemy! Think about it, Chuchun.”

She leaned closer to Chu Chun and began to coax her, "If we find it, we'll know what kind of style our senior likes! Maybe cute? Or sexy? Is it uniform fetish? Or sheer lace? Don't you often see scenes in those comics where someone dresses up specially to please someone they like?"

Seeing Haru's increasingly wavering expression, Ruiko pressed her advantage: "Imagine, on your next date, secretly dress up in the style your senior likes, he'll be so happy, his eyes will practically pop out! And then..." She deliberately left a meaningful blank.

In early spring, imagining the situation described by Ruiko, her cheeks flushed again, and even the tips of her ears turned bright red.

The scene Ruiko described... was just too alluring. What kind of expression would her senior have? Would he treat her more gently... or more "excitedly"...? The shame and faint anticipation brought on by this thought intertwined, and she finally nodded, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible: "...Then... shall we look for a little bit?"

"Hehe, that's more like it!" Having achieved her goal, Ruiko immediately got to work.

The two jumped out of bed and began their "Higashino Room Exploration Operation".

Their first target was the most conspicuous place in the entire room: the wardrobe.

She opened the closet door, revealing neatly folded new clothes. Tears streamed through them, finding mostly summer shirts, sportswear, and some casual wear, all looking brand new with little sign of wear.

"Senpai probably didn't bring any clothes with her to Academy City; most of her clothes are brand new..." Ruiko muttered. Suddenly, her gaze was drawn to an inconspicuous bag in the corner of the wardrobe. Curious, she pulled it out; inside was a slightly faded blue hoodie, a bit outdated in style.

“Oh? This…” Ruiko picked up the clothes and unfolded them, a look of realization and reminiscence on her face. “Isn’t this the one you wore when we first met? In the hospital.”

Chu Chun also came over to look and nodded: "Yes, it's that one."

"It seems like this is what I wore when we first met at the library three months ago." The hoodie that Higashino wore when he time-traveled was this one. After his perception of Haruharu was revised, Haruharu subconsciously regarded the clothes she wore during that meeting as the clothes she wore when they first met three months ago.

Ruiko carefully folded the clothes and put them back, remarking, "You're quite sentimental, aren't you?" Not finding the "information" they were looking for, the two continued their search.

"Under the bed?" Chu Chun recalled some "common knowledge" she had learned from classmates and online. "I heard that boys like to hide secret things in boxes under their beds."

Leizi thought it made a lot of sense, so she immediately bent down, took out her phone, turned on the flashlight, and shone it under the dark bed.

"Hmm... there's nothing here except dust." Ruiko straightened up, somewhat disappointed.

Her final target was the only bedside table next to the bed. Ruiko pulled open the drawer. It contained very little: a charging cable, spare batteries, a few pens… At the very back, something lay quietly, catching Ruiko's attention.

It wasn't the "study materials" they were expecting, but an old photograph that had clearly yellowed.

"Huh? A photo?" Ruizi asked curiously as she took it out.

The photo is well-preserved, but the signs of time are still evident. It shows a seemingly happy family of three.

Sitting in the middle is a black-haired boy, about ten years old, with slightly curly hair and a bright, dazzling smile on his handsome face, happily making a peace sign at the camera. Although still very young, the contours of his eyebrows, eyes, and nose are already clearly recognizable as those of young Higashino Yu.

"Wow!!!" Ruiko couldn't help but exclaim, her voice full of surprise, "Your Highness as a child!! So cute!! Oh my god, that smile is so infectious!"

Holding the photo up to the sunlight, she examined it closely as if she had discovered a rare treasure. "He was so much cuter than he is now! Now he always looks so lazy and a little mischievous! Although he's still handsome, he lacks a bit of energy!"

Haru Shiori leaned over to look, her eyes immediately lighting up: "Really...so cute. Just like a little angel..."

Her gaze shifted to the boy's side. To his left sat a very beautiful young woman, her long, flowing hair cascading over her shoulders, her smile gentle, her features bearing a resemblance to Higashino Yu, radiating maternal warmth. To his right sat a handsome, refined man, one hand resting on the boy's shoulder, his smile warm and composed.

However, they both appear to be doctors, just like their seniors, as they were both wearing white coats commonly worn by doctors.

"Your senior's mother... is so beautiful, and has such a wonderful aura," Haru Shiori exclaimed sincerely.

“Dad is handsome too.” Ruizi nodded in agreement. “He looks very reliable.”

Looking at this family photo brimming with happiness, both girls unconsciously revealed warm smiles, as if they were also infected by the warmth flowing from the photo.

However, this warm and touching atmosphere didn't last long. The smile on her face suddenly froze.

She recalled some things she had mentioned during a casual chat with Higashino.

“S-senpai…” Haru’s voice was low, “He…he said before…he was an orphan…”

These words were like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing all the joy that had arisen on Leizi's face from the discovery of the photos.

"Orphan..." Tears also remembered this matter.

Neither of them is stupid. The reason why a ten-year-old child with such a happy family became an "orphan" is almost self-evident.

Prior to this, Ruiko and Haru had not shown any particular feelings during their conversations with Higashino, nor had they mentioned any topics related to their parents.

Therefore, they always assumed that he was the kind of child who was abandoned at a young age and might not know who his parents were. They never thought deeply about the specific reasons why he became an orphan.

But now, this happy photo, like a cold key, has unexpectedly opened the door that hides immense pain.

