In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 130

The two girls were startled.

Standing at the door was a girl with long, wavy hair tied with ribbons and hairpins, her bangs deliberately covering her right cheek.

Although the two people in the bay were not familiar with this person, they knew who she was.

The bows and arrows of the third grade archery club enter the deer.

Her sharp left eye quickly swept across the empty pool area, her gaze landing on the people in the bay and on the floating bodies who were very close together in the water and whose postures were obviously "unusual".

"Wan Nei classmate? Pao Fu classmate?"

The sound of an arrow hitting a deer was filled with curiosity.

She had actually been waiting nearby for quite some time, and according to the information she had gathered, a certain man might be inside.

However, after waiting outside for three hours, no one came out, which made her wonder if she had made a mistake. So, she got impatient and decided to go in and take a look.

Are you... practicing here?

Wannai Kinuho and Awafuki Manbin's hearts were pounding in their chests! Higashino was still behind them, and although he had already dove down, there was still a risk of being exposed!

But if they were found out... they couldn't even imagine the consequences!

Just as the arrow was about to pass over them and look towards the edge of the pool, Wannai Kinubo suddenly jolted. Almost instinctively, she leaned forward slightly, subtly shifting her body closer to the bubbles, trying to shield herself from the water behind her.

Pao Fuwanbin instantly understood and cooperated tacitly. The two of them moved even closer together, and from the angle of the bow and arrow, it looked as if the two of them had just finished training and were resting together.

But that tense expression looked very strange no matter how you looked at it.

"Ah...it's Yumiya-kun!"

Wannai Kinbo tried to make her voice sound natural, but the last syllable still trembled slightly.

"No...no, I just finished practicing and am just relaxing."

"Yes, just finished swimming..."

Pao Fuwanbin quickly chimed in, his voice barely audible.

Higashino silently observed this scene underwater. He could sense the tension of the two young ladies and understood that they were desperately trying to protect themselves.

He submerged completely into the water, like a nimble fish, and silently slid into the shadow of the pool wall where the two bodies were hidden.

"I see."

Bow and Arrow's gaze lingered for a moment on the two bodies pressed together and their obviously unnatural, blood-red cheeks, his brows furrowing slightly.

She didn't see Higashino, but the two's overly intimate posture and unusual reactions made her feel that something was wrong.

She suppressed her doubts and asked the purpose of her visit: "So... have you seen Dr. Higashino Yu? Someone told me he might be at the swimming pool."

Although it was during the holiday, there were still quite a few students on campus, and the three of them encountered some students on their way to the swimming club.

It was from those students that Gongjian Rulu learned that Higashino and the two girls had come here.

"Dr. Higashino...?"

Wannai Kinuho's heart leaped into her throat. She felt something gently brush against her calf underwater behind her, almost making her cry out. She shook her head, forcing herself to remain calm.

"No...no, it's just the two of us here."

"Yes, I didn't see Dr. Higashino."

Pao Fuwanbin nodded vigorously, his eyes darting around, not daring to look directly at the arrow entering the deer.

Just then, Higashino, who was underwater, seemed to think that the two young ladies were working too hard to cover them up, and decided to "help" them out.

Well, it actually made things worse...

His hand moved with an extremely malicious, almost imperceptible light touch along Wan Nei Juan Bao's waist and the outside of Pao Fu Wan Bin's thigh.

There's no way around it, that's how beginners are. Being able to stay submerged is already quite an achievement, so it's understandable that they'd be waving their hands around aimlessly, right?

"ah!"

Wan Neijuanbo shuddered violently, her body tensing instantly, and she let out a short gasp.

"Hmm!"

At the same time, Pao Fuwanbin also let out a muffled groan, the blush on his cheeks deepening instantly, and his eyes becoming dazed for a moment.

The two reacted so violently and in such perfect unison, and the sound...

Bow and Arrow frowned, staring intently at the two: "What's wrong with you two?"

She took two steps forward, came to the edge of the pool, and looked down at them.

"You're standing so close, and your face is so red... Are you feeling unwell?"

Wannai Kinuho and Awafuki Manbin were practically in tears! Higashino had played a trick on them underwater, leaving them completely unable to explain this sudden reaction!

"N-nothing!"

Wan Nei shook his head vigorously, trying to control the tremor in his voice.

"Perhaps... the water was a bit cold, and it suddenly jolted..."

Even she herself found this excuse weak and unconvincing.

Bubbling floated, head bowed, her voice trembling with tears: "Yes... the water... is a little cold..."

Bow and Arrow looked at them suspiciously, then carefully scanned the water behind them. It was crystal clear and there was indeed no one there.

Higashino wasn't stupid. Even though he was causing trouble, he still remembered to use his ability to prevent the girl who suddenly barged in from seeing him.

Finding nothing amiss, she could only reluctantly look away.

"never mind."

Bow and Arrow seemed to have given up the search, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible disappointment and frustration.

"Since I didn't see him, then I'm sorry to bother you."

She turned around and left the swimming pool without hesitation, only slamming the door shut a little too hard.

Only after the swimming pool doors were completely closed did Wan Nei Juan Bao and Pao Fu Wan Bin finally relax with a sigh of relief.

They turned around almost simultaneously and glared angrily at Higashino, who had finally surfaced behind them with a wicked grin!

"Dr. Higashino!"

Wan Neijuan was both ashamed and angry, and splashed water at him.

"You went too far! We almost got caught! And you...you were doing *that* kind of thing down there! Weren't you satisfied with all that time you spent studying?"

