In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 176

Seeing the expectant look in Hatsuharu's eyes, Higashino Yu obediently opened his mouth and ate it, nodding: "Mmm, it is indeed very sweet."

Haruharu Shiori put the spoon away with satisfaction, then immediately turned to Haruue Emi: "Haruue, why don't you try your senior's coffee? It's a bit bitter, but it should go well with cake!"

She's trying to create opportunities for interaction.

Haruka Koi paused for a moment, then looked at Higashino Yu somewhat embarrassed. Higashino Yu smiled and pushed his coffee cup toward her: "If you don't mind, you can try it."

Chun Shang Jinyi blushed, carefully picked up the coffee cup, took a small sip, and then wrinkled her nose slightly at the bitterness, but quickly showed a curious expression: "Hmm... it's a little bitter, but... it smells very good."

She put down her cup, feeling as if she had gotten a little closer to Higashino-senpai.

Chu Chun Shili gave herself a big thumbs up in her heart.

That was a perfect assist!

While drinking his coffee, Higashino Yu subtly observed Haruka Koi's mental state.

The girl's cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were shy yet excited. She was clearly influenced by the "assistance" of early spring and the sweet atmosphere of the dessert shop, and her budding feelings were quietly growing.

It seems that the photos last night had a very effective impact on the girl. So, should I debut as an idol and spread my message through film, television, or audio to reach more people more quickly?

Well, this is too much trouble, and Higashino Yu doesn't intend to do it. It was simply unexpected that Haruka Emi's feelings towards her were affected by the photos.

The fact that she would have a good impression of me is probably because my abilities have reached a new level. It was unexpected that the intimate feelings I shared with Haru in the photo could be conveyed to the viewer and influence their feelings.

The anchor points were intentional; he planned to use objects to place anchors on people within a 500-meter radius of the photograph. On a photograph, the effect was barely noticeable and wouldn't last long.

The three of them finished their dessert with great satisfaction, their bodies and minds still immersed in the sweet aftertaste. Haruharu Shiori patted her slightly bulging belly, a contented and happy smile on her face. Haruka Emi, on the other hand, was still savoring the sweetness of the cake and their earlier interaction, a shy yet sweet smile playing on her lips.

Seeing that the two had finished their desserts, Higashino Yu got up and went to the counter to pay.

The clerk's professional smile remained unchanged as he watched Higashino Yu come to pay. The handsome young man with two cute girls was a perfectly normal happy couple, and no doubt or gossip arose in his mind.

"Thank you for your patronage and welcome your next visit."

The shop assistant's voice carried sincere blessings.

"Yes, I will."

Higashino Yu nodded and turned to walk towards the two girls waiting for him at the door.

Haruharu Kazari and Haruue Emi stood hand in hand at the door. Haruharu Kazari's face showed the smugness and satisfaction of successfully "helping out," while Haruue Emi had a touch of novelty and sweetness as she secretly glanced at Higashino Yu who was walking over.

"Let's go, I'll take you back."

Higashino Yu's voice was gentle.

The three walked out of the dessert shop side by side, leaving behind the sweet aroma that filled the room, blending into the warm afternoon sunlight of the Seventh School District.

The "assistance plan" in early spring seems to have taken another small step forward, and in Higashino Yu's "paradise," there seems to be another potential, innocent and lovely girl.

Chapter 211 Is Early Spring's potential actually greater than Accelerator's?

After leaving the dessert shop, the three's next stop was the famous indoor botanical garden in the 7th District of Academy City.

This is a large-scale, modern glass building, with its interior divided into several pavilions based on different climates and themes, making it a veritable oasis in the city.

Many plant enthusiasts come here to visit during the summer vacation. Higashino Yu and his two friends queued for quite a while before finally getting in.

As soon as you step into the botanical garden, you are enveloped by moist and fresh air, which is completely different from the summer heat outside.

The continuous temperature control system ensures that the temperature in each exhibition area perfectly matches the plant's growth conditions, preventing them from withering due to temperature issues.

