Even Pretending Would Be Better...

Afterward.

Kondo Masasuke learned that Natsume Chikage had not been adopted by wealthy relatives, had poor grades, and possessed no particular talents. He felt there was basically no hope of Natsume turning things around, so he put on a cold face and stopped talking much.

In his eyes, Natsume Chikage was indeed good-looking, but that was all.

He was a practical man and had no interest in someone like Natsume Chikage, who lacked ability yet liked to boast.

He only thought that he should talk to his wife later and tell her to stop trying to set their daughter up with Natsume Chikage. They were clearly not a good match!

His daughter was well-read, sensible, and beautiful.

She had plenty of admirers at school, too.

Without comparison, there was no harm.

Now, he found Yamaguchi Hirota, whom he had met before, rather decent. His family background was good as well.

The Natsume Family might have been wealthy before, but that was in the past!

After going bankrupt, they were ultimately nothing more than ordinary people.

"Dinner's ready. Stop chatting and come eat first," Kondo Miyuki called to them from beside the dining table.

Natsume Chikage and the others went over to eat.

At the dining table.

Kondo Masasuke could not be bothered to say much. He simply ate while watching television.

Kondo Miki glanced at Natsume Chikage from time to time, but every time she did, she sighed inwardly, regretting that he only had a good-looking face.

Among everyone there, the beautiful Kondo Miyuki was actually the most interested in Natsume Chikage.

She had met the Yamaguchi Hirota her daughter often mentioned, but she did not particularly like his personality. She always felt that he was rather hypocritical.

In contrast, Natsume Chikage now appeared mature and steady, neither arrogant nor servile, and diligent at work. She liked him very much and felt that someone like him would surely not do badly in the future.

So even after learning that Natsume Chikage's family had gone bankrupt, she still hoped that her daughter could spend more time with him and cultivate some feelings between them.

Kondo Miyuki covered her full red lips and smiled.

"Come to think of it, Starlight Coffee Shop is quite popular in Japan. It has opened many chain stores and has even gone public."

"I rather like their coffee. I heard a new one had opened near our home recently, so I thought I'd go buy a cup."

"Who would have thought I'd run into you there, Natsume? What a surprise."

Kondo Miki looked somewhat surprised.

"Huh, Natsume... you work at the Coffee Shop near my house?"

Natsume Chikage nodded.

"Yes."

Kondo Masasuke shook his head imperceptibly, thinking that this young man really was destined to be a low-level worker.

After all, which of the boys his daughter knew did not come from a wealthy family? He had never heard of any of them going out to work at such an age.

"Since it's so close, remember to visit Auntie's house often when you have time," Kondo Miyuki said with a smile.

"If there's a chance..." Natsume Chikage replied casually.

Honestly, if Ruri had not wanted the relics her father left behind, he would not have wanted to come here.

Besides, he could tell that Kondo Masasuke's attitude toward him was neither warm nor cold. He clearly did not welcome him.

So under these circumstances, he had basically been making polite conversation the entire time.

As for coming again next time, he would rather forget it. He could not be bothered to make himself uncomfortable.

Before long.

Dinner was finished.

Natsume Chikage got straight to the point, intending to take the relic and leave immediately.

"Auntie Kondo, about what you mentioned before..."

Kondo Miyuki suddenly remembered.

"Oh, look at my memory. I almost forgot."

"Come with me."

Hearing that, Natsume Chikage followed Kondo Miyuki to the storage room in her home.

As soon as Kondo Miyuki entered, she began rummaging through the things on the shelves, trying to find something.

However, even after searching for quite a while, she could not find it.

"Where did I put it..."

Soon.

She finally spotted a corner of a chessboard and chess manual high up on the shelf. Standing on tiptoe, she reached up and pulled them out.

Holding the heavy chess manual, Kondo Miyuki smiled.

"This is it."

But at that moment.

Her actions disrupted the balance of the items high on the shelf, and quite a few things fell straight down.

When Kondo Miyuki noticed it, she froze where she stood and could only watch helplessly as the clutter came crashing down.

"Watch out!"

In that instant.

Kondo Miyuki saw a large hand shielding her head, blocking the falling objects.

Clatter, clatter—

A pile of things fell to the floor.

Fortunately, Natsume Chikage had helped her, so Kondo Miyuki was not struck by anything.

Yet her current situation left her extremely embarrassed.

Natsume Chikage was pressed close in front of her, causing her ample curves to deform slightly.

When she felt Natsume Chikage's tall body and his scent, her fair face visibly reddened. A long-forgotten flutter seemed to reignite from the ashes, and her heart began racing wildly.

Natsume Chikage slowly set the items above them down one by one. Only after finishing did he step away from Kondo Miyuki.

"Auntie Kondo, are you all right?"

Kondo Miyuki's gaze flickered. Somewhat shyly, she tucked her hair behind her ear, her voice full of concern.

"I'm fine. But you... you weren't hit just now, were you?"

Natsume Chikage brushed the dust off himself and shook his head.

"I'm fine."

Kondo Miyuki let out a breath of relief, her full red lips moving slightly as she said gratefully.

"Thank you. If it hadn't been for you just now, I would have been hit."

Natsume Chikage shook his head.

"Don't mention it."

Compared to that, his gaze fell directly upon the fullness before Kondo Miyuki's chest, and he could not help staring at it.

The heavy chess manual in her arms was emitting a strange glow.

[Dust-Covered Chess Manual]

[Quality: Blue]

[Effect: After equipping it, you can instantly learn every chess manual contained in this book. Your comprehension in chess will also become exceptional, allowing you to infer ten from one, with an understanding beyond ordinary imagination!]

[Description: If you do not play Shogi, seeing me is like a frog in a well gazing at the moon in the sky; if you do play Shogi, seeing me is like a tiny ant trying to shake the heavens!]

[Synthesis Requirement: At least three pieces of equipment of the same type are required!]

The moment he saw this equipment, Natsume Chikage was overjoyed inside!

The few pieces of equipment he had encountered before had been nothing more than ordinary white-quality items.

Yet now he had actually come across a blue-quality piece of equipment?

And its effect was far too powerful!

Once equipped, it would not only give him extraordinary comprehension in chess, but would also let him instantly learn everything in this chess manual?!

Natsume Chikage immediately recalled the Shogi tournament the Shogi Association had recently opened, which his sister had mentioned while watching television.

Even amateur players could participate, and as long as they kept winning after entering, they could continuously receive cash rewards.

Although he did not yet know how much the final prize would be.

He knew that as long as he won a match, the prize money would double.

The first game paid ten thousand yen.

The second game paid twenty thousand yen.

The third game paid forty thousand yen, and so on.

It could be said that as long as he kept winning, the more money he would earn!

If he won ten in a row, he would receive 5.12 million yen!

Natsume Chikage only earned at most fifty to eighty thousand yen a month working at the Coffee Shop.

And once he equipped this chess manual, even if he could not win the final prize, winning five or six games would probably equal two or three months of wages.

Thinking of that, Natsume Chikage felt that this trip had truly been worthwhile!

Meanwhile, when Kondo Miyuki saw the scorching gaze with which Natsume Chikage was staring straight at her chest, she became increasingly flustered and embarrassed. Her eyes kept darting about, and she felt her body growing slightly hot.

At the same time, she could not help silently scolding Natsume Chikage. I was his father's classmate—how could he look at me like that? At least he could pretend not to...