Akasaka went to the Convenience Store and reluctantly spent 193 yen on a packet of Instant Noodles. It wasn't even cup noodles; it was the kind that came loose in a bag.
That made Akasaka feel even more despairing.
193 yen was about 12.3 yuan. Back in the Dragon Country, that could buy twelve jin of potatoes or sweet potatoes—enough to eat for several days.
Even if he bought Instant Noodles, he could get twelve packets of a cheaper brand.
Even if he splurged on cup noodles, he could buy about five cups of the kind that cost 2.5 yuan each because they were close to expiring.
The more Akasaka compared prices, the more he felt that the yen was worthless.
His money was disappearing far too quickly. He just couldn't accept it...
Akasaka held a bag of Instant Noodles and shamelessly asked for a plastic bag, too.
The shop assistant had looked at him strangely, but he didn't care. Only a fool would pass up something free.
Akasaka returned home in low spirits. He was down because he'd spent 193 yen, breaking his five-day streak of spending nothing.
After all, he hadn't spent a single cent in those five days.
As soon as Akasaka got back to the dorm, he ran into Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who was heading out to buy a drink. He greeted him.
"Hey, Ayanokoji. Good evening!"
Beside the Vending Machine, Ayanokoji picked up a can of soda and gave a calm nod. "Good evening, Akasaka. Just got back from the Student Council?"
"Yeah..."
I couldn't help feeling a little dejected, but I still replied politely. "The Student Council's work is pretty busy. If I weren't earning Bonus Points, I wouldn't have bothered taking it on."
"Oh? Are you short on money, Akasaka?" Ayanokoji asked, seeming casual, though he was really fishing for information.
After observing him over the past couple of days, Ayanokoji had realized that Akasaka Ryunosuke was short on money.
It was easy to guess from how frugal he was in his everyday life.
After all, what normal student ate free meals every day and refused to spend a single cent?
Even when buying daily necessities, he chose free items. Anyone could tell from the way he acted that he was seriously short on money.
That was the conclusion Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had reached after observing him for the past few days.
Akasaka admitted it without hesitation. He'd never tried to hide it, and anyone with even a little sense could tell he was short on money.
Seeing that Akasaka had admitted it, Ayanokoji didn't press further. Everyone had their privacy, and if you wanted to get along with someone, you shouldn't pry too much.
The two of them fell silent. Neither said a word.
Then Akasaka kindly suggested, "Want to go for a walk?"
"Ah, but I have to go back and sleep," Ayanokoji said, looking troubled, though he didn't refuse.
After all, on the surface, Akasaka was the only friend he had at school.
Since Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had made a friend, he hadn't ended up hanging around with the Idiot Trio like he had in the original story. That was certainly something to celebrate.
Those three had given Ayanokoji plenty to worry about.
The two set off together and began wandering around.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka glanced at Akasaka beside him, his expression unreadable.
He knew perfectly well that Akasaka was talented.
Over the past few days, Akasaka's actions and behavior had deeply drawn his interest.
Not in a romantic way, but because they seemed to share a similar fate.
Akasaka was working toward some kind of goal, too. Maybe he owed money outside the school.
And what about himself? He only wanted to live an ordinary life. If anyone dared to disturb it...
Ayanokoji crushed the can in his hand, squeezing it until it buckled.
Whoever dared to disturb his ordinary life, he would have to eliminate them. And Akasaka, walking beside him, was a tool he could use...
Akasaka would probably do most things for money. Ayanokoji could use that to control him from behind the scenes.
As long as he helped Akasaka make money, surely Akasaka wouldn't mind being used as a tool. It was a small thing, after all.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka couldn't help thinking this to himself.
Akasaka was thinking to himself, too.
Ayanokoji was someone he could use, but he was a double-edged sword. If Akasaka didn't handle him carefully, he'd be the one in trouble.
But judging by Ayanokoji's behavior in the original story, he only wanted an ordinary life. As long as Akasaka gave him that, surely he'd understand if Akasaka used him as a tool. It was a small thing, after all.
Their thoughts were unexpectedly in sync. Both wanted to use the other to achieve their own goals.
Neither of them was short on schemes...
Just then, a clatter came from the railing in the distance, accompanied by a series of thumps and insults.
And the person being insulted seemed to be Akasaka himself...
"You damn Akasaka! Don't think I don't know you sometimes sneak peeks at my boobs! You jerk! Why are you acting all aloof?"
"I'm talking to you! How dare you ignore me!"
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
A cute, youthful girl was viciously kicking the railing while cursing someone.
Ayanokoji looked at Akasaka strangely, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself. He hadn't said a word, but somehow he'd said everything.
Hearing that awful racket, my eyelid twitched. I remembered that something like this had indeed happened in the original story.
Tch, what rotten luck. I'd run into one of Kushida Kikyo's stunts. I clearly didn't want to get involved with her, so why did I keep getting tangled up with her?
Was heaven deliberately messing with me?
"Who's there?!"
The girl pounding on the railing seemed to notice someone nearby. She immediately became wary, her gaze turning icy.
She was like a completely different person from the girl she was during the day.
During the day, she was like a blooming flower, so youthful and lovely, so beautiful that she was every boy's dream girlfriend.
Now her gaze was chillingly cold, with even a hint of sharpness.
Ayanokoji and I stepped out of the shadows, hands in our pockets, calmly watching Kushida Kikyo.
When Kushida saw it was the two of us, the sharpness in her eyes instantly vanished. She turned back into the angelic Kushida everyone knew from the daytime, smiling as she walked toward us, step by step.
Ayanokoji and I also stepped backward, one step at a time.
Seeing this, Kushida hurriedly quickened her pace and jogged up to us. She grabbed both our red ties, stopping us from escaping, and smiled as she asked,
"You both saw it... right?"
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said expressionlessly, "If I say I didn't see anything now, is it too late?"
Beside him, Akasaka looked rather helpless. "I didn't want to see it. I just happened to be passing by. Can you let me go? I swear I won't tell anyone."
Kushida didn't believe either of them. She grabbed them both and dragged them into her room, intending to have a proper talk with them.
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