Looking around, one sees a vibrant green landscape of varying shades, with tall trees, low shrubs, vines of all shapes and sizes, and colorful flowers intertwined to create a thriving plant kingdom.

Wow! So many amazing plants! You can't see these anywhere else!

This time, it was Haru Kazari who exclaimed in surprise and instantly got into home-field advantage.

"Yu-kun! Haruue! Look over here!"

She was like a happy little rascal released from its cage, eagerly weaving through the greenery.

"This is the rainforest section! Look at those aerial roots! And the epiphytic orchids! The humidity is so high, I can feel my skin getting damp!"

Higashino Yu followed with a smile: "Indeed, the air here feels very comfortable. It's early spring, and you seem very familiar with this place."

“Because I really love plants!” Shiori Haru turned around, her eyes sparkling. “I read a lot of books about them! And I’ve actually been here once before.”

Back then, when she had just enrolled in school, she came here all alone for a visit. Although she didn't feel lonely at all, it's better now, with her boyfriend and friends by her side.

Chun Shang Jinyi quietly followed beside her, deeply attracted by this novel and tranquil world.

“It’s really amazing…” she said softly, her eyes curiously looking around. “As expected of Academy City, you can see plants from all seasons and different environments in one place. It’s incredible.”

Shiori was completely immersed in the sea of ​​plants in early spring. Pointing to various plants, she introduced them to Higashino Yu and Haruka Koi as if they were her own treasures: "This is a bird's nest fern. Doesn't its leaf look like a giant bird's nest? That's a Monstera deliciosa. Look at the holes on its leaves. Aren't they interesting!"

"Ah! That's a lotus flower!" she suddenly exclaimed excitedly, pointing to a cluster of blooming flowers. "Its flower language is... um... it's 'a warm welcome'!"

Higashino asked curiously, "Did you read this in a book, or did you make up the flower language yourself in early spring?"

Higashino knows absolutely nothing about the language of flowers; he's the type who doesn't even understand the most common and ordinary ones.

Chu Chun Shiri winked playfully: "Hehe, it's half and half! The book says 'welcome,' but I added the words 'warmly,' and it feels more appropriate, doesn't it?"

Compared to Higashino Yu and Haruka Emi, who were both laymen, Uiharu Kazari knew far more about plants. Her small face radiated confidence and pure love.

Haruka Jinyi exclaimed softly at the enormous leaves of the Victoria amazonica, "The leaves are so big... Can a person sit on them?"

Chu Chun Shili answered earnestly, "Theoretically, it's possible! The leaves of the Victoria amazonica have a very strong load-bearing capacity. However, it probably won't be allowed here."

“This flower looks so strange, but it’s so beautiful…” Haruka Koi said, pointing to a peculiar tropical orchid.

Her naturally naive personality became even more apparent in the quiet environment. Once, she almost bumped into the almost transparent glass partition, but fortunately, Higashino Yu reached out and gently put his arm around her shoulder.

"Be careful, Haruue-kun." Higashino Yu's voice was tinged with laughter.

"Oh, I'm so sorry..." Haruka Eni blushed and apologized softly, "I'm always so absent-minded..."

Haruhisa ran over worriedly: "Is Haruhisa alright? These glass partitions are really easy to overlook."

Feeling the lingering warmth from Higashino-senpai's brief touch on her shoulder, Haruka's heartbeat quickened again.

She wasn't sure what was wrong with her. She didn't want to think about it, but she just couldn't control her thoughts.

Higashino leisurely followed behind the two girls, enjoying the undisguised enthusiasm of early spring and the tranquil atmosphere unique to the botanical garden.

"You know so much, Chu Chun!" he praised. "It's very interesting listening to your explanations."

Haru Shiori blushed with delight: "Really? Yu-kun is also interested in plants?"

“I’m more interested in seeing you so happy than the plants themselves,” Higashino Yu replied gently, making Chuchun’s face turn even redder.

