Chapter 14: Capitalists Are All the Same
After barely reaching an agreement, Finesse settled back into her luxury car.
"Uncle Gong, how long have you been my driver?"
The driver's seat held an elderly gentleman in a neat suit, hair completely white at the temples.
"Counting from when Miss Finesse was brought back at age thirteen... exactly five years now."
"If I gave you a long vacation tomorrow, would you be happy?"
"Haha, this old thing doesn't know how to do anything besides drive. If you suddenly gave me vacation time, young miss, I wouldn't know what to do with myself."
"People need hobbies outside work. Uncle Gong, you should enjoy your retirement years—fishing, gardening, staying far away from major family conflicts..."
While making small talk, Finesse leaned against the car window, her beautiful silver-gray eyes never leaving the Amano household.
Even she hadn't expected to make such a promise.
When sensing Amano Rei would refuse the underground duel, Finesse had spoken almost without thinking, blurting out—win or lose, she'd pay 100,000 Eva Points compensation.
But she didn't have that kind of money right now.
If tonight's duel ended in defeat, the only solution Finesse could imagine was mortgaging this moderately valuable luxury car to obtain temporary funds.
She was actually trusting a boy she'd just met today.
Perhaps because of witnessing that miraculous comeback duel under the setting sun. Defeating the strong with weakness through impossible reversal.
Or perhaps Finesse had noticed something special about Amano Rei and the Amano family through various unusual details.
This was clearly just another ordinary slum district loan, yet Father had specifically instructed her to handle it personally. That debt contract just happened to be a duel contract.
The name [Amano Yuichi] on the contract—Finesse vaguely remembered her mother mentioning it when she was very young.
These obscure, difficult-to-grasp details wound together thread by thread, seemingly pointing in the same direction, ultimately leading to Finesse's decision just now.
She'd use tonight's underground duel as a wedge to gamble on the possibilities Amano Rei represented.
=====
"Too dangerous, Rei! How could you agree to an underground duel in District 11?!"
Kikawayu hadn't spoken up while Finesse was present, simply because he'd been stunned by both the enormous compensation and the insane conditions.
Win or lose, Amano Rei only needed to give his absolute best and focus on surviving the underground duel. Then he'd receive a full 100,000 in compensation.
But thinking about underground dueling's danger, Kikawayu couldn't help trying to dissuade him.
"Of course I know it's dangerous."
Amano organized his deck with newly acquired cards on the table while explaining to Kikawayu.
"But with these 100,000 Eva Points, I can get Shio auxiliary prosthetic limbs. Her future life won't have to be spent in a wheelchair."
"Ah, that's..."
Facing that reason, Kikawayu had been about to discourage him but fell silent before the words left his mouth.
Shio wasn't home right now. Yui had taken her to the card shop to pass time.
With only the two childhood friends in the room, discussing this required no discretion.
"Think about it, Yu. Someone from our bottom-level background suddenly has life-changing money placed right in front of us. Shouldn't I fight for it? Besides, realistically speaking, this opportunity probably only comes once."
Right. What kind of crazy young miss would willingly spend 100,000 Eva Points hiring a duelist from the slums?
Amano knew this situation's authenticity was extremely questionable.
But when a genuine opportunity to change both his and his sister's lives appeared, with the only condition being a single duel—not even requiring victory—
Amano only needed to try his hardest to survive the underground duel.
With conditions like that laid out, forget sayings about pies not falling from heaven... even if someone told Amano directly that the pie contained shit, he'd still have to taste how salty it was.
"Alright, I understand." Finally, Kikawayu conceded. "But I have one condition!"
"What condition?"
"Take me with you!"
"That's not my call to make."
=====
"Sure, that's fine." Finesse agreed unexpectedly easily.
"Yay!" Kikawayu raised both arms excitedly.
Underground black market duel arenas typically operated at night.
Finesse and Amano had agreed on 5:30 PM—she and her driver would personally pick him up.
Amano left Shio in Yui's care ahead of time. No need to worry there, since his sister had often stayed home alone during his previous night shift work.
Now he only needed to focus on tonight's duel.
"Hehe, so this is what rich people's cars feel like. So comfortable!"
Kikawayu sat in the back seat beside Amano, bouncing his butt appreciatively on the cushion.
This guy had been so worried initially—why did he completely lose all sense of tension after Finesse agreed to let him come along?
From the passenger seat, Finesse glanced at the two in back through the rearview mirror, smiling gently.
"Amano, your girlfriend really cares about you. Willing to come along to such a dangerous place."
"Girlfriend?"
Amano instantly understood—this young miss had misunderstood, just like his coworkers at the waste recovery yard.
"Finesse, don't let the cute appearance fool you..."
To prove his point, Amano pressed his hand against Kikawayu's chest.
"He's a genuine guy."
Such actions should just be normal behavior between male friends. Like casually slapping butts or thumping chests—perfectly ordinary stuff.
Just like right now, as retaliation for the chest press, Kikawayu reached over and pinched Amano's butt.
Such commonplace interaction, nothing unusual about the sensation. Plus with the car's dim lighting, Amano didn't notice Kikawayu's lips curving upward uncontrollably.
Finesse, however, opened her mouth in surprise: "A guy? I'm so sorry, Kikawayu. I misunderstood."
Amano: "Don't worry, he's used to this kind of misunderstanding."
Finesse: "It's mainly because Kikawayu is too pretty—no, for boys I should say handsome? Plus when we chatted at noon I also misunderstood, but he didn't seem to..."
Right. Before Amano returned at noon, Finesse had also mistaken Kikawayu for Amano Rei's girlfriend.
The guy not only hadn't denied it but chatted enthusiastically with her, talking endlessly about Amano Rei.
Can't really blame me for the misunderstanding.
But since it was a misunderstanding—
"Well, whatever." Finesse pressed further: "So does that mean you don't have a girlfriend, Amano?"
Amano smiled. "Me? Pure single dog, one hundred percent."
"Oh~"
[Finesse Affection +2]
[Finesse Affection: 57]
That earned affection points?
Young miss, are you sure you're not after my body?
"Where are we going now?" Having his girlfriend status denied, Kikawayu seemed to lose his initial excitement, tone sounding somewhat flat.
"I thought the black market doesn't open until 10 PM. Isn't this too early?"
"Dinner first, then pre-battle preparations."
Finesse twirled her red hair around one slender finger.
"Tonight is an extremely important duel. I don't want to watch you get destroyed for nothing, Amano."
"Pre-battle preparations?"
"I acquired some potentially useful cards. Pick a few from them."
"Free?!"
Amano's eyes lit up. An actual chance to mooch cards off a capitalist?
But then again... really free?
Amano stole a glance at Finesse through the rearview mirror. Her silver-gray pupils, though exquisitely beautiful like gemstones, held a coldness that chilled the heart.
"Of course—it'll be deducted from your compensation."
Heh. As expected, capitalists are all the same. Even pretty girl capitalists.