Chapter 43 – Returning Home and Balsamic Vinegar
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Because of my excessive arousal, we spent more time making out than on magic practice. Just like with Chiyu and Shouko, I did pleasure Minori as well so that it wouldn’t end with me being the only one satisfied, but because she was so cute when she became bashful, my dick got erect again. Noticing that, Minori started to give me another handjob…with this process repeating itself over and over again, time melted away like ice in the summer sun.
Having said that, there was a limit to our stamina as well, and so we eventually found a natural exit from this loop.
After dealing with our dirty clothes and the wet towels we used to clean our bodies, Minori stood up with her face still flushed.
“L-Let’s go back soon, okay?”
“R-Right. Before I noticed it, it was evening…”
“F-Forgive me. Because of me…”
“No, no, that’s not it at all…”
We went on our way back home while both being embarrassed. On a side note: This marks me as having experienced perverted stuff with all four of my party members.
This is something that would get me stabbed if we were still in Japan, but fortunately, I’m in a dream-like situation where all of them have agreed to this.
As far as I’m concerned, this uninhabited island transfer might be more beneficial than detrimental.
“K-Kuno-kun…?”
“Mmh? What’s up?”
“U-Umm…it doesn’t matter if you dislike it, but…c-could we hold hands?” She innocently asked, apparently fearing that I’d turn her down.
Thus, I immediately answered, “Sure, no problem at all.”
Truthfully, though, it’s my first time receiving such a request.
I gently clasped her hand. And even though our actions a little while ago had been a lot more extreme, I felt strangely fidgety about holding hands with her.
Somehow, the way things are proceeding is slanted. I mean, holding hands after having her give me a handjob is kind of getting things backward.
“Thanks…umm, I know it doesn’t fit my image, but I’ve always wanted to do something like this.”
“I don’t think fitting an image matters here in any way. I also felt jealous whenever I saw couples go back home while holding hands.
“…Didn’t you experience this with Chiyu-san beforehand?”
Minori looked surprised.
“I feel like we did it when both were still in elementary school, but…after entering junior high, we never held hands.”
“I-I see…”
Minori’s voice sounded somewhat happy.
“H-Hey, Kuno-kun.”
“Mmh?”
“Umm, I couldn’t do it well before, but…you know, w-would it be okay for me to call y-you by your first name?”
When I was wondering what she was going to ask, it was something so simple.
“Yeah, feel free to call me whatever you like.”
“T-Then…can I call you Sousuke-san?”
“Sure. You can also leave the honorifics away.”
“No…please let me use Sousuke-san.”
“Got it. Is it fine for me to keep you calling Minori?”
“Yep. Let me say once again: I’m looking forward to spending time with you, Sousuke-san,” said Minori while all smiles.
“Yeah, same to you.”
“A-Also…i-if you feel like it, please call me at any time.”
“Minori…if you tell a guy something like that, he’ll get carried away.”
“Hehe, that might actually be better in your case, Sousuke-san. You’re usually too kind.”
“G-Got it. I’ll rely on you without holding back then.”
“Yes, please do. I’ll wait in anticipation.”
“I might ask for things you hate, though.”
“If I really dislike something, I’m sure you’ll stop doing it… But don’t worry. I don’t think I’ll hate anything you ask of me,” Minori said while gently placing her head on my shoulder.
Shit…she’s way too cute. Or rather, all four of them are so damn charming, aren’t they?
Just like that, the two of us went back home while holding hands.
Eventually, we arrived at our base. In front of the entrance way, we naturally let go of each other’s hands and entered the building.
“We’re home~”
“Welcome back. Shii-chan, the two are back,” Shouko yelled from the living room.
“Sousuke-kuuuun. I feel sorry to ask right after you came back, but could you help me here?”
“Sure.”
“Hehe, Sousuke-san, you’re a popular guy, aren’t you?”
“My Crafting Ability is quite convenient after all.”
“Again with that excuse. We can rely on you like this because it’s you.”
