Chapter 193
Hearing Mineo's words, Nico's expression froze.
A split second later, she suddenly stood up and slammed her hands onto the table.
"Are you stalking me?!"
"Stalking you? I don't exactly have that much free time on my hands..."
"Then why were you digging into my business?!"
"Because I care about you... besides, Nico, you're one of my best friends, aren't you?"
That simple sentence from Mineo instantly made Nico stiffen in place. A few seconds passed before she bit her lower lip and looked down, her gaze fixed on the floor.
"I... I don't need anyone's pity!"
"But... I never said this was pity. If a friend's concern is seen as nothing more than pity, then the world would be a pretty miserable place, wouldn't it?"
Mineo leaned back against the sofa, meeting Nico's eyes.
"Let's put the matter of μ's aside for a moment. Right now, I just want to talk about you and me."
"We've known each other for three years. And in my heart, Nico, you really are a dear friend that I treasure."
"If my friend is in trouble and I don't have the power to help, that's one thing. But since I do have the ability to help, if I just stood by and did nothing, then what would be the difference between a friend and a total stranger?"
"As for this laptop, don't overthink it. It's just a gesture of my own goodwill. Since it's something you like, it's not an exaggeration for me to buy it and give it to you!"
"Of course, if Nico-chan still feels uneasy about it, you can just pay me back later once you've started making your own money."
"Now, let's talk about something else."
Watching Nico, Mineo paused for a moment to think before continuing.
"A few days ago, I bought several shop units in Akihabara. One of them is a supermarket, and the scale is actually quite large."
"However, that supermarket is currently short-staffed. I haven't really been managing it, so the internal operations are constantly running at a loss."
"I want to run the shop properly now, but as you know, I'm Chinese. I'm not that familiar with the environment here in Tokyo, and I don't really have any acquaintances other than you guys."
"I'm also Nico's good friend, so when I'm in a spot where I need help, Nico should think of a way to help me too."
"I heard from your neighbors that your mother used to work as a supermarket clerk for a very long time—that she even won an award for being the best employee."
"So, I want to hire your mother as the manager of my supermarket. At the same time, you'll have to work part-time at my shop as well."
"I know you still have two younger sisters and your mother needs to look after them, but I think that's an easy fix."
"Just let your mother bring your sisters along while she works. My shop doesn't have many strict rules. As long as the job gets done well, I don't have a problem with her bringing the kids or even if she has to step out for a bit."
"That way, your mother will also have time to take care of your father."
"Nico, what do you think of my idea?"
Hearing Mineo's proposal, Nico clenched her fists tightly. She bit her lip so hard it looked as if it might bleed.
"You jerk... and you're still claiming you don't pity me?"
"I told you, I don't need help!"
"You're right, you don't need help! But *I* am the one who needs helping!"
Seeing the stubborn Nico in front of him, Mineo rubbed his forehead helplessly.
"Besides, if Nico doesn't agree to help me at the shop, it'll probably just go bankrupt."
"I don't really understand supermarket management. With your help and your mother's, I might actually be able to make a lot of money."
"If Nico isn't willing to help me with this, I'm going to have a real headache. If my shop goes under, I might actually end up begging for food on the streets."
"We're best friends. You wouldn't just leave me in a bind without helping me, right...?"
Nico knew that Mineo was helping her in a way she couldn't easily refuse. Because of that, a surge of emotion that she couldn't quite describe welled up in her heart.
Not daring to look Mineo directly in the eye, Nico lowered her head and stared at her own feet.
"Why are you doing all this for me, Mineo? You don't have a reason for this, do you?"
"In this world, not everything you do needs a reason. If Nico really needs one, the reason is that doing this makes me happy!"
"It's just like spending money to eat good food or playing something fun. I get happiness through consumption."
"And right now, I'm not just helping Nico—it's because doing this makes me feel very happy."
"After all, I like seeing my friends being happy..."
Not long after, Nico officially resigned from her part-time job at the shop where she worked. Following Mineo, she arrived at the shop he had opened in Akihabara.
Sure enough, under Mineo's "hands-off" management style, the supermarket was not being run very well at all. Nico looked around and whispered under her breath.
"With the way you're running things, it's no wonder your shop is failing!"
"That's exactly why I need your help, Nico. Alright, now that you've finished looking around the shop, can you invite me over to your house? I'd like to have a proper chat with your mother about this."
At Mineo's words, Nico looked up and shot him a glance.
"Don't you have a date scheduled soon?"
"The date isn't that urgent. I'll just give Honoka and the others a call."
After getting Nico settled and familiar with the supermarket, Mineo followed her back to her home.
The moment Nico opened the door, a tiny, adorable version of Nico wearing fuzzy indoor slippers trotted over obediently.
"Big sis! You're home!"
Dressed in a long white shirt and a long yellow skirt, Nico's younger sister, Yazawa Cocoro, was truly the definition of cute.
Seeing her sweet and obedient expression, Mineo felt a sudden urge to give her a hug.
"Are you Nico's sister, Yazawa Cocoro? It's a pleasure to meet you."
Cocoro had originally thought her big sister was coming home alone, but seeing a "big brother" suddenly standing behind her, she was taken by surprise.
"Big brother... who are you?"
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