Yuusha-kei ni Shosu: Choubatsu Yuusha 9004-tai Keimu Kiroku [LN] Bahasa Indonesia

ACT 2: A PRE-DESTINED ROMANCE

People are naturally drawn to those with a strong, intense sense of self—whether for good or for ill. It is simply because they possess something that we do not. In that regard, I lack any form of initiative. 

Following my mother’s orders was everything; keeping her from getting angry was the sum total of my world. 

Consequently, I possess no "will" of my own. I unconsciously and instinctively scan the faces of others, searching for their moods without even realizing I'm doing it. People like me aren't usually mistreated, but we are certainly looked down upon. No one ever thinks, If I piss this guy off, something bad is going to happen.

You might think that isn't a major problem, but these things matter. 

Even back in elementary school, there was a trend of favoritism toward girls. Even if a girl was a hundred percent at fault, if you pressed her on it, she’d cry, and suddenly you were the villain. The logic was simple: attacking a girl results in a reversal of the victim/perpetrator roles, which leads to a bad time for you. 

So, you stop attacking. 

Even without such a cynical example, you wouldn’t pick a fight with someone who’d pull a kitchen knife on you. There is a literal, physical fear of being killed. Similarly, in school, nobody targets the kids who immediately tattle to the teacher. 

Just as I hated my mother’s anger more than anything, most students hate being scolded by a teacher.

In any of these cases, a trend emerges: if someone doesn't fight back and nothing happens when you attack them, then you can attack them as much as you want. 

This is different from bullying. Bullying is a clear crime, a time bomb that eventually leads to ruin. 

This nameless state, however, can worsen indefinitely unless the person themselves wakes up to it. It’s not that my classmates are malicious when they make fun of me. The proof is that I can join their conversations without any friction. 

They don’t say those things out of spite; they simply trust that "Keiya Sagiri is kind and won't get angry anyway," and that reckless trust makes them blunt.

The truth is, I can't get angry. 

Sure, it gets lonely sometimes, and I feel a vague, unresolved frustration, but in exchange, those people are saying things that are so hilariously off the mark. Eina and I aren't dating? Technically true, but we are living together. 

I am the only one who knows the sides of Eina that the public never sees. That sense of superiority alone was enough to gloss over my flaws. You could even say I look down on them. But regardless of that, if someone is in trouble, I'll help them as much as I can. That habit has been burned into my very soul; it’s a tic I can’t get rid of no matter how hard I try.

I know that the reputation I’ve built through such simple kindness only causes me to lose more respect, yet I can't stop. 

My mother taught me that kindness is something given without expecting anything in return. 

Yet, ironically, she was the same person who made me a prisoner to the "reward" of her approval... Am I a mama's boy? Say what you want. 

When I say she was my entire world, that’s exactly what I mean. No matter how much I grow, she remains my baseline. It’s a sickness I try to maintain. Even the radical treatment of being bought by Eina hasn't quite cured it yet. 

When will I ever be able to like myself?

"Hey! Wake up!"

A series of slaps rained down on my head. 

It didn’t hurt, but it was more than enough to chase away the drowsiness. Since there was no reason to keep being hit once I was awake, I blocked the next one with my arm. 

My classmate, Masayoshi Ganari, was looking down at me with a ridiculous, smug grin. "Class is already over, dude! Keiya, you aren't even in a club—how are you passing out like this?"

"Sorry... My bad," I muttered, rubbing my eyes. "Thanks for waking me up."

"I didn't wake you up! I was just curious why you were out cold. I mean, you don't have any friends and you're not exactly the type to pull all-nighters. Why were you sleeping?"

"Does not having friends really matter here...?"

"You know, 'falling-asleep-on-the-phone' calls and stuff."

Masayoshi was in the track club, which was obvious from his tanned skin. 

He was tall and lean, a natural athlete through and through. If we had to change classrooms for PE, he was always the first one there. 

His motivation was simple—he just liked running—but because of that, he was a favorite among the teachers and always got good participation marks.

"Ah... well, when I'm sleepy, I'm sleepy. No specific reason. Why are you suddenly asking?"

"Come with me for a sec. Just a few minutes of your break."

"Sure..."

Being half-asleep made me obedient. My brain hadn't fully booted up enough to consider whether I should actually follow him. As we walked, I slowly woke up, but since I’d already followed him halfway, I figured I might as well see it through. Once he dragged me into the boys' bathroom, Masayoshi spoke up, looking awkward. "So, uh, do we have any common hobbies or anything?"

"I like Eina."

"Well, yeah, obviously! But I mean like, games? Mixers? Karaoke?"

"Mixers for high schoolers is a bit much... I don't really get it. Why the sudden interest?"

"Save me."

That word flipped a switch inside me. Masayoshi's expression was dead serious; it was clear he wasn't just messing with me. Since I didn't interact much with my classmates, he didn't even know about my "disposition" to help.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I don't want to pay any more money—!"

It turned out that while he was plain in middle school, he had tried to have a "high school debut" and failed.

To keep from being an outcast in his first year, he had used money to bribe one of the top-tier girls in the class hierarchy to date him (his family was apparently quite wealthy). Later, through track, he’d made real friends and fit in naturally. 

The girl he’d bribed didn't care about him anyway, so it should have been fine... but suddenly, she started demanding more money. His desperate cry, summarized, was essentially a plea for help against extortion.

"You should just stop paying her."

"Dude, try to understand... if a girl starts spreading groundless rumors about me, I can't win. If I get suspended, I don't even want to think about what my parents would say..."

"Ah, you're that type. There were kids like that in elementary school, too. But I don't see how I can help you."

"Well, I’d feel bad asking anyone else... wait, no, I wouldn't feel bad... I lied about the dating thing, so it's embarrassing. But with you, it's fine. Because you're paying Eina, right?"

"Hasekura said the same thing, but where is this coming from? Is 'friendship fees' a common thing I just didn't know about?"

"Oh, the Newspaper Club wrote about it in a tiny corner column. 'The Mystery of the Boy Close to Eina.' Their investigation concluded that you're paying for her time."

Dammit, just because it’s a club doesn’t mean you can just write whatever you want. 

The teachers were probably just turning a blind eye, so they’d likely stop if someone complained, but the damage was done. Just like Hasekura, the rest of the class probably knew. It’s like the internet—once information is out there, it never truly disappears.

"...Whatever, that doesn't matter. So, how am I supposed to help you?"

"Could you be my scapegoat? Honestly, I just want to cut ties with her. I don't care how you do it, just get her away from me. If you do it, there might be rumors that you stole my girlfriend or something, but I don't care about that. I just don't want anything to do with her anymore! Please, Keiya!"

 

◇

 

"An article?"

"Yeah. The school paper. I haven't seen it myself, but you haven't either? Figures."

"I am sorry," Eina said, her voice smooth and melodic. "I simply had no interest, so I was unaware. But it matters not, does it? My relationship with you is nothing like that, and such talk is merely groundless gossip."

As expected, Eina didn't care in the slightest. I’d figured as much; given her power, if she found it unpleasant, she would have reported it to the teachers or crushed the club immediately.

"Or perhaps... are you uncomfortable, Keiya-kun? With the rumor that you are paying me for your friendship?"

"Hmm... no, not really. It’s a pain being relied on because of it, but if it acts as a smokescreen for our actual relationship, I guess it’s fine."

Our real connection would be easy to find if anyone actually looked. We rode in the same car and returned to the same estate. People just didn't notice because I wasn't in any clubs, but if they tried, they’d realize our relationship was far more "immoral" than just being bought. If the rumor suppressed the truth, it was less of a headache. 

I decided to let the Newspaper Club slide for now.

"I am more concerned about this 'scapegoat' business," Eina continued. "As you are my friend, I do not intend to interfere... but are you truly going to accept?"

"I don't really want to pay, but... oh, I see. That’s what he meant by 'scapegoat'."

Under the assumption that I was paying Eina a massive friendship fee, the logic was that I must be incredibly wealthy—therefore, I should take over the financial burden of this girl. I finally understood the play.

"Regarding my money... can I use a hundred million?"

"Of course. Your Value has not dropped once, not even for a moment."

"I see. Then I guess I'll accept."

Money is Value. Just as there is happiness that can be bought with money, there are lives more precious than money—yet money can be exchanged for life.

"I’ll just hand over the settlement money and end it all. It's simple. Just like my mother did."

Though that wasn't "settlement money" but rather the price of my entire life, for the one being bought, it’s much the same. There are many misfortunes that can be avoided with enough cash. 

After school, I found Masayoshi and told him I’d do it.

"Wait, for real?"

"Did you think I'd say no?"

"Well, I knew it was a ridiculous favor to ask. But seriously, thank you! Man, I knew you were the right guy to dump my problems on! Thanks, thanks!"

"So, how are you going to introduce us? I don't know her, so I can't do anything on my own. I don't really get this 'class hierarchy' stuff either. As far as girls go, Eina is the cutest anyway."

"Exactly! I mean, obviously. I wish I’d tried to bait Eina with money, but we were in different classes last year."

I wondered if he realized that baiting Eina would require an astronomical sum. His family was supposedly rich, but was I just out of touch? Did people just move hundreds of millions of yen around for fun? If so, the lottery was a pretty pathetic gamble for how much it was hyped up.

"Alright, I'll call her over, so wait in the classroom. I'll tell her someone else is paying now, so we're done. Got it?"

"Yeah, fine."

Eina had prepared the money by the time school ended. I wasn't sure who she’d had deliver it or when, but an attaché case containing one hundred million yen was sitting on my chair. 

Usually, when moving such large sums, you’d use bank transfers, but I didn't have an account and hadn't been given any instructions on where to send it. I didn't care if it was heavy.

She was unusually compliant today. Knowing Eina, I’d expected her to demand to be there, or at least want to judge if the girl being "tributed" was cuter than her.

"She’s coming. I'm heading out, the rest is on you!" Masayoshi said.

"Sure. Hope this ends it for you."

Once Masayoshi left, the room was empty. I passed the time doodling on the chalkboard until a girl with bleached blonde, semi-long hair appeared. I didn't know her face or her name. It would be weirder to recognize someone who wasn't a classmate or a resident of the mansion.

"Uh, you're the girl Masayoshi called, right?"

"Who are you?"

"His classmate. I heard he's sick of you begging for money. I’ve agreed to pay in his place, so..."

"Oh, I heard. But you don't look that rich to me. I'm pretty expensive, you know~? But I mean, duh. I'm pretending to be his girlfriend, so of course it costs a lot. A girl as cute as me dating someone like him? Unheard of. Masayoshi was one thing, but you look like some boring, wimpy 'nice guy' type. Totally not my style~"

"I see. Well, that doesn't matter. Let's just finish our business."

"Wait... what?"

I didn't like her either. More accurately, I didn't know her, so I felt nothing at all. I lifted the attaché case, placed it on the teacher’s podium, and clicked the locks open. "I don't know how much you wanted, but take this and leave him alone."

"You're acting all high and mighty. Well, I told you, I’m a high-class girl, so it won't be that easi—AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!?"

The moment I opened the case, the girl did a literal double-take and leapt backward. Her reaction was that of someone seeing a hundred million yen for the first time; it made me feel relieved. It’s easier to deal with people when they react like that.

"I-Is it fake...?"

"If you think so, go to a bank. Or a police station. This case is designed to hold exactly one hundred million yen. I wanted to see if this was enough, but based on your reaction, it looks like it is."

"Enough? Enough, enough... wait, wait, wait, wait! Uh, what? No way, l-let me count it!"

She grabbed a bundle of bills and began counting with clumsy, trembling hands. It looked like it would take until sunset. 

I went back to doodling on the chalkboard. Hearing her occasionally gasp "One million!" or "Ten million!" was actually kind of amusing—a sign of how much I’d been influenced by life at the mansion. People blinded by greed really are ugly. I didn't mean it as an insult, but the image of my mother flickered in my mind, leaving a bad taste in my mouth. 

When people face massive sums of money, they lose their reason. Based on what I'd seen, the idea that money has a demonic power felt very real.

"Are you about done counting?"

"I-I'll count the rest at home! This is insane! Seriously? Are you for real?"

"I’m going now. Just make sure you stop bothering him."

"Wait!"

I wasn't going to let her say it wasn't enough. If she were that kind of person, her reaction would have been far colder. Besides, I’d used the full amount I had on hand; I couldn't add more even if I wanted to. However, it seemed her business was different.

"D-Do you want a girlfriend?"

"Dating someone I don't like, even as a lie, sounds miserable for both of us. Besides, I already have someone I love. So, that’s that."

She didn't follow me this time. 

I felt a wave of relief. I never thought I'd use money like this. If my Value was the same as when I was bought, I had two hundred million left for the year. I didn't think I'd be using it much, but since I hadn't gained anything from the transaction, I didn't feel particularly good about it either. 

As I passed through the school gates, I ran into Masayoshi, who was finishing a lap around the perimeter.

"Is it really over...?"

"Yeah. Good luck with your club."

"I got a text saying 'I don't need a loser like you anymore,' so I figured... but how much did you pay?"

"Ask her. It’ll just make things complicated if I tell you."

I didn't want to interfere with his practice any further, so I gave a brief greeting and headed down the slope. A familiar black car was parked there. As I approached, the rear door opened; inside, Eina was sitting with her hands on her knees and her eyes closed.

"Are you... sleeping?"

"No," she whispered, "I was waiting for you. Tell me, how did the negotiations go?"

