In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 138

Without answering her question, he looked around, his gaze finally settling on a small folding table and two chairs in the corner, almost buried under boxes.

"Could you please clean that table? Also, could I borrow your kitchen? It should still be usable, right?" Higashino wasn't sure if the kitchen had any usable utensils, since Flanda wasn't really using this place as a place to stay.

Frenda was still reeling from the complete disruption of her "plan." Her initial plan was to cook, showcase her feminine charm, and create an opportunity to win him over. How did it turn into him taking the initiative?

Could it be that the roles have been reversed, and Higashino is trying to win me over with delicious food?

But... will you cook separately for me...?

As she watched Higashino roll up his sleeves, revealing a posture of preparing for a major undertaking, a strange, warm feeling replaced her original tension.

This seems like a good idea.

"Oh...oh! It works, the kitchen is over there!" Frenda snapped out of her daze and quickly pointed in a direction where there was a small open kitchen area. The cookware was complete, but it looked brand new as if it had never been used.

In reality, she hasn't eaten here at all since buying all this furniture, let alone cooked. She only prepared these things to make the place look a little more normal.

She quickly put down the mackerel can and hurriedly moved several boxes that were pressing down on the folding table.

The box was heavy, and she struggled to move it, displaying a somewhat clumsy demeanor.

"Hey... these gifts look nice, but they're such a hassle to move..." she muttered to herself.

Higashino was somewhat surprised to see her trying so hard.

"You're quite strong, Frenda." He'd heard from Takitsubo that Frenda was usually very lazy; forget about moving things, you couldn't even count on her cleaning. Otherwise, this room wouldn't be in this state.

After glancing at the busy girl, Higashino picked up the shopping bag and headed towards the kitchen.

He began to get busy in an orderly fashion: washing kitchen utensils, preparing ingredients, and turning on the brand-new stove.

After much effort, Frenda cleared out the dining table and two chairs, and then curiously and nervously approached the kitchen.

An enticing aroma wafted into her nostrils. She watched Dongye's tall, upright figure busily working at the not-so-spacious stove, his movements practiced and efficient. Washing vegetables, chopping vegetables, heating oil, putting them in the pan... the aroma of charred oil, fresh vegetables, and spices grew stronger and stronger, making her stomach rumble with anticipation.

"Wow... what is this?" Frenda pointed at the scrambled eggs with tomatoes in the pan. The golden egg liquid coated the bright red tomatoes, making it look very tempting.

"Tomato and egg stir-fry, you've never had it before?" Dongye's hands didn't stop moving as he stirred the ingredients in the pan. "It's a very common dish where I'm from."

But considering it's 07 now, and it's in Japan, it seems quite normal that Frenda, a foreign girl living in Academy City, hasn't tried it.

Frenda shook her head honestly, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the pot. "No! It tastes so special... Wait!" She suddenly pointed to another pot of glistening fish pieces coated in sauce. "You made my canned food look pretty?!"

The can of mackerel that Higashino had "processed" was now emitting a sweet and sour, extremely tempting aroma.

"So...so fragrant!" Flanda couldn't help but exclaim softly, her blue eyes filled with novelty and admiration, her fondness for Higashino skyrocketing. "Higashino, this smells so much better than the ready-made sweet and sour fish sold in supermarkets!"

Frenda already knew that Higashino was a great cook when she chatted with Takitsubo before, but even when she had a swimsuit party at Higashino's house last time, she didn't get to eat any of the food that Higashino cooked himself.

"Don't just stand there, come and help." Dongye ordered without turning his head, handing her a plate of freshly stir-fried broccoli. "Take it to the table. And wash a couple of bowls while you're at it."

"Oh! Okay!" Frenda quickly took the plate, carefully carrying the plate of bright green vegetables, and gently placed it on the small table that had just been cleaned. Then she ran back to the kitchen and clumsily washed two brand-new bowls at the sink.

Dongye worked quickly; the tomato and egg stir-fry was golden and tempting, the sweet and sour fish had a tangy aroma, and the last dish, a simple seaweed and egg drop soup, was also quickly served.

The simple three dishes and one soup exude a vitality that can revitalize the entire space.

When all the dishes were placed on the small folding table, Frenda looked at the steaming food in front of her, and then at Higashino sitting opposite her, and suddenly felt a strong sense of unreality.

