Tokyo girls have a big problem

Chapter 253 ——————

Leaving Angels Promenade, the group walked along the seaside road, under the streetlights, chatting as they returned to their holiday home.

Aoyama Ryo prepared dinner.

"Delicious!" My wife Akika exclaimed, her eyes turning into hearts as if she were hypnotized.

"I knew I'd get to eat Aoyama-kun's cooking here!" Drummer Yumemi said as she ate.

"Senior, aren't you here to practice?" Ono Mizuki teased.

"Let's start practicing after we finish eating," said Aoyama Risa.

Everyone wailed.

“I’ve discovered a truth,” said Akika, “When you’re in a bad mood, even the most delicious food just doesn’t taste good.”

“I’ve also discovered a truth,” Bess Sakura said, “Even when you’re in a bad mood, good food is still good food.”

"Life is full of variety," Aoyama Rika concluded.

"I've got an idea! I've got an idea!" F. Rino said, taking out her notebook while eating.

"Another bowl, please!" the drummer Mengshi said.

Ono Mika served her rice, and Ono Mizuki looked at everyone with a grin.

After dinner, the girls washed the dishes together and then started practicing.

"Brother, wanna play games?" Ono Mizuki asked.

“Okay.” Aoyama Ryo took out his phone.

During boring moments like waiting for a bus or boat, he would play with her.

He's good at games that rely on reaction time. As long as he understands the basic mechanics of a game, he can pull off amazing plays that make people think he's a genius.

But the two of them were playing Genshin Impact.

Even a casual player like Aoyama Osamu, after playing for ages, can't match the effortless damage of Ono Mizuki's character in a single hit.

When playing this game, the question Aoyama Risa asked most often was: "Did you spend money on in-game purchases?"

To this, Ono Mizuki's answer was always the same: "I have no money!"

A tough battle, enjoying the scenery, playing with wild monsters, racing across the grasslands, seeing who can fly the farthest, taking a group photo at the highest point on the continent, climbing cliffs together, and peeking under skirts (Aoyama Osamu)
Aoyama Osamu isn't interested in games, but he is interested in playing games with Ono Mizuki, any kind of game is fine.

However, gaming really is a waste of time and energy!
Two hours passed in the blink of an eye. I didn't lose focus at all during the whole process, and it was painless.

If only system guidance could be this easy.

The girls, having finished their training, couldn't wait to soak in hot springs and saunas.

"Aoyama-kun, shall we join you?" Akika Gasai invited with a smile.

“Yeah, let’s go together. You’ve already seen our bodies anyway,” drummer Mengshi joked with a smile.

“Okay.” Aoyama Risa stood up with a smile.

“Reasonable!” said Mika Ono.

"Brother!" Ono Mizuki scolded.

"I don't care at all," said Aoyama Risa, seemingly unconcerned.

"He's so arrogant!"

"Let him come along?"

"Let's see if he's genuinely indifferent, or just pretending!"

“No, let’s not.” Only F. Rino hesitated.

Of course, Aoyama Risa wouldn't take a bath with them.

While the girls were soaking in the hot spring, he contacted Aoi by phone and told her everything that had happened that day.

“Your life is truly wonderful,” she said with a smile.

Aoyama Ryo had just said the same thing, so he knew exactly what the person who said it was thinking—this whole thing was quite interesting.

Aoyama Ryo has no interest in engaging in sophistry with her right now.

"Do you think I need to confess a second time?" he asked, directly voicing his doubts.

“Of course,” Ai said. “If you don’t confess and get rejected again, even if you give up, you won’t be able to let go of the matter. It will never be over.”

"Is it certain that I've been rejected?"

"You think there's still hope?" Jian Shangai asked in return, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.

Once is one thing, but Aoyama Risa cannot tolerate it a second time.

"Aren't we friends? You're laughing when your friend is sad?" he asked.

“As Dazai Osamu said, ‘Mutual contempt yet interaction, and mutual self-degradation—this is the true face of what the world calls ‘friends.’”

"Then let me tell you, the famous writer Koito once said, 'When you are sad, remember those who are laughing!'"

There was no sound from the other end.

It wasn't the kind of quiet where no one was speaking, but the kind of complete silence where the microphone was muted.

Aoyama Risa, unable to contain herself any longer, said, "You think you can laugh just by turning off your mic?!"

There was still no response from the other end.

"Goodbye!" Aoyama Ryo hung up the phone immediately.

After getting away from Aoi, Aoyama regained her composure. Although she disliked the woman, what she said made a lot of sense.

A second confession is necessary.

Aoyama Risa doesn't believe that giving up now will allow her to completely let go of this relationship.

He leaned back on the sofa, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling.

It was just a small thing, and it happened during a pleasant trip, yet the purpose of confessing my feelings had become a reason for myself to give up.

Yeah.

The sooner it ends, the sooner he and Mika Ono can return to their previous relationship and become family again.

