"It's still early. I remember there's a car dealership not far ahead. Shall we go take a look?"
Kitahara suggested.
"Ah…"
Hitori was clearly a bit flustered.
"A-are we going to the car dealership so soon?"
"Don't be nervous," Kitahara raised his right hand and rubbed Hitori's small head. "You'll get your driver's license soon, and we're just going to look and ask about prices, not necessarily buy now."
"Okay…"
Hitori agreed with a flushed face, her gaze flickering, wanting to say something but hesitating.
"What do you want to say, Hitori?"
Kitahara asked gently.
"Well…" Hitori stammered, saying weakly, "I feel like… the instructor's scooter is really good…"
Good heavens, you're eyeing the instructor's vehicle!
It's not that the instructor's scooter is better to ride; it's that you're worried you won't be used to a new one, right!
"Don't even think about the instructor's vehicle," Kitahara said decisively. "We'll buy a new scooter directly. We'll get used to it quickly after riding it around for a bit."
"…"
A moment later.
Kitahara and Hitori received their brand-new driver's licenses, then rode their bicycles away from the driving school. Before long, they arrived at a nearby car dealership.
"Welcome."
A uniformed staff member came up to them, smiling professionally.
"How can I help you two?"
Facing strangers, Hitori's social anxiety flared up again, and she hid behind Kitahara with a flushed face.
Kitahara was in charge of 'diplomacy'.
"We just got our scooter licenses from the driving school and would like to look at suitable vehicles."
"Certainly." The staff member bowed slightly and said, "May I see your driver's licenses?"
"Here."
Kitahara handed over the scooter license.
The female staff member took it with both hands, examined it carefully, and after confirming their permitted vehicle type, quickly began to explain.
"You two are not yet adults, so according to the law, you can only choose certain models…"
After understanding the relevant information and seeing that Hitori still dared not speak, Kitahara simply said, "We'd like to look around by ourselves now."
"Please feel free."
The staff member bowed and left.
"Hitori, the person has left," Kitahara said gently. "You can lift your head now."
"Ah…"
Hitori then quietly lifted her small head.
"All the scooters in this area are models we can buy," Kitahara said, pointing. "See if there's a style you like."
"Th-there are too many…"
Hitori glanced over and found dozens of models in front of her, making her dizzy.
Kitahara said softly, "The prices of these models don't vary much, meaning their quality is actually quite similar. They will certainly fulfill basic commuting functions, so you don't need to worry about details like model or displacement. Just choose the style that catches your eye the most."
"Mmm…"
Hitori pursed her lips, a troubled expression appearing on her small face; her indecisiveness had clearly flared up again.
"They all look so good…"
"Choose the one you first saw," Kitahara said from beside her. "A person's first impression is super important, just like when I first met Hitori at the train station. My first thought at that time was…"
Hitori quickly perked up her small ears, secretly listening intently.
Unfortunately, after waiting and waiting, she didn't hear anything more, so she could only secretly look up and steal a glance at Kitahara.
Then she saw Kitahara smiling, gazing at her.
"I-I'm sorry..."
Hitori's face quickly flushed red, and she hurriedly lowered her head in panic.
Kitahara smiled and said:
"Hitori, do you want to know my first impression of you at that time?"
"..."
Although Hitori wanted to pretend to be an ostrich, her curiosity ultimately got the better of her, and she stammered in a low voice:
"I-I want to know..."
Kitahara smiled, extended a finger, poked the girl's soft, smooth cheek, and then said:
"My first impression at the time was of a pitiful, weak, and helpless lost elementary school student, who wouldn't dare tell her teachers or parents if she was taken advantage of, right?"
Hitori: "..."
(H-How mean!)
(Give back my anticipation from just now!)
"That small motorcycle... it looks very nice."
Hitori pointed a finger towards a coffee-colored Honda Cub in the corner.
"A Honda Cub, huh..."
Kitahara, holding Hitori's hand, walked over to the coffee-colored Honda Cub.
The Honda Cub has a huge ownership rate among the common people in Japan, with cumulative sales exceeding 100 million units. It's similar to the Wuling Hongguang in the Heavenly Dynasty, and its displacement happens to be suitable for high school students. It has appeared in many anime, such as "Super Cub" and "Laid-Back Camp," among others.