"She looked like she was going to faint when she saw the hundred million, so it should be fine. Giving money to a girl I don't even like feels a bit complicated, though..."

"They say 'easy come, easy go.' Even a sum that seems impossible to spend can break one's common sense when it arrives so unexpectedly. I doubt anyone truly gained anything from this."

"Is it 'dirty' money...?"

"It was the price for 'pretending' to be a girlfriend, was it not? As a contract, it is valid, but I wonder where she will spend it. If she uses it on self-improvement or a hobby, that is fine, but..."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Nothing... forget it. As long as she doesn't involve herself with you further, I have no interest. Shall we return home? To our nest of love?"

Upon arriving home and returning to the bedroom, Eina decided to take a nap until dinner. This was partly my fault; last night, we’d gotten far more excited than usual discussing where we should go for our next trip, and we’d stayed up quite late. 

I’d slept during school, so I was fine, but as a model student, she must have found the day grueling.

"Keiya-sama. How is the tea I brewed for you?"

"It’s delicious, Haru."

The summer sun was still far from setting. Sitting in the Sunroom and enjoying the peaceful flow of time was one of the perks of this mansion. Eina usually sat in the opposite chair, but since she was asleep, it was empty. 

I’d told the maid attending me—Haru—to sit down, but she’d refused. I didn't know her usual duties, but it was rare to see her assigned to serve Eina and me.

"Ehehe... Ayaka-san taught me! She even taught me how to do this side-braid!"

"That woman can do anything. I guess that’s why her Value is so high... Hey, Haru. Eina said something that’s been bothering me."

I decided it might be good to get a woman's perspective, so I asked Haru. I recounted the conversation in the car word-for-word. Haru tilted her head, placing a hand on her chin. 

"Maybe... that girl has a real boyfriend she actually likes? Maybe she was using the money to keep him around, but ran out, so she needed a new source of income."

"But if she had another boyfriend, that would be cheating, right? She was technically dating Masayoshi."

"It's the opposite! She can do that because she wasn't making her relationship with the real one public, right? There are lots of reasons to hide a relationship. Maybe the guy doesn't want to go public because he doesn't really like her and is just playing around... or maybe it's a relationship that can't be made public."

"Can't be made public... like Eina and me?"

"That's a different story... In school, a relationship that can't be public would be... like with a teacher! Kyaha! Well, it's all just my imagination!"

A teacher... Love is free, I suppose, but for me, a teacher was just someone who got angry at you. It was hard to imagine them as a romantic partner. I gazed out at the vast garden and picked up my teacup again.

"Haru. You were a student before you came here, right? Did you ever have a crush on a teacher?"

"Hmm... there were girls who liked older men, but my school was full of old geezers. I'm not saying only young, fierce-looking hotties are the best—I get that there's a certain charm to aging gracefully—but they were all just... plain. So, no. It would be interesting if it happened, but since it's a forbidden relationship, I doubt I'd ever have known!"

"So plain guys really don't get the girls. I was told the same thing just a little while ago."

"What?! That girl has no eyes... thinking Keiya-sama is plain? Her eyes must be rotten. Who is she? Give me her name, I’ll go have a word with her."

"I'm not angry, so let’s keep things peaceful, okay?" I said, gently restraining Haru as she pulled a syringe from the folds of her skirt. 

I realized then that I hadn't even asked for the girl’s name. Well, whatever. We’d never cross paths again. Knowing her name wouldn't mean anything. "Haru, I’ll take a refill."

"Yes! Right away!"

After fully enjoying my rare bit of free time, I returned to Eina’s bedroom. I should wake her before dinner. I could watch her sleep forever and never get bored, but the maids—especially Ayaka—would be troubled.

"Eina. Are you awake? Everyone’s going to be worried if you don't get up soon."

The canopy curtains were only closed when we slept together. Since that was the rule Eina had set, the chance to see her sleeping face from the outside was precious. she was sleeping like the dead, but she was definitely breathing. The fabric of her dress rose and fell with a gentle, rhythmic grace.

I sat by the bed and stared. I wondered if she’d wake up if I gave her a "true love's kiss," but more than that, I was simply entranced by her. 

The beauty of this "Sleeping Beauty" was more inorganic than a doll, possessing a brilliance that felt like a masterpiece of art.

"Eina. Eina."

I shook her shoulder gently. The lack of sleep from our late night probably made it hard for her to wake up. I kept at it patiently until, suddenly, my wrist was seized.

"Don't... go..."

It was a sleep-talk, no doubt. I wondered what kind of dream she was having. The only way I’d ever leave her side was if I were bought by someone else, but how many people in this world had more money than Eina? And what reason would they have to want me? It was unrealistic, but dreams are like that.

"I won't go, Eina. I’ll stay by your side forever. Until the day you decide I’m worthless. If that day comes, you can dispose of me."

After all, I have nothing. No motive to live for myself. No goal to pour my heart into. 

 

If I'm mocked, I don't feel good, but I never explode with rage because I don't really think anything of myself. 

I have no self-opinion. I am a void, a hollow shell. I was taught that thinking of myself was selfish. Selfishness is evil; being kind to others is right. Because I was raised that way, a part of me believes that if Eina disposes of me and finds happiness, then that is perfectly fine.

"I love you, Eina. If I could buy you with money, I wonder how much it would cost... My Value would never be enough to reach you, would it?"

I squeezed her hand beneath the duvet and watched her. Her eyes slowly fluttered open; they focused on my face, and a soft light returned to them.

"...Keiya. Do you love me?"

"I love you."

"Fufu... thank you. I love you too."

I don't know how many times we’ve shared a "waking up" kiss, but this one lasted for three full minutes. Since Eina was still weak from sleep, I was the one to take control, pressing the back of her head and sliding my tongue deep into her mouth.

slurp... chu... jubu.

The sticky, messy wet sounds of our saliva-slicked exchange filled the quiet room. It was a sound only for the two of us.

 Eina eventually pulled away, looking satisfied and limp, a dazed smile on her face.

"Are you awake now?"

"I am still a little sleepy. Perhaps we should walk in the garden? Or should we go down to the city for a stroll? As long as it wakes me up, I don't mind either... you choose."

"Hmm. We might run into classmates in the city, so let's stick to the garden. It’s a lot of work for the guards, too."

"Then... will you escort me? To the garden... I am so sleepy I have no strength in my legs."

I didn't say anything as gauche as pointing out how much energy she’d just had for that kiss. 

This was just Eina’s way of being shy, of wanting to be spoiled. I took her fingers in mine, interlacing them, and we left the bedroom with the careful, deliberate steps of those being invited to a midnight ball. We descended the stairs, passed through the entrance, and circled the mansion toward the garden.

The garden was an expanse of fresh, green lawn, as far as the eye could see—like a plain out of a game or a manga. It was too vast for just the two of us; even if every maid lined up here, there would still be room to spare. 

At the far end was the laundry building, where the girls in charge of washing spent most of their days. 

On the opposite side was a tower-like structure—the observatory, complete with a telescope that overlooked the entire town. And in the middle sat the annex. It was used for spring cleaning or when Eina wanted to avoid the public eye. 

It wasn't used much, but entry wasn't forbidden, so I’d heard the laundry maids sometimes used it for their breaks.

"Ah... the sunlight is wonderful," Eina sighed. "It has a warmth that makes one feel like a child again. Perhaps lying down for a while would be lovely."

"You'll just fall asleep again. We came here to wake you up."

"Oh, I suppose you are right. This garden is a familiar sight, but when I am here with you, my heart thutters as if we have reached this place after eloping. Perhaps I should have changed into a white sundress. This is practically loungewear; it ruins the mood."

"It’s fine for now. We’ll have plenty of chances to come here. Show me then—show me all your different sides, Eina. I’ll always welcome them."

"Does it excite you, Keiya?"

"I... I don't really want to say it, but I’m the kind of man who gets excited just watching you sleep. Please... just take the hint."

As we wandered aimlessly through the garden, our hands naturally remained joined, and our steps began to synchronize.

"Do you remember the steps?"

"You taught me, didn't you?"

The music played only in our heads. We didn't need to coordinate; believing that the melody in our hearts was the same, we began to waltz. My footwork, my hands—I remembered everything. It wasn't a performance for an audience, but for Eina, it was perfect.

"Fufu... wonderful."

"Eina. When did you prepare that hundred million?"

"There is no 'when.' I simply make a call, and it is brought to me."

"But everyone is busy with housework, right?"

"It was not brought from the house, so that is irrelevant. Though, even so, it would be quite a hassle, would it not? So, I had the bank prepare it. I had heard that such large sums take time to arrange, so I called ahead. After that, I simply had the guards deliver it. That is all."

"I... I thought the security was light for a lady of your status, but I guess the guards are just in places I can't see."

"I may not have 'bought' everyone, but I have bought ten years of their schedules. As long as you are with me, I am at peace. It is all to protect you."

"Thank you... Eina, you're always so kind. I feel like I'm constantly falling for you. That girl I gave the money to... she asked me if I wanted a girlfriend. But yeah. I don't need one. As long as I have you, it’s enough."

"Keiya..."

The waltz reached its conclusion, and Eina pressed a kiss against the nape of my neck. It was a searing, biting kiss—so forceful that even without a mirror, I knew a dark mark would be blooming there. 

I tried to lift my hips to pull her closer, but her legs instantly wound around my waist, and my entire world was suddenly buried in the soft, overwhelming presence of Eina.

“Am I too heavy?” she whispered.

“You’re light as a feather,” I replied, my voice slightly strained. “See? I can swing you around just like this. I guess helping out with everyone’s chores around the house has really started to build my muscle.”

“I see. That’s good to hear,” she purred, her eyes dancing with a dangerous light. “Not just your size, then... With that kind of strength, I can look forward to something truly intense later. Fufu.”

“Hey... please don’t treat me like an amusement park ride. Even if you want something ‘intense,’ I’m not exactly a human roller coaster.” I was about to suggest that if she really wanted to visit a park, she should just rent one out—or buy it—when the sound of footsteps treading across the grass reached my ears.

I turned to see Hijiri Ikuba standing there, her face a mask of awkwardness as she looked away. 

She had the look of someone who had seen something they shouldn't have—an irresistible panic, as if she were terrified of having unintentionally intruded upon her master’s precious time. She fidgeted with her long, black hair, currently tied in a side-tail, which only added to her air of discomfort.

I wasn’t sure if a curtsy was required in this situation, but even if it were, Hijiri was clutching a thick envelope stuffed with documents; she was in no position to perform one. 

She and her sister, Shion, had been bought together by Eina. The easiest way to tell them apart was their hair—Hijiri’s was long, while Shion’s was short. Or, if you’d seen them in the bath like I had, you could tell because Hijiri’s were much larger and Shion’s—No, stop. Let’s not go there. My brain was already starting to short-circuit.

“Eina-sama... My apologies for interrupting your... enjoyment,” Hijiri stammered. “The investigation has been completed without issue.”

“Completed?” Eina’s tone shifted instantly, losing its warmth. “Truly? You’ve looked into every last detail?”

“We secured the cooperation of the public authorities and brought it to a close. As for this... I decided it wasn’t wise to leave it in the office, so I wanted to hand it to you directly.”

“A wise decision. I try to avoid the office whenever possible,” Eina noted, though she didn’t move to take the envelope. “However, you are currently in the way. In honor of your results, I’ll pretend I didn't see you this time. Hand it to Yatsuka. She’s been watching us through the window for a while now, so you won’t need to explain the situation.”

“Y-Yes! Please excuse me!” Hijiri fled back toward the mansion, her face pale. 

She was in such a state that despite having arrived via the main entrance, she scrambled back through the kitchen’s rear service door. I understood why she feared Eina, but it would be a problem for her if this anxiety started to affect her future work. I made a mental note to keep an eye on her.

“What were you having her investigate?” I asked.

“I’m curious about how that one hundred million yen is being spent,” Eina replied, her voice sweet once more. “It might be pocket change to me, but it’s quite a different story for another girl, isn’t it? I just hope it’s not being wasted on something boring.”

 

◇

 

I was the one who had paid the hundred million, but it was Eina who had provided the funds. If she was interested in where the money was going, I had no right to stop her—and if I were being honest, I was curious myself.

“Yatsuka. Give me the documents Hijiri handed you,” Eina commanded.

“As you wish.”

We had moved to the sunroom, where the sunlight was soft and warm, to spread out the papers. It wasn't exactly what the room was designed for, but given the urgency, it couldn't be helped.

“How did you even look into this?” I asked. “You said you wanted to know where the money went, but you didn’t even know who the girl was, did you?”

“That may be true, but if she was pretending to be a classmate’s lover, finding out her identity is trivial once you look in the right places. Once I have a name, the rest is easy.”

“Ugh...” I groaned as I looked over the files.

The girl’s name was Akina Sayama. That was the only part I was actually interested in, but the documents contained so much more—her address, her entire family registry... it was all there. 

And it didn't stop there. 

They had pulled surveillance footage from all over town from the past year to map out her daily routine. They had listed her bra size, weight, and height based on the lingerie and clothes she bought and her school physical results. They even had a detailed dating history, the source of which I couldn't even begin to fathom.

Photos of her house, the beauty products she used, her school grades... the sheer volume of information was overwhelming. It was as if they had collected every scrap of data that could possibly be obtained.

“No, no, wait,” I said, shaking my head. “I don’t think even the police could dig this deep this quickly. Wouldn’t this physically take much more time?”