She never imagined that one day she would be cooking with a boy in her secret base, and that the boy would be the one cooking.

Having witnessed too much of the dark side of Academy City, she felt that the fact that she and her sister had survived unscathed until now was due to a bit of luck and her own hard work! She never even dared to dream that a boy would cook for her alone at her house.

She picked up the chopsticks that Higashino handed her, her movements a little clumsy.

"I'm starting!" Frenda whispered, picking up a piece of sweet and sour fish and putting it in her mouth. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the perfectly balanced sweet and sour flavor exploded on her taste buds, making her eyes light up with delight.

"Mmm! Delicious! Higashino-kun, this is so delicious!" She couldn't help but pick up another piece. Canned mackerel was her favorite thing, and it tasted even better after Higashino processed it.

Seeing her undisguised expression of satisfaction, Dongye nodded in approval.

"Eat slowly, there's still plenty." Although Dongye didn't really think the canned sweet and sour fish was delicious—after all, his palate, being from Xia Country, was more discerning than most—it seemed to have an unusual magic in the mouth of Franda, a serious enthusiast. Once she took the first bite, she couldn't stop eating.

"Waaah... I'm sorry, but... but I really can't stop..." Frenda mumbled incoherently, her mouth stuffed full, but her hands moved even faster.

She immediately tried another bite of the scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and the sweet and sour taste made her let out another satisfied hum.

"Wow! This is amazing too! The egg is so tender!"

Frenda ate the entire meal without looking up, spending most of the time praising it without reservation: "This is so delicious!", "I never knew eggs and tomatoes could taste so good together!", "Wow, this soup is so warming..." Even though it was just a few very ordinary home-cooked dishes...

Higashino ate slowly and deliberately, occasionally responding with a few words.

He watched as she relaxed because of the food, her eyes brimming with pure joy. Her deliberate "cuteness" temporarily faded, revealing her most authentic and tender side—an ordinary girl who longed to be cared for and could be overjoyed by simple warmth.

After dinner, Flanda looked at the empty plates and bowls, then at Higashino across from her who was smiling at her. An unprecedented, warm feeling of fullness filled her heart, even more satisfying than the delicious meal itself.

When was the last time I felt so relaxed and uninhibited? It seems like it was after a mission failed, when I was scolded by Mugino and secretly ran here to sulk!

This is really unfair... This guy clearly said I was supposed to cook... But now, it seems like I'm the one being won over...

She subconsciously and quietly hid the chopsticks she and Dongye had used behind her back, her movements as quick as a thief.

The warmth of this simple Chinese meal made her feel, for the first time, that this secret base seemed... to have a touch of home.

It seems like it would be nice to live here with my younger sister and Higashino in the future.

The thought flashed through her mind so quickly that it startled her. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly lowered her head to clear the dishes.

"I'll wash them!" she said eagerly, as if afraid that Dongye would refuse. She quickly tidied up the dishes and secretly slipped two pairs of chopsticks into her pocket as she walked toward the sink.

"Ok!"

Chapter 173 Eat and Run Away - Scumbag!

After clearing away the dishes, Frenda's mind became increasingly chaotic, and her heartbeat quickened uncontrollably.

Take the initiative! We must take down Higashino! Tonight is the perfect opportunity!

These thoughts became more and more frequent after dinner; she really didn't want to give up like this.

The atmosphere had reached this point, and she had mentally prepared herself. If she were to back down now, she would despise herself!

She took a deep breath, her eyes hardening.

"Higashino-kun, um...would you like something to drink?"

Frenda tried to make her voice sound sweet and natural as she swayed toward a large box that was being used as a wine cabinet.

Higashino noticed that she deliberately slowed down her pace while walking, and the swaying of her skirt seemed to be more pronounced.

This deliberate attempt to walk like a mature woman looks a little comical. After all, she doesn't have a curvy figure with long legs, so walking like that is really inappropriate.

She struggled to drag a small refrigerator out of the mountain of gift boxes, then stood on tiptoe to reach a wine bottle placed on a high shelf.

This was a gift from a friend; it's supposedly a chilled wine that adds a touch of romance. As for why such a strange gift would be given, Flanda said she couldn't remember.

"oops!"

Frenda seemed to "accidentally" slip, her body leaned back slightly, and she almost dropped the wine bottle she had just picked up.

