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Ultimately, there are only two ways to solve Togawa Sakiko's problem.
One is to remedy the cause of her predicament—like Asakura's joke about beating up the Togawa family's person in power. Although the method might seem exaggerated, the idea is sound.
The second is to directly improve her current predicament, which simply means earning a large amount of money. Becoming an idol—officially debuting and not signing a slave contract with an agency—is just one possibility.
For Asakura, neither of these was difficult.
But adding the word 'legal' made the problem complicated. At least it couldn't be solved instantly and required some preparation time.
Fortunately, he didn't need to worry about it for now, because Yukinoshita Yukino seemed to intend to try and solve the problem with her own strength.
Considering that Yukino didn't have the ability to provide Togawa with a job that could earn billions, it was more likely that the girl would choose the first method.
To be honest, Asakura felt that her success rate was pitifully low. After all, the adult world doesn't really reason with you, and many so-called correct arguments are meaningless in real society.
He hoped she wouldn't be beaten raw by reality.
Originally, Asakura subconsciously intended to back up Yukinoshita Yukino, but then he quickly realized that this matter didn't seem to concern him at all. Togawa Sakiko's problem wasn't supernatural, and she hadn't even actively sought his help. He couldn't just run to help everyone who had difficulties, could he?
He was just a Curse-user, not a saint.
So Asakura calmly relaxed, planning to eat hotpot and sing songs while watching how Yukinoshita Yukino would solve Togawa Sakiko's problem.
At most, the next time he encountered the 'Inside Information Girl' at school, he would help her inquire if there was any inside information from the Togawa family. After all, when the 'Inside Information Girl' had given him a hint, the Togawa family's affairs didn't seem to have exploded yet. The person who could know in advance that there was a pit in the Togawa financial group was probably a kind young lady whose family had intricate connections with the Togawa family.
As for Asakura himself, he began to frequently visit Toyama Shopping District, thinking about what kind of shop the system-given store should be.
By the time he remembered that he hadn't told Gotō Hitori about the shop yet, it was already Thursday.
So after school, Asakura ran to Shuka High School and grabbed Gotō Hitori.
They were currently heading to Toyama Shopping District.
"Um... I told Nijika-senpai and the others that we'd practice at STARRY today..."
The pink-haired girl, carrying a guitar and being led forcefully by Asakura's hand, said weakly.
"I told them..." Asakura took out his phone, the screen showing his chat history with the other two members of Kessoku Band: "I've already asked for your leave in advance. There are no problems with the physical preparations."
"What about the mental, mental preparations?"
"You can start now."
"It's too late to start now, isn't it? Isn't mental preparation only called that if it starts in advance...?"
The girl was on the verge of tears.
Asakura stopped, and like rubbing a large dog, he vigorously rubbed the girl's head.
"Very good, Hitori, you can now fully retort to me. You've made great progress."
"Really? Eh heh heh..."
The girl rubbed the back of her head, showing a somewhat unrefined but very cute, simple-minded smile.
She was so easy to coax.
After walking a bit further with the girl, Asakura finally let go of her hand and nodded with satisfaction.
"We're here. This is it."
"This is the shop Asakura-kun mentioned... Huh?"
The girl looked at the shop without even a signboard, suddenly showing a puzzled expression. She carefully tugged at Asakura's sleeve as he was about to enter the shop, pointing above the shop, "Um... isn't something strange?"
"What?"
Asakura followed Gotō Hitori's fingertip and only then noticed that on the platform above the entrance, which was shorter than the roof and originally meant for a signboard, there was a person lying there.
He narrowed his eyes and made a downward gesture to Gotō Hitori, signaling the girl not to speak. Gotō Hitori quickly covered her mouth, making a holding-her-breath expression.
Because of the obstruction of the eaves, only a small part of the person's body could be seen, so Asakura couldn't determine who it was. However, anyone who could ignore the Muggles-repelling protection and invade the shop was definitely not an ordinary person.
Could it be that 'foreigner' who was following him and Gokou Ruri before?
Thinking of this, Asakura no longer hesitated. He gently swiped his hand, and the invisible Curse "Scale" formed steps in the air.
He ascended the steps and in a few strides reached the platform. Only then did he clearly see the situation above.
On the platform was a little girl who looked about the same age as Gokou Ruri, with silver hair.
At this moment, she seemed to have been sunstroke by the June sun. She was sprawled on the platform, looking like a dried-up salted fish.
Asakura cautiously approached, but did not feel any trace of Curse from the other party.
Either her Curse was too scarce, or she had some method to conceal Curse; in any case, anyone who could appear here absolutely could not be a Muggle.
Asakura poked the girl's face, carefully observing her reaction.
However, for now, it seemed she had truly fainted.
"Are you alright?"
So Asakura shook her shoulder.
The girl then murmured dreamily, "Water..."
Asakura thought for a moment, then, with a flick of his finger, used "Scale" to create a cup in mid-air, and in the blink of an eye, a vibrant green, 300% concentrated vegetable juice that even Yanami found unappetizing appeared out of nowhere in the cup.
Then the vegetable juice, thick and sticky, flowed into the girl's mouth along the trajectory of Asakura's "Scale."
The girl's eyebrows instantly furrowed, and soon after, she opened her eyes and retched on the platform.
However, the vegetable juice made by the house-elf was designed to melt in the mouth, so the girl couldn't vomit anything out.
"...I had a nightmare."
She wiped her mouth and murmured.
"Yo."
Asakura greeted her.
"Who?"
Only then did she see Asakura and ask.
"The owner of this shop."
Asakura pointed to the ground.
The girl blinked.
Only then did Asakura realize that her eyes were also a rare heterochromia, just like his.
"In any case, let's go down first."
Seeing that the girl seemed unable to react for a moment, Asakura pointed downwards and said.
After all, Gotō Hitori looked like she was holding her breath to her limit.
The other party then nodded.
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