“Oh, not at all. If she has a shop she frequents, it’s just a matter of calling the owner. If they refuse to cooperate, I simply take away their livelihood.”

“I felt it would be unacceptable to keep Eina-sama waiting,” Yatsuka added coolly.

“A commendable attitude,” Eina praised her. “So, Keiya, I now know more about this girl than her own boyfriend does. What do you think? As her ‘lover,’ do you want her?”

“Not even slightly. This is just a massive leak of personal information. More importantly, where does it show the flow of the hundred million? There’s so much here I can’t even focus.”

“...So you have absolutely no interest. Fufu. You really are head-over-heels for me, aren’t you, Keiya?”

“H-Hey, don't say it like that. Though... it’s true that just holding your hand gets me excited sometimes.”

“Fufu. How adorable. I’ve suddenly lost all interest in the money, but look at this.” Eina pointed to a series of photos taken from various street cameras. They showed Akina with a man I didn't recognize. 

Hijiri—who I’d asked Yatsuka to put on standby—showed us the footage. Akina seemed to spend almost all her time after school with this man. They usually met in front of the station, went to karaoke, or went clothes shopping—a perfectly healthy date, on the surface.

But as night fell, the scene changed. Akina and the man would head toward the hotel district. Without fail, she would change out of her uniform into civilian clothes and enter a building with no signage. 

The surveillance cameras inside showed the man cozying up to Akina with a glass of wine in his hand. 

Her face was flushed; she was likely being fed alcohol despite being a minor. Once she was in a hazy, suggestive state of intoxication, he would have her pay for things before sending her home in a taxi.

“Wait, that camera footage... that’s definitely from a place where there shouldn't be cameras,” I noted.

“No matter how wicked someone is, they still have to rely on the conveniences of modern civilization. And I doubt the person in charge of that establishment wants to be arrested just because they refused to provide camera footage, right? Don't worry about it. It’s fine, really.”

“As you can see, Keiya-sama, she is spending money in places she shouldn't even be allowed to enter,” Yatsuka explained. “And from the look of things, she is completely infatuated with this man.”

“His name is Mitsuru Sugo,” Eina added. “He claims to be the CEO of a venture capital firm, but the company itself is involved in some very shady business. The financial reports are doctored to look perfectly fine, but they’re clearly a sham. The location is suspicious, and the recent transactions are unnatural. It’s ‘innovative’ in the sense that it’s drifting toward the spiritual and the fraudulent.”

I suppose they thought I’d want to know, because the man’s personal information just kept pouring out. I stopped asking how they found it. It was pointless to wonder who Eina’s hands and feet were or what they were capable of. No matter how much a company struggled, it couldn’t win against the law.

And more specifically, it could never win against Eina, who could force the law to do whatever she wanted.

“So, to put it simply... she’s being scammed?” I asked.

“I’d say she’s more of a ‘sugar mommy’ than a scam victim,” Eina replied. “If my assessment is correct, she’ll be going to hand over that hundred million today. What do you think? If you’re interested, shall we go watch?”

“...Are you going to help her if she’s being scammed?”

“Perish the thought. If she uses it exactly as I expect, it’s far too boring to bother with. But think about it—a girl who could only provide, what, thirty thousand yen a day suddenly shows up with a hundred million? I want to see how the man reacts. That’s what I’m interested in.”

Eina gathered the documents, shoved them back at Hijiri, and headed for the bedroom. I hurried after her, and as if she’d been waiting for me, she stuck her foot out. I let out a sigh and began to put on her socks. When I moved to help her with her uniform, she started to walk away, making me panic.

“Hey, are you going out in that dress?”

“I won’t be leaving the car, and it’s not as if this is embarrassing to wear in public. Unless, of course, you’re dying to see me in my school uniform, Keiya?”

“...N-No. Oh, wait. I’d like Hijiri to come along too... can I call her? I think she’s still worried about you being angry with her.”

“You really are too kind, even to my own things. It’s troublesome. Fine, you can call her. Perhaps some work will come out of it.”

It had been a while since I’d gone back into town after returning home. 

In the backseat of the car, I was sandwiched between Eina and Hijiri. Since Akina was in the brass band club, we had to wait in front of the station until her practice ended. Eina hated boredom almost as much as she hated things with ‘no value,’ so I tried to keep her entertained with various topics, but the wait was longer than I expected. I eventually ran out of things to talk about.

“I wish you wouldn't feel so awkward on your own,” Eina noted, seeing right through me. I must have looked quite uncomfortable. “I love spending quiet time with you, but if it makes you this uneasy, why don't you follow my instructions to distract yourself?”

“Wait, what?”

It was too late to back out. Or perhaps it was the greatest stroke of luck. Rather than being ‘distracted,’ my mind became entirely focused on one thing. While I was allowed to engage in a thumb-war with one hand, Eina instructed me to wrap my other arm around her shoulder. 

She didn't say anything more, but where my palm came to rest was the softest, most delicate part of a woman’s body. She said nothing, but that silence was an order in itself. As if my actions were being puppeteered, my hand began to work busily, kneading and squeezing her warmth.

As Hijiri blushed at the occasional sweet moans that escaped our master’s lips, Akina finally appeared on the car’s front-facing camera feed.

“The attaché case!” I exclaimed.

“One hundred million... indeed,” Hijiri added.

“See? There’s the man. She really did bring it. Follow them.”

At Eina’s command, the car slowly trailed the two. This time, things were different; Sugo immediately pointed toward the case.

“Hijiri. Lip-read,” Eina ordered.

“What’s with that case? It looks quite heavy.”

“T-This is a windfall! Micchan, is your company going to be okay? With this much money, I’m sure you can get it back on its feet!”

“...Really? For now, let’s go to the shop and show me. Come on.”

Hijiri’s lip-reading was perfect, with almost zero time lag. I couldn't know for sure if it was 100% accurate, but it certainly felt real.

“Hijiri... I didn't know you could do that. That’s amazing!” I said.

“...Thank you. I picked it up back when I temporarily lost my hearing,” she explained softly.

“I think her eyesight is the thing you should be praising to my Keiya, but... fine. Keep following them.”

A black car tailing two people was suspicious as hell, but surprisingly, they didn't seem to notice. They were in their own world, likely oblivious to their surroundings. Eina and I had moments like that, too.

But I didn't think she was putting on an act. If I believed Hijiri’s lip-reading, Akina’s attitude was completely different from when she’d spoken to me at school. 

Eina wasn't like that. She always maintained an attitude and treatment consistent with someone’s Value, no matter who they were. Even when she was being ‘kind,’ her way of speaking was always blunt and unsociable.

But that was what made her cute... I could go on forever, but I’ll save that for another time.

Sugo’s expression changed the moment Akina, acting the part of the frail girl, handed the heavy case to him. He realized the weight of the gold. A single bill might not be much, but when they’re bundled together, they form a undeniable physical mass. His blatant double-take suggested he was wondering how the hell Akina had gotten her hands on such a fortune.

If she had robbed a bank to get it, then no matter how much of a villain Sugo was, it would be in his best interest to report it. Even a petty crook who tricked underage girls out of their lunch money wouldn't want to be caught up in a crime he hadn't committed. He was undoubtedly thinking, Is she really committing crimes just to give me money?

The truth was that the money had come from a place far more sinister than a mere crime, but since it was to help Masayoshi, I guess it couldn't be helped.

“Eina-sama, I have a suggestion,” Hijiri ventured. “Why don't we interfere a bit more with this one-hundred-million-yen experiment?”

“Oh? It’s rare for you to make a suggestion to me. For example, in what way?”

“...Well...”

I suppose Hijiri was curious, too. Their whispered conversation over me was perfectly audible, and Eina nodded with great interest before picking up her phone.

“That sounds entertaining. I’ll play along. I’m going to bankrupt that man’s company right now, so be ready to move at any time.”

Bankrupt.

A business failing, its debts becoming insurmountable... to put it simply, the money runs out and the company can no longer function. ‘Closing down’ is a choice, but ‘bankruptcy’ is a state where you can no longer continue, regardless of your will. 

Even if it were just closing down, that would be a decision for the people involved in the company—likely the people at the very top.

But regardless of which it was, there was one common factor: it required various legal procedures. Even from a layman's perspective, there were taxes, insurance, and probably a mountain of other specialized steps.

And Eina was doing it with a single phone call. From a position that had nothing to do with the company.

“C-Can you really do that?” I asked. “Are you allowed to do something like that?”

“A normal person couldn't, no. But aren't you curious, Keiya? What will a business owner do when his company goes bankrupt without his knowledge, just moments after he’s been handed a hundred million yen? Will he keep exploiting that girl? Or will he take the money and start a new company? Akina’s actions will change depending on what he does. It’s hard even for me to predict how this will go once it gets this complicated. I’m looking forward to seeing his behavior.”

“I-I’m curious too, but... doesn't the paperwork take time?”

“It shouldn't take more than a few hours. The relevant departments will move on their own.”

“...I know it’s a bit late to say this, but you’re incredible.”

“Women are terrifying, Keiya. I remember exactly how many times you’ve been turned on this year, and exactly where you were looking.”

“Urgh. Sorry...”

“But I’m happy about it.”

As our idle chatter continued, Hijiri pulled up a real-time feed from inside the shop on her laptop. The angle was different from before, so it wasn't a provided feed—they’d likely installed a new camera in the confusion.

While Eina was on the phone, the two had entered the shop. Inside, the group had opened the attaché case and was excitedly counting the contents, crowding around Akina and Sugo. 

It seemed everyone in the shop was in on it... even if they weren't part of Sugo’s company, they were clearly connected to him.

“Whoa, it’s a hundred million...!”

“Holy shit...”

“Eeeeeh! Are you serious, Sugo?! This is insane! Hey, hey, hey, hey! We’re opening that bottle, right?! It’s a hundred million! Right?!”

“Is there such a thing as a hundred-million-yen bottle of alcohol?” I asked.

“There is, but you wouldn't find it in a place like this,” Eina replied, sounding disappointed. “If you’re interested, shall we go look in the basement at home? I think we have some worth four hundred million, let alone one hundred... but minors aren't allowed to drink.”

“I didn't say I wanted to drink it! I just didn't know if things could actually cost that much.”

“The bottle has been brought out... to my eyes, it doesn't look like it could possibly be worth a hundred million,” Yatsuka added.

My own eye for value was non-existent, so I couldn't judge. Eina slumped her shoulders in disappointment.

“If a real one had appeared, it might have been interesting, but everything about this is empty. From the looks of it, they’re not even helping his company; they’re just shaking her down under the guise of ‘supporting the shop.’ Claiming a friend owns it and is struggling... in reality, they’re either splitting the take or using it to cover up the company’s deficit.”

“Don’t be so harsh... Oh, look, they opened the bottle and are pouring it for everyone. Is it okay to treat a hundred million that recklessly?”

“That’s why I said it’s empty. Taking a hundred or two hundred thousand from a girl who currently has a hundred million won’t hurt her. The real pain will come when she runs out of money. When that happens, they’ll probably plan to film some pornographic videos in the studio behind this building. After making her fall for him and bleed her dry, she’ll likely just accept it.”

“But she’s getting money from elsewhere, so it won’t be easy to hurt her.”

“And since he’s an outsider to the school, he doesn't know that. That’s why the relationship has lasted this long. But now he’s blinded by the hundred million, and he’s starting to slip up.”

Eina watched the camera with eyes full of deep disappointment, a self-contradictory smile playing on her lips. It was the same look she’d given my mother when she bought me.

“There. From today, you are mine. Nice to meet you, my Keiya.”

That kiss was my first. It might not have been a great look, but if Eina was enjoying herself, I found myself thinking this experiment was fine. I was still in love with her. I fell for her more with every movement she made. Having the person you love by your side was happiness.

And it was something that had only happened because I had been bought.

If I thought this was wrong, I’d have to think my own situation was wrong, too. After all, I was also moving because of Eina’s money.

“Thank you, Akina-chan! I had no idea you were this rich! Thank you so much! With this, the shop’s management will definitely recover!”

“R-Really?!”

“Yeah, so... the money is fine now. Thank you for everything! It would be wrong of me to take any more money from you, so it’s probably better if we don't see each other anymore...”

“Huh? The mood just changed,” I noted.

“If you know they’re in love with you, manipulation is easy,” Eina explained. “As is reversing the power dynamic.”

“Up until now, she was in the position of supporting him with money,” Yatsuka added. “From now on, she will be in the position of paying money to keep him tied to her. The important thing is the feeling that she is paying of her own volition. Even if a rational person tried to stop her, she would feel like she isn't being scammed.”

Just as they said, the flow of the conversation hadn't actually changed. Akina clung to Sugo, begging to see him more, while he smirked and comforted her, only to push her away again by saying there was no reason for them to be together. Once he made her say she’d keep paying just to stay with him, he had won. It was a one-sided match that had lasted less than a minute.

“When the money runs out, the relationship ends... Now, I wonder what he’ll demand of her tomorrow. If she can’t pay, he’ll likely guide her toward selling her body, but knowing her, she’ll probably just ask for more. And he, misinterpreting her as being even richer than he imagined, will undoubtedly jack up his demands...”

“B-But the company is going bankrupt, right?” I asked. “I’ve never heard of a bankruptcy where all the procedures are ignored and the person involved doesn't even know. What happens then?”

“Who knows? Bankrupt... strictly speaking, I’ll have them go into insolvency. Once that happens, all the company’s assets can be seized. I’ll have Hijiri go collect the cash as soon as the procedures are done. I won’t blame you if you kill him, but the police would be a hassle, so try to refrain. I suppose I’ll leave the non-cash assets to the state.”

