Chapter 33: Little Lily, Who Is Especially Jealous

After wandering through the shopping mall for quite a while, Kitahara ultimately followed Reina Sakura’s suggestion and chose a bottle of red wine to give to the elderly man. The old man was surprised by his arrival, yet clearly delighted.

They spoke for a long time at his former teacher's home. When Kitahara presented the gift, the man initially declined, but Kitahara insisted.

"It is just a small token of my gratitude."

"It is nothing of importance; if you do not accept it, I will simply have to come back every single day."

"I hold you in high regard."

Having expressed his appreciation to his former teacher in this manner, Kitahara set off on his return journey. He settled into a café in Shinjuku. While the Shinjuku crossing doesn't quite match the sheer volume of Shibuya, it has the advantage of offering cafés where high school students are welcome to rest.

Kitahara pushed open the door. A soothing warmth, accompanied by a soft, clear, amber light, fell upon his shoulders. The café was filled mostly with university students, and as Kitahara entered, a few women cast glances his way. He found a seat by the window and gazed out at the torrential downpour.

It was that time of year when spring transitions into summer, and the rain fell quite frequently. The city's splendor was fully on display at this moment; if one had money, one could enjoy life sitting in a café, basking in the warmth.

"Sir, may I take your order?"

"A cup of black tea and a strawberry mousse, please."

Kitahara flipped through the menu, finding only desserts, and felt little interest. The prices were quite steep, with even the simplest items costing a thousand yen. In terms of value, it wasn't particularly high—hardly affordable for a high school student. This was precisely why the café was filled with university students taking photos and stylish urban women.

He took a casual photo of the dessert and uploaded it. There were already messages on his phone, the earliest dating back to four in the afternoon.

Sayuri Sato: "Want to go out for dinner together?"
Sayuri Sato: "Answer me. [Angry.jpg]"
Sayuri Sato: "Come to my office tomorrow."

Kitahara glanced at the timestamps; the most recent message was from two hours ago. At that time, he had still been shopping with Reina Sakura. The fewer words a woman uses, the angrier she is.

Kitahara checked the favorability rating.

[Character: Sayuri Sato]
[Status: Indignant due to your neglect; currently using you as inspiration to practice her water magic...]
[Favorability: 67]

"?"

This teacher always preached about professional ethics, yet she certainly didn't hold back when using him as "inspiration."

He decided he should probably maintain the relationship. Sayuri Sato’s master-level command of Japanese was still quite valuable. He dialed her number.

The phone rang for a while before she answered in a rush. The teacher’s irritated voice came through the receiver: "This is Sato. What do you want?"

Sayuri Sato was in her room with only a dim light on. On the computer screen before her was a photo of Kitahara’s smiling face. She was furious at his arrogance yet addicted to his tenderness. She had been on the verge of finding some pleasure for herself when the call interrupted her.

"It’s me, Youki."

Kitahara’s gentle voice made Sayuri pause for a moment. She feigned indifference: "Why are you calling me?"

"I was busy this afternoon and didn't see your messages. I called as soon as I remembered..."

"I suspect you were with someone else and couldn't reply," Sayuri grumbled.

So much jealousy?

"How could that be? You are the only one in my heart, Sister."

Kitahara’s talent for lying was reaching new heights. "If you don't believe me, let’s video call."

There was a moment of silence on the other end. The teacher’s voice became defensive: "I’m working."

She was indeed working. But it was a type of work meant to bring herself pleasure. Sayuri’s voice was very soft, fearing he might notice and destroy the image of righteousness she maintained in his eyes. "In any case, it’s not convenient to video call right now."

"Am I disturbing you then?"

"No, not if it’s just a phone call..."

The teacher hesitated for a moment and swallowed hard. "Say 'Sister' a few times for me, make it sweet, and I’ll treat you to dinner tomorrow..."

"A new hot pot place opened in Shibuya."

"The weather has been cold lately, you must want to eat that, right? I’ll take you... I hear a lot of people have already been there."

One "Sister" in exchange for a meal—well worth it, right? Sayuri Sato bit her lip, closed her eyes, and waited in silence.

Hearing the words from the earpiece, Kitahara wasn't particularly pleased; he had no interest in being someone else's toy. However, that didn't stop him from teasing her. "You don't spend money on me, so why should I call you Sister?"

"I'll give you money if you say it, hurry up..."

Sayuri Sato’s voice shifted from gentle to sharp. She was reaching her limit.

Kitahara didn't give her the satisfaction: "Let’s wait until you actually have the money, Ms. Sato."

"I recall that your brother took all your money... you’re penniless now."

"I don't mind, but if you have to borrow money just to eat, how could you possibly afford to keep me?"

After delivering this "scumbag" declaration, he quickly hung up. Sayuri Sato heard the busy tone on the other end, a flicker of shock in her eyes.

Then, a wave of dissatisfaction welled up—a discomfort that felt like ants crawling all over her body. She had been so close. A flash of pain crossed her eyes as she tried to continue, but it was no use.

She understood that the dopamine she had been experiencing stemmed from her own sense of moral transgression. Innocent Kitahara did not know he was being used as a substitute, and it was that very guilt that had pushed Sayuri’s excitement to its peak. Now that Kitahara had cut the call, the sense of taboo was broken.

"Dammit!"

The teacher lost her composure. "I was so close!"

She opened her phone to call him back, only to find a new message on the screen.

"Battery died, let’s talk tomorrow if you have time. [Cute.jpg]"

"You jerk!"

The busy tone confirmed he had indeed turned his phone off. Whether it was actually out of battery or for some other reason, she would never know.

Sayuri Sato threw her phone aside in a rage and turned toward the bathroom. Tomorrow, she would definitely call him into her office and give him a proper reprimand! He wouldn't get away with this!

...

Kitahara turned his phone off, stirred his black tea, and observed the system’s tasks. While he had been chatting, several "Counter-Attack" tasks had flashed across the system interface.

[A bankrupt public relations agent in need of money... Reward: Singing (Beginner)]
[A nearby female civil servant... Reward: Capital Doubling Card]
[A shrine maiden suffering from syphilis... Reward: Culinary Mastery]

While he could help, the cost seemed a bit too high. The civil servant task was manageable, but as for the one with syphilis—forget culinary mastery; even legendary-level cooking wouldn't interest Kitahara.

He sipped his black tea, the faint fragrance lingering on his lips. Under the lights, Kitahara wore designer clothes, his demeanor cool and detached, like a young aristocrat. Passersby noticed him and whispered.

Soon, a few women approached him. "Excuse me, are you alone?"

Kitahara looked up and scanned them. They were all adult women, wearing earrings and lipstick. Among them was the protagonist of one of the tasks—a woman in a suit, looking quite professional, with an ID badge from the Financial Services Agency’s Supervisory Bureau hanging around her neck.

The Financial Services Agency was a government body, and its officials held high status and income. She looked like a very capable woman.

A look of interest flickered in Kitahara’s eyes.

Capability is a good thing.

As a "Copy Ninja" like himself, those with talent were exactly what he liked best.