In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 68

Even if Higashino isn't a werewolf, choosing Himekami would show his stance. On the contrary, by abstaining, Himekami might suspect him.

She needs to calm down and think of a solution.

At that moment, light footsteps sounded outside the door and stopped at the entrance.

Takitsubo's heart jumped, and she looked warily toward the door: "Who's there?"

The door was pushed open.

"It's me, Takitsubo." Higashino walked in and closed the door behind him.

"Higashino?" Takitsubo was somewhat surprised, not expecting Higashino to be nearby. "You were also teleported here?"

"Yeah, I was teleported to that rooftop over there, and I came over as soon as I saw you here." Higashino took a few steps closer, stopping at a distance that wasn't too close or too far, his face showing concern. "But I'm a little worried about you. I have a feeling that the werewolf might attack you. If we stay together tonight, we can find out tomorrow whether Himegami is a werewolf or not."

Takitsubo looked at him and said, "I've been thinking about it carefully, and I feel like I shouldn't have given up earlier. Besides, thinking about it carefully, you're more likely to be a werewolf than Himegami."

Higashino laughed. Sure enough, Takitsubo still doubted him. It was worth the trip he made to resolve this: "What do you think, Takitsubo? Do you really think I'm a werewolf?" He took another step forward, closing the distance between them.

Higashino's approach brought them closer, and her heart raced slightly. Takitsubo forced herself to remain calm: "While your explanation sounds plausible, it's a fact that you were closest to Ms. Komoe at the time...you're the prime suspect." She didn't back down, looking directly into Higashino's eyes, as if trying to see through his disguise.

"Really?" Higashino took another step closer, the two so close they could almost feel each other's body heat. "Then if I said... I'm not a werewolf, would you believe me?"

Takitsubo's heart pounded even faster. Looking at Higashino's face so close to hers, she knew she should push him away, but her body felt like it was nailed to the spot.

She's currently a huge fan of Higashino, and she generally finds it hard to resist what he says. If Higashino asks her to help him cheat, she's perfectly willing to do so.

However, Higashino had specifically reminded her to be fair before the game started, so she maintained her rationality throughout the game, except for the moment when she was voting.

"I..." Takitsubo's voice was a little dry when faced with Higashino's question. She didn't know how to answer.

Just then, Higashino noticed a raised spot on the ground beneath her feet, and an idea popped into his head.

He deliberately moved forward a little to pretend to trip, and his body suddenly stumbled forward.

"Ah!" Takitsubo exclaimed instinctively, reaching out to support him.

Higashino Yuya frantically reached out, trying to grab something for balance. The result...

Pfft!

Takitsubo, who was being pulled along by Higashino, fell to the floor with him. Higashino was on top, and Takitsubo was on the bottom.

Higashino braced one hand on the floor beside Takitsubo's ear, while his other hand accidentally rested on her shoulder.

Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Takitsubo froze completely. Her eyes widened instantly as she stared at Higashino Yu's face, which was inches away from hers. Her fair cheeks flushed crimson at a visible speed, spreading all the way to her ears and neck!

She felt her body temperature rising rapidly, and she panicked.

"I...I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" Higashino Yu immediately tried to get up in a flustered manner, his hand on her shoulder instinctively pressing down hard for leverage, only to be met with a short, startled gasp from Takitsubo: "Ugh...!"

Higashino stopped moving; he had only intended to create an accident to eliminate Takitsubo.

But seeing the girl's reaction, he knew that his original plan might need to be adjusted.

He looked down at Takitsubo's face beneath him, which was so red it was almost bleeding, her eyes misty with tears of extreme shame, and her slightly parted lips, which were breathing rapidly.

Higashino leaned down, bringing his face even closer, his nose almost touching Takitsubo's.

"Takitsubo...you look so cute when you blush."

Higashino gently placed his hand on her shoulder and could feel the girl's body trembling slightly.

"Higashi... Higashino... no..." Takitsubo's voice was weak and barely audible. She wanted to resist, but her body was no longer under her control.