It turns out the senior wasn't abandoned; he once had everything so wonderful! He had both parents, came from a wealthy family, and was surrounded by happiness…

Then... one day... all of that disappeared.

The little boy in that photo, smiling so carefree and brightly, has gone through such heart-wrenching pain, yet he has managed to stay strong and become the powerful, gentle, but somewhat mischievous Higashino Yu.

Shiori Haruhi's heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, the pain making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

She could even imagine how, after a huge upheaval, young Higashino Yuu hid that smile, how he looked at that photo again and again in the dead of night, licking his wounds alone, growing up at a speed many times faster than his peers, building a hard shell... and finally becoming who he is now.

Looking at the boy's bright smile in the photo, she remembered Higashino Yu, and her eyes instantly reddened.

Tears welled in her eyes, her shock turning into deep heartache. She carefully and gently placed the yellowed photograph back into its place in the drawer, as if afraid of disturbing something. She closed the drawer, her fingers lingering on the photograph for a few seconds, as if offering a silent reassurance.

The room was silent, save for the occasional birdsong from outside the window. The sunlight was still bright, but it seemed to have lost its warmth.

After a long while, Leizi took a deep breath, turned around, looked at Chuchun whose eyes were red-rimmed, and spoke in a low but firm voice:

"...He's really strong." She paused, her tone becoming more serious. "So, we need to stay by his side even more. We...we're his family now. From now on, we will absolutely, absolutely never let him feel lonely again."

"Yes!" Chu Chun nodded vigorously, her voice trembling with tears, but her eyes were equally resolute. "We will definitely make our senior happy! We will become our senior's new support!"

This resounding promise echoed in the room, dispelling the previous sadness and leaving behind an even stronger bond and determination.

at this time……

"Buzz...buzz...buzz..."

The two phones beeped with short text message notifications almost simultaneously.

Both Ruizi and Chuchun were pulled back to reality by the voice. They exchanged a puzzled look and each picked up their phones.

From: Higashino Yu.

Content: [My trip to London is over early. I'm heading to Academy City tomorrow morning. I even brought back a little gift! Look forward to it!]

The specific flight times and airport terminal information are attached below.

This unexpected good news was like a ray of light, dispelling all the gloom.

"Huh?! Senpai's coming back tomorrow?!" Ruiko exclaimed, her somber expression instantly replaced by overwhelming joy. "And she brought a gift!!"

"That's...that's wonderful!" Haru Shiori burst into laughter through her tears, wiping away the remaining moisture from the corners of her eyes.

The two looked at each other again, the heavy atmosphere from before completely replaced by excitement at their impending reunion and anticipation of the gifts.

Tears of the Eyes smiled slyly: "Need I say more? Of course I'm going to pick you up tomorrow!" She held out her hand.

Haru immediately understood, placing her small hand in Ruiko's palm and beaming with a big smile: "Yes! Let's go pick up Senpai and Index and take them home!"

Chapter 66: Forget about continuing Higashino's works!

Misaka Mikoto walked briskly along the sidewalk, her hands in her jeans pockets. Today, she wore a simple white short-sleeved T-shirt and blue jeans, looking fresh and neat.

Her destination was the "Fun Shop" in District 7. This shop, famous for selling all kinds of limited-edition anime merchandise, had just received a message on the Tokiwadai dormitory's online forum a few minutes earlier that a batch of limited-edition "Gekota" phone charms had arrived at the Fun Shop, and the quantity was extremely limited.

"I absolutely have to get my hands on it!" Mikoto clenched her fist secretly. She was determined to get this limited edition. She set off immediately after receiving the news; many others hadn't heard yet. If she got there early, Gekota was guaranteed to be there!

As Mikoto thought about which color Gekota she would choose later, she unconsciously quickened her pace.

Just as she turned a corner, a figure brushed past her. The girl seemed to be looking down at her phone as she walked, her brows slightly furrowed, muttering something impatiently.

"...That guy Higashino actually postponed it to the day after tomorrow, really..."

Mikoto paused almost imperceptibly. Because they were so close, the half-sentence clearly reached her ears.

Higashino?

The girl's figure quickly disappeared into the distance, and her words were drowned out by the background noise of the street. Mikoto stood there, somewhat dazed.

Postponed? Postponed for what? The day after tomorrow? And the surname Higashino... could it be that guy? No, no, what a coincidence! Besides, he's not the only one with that surname; it must be someone else...

A series of questions popped into her head uncontrollably. Then, she suddenly realized that she had overreacted.

"Tsk!" Mikoto punched her forehead with the back of her hand in annoyance, muttering under her breath, "Seriously, what am I doing! What does that guy have to do with me!"

This inexplicable feeling of concern irritated her. She didn't know when it started, but she kept inexplicably thinking about Higashino Yu!

That guy… always has that lazy smile, with an unfathomable look in his eyes. And his abilities are incredibly diverse; Mikoto has always wanted to find an opportunity to fight him. It's definitely not because she wants to get close to him!

Mikoto shook her head vigorously, as if trying to shake off the grinning face in her mind. She took a deep breath and started walking again.

Not long after, on the only way to the Curious House, Mikoto saw two familiar figures walking side by side, carrying what looked like cleaning tools.

It was Uiharu Kazari and Saten Ruiko. The two seemed to be chatting about something, with relaxed smiles on their faces.

Their appearance made Mikoto slow down again, and that awkward feeling in her heart resurfaced. She hesitated for a moment, but decided to greet them anyway.

"Ah, it's you all, Haruharu." Mikoto tried to make her tone sound natural as she stepped forward.