Chapter 330: Kotonoha Gets Seasick
The day of the agreed beach outing arrived quickly.
As planned, everyone gathered at Hachiman's house early in the morning.
Yukino, who had been taken away by her sister, returned to the apartment yesterday. Her expression remained as calm and cold as usual, giving no indication of whether anything unpleasant had happened at home.
After a simple breakfast at Hachiman's house, the group boarded a rented bus and set off towards their destination.
Before long, the bus came to a steady stop.
They arrived at a bustling dock, where a gentle sea breeze greeted them. Looking out into the distance, they could see the endless sea, with blue waves crashing against the rocky shore.
Not far from the dock, a luxurious black car was parked. Without a doubt, it belonged to Erina and Alice.
As the group got off the bus, Hachiman approached the black car alone.
The car door opened, revealing a dazzling sight of golden hair.
"You're so slow," Erina said, arms crossed, with a displeased expression.
"Sorry, sorry. There were a lot of people, so it took some time," Hachiman replied with a slight smile.
Seeing the group of girls not far behind him, many of whom were familiar faces from their last beach trip, Erina couldn't help but recall the scene of her and him kissing, which made her feel a little unhappy.
This jerk is so welcoming.
However, as the heiress of the Totsuki Conglomerate, she naturally wouldn't lose her manners in public.
"Well, forget it. Let's get on the ship. We should arrive at the island around noon," Erina said before turning and heading towards the Nakiri family's private yacht.
Hisako naturally followed closely behind her mistress, and as for Alice, who initially wanted to stay behind and chat with Hachiman, she was dragged onto the ship by Erina.
Seeing the three of them walk away, Hachiman shrugged and turned to beckon the girls to board the ship together.
The Nakiri family's private beach was on a separate small island, so they naturally had to take a boat to get there.
Once everyone was on board and the ship's horn sounded, white waves splashed on both sides as the yacht gradually left the dock and headed towards the island destination.
On the deck, the girls gathered in groups, chatting away.
Vignette walked up to the second-floor deck, gazing at the endless sea. Beside her, Satania was continuously taking photos.
"Vigne, look, it's the real ocean! So blue, not black at all," Satania exclaimed excitedly after snapping a picture.
"Yeah, and there are none of those scary and weird creatures. It's amazing," Vignette replied with a hint of joy in her tone.
Although their conversation was quiet, Hachiman could still hear them clearly. He couldn't help but smile wryly, marveling at the wonders of the demon realm's ocean.
Meanwhile, Hachiman was resting on a lounge chair on the first floor.
Seeing him lounging lazily, Komachi nearby felt a bit frustrated.
"Onii-chan is such an idiot, just lying there sunbathing. Is it even sunbathing time now? He should be chatting with these sisters. With so many girls here, there's bound to be one who could be his sister-in-law."
Noticing Komachi's meaningful gaze, Hachiman shrugged and sat up from the lounge chair.
Looking around, he noticed that Kotonoha's complexion seemed a bit pale.
This made him worry as he approached her.
"Kotonoha, what's wrong? You don't look too good."
Seeing Hachiman approach her, Kotonoha just shook her head slightly.
"I-I'm fine."
Hey, there's no way you look fine with that expression.
Just as Hachiman was about to ask again, Kotonoha's sister, Kokoro, spoke up beside her.
"Hachiman-niisan, Onee-chan is feeling seasick."
"Eh... Kokoro."
Didn't expect her own sister to sell her out like this. But given her personality, she naturally didn't want to cause trouble for her crush. She shook her head again, forcing a strained smile on her face.
"I'm fine, Hachiman-kun, just a little seasick."
A gust of sea breeze blew, lifting the girls' hair, and the black strands danced in the wind, giving off a graceful vibe reminiscent of a Japanese beauty. However, coupled with her slightly pale complexion at the moment, she looked more like a delicate sister who was often ill.
"How can you be okay? Have you forgotten how you looked when you got seasick last time?" Although Kotonoha's intentions were good, she couldn't resist her sister's consecutive teasing.
"Kokoro, please stop."
"But sis..."
Seeing the two sisters like this, Hachiman shook his head.
"Alright, Kotonoha, don't blame Kokoro. After all, she's just concerned about your health."
"If you're feeling seasick, don't force yourself."
"It's no trouble for Hachiman-kun. I'll be fine." Kotonoha shook her head, signaling to Hachiman not to worry.
But the next moment, a wave of nausea surged, causing the girl's eyebrows to furrow slightly.
Seeing this scene, Hachiman felt a pang of pity.
That's just like Kotonoha, always putting herself last. She's undervaluing herself too much. Looks like I need to have a proper talk with her when I get the chance.
"Give me your hand."
"Eh?"
Although the girl was surprised, she obediently stretched out her left hand.
Her fingers were long and fair, and faint blue veins could even be seen on the back of her hand.
Grabbing Kotonoha's hand, Hachiman secretly activated a strand of holy light and transmitted it through her hand.
"Eh?"