“...Does that money go into your pocket?”

“It could, but if we can recover a decent amount, maybe I’ll use it to prepare for the school festival.”

...What’s going to happen?

A bankruptcy the owner didn't know about, followed by the seizure of a hundred million yen. If he puts it into the company, it’ll be seized. Does he have to keep it for himself? No, that would still be seized... no, wait. Since this was an abnormal bankruptcy forced by Eina’s power, was there even anything to ‘seize’?

I really didn't know. What would happen? Even if she was clearly ignoring the law, I wondered how far she could make the pieces fit.

“Now, dinner time is close, so let’s head back. Hijiri, your suggestion was excellent.”

“T-Thank you very much... It is an honor to receive your praise.”

“I’m starting to get curious too,” I admitted. “I wonder how this will turn out.”

“You understand the romance of it, Keiya. The best part is not knowing what will happen. The procedures should be finished by the time we get home. I can’t wait for tomorrow.”

When we returned, Ayaka was waiting with dinner. She seemed to have timed it perfectly for our arrival.

Unless it was meant to be cold, the food was always piping hot. The sensation of putting warm white rice into my mouth never failed to fill me with happiness.

“...What should I do?” I asked.

“Hmm?” Eina tilted her head.

Tonight’s theme was Chinese. Both Eina and I had Yatsuka and Hijiri standing by our sides (usually it was just Ayaka, but apparently the chef had hurt his back and was confined to his room today). Their usual maid uniforms were nowhere to be seen; they were wearing cheongsams that matched the theme. This was another of Eina’s hobbies. She didn't do this all the time, but she seemed to be in a particularly good mood today.

While Hijiri was wearing a short, miniskirt-style dress, Yatsuka was in a long, floor-length gown. For someone as tall and long-legged as her, the slit revealed an incredibly erotic amount of skin, making my heart race every time she entered my field of vision. The slit went all the way up to the base of her thigh; I couldn't help but worry that something might be seen every time she moved.

My clumsy attempt to change the subject was an emergency measure to hide my arousal.

“I think she’s going to ask me for money,” I explained. “She thinks I’m from a wealthy family. But I don't know how much money I can actually move, and it’s not like I love her enough to pay her every time she asks. I only did it to help someone out. So... I was wondering what I should do.”

“There’s no need to pay her,” Eina replied smoothly. “The crux of the matter is how she’ll scramble for money while he still thinks she’s rich. And how the man will react when he sees her start to hesitate... One of the documents Hijiri found was her diary. Apparently, she’s drunk on what she calls ‘true love.’”

“...That doesn't really explain anything.”

“Continuing a relationship even while being bled dry is twisted, but she thinks that because they’ll get married someday, she isn't losing anything. Is that really true love? What do you think, Keiya?”

“Hmm... I don't know if there even is an answer to that...”

What was ‘truth’? What was ‘love’? There were so many things I wanted to define. Was what my parents had ‘true love’? Or was the affection my mother had shown me ‘true love’? I didn't know. I hadn't lived long enough to have those answers.

And yet, there was one thing I could say with total confidence.

“I think Eina and I are much more... lovey-dovey.”

The sound of a ceramic spoon clattering into a dish echoed through the room. Eina pressed a hand to her chest, her breathing becoming shallow and ragged, her eyes blinking rapidly as she struggled to steady herself.

“.......................................I see. If such a thing as true love exists, it must surely refer to us. I didn't think I’d hear those words from you. I’m so happy.”

“O-Oh, really?”

“Yes. I’m starting to feel a throbbing deep in my belly... Let’s head to the bath a little early tonight. As a special treat, I’ll give you a massage in the water.”

◇

 

Breakfast the next morning was a traditional Japanese spread, beginning with a bowl of boiled tofu that Ayaka-san had prepared with painstaking care to warm my stomach. 

Compared to a quick bread-based meal, a full set like this took time to properly finish, but the energy it provided was on another level. 

Ayaka-san’s attention to detail was truly magnificent; she even offered options for different types of rice—something I’d never even thought to consider. 

For those who weren't quite satisfied with the main course, she would even bring a portable grill to the table and cook dashimaki tamago right in front of them. Even if it was technically part of her "duties," her spirit of service was enough to make me bow my head in respect. She was always so cheerful, so full of life... honestly, she was just so cute. 

If only there were someone like her in my class, the whole atmosphere at school would be so much brighter, I thought to myself.

"Alrighty then~♪ I’ll just go ahead and pour the tea over this for you!"

"Thank you very much."

The warm, nutty aroma of the freshly steamed rice mingled with the scent of grilled eggplant, the savory texture of the simmered beef, and the rich sesame soy sauce drizzled over the sea bream. 

My mouth watered. For my final "option," I had requested the sea bream chazuke once I’d finished most of the main dishes. Eina had already finished her meal and could have returned to her room, yet she remained, watching over me as I ate until the very last bite.

——————

Focusing so intently on the breakfast and Ayaka-san was, in a sense, an act of self-preservation. Whenever I looked at Eina, I couldn't help but notice her mouth. Since she would immediately pick up on my gaze no matter how hard I tried to hide it, I did my best to keep my mind elsewhere.

"Is something the matter?"

"N-no... it’s nothing."

"Keiya."

"No, really! It’s nothing... I just... I can't get yesterday’s massage out of my head... It felt too good, I guess."

I’d heard that the touch of a world-class chiropractor could make a person feel like they were ascending to heaven. 

I didn't have the kind of job that required that sort of treatment, and at my age, I’d never had the opportunity to go, but the sensation Eina provided must have been close to that. 

If there was a word for "unwinding" the body, then the word "melting" should surely be permitted here as well. High-quality meat is often described by how the fat melts on the tongue, after all—the moment it touches the warmth of your mouth, the oil dissolves and the flavor of the meat explodes. Eina’s massage was like that.

It felt as though my very body were liquefying. Ayaka-san’s fingerwork was unforgettable in its own right, but this was something else entirely. That was why my eyes kept drifting back to her.

"Fufu. I’m glad to see you were so satisfied. However, you must refrain from that look when we are in public. While I and the girls here are happy to receive such attention, others will not be so accepting."

"I-I won't, I swear. Besides, Eina, you’re so beautiful that I don't have eyes for anyone else anyway!"

"There is no need to be so formal. We both nearly overheated yesterday, didn't we? Was your breathing so ragged because you were captivated by my body, desperate to touch me at any moment? Or was it simply the steam of the Grand Bath?"

"B-both..."

I wanted to end this conversation as quickly as possible out of pure embarrassment, but Eina seemed to be in an excellent mood after hearing my answer. 

Behind her, Ayaka-san gave me a "Nice!" thumbs-up from under the serving wagon to show her appreciation.

"A-hem. Thank you for the meal!"

"It was a wonderful meal today as well, Ayaka. Give my regards to the chef."

"It was my pleasure~. It’s rare to receive such praise from Eina-sama, so I’ll be sure to pass it along! Now then, let me clear these dishes for you!"

"Eina-sama. Keiya-sama. The car is ready!"

Haru entered the dining room carrying our bags. She wasn't acting as our driver today; she had simply come to deliver the message.

"I see. Then shall we depart? I’m looking forward to seeing how she reacts today."

"You said I don't have to pay her anything, but... I don't feel like I’ll be able to just refuse. Masayoshi was pretty upset too, and even with you there, Eina, I’d rather not have weird rumors spreading among the girls."

Eina took my hand, interlacing our fingers as if we were a couple, and looked back at me.

"That will not happen. After all, Keiya-kun is a 'friend,' so I shall protect him. You may refuse her with a clear conscience."

"I mean... she isn't like Hasekura, you didn't buy her, so I’d appreciate it if you didn't do anything too extreme. Will we be okay?"

"I shall settle matters as peacefully as possible."

As we climbed into the car, Kagura (Shion’s colleague) and Yurie-san, who were waiting by the vehicle, bowed deeply to see us off—though in Yurie’s case, it was a casual, "Have a good one, Kei-kun."

I could feel the car start to move, but the windows were shielded by curtains. Until we arrived, there was nothing to do but talk to Eina.

"By the way... did that bankruptcy—or insolvency, whatever it was—did it actually go through?"

"Yes. And I took the liberty of having everyone involved arrested, save for that man. They were engaged in quite a bit of criminal activity, so the police were more than eager. It had nothing to do with this current matter, but it seems they were using that company to funnel money from their various scams."

"So... that means everyone around him has been arrested, and the guy himself is penniless but still holding onto a hundred million? And Sayama, not knowing any of that, is going to keep sucking up to him? What a mess. I have no idea how this is going to end."

"I should like to see this 'true love' of hers. Her diary mentioned wanting to become a CEO’s wife and striking it rich... I wonder if she failed to notice the contradiction? Marrying a 'CEO' who has to beg a student for money isn't exactly a path to high society."

"L-love is blind, or so they say. Besides, wasn't it framed as 'supporting' a friend’s business or something? That’s how it sounded."

"Even so, if one had the money, one would use their own pocket change. If I found a shop I liked, I wouldn't hesitate to provide a hundred million, two hundred million, or even a billion in support."

"That’s just because you’re incredible..."

Suddenly, a thought occurred to me. Why exactly was Ouhouin Eina’s power so immense? It was a bit late to be wondering, and I’d never really cared to know before, but after the Hasekura incident, my perspective had shifted slightly.

"Hey, Eina. I’d feel bad doing it behind your back, so I’m just going to ask—is it okay if I look into your background a bit?"

"...Very well. Tell me what you find. I wish to see just how much you can learn about me."

"Sorry... I realized I don't really know anything about you."

"It is never too late. We can take our time getting to know one another."

A brief silence followed until the car came to a stop. At the bottom of the hill, the vehicle parked, and I transitioned into 'Keiya-kun.' She would follow a short while later to maintain our facade.

"...I’m off. We’ll see each other soon, but for now, as 'the person I like'."

"Have a safe—mmgh?! Mmph... slurp... nngh... hah..."

This time, I was the one who initiated the kiss, a forceful exchange where I felt as though I were sucking the very tongue from her mouth.

"...I love you, Eina."

"...Your actions are truly unpredictable sometimes, aren't they?"

I stepped out of the open door, and my life as a student began. From this point on, I was no longer Eina’s Property, but an individual living my own life. 

There was a simple way to tell the difference: Eina would stop calling me by my name without an honorific. No matter how many degenerate things I did at home, I always felt the urge to restrain myself at school. Or at least, I tried to. 

If I were to make an excuse, it would be that Eina never rejected me for anything, so sometimes the boundary between home and school just blurred. Right, it was Eina’s fault.

If you can't follow your own impulses without blaming someone else, then you may blame me as much as you like. I am, believe it or not, quite an important person.

I remembered the words she’d once said to me. 

Knowing my upbringing, she had offered me that consideration. She had created an escape route for me. She allowed me to be spoiled, to push everything onto her. So it was Eina’s fault. 

I wasn't the bad one. And I loved Eina for being "bad." Coupled with my late-blooming puberty, I would often deny it out loud, but I found myself indulging in releases that would certainly earn me the label of a pervert. 

Because she wrapped me in her love—guilt and all—there was simply no limit. The only reason I hadn't crossed the final line was because I was, in my own way, doing my best.

Then again, the fact that I’d crossed every line except the final one meant that, to an outsider, there wasn't much of a difference. I shouldn't go around acting like I was some pillar of restraint. 

If I ever told the guys in my class the truth, they’d all say the same thing. But that was a pointless fantasy. I couldn't breathe a word about Eina. Yet it was also true that without Eina, someone like me would never garner any attention. 

I didn't have a strong desire to stand out, but the thought was invasive. Even if you know you won't do something, you can't help but imagine the "what if." For instance, we always arrived at school separately, but if we walked in together, every eye in the building would be on me.

Normally, of course, that didn't happen—

"Whoa! Dude, what the hell did you do?!"

"You better start talking, right now!"

"Huh? What? Wait, what?"

I’d sensed a strange atmosphere in the classroom, but I never expected to be surrounded by guys and girls alike the moment I was noticed. Perhaps because they usually looked down on me with such casual dismissal, their agitation was blatant.

"Sorry, what are you talking about? Masayoshi, you too? I literally just got here, I have no idea what’s going on."

"Look, it’s a problem if you say you don't know. We’re not saying you definitely did something, but if even you claim ignorance, this starts getting creepy. You get me?"

"Why?"

"She tried to shake me down for money again! And a million yen, no less! That’s insane! There’s no way I can pay that!"

"She came at me too! She just kept telling me to lend it to her! Forget about 'lending,' I can't even afford to pay it in the first place..."

"She was being such a pain that I just blocked her on social media. Keiya, what the hell did you do?"

...I see. I didn't know how much she’d tried to squeeze out of them, but it seemed her sense of financial scale had completely shattered.

 I, Keiya Sagiri, didn't exactly look like a wealthy person, so if I’d managed to cough up a hundred million, she must have figured everyone else could pay even more... was that her logic?

"So, where is Sayama?"

"You know why we’re surrounding you? Because she told us to bring you to her if we couldn't pay. Now come on!"

"Hey, I’m not gonna run! I won't run, so—ow, ow, ow! Hey, my arm’s gonna snap! If you just told me where she was, I’d go there myself! Are you guys her lackeys or something?!"

Even though I had nowhere to run, my protests fell on deaf ears. 

