After pocketing the money, Sougo Doma grinned like a fox that had just stolen a chicken.
The Doma Family was wealthy and powerful, sure, but that was the family's money. What did it have to do with him, Sougo Doma?
Though he didn't think that way when he was spending the Doma Family's money himself. His old man was such a good earner that if Sougo didn't spend a little extra, how was the economy supposed to keep moving, right?
Besides, in Japan, where everyone got a fixed allowance, he'd managed to earn the right to blow money—er, spend it. What had he done to deserve anyone's complaints?
But still.
Unexpected windfalls like today's left him with a feeling he couldn't quite describe. So this was what it felt like to earn money through his own efforts, even if it was dirty—no, hard-earned money. Yeah, it felt great. Really great.
And Akasaka had enjoyed it too, hadn't he? He'd been so happy he fainted. Lucky guy. After spending ages hesitating in the changing room, he'd walked out and immediately run into something so thrilling. Having a kind boss who also cared about his employees really did make life a joy.
About twenty minutes earlier.
"Work?" Looking at the crowded beach, Ryunosuke Akasaka—the long-haired, black-haired young man who'd been dragged into a car first thing in the morning—twitchingly stared. Had he been tricked?
What kind of boss showed up at your house early in the morning and said something like, "Quick, or we'll be too late. They're already wrapping things up over there"? Wasn't that usually what people said before making you work overtime?
Fine, overtime it was. Since he'd decided to put in the effort, he'd just have to—
Before he could finish thinking, Sougo Doma had already swept him off his feet and into the car.
"Must be really urgent!" Ryunosuke thought as he watched his boss direct them along the way.
And then...
The car pulled up at the beach.
Ryunosuke Akasaka: @_@.
So where was the work?
"Who told you we were going to work?" Sougo Doma asked, turning around.
Well, nobody had, technically, but Ryunosuke felt like committing a crime. He really wanted this guy dead!
All right, let's get this straight: "Quick, or we'll be too late. They're already wrapping things up over there"—what was that supposed to mean?
"Of course I meant vacation. Summer vacation's almost over," Sougo Doma replied, as if it were obvious.
I see—Ryunosuke Akasaka suddenly felt like an idiot. Then, his fingers flew.
He quickly typed on his phone: "This is stupid. I'm going home."
He sent the message and was just about to turn around and leave when Sougo Doma grinned again.
"Akasaka, have you noticed something's missing?"
"??" Ryunosuke was completely baffled. He felt around himself, then cursed. Where was his wallet?
"I remember seeing someone's wallet sitting on the table when we left." Sougo Doma pointed upward with his index finger. "But your place isn't far from here. If you walk, you'll probably get home in, say, ten or so hours."
Ryunosuke Akasaka instantly realized he'd been played.
"Besides, you can think of this as work."
Ryunosuke rolled his eyes. Work? What work? Wandering around the beach with this supposedly dependable guy? And why ask him of all people? This was his rare day off!
"Don't believe me?" Sougo Doma offered an example. "The great President Pei once said that an employee who doesn't know how to enjoy a vacation isn't a good employee..."
No! Ryunosuke really did know how to enjoy himself. He wanted to say it.
"An employee who isn't in good shape isn't a good employee either. Just look at you—you've barely got two pounds of meat on your entire body. Bringing you to the beach to have some fun is for your own good!"
Ryunosuke Akasaka was a shut-in. He had no argument against that!
"With a body like yours, if you worked for President Pei, he'd hire you a personal trainer to work with you one-on-one, and you'd only be allowed to eat nutritious meals..."
Ryunosuke Akasaka shivered. Who was this President Pei? He sounded terrifying.
"You're not even willing to come to the beach. If it were President Pei, he'd give you a whole month off to travel wherever you wanted and take some mountain-climbing photos. Then you'd know what real harshness was!"
A whole month off to travel wherever he wanted? Ryunosuke finally rolled his eyes. "Who is this President Pei you keep talking about?"
"The richest man in the world!" Sougo Doma raised his hand and answered.
Ryunosuke Akasaka thought Sougo was lying. He'd read a lot; he wasn't that easy to fool. Should he call him out? Besides...
"Isn't the richest man Gatsby?"
"That's only because President Pei hasn't started showing his full potential yet. Once he does, what's Gatsby worth?" Sougo Doma replied with complete sincerity. After all, he really wasn't lying. For once, he was telling the truth.
"Heh..." Ryunosuke clearly didn't believe him.
Sougo Doma could only sigh helplessly. Why didn't anyone believe the truth these days? Pei Zong was definitely going to become the richest man in the world someday, even if it was in another dimension.
"Let's leave President Pei aside. We're already here, so just relax and give your eyes a break. Staring at a computer all day is bad for you."
Hmm? Ryunosuke Akasaka was a little surprised. Was this concern from his direct superior?
Little did he know what Sougo Doma had been muttering to himself that morning.
"That foolish Imouto of mine actually left her beloved Onii-chan behind and went on a beach trip. And she even said introducing Onii-chan to her friends would be dangerous? Tch! What's she thinking? What could possibly be dangerous about me..."
As if he'd suddenly thought of something, a flash of inspiration struck Sougo Doma.
"Wait. What if Umaru's friends are all built like bodybuilders? Or female mercenaries who retired from the Middle Eastern battlefield? Or maybe they're female assassins trained by some dark organization..."
"This is a second-dimensional world where common sense doesn't apply. Sure, things have been peaceful so far, but it's not like people like that couldn't exist. And powerful people can pop up in everyday life..."
"Isn't that little elementary-school detective who hasn't grown up in over a thousand episodes part of everyday life too? And there's a dark organization in that show. Oh, no... Could Umaru's friends be..."
The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became. His Imouto had made a whole bunch of friends who were assassins. Any help would be appreciated—he was in a real hurry!
If some little dumpling had been there, she would've said, "(￣△￣)"
He'd completely misunderstood what Umaru Doma meant. She'd probably meant that if Sougo introduced himself to her friends, they'd be the ones in danger. Sougo Doma was a master of teasing people, after all.
If they spent time together, her timid friends would probably explode. Their faces would turn bright red and they'd just about combust.
Meanwhile, after calming his nerves, Sougo Doma suddenly looked up.
"No good. Umaru's in too much danger with those people. Even if there's danger, I have to protect her as her Onii-chan! It's just..."
"Going alone is too dangerous. I need to find some cannon fodder. Who should I take?"
"Taihei Doma?" A face flashed through his mind, but Sougo Doma immediately rejected the idea. "No, no. If that guy comes along, who'll get to be the Onii-chan in the spotlight?"
"Hijikata... No, absolutely not. I'd die of mayonnaise poisoning if I went with him."
Hmm!
"Akasaka..." The image of a timid young man with long black hair suddenly filled Sougo's mind. "That's right, there's him! The guy looks so timid and submissive that even if I pushed him out as cannon fodder, those female mercenaries wouldn't have the heart to attack him, right? I'm a genius!"
"This guy's actually not bad." Watching Sougo Doma turn and walk toward the beach, Ryunosuke Akasaka seemed to think a little better of him.
He just didn't know whether he'd still think that if he found out the whole story behind it all.
Before you continue