The contract was signed.
By the time Seiji Fujiwara stepped out of Fushikawa Bunko's building, the sun was already high overhead.
Buzz—
Buzz—
Just as he turned down a quiet side street, thinking about his next move, the battered old phone in his pocket vibrated twice in a row. The screen lit up.
Two text messages from the bank.
First:
[Dear customer, your account ending in XXXX received a deposit on XX/XX at 12:03: JPY 1,000,000. Memo: Fushikawa signing bonus.]
Second:
[Dear customer, your account ending in XXXX received a deposit on XX/XX at 12:05: JPY 6,400,000. Memo: 6 Days, 6 People, 6 Guns advance royalties.]
(Note: 800 yen retail × 80,000 initial print run × 10% royalties = 6.4 million yen.)
Seiji stared at the numbers on the screen, and the corner of his mouth curved upward.
Altogether, that was seven million, four hundred thousand yen.
Add in the two million prize money from before, and the total climbed to nine million, four hundred thousand yen.
Almost ten million.
For the truly wealthy, it was pocket change.
For an ordinary family, though, it was a decade's worth of savings.
"Oh ho, guess it's time to start living a little."
Seiji whistled happily, already deciding he was going to move.
He flagged down a taxi at the curb and slid into the back seat.
"Driver, take me to Minato Ward, near Akasaka. Find me a high-end real estate agency."
The cabbie glanced at the plainly dressed teenager in the rearview mirror, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. But he gave a nod and pulled into traffic.
Half an hour later, the taxi stopped along a bustling street in Akasaka, Minato Ward.
This was one of Kyoto's luxury districts. The road was spotless, the sidewalks lined with flagship stores from designer brands.
Seiji stepped into a real estate office.
The interior was brightly lit and elegant. Several women in sleek business suits were assisting clients.
"Welcome."
One tall, striking agent quickly walked over, her professional smile warm and sweet.
But when her eyes swept over Seiji's cheap clothes and youthful face, a faint shadow of disappointment flickered in the depths of her gaze.
Another curious kid who wandered in off the street to gawk, she thought. She'd seen plenty like him—big on curiosity, flat broke in reality.
Still, professionalism dictated that her manners remain flawless.
She inclined her head politely, her voice gentle. "Good afternoon, sir. How can I help you today? Were you just looking for information on available listings, or are you planning to rent or buy?"
Listing "information" first was her subtle way of probing.
"Renting," Seiji answered bluntly.
The agent's disappointment deepened.
Renting? With that outfit that wasn't worth more than ten thousand yen in total? He probably couldn't even cover the deposit.
She kept her smile fixed in place but was already preparing to usher him out within three minutes.
"Of course. May I ask your budget range? And do you have any specific requirements for location or floor plan?" she asked smoothly, already rehearsing in her head how to gently say, We don't have anything under two hundred thousand yen a month.
Seiji's tone was calm.
"High security system. Strong privacy. Upper floors, open view. Fully furnished with appliances. Ready to move in immediately."
The agent listened with forced patience, still smiling. "Understood, sir. And what's your monthly budget?"
Seiji said offhandedly, "Within five hundred thousand."
Pfft—cough, cough!
Her professional smile collapsed instantly. She nearly choked on her own saliva, face flushing red as she coughed.
Five hundred thousand?!
Was this some kind of joke?
She stared at him, half convinced she was hallucinating from overwork.
"What? You don't have anything?" Seiji frowned slightly, a trace of impatience in his voice.
"No! No, of course we do!"
The agent snapped back to her senses. Her beautiful eyes lit up with fiery excitement.
Maybe she'd misjudged him.
This wasn't some broke student here to gawk. This was… maybe a rich heir slumming it in cheap clothes, trying to "experience normal life"?
Who cared? Money was money.
Her entire demeanor spun a full one-eighty. The faint condescension vanished, replaced by eager deference.
"Sir!" Her smile now gleamed a hundred times brighter. "Allow me to show you our most exclusive properties. Please, this way to the VIP lounge!"
She practically jogged ahead to open the frosted glass door for him.
"Hm."
Seiji walked inside without a change in expression.
He hadn't enjoyed this kind of treatment in his previous life, though he'd often been the one providing it to others.
Finally, in this life, he could be the customer.
He eased into the leather sofa of the VIP lounge, a twinge of emotion flickering through him.
"Would you like something to drink?"
"Coffee."
"Of course. One moment, please."
She returned with a tray of high-grade coffee and a glossy property brochure.
Presenting it with both hands, she opened it directly to the most expensive listings, her voice dripping with honey.
"Sir, we have a property that perfectly matches your requirements. Located on the forty-second floor of the newly completed Sky Tower in Minato Ward. Three bedrooms, two living rooms, two hundred square meters. Designed by a renowned Italian architect in a modern minimalist style. Fully furnished with imported German kitchen and bath, plus smart home integration."
"Most importantly, it features twenty-four-hour concierge security with biometric iris scan entry. Privacy is absolutely top-tier in Kyoto."
"And from its floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, you can enjoy an unobstructed night view of the entire Minato Ward."
She pointed at the dazzling photo in the brochure, her tone reverent.
"This masterpiece of a residence has a monthly rent of… four hundred eighty thousand yen."
Her heart skipped nervously as she named the price. That was steep—even elite professionals earning six or seven hundred thousand a month wouldn't commit two-thirds of their income to rent.
"This one," Seiji said after glancing at the page.
Just like that. No hesitation.
That decisiveness, that complete disregard for money, made her pulse race.
"Ah?!" She covered her mouth in feigned surprise, though her eyes gleamed with unrestrained delight. "Would you… like to think it over a little longer? Perhaps we could arrange a viewing first…"
"Draw up the contract," Seiji cut in.
"H-how long?" she stammered.
"A year."
A year?!
The agent felt like she'd just been knocked flat by a sack of gold.
This one deal alone would smash her sales targets for the entire year.
"Right away, sir! Please wait just a moment, I'll prepare the contract immediately!"
Her voice trembled with excitement as she practically scrambled out the door.
Minutes later, the paperwork was set in front of him.
After confirming the numbers, Seiji signed his name in bold, sweeping strokes.
"Will you be paying by transfer or…" The agent approached reverently, holding the POS machine like it was some sacred relic.
"Card."
Seiji pulled out a plain old debit card and handed it over.
She eyed the ordinary card, doubt flickering for a final instant.
But when the machine accepted it, when the boy calmly tapped in his code and the receipt printed out with a shrill beep—payment successful, all her doubts evaporated.
He had just dropped four hundred sixty thousand yen without batting an eye.
The agent gazed at him with nothing but awe.
A boy, handsome and loaded.
If not for the age gap, she might have asked him to visit her place.
Suppressing the thought, she respectfully returned his card and offered the digital key with both hands.
Then she bowed deeply, her blouse straining tight across her chest.
"Honored Mr. Fujiwara, my name is Miyuki Kobayashi, your dedicated VIP client manager. From today onward, you may contact me twenty-four hours a day for anything you need."
Her voice dripped with sugar, full of undisguised suggestion.
Seiji accepted the key without even glancing at her.
She wasn't unattractive, but the heavy makeup and so-so figure did nothing for him.
Besides, Utaha Kasumigaoka was next door.
He only wanted the best.
"I'm going."
He gathered the contract and walked out with brisk steps.
"I'll see you out."
Miyuki Kobayashi could only keep her brilliant smile plastered on as she escorted Seiji Fujiwara to the door, silently lamenting but still dazzled by him.