I was hauled off to the gym storage room. Now that the morning practices for the sports clubs were over, no one was around. Sayama was waiting inside, her eyes gleaming with a frantic light. The moment we were left alone, she acted.

"Y-you can do whatever you want with my body! Just give me a million yen!"

I never expected her to drop to the floor and beg.

"No, I mean... I’d feel bad touching someone I’m not even interested in. I don't want it."

"Then will you just give me the million yen?!"

"I’m not giving it to you."

"......"

If she’d stopped to think for even a second, she would have realized how absurd her logic was, but she seemed beyond the point of caring about appearances. 

Even if I asked her what was going on, she probably wouldn't tell me. If I brought up Sugo’s name, the conversation would change, but that would lead to her wondering how I knew about him in the first place.

"Fine, sorry. At least tell me what you need it for. It depends on that."

"It’s... my family is sick!"

"If you have a hundred million, you should be able to afford the surgery. If that wasn't enough, adding another million now isn't going to change anything."

"I-I’m sorry. To tell the truth, there’s a piece of jewelry I want to buy..."

"There isn't a single item in this town’s jewelry stores that costs a hundred million yen."

The reason Sayama was telling such transparent lies wasn't just because the truth was pathetic. She simply couldn't conceive of a way to spend a hundred million yen. 

At least, not a reason she could come up with on the fly that would satisfy me. Naturally, most people don't spend hundreds of millions on shopping. Even cars rarely cross that threshold. A situation where a hundred million was gone and another million was still needed was a scenario that couldn't be fabricated with a lie.

"Ugh... ah... ah..."

"Anyway, I don't have any more money. Now, if you’ll excuse me."

"W-wait! Stop right there! If you leave this room, I’m going to scream! I’ll tell everyone you attacked me!"

"What—"

As if to say neither of us had any choice left, Sayama began violently tearing off her uniform. 

I felt bad seeing the naked body of someone I didn't like, so I turned to leave, but she let out a shriek just as she got down to her underwear. It was a calculated move—I would rush over to cover her mouth, and the scene of the assault would be complete.

Or so she thought.

"I heard a voice, so I came to see... but whatever is going on here?"

The role of the 'first witness,' who was supposed to take Sayama’s side, had been snatched away by Eina.

Ouhouin Eina was by no means an ally of the weak. The only reason a girl on the verge of being bullied could escape by clinging to her was because of Eina's overwhelming power; Eina herself didn't care because everyone held the same level of worth to her. 

Her stance was simply that anything was fine as long as she wasn't dragged into it. I suspected the only reason people didn't involve her was because they instinctively sensed the danger she posed, or perhaps because she socialized so little that no one knew what she might do.

"W-who are you...?"

"I am Ouhouin Eina. I am a friend of the boy standing there. I haven't the slightest idea who you are, but stripping down to your underwear in a place like this is quite unrefined, isn't it?"

"H-he’s the one who made me! He forced me...!"

"I see. In that case, shall we call the police and have them investigate?"

Did it seem like a short-sighted way of thinking? Did she think calling the police solved everything? No. Eina was someone who actually could call the police, and that would be the end of it. 

The first witness was a student—and a girl who held an extraordinary amount of trust within the school—so she had to be on the victim's side.

"I certainly do not believe it to be the case, but if you truly were stripped by force... surely there would be skin fragments, or fingerprints... in any case, some trace would remain. A 'he said, she said' argument would be troublesome even for a 'victim' such as yourself, would it not? It would be faster to investigate."

"Ah... eh... It makes no sense that he wouldn't do it! He doesn't have a girlfriend and he’s not even popular! Of course he’d do it! You’re a woman too, you should understand!"

Sayama, who was from a different class, didn't understand the terror Eina commanded. She seemed genuinely bewildered as to why another girl wouldn't take her side. If it were a guy, he might have been cowed into silence or forced onto the defensive, but Eina was a different story.

"I am his friend. I believe it is only natural to trust one’s friends."

"—T-that’s because you don't know him! I’m telling you, everyone is going to believe he’s the one who stripped me! You’re the only one who’s going to take his side!"

"I am the only one on his side? Then that is more than enough. Right, Keiya-kun?"

"Y-yeah. I mean, I guess so..."

"Huh?!"

I nodded because it was the truth, but it probably wouldn't turn out the way she thought. The guys would take Eina’s side just to earn points with her, and the girls would likely stay neutral rather than side with anyone. If they were willing to risk making an enemy of Eina, they would have already tried to bully her for interfering. But they hadn't.

If you thought about the situation, it was obvious. My classmates had hauled me here only because dealing with Sayama had become a hassle; they were never on her side to begin with. If she’d paid them, things might have been different, but she was now the one seeking money, not the one giving it. And even if she could pay, her "friends" were the type to vanish the moment the money ran out, so that strategy would only backfire.

"F-f-fine! The police will believe me anyway, so go ahead and call them!"

"Oh, you are truly certain? That is quite brave of you, but are you quite sure you will be alright? If it is discovered that you are lying, you will be arrested."

It didn't matter if the actual legal requirements for an arrest were met. If Eina told the police to arrest someone, they had to do it. It was simply that Sayama lacked this information; this wasn't a threat, it was a statement of fact.

"Eh... r-really?"

Eina was already gripping her phone. Sayama had tried to act tough, thinking it was a bluff, but it had been meaningless. And now that she’d taken a stand, she couldn't risk doing anything that might get the police involved. If she were to hit or push Eina right now, she would absolutely be arrested.

"............Dammit! Drop dead!"

Whether she realized she had no chance of winning, or whether she just didn't want to be arrested before she could give the money to Sugo, Sayama scrambled back into her clothes and fled the room. Eina slumped her shoulders in disappointment and slipped her phone back into her pocket.

"...Thanks, Eina. I was at a loss for what to do."

"It was nothing. It is only natural to help a friend in need. Home Room is about to begin. Shall we head back as well?"

"......"

I wondered if I should say it.

A laser pointer had been hovering over Sayama’s head. She probably hadn't even noticed... she’d had a narrow escape.

"...Did you ever consider the possibility that I really did attack her?"

"I know you are not the type of boy to attack such a pathetic body. Besides, if you had reached the limit where you would attack a girl like that, you would surely have attacked me or my 'possessions' first. Your state of distress when we wash each other’s bodies, or when Yatsuka scrubs you from head to toe... it is incomparable to this. I can tell."

"—I-I kind of wish you’d just said it was because you trusted me."

"One can say anything with words. But the body and money are always honest."

...I wonder if she has some bad memories or something.

Eina’s way of thinking was definitely not normal. I suspected there was a reason for it, but she’d been like this since the moment we met, so it might just be the environment she was raised in.

"C-can you not even trust my words?"

"Your words are directly connected to your body, are they not?"

"The way you put that... it makes me sound like some kind of playboy. I don't like it..."

"What else would you call a person who attacks me the moment they wake up, if not a beast?"

I had no comeback for that, so I switched gears. Any further discussion was a waste of time. It would only serve to reconfirm that I was a pervert who got excited far too easily.

I wondered what would happen to Sayama.

Since the 'first witness' wouldn't take her side, Sayama desperately tried to spread rumors about me, but as expected, the guys moved to shut her down to win favor with Eina. The girls, not wanting to be hated by the guys they liked, started spreading rumors about Sayama instead. Eventually, it all reached the teachers, and it was game set. They had no choice but to believe what Eina said.

"She went too far just because she wanted money... Sorry about earlier. But what’s with the 'one million'? How much did you end up paying her?"

Masayoshi watched as Sayama sat in the remedial room, half in tears, writing a reflection paper. Her tears were likely less about regret and more about the fact that her schedule for meeting Sugo was being pushed back. 

She was desperate to give him money to stay connected to him as he showed signs of pulling away, while Sugo, having lost everything because of Eina, was only after her cash. Since she was such an easy mark, Sugo would probably wait for her regardless of the delay, but I wondered how he would act.

"She’s been chanting 'one million, one million' like a mantra... it’s like she’s possessed by a money ghost. Seriously. A girl who used to squeeze people for money using her looks suddenly acting like that... it’s weird."

"...The demonic power of money, I guess. Money changes people."

"You say that like you’ve seen it before. Did you win the lottery or something?"

"Nothing like that."

The fact that I was concerned about her suggested I was a bit of a scoundrel myself. The standards for the reflection paper were vague, and I had no idea when she’d be finished. Masayoshi went back to his club activities, and just as I was about to head home, I received a rare call on my phone. It was Ayaka-san. To avoid any misunderstandings about her being my girlfriend, I moved to the rooftop before answering.

"Hello? I’m still in the middle of 'roleplaying' here..."

"I usually call you Sagiri-kun anyway, so it’s fine! If anyone gets the wrong idea, just tell them I’m your girlfriend!"

"No, that’s also... what do you want?"

"Ah, sorry! I was just so happy to be talking to you one-on-one! Eina-sama has already gone home! She’s glad you’re interested in how things are playing out, and it seems she wants you to participate! So, I purchased the 'support rights,' and I’ll be the one picking you up today~!"

"This is all so sudden, but... how much did you buy me for?"

"About half of what it costs for when we share a bath~. Anyway, it would be a big help if you could wait for me in front of the station! It’s like a date, I’m so excited! My maiden heart is about to explode~! See ya!"

"Wait, just a—"

The call ended, leaving my brain struggling to catch up. But if Eina wanted me to participate, I had to obey. And the truth was, I was curious. Was the reason for the station meeting so we could monitor Sayama? If so, I had to go right now. Since I didn't know when her reflection paper would be finished, every second counted.

"......"

That day, I took a rare taxi.

The distance to the station wasn't huge, but it wasn't exactly a short walk either. Using a taxi might have been a blatant waste of money, but I couldn't afford to be picky about my methods. I got out of the car and waited for Ayaka-san by sitting on the station stairs. I didn't think she’d come in her maid uniform, but I was sure I’d recognize her once she got close.

Standing almost right next to me, waiting for Sayama, was Sugo. He didn't know who I was. Since I was the only one who knew the situation, it felt a bit awkward.

"Sagiri-kun~♪ Sorry to keep you waiting~!"

A woman was waving her arms vigorously from the other side of the traffic light. 

She was wearing an unfamiliar outfit—a sleeveless white shirt and a moss-green gathered skirt. But there was only one person with that level of brightness and that specific way of calling my name. Even if she wasn't in her usual clothes, I could tell who she was from a mile away.

 

"Ayaka-san! Hey, you’re calling out from way too far away!"

The moment she dashed across the signal, she hugged me tightly and spun me around. Her relaxed, beaming smile brought a strange sense of relief.

"Ehehe~! Just the two of us, Sagiri-kun! That girl isn't here yet, right? For now, let’s move somewhere safe."

"Ayaka-san... have you ever eaten fast food before?"

"Of course I have! Don't tell me you thought I’d become some high-class snob just because I don't go out much? Hmph, how rude. I was a perfectly ordinary college student before Eina-sama bought me, you know?"

"The fact that she bought you usually means you weren't 'ordinary.' Anyway, you’re too close..."

"Nufufu, well, isn't it fine? It’s about the same distance you are with Eina-sama!"

If you wanted a place to safely monitor the front of the station, it was the second floor of a fast food joint. 

There was a window facing the station, so we could safely track Sayama and Sugo’s movements from here... but more than that, I was preoccupied by the sensation of Ayaka-san’s body pressed against mine. I was the one who chose the corner seat so we wouldn't stand out, but it wasn't because I wanted to be sandwiched between the wall and Ayaka-san.

“C-Classmates use this place too, you know… people are going to get the wrong idea!” I hissed, my face heating up.

“Ho-ho? Does that mean I should have just stayed in my school uniform then~?” Ayaka-san teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

“That’s not what I meant… I mean, I’m happy to see you in your private clothes, really. It’s just that you stand out too much.”

“Oh? And here I thought I’d changed specifically so I wouldn't stand out. Which part of me is so eye-catching, exactly?”

“You’re beautiful,” I said flatly.

Ayaka-san blinked, her playful smirk faltering for a split second. “There are plenty of other beautiful women out there, Sagiri-kun. Even the girls working the tables here are pretty cute, don’t you think~?”

“No. You’re different, Ayaka-san! You’re cute enough that even Eina acknowledged you. If you’re going to dress like that, you might as well just hide your face entirely or something…”

 I wasn't flattery-baiting her. There was no point in that. I was giving her a genuine warning because she really did command that much attention. Whether she actually understood the gravity of it or not, Ayaka-san simply turned a deep shade of crimson and gave a shy, embarrassed laugh.

“…Geez, you really are something, Sagiri-kun. But since that made me happy, I’ll hold back on the teasing for now!”

I glanced out the window; Akina Sayama still hadn't arrived. It looked like her apology session was dragging on. From our vantage point, I could see Mitsuru Sugo looking increasingly irritated. In his mind, he’d set things up so she’d be the one funneling money to him, so her current hesitation to cough up the cash must have seemed bizarre.

“It might be taking her a while to scrape together a million yen~,” Ayaka-san mused.

“Ah, there’s that too. I wonder how she’ll even get it… It’s not like she can just refuse to pay. Does Eina actually condone criminal acts?”

“Regardless of what Eina-sama thinks, I don't think the police would be very forgiving~. So, jumping a random pedestrian for cash is a big no-no♪ She’d just get caught immediately.”

“I guess so…” But then again, it’s not like she can just borrow a million yen from a teacher at school. A hundred or a thousand yen is one thing, but a million? Unless this country suddenly hit a record-breaking hyperinflation where a million yen became worthless overnight, she’s stuck.

