In the early morning, when the first ray of sunlight shone into Garan no Dou, Kokutou, the model employee, pushed open the door right on time and arrived at his workstation.
"Morning, Mikiya."
Shirou greeted him with a yawn, still holding Nintendo's latest handheld console.
"You pulled an all-nighter again, didn't you? Shirou, kids should go to bed early and get up early. You need to take better care of your health!" Mikiya instantly transformed into Old Man Mikiya and began lecturing Shirou.
"Shut up, shut up! If you're so free, Mikiya, make me a cup of coffee. The stronger, the better. I'm about to clear the game!" Shirou said weakly.
He had spent the entire night replaying every one of his favorite handheld games from back then. He had once been the best King of Fighters player in his class, but now there was no one left to play with him. All he could do was play nostalgic strategy and raising games like Pocket Monsters.
"Kids aren't supposed to drink coffee!" Mikiya said to Shirou.
"No, Mikiya, don't really treat him like a child. If he wanted to, he could turn Kanbiko City into a pile of rubble within two hours. He's that kind of monster," Touko Aozaki told Mikiya earnestly.
"Huh? No way! Destroying Kanbiko City in two hours is way too exaggerated!" Mikiya trusted Touko Aozaki's words, so his eyes widened in disbelief.
"Ah, I can't do that." Shirou's denial made Mikiya breathe a sigh of relief, but his next sentence nearly gave him a heart attack. "But if it's just killing everyone in Kanbiko City, I can still do that within two hours."
"Hey! Don't say something so terrifying so calmly!" Mikiya shouted at Shirou. Though they had not known each other for long, Mikiya had already come to understand Shirou's personality. He was a little awkward, but unexpectedly kindhearted. Unless he had despaired of the world, someone like that would never hurt anyone lightly.
"I don't care. The monster who can kill everyone in Kanbiko City within two hours wants coffee. Go make it, Mikiya, or I'll start slaughtering people!" Shirou said with deliberate viciousness.
"Yes, yes, I'm going right now!"
"Hey, Mikiya, while you're making coffee, don't forget to make me a cup too," Touko Aozaki added at the appropriate moment.
A short while later.
"Man! Strong coffee really is unbelievably bitter!" Shirou said, though his expression did not change in the slightest. Under the effects of caffeine, Shirou gradually regained his energy. He set the cup aside, ready to watch a good show.
"Miss Touko Aozaki, isn't my salary supposed to be paid this month?"
Shirou could tell that Mikiya was probably short on money. Otherwise, with his personality, how could he possibly reach out and ask for his pay?
"Sorry, Mikiya, but you'll have to wait until next month for your salary." Though she said that, not a trace of apology could be seen on Touko Aozaki's smiling face.
"What? My salary won't be paid until next month? How did this happen?" Mikiya asked in near hysteria.
"Nothing happened. The reason your salary is being paid next month is that I simply have no money to pay you right now." Touko Aozaki took a sip of coffee and spoke indifferently.
"No money? How is that possible? Didn't Shirou bring you five million last month? And last week, didn't you just receive 1.16 million yen? How could you have no money?"
"There wasn't that zero," Touko Aozaki said calmly after another sip of coffee.
"That doesn't matter!" Mikiya continued panicking. "More importantly, why are you out of money? What did you spend it all on?"
"Oh, I bought a Victorian-era witch's mirror."
"Huh? That thing whose use even you don't know? It couldn't have cost six million, could it?"
"Watch your words, Mikiya. Even if I don't know what it does, it's still an antique. Besides that, I also bought a clay statue of the King of Heroes from ancient Babylonia."
Wouldn't that make it humanity's oldest figurine? Wait, wasn't Gilgamesh himself in the church in Fuyuki City? Shirou grumbled inwardly from where he sat.
Touko Aozaki's words made Mikiya wilt like an eggplant struck by frost. Having cut off contact with his family, Mikiya had no way to ask them for money now.
Just when Mikiya felt that he was probably finished, Touko Aozaki suddenly called out to him—
"Oh, right, Mikiya..."
"What is it, Miss Touko Aozaki?" Mikiya's expression changed in an instant, making Shirou sigh for him. Sigh, Mikiya, you're still too naive!
Sure enough, Touko Aozaki's next words left Mikiya completely disappointed.
"Mikiya, if you still have some money on hand, give me a little more support while you're at it. As you can see, I'm truly penniless now."
Mikiya's smile immediately froze on his face. Then Shirou, sitting not far away, burst out laughing. "Hahahaha! So, Mikiya, I was right, wasn't I? Your boss really spent all her money and even borrowed money from you! What did I say? I got everything right! Haha..."
Shirou's delighted laughter made Mikiya's face darken even further. Damn it, I'm already this miserable, and you're standing there talking like it doesn't hurt... Wait.
Mikiya suddenly shuddered. Right, how had he forgotten about this guy? Shirou might be young, but he was definitely rich!
Since Shirou had come to Garan no Dou and brought Touko Aozaki money last time, nearly a month had passed. He and Fujino had been eating and drinking well the entire time, and apparently another person had moved in a few days ago. Yet there had not been the slightest sign that they lacked money. If he did not have sufficient financial backing, Mikiya would not believe it even if he were beaten to death!
With that thought, Mikiya put on a flattering smile, moved closer to Shirou, and said, "Um, Shirou, you know about my financial situation. If Miss Touko Aozaki doesn't pay my salary, I really won't have any money..."
"Sigh..." Shirou sighed. "I understand. But even if I lend you money, it won't keep you going for very long. I've already converted most of my money into various ingredients."
Even so, Shirou could not completely refuse Mikiya, his first male friend. "How about this? I can't give you meaningful financial support, but I can take care of your food and lodging. Come over to my place for dinner tonight!" Shirou invited Mikiya.
"It's a little different from what I imagined, but thank you for your help." Being able to solve the most important issue of food was already enough for Mikiya, especially since Shirou's household had the best meals of anyone present.
"No need. My house is big enough, and there are several empty rooms. More importantly, there are only three people living there, and I'm the only man, so it's somewhat inconvenient. It'd be nice if you came too, Mikiya."
"Wait, I have a question." Touko Aozaki cut in at that moment.
"Huh? What is it?"
"You said you were having Mikiya come to your place for dinner tonight, right?"
"To be precise, barring any surprises, this arrangement will continue until next month, when you pay Mikiya his salary."
"And you'll be the one cooking, right?"
"Get to the point!"
What Shirou hated most was Touko Aozaki beating around the bush with him, because if he was not careful, this woman might trap him in a scheme.
"Fine. The point is, I'm so poor that I'm completely penniless, so I'll probably have to go to your place for free meals too. No problem, right?"
"Of course!" Shirou agreed to Touko Aozaki's request for free meals without a second thought, because—"But since you dare come mooch off me, you'd better be prepared to get fleeced, Miss Touko Aozaki~"
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