In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 51

He took a deep breath, trying to maintain his smile, and then said in an extremely serious tone:

"Yes, they're beautiful. They're all...very unique, and all fantastic! I...love them all very much!" He emphasized "all" and "very much" to ensure fairness and impartiality, and to avoid putting others down! Praising some while belittling others is unacceptable.

He wants them all!

However, this time he miscalculated.

"You big pervert!!!"

Three voices rang out simultaneously.

Tears welled up in her eyes, her hands on her hips, her face flushed red as if it were about to explode, but she still stubbornly continued to accuse him, as if trying to cover up her shame with her loud voice.

In early spring, she buried her face in her knees and cried out, "Waaah... Higashino-senpai is so mean!"

Index glared angrily at Higashino, realizing it was a major blunder not covering his eyes earlier: "Yes! Yu is a big pervert! A super big pervert!"

Hmm... This "big pervert" is quite an accurate assessment. Higashino doesn't deny this fact, after all, that's just who he is.

But the problem wasn't caused by me, was it? Why did it turn into three people targeting me?

"Rinko, you've committed a heinous crime! I'll punish you severely next time!" Higashino thought helplessly.

To stop everyone from being so shy and to calm them down, and also to avoid being targeted by the three of them, Higashino quietly went into the kitchen.

"Then let's have a Japanese meal today." With that thought, Higashino began his first meal back in Academy City.

The food's effects remain consistently good.

The fragrant aroma of curry, mixed with the tempting scent of fried tempura, filled the dormitory apartment, instantly extinguishing any remaining sparks of shyness and embarrassment in the air, like the most effective fire extinguisher.

Wearing an apron, Higashino Yu placed the last bowl of ochazuke (rice with tea) sprinkled with seaweed flakes and tuna puree on the table: "Dinner's ready," he announced with a smile.

"It smells so good!!!" Index, who had been accusing Higashino Yu of being a "big pervert" earlier, was already obediently waiting at the table when she learned that Higashino was going to cook.

She stared longingly at the golden curry and the mountain of tempura, waiting for Higashino to announce that dinner was served.

Ruiko and Hatsuharu also sniffed, their faces showing anticipation.

The two had calmed down shortly after Higashino left. They had originally planned to help, but Higashino's words, "These thank-you gifts need to be made by hand to show sincerity," once they got to the kitchen, sank them down again.

What kind of thank-you gift? Is it picking him up from the airport, or the "duel" that follows?

Not daring to think too deeply, the two returned to the living room and joined Index in forming a trio waiting to be fed.

Chu Chun got up to help set the table, her voice tinged with a little excitement: "Thank you for your hard work, Higashino-senpai."

"Let's eat!" Ruizi cheered, and the three of them immediately sat down.

The atmosphere at the dinner table became harmonious again, with only the clinking of spoons against bowls and plates and the satisfying sounds of chewing.

Index ate with particular relish, her cheeks bulging, and she even gave the curry a thumbs up, saying indistinctly, "Yoo...so delicious!"

Seeing how the three of them were completely pacified by the delicious food, a sly smile flashed in Higashino Yu's eyes.

There's a saying that goes, "The way to a woman's heart is through her stomach!" Higashino has lived alone since he was very young, and while his cooking skills may not be comparable to those of a master chef, they are certainly not bad.

When everyone had eaten about 70-80% full and slowed down a bit, he wiped his mouth and stood up.

“I almost forgot,” he said, turning toward the living room, “I brought you some small gifts from London.” He opened his suitcase and took out a small gift box.

"A gift?" Ruiko and Hatsuharu's eyes lit up at the same time.

Higashino Yu opened the box, inside were three small and exquisite clay figurines—the very ones he had chosen from the gift shop in England. Two of them looked exactly alike, wearing cute little British-style dresses and with adorable expressions.

He had this custom-made yesterday morning when he was on a date with Kanzaki, and asked the owner of a Nendoroid stall to make it based on photos of them.

It was only finished near the end of the date, but the boss's financial power allowed him to produce at a speed and quality far exceeding his usual standards.

Higashino Yu handed the two identical clay figurines to Ruiko and Hatsuharu respectively: "Here, these are yours, a perfect pair."

