Chapter 554: The So-Called Joint Development

Chapter 554: The So-Called Joint Development

Not doing the H-thing was fine too. Life, he thought, should be lived simply. They were still high school students, so studying should be their priority.

Thinking this, Himekoji bid Mashiro “Good night” and then sank into sleep by himself.

His eyes soon closed and opened again, only to find Mashiro gone from the bed. Instead, Yukinoshita was sitting at the desk beside his bed.

Right, I almost forgot this is a lewd dream!

It seemed Yukinoshita had gone to sleep properly tonight.

Himekoji couldn’t help but feel grateful he’d saved his energy. He flipped over, got out of bed, and walked up to her.

“Studying… Chinese?” he asked.

He saw Yukinoshita was using his computer to study Chinese lessons.

“Hmm,” Yukinoshita responded. She’d noticed him getting up but didn’t turn around. She just kept writing and sketching notes in her notebook. “I thought dreams should be used for something more meaningful. So, I decided to use this time to study.”

Hearing this threw Himekoji for a loop. He thought, You can actually do that?! No wonder it’s the mindset of someone smart!

Himekoji decided to support Yukinoshita’s hard work and studiousness. This way, he didn’t have to perform his duties in bed.

The past week had indeed been a bit too carefree and unrestrained, especially with Mashiro lying right next to him in the real world…

Though he’d been completely convinced by the System’s “love isn’t exclusive” theory to go all out, he still felt a bit guilty and restrained now that he was really being a playboy. The guilt and regret weren’t things he could just toss away. Luckily, “World Reset” was in effect. Even though it didn’t really feel like it yet, at least it painted a bright picture for the future – he had the bare minimum justification and confidence for a “happy harem” life.

As for later… he’d have to take it one step at a time. Surviving his phase as a pervert had been tough, so there was no reason to hesitate now that happiness was this close.

Himekoji shook his head, pushing these thoughts away for now.

He stepped closer, naturally reached out, and placed his hand over Yukinoshita’s as she held the mouse. He moved the mouse while his other hand tapped the keyboard.

“For beginners, start with pinyin,” he suggested. “Since you’re going as an exchange student, focus your efforts on listening and speaking skills for daily life and studying. What do you think?”

Himekoji expertly typed keywords, searched, browsed, opened webpages, and highlighted important parts.

Yukinoshita sat at the desk. Himekoji leaned slightly over her for easier computer access, effectively cradling her body within his arms. The tips of her ears, peeking through her hair, flushed slightly pink. She nodded obediently, letting Himekoji guide her hand on the mouse, teaching her step-by-step.

Was it his imagination? This seemed to make Yukinoshita’s heart flutter more than… that did.

“You know Chinese?”

“A little, I suppose.”

That’s what Himekoji said, but Yukinoshita quickly discovered just how modest his “a little” really was.

“You could be a teacher,” she remarked.

Himekoji’s teaching was straightforward and easy to understand. Yukinoshita rarely gave compliments like this, so when she did, it was because it was true.

“I only teach students I like.”

Yukinoshita opened her mouth speechlessly, then couldn’t resist elbowing Himekoji in annoyance: “I don’t like teachers who like their own students.”

It sounded like she meant someone specific – certainly something that would embarrass Hiratsuka Shizuka if she heard.

Himekoji didn’t get the hint: “Then wait until I finish teaching you, then you can like me.”

He said this because Yukinoshita was learning very fast.

He stayed close to her for a long time, the faint scent from her drifting to his nose. Yukinoshita kept studying diligently, but Himekoji, while teaching, couldn’t help his thoughts starting to wander and get a little… improper.

This wouldn’t do!

While there were plenty of videos with plots about teaching leading to the bed, Himekoji was determined to be a proper teacher tonight. He steadied himself and used a trip to the bathroom as an excuse, planning to splash cold water on his face to calm down.

“You need to go to the bathroom even in a dream?” Yukinoshita asked casually.

Himekoji gave a dry cough. “Seems it’s a bit too real…”

Too real, he thought – if you never woke up, it might as well be reality. When he thought about it properly, it was kind of terrifying.

…

Near midnight, Mashiro was sure the big dummy lying beside her was sound asleep. She opened her eyes in the darkness and quietly got out of bed.

She had to do something. It was ridiculous, but she’d decided to do it.

That thing was…

Opening the door for Akiko!

Probably few remembered, but way back in Chapter 333, Mashiro had already boarded Akiko’s pirate ship.

Back then, Mashiro was naive. Akiko had sweet-talked and tricked her into signing a cooperation strategy named “Shelving Disputes, Joint Development”.

Akiko brought it up again now, talking about the “spirit of the contract” and explaining the pros and cons. Mashiro got thoroughly confused by Akiko’s twists and turns and ended up agreeing.

When Mashiro opened the door, Akiko was already waiting eagerly outside. To boost her courage, she was holding a half-empty beer bottle. Around her feet lay countless empty cans.

“Hiccup!” Akiko hiccuped, her cheeks flushed red. She patted Mashiro – who was already getting drowsy – forcefully on the shoulder, both pleased and touched. “Good sis! From now on, we’ll divide and rule this house! My kids are your kids! Your kids… well, focus on your career first, no rush to have any!”

Akiko took another swig, then reluctantly shoved the bottle into Mashiro’s arms. She gave a sloppy salute, her words slurred: “T-thanks for the h-hard work, Comrade Mashiro! G-Go… get some sleep! You’ll get the… the top credit for making this happen!”

Having said that, Akiko started floating away with light steps, heading unsteadily into Himekoji’s room, giggling “Hehehe” like a total creep.

She’d tried countless night raids without success. She’d finally decided to bribe an insider to achieve everything in one go!

Tonight was Akiko’s harvest night!

Mashiro had been really sleepy early on, and now she was barely conscious. She only knew she’d finished the task Akiko gave her. Mission accomplished! She just wanted to return to her own room to sleep.

Taking the bottle Akiko handed her, she instinctively hugged it and took a few sips. She completely forgot her terrible tolerance for alcohol. After downing almost half the bottle, her body spun around; she became hopelessly disoriented. She had just left Himekoji’s room, but now stumbled uncertainly, cutely off-balance, right back inside.

As Akiko climbed onto Himekoji’s bed, giggling “Hehehe,” Mashiro followed right behind, still clutching the bottle.

It was pitch black. This small bed could barely fit two people, let alone three.

Taking up space, Himekoji, at a certain point, was unceremoniously kicked off the bed by the two girls thinking he was in their way.

Akiko busied herself huffing and puffing, trying to take off Mashiro’s clothes. While liquor gave her courage, it also had downsides. She didn’t realize the person in her arms was a woman. She just started clumsily planting messy kisses wherever she could.

So much smoother and nicer-smelling than I imagined!

Mashiro was amazingly tolerant too, putting up no resistance and letting Akiko do as she pleased.

She just slept through it.

…

Himekoji thought about going to the bathroom to cool down. His eyes closed and opened, and he found himself lying on the floor. Lifting his head, he saw Yukinoshita was gone from the desk. A pressing urge to pee flared sharply in his lower belly.

Huh?

Himekoji was puzzled for a second but immediately understood.

He really needed to go to the bathroom. So, the need to pee had literally woken him up inside the dream…

He shook his head with a wry smile, got up from the floor, and walked straight out to open the door.

The moment he opened it, he heard an “Oof!” A small, shadowy figure stumbled outside and fell right into his arms.

What the heck?!

…

…