Higashino didn't give her a chance to continue. He lowered his head and gently kissed her lips.

"Ugh...!" Takitsubo's pupils suddenly contracted, her mind going completely blank. Although she had been mentally prepared, the arrival of reality still made her forget everything.

Takitsubo couldn't remember how long the kiss lasted until Higashino finally let go of her, at which point she belatedly realized what had happened.

“Takitsubo…” Higashino looked at the girl beneath him with a meaningful smile, “Tonight… you’re out.”

Although it's inhumane, that's the nature of Werewolf; it doesn't tolerate any mercy. The werewolves have only one goal: to eliminate all the good guys and win the final victory!

The judge's screen emitted an audio message at the appropriate time:

"The werewolf has attacked the target. Takitsubo Risa, you are now 'dead'. Please remain silent and observe the rest of the game as a 'ghost'."

The image of Riko Takitsubo on the screen instantly turned gray.

Takitsubo blinked blankly, still somewhat bewildered.

Just a moment ago it was an ambiguous scene, how did it suddenly turn into a murder scene? And I'm the victim, and the murderer is my boyfriend!

Confused, Takitsubo looked up at Higashino's victorious smile and sensed his still-close and approachable demeanor...

Takitsubo, belatedly realizing what had happened, finally snapped out of it, and a tremendous sense of shame and resentment at being deceived erupted!

"Dongye! You...you...liar!" she cried out in a low voice, both ashamed and angry, and pushed him away forcefully.

She decided to ignore Higashino for the time being; the way he had just killed someone was truly despicable!

Higashino stood up, dusted off his clothes, looked at the humiliated and indignant Takitsubo on the ground, and gave a meaningful smile: "It's just a game, Takitsubo. And... the game isn't over yet."

After speaking, he reached out and pulled Takitsubo into his arms.

"Higashino..."

As Takitsubo drew close to Higashino once again, he could clearly feel his intense heartbeat.

“Takitsubo, do you know…” Higashino whispered into Takitsubo’s ear, “Actually, the nights in this room are just as long as in the real world, and ghosts can’t see this side of the room.”

"Huh? Just like real time... what does that mean...? Wait, could it be... eh!!!"

Chapter 88 Continuing... Let's play a game like this next time!

Afterwards, Higashino returned to the center of the village feeling refreshed, while Takitsubo had already ascended to heaven as a ghost—ascended to heaven in every sense of the word.

On the giant judge's screen, Riko Takitsubo's portrait turned gray, signifying that yet another civilian had been eliminated.

“Takitsubo is dead too!” Index’s voice was filled with disbelief. “Who is the werewolf? Yu! Himekami! Now there are only the three of us left!” She gripped Higashino’s sleeve tightly, as if he were her only support.

The person she checked last night was Takitsubo, and he was gone again. She even began to wonder if she was a fake seer, or a "special werewolf" with some kind of special ability—like predicting who would die.

Himegami Akisa stood to the side, her gaze calmly sweeping over Higashino Yu before returning to Index, without saying a word.

However, it's almost certain that the werewolf is Higashino, but judging from Index's expression, it won't be easy to convince her, and explaining such things isn't her forte.

"It's dawn." The judge's voice rang out again. "Last night, Takitsubo Riko 'died.' Now, let's begin a free discussion, followed by a vote on her exile in ten minutes. Players, please speak. Players on the field: Index, Himegami Akisa, Higashino Yu.

Index immediately looked at Higashino and asked eagerly, "Yu! Where were you last night?" She desperately wanted an answer from Higashino and completely forgot that she had been doubting him before.

Higashino shook his head: "I hid in a cellar last night and was too scared to come out. Now it's just the three of us left..."

He looked at Himegami Akisa and continued to frame her, "Himegami-kun, where were you last night? You didn't say much... Now that I think about it, you're actually a prime suspect."