"Wow! So cute!" Ruiko exclaimed in delight as she took it and examined it closely in her palm. "It's exactly the same as mine! Thank you, Higashino-senpai!" She smiled radiantly.

"So...so cute! Thank you, Higashino-senpai." Hatsuharu carefully held the Hatsuharu Shiori doll dressed in a school uniform, her face flushed with joy.

Index, who had been engrossed in her meal, stopped what she was doing, leaned closer, and looked at Ruiko and the doll in their hands with curiosity and obvious envy.

The moment she noticed that the box in Higashino Yu's hand seemed to be empty, her little mouth pursed instantly. Although she didn't complain, her disappointment almost materialized and drifted out.

Although she thought that since the two of them went to London together, it was normal that she wouldn't receive a return gift, especially since Higashino had already given her a reindeer plush toy, she still felt a little upset.

She also really wanted a little doll that looked exactly like herself; they looked so cute!

Higashino Yu watched this unfold, suppressing a laugh, and then magically produced a third doll from behind his back.

Mini Index, with her white nun's habit, long silver hair, and a large loaf of bread in her mouth.

"How could we forget our gluttonous nun?" Higashino Yu smiled and handed the special doll to her. "Here, this is yours."

Index was taken aback at first, then a huge surprise lit up her face. As if afraid that Higashino Yu would change his mind, she quickly grabbed the doll and hugged it tightly to her chest: "Thank you, Yu! I have one too!"

Her voice was full of satisfaction and happiness; the slight disappointment she had felt earlier had long since vanished.

Each of the three held their favorite little gifts, and a warm and cozy atmosphere filled the dining table.

Looking at the harmonious scene, Higashino Yu's lips curled into a meaningful smile. He leaned back in his chair leisurely and said, "Alright, the gifts have been delivered. So..." He drawled, his gaze sweeping over the three smiling faces, "As a reward for receiving the gifts, shouldn't you... also express your gratitude?"

Giving gifts without expecting anything in return? Absolutely not! Reciprocity is the correct rule of interpersonal relationships.

The smiles on Haru and Ruiko's faces paused simultaneously, and they subconsciously exchanged a glance.

They knew all too well what Higashino was thinking; he wouldn't have shown that kind of smile if it were just a normal return gift.

Ruiko boldly stood up, walked around to Higashino Yu's side, and, to his slightly surprised look, quickly lowered her head and planted a light, loud, and slightly damp kiss on his cheek.

"Thanks, Higashino-senpai!"

Immediately afterwards, Shiori Uiharu took a deep breath, her face flushed, but she stood up with an unusually serious look in her eyes.

She walked quickly to Higashino Yu, mustered all her courage, stood on tiptoe, and placed a soft kiss on his other cheek, as gentle as a feather, carrying a faint floral fragrance and a shy warmth.

"...Thank you, Senior Higashino..."

Two kisses, one on each side, left their faces instantly imprinted with different sensations and temperatures.

Index was completely stunned!

Her eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected Haru and Ruiko to be so bold; she had thought their hug at the airport was already a very intimate gesture.

Seeing that Ruiko and Haru had done so, Index also became a little restless. The atmosphere had already reached this point, so if she kissed Yu too, they probably wouldn't mind, right?

"Yu! Me too!" Index made up her mind and pounced on him without hesitation!

Instead of kissing his cheek like Ruiko and Hatsuharu did, she reached out her two small hands and cupped Higashino Yu's cheeks, stood on tiptoe, and earnestly and seriously pressed her small lips onto Higashino Yu's forehead.

After doing all this, she finally let go, her face slightly flushed from excitement and the effort she had put in.

"Me too! Thank you for the gift, Yu!"

Higashino was initially taken aback by Index's sudden and targeted "forehead kiss".

He hadn't expected Index to be so bold. Looking at the tears covering her mouth and giggling beside him, and the blushing Haru, an indescribable feeling of happiness enveloped him.

He couldn't help but burst into laughter, reaching out to ruffle the hair of the three adorable girls one by one: "Good, good, good, I received them all! I love your gifts too!"

Isn't this precisely his goal? So-called laws, morals, and rules are not reasons to bind him.

