Looking at the crepe being slowly pushed over by the shy little rabbit.
Su Yuzu understood the girl's intentions.
She took the crepe.
This was a perfect opportunity... to see just how far the system's rule of 'doubling the compensation for any expenses made to increase a girl's favorability' could be pushed.
When the girl returns the food you've fed her,
or when she repays the money you spent on her, would the double compensation still take effect?
Su Yuzu took a generous bite of the crepe.
The citrus pulp the owner had added to the crepe was from a type of citrus called 'hassaku'.
It had a tart flavor.
It melted in the mouth.
The citrus aroma was also quite distinct.
Su Yuzu quite liked the sweet, sour, and refreshing fragrance of citrus fruits.
But... the little rabbit in front of her, it seemed, could not handle it.
Saotome Yukina was a 'little animal' with a sweet tooth.
Biting into the thin pancake and cream just now was fine.
But the moment she bit into the citrus pulp, the girl's pair of aqua-blue eyes seemed to mist over, welling up as if tears were about to stream down.
It was just that... Saotome Yukina didn't want to embarrass herself in front of her senpai.
She had chosen this flavor, so she had to swallow it, even if it meant holding back tears.
'This hassaku thing doesn't taste good at all.'
'Compared to Yuzu-senpai... it's not even close.'
With the tragic resolve of a warrior severing their own wrist, Saotome Yukina closed her eyes, preparing to take a bite and swallow it whole without even chewing.
Gently... the girl's wrist was caught.
When Saotome Yukina opened her eyes in a bit of a daze, she found her senpai's crimson eyes suddenly very close.
'S-Senpai?'
Su Yuzu pushed her own crepe, from which she had already picked out and eaten all the citrus pulp, in front of Saotome Yukina.
'Have mine.'
A thick mist seemed to cover her aqua-blue eyes.
Saotome Yukina looked at the crepe pushed back in front of her... with a corner missing, and her heart surged with emotion.
[Ding—]
[Sharing: Saotome Yukina Favorability +3.]
[Favorability Increase Reward Obtained: Single-Use Cat Tail (White).]
[...]
The experiment proved... for something on the level of a crepe,
even if she shared it with Saotome Yukina, the system wouldn't retract the cash compensation.
Suddenly, some bold ideas formed in Su Yuzu's mind.
For example... buying an apartment for Saotome Yukina near the school, or something like that.
But very quickly, Su Yuzu gave up on this near-cheat-like idea.
The `Operator Development` prompts stated that the actions eligible for double resource compensation were limited to `Feed` and `Develop / Development`.
The idea of using the girl as a money tree for reckless shopping was destined to fail.
But... `Feed`?
Su Yuzu carefully read the lines of light-blue cautionary notes.
`Feed` was fine.
There was also no problem with eating things the girl couldn't finish or wanted to share.
In that case... if she treated Saotome Yukina or Teacher Unohana Chiyo to every meal, she could probably save a huge amount on food expenses.
She could even earn some extra cash.
To be honest, after escaping from that place,
Su Yuzu was still rather short on money.
After the girl finished her crepe, Su Yuzu looked at Saotome Yukina, who was waiting for her with her little head lowered.
Su Yuzu slowly stood up.
The 'Comprehensive Combat Class' that Saotome Yukina had asked Su Yuzu for help with was a rather important subject in the final examinations at Keigunen Private Academy.
As everyone knows—
a mage who can't use a sword is not a good mage.
The same was true for Espers.
On the battlefield against Aberrants or Catastrophe Beasts, the Aberrants wouldn't care if you were a frail Esper.
Therefore, even for Saotome Yukina of the Healing Department,
the 'Comprehensive Combat Class' was part of her required curriculum.
Su Yuzu looked at Saotome Yukina's ample, soft assets.
Judging from how the girl would pant delicately and get teary-eyed after just a few steps, her physical constitution was truly terrible.
If she had the chance in the future, she would have to find some special items to improve the girl's stamina.
After completing the `Development`,
she would still get double the compensation.
Why wouldn't she do it?
