"Let's end this negotiation here, Miss Sangonomiya Kokomi. We'll meet again next time."
"Miss Kujou Sara, I am grateful for your selfless and brave actions previously. Since the negotiation has concluded, I should be returning. The war has just ended, and there are many matters waiting for me to handle on Watatsumi Island..."
Having gone through the ordeal of the worm tide together, this shared experience had made Kokomi and Kujou Sara much 'closer.' Many issues that were once sensitive could now be discussed with composure.
This made the negotiation process exceptionally smooth.
When Feng Yi and Yuan Bao arrived at the venue, Kujou Sara and Kokomi had already prepared to depart with their respective entourages.
"Ah, a shame this great me didn't encounter that so-called worm tide. Otherwise, I would have definitely caught some of the most spirited beetles for beetle fighting..."
Arataki Itto felt a deep sense of regret. By the time he heard about the worm tide and rushed over, it was already completely over. The swarms had vanished without a trace.
Fortunately, however, he discovered many Onikabuto on the large trees of this island, some of which were quite robust.
Based on his keen intuition for beetle fighting, Arataki Itto captured an Onikabuto with the brightest sheen and most lively demeanor from among the many candidates.
This successfully earned him the admiring and envious glances of several Arataki Gang underlings. Merely for this, Arataki Itto felt the trip was worthwhile.
That is, until he inadvertently saw the larger, brighter, and mysteriously patterned rare red Onikabuto in Yuan Bao's hand...
"Oh, God of Onikabuto, that must be the legendary Onikabuto King! Look at its sheen, its antennae, its elytra, my heavens, isn't this the beetle of my dreams?"
Arataki Itto glanced at the Onikabuto he had treasured moments before in his hand, and felt as if he were about to fall out of love.
Arataki Itto: Don't ask, and you'll be told it was love at first sight!
"Little Yuan Bao, where did you catch this bug? It's so beautiful, uh, I mean, does it have any siblings?"
Arataki Itto stared intently at the red beetle in Yuan Bao's hand, as if it possessed some magical power. Once he laid eyes on it, he couldn't look away.
"I caught it on the beach over there, but it doesn't seem to have any siblings..."
Faced with the strange adult who was giggling foolishly at the red beetle, Yuan Bao instinctively took two steps back.
This strange adult was too odd, to be shouting and making such a fuss over a red beetle.
Arataki Itto believed it was normal for children not to understand. For a professional beetle fighter, finding a perfect beetle king was the most noble of beliefs.
Upon hearing Yuan Bao say the red beetle had no siblings, Arataki Itto couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment, but he quickly adjusted his mindset.
A beetle king's uniqueness was precisely what he pursued!
With this thought, Arataki Itto grew even fonder of this red beetle king.
"Little Yuan Bao, heh heh heh... want to trade with this great me? Look, this Onikabuto of this great me is also very good! Although it's a bit smaller, it's very energetic. And this great me definitely won't let you be at a disadvantage. I'm willing to compensate you with a lollipop I've treasured for many years..."
On the way back, Arataki Itto trailed Yuan Bao like a persistent ghost, trying to trade for Yuan Bao's red beetle king.
"No! Yuan Bao worked very hard to catch it..."
Yuan Bao refused decisively, but this did not deter Arataki Itto's intentions; it only made him more excited.
"Little Yuan Bao, don't be so quick to refuse. That's not just any ordinary lollipop, it's a super, super, super precious super lollipop..."
For Arataki Itto, there was nothing that a lollipop couldn't solve. If there was, it meant there weren't enough lollipops.
"No! Besides, eating too many lollipops will give you cavities..."
Lollipops held some appeal for Yuan Bao, but not much.
"Nonsense, lollipops are the best snacks in the world! Why else would they be called lollipops! Wahahahaahaha..."
Arataki Itto could accept Yuan Bao's refusal to trade the beetle king, but he could not accept the noble status of lollipops being questioned.
As the most loyal advocate for lollipops, he had to stand up and speak for them.
Thus, Arataki Itto followed Yuan Bao closely, all the way to the milk tea shop, still unwilling to give up on trading the beetle king.
"Arataki Itto!!! Are you bullying children again?"
At this moment, a voice from behind startled Arataki Itto.
"Yoimiya? When did you become so elusive too? You walk like a ghost, without a sound. But your timing was just a little bit off, just a tiny bit off from startling this great me..."
Arataki Itto, the 'stubborn as a duck' type, said nonchalantly. Although his heart was racing and his lips were trembling, he was determined to maintain the last shred of dignity for an Oni.
"And who said I was bullying children? When has this great me ever bullied children? This great me always wins lollipops from opponents through upright, legal, and legitimate means in formal competitions..."
Arataki Itto's expression was righteous. He wasn't a bully. To demonstrate the demeanor of an Oni, he always let his opponents choose the competition first.
"Don't be scared, little sis. Yoimiya is here, and I won't let Arataki Itto bully you!"
Yoimiya smiled gently at Yuan Bao and stepped forward to shield him.
"Little Yuan Bao, consider it, okay? I'll ask again in a few days..."
Seeing Yoimiya's intervention, Arataki Itto realized he might not be able to trade today and could only try again tomorrow when Yoimiya wasn't around.
No, not tomorrow. Arataki Itto suddenly remembered he wouldn't have time tomorrow.
Tomorrow was Ms. Hina's fan meeting. As Ms. Hina's most loyal fan, how could he possibly miss it?
With that in mind, Arataki Itto felt he needed to start preparing for tomorrow's fan meeting now.
'Tomorrow, if Ms. Hina invites me for a photo, how should I respond? Should I be a little reserved? Heh heh heh, what a happy predicament...'
Arataki Itto left with his Arataki Gang underlings, rushing back to prepare some fan club props.
Along the way, Arataki Itto daydreamed about his intimate interactions with Ms. Hina tomorrow, giggling foolishly and being overjoyed.
After Arataki Itto left, Yoimiya, with her warm and cheerful personality, quickly became friends with Yuan Bao.
"Feng Yi, Yuan Bao, soon it will be the annual 'Naganohara Fireworks Festival.' Please look forward to it, there will be a big surprise!"
"Sister Yoimiya, Yuan Bao has a friend who also really likes making bomb... ah no, fireworks~"