He thinks that if he likes something, he should get it; that's the kind of scum he is now! Higashino has always been very self-aware about this.

He longed for "love," and having once possessed it but lost it, he desperately craved the existence of "home."

After all, his parents passed away when he was ten years old, and the care he received afterward was actually for ulterior motives.

Therefore, Higashino cherishes this "false" yet "real" feeling. In order not to lose it again, Aleister and the Demon God will be the targets he wants to surpass.

The empty plates on the table, the four people sitting together, and the small gifts they held, all forming a warm picture called "home." The little clay figurines stayed quietly beside their owners, as if silently sharing in the peace and joy of returning home.

Chapter 65 Continued: The Great Exploration of Higashino's Room

Yesterday at noon, in the living room of Higashino Yu's apartment.

Saten Ruiko was diligently wiping the TV cabinet with a rag, while Uiharu Shiori was kneeling on the floor, carefully cleaning the corners with a vacuum cleaner.

"Phew... It's finally starting to look decent." Ruiko straightened up, wiped non-existent sweat from her forehead, and looked around the living room, which was gradually becoming tidy again. "Higashino-senpai is really something. He even forgot to close the window when he went out. It's only been two days, and it feels like a lot of dust has accumulated."

Chu Chun turned off the vacuum cleaner and responded softly, "Hmm... Senior doesn't usually care much about such small things." She paused, a hint of envy in her eyes, "I wonder how Senior and Index had fun in London... I really envy Index for being able to go to such a faraway place with Senior."

If possible, she would also like to travel abroad with her senior, as if it were a honeymoon.

Upon hearing this, Ruiko put down the rag, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and said with longing, "That's right, I'm so envious! Being able to travel abroad and be with my senior... But," she changed the subject, "I heard that my senior said it wasn't mainly for tourism, right? Apparently, it's for something important, like Index's relative over there needing to handle adoption procedures, and the tourism was just a side trip, right?"

"Ah, I see... Senpai is actually going to adopt Index? Didn't you say you were coming to Academy City to stay for a while?" Haru tilted her head in confusion, feeling that things were getting complicated.

"I'm not too sure, I'll ask when you come back. But going abroad together is still something to be envious of!" Ruiko has never been abroad in her life, and she really longs for the exotic customs of other countries.

Chu Chun nodded in understanding, her envy no less than Lei Zi's: "Aside from when we're running errands, there's still a lot of time we can go out and have fun together, which feels great."

Ruiko leaned closer to Haruharu, nudged her gently with her elbow, and whispered with a gossipy smile, "Hey, Haruharu, don't you think... Index's feelings for Higashino-senpai seem a little 'special'?"

Haru Shiori blinked, somewhat bewildered: "Special? They're cousins, isn't it normal for them to be close? Index is very dependent on her senior."

"Ugh, you blockhead!" Ruizi poked Haru's forehead in exasperation. "It's not just dependence! Haven't you noticed? Every time we get a little close to our seniors, like hugging or talking up close, Index's eyes start to wander, and her little mouth unconsciously pouts slightly. Although she hides it well, that's her jealousy!"

Shiori Haru tried hard to recall the past scenes, and it seemed... there was indeed a slightly subtle atmosphere?

"Really? Ruiko, you're so perceptive..."

“Of course!” Ruiko proudly raised her chin. “I am Ruiko-sama, the number one detective in Sakugawa! And also…”

She had an expression that said, "I think Index definitely likes Higashino-senpai too! Not the kind of liking a younger sister has for her older brother, but the same kind of liking we have!"

"Huh??" Uiharu Kazari was genuinely shocked this time, her mouth slightly agape. "No...no way? Index actually likes Senpai...but, but I didn't see that coming."

"Of course it's because I, Ruiko-sama, am very observant~" Ruiko said matter-of-factly. "Look at how Index clings to her senior, the light in her eyes is different. And, hehe, with us 'a shining example' before her, Index will definitely have different thoughts too!"

She is quite accepting of the special relationship she has formed with Haruhi Suzumiya and Higashino, and is even a little proud of it.

After all, the senior is so outstanding, no one cares how many girlfriends he has. In the future, girls will definitely flock to him one after another!