Speaking of which, perfect timing—
In the `Operator Development` module, Saotome Yukina's chibi avatar had finally recovered its spirits.
Its facial expression had returned to (≧∇≦).
Su Yuzu tapped on Saotome Yukina's chibi avatar, then in the [Develop] interface, she once again checked the 'Basic Combat Records'.
[Ding—]
[Successfully Developed Saotome Yukina.]
[Saotome Yukina's combat experience increased.]
[Level 2 Hydrokinetic EXP: 25%→47%.]
[Development: Saotome Yukina Favorability +1.]
[Favorability Increase Reward Obtained: Red Stamina Potion.]
[Compensation for materials consumed in Development obtained.]
['Basic Combat Records' *2.]
[...]
The corners of her eyebrows lifted slightly.
Su Yuzu looked at Saotome Yukina's favorability increase reward.
[Red Stamina Potion].
Unlike the [Blue Vigor Pill], the [Red Stamina Potion] only had the effect of slowly recovering a large amount of stamina.
Her guess was correct after all.
Whether it was the Practice Combat Gloves from the beginning,
or the lewdly cute cat-girl maid accessories later on,
Saotome Yukina's favorability increase rewards were ultimately all things that could be used on the girl herself.
'How interesting.'
Perfect timing—
just now, she was worried the little rabbit would be too exhausted to get out of bed tomorrow.
It was like being handed a pillow just when you're feeling sleepy.
But... while Su Yuzu was pleased,
Saotome Yukina, who had just been about to stand up with Su Yuzu, was hit with disaster.
Saotome Yukina stumbled and nearly fell.
Luckily, the table was right in front of her.
The little rabbit's aqua-blue eyes widened helplessly, and she bit her lip hard, the tips of her ears turning a bright, light pink.
It's... the `Blessing` again?
A warm current flowed through her entire body.
It felt very pleasant, of course.
But why did it always have to make her so... so embarrassed in front of her senpai.
Or could it be... that it was precisely because she was close to her senpai,
that she received the `Blessing`?
Saotome Yukina's mind was a muddled mess.
Su Yuzu gently took her hand. 'The `Blessing` again?'
'Saotome-san, do you still have the strength to train?'
'If you can't...
Don't force yourself.'
'We can do it tomorrow.'
Su Yuzu felt she had been a bit too hasty.
She was a little too eager for `Combat Records`.
She had somewhat neglected Saotome Yukina's feelings.
She could have waited until after Saotome Yukina finished training to use the 'Basic Combat Records'.
That way... she would have already been tired anyway.
Being a little more tired wouldn't have mattered.
Relaxing a bit might have even helped her rest better.
'I... I can do it!' The moment her senpai grabbed her hand, Saotome Yukina suddenly felt as if she were filled with strength.
In front of her senpai... she absolutely could not say 'no'.
Even if she cried until she went soft, until she melted, she couldn't say she couldn't do it.
Her toes were actually still trembling as Saotome Yukina shakily pushed herself up.
Watching the little rabbit putting on a brave face, Su Yuzu felt a little helpless.
But she could only support Saotome Yukina and head towards the combat practice grounds.
But speaking of which... Su Yuzu asked Saotome Yukina, 'Saotome-san, why did you think of coming to me?'
Because she didn't have an ability to augment her skills,
Su Yuzu's comprehensive combat skills were indeed among the best.
but... when facing Espers with physical enhancement or physical mutation abilities, she would often just end up defeated.
Her on-paper results weren't considered top-tier.
They could only be described as excellent, at best.
Su Yuzu was very curious.
How did the little rabbit know about her comprehensive combat class grades?
Su Yuzu didn't believe in anything like 'the hand of fate' in this world.
Hearing Su Yuzu's question, Saotome Yukina's eyes suddenly went vacant.
'It's...'
'That's right...'
'Why did I think of coming to find Senpai?'
The girl felt as if her mind was a complete blank regarding that question.
Su Yuzu's brow furrowed.
She had seen a similar expression before.
She had seen similar symptoms before.
This was...
—Mind Control.
'Soga... Yura.'
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