"Mr. Akira, this…"
Yukinoshita Haruno's entire body expressed her astonishment. But seeing Akira step forward, undergo a facial and iris scan, and then the elevator doors open in response, her mind exploded once again.
So this was the entire building's layout, changed by Akira in just one night? A private elevator installed? And in Skyscraper X at that?
Mind-blowing. Even in her wildest dreams, she couldn't have imagined such a plot.
But now Akira had already entered the elevator, so she quickly followed him. Thinking of what had happened in the elevator yesterday, she was a little scared, but the excitement was even greater.
However, when the two arrived at the 90th floor—their destination—Akira didn't lay a finger on her.
With a ding, Yukinoshita Haruno didn't have time to wonder before the completely transformed decor before her gave her goosebumps.
"Mr. Akira, this… this…"
Akira changed his shoes in the entryway and nodded indifferently. "That's right. This is the 90th floor."
The place Busujima Saeko had taken him. If he hadn't seen it, Akira wouldn't have finalized the template so quickly. He directly determined the function of this floor in Eroge.
Yukinoshita Haruno covered her mouth, sniffing the air that had no strange odors, and looking at the 90th floor, which had undergone a complete transformation overnight as if reborn from the inside out, her heart was filled with surging waves.
If she hadn't personally walked into and touched and felt this dojo-like building, she would absolutely not believe that this was something that could be changed overnight. Too amazing. No strange odors. Everything perfectly natural.
Pulling open the curtains in the room, outside the glass curtain wall was the scenery she was familiar with.
Who exactly is Akira? To be able to do something that overturns people's perceptions. How powerful is the force behind him!
Yukinoshita Haruno turned to look at Akira, who was holding two glasses of red wine and handed one to her.
"Don't be surprised. I left these floors mostly to convert them into places like this. Over there is the supermarket—life is quite convenient."
"Mr. Akira, do you mean that the floors below will become your future residence?"
Akira nodded. "Once they move out, I'll start the renovations. Gym, swimming pool, cinema… I'll build whatever I think of."
A confident smile appeared on his face, because all of this was within the capabilities of Eroge.
And hearing this, Yukinoshita Haruno couldn't imagine what kind of scene that would be.
Rich~! Inhumanly rich!
Her family's money, compared to Akira's, was merely a firefly to the bright moon—not worth mentioning. Naturally, she herself, in front of Akira, had no capital whatsoever.
"Then, Mr. Akira, can the Yukinoshita family continue to rent the ten floors above?"
Yukinoshita Haruno swallowed. She had never felt inferior to anyone since birth. But in front of Akira, she actually felt a bit humble.
"I said, it depends on the sincerity of your Yukinoshita family, right?"
"Then what sincerity does Mr. Akira want?"
Akira clinked Yukinoshita Haruno's wine glass. "No rush. I just came to check the decor here today. I still have some things to do later. Don't worry—I probably won't touch you today."
Not touching her today means he will touch her later.
"I have a mission—I need to finalize the renewal contract within three days. Now, there's only a day and a half left."
"So there's something like that, huh?" Akira stroked his chin, a hint of playfulness in his expression. "No rush. Tomorrow then. Prepare the contract and the rent tomorrow. The rent will be the same as before, with a symbolic increase of 10%."
Mr. Akira drank some red wine and made a decision casually. He had no concept of the rent here, but he assumed it wouldn't be low. Since the Yukinoshita family was not his yet, he would naturally do as he pleased.
"Thank you, Mr. Akira. Thank you!"
"Alright, you keep an eye on the other floors for me. Now that I've seen the place, I should go."
"Yes, Mr. Akira."
Yukinoshita Haruno had almost transformed into a personal secretary by Mr. Akira's side, completely docile.
Watching Mr. Akira drive away, she took out her phone and told this news to her mother, Mrs. Yukinoshita.
"Mom, Mr. Akira said this. And, just now, I personally saw the 90th floor, which had completely changed overnight."
Mrs. Yukinoshita grew more and more alarmed as she listened. She felt that the power behind Mr. Akira could crush the Yukinoshita family like an ant. Such a colossus—they absolutely had to maintain a good relationship.
"Haruno, you don't need to worry about company matters anymore. Just focus on Mr. Akira's side."
They chatted about this and that. The mother and daughter hung up the phone.
Now that the company no longer needs my management, isn't that basically a vacation? Moreover, my mother must have seen something to make this decision.
No—I still have to go up and have someone specifically monitor Mr. Akira's other nineteen floors.
"Senior Busujima, will Mr. Akira come? I haven't seen him at all!"
Kirigaya Suguha looked around the entrance of the gymnasium but didn't see the person she wanted to see. She was practically turning into a wall hugger.
