Sol stared straight at Ellen's face, which tried to appear calm.
Her delicate oval features were perfectly composed, cold on the outside like a shark, as if success or failure didn't matter to her.
But the constant tapping of her little leather shoes betrayed her emotions—it was obvious that asking him for his Knock-Knock ID made Ellen nervous.
Shy? Or some other motive?
Or maybe both.
Ellen shifted uncomfortably, her toes curling inside her shoes. Sol's gaze felt almost like X-ray vision, as if he could see her stripped bare.
Sol smiled faintly and lit up his phone. "Go ahead, Miss Ellen."
Cold on the outside like a shark, but really only because she didn't want to waste energy on facial expressions—deep down, a beloved, perfect school beauty.
And now, in his pond, a big shark was about to join the collection.
"Mm." Ellen pulled out her phone, added Sol with a neutral expression, then said softly, "Thank you for the burgers. They were delicious."
Anby glanced at Ellen, slightly intrigued.
This Thiren girl… she had taste.
"Yeah, I thought so too." Sol's lips curled as he instinctively switched into his teasing mode. "Next time, we can go try some together."
"How about next weekend? School will be on break, and I'll have time too."
The burgers may have been system rewards, but that wasn't the point—the point was creating another chance to meet.
By setting a clear date, he cut off the usual excuse of next time maybe. And since Ellen owed him a favor, the chance of her refusing was reduced by half.
Sure enough, Ellen's brows furrowed slightly, but she still agreed. "Then let's make it next weekend."
Belle's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. She recognized that phrasing. Hadn't she experienced that routine herself several times before?
Damn it—he was making a move on Ellen, and with the exact same trick!
She knew it! He wasn't some cold CEO type—and if he was, then he was a playboy CEO! Too despicable!
Meanwhile, Monna, Lynn, and Ruby were practically sparkling with excitement.
They had known Sol wouldn't refuse Ellen. Now Ellen had one more new friend.
Yes—this friend wasn't for themselves, but for Ellen.
Although Ellen was popular at school and many classmates wanted to be close to her, her true friends were only the three of them.
The Kind-hearted Sol Mercer was the first male friend they had chosen for Ellen.
Good natured, shared love for arcades, handsome—he was straight out of a manga. Of course he'd get along well with her.
Compared to the immature boys at school, they thought Sol was much more suitable.
Now that Ellen had his Knock-Knock ID, they could finally relax.
"Mr. Mercer, why are you so good at games?"
Ruby bounced up beside him, eyes shining with curiosity.
Ellen also pricked up her ears. She too was curious—after all, even her overclocked self hadn't been able to beat Sol.
"Ten parts persistence, ten parts effort, one cheat, one card, eight parts tech."
Sol casually told the truth.
"Your strength… all from persistence and effort?"
Ellen frowned, trying to interpret.
The second half probably referred to his gear—most likely that electric-type Bangboo.
But the first half must mean exactly what she thought: two-thirds persistence and effort, to make Sol what he was today.
So… he was a hardworking genius.
"Exactly. Everything I have now, I owe to my persistence and effort."
Sol almost burst out laughing.
He didn't have Oda-sensei's 200x effort buff. Effort his ass!
If not for the system gacha, where would he be?
"I see."
Ellen nodded, thoughtful.
She started reflecting—was she not working hard enough? Was that why, even overclocked, she couldn't surpass Sol's normal state?
Monna leaned in with a grin. "Mr. Mercer, you don't know—Ellen was so satisfied with your burgers. She ate all four sets!"
"Monna, that's not something to say out loud!"
Ellen shot a glance at Sol and Belle, her cheeks flushed.
Four full sets at once—her appetite was something she never liked to admit, especially in front of new friends.
Especially male friends, and their friends too.
"So, Ellen fainted in the arcade because she was starving?"
Belle's eyes widened in surprise.
Ellen's cold front crumbled, and she admitted sheepishly, "Actually it was energy overconsumption, but… yeah, not much different from hunger~"
Forget it—no point resisting.
"…"
Sol began calculating the cost of raising a shark.
With an appetite like Anby's, he figured he could handle another hundred or so. Ellen just barely fit in his budget range.
Heh. Guess we're fated.
"Mr. Mercer, what are you thinking?"
Monna's eyes sparkled, ready to stir the flames.
As her bestie, she loved seeing perfect school beauty Ellen flustered.
"I was thinking about how many sharks I could raise." Sol spoke meaningfully, watching Ellen's reaction. "Turns out a hundred or so wouldn't be a problem."
"Wow, Brother Sol is rich! But Ellen's just one shark, you know!"
Lynn adjusted her glasses, the reflection failing to hide her smirk.
Ellen's cheeks went pink, and she turned her head away in annoyance.
What sharks? Sharks weren't easy to raise—they'd bite holes all over you!
She couldn't deal with these so-called friends egging Sol on to tease her.
Monna, Ruby, Lynn—are you my friends, or his!?
Ellen shifted her gaze toward Belle.
Since she had been sleeping in this girl's bed, she said earnestly, "Thank you, Manager Belle, for letting me rest in your room. Sorry for the trouble."
"It's nothing at all," Belle replied with a squinting smile. "It was just lending a room. If it's you, Ellen, it's really no problem—rest as long as you like."
"And no need to be so formal. You can just call me Belle, or like your classmates do, Sister Belle."
Sol shot Belle an unhappy look. What are you flirting for? You're useless anyway.
Belle winked at him. I may be useless, but I'll make sure you're useless too.
Somehow, without a word spoken, both of them understood each other perfectly.
"Alright, Belle, I understand."
Ellen could hardly take it anymore.
What was with these people? Even the shopkeeper liked to flirt like Sol!
Luckily, the white-haired girl and red robot were just watching quietly. Otherwise, Ellen might not have been able to withstand it at all.
So, this is the adult world? No wonder it's so much harsher than school.
After chatting a while longer in the video store, Ellen and her three girlfriends finally left.
"Goodbye, everyone. Ellen and we still have other plans today, so we won't disturb you any further." Monna flashed a cute smile and waved. "Today really was an exciting day!"
Ruby even raised Ellen's hand, waving it along with hers as they said goodbye.
Though Ellen's face showed reluctance, she didn't resist Ruby's grip in the slightest.
Suddenly, Ruby's lips curved into a mischievous smile. She released Ellen's hand—but Ellen's kept waving naturally.
Ellen stiffened, quickly retracting her hand with a glare at Ruby, before quickening her pace away.
Monna, Lynn, and Ruby skipped after her, and in no time the four were reconciled again.
"See you."
Sol smiled faintly.
Those youthful, lively girls… they really made him feel like going back to school again.