thefictionvixens Page 77
Page 77
"Not bad at all." Shi Yu took the phone, looked at it, and nodded in satisfaction.
"I want to take a picture too!" Eriri immediately ran over. "Yuto, help me take a picture!"
"it is good."
Eriri struck a pose, but the result just didn't feel quite right.
"You idiot, Yuto! Why did you take such a short picture of me!"
"It's probably a matter of angle..." Yuto Itsuka said helplessly, "Why don't you stand a little higher on the steps?"
"Itsuka-kun, would you like me to take a group photo for you?" Kato Megumi asked, holding up her phone.
“Okay.” Yuto Itsuka nodded.
"I don't want to be with him..." Eriri hadn't finished speaking when Kasumigaoka Utaha pulled her away.
"Come on, Sawamura-kun, it's rare to get out and have fun, don't be such a spoilsport." Utaha put one arm around Eriri's shoulder and naturally linked her other arm with Itsuka Yuto's arm.
"Hey! Kasumigaoka Utaha! What are you doing?!" Eriri struggled.
"Don't move, I'm about to take the picture." Kato Megumi calmly pressed the shutter.
In the photo, Yuto Itsuka stands in the middle with a helpless expression, Eriri pouts with a reluctant look, while Utaha Kasumigaoka smiles like a cat that has stolen some cream.
After taking photos, the group continued walking and arrived at the Rainbow Deck in the second work area. The distinctive feature here is the stone platform and the arched design, which is said to be modeled after the style of northern Italy.
“The view is much wider here.” Yuto Itsuka gazed into the distance, where he could vaguely make out the outline of an island in the distance.
"Junior, what are you thinking about?" Kasumigaoka Utaha walked up to him.
He casually remarked, "I was thinking about the third volume and a new work."
"Oh dear, you're still thinking about work while you're out having fun, junior, you're really dedicated." Shiyu chuckled. "But, is it really appropriate to be thinking about this with three beautiful girls around? How about... thinking about something else?"
She uttered the last sentence slowly in a seductive voice.
Unable to withstand the attack, Itsuka Yuto turned and headed towards the Nagisa deck in the third work area.
This area is planted with many flowers and trees, making it more tranquil than the previous two work areas.
However, after walking around for so long, no one was really in the mood to appreciate anything anymore.
"I'm a little hungry." Eriri rubbed her stomach.
"Let's go back to the guesthouse for dinner first," said Itsuka Yuto, glancing at the time.
……
……
[P.S.: This is how it is in my hometown. In the local dialect, we call them "mantou" (馒头), not "baozi" (包子). Some old shops in the old streets even have signs that say "meat mantou" (肉馒头) or similar.]
Volume 1: Chapter 99: Yuto Itsuka Through Utaha Kasumigaoka's Eyes
As evening fell, the four returned to their guesthouse.
Dinner was a sumptuous Japanese meal prepared by the old lady, including fresh sashimi, grilled fish, tempura, and stews made with local vegetables.
"Grandma's cooking is really good," Yuto Itsuki praised.
"Eat more if you like," the old woman said with a smile.
The atmosphere at dinner was harmonious, perhaps because of the delicious food, and Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha temporarily ceased their conflict.
The old woman seemed particularly talkative when she saw the group of young boys and girls, perhaps because her children weren't around.
"You've all come from Tokyo, haven't you?" she asked.
“Yes, I came to Izu specifically for summer vacation,” Yuto Itsuka replied, swallowing the sashimi in his mouth.
"Ah, Tokyo is wonderful," the old woman said with a touch of wistfulness. "Young man, can't you have a drink?"
Yuto Itsuka quickly waved his hand: "I'm not even 20 yet."
Hearing him say that, the old woman said regretfully, "It's wine that my husband brewed himself. It's been stored in the basement and I haven't touched it since he passed away."
"The young man looks very kind, and I feel a sense of closeness with him, so I've become more talkative. If you don't mind, please take some with you before you leave."
Her expression was sincere, not just polite.
Yuto Itsuka, who had initially intended to be polite, suppressed his thoughts and said instead, "Then, I shall accept your offer."
The old woman nodded with a smile.
Eriri, who was quietly eating her meal nearby, saw this and gave Kasumigaoka Utaha a look, meaning, "See? I told you this guy is attractive to everyone, young and old." Utaha replied, "Indeed."
For the rest of the time, the old woman talked about her own things, while the others listened.
The old woman's name is Matsuma Seiko. Her husband passed away from illness a few years ago, and her son works in a big city, leaving her to run this guesthouse.
Afterwards, he talked to a few people about Izu and Atami, and at the end, he recommended some small restaurants that are not commonly known to tourists, offering good food at reasonable prices, and places that are not crowded but have beautiful scenery.
"My mother-in-law is so warm and welcoming," Yuto Itsuka exclaimed.
After eating and drinking their fill, the group went upstairs to rest in their rooms—he was also temporarily allowed to stay in the girls' room.
"She probably feels a strong connection with Itsuka-kun," Kato Megumi said.
“I think so too.” Eriri nodded seriously.