“…Before Sayama gets here, I wanted to ask you something,” I started, turning back to Ayaka-san. “How exactly did you end up being bought by Eina? I want to understand more about how she operates, so I figured I’d ask for context.”

“Me…? Well, despite how I look now, I wasn't exactly doing anything worth bragging about back then. I was just a college student looking to make some easy pocket change, but well… ……”

“……You don’t want to talk about it?”

“If it were anyone else's property, I wouldn't have a reason to hide it, but I can’t tell you, Sagiri-kun. I don’t want you to hate me.” She kept that bright smile plastered on her face, but I could tell it was forced. 

She was putting on a brave front because she genuinely didn't want to reveal her past. I knew that pushing further might hurt her, but I couldn't help being curious. Why did Eina buy this Ayaka-san? What kind of life had she been leading?

“I’ll pay three hundred million for the information. Won’t you tell me?”

There are things more precious than money, but money can be exchanged for a life. There is nothing that can’t be replaced. I don’t have a handle on my own worth, but I had to be worth more now than when I was first bought. I grabbed both of her shoulders and bowed my head deeply. Ayaka-san gave a troubled laugh, tilting her head as she weighed the offer.

“……Well, I can’t exactly go against Eina-sama’s sense of value, can I? Fine. I’ll tell you. I was a tout for an illegal brothel. I was short on cash back then, and it was really just a momentary lapse in judgment, you know?”

“……That’s quite the history. But it’s also surprisingly fitting. Was it just touting? You’re so beautiful, Ayaka-san, I’m sure you could have worked as a hostess inside.”

“That’s why I said it was a lapse in judgment! A friend told me they were desperately short-staffed, so I… I thought just pulling in customers would be safe. I didn't want to actually sell my body.”

The fact that she was a beauty was an objective truth. Apparently, the men she guided into the shop assumed there were plenty of girls just like her inside and practically threw themselves through the doors. While she was pocketing the commission, her slight sense of guilt began to erode—and eventually, she got swept up in the fallout.

“I got caught in a raid along with everyone else, and my parents found out. They kicked me out of the house. Once you lose your public credibility even once, it’s incredibly hard to start over in the legitimate world. I was wandering the streets, wondering where I should go next, when I met Eina-sama.”

“…Don’t tell me you tried to sell yourself to her!? Like Hasekura did?”

“No, no! I’m not that reckless! It’s just that the shop I worked at had seen abnormally high profits during my time there, and Eina-sama happened to know about it. She seemed interested in me because of that. When she asked how much it would take to buy me… I gave her a pretty daring number.”

I didn't even have to ask how Eina knew. She was the kind of person who could bankrupt a company with a single phone call. Peeking at the ledgers of an illegal brothel would be child’s play for her. I didn't know exactly what she saw in Ayaka-san—after all, she mostly worked in the kitchens now.

Having told me everything, Ayaka-san looked down, glancing up at me occasionally as if she were a child terrified of being scolded by a parent.

“…Sagiri-kun. Do you hate me now?”

“Hate you? No. I don’t care what you were like in the past; I like who you are now. It’s common enough to have a past you aren't proud of, isn't it? Our circumstances might be different, but I don't think my life before being bought was any better. If anything, I’m a little relieved. I’m not going to hate you for something like that. You’ve been taking care of me since the day I arrived, after all.”

“—————Sagiri-kun.”

“More importantly, it looks like Sayama is finally here.”

“…You really don't care, do you? I’m so happy.”

“Ayaka-san?”

“Yes, yes! Honestly, taking so long to show up while we were busy reminiscing! I hope she puts on a show interesting enough to be the grand finale~!”

Through the window, from quite a distance away, I saw a visibly haggard Sayama finally meeting up with Sugo. From what I could see, she didn't have a million yen on her. I wasn't exactly looking for an attaché case, but if she had procured that much cash, it wouldn't fit in a standard wallet; she should have had something with her.

Sugo looked like he was trying to leave, and it seemed Sayama was desperately holding him back. As they continued their frantic exchange, they started walking toward the hotel district again. We left our spot to follow them. I made sure we didn't forget to change out of our school uniforms first, since we’d stand out too much.

We followed them from the opposite side of the road, keeping enough distance so they wouldn't get suspicious. It was after school, but the city was still far from its nightly awakening. I didn't think we’d be spotted, but just in case, I walked with my fingers interlaced with Ayaka-san’s in a lover’s hand-hold.

“They don’t look like they’re getting along very well, do they~?” Ayaka-san noted.

“Of course not. His company was bankrupted; he doesn't have the mental capacity to deal with her. I wonder if he put that hundred million into the company or kept it for himself…If he put it in and it all got seized, he’s penniless. Even if it wasn't seized, Sugo is still greedy enough to think he can squeeze more out of her, so he isn't exactly in a calm state of mind. It’s a bizarre situation—she’s been led right into a quagmire, yet the person who led her there is frustrated because she can’t pay up.”

“Which means the million yen…”

“Doesn't look like she has it.”

It wasn't a disappointment; it was a given. That kind of money isn't something you can just conjure up. I couldn't hear what Sayama was screaming, but she was undoubtedly promising to bring it tomorrow. Since she seemed like the type of woman who’d lie just to stay in a man’s good graces, I bet she was clinging to him with everything she had.

“Wait?”

“What is it?”

“There isn't a sign out, but there’s a tout over there~. They let us pass, but look, they’re calling out to that woman walking over there. They’re even blocking her path. I checked the security cameras earlier, and unlike the day they took the hundred million, it looks like they’re letting regular customers in again. Are they that short on cash?”

“If the company went under… ah, they probably shared some percentage of their funding sources. Maybe Sugo’s company and that shop were in league, and he was getting a cut. But with the company gone and his prospects dried up, he needs liquid cash… something like that?”

Eina told me she wanted me to intervene. I wondered what I could do to make this more entertaining. Anything was fine as long as she laughed. I just couldn't imagine what would work best in this mess.

“…………Ayaka-san. Why don’t we go inside? We can pretend to be lovers.”

“Huh? Wh-what!?”

Her eyes went wide, but she clearly understood what I was getting at. She cleared her throat and asked for clarification.

“S-Sorry about that. It’s not that I don't understand the words~. But what exactly are you planning to do?”

“In the end, the world revolves around money. That place is almost certainly a rip-off joint that does something to you if you can’t pay. And Sayama is desperate to use money to keep Sugo interested. So, if we barge in as customers and start throwing money around like it’s nothing… what do you think will happen?”

“Ah. Well, that would certainly be……”

He who touches pitch shall be defiled.

Ayaka-san, too, was being swallowed by Eina’s world of values.

“That sounds like a wonderfully wicked proposal~! Very well, I’ll accompany you to the very depths of hell! I, Akabane Ayaka, shall humbly serve as your accomplice in this little scheme, Sagiri-kun!”

The concept of romance is inseparable from being a student. Or perhaps it’s just a milestone that every adolescent can’t help but obsess over. 

There are so many different girls in the world, and usually, a guy's eyes would wander based on his personal tastes. But before I could get to that stage… or rather, because of my family circumstances, I never did. Eina was the only one by my side. So, when I tried to define the concept of a "lover," Eina was the only image that came to mind. My first thought was always the things I did with her.

To prevent our act from being seen through, we had to start with the physical form. If we could make anyone who saw us think, “There’s no way they aren't lovers,” then we’d succeeded.

Ayaka-san stepped away, saying she needed to prepare. After a few minutes, she returned looking mostly the same, but as we walked into the tout’s line of sight, we shared a deep, lingering kiss.

“Mnh……”

By sheer habit, my hand almost wandered to her breast, but I desperately forced myself to stop. 

If we were in the bath, it would be one thing, but we were in public. My body was being far too honest; the heat between us was so intense that I was sure Ayaka-san could feel my arousal through our clothes. 

It was a pathetic, terrible situation, but it wasn't like I could worry about that now. Actually, I should worry about it. As if I wouldn't get excited after having seen her naked so many times—I’m not a monk. If I were that level-headed, I wouldn't have ended up pouncing on Eina first thing in the morning just because I never get any time alone.

Unlike other boys, I didn't have access to porn or videos, so I’d spent every single day in that mansion staring at the women there with more than just a little lust. If I complained about that, people would do more than just get mad at me, but having a woman I cared about realize exactly how hard I was for her was more embarrassing than I could have imagined.

“W-Well then, shall we go, Ayaka…? I heard this was a great place.”

“Yes. Let’s go!”

By speaking loud enough to be overheard, we made sure the tout marked us as easy prey. As expected, he ignored us and subtly cleared the path. 

The setup was perfect; all that was left was to go inside. Eina was likely watching through the security cameras. Did she read my move? Or was she surprised? Either way, as long as she enjoyed it, that was enough. I’d gladly play the clown for her.

I was certain she wouldn't care how much money I spent for that purpose. I’d had Ayaka-san prepare cash since I assumed credit cards wouldn't be an option. That must have been what she meant by "preparation," though I had no idea when she’d actually grabbed it. The custom attaché case Ayaka-san was carrying was stuffed with two hundred million yen. She’d told me as much when I asked a moment ago.

We went down the stairs and stood before the door. Just as I reached for the knob, Ayaka-san whispered in my ear.

“I heard from Hijiri, you know~. About what you did to Eina-sama in the car. If you do that, nobody will ever doubt us, right?”

“…………I-Is that really okay? I’m, uh, actually really embarrassed about it.”

“Just show off for Eina-sama~! I’m sure she’ll be furious later, but we can just apologize together when the time comes, right?”

“T-That… wouldn't that affect your Value, Ayaka-san?”

“Do you really think Eina-sama would do something as petty as lowering my Value for that? You’ve got it all wrong, Sagiri-kun. Even with her unique standards, she assesses Value properly. At most, I think you’ll just be squeezed until you’re turned completely white later~?”

“That’s……” That sounds like it might affect my school life tomorrow. Or maybe it won't. Either way, we’d come too far to turn back now.

“Whoa, this place looks as high-class as I heard!” I shouted, pushing the door open.

When a minor enters a bar with an older woman, it’s bound to draw eyes. 

But looking at my face alone, you couldn't tell if I was a minor or not, and the way I had my arm wrapped around my companion’s shoulder, my fingers working and kneading her flesh with practiced ease, didn't scream "innocent youth" at all. I might have overdone it by sliding my hand in under her arm, but looking at us, who would see anything other than a pair of lovers?

Ayaka-san let out a soft, airy moan, her face flushed red as she clung to my hand. A waiter approached us, averting his eyes in embarrassment as he guided us to an open table.

“For now, just bring out every bit of alcohol this place has.”

“Pardon?”

Ayaka-san flipped open the attaché case, revealing the two hundred million yen inside. The waiter’s face went pale. “P-Please wait a moment!” he stammered before retreating in a panic. A man who appeared to be the owner came rushing out, and suddenly, every eye in the room was fixed on us.

Sayama was at a table quite a distance away, desperately trying to get Sugo to look at her, but even Sugo was too distracted by us for her efforts to have any effect.

“I’ve got two hundred million here, so please, bring out as much of your menu as you can.”

“U-Um. Excuse me, but who might you be…?”

“Don't go poking your nose where it doesn't belong. We’re paying, aren't we? Are you really going to complain when I’m offering you two hundred million?”

“N-No! Not at all! We’ll bring it right away! And since we’re short on table space, we’ll bring some extras over as well!”

“Thank you.”

Most of the employees who had been acting as hosts were sent to the back to gather the stock. The only people left were a skeleton crew to keep the other poor suckers who’d wandered into this rip-off bar from leaving, and Sayama, who no one was paying any attention to anymore. Since her table was far from the main path, she was conspicuously isolated. Even her beloved Sugo had abandoned her, and she looked like she couldn't even process what was happening.

“They’ve got great booze here, Ayaka! Let’s drink! A toast to our future together!”

“Oh stop it, Sagiri-kun~! You aren't even drunk yet, so where do you think you’re touching me~? You pervert!”

If I kept talking loudly, she’d notice eventually. The moment I saw Sayama’s eyes snap toward me, I looked away and pressed my lips against Ayaka-san’s.

“WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT! You! What are you doing here!?”

“…You’re surprisingly good at this~. Is it because you touch Eina-sama’s every day?” Ayaka-san whispered against my mouth.

“W-Well, we usually wash each other in the bath, so…”

“…If you want, you can touch me even more aggressively, you know?”

“L-Let’s save that for the bath, at least…”

We continued our frantic, whispered conversation as if we were too caught up in each other to notice our surroundings. This was part of the plan. By pretending not to notice her, we were baiting her into approaching us.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing in a place like this!? Keiya Sagiri!”

She grabbed my arm and screamed my name. I couldn't ignore her now.

“…………Oh, it’s you, Sayama. Was that million yen you wanted so you could come here?”

“No! And besides, you’re a minor! You shouldn't be in a place like this!”

“Eh? Pot calling the kettle black, isn't it? You’re here too.”

“I’m here for a different reason! Unlike you, wandering around with a woman and drinking… wait, you had a girlfriend!? What!”

“Hello there~ I’m Sagiri-kun’s girlfriend♪ P-E-A-C-E! Hehehe! And who are you?”

“I-I am…”

She couldn't use the "I'm his girlfriend" card here. If she did, she’d lose her chance at "true love" forever. Sayama wanted to use money as bait to date Sugo; if she acknowledged me as her boyfriend, that spot would be filled.