He listened patiently to Chu Chun's explanations, which were sometimes accurate and sometimes clearly improvised, his eyes filled with tolerance and affection.

Higashino Yu was thoroughly enjoying this leisurely date, and his girlfriend was especially excited today. Normally, for various reasons, he rarely had the opportunity to go on dates with Haru.

When Haru Shiori lingered in front of a cluster of her favorite pale pink hydrangeas, striking a cute pose for a photo, he gladly took out his phone to capture this moment of her ethereal beauty.

"Yu-kun, please take a picture of me with these hydrangeas! They're so beautiful!" Chu Chun pleaded, striking a cute pose in front of the flowers.

"Of course." Higashino Yu took out his phone. "Ready? Smile!"

"eggplant!"

With a click, Shiori's sweet smile was captured.

"Let me see!" Chu Chun ran over and shoved the phone in front of her. "Wow, this is a great photo! Yu-kun is as good at taking pictures as ever!"

Although Higashino used his ability to take photos a couple of days ago, and took many photos from angles that made people blush, the photos were actually very good. Everyone was very satisfied and picked out a lot of photos to take home and keep.

The only thing that puzzled her was that the company that had invited them to the photoshoot seemed dissatisfied, and in the end, they said they didn't need the photos anymore and would find new models to take the photos.

Beneath a quiet corridor covered in lush vines and ferns, the hanging green ribbons almost touched the forehead of early spring shimmering. Higashino Yu naturally reached out and gently brushed aside the playful vines, his fingertips occasionally brushing against her hair.

"Thank you, Yu-kun." Chu Chun's cheeks flushed slightly as she whispered her thanks, feeling a sweet warmth in her heart.

"The vines here are growing so lushly," Higashino Yu remarked, looking up at the forest. "It feels like we've stepped into the heart of a real jungle."

Shiori Hatsuharu nodded: "Yes, this design is meant to give visitors an immersive experience!"

They walked through the exhibition hall, which simulated a desert environment, marveling at the tenacity of the succulents.

"It's amazing that these plants can survive in such a dry environment," Chun Shang Jinyi exclaimed softly.

"They have many tricks for storing water! For example, thick leaves, or special structures that reduce water evaporation..." explained Shiori in early spring.

Stepping into the rare flower area, the three were captivated by the beauty and fragrance of the carefully cultivated exotic flowers and plants.

Chun Shang Jinyi was particularly interested in a flower that emitted a faint honey fragrance, and bent down to sniff it again and again: "This smell is so sweet..."

“This is a honey orchid,” Shiri Chuchun explained earnestly. “Its fragrance really does resemble honey!”

She was also curious about the pitcher plants and Venus flytraps in the carnivorous plant section, which were waiting for their prey. She stood there tilting her head and looked at them for a long time, as if trying to figure out how they ate.

"Do they really eat insects?" Haruka asked curiously. She had only seen such plants in some books, and this was the first time she had actually seen one in person.

Unlike before Higashino's time travel, this era is not like the one before he traveled here. In the age of short video websites, one could learn about all sorts of strange and wonderful things in the world without leaving home.

Shiori answered earnestly, "Yes, they do! Most of them grow in nutrient-poor soil, so they have evolved the ability to catch insects to supplement their nutrients."

Higashino Yu joked, "Haruka-kun, you'd better not get too close, or you might be mistaken for prey."

Chun Shang Jinyi immediately took a step back and said nervously, "Really? Do they eat people?"

Haruharu couldn't help but laugh: "Haru, really, Yu-kun is joking! These plants can only catch small insects at most. How could such small plants possibly eat people!"

"Not necessarily. Don't you see those gigantic plants on TV that eat people?"

Higashino Yu tried to continue intimidating Haruue Emi, but having already been taught by Uiharu Shiori, she was no longer afraid. Instead, she found Higashino-senpai's cannibalistic look rather cute.

Finally, as they walked and talked, they arrived at an exhibition area dominated by pink flowers.