"Hitori, you have luck taste. This Honda Cub is indeed very beautiful."
Kitahara praised her.
Hitori widened her eyes, her gaze falling on the price tag:
"But it's so expensive..."
Kitahara said casually:
"This price is quite normal."
"I-I don't have that much money..."
Hitori lowered her head.
Kitahara asked softly:
"Hitori, have you asked your aunt and uncle for pocket money?"
"No," Hitori stammered in a low voice, "Mom and Dad work very hard to support the family, especially Dad, who is always on business trips and has occupational diseases like back pain, so..."
Although she worked part-time at the shop, Hitori's earnings mostly went towards performance payments. She also felt that buying a small motorcycle was just to satisfy her 'personal desires,' so she was completely embarrassed to ask her family for money.
Kitahara tried to say:
"How about I lend it to Hitori?"
"..."
Hitori's head immediately shook like a rattle-drum.
"Alright, just as expected."
Kitahara sighed helplessly.
If it were Ryo, she would have already reached out for money. Unfortunately, Hitori clearly didn't have that thick skin. Even if he offered to lend her money, Hitori still wouldn't agree.
After looking at other motorcycles for a while, Kitahara took Hitori's small hand:
"That's all for today. Let's go back first."
Since Hitori was unwilling to ask her family for money, then he would 'open up new sources.' He just needed to buy a scratch-off ticket, and then everything would naturally fall into place... With the fox mask, winning the lottery would definitely not be a problem.
The problem was that Kitahara was worried about winning a big prize. If the luck was too strong, the bad luck might also become stronger.
"Please take care, both of you."
The staff member said with a smile:
"Tomorrow our shop is holding an anniversary event. If you two are interested, you can come and participate in the lottery. The first prize is a motorcycle."
Kitahara's eyes lit up, and he turned to look at Hitori:
"Hitori, let's come tomorrow to draw for the small motorcycle."
The value of a small motorcycle wasn't high, so even if they won the first prize, he wouldn't have to worry about the bad luck being too terrifying. So, there was no need to buy scratch-off tickets.
"Ah...?"
Hitori looked up blankly.
(The first prize must be very difficult to win. Kitahara-kun is a bit too confident, isn't he?)
Leading Hitori out of the car dealership, Kitahara explained softly:
"When I went to the summer festival with Kita before, I obtained a special item that can grant one the [luck] attribute for a short period, making wishes come true..."
After listening to Kitahara's description, Hitori couldn't help but feel a flutter in her heart, yet also a bit conflicted:
"That... wouldn't it be considered cheating?"
Kitahara said righteously:
"A prize won by luck, of course, isn't cheating."
Hitori: "..."
After sending Hitori home, Kitahara rode his bicycle to the park and began his fitness routine for the day.
Half an hour later.
Kitahara, who had easily run ten kilometers, exhaled lightly and rode his bicycle leisurely home.
"Two fitness tasks have been completed. The third task is to do one evil deed a day, and the fourth task will be troublesome..."
[Daily Task Four: Warm Hugs]
[Task Requirement: Warm people's hearts with your embrace. Target: Seika. Hug duration must not be shorter than three minutes.]
This was the first time Kitahara had gotten a task related to Seika, but unfortunately, it was a hellish difficulty right from the start.
Hug Seika for three minutes?
Given Seika's tsundere personality, she would 100% not agree!
"If the designated character was Nijika-senpai, that would be great..."
Kitahara sighed helplessly:
"I'll take it one step at a time. If I really can't complete it, I'll just have to give up."
In a flash, it was lunchtime.
The girls came over one after another as usual to have lunch together, and incidentally, to recharge the Kessoku Band.
Soyo went to visit her grandmother today and didn't come, so the cooking task was given to Nijika.
Seeing Nijika come over, Kitahara handed her the cooking towel, simply acting as a hands-off boss. However, he quickly noticed that Nijika's brows were filled with worry today, and couldn't help but ask:
"What's wrong, Senpai?"
Nijika bit her lower lip with her pearly teeth and said:
"My sister... is a bit off."
Kitahara felt a little guilty, thinking that his secret with the manager had been discovered, but his expression remained calm:
"What's wrong with the manager? Can she still not get out of bed?"
"She can barely get out of bed now..."