Himegami Akisa watched Higashino's performance. Only the wronged know how wronged they are: "I was in the abandoned clock tower on the edge of the village." Her voice remained flat. "I didn't kill Takitsubo. The real murderer is you, Higashino."

"You actually want to turn the tables on me?" Higashino said "excitedly." "Index is a prophet! She must have investigated Takitsubo's identity last night, right? Takitsubo is a good person, isn't he?" He looked at Index.

Index nodded vigorously: "Yes! I looked into Takitsubo last night! She's a good person! I was going to look into you, Yu, but I felt Takitsubo was a bit suspicious, so I changed my mind..."

She was somewhat annoyed, wondering why she had to pick Takitsubo. "I should have investigated Himekami! What do we do now? There are only three of us left! Himekami is definitely a werewolf! If we vote her out, we win!"

At this point, because all those she had predicted had died inexplicably, she was even more willing to believe in Higashino.

If her vote is as ominous as the prophecy, and whoever she votes for dies, then she would rather eliminate Himekami than choose Higashino.

Higashino was overjoyed. Index was indeed easy to fool, and Himegami Akisa was not good with words. Eliminating Takitsubo and Komoe first was definitely the right choice.

Himegami looked at Higashino and said decisively, "I'm a civilian, Index. Higashino has been lying and deceiving everyone from the very beginning of the game. He's the werewolf. Vote for him."

"Himegami! You're slandering me!" Higashino Yu immediately retorted, his face full of anger at being "wrongfully accused." "Index, think about it! She's been suspicious from the very beginning! She's been the least talkative in all these conversations! She's definitely afraid of revealing something if she says too much! And she wasn't far from where Takitsubo 'died' last night! Now she wants to throw out the only one who can protect you, me! What else is this but a werewolf?"

Index glanced at Higashino Yu's "grief-stricken" face, then at Himegami Akisa's calm and composed demeanor, and was completely thrown into confusion: "Ugh... I... I don't know who to believe anymore... Yu, Himegami..."

"Speaking time is over. Please vote to banish one player." The judge's voice was like a death knell.

Index bit her lip, hesitated for a long time, and finally pointed at Himegami Akisa: "I...I still believe Yu more..."

Higashino immediately pointed at Himegami Akisa: "I'm sorry, Himegami."

Although she knew there was no way to turn the tide, Himegami Akisa still pointed to Higashino, which was her last act of defiance.

"Voting results: Himegami Akisa gets two votes, Higashino gets one vote. Himegami Akisa is exiled," the judge announced.

Himegami Akisa's image turned gray on the screen.

"Great! We won! Yu!" Index jumped up excitedly and rushed towards Higashino, thinking that the werewolf had been voted out and the good guys had won.

However, the giant judge's screen displayed a chilling message: "The werewolf has not been eliminated. The game continues. It's dark, please close your eyes."

"Huh?!" Index's smile froze instantly. She abruptly released Higashino Yu, took a step back, and looked at him in horror. "Yu...the game continues? Yu...you...you're the one who..."

Even if she was slow to realize it, she now understood that she had just voted out the last civilian, and that Dongye was the despicable werewolf.

Higashino revealed the smile of a villain about to attack a magical girl, and shrugged: "I'm sorry, Index. Miss Prophet, you're wrong. The real werewolf is me."

"You...you lied to me!" Index's eyes instantly filled with tears. The immense disappointment and heartbreak of being deceived made her voice tremble. "I trusted you so much! Waaah...you big liar Yu! I hate you the most!"

"It's dark, please close your eyes. Werewolf, please open your eyes. Werewolf, please choose your target." The judge's voice rang out again.

Looking at Index, the only remaining one who was angrily facing away from him, Higashino calmly said to the judge's screen, "I choose to attack Index."

Judge's screen: "The werewolf has attacked the target. Index, you are 'dead'. Werewolf Higashino Yu has achieved the victory condition (only one werewolf remains on the field). Game over, the werewolf team wins."

Index froze in place. She slowly turned around and looked at Higashino with teary eyes.

