"As I thought... I underestimated you."
Senzaemon, who had just been shot in the head, sniffed at the lingering scent of brain matter in the air. In that moment, he knew—he would never be able to eat brain dishes again for the rest of his life.
How could he? It would remind him too much of his own.
Though Ryuji had healed him with some miraculous method, the sensation of having his brain pierced was simply... indescribable.
How should he even begin to explain it? The very fact that he was alive at all was unbelievable.
"Well, it's actually thanks to some special items," Ryuji said, glancing at the medkits left in his inventory—just over a hundred now. He couldn't help but shake his head.
If there was one thing he missed from the 7 Days to Die world, it was his absurd stamina—and these medkits.
They were absolutely broken. As long as the body was still technically "alive," they could restore it to peak condition. That was the only thing he truly still desired from that world.
Sadly, that world was on the verge of collapse, and Ryuji had no interest in becoming the ruler of a dying dimension.
Still, he understood that these medkits likely had limits. After all, they were just tools from a crumbling reality. Powerful, sure—but only really effective for mortals.
They didn't restore a percentage of health—they just restored it flat. Someone like Rias, for instance—there was no way her max health was even on the same scale as his.
"…In any case, don't waste them," Senzaemon muttered, his expression twitching slightly. He was starting to suspect that Ryuji had done it on purpose—some kind of power play.
But seeing Ryuji's awkward expression, he let that idea go.
Still, he had been shot in the head. If that wasn't a reason to be angry, what was?
Even if he felt lighter than ever afterward—and several old injuries had mysteriously vanished—he had died.
He had seen his father. He had seen his grandmother.
He had even reached the Sanzu River.
And now he was just supposed to shrug it off?
With a stern face, Senzaemon stood up.
"I need to cool off. You all probably have things to discuss anyway. I'll leave you to it."
He left the room quickly—perhaps too quickly—determined to show that he was genuinely, righteously furious.
Ryuji, Erina, and Alice all let out a breath of relief once he was gone.
Alice was the first to speak up, raising her hand.
"Okay, I'll admit part of it was my fault, but seriously—your gun doesn't even have a safety? That's way too dangerous!"
She gave Ryuji a serious look. This kind of "accidental discharge" was nothing like those cheeky metaphors people joked about. This one could actually kill someone.
"Uh… it's ready to use as soon as I take it out. I never really thought about it," Ryuji replied with a frown. Come to think of it, Kiri had never taught him any of that.
And really, why would he have that kind of common sense?
He usually operated guns directly from his inventory interface. That's how he always managed to aim with such precision.
"…You're unbelievable. You're an adult, but you don't seem very reliable," Alice sighed, then turned to look at Erina, who had been silently observing the whole time.
"But aren't you worried, Erina? I've been teasing your darling quite a bit, and you haven't reacted at all. Aren't you afraid I'll steal him away? I am pretty interested in him, you know."
She wasn't lying. She truly was curious about Ryuji—not in a romantic sense just yet, but she found him mysterious. He was unlike anything or anyone in their world.
That curiosity alone was enough to draw her in.
"Do as you like," Erina replied coolly, crossing her arms.
She had no idea about Ryuji's more recent exploits, so in her mind, he was still that harmless, slightly clueless older guy—more mischief than menace.
Ryuji scratched his cheek awkwardly.
Honestly, if this weren't such a formal setting, he'd probably already be wondering if he had a chance with Alice.
White hair, red eyes, a knockout figure? She was absolutely his type.
"Hah…" Alice sighed and stood up.
"Well, since Grandpa said you two have things to talk about, I won't get in the way. Besides, Erina, you've probably been holding back for a while now, haven't you?"
She smirked as she left under Erina's increasingly flustered gaze. Once she was gone, the tea room suddenly felt much smaller—and far more intimate. The atmosphere grew subtly charged.
"Don't worry too much," Erina said, her cheeks turning pink as Ryuji leaned closer. "Grandfather may be harsh, but he's reasonable. As long as nothing really happened, he won't stay angry for long. Still…"
Her voice faltered slightly as Ryuji gently pulled her into his arms.
Even though she was no longer a stranger to intimacy, her body still carried that refreshing, youthful scent. As his hand slowly crept upward toward his favorite spot, he couldn't help but notice the difference.
"…Erina, did you get a little bigger?"
Gently holding her breasts in his hands, Ryuji asked the question lingering in his mind.
"Hmm… someone might come in here," Erina whispered, lightly nudging Ryuji with her elbow. But she didn't move away.