As she struggled for an answer, her eyes landed on the two hundred million yen.

“—That money! Give me a million of it!”

Despite her phrasing sounding like she was asking for permission, her movements were those of a thief trying to snatch it. I slammed the attaché case shut and shoved her away.

“No. Today is for drinking.”

“I wonder what kind of booze they’ll have~ I’m so excited~!”

“Just a little bit is fine, isn't it!? You have so much!”

“It’s my money—Ghugh!”

I’d expected her to get physical, but I didn't think it would be right then. She punched me square in the face, and blood started spraying from my nose. In a place where violence was already simmering under the surface, the other customers immediately got excited, and all eyes were on us. Sayama stood out for all the wrong reasons, but she was so blinded by rage she didn't seem to notice.

“I’m telling you, it’s your fault for not giving it to me! I’m taking this!”

“Stop… it! It’s my money! Thief! Thief!”

“Shut up! I need that million yen!”

Her movements were unexpected, but I was used to violence. My mother had done far worse to me countless times. 

I intentionally entered a scuffle with her, taking her hits, when Sugo returned from the back. The moment he saw the situation, he shoved Sayama aside and knelt before me.

“I am terribly sorry! Are you alright, sir!? Hey, get a first aid kit!”

“Y-Yes sir!”

“She punched me because I wouldn't give her my money. You were the one in charge of her, right? Is she always like this? Having someone like that around… no matter how good the atmosphere is, it makes me not want to spend my money here…”

“—Hey, throw this woman out!”

“What!? Why!?”

To Sugo, Sayama had Value as a cash cow, which was why their relationship had continued. That day she brought the hundred million, that day she told him she’d keep paying if he stayed with her—he must have thought he’d found a perfect mark.

But then a much bigger mark appeared. He had no more use for a cheap cash cow who would harm a customer willing to drop two hundred million on a whim. The end of the money was the end of the relationship. If she wanted him to look at her again, she’d need to match or exceed the amount I’d brought.

For a woman who couldn't even scrape together a million, it was impossible.

“Sugo-san! Wait! I have the million yen! Stop it, noooooo!”

“She’s saying something, is that alright?” I asked.

“Please, don’t pay her any mind. More importantly, sir, about your order…”

“Ah, about that. Now that I’m all covered in blood, I’m not really in the mood for a drink. I’ll come back tomorrow, so can I head out for today? If you’ll agree to make it a private reservation for us, I’ll pay ten billion.”

When I placed a ten-million-yen down payment on the table, Sugo and the owner agreed instantly. They’d decided that serving me would be far more profitable than trying to scam two or three ignorant tourists.

“Hey, are you okay~?”

“I’m fine, it’s just a little blood. Come on, let’s go home. My mood is totally ruined…”

◇

 

“You’re certainly in a spending mood, aren’t you?”

When I returned home, I found Eina standing by the bench in front of the fountain. She must have been watching my every move through the cameras until just a moment ago.

“S-Sorry, Eina! I know it’s not an amount I’m supposed to be able to move... probably. But I figured if I said that, I could get out of there for free, and it would let us observe those two for just a little bit longer.”

“...It doesn't matter how much you spend; my money will never run out. I was simply impressed by your decisiveness. I thought for sure you’d focus on the girl and have the man dealt with immediately. To think you’d actually extend his life—how unexpected.”

“I—I guess I just started having fun with it.”

Eina stood up without a sound, slowly drawing my hand toward her body. She clung to me as if reclaiming her property and pressed her lips against mine.

“...Yes, it seems we can enjoy this a little longer. I’m satisfied. You’re wonderful, Keiya. Letting you interfere was the right choice. I truly am proud of you.”

“Y-You’re not mad? I mean... you were watching, right? With Ayaka-san... you know... all that stuff.”

“Mad? The body is an honest thing; it can’t be helped. Even now, look... your heart is racing just from me touching you. You must be exhausted after today. Let’s have dinner and get straight into the bath. I’ll melt away all that fatigue—I’ll turn you into such a puddle of mush that you won't be able to think about anything but me...”

Once she gets like this, there’s nothing to do but submit. When dinner time came, Eina led me to the dining hall. Usually, she focuses on her own meal, but today she attended to me as if she were the maid herself. 

Even Ayaka looked unsure of how to react to Eina’s thoroughness; there wasn't a single moment during the meal where our bodies weren't touching. 

Anyone living in this mansion would understand just how bizarre it was to see the great Ouhouin Eina proactively clearing the dishes.

“Now then, that’s enough of a post-meal rest. Shall we head to the bath?”

Was she helping with the dishes just to create a longer gap between eating and bathing? Usually, time just flows naturally, but today Eina seemed impatient. And yet, once we reached the dressing room, she took her sweet time, commanding me to strip her of her clothes. 

To be blunt, it’s bad for my instincts. I know I’m making it sound like I’m putting up a fight, but that’s just me acting tough. The only thing I haven't crossed yet is that final line—everything else has been stepped over with ease. Or rather, trampled over.

“I-Is it just the two of us today?”

“Is that a problem? Don’t worry. Usually, you’re the one who washes me first, but today, I shall wash you. But before that, we must soak properly in the tub. Slowly, alright?”

Time is finite, but we can manufacture as much of it as we want. Just as there are no clocks in our bedroom, it feels as if our time together could last forever. In reality, the most enjoyable moments are the ones that flee the fastest, but if you lose the ability to perceive time's passage, it doesn't matter.

“Ugh! E-Eina-san! At least wait until you’re washing my body to touch me there...!”

“It’s no use asking so formally. You should only be thinking of me. Look at our bodies, imagine the acts that will soon take place, and feel each other slowly. This sensation... it’s as if the hot water is melting us together until we become one.”

I’m not forbidden from looking away, but my eyes are always glued to her. The longer I look, the more Eina realizes how aroused I am, yet I can’t stop. My thoughts are melting.

“I’m your first love, aren't I? It’s the same for me. They say there’s a jinx that first loves never end in happiness, but we’re different. Just imagining it sends shivers through me. It’s strange—even though we’re in a bath, just picturing you ravishing me makes my womb ache. I wish it would happen this very second. What about you? What do you think when you look at me?”

“W-What do I think...? I-I’m not sure I want to say. I’m aware of it myself. My lust... it’s more bottomless than I thought. Even with everything you do for me, I’m never satisfied. It’s strange even to me, how one desire is born right after another. I was never like this. Not until I was bought by you. So you should stop. Flaunting yourself like that... you really shouldn't.”

“I think it’s a bit late for hesitation. Besides, you mock yourself for being a 'crude' man, but in front of you, I’m not a woman of status or power—I’m just a girl. If you are crude, then so am I. That contradictory logic of yours is quite stubborn. You seem to be under a misconception, so let me tell you: I do as I please with many things, but when it comes to you, I am actually trying quite hard to restrain myself. Why don’t you try letting all your desires pour out? I’ll satisfy you before we even leave the tub. I’ll teach your body such dizzying pleasure that you won't be able to think of anything but me—where even a touch to your fingertip will make you remember it until the moment you fall asleep.”

Eina was serious. She is always serious. She never half-asses her attempts to seduce me. To put it bluntly, her behavior was designed to stoke a sense of immorality. While reminding me of her noble status and declaring me her possession, Ouhouin Eina wanted to be defiled by me.

She was tempting me with the taboo thrill of shattering and staining a priceless masterpiece.

“...Eina.”

I pulled her body close... and since I was too embarrassed to say it to her face even when we were alone, I whispered into her ear. 

Most of what I said held little consideration for Eina; it was just a list of my own selfish desires. But she simply stroked the nape of my neck and nodded happily.

“Very well. Then I shall do that for you. You are the only wonderful boy in this world. I have to make you realize that often, or your body starts to shrink away. Don’t worry. I may not be a maid, but I refuse to lose to anyone when it comes to serving you.”

 

◇

 

“Ha... haah...”

“Your body still seems quite energetic, but any more and I fear your brain might actually break. I’m curious to see what would happen if I were crushed under you while you’re in heat, but let’s save that for the summer holidays... hee-hee.”

“I-I-I’m not going to do anything... I won’t... ugh.”

“Oh? Is that so? Everyone is looking forward to it. As for me, anytime, anywhere... well, fine. Keiya, what do you plan to do tomorrow?”

The canopy curtains were closed, sealing the two of us in our private time. Though we’d both interfered once, I had no idea how things would turn out for those two. In the brief moments before sleep, we lay facing each other with our hands joined, discussing the future.

“I already said one billion, so I have to bring it... Right? Or is that too much for my Value?”

“It’s not that, but there’s no need to bring it. I watched through the cameras the whole time, and you didn't actually reveal your identity, did you? Normally, if someone tries to leave without paying, those kinds of shops would make them reveal their identity or provide collateral, but they were so blinded by the money that they got careless. So, you don’t have to pay the billion yen.”

“...? But if I don’t go, the plan won't move forward. Sugo will just pocket the ten million deposit and that’ll be the end of it.”

“Tomorrow morning, when no one is around, I’m going to have the shop blown up.”

“Blown... HUH?!”

There’s a concept of homophones. Flight, plight, site. Words that sound the same but have different meanings. Even if I wanted to claim I’d misheard her, there isn't another meaning for "blown up." To blow up is to blow up.

“W-Why on earth would you do that?!”

“If the shop physically ceases to exist, you don’t need a reason not to go there. I’ll have the media report the explosion as an incident or an accident—whichever works. There. Now you have a reason for not going, under the guise of having seen the news.”

I had intended to stop questioning her absurd power, but the fact that she could casually order someone to prepare explosives made me terrified for the future. But for her, it was nothing. If she could get away with murder, then truly, anything goes.

“...Oh, I see. Sugo desperately wants my billion yen, but since he doesn't know who I am, he’ll have no choice but to rely on Akina. Wait, did he realize I’m a minor?”

“It doesn't really matter either way, does it? The fact remains that she was the one having a dispute with you. Once he presses her for the details of that dispute, the dots will connect themselves. This gives her one more chance to connect with him. Once she gives up the information, she’s served her purpose, so what happens next is up to her.”

“............”

She says we were "having a dispute," but really, I was just... Ayaka-san’s chest... No, this isn't the time to be thinking about that. This whole thing is being handled with such surgical precision, it’s like every move was scripted from the start. I thought for sure I’d just bought her resentment by cutting ties, but now Akina won't have time to worry about that.

“I’m a little relieved I don’t have to fear retaliation at school. I was scared of what she might do. If she decided to go down in flames and drag me with her by exposing that a minor went to that shop...”

“It would be difficult for her to drag you down. She was the one drinking alcohol; you were just flaunting money. Besides, it’s unlikely she’d go that far. No matter how much she wants revenge, she wouldn't want to lose the chance to see her beloved Sugo.”

Don't worry, Eina said, pulling one of the shoulder straps of her nightdress down and burying my face in her exposed cleavage to soothe me.

“You have no need to worry about anything for the rest of your life. I shall protect you, so please, do not be uneasy. If it helps you feel secure, you can be as rough as you like.”

“Mmph... B-By the way, Eina. How do you think those two will end up?”

“If their 'true love' is the real deal, I suppose they’ll be happy. If not... well, that’s part of the fun. As long as they don’t harm you, I have no intention of doing anything else.”

I, however, was sensing a very bad omen.

The bond that was severed by the violence of a billion yen will, from Akina’s perspective, be reconnected by a "fated coincidence." It sounds romantic, but the actual Sugo—while he might have the ten-million-yen deposit—has a bankrupt company and had his hundred million yen from Akina seized. I don’t know if he’s flat broke, but he’s far from the wealthy man of her dreams now. Will Akina remain loyal to a man like that, or will her feelings cool?

Actually, what about her parents? Her behavior lately has been beyond the pale. Surely word of her delinquency at school has reached them. Even if their "true love" were real, I can’t imagine them being happy. At the very least, she’s going to lose her family.

“—Yawn. I’m starting to get sleepy. But one last thing. How did it feel to touch Ayaka’s?”

“............I-It felt good... ma'am.”

“I see. You really are a beast, aren't you? I wonder if I’m about to be ravished as well. Perhaps you'll even pull down my other shoulder strap.”

“I-I won’t.”

“Are you sure?”

..................

“Goodnight, Keiya. I love you.”

“G-Goodnight, Eina. I love you too.”

As if I could keep my hands off her. That was impossible. 

With a momentum that drowned out the logic screaming in the back of my brain, I found my fingertips touching her shoulder strap before I knew it. 

But right before the end, my reason interfered again. My petty rebellious streak stopped my hand, telling me I couldn't let Eina control every single part of me. This was my lingering sense of human reason—something I surely would have possessed if I’d lived a normal life.

Slip. Slide.

I let the strap slide down to her wrist. My body wouldn't stop. I couldn't resist, as if I’d been hypnotized. I couldn't resist Eina’s charm. I should realize how lucky I am to be able to sleep next to the girl I love. Compared to that, reason is just a trivial shackle. I don’t need it.

Slide. Slip. Boing.

 

◇

 

It wasn't clear when Eina gave the order, but it didn't really matter if she did it personally or if someone like Yatsuka moved on her behalf. There are no televisions in the areas of the mansion where Keiya and Eina usually go. The TV currently standing in front of the breakfast room had been brought specifically from Yatsuka’s private quarters.

The screen showed a building that had been leveled by an explosion. The police were reportedly investigating both the possibility of an accident and foul play. They were still looking for the cause, but they’d never find the real one. If they did, it would be a fabricated one. If I had to guess, they'd blame a gas canister or something... that would be the most natural.

