Early morning.
"Congratulations, Host. You've acquired a hotel."
"All documents are complete. You may take ownership immediately."
White Silver Chest: 4
Takumi Yuuya pulled out the paperwork.
Transaction price: 4 billion yen.
Location: Chiba Port, a large-scale hotel.
Projected annual profit: 150 million yen.
Currently operational, with over two hundred employees.
He could replace the general manager whenever he wished.
After thinking for a moment, he dialed Yukinoshita Haruno.
The call connected quickly.
"Yuuya-kun, what's up?" Her voice was languid, as if she hadn't gotten out of bed yet.
"Chiba Central Hotel. Do you know it?"
"Of course. That hotel's not bad."
"Would the Yukinoshita family be interested in managing it for me?"
"Managing it?"
"I bought it."
"…What did you just say?"
Haruno's voice shot up, instantly wide awake.
Yuuya continued calmly.
"Ten percent of the profits as a management fee. Or if you'd rather buy it, I'll take a loss and sell it to the Yukinoshita family for 3.5 billion yen."
"The Yukinoshita family has no plans to buy a hotel right now… but managing it, that we can do."
She recovered quickly.
"Then come to Sobu High at noon. I'll have the management contract ready." Yuuya glanced at the file in his hands—already completed, instantly generated by the system.
"Alright, I'll head over at lunch," Haruno said seriously.
The Yukinoshita family wouldn't refuse something like this.
Even with just a ten percent cut, the profit from a hotel of that size was significant. And with management rights, it could serve as a convenient venue for entertaining clients of the Yukinoshita Construction Company.
…
After breakfast, Yuuya headed to school.
This time, he didn't wait for Yukinoshita Yukino.
Instead, he walked in with Kawasaki Saki.
"Yuuya-kun."
It was Totsuka Saika who called out.
"What's wrong?" Yuuya walked over.
"I heard some rumors. People are saying you're two-timing—or worse."
"That's not a rumor."
"Eh?"
"I am a guy two-timing… or maybe multi-timing."
Yuuya deliberately raised his voice.
The entire classroom went silent.
Saika opened his mouth in shock.
Yuuya swept his gaze around, then sighed in disappointment.
No affection points gained. No disgust points either.
So much for that.
Still, it wasn't surprising.
Almost all the girls who could count as "main heroines" had already met him.
Miura Yumiko. Ebina Hina.
Yuigahama Yui. Kawasaki Saki.
As he was thinking that—
Two figures walked into the classroom.
Kyousuke Kousaka and his childhood friend.
Come to think of it, that childhood friend might count as a main heroine too…
…
Lunchtime.
Yuuya sent Sawamura Eriri ahead to the rooftop.
Then he headed for the soccer field, where Yukinoshita Haruno stood with a middle-aged man beside her.
"Takumi-sama," the man greeted, bowing politely.
"You're Hayama's father?" Yuuya asked.
"Yes. For Hayato to be friends with you is an honor. Please continue to look after him."
"Hayama's a capable person. I'm sure he'll be of use to me in the future."
Yuuya handed over the contract.
Hayama's father examined it carefully.
Haruno, meanwhile, studied Yuuya with sharp eyes.
"First a Tokyo apartment, then a Chiba estate, and now a large hotel. Yuuya-kun, your resources exceed my imagination. Can you tell me who you really are?"
"I'm just an ordinary exchange student. You're overthinking it."
"Ordinary people don't pull this off."
"Then I'll tell you someday. Not now."
Haruno clearly suspected he had powerful backing.
All the better. Saved him the trouble of explaining.
When Hayama's father finished reviewing, he handed the contract to Haruno.
"No issues here."
She signed and stamped it.
"From today, Yukinoshita Construction will manage your hotel. We'll settle profits with you yearly."
"I trust the Yukinoshita family completely."
"If you have other assets to sell or manage, you can always contact me."
"Got it. I'll remember that."
…
Pushing open the rooftop door, Yuuya spotted Sawamura Eriri leaning against the wall.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"It's fine. Just five minutes."
Eriri smiled, then held out a bento box.
Yuuya sat beside her and opened it.
Inside: fried pork cutlet, sandwiches, rolled omelets.
On the rice, a fried egg in the shape of a heart.
He glanced at Eriri.
Her cheeks flushed as she opened her own bento—still as meager as always.
"You made too much."
"I'll make less next time," she mumbled.
Yuuya nodded and began eating.
Halfway through, his pace slowed.
Eriri noticed.
"If you can't finish, don't force yourself."
"This is your first bento for me. I'll finish it no matter what."
Affection from Sawamura Eriri +50.
"…Can I make your lunch every day from now on?"
"That's too much trouble. Honestly, I think drawing suits you more than cooking."
"…What do you want me to draw?"
"Game character skins. Better to start prepping in advance."
He spoke casually while eating.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, but he ignored it.
…
Thirty minutes later, he set down his chopsticks.
"It was great. Really delicious."
Affection from Sawamura Eriri +50.
She smiled, packing up the boxes.
Then, gathering courage, she turned to him.
"Yuuya-kun, I… I think I might already—"
Click.
The rooftop door opened.
Eriri froze.
Yuuya looked up.
Yukinoshita Yukino stepped inside, expression unreadable.
"Why didn't you come to the clubroom?"
"As you can see, I promised Eriri."
"Who's more important—her or me?"
"Eriri."
He didn't hesitate.
Affection from Sawamura Eriri +50.
Disgust from Yukinoshita Yukino +10.
Yukino took a deep breath, then smiled faintly.
"I'll forgive you this once. Tonight, you're still coming to stay over, right?"
"Yes." Yuuya's voice was even.
"Then I won't disturb you two."
Seeing Eriri's stunned face, Yukino looked very satisfied as she turned and left.
Her footsteps faded away.
Yuuya turned back to Eriri.
"Sorry. I promised Yukino I'd act as her boyfriend. Staying at her place tonight is part of that arrangement."