Kotonoha was surprised to find that after Hachiman held her hand, the intense nausea in her heart had significantly reduced. This surprised her because during her previous seasickness, the strong nausea almost made her feel like she was going to vomit bile.
But why now...
Could it be because Hachiman-kun is by my side?
Feeling the warmth transmitted through her hand, the girl blushed inexplicably.
Seeing the two hands held together, Kokoro's face lit up with a smug smile, and then she ran off to chat with Komachi nearby.
As for her sister, having Hachiman's company was enough for her now.
Although Hachiman's use of holy light was very discreet, two people present still noticed it.
It was naturally Gabriel and Raphiel, the two angels. As angels, they were naturally extremely sensitive to holy light.
However, Gabriel just glanced at it and then lay back on the lounge chair like a salted fish.
As for Raphiel, she looked at the two clasped hands with flickering eyes, her thoughts unknown.
After more than an hour of sailing, the yacht finally docked.
Chapter 331: We Have a Traitor Among Us
As the boat steadied at the shore, everyone disembarked one after another.
This island was entirely developed by the Totsuki conglomerate and now served as a tourist destination. Before Hachiman and the others arrived, they had already seen several boats docked along the shore.
However, as the developers of the entire island, the Nakiri family naturally reserved a private territory for themselves.
They all got into a special car, preparing to head to the other side of the island, where the Nakiri family had reserved their private estate.
After about half an hour, they arrived outside a villa by the seaside.
The villa was surrounded by a fence, with small flower gardens on each side, filled with flowers of various colors, their petals adorned with glistening dewdrops, giving them a radiant appearance.
Entering the villa, they were greeted by a floor made of black marble, shining like a mirror.
In the living room, a luxurious chandelier made of crystal hung from the ceiling, and the decorations on the walls were elegant and exquisite, exuding a sense of sophistication.
There were plush European-style sofas, and across from them was a large rear-projection TV that almost occupied the entire wall.
In addition, there was a huge floor-to-ceiling window, and sitting on the sofa, one could see the view of the seaside just by turning their head.
However, the weather was a bit disappointing at the moment, with the sky gray and overcast, and dark clouds drifting, indicating that rain might be imminent.
"Oh, looks like it's going to rain."
Seeing the weather outside, Komachi sighed, and she wasn't alone; the mood of the girls was also a bit gloomy.
After all, they had come to the seaside for fun, but now they were faced with the prospect of rain, which naturally dampened their spirits.
However, there was one exception, and that was Gabriel.
Initially reluctant to come to the beach with Vignette and the others, she was now relieved, as if it rained, she could openly play games in the room.
"Don't be upset, everyone. Maybe the weather will clear up later," Raphiel suddenly said with a smile.
"Yeah, since it's almost lunchtime, let's eat first. Perhaps after lunch, the weather will improve," Hachiman also comforted the girls.
As he spoke, he glanced at Raphiel. He remembered from the original story that this devious angel could simply make a phone call and make the weather clear up.
Feeling Hachiman's gaze, Raphiel blinked at him discreetly.
Seeing this, Hachiman couldn't help but feel relieved.
It seems like it's going to be a sunny day today.
With his worries eased, he continued, "Erina, there should be ingredients here, right?"
"Of course, we've prepared more than enough ingredients since we decided to come here beforehand," Erina nodded.
"That's good. Let's start preparing lunch then," Hachiman smiled.
"Erina, can you help me?" he continued.
Among all the girls present, Erina was the best cook, so asking her for help was reasonable.
"Sure," she didn't refuse either, as this was also an opportunity for her to practice her cooking skills.
Hisako also spoke up, "Miss Erina, let me help you too."
Erina looked at Hachiman, as he was the main chef.
"Then Hisako can help too," Hachiman thought for a moment and nodded.
The three of them went into the kitchen and started preparing lunch.
Although Alice was also skilled in cooking, she chose not to help this time.
After all, molecular gastronomy, her specialty, often required high-end equipment to truly showcase her skills. If it was just about cooking, she estimated her skills were similar to Hisako's.
One assistant was enough, so she stayed out.
In the living room, Yukino and Kotonoha each brewed a cup of tea for everyone.
Both of them had undergone systematic training in the art of tea brewing, so their movements were graceful and pleasing to the eye.
Before long, the kitchen began to fill with tantalizing aromas.
Smelling the tempting fragrance, the foodie girls couldn't help but feel a bit impatient, but out of courtesy, they continued sipping their tea, trying to suppress their cravings.
However, this only led to them quickly running to the bathroom.
After more than an hour, the dishes were finally ready, and Hachiman took off his apron and walked into the living room.
"Alright, lunch is ready."
Hearing this, the foodie girls, led by Komachi, rushed to wash their hands, including the ever-calm Shizuka.
Seeing this, Hachiman shook his head with a wry smile. Then, he glanced over and saw Raphiel holding her phone, seemingly making a call.
With his hearing, he only caught the last sentence, "So I'll leave this matter to you," before the girl hung up the phone.