Therefore, the timing of the confession is very important, so that Ono Mika knows it is a confession, but it does not make either of them feel awkward.

But how could there be a situation in the world where you can confess your feelings and not feel embarrassed?

hum~
Aoyama Ryo picked up his phone.

[See Love: You can add "I was just kidding" after being rejected.]

[Aoyama Osamu: I don't want to become the kind of person who tells a girl he likes her, and she doesn't know if he's joking or serious.]

[See Shang Ai: Eat less in the future.]

[Aoyama Ryou: Hmm?]

[See above: Let the blood flow to your brain, not your stomach.]

[See Love Online: You confessed your feelings twice in a row. Do you think Senior Meihua will think you're joking? But as long as you say 'it's a joke,' you can tacitly pretend that it never happened.]

[Aoyama Osamu: You're a genius!]

[See Shangai: Also, I'm sorry about earlier. I don't have any male friends. If my female friends were heartbroken, I would laugh too, which is why I acted that way towards you.]

[Aoyama Osamu: I was just kidding.]

[See Love Online: You're a genius too.]

The two of them tacitly pretended that the incident had never happened.

[Aoyama Osamu: So when do you think it's appropriate for me to 'joke'?]

[See Shangai: The more people, the better.]

[Aoyama Ryou: Huh?]

[See Shangai: When we're 'joking,' it's only you and Senior Meihua, of course. What I mean is, the more people you travel with, the better.]

[See Shangai: The more people there are, the more you'll pretend nothing's wrong for the sake of appearances, and the faster you'll get through the awkward phase.]

[Ri Aoyama: Kyoto? 】

[See Love: Hmm]

[Aoyama Ryo: Which specific day?]

[See Love: Do I even have to decide this for you?]

[Aoyama Osamu: You're so reliable!]

[See Shangai: Even if pursuing the beautiful senior is destined to fail, you can't give up on your plan to become an attractive man, and 'reliability' is extremely important.]

[Aoyama Osamu: I'm giving you an A!]

[See Love Online: I am S.]

I've said it many times, there's no F, and naturally there's no S either.

However, considering how hard she was trying to help him, Aoyama Ryo decided not to argue—not that he agreed, but simply that he wouldn't argue.

Furthermore, does Aoi really have mind-reading abilities? How did she know that Aoyama Rin was thinking about how to confess his feelings without ruining their existing relationship?

After finishing his chat with Ai, the girls were taking a bath again, and Aoyama Risa was alone once more.

With my hands behind my head, gazing out the window at the dark Seto Inland Sea, waves of sadness washed over me.

He likes Ono Mika.

Even if rejected once, I will continue to try, using various tricks and improving myself, hoping to win her favor.

He really likes Ono Mika.

But it seems that this is the only way it can go. Aoyama Risa will not continue.

Continuing further is not being devoted; it's being persistent and harassing.

Is it because I know I have no hope and have decided to give up completely that I feel even more heartbroken than when I first confessed my feelings in Okinawa?

Aoyama Ryo didn't do anything else to distract herself, silently letting her emotions vent and savoring the taste of heartbreak.

"You're all done washing!" The girls in their pajamas came out, their faces rosy and glowing.

"Then I'll go take a shower." Aoyama Ryou had returned to normal, at least outwardly.

"Aoyama-kun, you're not allowed to recall the time you caught us changing clothes while you're soaking in our bathwater," Bess Sakurako said.

"Sakurako!" Akika Gasai called out.

Even if Bess Sakurako doesn't say it, Aoyama Risa might have already forgotten.

Aoyama Ryo had indeed forgotten, and even if he hadn't, he wouldn't have done such a thing, but with Bess Sakura saying that, he might not be able to control himself.

It's like telling you not to think about 'breasts'.

"Go wash up quickly!" Ono Mizuki's tone seemed accusatory, but she was actually telling Aoyama Osamu to hurry up and run.

Bess Sakura added, "You're not allowed to drink either."

"Did you pee in there?" Aoyama asked curiously.

"You two, that's enough!" My wife, Mingxiang, couldn't take it anymore.

“He’s the disgusting one,” Bess Sakurako said.

"Isn't it a reasonable guess that you're telling me not to drink it, and that you're going to urinate in it?" Aoyama was puzzled.

"Alright, alright," Ono Mika said with a smile.

Aoyama went back to her room to get a change of clothes. In the dressing room, for some reason, the girls' clothes that they had changed out of were still there.

He glanced at it.

—Who are we testing?

He placed his clothes in a storage basket and walked into the hot spring alone.

Unlike the onsen at the Naoshima Ryokan, the onsen at this vacation home on Shodoshima Island has a wide-open view and looks like a regular modern swimming pool.

Look up, and you'll see a dazzling array of stars; you can even see the entire Milky Way.

"Hmm?" Aoyama Risa turned his head.

"Come on!"

