Don't See Him Off!

Just as Natsume Chikage was pondering how to broach the subject, someone suddenly appeared at the door.

Kondo Miki stood in the doorway. Noticing a pile of miscellaneous items scattered across the floor, she looked at Natsume Chikage suspiciously.

"Mom, I just heard noises coming from the room. Did something happen?"

Kondo Miyuki's face flushed slightly as she hurriedly explained.

"N-No, it was nothing. I just accidentally dropped everything while I was looking for something."

The aloof Kondo Miki frowned slightly, clearly doubtful of the explanation, but since her mother had said so, she did not press the matter.

"Did you find what you were looking for?"

"Do you need my help?"

Kondo Miyuki shook her head.

"No, I found it already."

"Let's clean this up and head out."

Natsume Chikage sighed inwardly. He knew that under these circumstances, he probably could not come up with any excuse to get his hands on that magazine.

It looked like he would have to wait for a better opportunity in the future.

After leaving the storage room,

Natsume Chikage figured that since he had gotten what he came for, it was time to leave. There was not much point in staying any longer.

"It's getting late, so I won't disturb everyone's rest any further." Natsume Chikage prepared to leave.

"Huh, you're leaving so soon?" Kondo Miyuki froze for a moment.

"My younger sister needs me at home. It's time for me to go." Natsume Chikage casually made up an excuse.

"I see..." For some reason, Kondo Miyuki felt a little disappointed.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with the three of them, Natsume Chikage was about to leave.

"Mm, take care." Kondo Masasuke merely responded casually before lowering his head again to continue reading the mystery novel in his hands without much concern.

Kondo Miyuki tried to persuade him to stay a few times, but seeing that Natsume Chikage had no intention of lingering, she instructed Kondo Miki, "Miki, Natsume-kun rarely comes by. Walk him out for a bit."

Kondo Miki was somewhat displeased.

She had already broken her appointment and postponed her shopping trip with her best friend. She had planned to tidy up and head out after dinner.

And now she had to see Natsume Chikage off? Wouldn't that delay her even more?

But she could not go against her mother in the end. With a soft sigh, she could only head downstairs with Natsume Chikage.

On the way downstairs,

After hesitating several times, Kondo Miki finally asked the question she had wanted to ask all along.

"By the way, Natsume-kun, why did you choose to attend Moonlight Academy?"

Natsume Chikage did not think much of it and explained directly.

"It wasn't really my choice."

"Before my father went bankrupt, he enrolled me in this school."

"Since the tuition's already been paid, I might as well attend."

Kondo Miki finally understood.

She had wondered before how the Natsume family could still afford Moonlight Academy after going bankrupt.

The tuition at this school was quite expensive.

Given Natsume Chikage's current financial situation, it was hard to imagine how he could afford to attend it.

But she had not expected that the tuition had been paid before the bankruptcy. In that case, there was no problem.

"Did he pay all three years of tuition in full?" Kondo Miki asked further.

"No, only the first semester of the first year." Natsume Chikage shook his head.

Kondo Miki fell silent.

She had thought all three years had been paid for.

Didn't that mean Natsume Chikage would have to transfer schools after this semester?

After all, wages at a coffee shop were not particularly high.

And student part-time jobs paid even less.

Making 100,000 yen a month would already be something to celebrate in secret.

In reality, it was probably only around 60,000 to 80,000 yen.

Under those circumstances, continuing at the expensive Moonlight Academy would be extremely difficult.

Most likely, after this semester, he would have to transfer to a public school with lower tuition.

Public schools might be cheap, but the quality of education and teachers at those schools was terrible.

Most students there were basically just killing time.

In that sort of learning environment, working hard and getting into a good school would become even more difficult.

One gained while the other lost; it was inevitably inferior to attending a private school!

At that moment,

Kondo Miki's gaze fell on Natsume Chikage beside her. Only then did she notice that while his outfit looked simple and decent, his clothes and shoes were all common brands. His entire outfit probably cost less than 10,000 yen.

In contrast, everything she was wearing was designer...

Kondo Miki sighed inwardly, feeling that they were destined to belong to different social classes in the future...

Soon,

They arrived downstairs.

After thinking it over several times, Kondo Miki ultimately gave up on walking Natsume Chikage any farther.

"I have something to do later. You know your way around here, right?"

"I do."

"...Then I'll see you off here. Bye." Kondo Miki waved goodbye.

"Mm." Without looking back, Natsume Chikage waved his hand and left alone.

Watching his lonely, desolate figure disappear into the distance, Kondo Miki suddenly hesitated, wondering whether she should walk him a little farther after all.

After all, she had promised her mother, and he really had made the effort to come all this way.

She was going to be late anyway, so she did not need to care about wasting this little bit of time.

But after thinking about it, she ultimately did not step forward. She decided to let it go.

They would not have much contact in the future anyway. There was no need to become closer now, lest things become complicated later.

However, just as she was about to return home, Kondo Miki noticed her best friend, Akita Sana, running over with an excited expression.

Like Kondo Miki, Akita Sana was dressed head to toe in designer brands.

Excitedly grabbing Kondo Miki's hand, she pointed at Natsume Chikage, who was walking away alone.

"Miki, did you see that boy just now? He's seriously so handsome! He's way better-looking than any celebrity I've ever seen!!!"

"I saw him come out of your apartment. Is he one of the residents here?"

"Can you introduce him to me?"

Kondo Miki fell silent for a long while.

"No..."

"And he's not right for you, so give up."

Akita Sana muttered,

"He hasn't even dated me. How do you know he's not right for me?"

Kondo Miki snorted coldly.

"It's not like I don't know your personality and spending habits. With how extravagantly you spend, how could someone without money possibly afford to support you?"

Akita Sana laughed.

"That's true."

"But from the sound of it, you know that guy from earlier?"

Kondo Miki answered coolly,

"I know him."

"I've met him a few times before."

Akita Sana was overjoyed and nudged her with her elbow.

"Then introduce me to him."

Kondo Miki shook her head.

"He's really not right for you. His family is poor; he can't handle you spending all his money."

"One of the bags you're carrying right now could cover someone else's living expenses for a year."

"You're from different worlds. Forcing a relationship would only make both of you miserable. Just let him go..."

Akita Sana shrugged.

"Since you put it that way, fine..."

"Enough about that. Let's hurry up and go have fun!"

Kondo Miki nodded.

"Mm."