Classmate Busujima, on the other hand, was much more relaxed. "Mr. Akira must be busy with something. But if he promised to come, he will definitely come. Suguha, you like Mr. Akira, don't you?"
"I do!"
Everything that should or shouldn't have happened already did—how could she not like him? He was handsome, good-tempered, knew how to handle things, and was capable. Aside from being broke and a convenience store clerk, he was practically perfect. Moreover, Mr. Akira was young and had a bright future ahead of him—he was definitely a huge potential stock. Anyone who didn't like him would be at a loss.
"Hmm, I can tell. It's all written on your face."
"Hmph, Senior Busujima, don't just talk about me. What about you? Why did you reject Mr. Akira?"
"Ah?"
Classmate Busujima was slightly stunned. When did I ever reject Mr. Akira? However, thinking about the things she had caused at school, she probably guessed why Kirigaya Suguha asked that.
A misunderstanding. A misunderstanding was fine too.
"Because of money."
Kirigaya Suguha's heart swelled with joy. Although Senior Busujima differed from the image of a master in her mind, she was grateful to Senior for being so generous and giving Mr. Akira to her.
At this moment, Hiratsuka Shizuka walked back, leading the students she had brought to enter.
"I'm not worried about your strength at all. But you cannot become complacent because of this. Especially Classmate Busujima and Kirigaya Suguha—you must prioritize stability and compete with style."
Classmate Busujima: "Yes, Teacher Shizuka."
Kirigaya Suguha: "Yes, Teacher Shizuka."
"Alright, take your bib numbers, go to your assigned groups, and good luck."
Hiratsuka Shizuka raised her arm and cheered, and the students' enthusiasm soared.
But after the excitement, Hiratsuka Shizuka leaned against the wall, feeling a bit lost.
In the end, I still haven't asked the question.
"Sigh, I'll ask after the competition ends. The competition is important—no uncertain factors should affect the children's performance."
At this moment, she saw a familiar figure in the stands and immediately turned and went through the corridor to the audience seats.
"Mr. Akira, it's been a month."
Hiratsuka Shizuka sat next to Mr. Akira, feigning nonchalance. "I didn't expect you to be a driver."
Mr. Akira was a bit speechless. Can I become a driver just by driving my own car?
"That's my car."
Tsk—why learn to care about face like others? But this was also normal. After all, he was just a hot-blooded youth.
"I know."
"Besides driving, are you very idle? With this time, you should find a few more part-time jobs or learn a skill."
Mr. Akira still repeated, "That car is mine."
"I know, I won't say it again. What's your phone number?"
Mr. Akira smiled. "Oh~! This is your real purpose, Shizuka-chan."
Hiratsuka Shizuka raised her fist and hit Mr. Akira, but the force was no different from a shy girlfriend's playful teasing.
At this moment, Kirigaya Suguha, who was looking around the venue, found Mr. Akira's location but saw that the team leader was sitting next to him. She immediately pulled back the hand she was about to raise.
That was the Iron Fist Teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka. If she found out I'm dating… the consequences were unimaginable.
However, this guy clearly saw me and was greeting me.
Hiratsuka Shizuka followed Mr. Akira's gaze and saw Classmate Busujima nodding politely in greeting. It seemed that Mr. Akira had a good relationship with Classmate Busujima. But she heard that Saeko was a rich man's girlfriend, so Mr. Akira must be that rich man's driver.
After cheering on Classmate Busujima, Hiratsuka Shizuka withdrew her gaze and returned to the topic they were just discussing.
"What's your phone number? For children like you, it's also the responsibility of teachers like us."
Mr. Akira smiled without speaking, took the phone Hiratsuka Shizuka handed him, and directly saved himself as "Husband."
Although Hiratsuka Shizuka did have that intention, it was too obvious, so she took the phone back and changed it.
"Shizuka-chan, you're not just planning to ask for my number, are you?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka, of course, didn't just want his number. She also wanted to ask him out tonight to drink at her place. Of course, her true intention was not the wine, but Mr. Akira. But saying it directly would be a bit embarrassing, and besides, she was a girl.
"Yes."
Da da da~!
The athletes below had already started competing, but there was basically nothing to watch. Except for Kirigaya Suguha and Classmate Busujima, one of them was going to take a long time.
"How much longer until your team members are on?"
"Their numbers are quite late—it should be about half an hour."
"Then I'll go out for some fresh air and come back."
With that, Mr. Akira got up and walked out.
Hiratsuka Shizuka thought for a moment and quietly followed. Just past the corner, she bumped right into Mr. Akira's arms. She was a bit flustered, thinking of using a "bathroom break" excuse to get away. But Mr. Akira didn't play by the rules at all and directly held her in his arms.