"Yes… they've grown a little," she murmured. "My body's still developing, after all. And besides…"
Her voice trailed off as a vivid memory surged—of Ryuji's lips sucking her breasts. Her cheeks burned even redder, and her voice dropped to an almost inaudible whisper. If he hadn't been holding her so close, he might've missed what she said next.
"…And you contributed, too."
Erina was usually proud and composed. But in this moment, the contrast of her bashful expression made her look all the more beautiful. That was exactly the kind of tsundere charm Ryuji adored.
A perfect balance—aloof when needed, tender when it mattered. Not too cold, not overly fiery. Just right.
Slipping a hand beneath the hem of her finely tailored school uniform, he brushed his fingers along the silk-smooth skin of her back. As that soft texture registered in his palm, he could feel her heartbeat picking up—quicker and quicker.
And when he cupped her breasts again, that deep, pounding rhythm thudded against his hand like he was holding her very heart.
"Then I guess I'll just have to keep improving," he murmured.
With the ease of someone who'd gained some experience, his hands moved with subtle care. This time, there was no awkward fumbling. No discomfort. Just warmth, pressure, and a steadily building sense of peace.
Oddly enough, Ryuji had Tsunade to thank for that particular insight. She'd once told him: most places on a girl's body weren't naturally comfortable when touched—not unless you knew how to ease the tension, gently coax the muscles beneath to relax.
Especially for girls who were well-endowed. A simple lift, a tender press in the right places, and their whole body would respond—both physically and emotionally. Not in an overwhelming way, but in a calming, affirming one. Something that soothed the soul.
"It's not all good having them this big… I don't get why you guys like them so much," Erina whispered, voice tinged with embarrassment as she let out a soft sigh.
Despite how short a time it had been since they last held each other, Ryuji's technique had improved shockingly fast. That was something she couldn't ignore. But more than anything… the feeling of being in his arms like this—comfortable, safe, cherished—was something she never wanted to give up.
"Probably because they're beautiful," Ryuji said simply, fingers still moving with tender reverence. "Besides, it's been part of humanity for generations. People instinctively admire this kind of beauty. And yours… yours are just perfect. You'd raise a healthy baby, no question."
He wasn't getting any particular pleasure out of it himself—just a soft, serene satisfaction. That quiet comfort a man felt from closeness and affection. Nothing more, nothing less.
Of course, he knew there were… other methods and experiences. But nothing matched the honest warmth of this simple connection.
Sure, Lux's backside had its own charm, but that was never really his thing.
Erina's breath hitched as her body began to react in ways even she couldn't fully predict. She gently pushed away from Ryuji's arms, face flushed and eyes bright. Then, she reached out and took his hand.
A blend of nervous anticipation and innocent shyness danced in her gaze. She was, after all, still a girl. A young woman who had given her heart to someone—but was still learning the weight of what that meant.
"Not here… let's go to my room," she said quietly.
She pulled him along, leading him away.
As they passed through the lounge, where Senzaemon was calmly sipping tea, Ryuji suddenly remembered the book he had received not long ago.
So once they were inside Erina's room, he spoke up.
"By the way, Erina… I got a new ability."
"Hm? What kind of ability?"
"One that lets me make anything taste amazing—as long as I use up stamina. Basically, I'll never have to worry about failing a dish again," he explained, scratching his head sheepishly.
Yes. He'd decided to cheat a little.
But Erina, who had been blushing moments before, suddenly turned serious.
"…Are you serious?"
"I am."
"…We'll talk about it later," she said flatly.
"You don't believe me?"
"It's just… hard to wrap my head around." She shook her head. "I can accept magic. Even world travel. But the idea of making food taste better with just… stamina? That's hard for a real chef to swallow."
Ryuji chuckled, then quietly used the skill book he'd stored.
Despite the wave of dizziness from absorbing the knowledge, he reached into Erina's mini garden, plucked a few dewdrops from a leaf, and let them fall into a glass of water. Stirring it gently, he activated his newfound skill.
The moment he took a sip, his vision exploded.
Countless visions of Erina—bathed in light silk and soaking in a steamy hot spring—danced before his eyes.
"…"
This power was as absurd as it sounded.
His heart, already racing from earlier, now erupted like a volcano.
"What's wrong?" Erina asked, cheeks still pink. Then—Ryuji held the cup to her lips.
One sip.
That was all it took.
She understood, then and there.
Ryuji wasn't bluffing. This power… was real. And it was terrifyingly good.
Just like that, Erina's volcano erupted too.
~~~~~~~
Bonus chapter every 200 PS.