Priority Cutting Rights

But how could he possibly intimidate Shintō, who had seen his fair share of storms?

He picked at his ear and waved a hand dismissively:

"Don't be impulsive. I'm not playing games with you. It's just that your phrasing was wrong. It shouldn't be that I'm buying your item, but that you are commissioning me to buy it."

"Is there even a difference?!"

Shintō chuckled, pulled out a blank commission form from the side, and began to write:

"Of course there is. The difference is that since you are asking me to do this, you need to pay the Yorozuya a certain commission fee."

Kojima Hayato froze. He didn't know what language the other man was speaking; every word was clear, yet when strung together, he couldn't understand a thing.

"I have to pay you money?!!!"

Shintō pushed the completed commission form directly toward him:

"Well, this is actually quite a good deal, isn't it? Since the difficulty of this commission is relatively low, the fee is also in the lower bracket of 5,000. When you break it down, you aren't losing anything at all. On the contrary, you're getting a lifetime priority queue pass from us for free."

"Heh heh heh... trying to get something for nothing, are you?!"

Kojima Hayato was clearly angered to the point of laughter.

"Then tell me, what use is this priority queue pass?"

Shintō Katsuya spread his hands and pointed to the stack of commission forms piled high on his right, though most of them were blank underneath.

"This is it. Our work is actually very busy, so if you didn't have this priority pass, I'm afraid the fastest you could get me to buy your item would be after a seven-business-day wait. But now, I can process your commission immediately."

??????

"Are you saying I should thank you?"

"You're welcome."

Kojima Hayato felt insulted, but what other choice did he have now?

That person, the Emperor of the second year, had told him he could agree to such a trade. If he went back to report that the mission had failed or that he had been played, the retribution he would face would be far more than he could bear.

Therefore, he was forced to sign his name with gritted teeth:

"Underclassman... we shall meet again..."

"Of course, after all, we are now partners with a deep friendship~"

To demonstrate his signature smiling service, Shintō personally escorted Kojima Hayato out of the Yorozuya office.

Looking at the file folder on the table, he opened it unhurriedly, but as the questions on the test paper came into his view, his brows gradually furrowed.

"Heh... heh... this is truly interesting... tell me, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Afterward, Shintō picked up his phone and called Karuizawa.

"Hello, Katsuya, is something wrong?"

"It's like this, Megumi, can you come over to the Yorozuya? I have something very important to tell you. Yes, right now."

On the other end of the line, Karuizawa immediately became shy, because her mind was filled with the phrase 'something very important'.

So, what level of importance could be called 'very important'?

Today wasn't her birthday, nor was it Shintō's, and he had asked only her to come over, sounding quite urgent as well.

Then... it must be!

It can only be!

It absolutely is!

Is he going to confess to me?!!

Thinking of this, she momentarily forgot that Shintō seemed to be in a rush, and began wondering which outfit to wear and how best to dress herself.

However, standing in front of the mirror, she eventually shook her head. No matter what she wore, it felt like something was missing. Since that was the case, she decided to stick with her usual school uniform.

Just like that, two hours later, a meticulously dressed (exactly the same as her usual self) Megumi stood before Shintō.

"Great, Megumi, you're finally here!"

Although he didn't really have anything to do, it seemed that waiting for someone during a blank period of time made that time feel exceptionally long.

"Y-yeah. So, you... what did you want to say? Actually, I feel like we're moving a bit fast, but that doesn't mean I dislike you, okay? It's just... I'm not quite ready yet... but if you insist, it's not like I can't... after all, I do like... huh?"

Just as Karuizawa was talking to herself, Shintō took the exam answers out of the copier, put them into a file folder, and handed them to her.

"These are the midterm exam answers. You can take them back to review the questions on them first, that way there will be no mistakes. Then, distribute them to everyone in class tomorrow. Remember to do it in your own name. Wait... actually, give it to them in a couple of days. Uh? Did you say something just now?"

"I... the answers? I... what was I going to say?"

Shintō tilted his head, carefully looking Karuizawa up and down; she looked exactly the same as usual, only her face had been very red ever since she walked through the door.

He wondered if it was because of the heat.

"Are you feeling unwell?"

[This... this jerk!!!]

The blush that had originally formed from shyness and bashfulness gradually transformed into a heated flush caused by anger.

However, thinking about it carefully, it seemed like everything had been her own wishful thinking.

But it wasn't entirely her fault!

Talking about something important—what was so important about mere midterm exam answers?!

"It's nothing, I get it. Is there anything else?"

Karuizawa's tone sounded very stiff, but Shinjo couldn't really say anything; after all, nobody likes being called in for overtime on a weekend.

"No... it's just that I have a necessary task to complete in a bit, otherwise I would have brought them to you. I'm really sorry for making you come all this way..."

"I'm not blaming you, I just... forget it, it's fine."

Seeing that Shinjo seemed to have misunderstood her inadvertently, Karuizawa wanted to explain, but she didn't know where to start.

"Um, is that task very troublesome?"

"Not troublesome, just time-consuming. It's something about entering data, it'll take about three or four hours."

"Oh, then I'm leaving."

"Yeah."

Walking to the door, Karuizawa suddenly had an idea, but she didn't know if she should speak up. She had previously felt that Shinjo was interested in her, but he had been neglecting her lately. If it was all just her wishful thinking...

Just as she was hesitating, Shinjo unexpectedly made a move:

"You look a bit cuter than usual today, though I don't know if it's just my imagination."

[You! What are you suddenly saying!!! But... it's really something that he noticed. I did dress up properly; not only did I get a new manicure, but my skirt hem is also a little higher than usual!]

[And... since that's the case...]

"Hey... Kazuya. Are you free tonight?"

"No... unless Miss Karuizawa is willing to treat me to dinner."

Megumi was no longer the person she used to be. After all, they had been together for so long, and she had long since anticipated his habit of suddenly taking a sharp turn in the middle of a sentence!

"Then, it's a deal~"

"I was worried you wouldn't want to spend the money. I'm afraid a spendthrift blonde girl like you doesn't have many coins left in her pocket, right?"

"Who's a blonde girl?!! Besides, I have enough to treat you to a meal. Then it's settled, remember to come pick me up tonight!"

"Understood."