Mr. Akira started God's Hand with a mischievous smile. Then he pressed his ear against the wall, using Wall Hugger for the first time. Instantly, all sounds within a three-thousand-meter radius sphere centered on Mr. Akira converged into his ears. Those sound waves struck the walls, creating tiny vibrations, indirectly depicting the surrounding environment in Mr. Akira's mind.
Not bad. I thought it was just listening to sounds, like radar—I didn't expect to be able to depict scenes.
"What are you doing, Mr. Akira? This isn't on the tram."
Hiratsuka Shizuka feigned anger, but it was clear that her gentle resistance was more like an invitation. An 80% conquest progress was not just for show. Reaching that value meant she was no different from Mr. Akira's person. It was precisely because of this that he dared to be so direct and bold here.
"There's no one else here."
"What if someone comes over?"
"Then let's go somewhere else."
The sudden attack piqued Hiratsuka Shizuka's interest. "But it's only been a month, and you're already this bold?"
"It's all because Shizuka-chan taught me so well."
"There aren't many people in the gym. Let's go to the restroom."
Hiratsuka Shizuka half-resisted, half-yielded, and was led by Mr. Akira to a restroom stall.
"Will no one really come here?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka felt a little guilty. This situation was no less intense than the scene on the tram that day. And just thinking about that day made her heart pound and her excitement rise.
Could it be that she actually liked this feeling? No—it was because of Mr. Akira. She was like this because of him. That experience a month ago was truly unforgettable. Just thinking about it made her heart tremble.
"No one will come."
Mr. Akira said with certainty. The faucet here was leaking—which was why he had found such a perfect spot.
"This is crazy."
But—let myself go crazy.
After holding back for a month, the gate was opened again, and it couldn't end hastily.
Hiratsuka Shizuka brushed her hair back and squatted down.
"Come on, hurry up."
As a teacher, the strange sense of immorality gave her an unusual excitement. She was the team leader, and the students were still competing. But she ran over here… It was all Mr. Akira's fault—he pressed the button, making her strange and out of control.
"Shizuka-chan, turn around like this."
The first effect of Beast Tamer activated, and the world became more vivid.
Huh? Where is Mr. Akira?
Kirigaya Suguha was about to go on stage and kept looking toward the stands. But there were only so many people watching—it was clear at a glance.
At this moment, Akira returned to his seat. And Hiratsuka Shizuka also returned to her position, full of energy.
"Number 113 versus Number 114."
Kirigaya Suguha went on stage, and a burly man stood before her.
"A new face—I haven't seen him last year. Little girl, hurry up and get down. If I make you cry, all the boys around will definitely say I'm bullying a girl."
Kirigaya Suguha took out her wooden sword. "Then say that when you can win."
"Ready!"
Both sides got into position.
"Begin."
In an instant, Kirigaya Suguha moved. Her bamboo sword didn't meet her opponent's slash but rather dodged to the side with a horizontal cut. In a flash of lightning, the wooden sword had already stopped at the burly man's neck.
The burly man's face was ashen, his forehead covered in fine sweat. If this wasn't a competition, even with a wooden sword, he would already be hospitalized.
"I surrender."
The burly man raised his hands in surrender, and Kirigaya Suguha won easily.
"So amazing—is this the strength of last year's national eighth place?"
"What do you know? Today she's faster and cleaner than last year."
And just then, with a thwack, the sound of a bamboo sword breaking came from somewhere.
"Number 167 wins!"
Busujima Saeko sheathed her sword and bowed—elegant like a warrior who had traveled from ancient times.
"She split her opponent's wooden sword in half with one move, and her own wooden sword was unharmed. This power is invincible."
"Why isn't she cheating?"
"That's last year's first place, and the wooden sword is provided by the venue, not brought by herself. You'll know if you try it yourself."
"Wow~! This power—she'll probably be first again this year."
"Number 114, who was eighth last year, is also very strong. I feel like they're evenly matched."
Amidst the discussions, the two descended from the stage, waiting for the next match.
There were six competition stages, divided into six groups. Only the first place in each group could advance to the semifinals. Kirigaya Suguha and Busujima Saeko were not in the same group. If they were lucky, they would only meet in the ranking battle of the finals.
So, without any surprises, Kirigaya Suguha and Busujima Saeko secured their tickets to the semifinals. Among the six finalists, only they could represent their school's Kendo Club and advance to higher venues.
"Delicious!"
After the competition, Kirigaya Suguha and Busujima Saeko decided to rest for a night. To celebrate, Akira generously treated them to meat.
After eating until they were fully satisfied, the two arrived at Busujima's dojo in Akira's car.
"It's strange, Suguha—you didn't even ask me whose car this is."
Kirigaya Suguha looked at Akira and rolled her eyes. "A convenience store clerk with amnesia—it's definitely not yours."
Just then, all three of their phones rang simultaneously.
Hero Association S-Class Hero ranking change: Ranked Sixth in S-Class—Akira.
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