In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 39

Higashino feigned a protest, but secretly snapped his fingers. The fat penguin suddenly spun perfectly in the air and landed steadily on the platform in front of Misaki, even giving a gentlemanly bow.

Misaki's eyes widened in surprise: "Huh, how did she manage that?"

"It only temporarily adjusted its motor nerves."

Higashino shrugged.

"Want to touch it?"

Misaki hesitated for a moment, then reached out her hand. The penguin obediently lowered its head, allowing her to stroke its smooth body.

"So soft..."

Shokuhou spoke softly, a rare, innocent smile appearing on her face. At this moment, she was no longer the high and mighty Level 5, but just an ordinary girl playing with animals.

Higashino stood to the side, watching her interact with the penguins. Her smile was more dazzling than the sunlight, making it impossible for Higashino to look away.

What would you like to see next?

After the performance, Higashino asked, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.

Misaki pointed to the dolphinarium in the distance, her movements like an impatient child: "There."

Her skirt swayed gently with her excited owner, like the ripples of ocean waves.

The dolphin show was even more spectacular than the penguin show. Three bottlenose dolphins leaped and tumbled in the pool, their splashes creating tiny rainbows in the sunlight.

Shokuhou sat in the front row, unconcerned that her skirt was soaked by the splashing water. Higashino secretly used his ability to create a transparent barrier in front of her, blocking most of the water, but deliberately leaving some so that she could still enjoy the performance.

"Would you like to try interacting with the dolphins?"

Higashino leaned close to her ear and asked, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe.

Misaki turned her head, a surprised expression on her face: "Is that alright?"

Her voice held a cautious anticipation.

Higashino smiled mysteriously and snapped his fingers. The next second, Shokuhou found herself standing on a platform by the pool, where a trainer was handing her a small fish. She looked back at the audience, and Higashino gave her an encouraging gesture.

"Go."

His voice entered her ears directly through telepathy.

"Now they see you as a special guest."

Shokuhou nervously watched the dolphin. A dolphin swam up to her and playfully touched her hand with its snout. Shokuhou carefully stroked the dolphin's smooth back, feeling the powerful muscles rise and fall beneath her palm. The dolphin let out a joyful call, as if smiling at her.

"It's so well-behaved..."

She spoke softly, completely unaware that her voice was amplified throughout the entire venue via the microphone. A radiant smile bloomed on her face, brighter than the water droplets in the pool.

After the performance, Shokuhou's skirt was mostly soaked, but her smile was brighter than the sunshine. Higashino handed her a dry towel and took the commemorative photo from her hand. In the photo, Shokuhou was holding a dolphin, her smile pure and bright, as if she had shed all pretense.

"Are you hungry?"

Higashino asked, and quietly used his ability to evaporate the water stains on her skirt.

There's a nice restaurant in the park.

His stomach was rumbling in protest as his energy was being depleted.

The restaurant is built by the sea, where the azure water meets the sky in the distance, with a few sailboats dotting the landscape. Shokuhou ordered seafood pasta, while Higashino ordered curry rice.

"Your ability..."

Misaki stirs the noodles, the silver fork making a crisp clinking sound against the porcelain plate.

"To what extent can it be achieved?"

Her gaze fell on Dongye's slightly pale face, and a hint of worry flashed in her eyes.

Higashino pondered for a moment, his fork hovering in mid-air: "Theoretically, I can do most of what I want to do, but time and the nature of life are difficult to affect for the time being."

Of course, the more difficult the task, the greater the energy required.

He pointed out the window, where the blurry figures of the two were reflected in the glass.

"For example, turning seawater into lemonade, or turning clouds into cotton candy."

"I want it now."

Shokuhou suddenly said, "It's like a spoiled child."

"Cotton candy cloud".

Her fork pointed to the largest cloud outside the window.

"You're really rude."

Higashino smiled helplessly and snapped his fingers. A cloud outside the window suddenly transformed into a fluffy pink cotton candy, slowly drifting across the sea.

Shokuhou ran to the window in surprise, her nose almost touching the glass, and pointed to another cloud: "I want the chocolate flavor of that one!"

Her voice trembled slightly with excitement.

And so, lunchtime turned into a "cloud transformation contest." Following Shokuhou's request, Higashino transformed the clouds in the sky into cotton candy of various colors and flavors. In the end, the entire Academy City was filled with colorful, sweet clouds, attracting tourists to take photos. Perhaps some experts will even be on television tomorrow explaining this strange celestial phenomenon.

Higashino's face paled slightly. The continuous use of his abilities today had taken a toll on him, but it was still within an acceptable range.

However, the gains were also enormous. First, the patients had a much better mindset, which was noticeably different from when we first met. Second, quite a few people were influenced by the ability today, and these are all indispensable anchors for the future of the internet.

"Are you happy?"

On the way back, Higashino asked. They walked on the pier by the sea, the sea breeze carrying a salty and damp scent brushing against their cheeks, dispelling the heat of the day.

Misaki didn't answer, but suddenly stopped. She turned around and looked directly into Higashino's eyes: "Why did you do all this?"

Her voice was soft, yet exceptionally clear, as if she were afraid of missing a single word in her reply.