Pao Fuwanbin, her eyes also red, looked at him with accusatory eyes, her voice filled with grievance: "It's...it's too awful! We were all terrified just now! And you...and you..."

She couldn't bring herself to say the rest, and could only throw another handful of water at him in shame and indignation.

Higashino laughed and dodged, completely unconcerned about getting soaked: "Hahaha, sorry, sorry! I just saw you guys were working so hard to cover up, so I added some 'real reactions' for you! Didn't it work well? See, she believed it?"

He laughed as he watched the two women's vivid expressions of coquettish anger.

"And the underwater massage I gave you just now was very effective, wasn't it? Are your thighs still sore?"

"Who...who needs that kind of 'relaxation'!"

Wan Neijuan retorted vehemently, but her voice lacked conviction.

After all, that kind of "massage" was indeed very comfortable, and afterwards it completely relaxed her mind and body.

Her thighs were indeed less sore. However, she didn't know that this was due to Higashino using his abilities to restore them; otherwise, a simple massage wouldn't have had that effect.

"Dr. Higashino...you...you really are..."

Pao Fuwanbin couldn't find a suitable word to describe his despicable behavior, and could only turn his head away with a red face.

The three of them frolicked in the pool for a while longer. The tension and shyness from before gradually melted away in the playful antics, and the pool was once again filled with laughter and the sound of splashing water.

Neither of the two girls even noticed that Higashino's swimming skills had suddenly improved.

After playing around for a while, Higashino Yu was the first to get ashore: "Alright, it's getting late, I should go. Thank you both for your 'careful' guidance."

He deliberately emphasized the word "careful," which earned him reproachful looks from the two of them.

He finished dressing, waved casually, and said, "See you tomorrow! And I look forward to having both of you teach me next time!"

He left the swimming pool with a meaningful smile.

Wan Neijuanbo and Pao Fuwanbin stood in the water, watching his departing figure. They touched their still slightly flushed cheeks and recalled what had happened at the swimming pool that day. Their heartbeats became irregular again.

Chapter 165. Yuri is wrong! It must be drastically corrected!

After leaving the swimming club, Higashino did not rush to leave Tokiwadai.

He had always known that a certain girl was lurking nearby.

When the girl went in and disturbed him, Dongye didn't hesitate to project a cognitive anchor onto her.

Two minutes after Higashino walked in the direction she was waiting, the voice rang out behind him as expected.

"Stop right there, Higashino Yu."

A cool, clear voice came from behind the tree ahead.

Higashino paused, looking up. He saw Bow and Arrow Deer, arms crossed, leaning against a tree trunk, his long hair blowing in the wind, his left eye, visible beneath his bangs, staring intently at him.

Higashino sensed undisguised hostility in her eyes.

"Oh? Archery classmate?"

Higashino Yu raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat surprised.

This was the first time he had met this girl; they shouldn't have had any contact before.

Higashino couldn't understand at all the way she looked at him with such disdain, as if he were a bedbug.

"What a coincidence? Were you waiting for me?"

Although he didn't know her purpose, since she had come to him on her own initiative and was hostile towards him, he wouldn't let the girl go easily.

Higashino is quite self-aware of his own pettiness. The leader of that giant spider group probably went to meet God for some inexplicable reason back then.

However, Higashino was relatively forgiving of this beautiful girl who harbored a hint of malice towards him...

"It's not a coincidence."

Bow and Arrow straightened up, took a few steps forward, and looked at the deer with scrutiny and obvious wariness.

"I waited for you here on purpose."

Her gaze swept over him, as if trying to discern something from him.

"You hid very well at the swimming pool just now... You were quite good at hiding. You also provided good cover in the bay and on the floats."

Although she didn't find any clues about Higashino's existence, the two girls' ability to lie was really poor.

In that situation, she couldn't possibly jump into the water to look for someone, so she continued with her previous clumsy method of waiting outside.

Higashino smiled and didn't deny it: "The swimming pool is so big, I didn't notice Archer go in. I guess I was in the locker room at the time?"

Bow and Arrow snorted coldly, clearly not believing his nonsense.

Going to the changing room would mean he was changing clothes and planning to leave, wouldn't it? But she waited outside for a long time after that!

She took a deep breath, deciding to cut to the chase without beating around the bush, her tone firm:

"Higashino Yu, I've been observing you for a long time. There are countless women around you! Misaka Mikoto, Koyomi Mitsuko... even Hokaze Junko-senpai is interested in you..."

As she spoke, her tone became noticeably agitated, filled with intense jealousy and a protective instinct.

"Someone like you could never truly care about Runzi-senpai! You'll only hurt her and make her feel ignored!"

Although Higashino's reputation is somewhat strange in Tokiwadai, it is generally good, and many girls do not dislike him because of his abilities.

Even those who weren't affected by the ability developed some curiosity and affection for Higashino after being recommended by other girls.

The only point of contention is probably Higashino's unique identity. He's not a health care doctor, but the only person in Academy City who can normally have multiple girlfriends.

Under the influence of this ability, even those whose cognition has not been affected will be slightly influenced by the ability emanating from those whose cognition has been affected when they hear this news.

Previously, at Level 4, the only thing that could be done was to completely modify the perceptions of the people involved and those he had personally contacted and influenced.

However, this is the first aspect of Higashino's enhanced understanding of his abilities after becoming stronger. Just like how the Demon God can set 1+1=3, it would be difficult for him to achieve the same level of global modification as the Demon God, but it would still be no problem for him to influence everyone in Academy City to accept this small matter.