Sensing Hachiman's gaze, the girl blinked at him and then went to wash her hands as well.
Soon, all the girls were seated around the dining table, eagerly awaiting the meal.
At this point, Hachiman began to bring the dishes to the table, one by one.
With a lot of people present, there were plenty of dishes laid out on the table.
There were black pepper steak, stir-fried shrimp, sweet and sour pork ribs, shredded cabbage, creamy stewed vegetables, katsuo daishi, chicken with mushrooms, mapo tofu, French fish soup, and a few home-cooked dishes like shredded potatoes with green peppers and Japanese-style rolled omelet.
Of course, the main dish was rice, with each girl served a bowl. Hachiman also took his seat at the table.
Seeing him sit down, the eager girls couldn't wait any longer and uttered their customary pre-meal phrases.
Komachi: "Let's dig in!"
Komachi: "As always, Onii-chan's cooking is the best."
Kokoro: "Yeah, Hachiman-niisan's dishes are super delicious."
Yui: "That's right, no matter how many times we eat, it's always delicious."
Yukino: "Yui, slow down, your mouth is full."
Yumiko: "Well, it's okay, but compared to those hotel chefs, it's still better."
Erina: "Hmph, reluctantly admitting it, but this guy's cooking is better."
Hisako: "Miss Erina's cooking skills are also impressive. I believe you'll soon surpass Hachiman-kun."
Alice: "Haha, give it up, Erina. You'll never beat Hachiman-kun."
Vignette: "I didn't expect Hachiman-kun, being a guy, to be such a great cook. I always feel a bit inferior."
Raphiel: "Don't worry, Vigne, someone with Hachiman-kun's cooking skills is one in a million."
Satania: "Although it's really delicious, I still think pineapple buns are better. Pineapple buns are the best in the world."
Gabriel: "I am a merciless eating machine."
Ebina: "I am a merciless eating machine +1."
Shizuka: "I am a merciless eating machine +2."
"... "
Well, the merciless eating machines have increased.
But not long after lunch started, they noticed the weather outside turning from overcast to clear, with the dark clouds in the sky gradually dissipating.
"Look, the weather has cleared up!" Komachi exclaimed happily as she looked at the gradually clearing sky outside.
"Great, now we can go out and play in the afternoon."
Seeing the clear sky, the girls were naturally quite happy because they didn't come to the beach to stay indoors but to play on the beach.
However, Gabriel, who was acting as a merciless eating machine, seemed to sense something. She shuddered and then looked at Raphiel beside her with disbelief.
Her eyes were filled with the words "we have a traitor among us."
Hachiman also understood what was going on. It seemed that the phone call from Raphiel had worked.
After all, this sly angel came from a prestigious family in the heavenly realm, and manipulating the weather was just a small matter that could be accommodated through connections.
Being stared at by Gabriel, Raphiel asked knowingly, "What's wrong, Gabriel?"
Seeing her smile, Gabriel couldn't help but feel annoyed.
After all, the identities of the two angels were supposed to be a secret. She couldn't just say in front of so many people that Raphiel had used a backdoor in heaven to change the weather.
Unable to do anything about it, Gabriel had no choice but to turn her frustration into appetite and eat more, because she knew that after the weather cleared up, Vignette would definitely drag her out to play.
Damn it, Raphiel, you scoundrel, you actually betrayed me without honor... no, without virtue.
I advise you to watch out for yourself, or else I'll report you to heaven for unethical behavior.
Sigh, but no matter what, my wish to stay in the room and play games is definitely going to be dashed.
Thinking this, Gabriel ate even faster.
...
After lunch and a good rest, everyone went upstairs to change into swimsuits. After all, the weather had cleared up, so of course, they were going to the beach to play.
As for Hachiman, he just changed into swim trunks and that was it. It didn't take him more than two minutes to come back downstairs.
His fully upgraded physique made his figure almost perfect, with a tall and slender body. Although his body wasn't as muscular as a bodybuilder's, the contours were quite prominent, giving the impression of a agile cheetah, brimming with explosive power.
With eight-pack abs, if a photo of him were posted on a dating website, many girls would definitely not be able to resist drooling.
After changing clothes, Hachiman didn't choose to wait foolishly in the living room. After all, based on his past experience, waiting for girls to change clothes foolishly was definitely a wrong decision.
Even for swimsuits, which only had two pieces of fabric, it was impossible for them to come out without taking at least twenty minutes.
Leading the way to the beach, he didn't idle either. He set up a sunshade, beach chairs, and beach balls, among other things that would be needed.
In addition, he brought out a mini fridge with some fruit juice and cola inside.
After setting all this up, Hachiman lay down on a lounge chair, holding a cup of chilled fruit juice, and waited leisurely.
Next up was the show he had been waiting for: a beach swimsuit fashion show featuring a gathering of beauties.
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A/N:
I'm uploading early today because my head hurts so much, and I need to sleep early to rest.
Of you want to read advance chapters ahead.
Visit my patreon: patrèon.com/Flaptzy
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