While passing through the living room, Chiyu cast a “Welcome Back Heal” on us. And then Chiyu and Shouko flanked Minori, dragging her away while asking, “Minori, you’re late today, aren’t you? You had quite a bit of fun, huh?” “Nn, you’ll have to spit out everything. Sharing information is important.”
“I-I know. I plan to tell you everything,” while listening to Minori answering that, I went towards the kitchen.
“Shion, what should I make?”
“Ah, welcome back, Sousuke-kun. You see, I was wondering whether you can make balsamic vinegar out of wild grapes.”
Given there’s a basket full of grapes and sugar beet in the kitchen, I should store them away.
“…It’s something I only know by name, though.”
“Ah, sorry. Hmm, you could say it’s a vinegar that’s made by letting concentrated grape juice mature for a long time.”
“Okay, I see. So you first remove the fruit juice from the wild grapes, and then you create balsamic vinegar out of it, huh…? Oh, the recipe appeared.”
It looks like I can make seasonings. Skipping the maturing period is also one of the advantages of my Crafting Ability.
“Nothing less of you, Sousuke-kun…!”
Shion looked happy.
It seems to be a product that needs to mature for at least twelve years, so I can fully understand why she’s happy.
“What are you going to use this for?”
“He he he…look forward to finding out once it’s finished!”
After her inauguration as head chef, Shion has started to show us very lively expressions. Her love of cooking definitely plays a role in this change, but I think it’s also because she found her own role under the current circumstances.
“Shion, your cooking is great, so I’ll definitely look forward to it.”
“Yep…! Ah, also――”
“What is it?”
“Could you tell Minori-chan that I’ll also listen to her recount later on?”
I could only nod as Shion smiled brightly.
“…Y-Yeah, I will.”
It might undoubtedly be a bit late not to notice, but the womanly perception of these three is way too keen, isn’t it?
I left the kitchen and headed to the bath after hesitating for a moment. One part of it was my intention to finish bathing first, but I also had another objective.
Once I passed the dressing room and opened the door, I was greeted by the open-air-styled bathroom. It was a big, stone-made bath with a roof above it. Since I’d be unable to store the roof away, if I made a foundation and buried it in the ground, it’d become impossible to store it in my Inventory later on, so I avoided that.
But, I’d also be troubled if the roof fell down.
In short, it’d be great to affix it with a strength as if having buried it deep in the ground or having reinforced it with concrete.
My thinking was simple. I deployed a huge rock with open holes in all four directions of the bath. I inserted pillars into those holes. Or to be precise, I deployed the roof alongside the perfectly fitting pillars. It was basically the same as Banner Stands, which line the front of convenience stores. Those are poles with weights.
Thanks to my Crafting Ability, I could deploy the whole construct with the roof pre-installed. Like this, I can store it away too, and it won’t collapse.
Since it fits perfectly, I will store all the wooden partitioning screens and switch to a tall stone wall. That one won’t be knocked over by a gust of wind either.
At last, it really feels like an open-air bath.
I added hot water to it at once and washed my body after diluting the hot water with cold water as necessary.
“Which reminds me, body soap and shampoo are treated as two different items, so they must have some sort of difference, right…?”
Listening to the girls, I should try making it if it looks possible. Though I somehow feel it’s going to change the stimulation of the skin and the moisture elements.
While taking a light bath, I continued to create aromatized soap for the girls.
“Phew… I want to eat something sweet, but…if it’s just sugar by itself…”
I tried making cotton candy as a test, but failed. Sweets…in short, I guess they’re being classified as cooking.
My Crafting Ability is a cheat, but it’s not like I can make everything with it.
“…Ah, what about rock candy?”
Those are sugar crystals, so it might not be regarded as a dish.
“Oh, it worked!”
I deployed it on my palm and ate it.
“So sweeeeeeeet….!”
Probably because it’s the first time in a while for me to eat sugar, my head got a boost.
“Yep…I’m gonna inform everyone about this later.”
If it’s Shion, she might know dishes using this, and you can enjoy it plentifully by licking one or two. After the sugar melted inside my mouth for the most part, I stepped out of the bath for the moment and stored it away. I wiped my body dry and went back inside the house.
Upon entering, my nose was hit by a pleasant smell.
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