"Waaah—! Yu is a big bad guy! A super big bad guy!" The nun finally couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears, like a child whose favorite toy had been taken away.

As Higashino watched Index sobbing uncontrollably, and Moe, Takitsubo, and Himekami, who had become "ghosts" and gathered around him, the world seemed to melt away like ice and snow.

In the blink of an eye, the five of them were back in the living room of Dongye's apartment, as if the tense, exciting, and betrayal-filled time they had just experienced was merely a dream. The afternoon sun was still shining through the window.

"Waaah... Yu is bullying me!" Index was still sobbing as she threw herself onto the sofa and hugged a cushion in protest.

"Higashino-kun is really...so cunning!" Xiaomeng said angrily, but when she thought of the kiss on her forehead, her cheeks felt a little hot.

Takitsubo Riko's cheeks flushed, and she curled up at the other end of the sofa, hugging her knees, her gaze towards Higashino Yuu incredibly complicated. She never imagined that a werewolf game would advance her relationship with Higashino to that extent.

Even now, her legs are still a little weak, and the feeling of that guy's wanton touch still lingers on her chest—Higashino really liked that place.

Himegami Akisa quietly sat back on the sofa, picked up the werewolf game cards that hadn't been taken away from the table, looked at them, and then looked up at Higashino.

She simply said, "I'll definitely win next time!" She felt that her loss this time was due to her inability to persuade people. If she were as eloquent as Higashino, she definitely wouldn't have let Index vote for her so easily.

Looking at the vivid and seemingly endless chorus of complaints before him, Higashino Yu stretched contentedly, a triumphant smile playing on his lips: "Thanks for the compliment. In games like this, the werewolf wins by deceiving everyone. But..."

His gaze swept over the four beautiful girls, each with a distinct style, who were all eyeing him intently. His smile deepened. "Playing games with you all is indeed a lot of fun."

The "single-player games" with Takitsubo were especially fun. Higashino looked at Takitsubo meaningfully, "Let's play some games like that again next time!"

His response was a pillow thrown at him by Index and a few disgruntled complaints.

Chapter 89 Magical Girl Himegami Akisa?

The next morning.

Higashino Yu was peeking through the half-open door, watching the two girls chatting.

Of course, he didn't mean to eavesdrop. After getting up, he habitually went to the kitchen to make breakfast, but he smelled a delicious aroma. When he got to the kitchen, he saw two busy figures.

After the Werewolf game ended yesterday, Takitsubo and Komoe both left the Higashino family home, and Himekami officially moved in.

On the table were eggs, chopped green onions, and beaten egg mixture, while bacon sizzled in a frying pan. Himegami Akisa skillfully flipped the poached egg in the pan.

“…I wanted to ask you about it yesterday when I saw you wearing red shorts,” Index said, hands on her hips, one shoulder strap of her nightgown slipping down as she looked at Himekami with great curiosity.

Although she was actually a little puzzled as to why she dressed like that yesterday, she temporarily forgot her curiosity because of jealousy and the games that followed.

"There are so many schools within the Japanese Shinto system. Which branch do you belong to? Upper School, Lower School, or some other lineage?"

Himegami Akisa deftly flipped the bacon in the pan, her movements fluid and focused. Without looking up, she said, "I'm not a shrine maiden. I'm a magician."

"A... a magician?!" Index's voice rose several octaves instantly. She leaned close to Himegami Akisa, her eyes wide. She was an expert in magic, but Himegami didn't look like a magician at all.

"The title 'magician' is too broad! You must specify which specific school of thought you belong to. Is it Kabbalah, the Enochian magic system, Hermesianism, the Mercury school? Or perhaps a more modern approach like ritual magic or astrology? Also, what is your magical name? Which organization do you belong to? These are all very important basic identifiers!"

Himegami Akisa silently turned off the stove and carefully scooped out the fried eggs. Then, she slowly pulled a thick, black stick from her wide sleeve.