In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 93

Himegami, with her buttocks sticking out, cleaned the floor back and forth, while Meiya floated around, cleaning the areas that were difficult to clean.

"Yes, a lot of people will be coming later."

After Mitsuko left, Higashino explained the situation to Himegami and the others, and then went to the supermarket alone to buy a lot of groceries.

On his way, he had already informed the girls he knew about it. Unfortunately, Tsukuyomi Komoe and Yomikawa Aiho also had things to take care of and couldn't come today.

Ding-dong-

The crisp sound of the doorbell broke the silence inside the house.

"Ah! Have the guests arrived?" Index immediately stopped what she was doing and walked to Higashino's side.

Higashino opened the door.

"Excuse me, oh!"

The voices outside the door rose an octave instantly upon seeing Higashino open the door, filled with astonishment and a strange resentment.

Standing at the door was Shirai Kuroko, wearing Tokiwadai's summer school uniform. She was holding a beautifully wrapped gift box in one hand, while her other hand was frozen in mid-air, as if she were about to ring the doorbell.

"Shirai-kun?"

Higashino was somewhat surprised; she was the first to arrive.

"Dr. Higashino!"

Kuroko practically spat out the name through gritted teeth, her eyes fixed on Higashino.

These past few days, she's harbored deep resentment towards Higashino. Not only did he steal her older sister away a couple of days ago and they ended up together, but yesterday the two of them even disappeared for a whole day, and nobody knows what they were up to.

When Hei Zi came home in the evening and saw his older sister looking exhausted, but still laughing to herself while resting, Hei Zi felt like his world had collapsed.

Not only that, but this morning, after Mikoto informed her that Higashino had invited them to a party at his new house, she disappeared again.

"Why did you open the door?! Where is my sister?! Kuroko clearly smelled her fresh and fragrant scent nearby!"

Her gaze swept across Higashino's back like a radar, trying to find Misaka Mikoto's figure.

She figured that her older sister must have disappeared so early to sneak off to Higashino's place for some intimate time.

"Mikoto hasn't arrived yet; you're the first one."

Higashino was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected that Kuroko would be the first person to arrive at his house.

He stepped aside.

"Come in first."

Kuroko cautiously entered the entrance hall, her gaze sweeping over Index and Himegami Akisa before finally settling on Higashino Yu's face, filled with undisguised scrutiny and hostility: "Dr. Higashino, although you are now Onee-sama's boyfriend, Kuroko is warning you! Don't even think about monopolizing Onee-sama's precious rest time! Onee-sama belongs to Tokiwadai, to the Disciplinary Committee, and above all, to me, Kuroko!"

"Hei Zi, what nonsense are you talking about!"

A voice filled with helplessness and a hint of embarrassment came from outside the door, and Misaka Mikoto appeared in the doorway.

She had clearly heard the second half of Kuroko's declaration, and her expression became somewhat unnatural with anger.

Today she wore a refreshing light green spaghetti strap dress, revealing her slender collarbones and arms. Below the hem of the dress were her fair and smooth thighs, and she wore a pair of sandals. She exuded the vitality of a summer girl, while also possessing her unique charm.

"sister!"

Hei Zi's expression changed instantly, and he pounced on the enemy like a fledgling returning to its nest.

Mikoto was prepared and skillfully reached out a hand to press down on Kuroko's forehead, stopping her surprise attack.

"You idiot, you black-hearted bastard! What nonsense are you spouting in front of someone else's house!"

"But, my dear sister! Look, there are already so many women in the Higashino family!"

Kuroko pointed at Index and Himegami Akisa, but she couldn't see Meiya.

"And he also has Ruiko and Hatsuharu, this is simply... simply... too much! Big sister, your situation is too dangerous!"

"What's dangerous about it?!"

Mikoto's face turned even redder, whether from anger or embarrassment, it was hard to tell.

However, thinking about the experience of being spanked yesterday, which was indeed quite dangerous, she didn't want to go through that kind of public humiliation again.

"Index is Yu's family, and Himegami is a tenant... Okay, come in quickly!"

She practically dragged the still-struggling, protesting Blackie through the door.

Index watched the interaction between the "master and servant" pair with curiosity, finding it interesting every time. Himegami Akisa nodded to Mikoto as a greeting.

Mikoto handed the gift she brought to Higashino, her eyes slightly evasive: "Ahem... excuse me. This is... a housewarming gift."

She went to the mall to buy this this morning, and before she knew it, she had developed a serious case of decision paralysis, which made her arrive a little later than Hei Zi.

Her gaze swept over the spacious, luxurious living room and the shimmering swimming pool outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. She clicked her tongue slightly and muttered softly, "That guy, Mitsuko, really goes all out after we got married..."

"Thank you, Misaka."

Higashino naturally accepted it, his gaze lingering on her elegant summer attire, a smile of appreciation on his face.

"It's a very pretty dress."

Mikoto felt a little embarrassed by Higashino's praise and looked away, saying, "I-Is that so! I just dressed casually!"

"Hmph, whatever, my dear sister~"

Kuroko, whose forehead was being pressed, keenly sensed the subtle atmosphere between the two and the compliment. She was immediately consumed by jealousy, dragging out her words and her eyes darting dangerously between Higashino and Mikoto.

You know, Mikoto tried on all the clothes last night before finally choosing this dress.

ding dong -- ding dong --

The doorbell rang again.

Higashino opened the door again.

"Senior~ We're here!"

Standing outside the door were Haruharu Kazari and Saten Ruiko.

Today, in early spring, she wore a light pink chiffon dress adorned with delicate floral embroidery on the hem, making her look sweet and fresh, like a little flower in summer. She held a cake box tied with a ribbon in both hands.