Large swathes of pink hydrangeas are planted here, along with some improved late-blooming cherry blossoms unique to Academy City that are currently in bloom. The delicate pink petals overlap, creating a dreamlike scene.

"It's so beautiful... I can't believe I can see such beautiful cherry blossoms in this season!" Shiori Haru stood in front of the sea of ​​flowers, her eyes filled with pure joy and delight. This was her favorite color scheme. "This is my favorite exhibition area today!"

Yu Higashino admired the sea of ​​flowers: "Pink suits you very well, it's early spring."

How about we plant a cherry blossom tree at the villa when we get back? If we use our abilities to modify the tree's perception, we should be able to make it never wither, just like the tree in the anime "Da Capo". That would be really nice!

Chun Shang Jinyi also said softly, "It's like a scene from a dream..."

In early spring, Shiri was completely immersed in this pink romance, and her mood reached an unprecedented level of joy and relaxation.

She subconsciously reached out her finger and gently touched a smooth hydrangea leaf beside her.

In that instant, Higashino Yu's keen senses detected an extremely faint, almost negligible energy fluctuation.

The fluctuation did not originate from the outside world, but from the leaf itself in early spring. The temperature of the leaf she touched became unusually constant in a very short time, momentarily decoupled from the subtle changes in the ambient humidity.

At the same time, the petals of the floral ornament on her head seemed to become even more vibrant and luscious, as if they had been slightly activated by an invisible energy for a moment.

The fluctuation was so brief and subtle that even Haru Shiori herself was unaware of it, as she remained engrossed in the beautiful scenery of the flower field.

To protect her, Higashino personally added many special touches to the flower wreath on Haruharu's head, which is why he was able to notice this subtle change.

"Yu-kun, Jin-yi, can we stay here a little longer?" she pleaded, her eyes still unable to leave the sea of ​​flowers.

"Of course," Higashino Yuu-jung agreed gently, but his eyes narrowed slightly, a thoughtful look of great interest flashing across them.

He remembered that Shiori Haru's seemingly weak "constant temperature preservation" ability might be related to information manipulation or even more fundamental laws, possessing potential far beyond its appearance, and even related to the deep awakening of the Am diffusion field.

These subtle, unconscious fluctuations at this moment seem to confirm this. Extreme emotional investment might slightly unlock her hidden power. If her potential could be fully developed, her abilities theoretically wouldn't be weaker than Accelerator's, and might even be stronger?

He didn't make a fuss, but silently noted down his observation. His gaze toward early spring held a new level of curiosity and anticipation, and he also gained a new understanding of the flower wreath on her head.

As she left the botanical garden, Chu Chun Shili bought a small, adorable succulent plant from the souvenir shop, holding it in her hands like a precious treasure.

"I'm going to put it on my dorm windowsill," she said happily, "so I can see it every day!"

Haruka Koi also developed a more obvious dependence on Higashino Yu, and would unconsciously follow beside him when walking: "Higashino-senpai, thank you so much for today... I saw so many beautiful plants."

Higashino Yu smiled and replied, "I'm also very happy to be here with you. Haruka-kun, do you have any particular favorite plants?"

Chun Shang Jinyi thought for a moment and said, "Um... I really like the scent of honey orchids."

As Haruharu Kazari looked at Higashino Yu and Haruka Emi walking side by side ahead, she felt that Haruka's plan to assist Haruka was progressing exceptionally smoothly, and her heart was filled with the joy and sense of accomplishment of successfully "assisting".

"Jinyi seems to be getting along very well with Youjun..." she murmured to herself, a relieved smile on her face.

The afterglow of the setting sun stretched the three shadows long, blending into the streets of Academy City. Carrying the fresh scent of the botanical garden and their unspoken, subtle feelings, they came to an end this afternoon journey filled with greenery and discovery.

"This is wonderful," said Haru Shiori, holding a succulent in one hand and gently tugging at Haruue's sleeve with the other. "Thank you for coming with me to see the plants." If she didn't love plants, most people wouldn't choose this place for a date.