Higashino was stunned: "Because..."

He paused, then said matter-of-factly.

"You're my patient."

He turned his head and looked directly into Misaki's eyes.

"And...seeing you smile makes it all worthwhile."

Shokuhou turned her head away somewhat shyly. The sea breeze ruffled her blonde hair, strands brushing against Higashino's cheek, carrying a faint jasmine scent. The two were so close they could hear each other's breathing.

"Later."

She spoke softly, her voice almost drowned out by the sound of the waves.

"I'm going to the amusement park."

Higashino smiled and nodded: "Yes, Your Majesty."

Chapter 54 Doctor's Advice: To be continued next time!

As dusk settled, the neon lights of the amusement park gradually illuminated the scene, and Higashino Yu stood beneath the Ferris wheel, waiting for the girl.

"Higashino!"

A clear, cheerful voice came from the direction of the carousel. Higashino turned around and saw Misaki Shokuhou running towards him, holding the cotton candy she had previously created from clouds.

Because her skirt got wet at the ocean park, Shokuhou asked Higashino to use his ability to take her back to her dorm to change her clothes after they left. At this moment, she was wearing a cherry-red pinafore dress, a white lace blouse with a bow at the collar, and her long golden hair was flowing behind her as she ran. Her slender legs encased in white stockings were visible beneath the hem of her skirt.

"Slower!"

Higashino quickly stepped forward and reached out to catch Shokuhou, who almost tripped over her own skirt. The girl bumped into him due to inertia, and the cotton candy rubbed against the front of his shirt, leaving sticky sugar strands.

"Your skirt is covered in sugar."

Misaki glanced down at the hem of her skirt, then nonchalantly licked her syrup-covered fingers. This childlike gesture made Higashino chuckle.

"Anyway, you'll use your abilities to clean it up."

As she spoke, she suddenly grabbed Higashino's sleeve and rushed forward.

"Hurry up! The roller coaster is about to start the next round!"

As she pulled him through the bustling crowd, a smile involuntarily crept onto Dongye's face.

Since today's "forced psychological counseling," Shokuhou's personality, or rather her mood, seems to have undergone a subtle change. She no longer always maintains a queenly demeanor, and occasionally reveals the liveliness and willfulness that a girl her age should have.

"The last row!"

Shokuhou pointed to the back of the roller coaster, "That's the most thrilling part!"

While queuing, Shokuhou kept tiptoeing to look around, like an impatient little child.

As she sat down in the carriage, Shokuhou's long hair was blown about by the oncoming wind. She excitedly checked her seatbelt, looking somewhat flustered.

"This is how you should fasten your seatbelt."

Higashino bent down to adjust her shoulder strap, his nose brushing against the faint fragrance in her hair.

"Don't try to take advantage of the situation."

Shokuhou blushed and mumbled, but didn't push him away. Higashino silently reinforced the safety devices in their carriage. After all, these things weren't 100% safe.

"Cheating with your abilities is not allowed!"

Misaki sensed something and reached out to pinch his arm.

"I want to do this for real!"

The moment the roller coaster started, Shokuhou's scream almost pierced Higashino's eardrums. She gripped the handrail tightly. When the first plunge came, her hand was already on Higashino's arm, with a strength that was completely unexpected for someone with no physical ability.

"what!!!"

A gust of wind lifted her skirt, and Higashino quickly used his hand to hold the fluttering fabric in place, earning him a humiliating and angry elbow strike from Shokuhou.

"satyr!"

Her voice was drowned out by the howling wind.

When she got off the bus, Misaki's legs were as weak as cotton candy. Higashino helped her to the rest area, feeling her weight against him.

"Is it fun?"

he asked softly.

"Barely passed..."

Shokuhou's voice was still trembling, but she suddenly pointed to the drop tower in the distance.

"Let's play that next!"

Following her finger, Dongye looked up and saw the hundred-meter-tall drop tower, a steel giant against the night sky, its top almost touching the clouds. He couldn't help but twitch his lips: "Are you sure?"

Is this what they call the reversal of extremes? This physical idiot actually chose such stimulating activities today.

"Of course!"

Shokuhou had already dragged him to the queue, her energetic appearance completely masking her earlier weakness. The night breeze grew cool, and Higashino took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.

"It's so dirty."

She complained, but wrapped her coat even tighter around herself.

As the drop tower reached its highest point, the lights of the entire amusement park came into view. Shokuhou nervously gripped Higashino's hand, her body unconsciously leaning closer.

"Now you know you're afraid?"

Higashino asked softly, feeling the dampness in her palm.

"Who, who is afraid!"

Misaki's defiant demeanor was especially endearing in the night, and she took a deep breath.

"I just... Ah!!!"

In the instant of her rapid descent, Shokuhou's scream pierced the night sky. Higashino subtly used his ability to stretch the space, prolonging the thrilling experience. When they landed, Shokuhou's legs were completely unresponsive, and she clung to Higashino.

"fraud......"

She said angrily, but let Higashino carry her to the food stall.

"We agreed not to use any special abilities..."

She would have been falling for several minutes longer than she should have noticed; she would have been a complete idiot if she hadn't.