Ruiko abruptly changed the subject and dropped another bombshell: "Speaking of which, Haru, don't you think Misaka-senpai seems to have a bit of a crush on her senior?"

"Eh? Misaka-senpai?!" Uiharu Kazari's voice rose considerably this time, waving her hands repeatedly. "Impossible, impossible! Misaka-senpai is so powerful, she's a Level 5 Railgun, the princess of Tokiwadai, and... and she doesn't seem to have anything special about her..."

She couldn't imagine that the dashing Misaka-senpai would be interested in her senior, and she was present almost every time Misaka-senpai and her senior interacted, so she didn't notice anything amiss.

"That's why you're so dense!" Ruiko sighed, rubbing her forehead. "And all you can think about is Higashino-senpai, of course you don't notice anyone else! Think about how we met Misaka-senpai on our way here, didn't she stop to say hello to us?"

"Ah... um, isn't that normal? Misaka-senpai has always been very polite." Haru nodded.

“It’s not about politeness, it’s about what she asked!” Ruiko mimicked Misaka Mikoto’s tone. “‘Ah, it’s you guys, Haru. Um… uh, that guy Higashino… wasn’t he with you guys today?’ On the surface, it was a casual question, but listen closely! Misaka-senpai paused! And her tone was a little unnatural! Then we told her that senpai and Index went to London, and she asked again, ‘Going to London? What for?’ Although she pretended to be casual, I could clearly see that the tips of her ears turned a little red! Her eyes also darted around! How could a normal relationship ask such questions! And she was asking about a guy’s schedule!”

After Ruiko's analysis, Uiharu Kazari tried hard to recall, and it seemed... Misaka-senpai's expression was a little different back then? It did seem to give off a somewhat awkward feeling.

Ruiko clapped her hands: "Hehe, this is interesting! It seems Misaka-senpai also wants to join our Higashino-senpai's harem! Tsk tsk, as expected of Higashino-senpai! I wonder what Kuroko's reaction will be if she finds out about this, it will definitely be interesting!"

"Raiko! Stop talking nonsense! Harem and all that is too embarrassing!" Haru blushed with embarrassment at Ruiko's bold words and quickly changed the subject, "The living room is almost cleaned. I'll go clean Senpai's room. Why don't you go check on Index's room?"

Although it is true, it is the first time that a close friend has said it so bluntly.

She always went with the flow and let things take their course when it came to Higashino, never thinking too much about the future. She figured her senior would always be good to her, and she didn't care what the other girls were like.

"Okay!" Ruiko readily agreed, picked up her cleaning tools, and headed towards Index's room.

In early spring, she gently pushed open the door to Higashino Yu's bedroom. The room was still tidy, but it lacked the warmth of its owner and felt somewhat deserted. She picked up a rag and began to carefully wipe the desk and bedside table.

As she wiped, her gaze involuntarily drifted to the bed. Her mind uncontrollably began to fantasize about her senior's gentle embrace, his deep, pleasant voice whispering words that made her blush and her heart race, and then her mustering the courage to kiss him…

As I thought about it, my heart started racing in early spring, and my cheeks felt hot.

She stopped what she was doing and, as if drawn by some invisible force, slowly walked to the bedside.

She hesitated for a moment, then, like a thief, peeked furtively at the door before carefully sitting on the edge of the bed. A soft touch came from beneath her, seemingly still carrying the unique, reassuring scent of Higashino Yu. This feeling made her both shy and secretly thrilled.

She couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke the smooth sheets. Finally, as if she had made up her mind, she slowly, very slowly lay down.

Her body sank into the soft bed, instantly enveloped by that familiar yet unsettling scent—the faint, indescribable aroma of Higashino-senpai.

In early spring, she couldn't help but bury her face in the thin blanket folded beside her pillow and take a deep, greedy breath.

The energy seemed to carry an electric current, instantly coursing through her limbs and bones, giving her a slightly intoxicating dizziness and an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

She closed her eyes, hugging the blanket as if she were hugging her beloved senior, immersed in a private space where only she and her senior's presence existed, feeling both shy and reluctant to let go.

"Mmm... the taste of my senior..." She unconsciously let out a soft, satisfied hum, like a kitten, and relaxed completely.