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"Only two anchor points left."
Aozaki Aoko sat upright, face composed and solemn, hands resting on her knees like a meditating monk... serene and dignified.
"You guys aren't guarding them?"
"We patrol every night."
Meaning, even with them watching, Fruit Madam had still managed to destroy one more.
Ding–BOOM!
The doorbell rang from the front gate.
"I'll step out for a bit."
Aoko seemed to recall something, stood up, and left the room.
Ryoji glanced through the window and spotted a restaurant delivery worker downstairs, carrying a paper bag.
With only two anchor points left, the odds of running into Fruit Madam were now much higher.
He mulled over the situation for a moment.
"Speaking of which, Aoko actually plays an instrument?"
His gaze wandered lazily across the modestly sized room.
There were far larger rooms in the mansion, yet she'd chosen this cramped one... probably out of sheer laziness.
Judging from the overgrown weeds in the courtyard, neither of the sisters was the type to do chores. Since Alice refused to let outsiders inside, everything had just been left to grow wild.
Which meant Aoko's choice of a small room was probably because it was easier to clean.
In one corner sat a metallic electric guitar.
Ryoji imagined Aoko with that guitar in her hands, swaying back and forth... and the mental image fit her surprisingly well.
He walked over and picked it up.
Come to think of it, he'd never touched one before. With his lack of talent, he probably couldn't play an actual song... but surely he could manage a few notes, right?
"Zheng, zheng... "
The sound was fierce and sharp. Not bad.
"Pa!"
Encouraged, Ryoji strummed again... ... and a string snapped with a crack.
The smile slowly drained from his face.
"Hey, Ryoji, Alice said you should come ba... "
Aoko's footsteps approached the door.
Then the door opened as she stepped inside mid-sentence.
Their eyes met.
Her gaze dropped to the electric guitar in his hands.
Her expression darkened instantly.
"I... !"
"Hold it! I know exactly what you're about to say!"
Ryoji raised a hand sharply, cutting off the explosion before it began.
"At this point, I won't make excuses. But at least give me a chance to make it up to you!"
"Oh? And how exactly do you plan to compensate me?"
Aoko glared at him suspiciously, clearly unconvinced.
"Don't tell me you're thinking of paying with your body!?"
Hmm.
Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad deal?
That thought popped unbidden into Aoko's mind as her eyes darted to Ryoji's collar.
Nothing was even exposed, yet... Why does he suddenly look… kind of hot?
Her lips felt inexplicably dry.
"No? Not an option?"
Ryoji sighed in disappointment... it was, in fact, exactly what he had been thinking.
Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a credit card.
"Alright then. I'll just pay for it."
"…That works too."
Aoko also sighed with faint disappointment, but her eyes naturally drifted toward the card.
Then she froze.
Her breathing hitched... her heart nearly stopped.
The sight of that card hit her with the force of a divine revelation.
"T... That card is…?"
Her voice trembled; her breaths quickened; her eyes shone like she'd just seen Ryoji completely naked.
"Nero gave it to me. No idea what the limit is," Ryoji said casually.
He glanced at Aoko, puzzled by her reaction... it was like she'd never seen money before.
"…One hundred thousand!" Aoko suddenly declared a price with total seriousness.
"Have you no shame!?"
Ryoji's mouth twitched violently.
He might not know instruments, but even he knew a broken string wasn't worth anywhere near that much!
"Too high, huh?"
Aoko looked genuinely regretful.
She should've asked for a bit less... maybe ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred or so.
What's that? Shame?
Ha! When it comes to scamming Ryoji, what use is shame?
"Aren't you guys supposed to be rich?" Ryoji asked, baffled.
Just from looking at this Western-style mansion, it was obvious... the Kuonji family was not short on money. Otherwise, how could they have built such a massive estate deep in the mountains, just for Alice to live in alone?
"How could we not be short on money?" Aoko rolled her eyes.
"The Aozaki family's always been average. The Kuonji family's a little better off, sure, but Alice didn't inherit the family business. And being a magus is a money-burning profession to begin with. So yeah... both of us are broke!"
"Ahh, must be nice to be handsome. The Ojou-sama of Japan's biggest conglomerate takes one look and... bam, hands you a black card. Meanwhile, I'm here killing myself copying other people's research reports for days on end, my hand cramping to hell, and I only make ten thousand yen. Even Alice haggles when she buys antiques, and when we're really broke, we have to figure out how to mooch for free…"
Aoko's tone was dripping with sour envy, her face practically green with jealousy.
I wonder if that Nero president lady likes girls?
If I dress a bit more androgynously now… would I still have a chance?
"So you two are that poor?"
Ryoji's eyes lit up as if he'd just discovered a new continent.
Then his expression turned unreadable.
Living Off a Woman…
The Living Room.
Alice had just unpacked the delivery and was setting the food neatly on the table.
"You bought three portions?"
Ryoji's voice came from the doorway, making Alice pause mid-motion.
"Please don't misunderstand. It's only because the restaurant refuses to deliver unless you order three." Alice explained calmly.
The Kuonji mansion sat halfway up a mountain... delivery was a hassle. If they didn't order at least two meals, the restaurant simply wouldn't come.
From the sofa opposite came the sound of someone sitting down... someone making himself very comfortable.
"It's already been half an hour. Please lea... "
Smack!
Before she could finish, a credit card landed flat on the table.
"Ah, you know… I don't really feel like leaving today."
Ryoji rubbed his legs, grimacing dramatically as if they were sore from the walk.
"…"
Alice froze.
Her eyes locked onto the card.
Even someone as reclusive as her recognized what it was... a black card.
Ryoji casually picked it back up.
Alice's gaze followed his hand… then his face… and she suddenly snapped back to herself, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks.
Staring blankly at a credit card... how unlike me.
"Can I have this portion?" Ryoji pointed to the third meal on the table, his smile warm and far too pleased with himself.
Aoko walked in just in time to see that smug expression hiding behind a mask of politeness. She rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn't fall out.
"You didn't earn that money yourself, so what are you even showing off for?"
"I did earn it," Ryoji shot back, glaring indignantly. "I'm living off a woman with my own skill. That is my achievement!"
(End of Chapter)