Nijika bit her lower lip and said softly:
"Ever since the safety department came to inspect yesterday, my sister has been completely down. From yesterday until now, she hasn't said more than a few words, and she's only eaten a little. Last night, I specifically bought her favorite unagi don, but she didn't eat that either... My sister must have encountered something to become like this, but when I ask her, she doesn't say a word."
"I see, so it has nothing to do with me..."
"Eh?"
Kitahara nonchalantly changed the subject:
"The manager's personality is just like that. She always likes to hide things in her heart and bear them alone, which makes people anxious."
"Exactly," Nijika wrinkled her delicate nose and complained softly, "I'm already seventeen, not a child anymore. Even if something really happened, I can share the burden with my sister."
Nijika said, looking up, and clasped her hands together, softly pleading:
"So, could I trouble Kitahara-kun to ask the answer book?"
"My sister's current state is too worrying. I can't put my mind at ease, please, please~"
"Of course, no problem," Kitahara readily agreed, "Nijika-senpai, if you want the answer book, you can just take it and use it yourself. After all, it's marital common property..."
"Pfft~"
Nijika's pretty face quickly flushed red, and she couldn't help but glare at him:
"It's not common property!"
"..."
A moment later.
Kitahara brought the answer book and handed it to Nijika for questioning.
Whoosh.
A line of text quickly appeared silently on the blank page.
[The shop is operating illegally and has safety hazards, it will be forced to close...]
"Eh?!"
Nijika's body trembled slightly, as if struck by lightning:
"The shop is actually going to be forced to close?!"
"No wonder my sister has been so off these past two days. The shop is all of my sister's hard work..."
The shop is located on the first basement floor. Every customer is required to purchase a drink, each priced at 500 yen, not including concert tickets. The reason for this is that STARRY obtained its business license as a restaurant, and thus does not have the qualification to host band performances.
If no abnormal incidents had occurred, they might have been able to barely get by, but unfortunately, an anomaly broke out in the shop two days ago. When the safety department came to inspect, the problems could not be concealed. It was quite normal for them to be ordered to close the shop; it wasn't arbitrary enforcement.
"Why... why does my sister have to bear it all alone...?"
Seeing the misty tears quickly welling up in Nijika's eyes, Kitahara simply reached out and placed his hand on Nijika's head, saying gently:
"Don't panic, I'll take care of the shop's matters."
Nijika's eyes were teary:
"But... but Kitahara-kun is just a high school student..."
If he were just an ordinary high school student, he would naturally be helpless in this situation, but Kitahara was no ordinary person.
"Nijika-senpai, you should know what kind of country Japan is, right?"
Kitahara raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Eh?"
Nijika blinked blankly, clearly not understanding.
Kitahara didn't keep her in suspense:
"Japan is a standard capitalist country. With money, not only can you make ghosts push mills, but you can even make mills push ghosts."
Nijika: "..."
"Anyway, Nijika-senpai, rest assured. I will handle this matter." Kitahara waved his hand, "Today's cooking is up to Nijika-senpai."
"Then I'll leave it to Kitahara-kun." Nijika sniffed, and her voice quickly returned to its usual clear tone, "Leave the cooking to me."
Since Kitahara said he could solve it, Nijika naturally chose to trust him.
Kitahara lowered his voice and said:
"I'll go find Seika-nee first. After the problem is solved, Nijika-senpai, don't forget to give me a special reward."
Nijika's pretty face quickly flushed red, and she shyly snapped:
"...Don't have your head full of lewdness!"
"..."
After comforting Nijika, Kitahara called Hana and turned to head to the Ijichi house.
Stepping out of the mirror, the landing spot was Nijika's room.
Kitahara pushed the door open and walked out of the room. As soon as he arrived in the living room, he smelled a strong scent of alcohol. His gaze swept across the room, and he saw Seika sitting on the sofa, with several wine bottles scattered on the table in front of her, clearly drowning her sorrows in alcohol.
"Seika-nee, stop drinking."
Kitahara frowned slightly, stepped forward, and took the wine glass from Seika's hand.
Moderate drinking is good for the body and mind, but excessive drinking is very harmful to the body.
Seika lifted her pretty face, her eyes hazy with drunkenness:
"Perverted brat... why are you here?"
Kitahara subtly twitched the corner of his mouth:
"What did Seika-nee call me?"
"The little brat with a head full of lewdness... that's you."
"..."