“What’s happening with Akina?”

“We haven't heard from Yurie yet, so it seems they haven't made contact. The accident occurred at four this morning. We have people stationed at Sugo’s house as well, but there’s no movement; he likely hasn't woken up yet. 'A bolt from the blue' would be too mild a term for the shock he’s about to face. His prospect of a billion yen has vanished.”

“I see. Make sure to broadcast the moment they meet. In these matters, the process is more enjoyable than the conclusion. Just imagining what kind of conversation they’ll have is delightful.”

“Understood. However, Eina-sama. Regarding school... while your attendance is expected, perhaps Keiya-sa—...Keiya should be allowed to rest?”

“So even Yatsuka is worried. I’m more optimistic, but if you’re going that far, why don’t you come along?”

““Huh?””

My voice and Yatsuka-san’s overlapped, and we ended up staring at each other. Now I was the one who didn't know what was being said. Eina tilted her head and then clapped her hands.

“Oh, you’ve never been there, have you? I’ve already arranged for enough uniforms so that any of you can slip into the school at any time. Go ahead and change; you can ride in the car with us. At school, he and I are officially 'just friends,' so we can’t be together the whole time, but you’ll be free.”

“No, no, no, Eina. That’s crazy. Yatsuka-san is going to stand out like a sore thumb at our school. Her hair is naturally blonde, she’s insanely tall, and she’s a total beauty. Everyone’s going to wonder where the hell she came from!”

“I’ll clear it with the teachers, so don’t worry. And like I said, I’m not that concerned. I’m just respecting Yatsuka’s feelings. If Keiya hates the idea, we’ll forget the whole thing.”

I looked up at Yatsuka-san. I was sitting and she was standing. Even without that, the height difference was so vast that looking at her was like staring up at a mountain.

“Y-Yatsuka-san... are you okay with this?”

“Please, leave it to me. Even if terrorists were to lay siege to the school building, I shall protect you.”

“If such a thing were to happen, you have my permission to kill them all.”

There was Yatsuka-san, citing a delusion straight out of a teenager’s power fantasy, and Eina, giving her a perfectly serious answer. I have no idea what’s what anymore. But the truth was, I was just as afraid as they were.

“T-Then... please. J-Just don’t act like a maid, okay? It’ll cause weird misunderstandings, so please try to act like a friend!”

“Like a friend...?”

While Yatsuka-san stood there looking like she didn't quite get the concept, Eina called Haru over and issued instructions.

“Have the police head to Sugo’s house under the guise of questioning to wake him up. He’s a filthy man, but tell them he’s in the middle of providing entertainment, so no arrests yet.”

“Understood! Leave it to me!”

Eina, who detests boredom, cannot abide waiting. Sugo and Akina were being required to dance as clowns until she grew tired of them. There was no time for rest. The finale was near.

Akina hadn't come to school. How unfortunate that she didn't even know Sugo needed her. Or was that a good thing for me? I was walking as if I were in a haunted house, jumping at shadows because I was so worried about being attacked. It was pathetic. 

Having Yatsuka-san walking beside me was a comfort, but it’s only human to freeze up when you know a blade might be pointed at you. Especially when it’s a certainty.

“I wonder... what’s going to happen?”

“I’ve received word from Yurie. Akina is already awake, but she hasn't left her house yet. According to an intercepted phone call, Sugo has been calling her house incessantly, and she’s only just now answering.”

“...I guess you could call that the 'weakness of being in love.' So Sugo relied on Akina to get the money from me the second he woke up? Doing all that right after waking is impressive. Also—Yatsuka-san. Your 'maid' is showing.”

“Oh. Uh... O-Once the next class is over, it’ll be lunch break. That’s good, right?”

Her phrasing was incredibly awkward, but I guess we could play it off as her being half-Japanese or something. She appeared to be in the same class, but she’d vanish whenever the bell rang. Naturally, Yatsuka-san wasn't actually enrolled; she just had the uniform. If she stayed for class, someone would eventually ask, "Who the hell are you?"

So she had to disappear during lessons, only for this unknown beauty to suddenly pop up in front of me during breaks before vanishing again. It was like a school ghost story, and my classmates were buzzing.

“Who is that girl?! Introduce me!”

“She’s way too hot! Man, I’m actually torn between her and Eina!”

“I usually wasn't into tall girls, but when they’re that tall, it’s actually kind of great.”

Just a moment ago, they’d been pestering me regardless of whether class was in session, and I’d been caught in the crossfire. It remains an eternal mystery who gave "friendship" advice to Yatsuka-san, but someone had suggested the criminal combination of her long legs and a miniskirt. Since she usually wears a modest, classical maid outfit, this was a fresh look that stole the eyes of every boy and girl in the room.

I wonder who told her to tie her hair in a side-tail and wrap her blazer around her waist. My guess is Yurie-san. Even her makeup felt different. I couldn't say exactly how, but the impression was different. She just looked younger than usual.

“............”

“Keiya-kun?”

“No, it’s nothing. Yeah. Nothing at all.”

Was I bothered by my classmates' stares because I was sick of being interrogated, or was I worried because Yatsuka-san seemed so indifferent to everyone else? Eina didn't involve herself in the matter at all. She usually spent her breaks reading to pass the time.

“KEIYA SAGIRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!”

Just as the break was about to end and Yatsuka-san was preparing to hide again, she arrived. Akina Sayama. Unbelievably, she hadn't even changed into her uniform; she’d come to school in her pajamas. I’d hoped she wouldn't know my name or class, but after the gym storehouse incident, that was a pipe dream. It wouldn't be strange if Masayoshi had let it slip back then.

 

Yatsuka-san was hard to miss, but Akina didn't even see her. In fact, she didn't see anyone but me. She slammed her hands onto my desk and glared at me with bloodshot, crusty eyes.

“W-What?!”

She didn't have a kitchen knife; she really was just in the clothes she’d slept in. Empty-handed. I could probably ask Eina to erase the fact that I’d been in that shop, but she couldn't erase memories. If Akina blabbed, my position as a high school student would be in jeopardy, so her "if I go down, you go down" mentality was the biggest threat.

Eina said it would be fine, but that was just a rational analysis. Humans aren't always rational. Sometimes emotions take over. I was sweating bullets while trying to look calm, and when she grabbed my hands, I thought I was a dead man.

Even Yatsuka-san had started to slide a karambit knife out of her sleeve.

“THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!”

As it turned out, my fears were groundless. I stood there dazed as she vigorously pumped my hands up and down.

“My love cupid! When I first got here, I was totally gonna kill you, but so that’s what it was! You made it so I wouldn't have to pay any more money! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“...G-Good for you? I don’t really know what you’re talking about, though.”

“Yeah, yeah, let’s go with that! I’m dropping out soon! There’s someone who needs me! I’ll never forget you! I’ll even invite you to the wedding! Bye!”

They say love is blind, but that was the ultimate level. I don’t know how Sugo managed to win back a girl who’d already soured on him. Was it just her "weakness for love," or was he so experienced at defrauding women that he knew exactly what to say?

Akina left like a whirlwind, her steps light as a feather as she vanished from sight. No one in the class understood what had just happened. Only Eina closed her book and gave me a wink, as if to say, “See? What did I tell you?”

Taking advantage of the commotion, Yatsuka-san tucked away her blade and vanished from the classroom as if nothing had happened. Even my classmates were too distracted by the scene to notice her.

—I guess I got lucky.

She thanked me, but she still didn't realize she was being played with like a toy. I felt a little bad, but I had no desire to help her. That would only ruin Eina’s fun. So, no matter how it ends, I won't help her. At this point, I can’t help her.

“...True love, huh?”

I pulled the notebook Eina had given me out of my inner blazer pocket. I hadn't used it for anything, but on the very first page, there was an ai-ai-gasa—a "love umbrella"—sketched into it. The names "Eina" and "Keiya" were written inside.

“............”

True love.

I can’t say for sure that what Eina and I have is "true." There’s no denying that both our relationship and Akina’s are built on money. So, watching how this ends... even putting aside the "fun" of it, it’s something I want to see through.

Eina, the one who spends the money, and Akina and her man, the ones being jerked around by it.

I want to see how that single difference changes everything.

 

Up on the roof, the screening of the two lovers' fate had begun. They had met in the square in front of the station, and a drone was filming them from above. They’d apparently planted a bug in Sugo’s bag, so we were getting the audio from there. The quality wasn't great, but it was more than enough to hear their conversation.

 

“Sugo-san! What did you want to talk about? You said it was important! I don’t mind about yesterday! I mean, you apologized... and, u-um, a good wife is supposed to be forgiving, right?”

“Akina-chan. About that... I was wondering what your relationship is with that guy who was at the shop yesterday. I mean, it’s easy to just give a half-assed apology. I want to clear things up properly.”

“Him...? He’s just some guy from my school. He acts like he doesn't have a girlfriend at school, but he was acting so weird... I can’t believe he’d go to a place like that when he’s a minor!”

 

Her point was valid, but didn't she need to use a bit more tact? Their exchange was far too simple. To use an extreme example, someone who spills information immediately after being tortured never makes it home alive. They stay alive because they have information; once that’s gone, the person has no Value.

Of course, this wasn't torture, but she didn't seem to understand the weight of information in a crisis.

“She didn't hold out as long as I thought. She had to have known that once she gave up my info, she’d be useless to him.”

“If she were a girl capable of being that calculating, I don’t think she would have been fooled by a scam as transparent as this.”

“...But still, their bond was based on money, and now they’re talking about 'emotions.' Their motivations aren't consistent at all. Right now, Akina is the one who was paying to keep him around.”

“People don’t always make rational choices. For example, your mother had the option of continuing to take money from me. But she gave you up quite easily. That wasn't a rational decision at all. Perhaps the compatibility between parent and child was just that fatally mismatched, but if she were being rational, she should have just treated you like a credit card to withdraw cash from.”

“That’s... Eina. Does you saying that mean you would have kept giving them money even if you knew that?”

“If I want something, I will spend whatever it takes to make it mine. At that time, I wanted Keiya. I wanted you so badly I couldn't stand it. It was the purchase of a lifetime. A 'person I love' won't appear again, before or after. If I were to be romantic, I’d say I bought destiny that day.”

“...Do you not have a sense of 'valuing money'?”

“Money only has value once it is used. So it’s fine. No matter how much I have to pay, as long as you are here with me, that is all that matters.”

“...Eina.”

I went back to the footage.

While we were talking, things had progressed, and the two were now arguing.

 

“No! Is that why you wanted to see me?! You said you had something important to tell me!”

“It’s a billion yen! A billion! Being able to get that is important enough! The shop got blown up! If I have a billion, I can rebuild!”

“You don’t need a billion! You’re a CEO, Sugo-san, you can get that easily! Right...? R-Really? Is that really the only reason you called me? You’re rich, right? Tell me a billion yen is nothing to you!”

 

“It’s time,” Eina murmured quietly as she took a sip of the coffee Yatsuka had poured from a thermos. I couldn't see her expression from her profile. She looked like she might be mocking them, but she also looked sad.

“...Fine, just tell me already! My company is already bankrupt!”

“...Eh?”

“It wasn't bad management, it just went bankrupt on its own! I didn't know a law like that existed... wait, does it even exist?! Anyway, I don’t have any money left! It was all seized! You’ve been 'CEO, CEO'-ing me this whole time, it’s annoying! Fine, I’ll be a CEO again, so just tell me where that kid is! Just do it!”

“........................”

 

The drone couldn't get close enough to see her face clearly, but I could tell she had fallen into a state of shock. No matter how much Sugo stopped acting and started ranting, she remained silent and didn't move.

“Liar.”

“There is a saying: 'A hundred years of love can cool in an instant.' It’s a fitting end for a girl who let herself be fooled by the words 'true love'.”

“LIAR! LIAR LIAR LIAR LIAR LIAR LIARRRRRRRRRRRR!”

“There is no such thing as 'fake love.' If you love someone, that is the truth. Even if you don’t love them, that too is the truth.”

Akina pulled a kitchen knife she’d been hiding under her clothes and lunged at Sugo in full view of the public—the sound of a blade piercing flesh rang out.

“YOU ZAID YOU LIKED ME! YOU ZAID YOU LOVED ME! YOU ZAID WE’D GET MARRIED AFTER I GRADUATED!”

“It’s a shame, but it seems she loved the money... she didn't care for him all that much. You’ll rarely find words of love as shallow as hers.”

As Eina let out a disappointed sigh, the drone continued to broadcast the scene of the crime and Akina’s broken voice.

“SUGO-ZAN, YOU LIARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! WAAAAAAAHHHHH! I REALLY LIKED YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!”

True love is like a mirror. You see yourself in love and call it love. Even if the mirror cracks, you don’t even try to see the scenery beyond it. Such a grandiose word as "truth" had only served to dress up a pathetic reality.

“She was a wonderful negative example. It’s a pity their 'true love' met such a miserable end, but I suppose I have to be careful too. Keiya’s love must be the real thing.”

“...You don’t have to worry, it’s real. It won't ever become fake. Our red thread of fate... was guaranteed a long time ago by three hundred million yen, after all.”

I closed the laptop and rested my fingers over Eina’s. I pressed the notebook she’d given me into her hand and offered a smile.

“You’ve always been my sun. Ever since we were friends, I’ve been pining for you. Thank you for everything, Eina. I live my life for your sake.”

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