"Discovered!"

"what!"

"Rino!"

Just as a loosely tied bouquet fell to the ground, scattering its flowers, the girls also 'scattered' out from under the door.

Aoyama looked at the girls; not one was missing, and even Ono Mika was there.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Are you okay?"

"Get up quickly!"

"My clothes are all wet, and this is the only set of pajamas I have!"

"I already told you not to come and see, Aoyama-kun wouldn't do anything lewd!"

No one answered him, but he roughly understood their reasons for doing so from the conversations they initiated to distract themselves, pretend nothing had happened, and shirk responsibility.

"Forget about them, but Mei-hua and Mei-yue, neither of you believe me?" Aoyama Ryou asked incredulously.

Ono Mizuki's eyes widened, and she said in a cursing tone, "I...I..."

She probably wanted to use the 'Why are you talking to me so loudly?' approach, but her face grew increasingly red.

In the end, Mizuki Ono hid behind Mika Ono.

"Sorry, Rin. Let's go quickly." Ono Mika didn't give a direct answer.

"Wait!" Bess Sakura raised her hand. "Aoyama-kun, what do you mean by 'let them go'? Do you think we're that bad?"

“That’s right!” the girls protested.

“Look where we are,” said Aoyama Risa.

The girls were speechless.

“This is a hot spring. There’s no sign saying ‘men’s bath’ or ‘women’s bath’, so it’s mixed bathing. Are you going to hog it all by yourself?” Bess Sakurako said.

“That’s right!” the girls protested.

"Didn't you just finish soaking?" Aoyama asked.

The girls looked at Bess Sakura.

“I forgot my clothes,” Bess Sakura said.

“That’s right!” the girls said.

"Why did everyone fall down in the bathing area while getting their clothes?" Aoyama asked.

"I suddenly feel like taking a bath again," said Bess Sakura.

"That's right!"

"and many more!"

"Wrong, wrong!"

"So you're here to spy?" Aoyama said. "If you're spying, is there a problem with me saying 'let them go'?"

Bess Sakura looked at the other three: "Reputation or a bath, choose one."

“Sakurako.” Akika Gasai looked at her friend.

“Don’t call me Sakura,” Bess Sakura raised her hand to stop her. “Whether you choose reputation or a bath, revealing your real name now is not a wise choice.”

"Get out of here quickly." Aoyama Risa didn't have time to chat with them.

Why don't you have time when you're taking a bath?
Because the girls were wearing light summer pajamas, which were slightly damp, their body curves were incredibly alluring.

He let them go not because he wanted to do anything, but quite the opposite, so that he wouldn't do anything.

“I’ll take a bath, what about you?” Bess Sakura asked.

"Sakura-senpai!" Drummer Yume felt like she was serious!
"If you don't leave, I'm going to stand up." This was the most threatening tactic that Aoyama Rin could think of.

F. Rino covered her face with her hands, the gaps between her fingers wide enough to fit a copy of "Detective A".

"Sakura—" Before Ono Mika could finish speaking, bassist Sakurako shushed her, signaling for quiet.

Then, she led the girls to quietly watch Aoyama Risa in the bath.

Aoyama Risa seemed to hear: "You...stand...up!"
"Sister Meihua," he said.

This is tantamount to begging for mercy.

"Everyone, please go outside," Mika Ono said with a smile.

“You can go out, but you must say, ‘My wife and the others are good too,’” Akika said playfully.

Ono Mika looked at Aoyama Osamu.

What else is there to say?

Aoyama Risa slowly stood up.

The girls' breath caught in their throats. Then, some wanted to run, some looked on with longing eyes, and some stood firm with unwavering resolve.

"Are you really not leaving?" Aoyama Risa's belly was already partially exposed.

“Aoyama-kun, I don’t think you’d dare. You’re a good person,” Bess Sakurako said with a smile.

Changing the subject, she said, "But if this continues, it won't be a joke anymore. I'm leaving now."

"Eh~~?" Drummer Meng Shi was dissatisfied; she was the one who had been eagerly waiting.

Regardless, Aoyama Risa breathed a sigh of relief. Although he was only showing a small part of his abdomen, there was actually no room for him to show any more.

"Let's go~" the girls said, turning around with giggles.

"Ah!" Ono Mizuki, who had been hiding at the back but was now walking at the front, slipped.

The girls fell down again.

"Watch out!" Aoyama shouted.

If the person wasn't naked, he would have rushed over to help them immediately.

[Talent: Slow Motion]

After careful observation, Aoyama Ryo realized that he had to rush over and couldn't afford to waste a single second.

There is a possibility that senior students Bess Sakura and Agatsuma Akika landed on the back of their heads.

As Aoyama rushed over, he cursed under his breath.

—System, is that you?!
[Talent: An Unexpected Twist in Anime]

Then, even louder screams came from the bathroom.

"what------"

(End of this chapter)