Keigo reacted quickly and gently caught her just as her waist was about to hit the box next to her.

The slender, supple waist and Higashino's large hand inevitably made intimate contact.

"Th-thank you, Higashino-kun~"

After regaining her balance, Frenda immediately turned around, her face flushed and filled with a grateful smile. She deliberately didn't immediately remove Higashino's hand from her waist, but instead gently snuggled closer to him.

"I...I'll go get the cup!"

She shyly "escaped" from Dongye's hand and ran to rummage through the cup. When she bent over, her neckline dropped slightly, revealing a small patch of snow-white skin and delicate collarbone. The stockings under her skirt looked particularly alluring in Dongye's eyes.

Every step, every movement, exudes a youthful, almost childlike allure, the result of meticulous rehearsal.

Black stockings are indeed a good thing; even someone with Flanda's figure looks quite stylish in them.

Higashino leaned against the cleared dining table, arms crossed, watching her with a leisurely air.

From the moment she deliberately dimmed the lights, the little golden retriever couldn't hide the cunning scheme in her eyes. Her little tricks were as clear and straightforward as a textbook example in his eyes.

Clumsy... kind of cute.

If it weren't for the other things we had arranged to do, Higashino really wouldn't mind staying and playing games with this cute girl all night.

Even though time was tight, Higashino could still spend a few hours with her.

Frenda finally found two relatively clean stemmed glasses and clumsily poured wine into them. The amber liquid sloshed around and accidentally spilled onto the table.

"Ah, sorry sorry!"

She exclaimed in surprise and immediately grabbed a rag from the side to wipe it.

"Never mind it."

Higashino finally spoke. He walked a few steps to Frenda and gently took the rag from her hand.

Frenda's heart skipped a beat, and she felt the air thinner. Here it comes! The crucial moment of the strategy! He's so close to her!

But this smell... is just like the smell of intimate contact when I was being punished—it smells wonderful...

She immediately adjusted her expression, trying to make her eyes look unfocused.

"Higashino-kun..."

Her voice was deliberately soft and sweet, as if she were extending a silent invitation.

"Tonight...it's just the two of us..."

She tilted her head back slightly, closed her eyes, and positioned herself in the most vulnerable position.

She kept repeating to herself, "Take the initiative! Take the initiative! I'm going to win over Higashino tonight!"

The expected kiss didn't land on her lips. Frenda felt a warm breath near her ear, followed by Higashino's magnetic, yet clearly teasing, whisper:

"Frenda".

"Um……?"

She answered instinctively, her voice carrying a nervous anticipation she herself was unaware of.

Higashino's hand rested on her chin, feeling the soft flesh of her jaw, his voice tinged with amusement:

"The way you look..."

He paused, his breath brushing against her earlobe.

"...Are you trying to seduce me?"

Frenda: "!!!"

She suddenly opened her eyes, and the seductive expression she had managed to maintain instantly collapsed, leaving only utter shock and panic at having her intentions exposed!

He...he figured it out?! That was a direct, hard hit!

"I...I didn't! I...I didn't!"

Frenda's face turned bright red. She tried to be stubborn, but her body instinctively wanted to back away and create distance.

But Dongye didn't give her a chance to back down. The instant she started to retreat, his free hand suddenly grabbed her waist and pulled her back into his arms.

At the same time, the hand that was supporting the table also rose up, clamping her chin again, leaving her nowhere to escape her gaze.

Higashino's familiar yet tense aura instantly enveloped her.

Frenda felt her mind go blank, her body stiffen, and she could only helplessly open her beautiful eyes wide as she watched that smiling face rapidly enlarge before her.

"no?"

Higashino stared into her panicked eyes, knowing that as long as he was just a little bit assertive, he could make the girl act in all sorts of ways.

"It doesn't matter……"

His gaze swept over her lips, which were slightly parted in fright and embarrassment, as delicate as rose petals.

"...because you succeeded."

As he finished speaking, Higashino lowered his head and began to savor the sweet fruit that had been delivered to his door that evening.

It was rare to encounter a brave person who dared to take the initiative to challenge him, and Dongye felt that he had to leave her with an unforgettable memory.

"Well!"

All of Frenda's carefully crafted lines, all her techniques, all her ideas vanished in an instant.