"Like I said before, today's manga is something I'm letting you read for free. You don't need to pay me anything or make an equivalent exchange. Once you're done reading, just get lost," Hikari grabbed Kuroda Hikari's hand as she reached toward his belt and said calmly.
"Equivalent exchange is my principle when dealing with things. If I don't pay a price, I won't leave," Kuroda Hikari said expressionlessly.
Hikari lowered his head and glanced at her, his gaze lingering for a moment on her delicate, pretty face, especially her soft pink lips.
The two remained at a stalemate for several seconds.
In the end, Hikari was the first to let go.
"Fine. If you want to pay, then pay."
Hikari had never expected there to be someone in this world who disliked getting something for free.
Even when he offered to let her have it for nothing, she refused and insisted on paying. What a stubborn donkey.
Anyway, he didn't feel like he was losing anything, and it wouldn't take much time, so he might as well let her do it.
Seeing Hikari let go, Kuroda Hikari, now no longer obstructed, said nothing more.
Without a word, she prepared to begin the equivalent exchange she had mentioned.
As the belt buckle fell to the floor with a clang, Kuroda Hikari also saw a sight she would never forget.
Even though she had a rather expressionless personality and usually showed little reaction to many things, when she saw the imposing sight before her, Kuroda Hikari was still shocked into widening her beautiful eyes and slightly opening her mouth.
The expression that had always remained completely calm now showed an extremely rare trace of shock and fear.
"Am I dreaming? This... this can't be right, can it?"
Kuroda Hikari lowered and then raised her head, confirming several times in succession that the enormous thing before her was not an illusion, yet there was still disbelief in her voice.
This astonishing sight was practically even more shocking to her than seeing Dain become a giant beast in the manga just now.
"What's wrong with this? It's perfectly fine. Don't tell me you're trying to go back on your word?"
"I told you, I let you leave several times just now, but you insisted on staying. If you're trying to go back on your word and leave now instead of playing the game, I'm not letting you go," Hikari placed a hand on the expressionless gal's head, making her grip the game controller again and requiring her to finish the stage.
"I won't go back on my word," Kuroda Hikari shook her head, her face once again returning to an expressionless state.
Although a trace of shock still remained in her pupils, she immediately prepared to fulfill her promise and defeat the monster before her.
However, even though she had never intended to go back on her word, when facing this enormous creature, Kuroda Hikari still found herself unable to figure out where to begin.
She didn't know where would be a good place to start fighting.
After all, she didn't have much experience with fighting either.
Even the manga and movies she referred to for her own entertainment had never shown such a huge monster.
"Alright, I'll teach you. Do as I say. First, trap it, then use your laser weapon to attack its head..."
Seeing how flustered she was, Hikari took over command and guided her on where to begin her attacks.
Under Hikari's guidance, Kuroda Hikari finally began to get the hang of it.
She gradually came to understand the personality of the giant monster as well. Although she still found it somewhat difficult to deal with, she gradually adapted.
Kuroda Hikari battled with the controller for quite some time, fighting until she was exhausted, with even her muscles becoming sore and numb.
After fighting until her mouth was dry and her throat parched, she finally managed to defeat the terrifying giant monster.
Of course, she didn't know.
In fact, the monster controlled by Hikari still had a great deal of strength left.
He had only held back because he knew she couldn't keep going.
Seeing Kuroda Hikari immediately get up and start packing her things after finishing, Hikari asked, "Aren't you going to wash your hands and rinse your mouth before going home?"
Kuroda Hikari swallowed several times with difficulty.
Then she wiped the corner of her mouth and shook her head expressionlessly, "Forget it. I've already wasted enough time. If I keep dawdling, it'll be dark."
"Then have a safe trip. Take care," Although Hikari said this with his mouth, he still politely stood up and saw Kuroda Hikari out of the house.
Of course, this was also to prevent her from continuing to linger.
But Kuroda Hikari really did as she said, packing her things and decisively leaving.
However, just as Hikari was about to close the door, Kuroda Hikari, standing in the corridor, suddenly turned around and called out, "Hikari-kun!"
"Hm?", Hikari stopped the door he was about to close and looked over in confusion.
"I'll come to your house again!", Kuroda Hikari's hoarse voice carried a trace of determination.
"You still can't bear to be without the manga?", Hikari asked.
"It's because I think you're actually pretty interesting."
After saying that, Kuroda Hikari turned around and hurried downstairs, leaving Hikari only the sight of her graceful back.
"These gyarus really are...", Hikari looked at Kuroda Hikari's slightly reddened earlobes under the light and shook his head helplessly.
Just like Reina, Ruri, and those other girls, not a single gal knows how to keep her word.
They change their minds as soon as they say they regret it.
But after seeing Kuroda Hikari insist on sticking to her principles and refusing to get something for free just now, Hikari also felt that this black-haired, straight-haired, expressionless gal was rather interesting. So if she came again next time, it would at least give him some new amusement.
However, he had already given her a chance this time. If Kuroda Hikari came knocking again next time, the price she paid would not be nearly as minor.
What Hikari didn't know was that Kuroda Hikari, who had just reached the ground floor, was also reviewing today's exchange.
Rubbing her round little belly, Kuroda Hikari, who was completely full, kept feeling that she had lost out in this equivalent exchange.
After all, she hadn't read that many manga.