She then said, "That's how it was when I was little. Even though there were many other kids my age living around my house, I just liked playing with Yuto."
“Ah, it’s ‘like’.” Kasumigaoka Utaha grasped the key point.
"That's obviously not what I meant," Yuto Itsuka said helplessly.
Eriri asked, "What are we going to do tonight?"
Shiyu: "What are we going to do?"
Kato Megumi: "What are you doing?"
"In short, it won't be soaking in hot springs." Yuto Itsuka understood what they meant and refused directly. "Soaking in hot springs in the summer is definitely not something a normal person would do. I was overthinking it before."
Although the temperature difference between day and night is large in Atami, it will be close to 20 degrees Celsius tonight, which is not particularly cool. Soaking in a hot spring at this time is only a matter of being crazy.
The three girls did not object.
"How about we play 'Catch the Ghost'?" Shiyu suggested.
"Okay," everyone agreed.
The four of them sat around the large tatami mat in the girl's room and started playing a game of "Catch the Ghost".
ten minutes later.
"Ugh! Kasumigaoka Utaha won again!" Eriri angrily threw down her cards. "Did you cheat?!"
“Oh, Sawamura-kun, a bet's a bet,” Kasumigaoka Utaha said smugly. “As punishment, answer one question for me.”
"What's the problem?" Eriri stared at her warily.
"Hmm... what do you think are the advantages of my junior?" Shiyu thought for a moment and asked a less provocative question.
"Huh?!" Eriri clearly didn't want to answer the question. "Why are you asking that guy when you're asking me?"
"Answer quickly," Shiyu urged.
Eriri glanced at Yuto Itsuka furtively and stammered, "He...he's a very good cook."
It was about bringing her lunch last week.
"anything else?"
"And... he's really good at writing novels."
"anything else?"
"N-No, that's all!" Eriri said, embarrassed and angry. "It's my turn to ask you!"
"So, in Sawamura's eyes, these are the only few good points you have?" Kasumigaoka Utaha looked as if she had just realized something.
"of course not!"
Eriri had no choice but to say a few more things, such as that he was very handsome and had excellent grades, before Utaha finally let her go.
In the next round, Eriri put in all her effort and finally won.
She looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha with a sinister gaze, but the latter remained unmoved.
"It's your turn to speak!" Eriri said smugly.
"Ah, what does Sawamura-kun want to ask?"
"I want to ask the same question!"
"Hmm... Junior's good points? There are many... He's gentle, and even though he's become a bestselling author, he's willing to help unknown writers without expecting anything in return."
"Kindness means genuinely respecting those with disabilities."
"I work hard. As a bestselling author, I still haven't given up on 'wanting to write better works.' As the top student in my grade, I haven't slacked off in my studies either." She smiled self-deprecatingly as she said this.
She then continued, "Persistence. As far as I know, when the first volume of the beautiful teacher was released, things didn't go so smoothly, but he wasn't affected by the outside world and was able to stick to his original intentions."
“Of course, there’s also the fact that he’s very popular with girls.” Kasumigaoka Utaha winked playfully at Itsuka Yuto.
Yuto Itsuka, listening from the side, was both amused and exasperated; he had no idea he had so many strengths.
Eriri was speechless. She was already regretting asking this woman; her tone of voice sounded like a confession!
Kato Megumi sat quietly to one side, watching them with a smile.
……
After playing until a little past ten o'clock, Itsuka Yuto stood up and said, "It's getting late, I'm going back to my room first, you guys should get some rest too."
"Goodnight, Itsuka-kun," Kato Megumi said.
"Good night."
Back in his room, after taking a shower, Yuto Itsuka made up the bedding and lay down on the tatami mat.
The sounds of girls washing up came from next door, along with Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha arguing.
Sure enough, the sound insulation was very poor.
At this time, the mobile phone rang.
He took it out and glanced at it; it was a message from Shoko.
"Nishimiya Shoko: Yuto-kun, are you in Izu? Did you have fun today?"
Yuto Itsuka smiled and replied:
"Who's more handsome than me? I arrived at noon, strolled around the area, the scenery was beautiful, I'm going to the beach tomorrow."
"Nishimiya Shoko: The beach! It's so nice. (Cat looking envious.jpg)"
"Who's more handsome than me? I'll bring you a gift."
Nishimiya Shoko: Hmm!
Nishimiya Shoko: Well then, I won't disturb your rest. Goodnight, Yuto-kun.
"Who's more handsome than me? Goodnight."
After wandering around for most of the day, he was a little tired. After ending his conversation with Shoko, he turned off the light, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.
……
……
[ps1: To be honest, splitting it into chapters is a bit of a hassle, so I'll just post a combined chapter from now on. That way, I won't have to think of as many chapter titles as I need...]
I usually type everything out in one go; it just doesn't feel right when I type it out in parts.
[ps2: Rain, heavy rain, really heavy rain... accompanied by rumbling thunder, this kind of weather, Suki]
Volume 1: Chapter 100: The Beach! The Sea! Swimsuits!
Just after five in the morning, the sky over the Izu Peninsula was already turning a pale white.