Saten Ruiko, on the other hand, was dressed in a vibrant outfit: denim shorts paired with a black tank top printed with a rock band logo, casually layered with a thin sun-protective cardigan, and sporty sandals. Carrying a large bag, she grinned and said, "Senpai, your new house is amazing! We brought games and snacks to celebrate!"

"Early spring, tears, welcome."

Higashino smiled and let the two in.

"Misaka-senpai! Kuroko-kun!"

In early spring, I saw Mikoto and Kuroko and greeted them happily.

"Oh! Misaka-senpai arrived first!" Ruiko waved with a smile, her gaze sweeping over Mikoto's skirt as she winked mischievously.

"Misaka-senpai is so cute today~"

Mikoto felt a little embarrassed by their stares: "You, you guys too..."

When Kuroko saw Haru and Ruiko arrive, she temporarily put aside her obsession with "exclusive rights" to her older sister and started chatting with them.

"Wow! What a big house!" Ruizi put down her bag and looked around curiously, immediately spotting the swimming pool outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.

"It really is a swimming pool! That's amazing!" She immediately perked up; she had been quite excited when Higashino told her on the phone that his new house had a swimming pool.

"Does everyone want to go swimming together later? I brought swimsuits!" She waved the bag in her hand.

Chu Chun nodded and said softly.

"I...I brought some too..."

Mikoto subconsciously tugged at the hem of her skirt, and the thought of Higashino's gaze as she wore a swimsuit made her ears burn.

Kuroko's eyes lit up: "Onee-sama in a swimsuit! Kuroko... Kuroko has to record this with a high-definition camera!"

"No taking photos without permission! That kind of thing is absolutely forbidden!"

Mikoto immediately delivered a chop to Kuroko's head.

Just as the atmosphere inside the house was gradually becoming lively, the roar of an engine came from afar and stopped at the entrance of the villa.

Ding-dong—ding-dong ding-dong ding-dong!

This time, the doorbell rang particularly urgently.

Higashino opened the door again.

Four women with distinct personalities stood outside the door; they were members of the secret organization Item.

The leader, Mugino Shizuri, crossed his arms, glanced at Higashino, then looked past him into the house, his brows slightly furrowed.

She wore a tailored black tank top, paired with matching fitted shorts and open-toe high-heeled sandals, revealing her toes painted with dark nail polish.

"Tsk, Higashino, the place you picked is pretty good."

Mugino's gaze swept over the girls in the room; they were all familiar faces. She had seen these girls when Higashino was hospitalized last time.

She casually handed a wine box that looked quite valuable to Higashino Yu.

"Here, a housewarming gift. Don't expect anything fancy."

"Makino, thank you." Higashino took the sake box.

"Higashino~ Congratulations on your new home!"

Flanda peeked out from behind Mugino, her smile radiant. Today she was wearing a gothic-style black lace slip dress, the skirt flared out, paired with long lace stockings and thick-soled round-toed leather shoes, her long golden hair swaying playfully with her movements.

She was carrying a huge bag with the logo of a famous dessert shop on it.

"Ta-da! This is a limited edition that I bought especially for you! Isn't that a pleasant surprise!"

"Limited edition? I remember you just bought it randomly on the street."

Mugino glanced at her and, without hesitation, exposed Frenda's lie.

"Congratulations, Higashino."

Kinuhata Ai still has that expressionless look, wearing a dark gray hooded sweatshirt with cat ear decorations on the hood and athletic shorts, with sneakers on her feet, looking like a girl next door who wandered onto the wrong set.

She simply handed over a small box.

"A really ordinary gift, I hope you like it."

"Thank you for the silk banner." Higashino Yuya accepted it.

Finally, there was Takitsubo Riko. She wore a loose, comfortable beige cotton-linen dress with a thin light brown knitted cardigan over it, and her short, brown hair lay smoothly against her cheeks.

The moment she saw Higashino Yu, her eyes visibly brightened. She handed him a small, simply wrapped gift box, her voice soft and carrying a hint of barely perceptible dependence: "Congratulations, Yu-kun. I hope you like this."

Her gaze was almost glued to Higashino Yu's face.

"Thank you for tidying up, I really like it."

Higashino responded gently and accepted the gift.

The four members of Item entered the living room, and the previously harmonious atmosphere underwent a subtle change.

As soon as Frenda entered, her gaze swept across all the women present like a radar, finally locking onto Mikoto, and then she looked at Mugino.

"Wow~"

Frenda let out an exaggerated exclamation, skipped over to Mikoto, put her hands on her hips, and puffed out her flat chest.

"The third Railgun, Misaka Mikoto, long time no see! Hmm..."

She tilted her head, her gaze sweeping over Mikoto's sundress, focusing on her chest, before turning back to look at her boss Mugino's rather voluptuous figure under her tight vest.

"Mugino, Mugino!" Frenda suddenly shouted.

"I didn't get a good look last time, but I never imagined that someone also rated Level 5 would have a body like a middle school student! Even their clothes, like safety shorts..."

She pointed to the faint outline of safety shorts visible beneath Mikoto's skirt and giggled.

"Your mature sexiness is nowhere near as good as Mugino's! Right?"

The living room fell silent instantly.

Mikoto's face flushed red instantly, down to her ears, and her forehead throbbed. "You... what did you say?!"

She clenched her fists, filled with shame and indignation.

Mugino Shizuri crossed his arms, snorted coldly, and curled his lips into a haughty smile. Although he didn't speak, his eyes were full of tacit approval of Frenda's "objective evaluation" and silent mockery of Mikoto's "underdevelopment."

Although she lost in the rankings, she completely won in terms of female power!