Hikari shook his head and said, "That's still a long way off. Right now, I just want to take down that drug-making group as soon as possible and save the other people they're harming. I can also help you earn some credit first."
Hearing that, Ikazuchi Rika couldn't help laughing, "You really are a kind-hearted person, Hikari-kun."
"Helping me earn credit? You should focus on your studies first."
"Oh right, Hikari-kun. You've helped me so much this time. After everything is settled, I'll treat you to a meal. And if you ever have any troubles or difficult problems, you can come to me."
"Also, you're still so young. Don't keep calling me 'Investigator Ikazuchi' so seriously. It sounds strange."
"If you don't mind, just call me big sister. Having such a capable little brother feels pretty nice."
Hearing that, Hikari didn't stand on ceremony and immediately called out, "Big Sister Rika!"
Building a good relationship with Ikazuchi Rika so he could make use of the Metropolitan Police Department's resources when needed had been one of Hikari's goals from the start, so calling her that didn't bother him at all.
And seeing the young and handsome Hikari call her big sister made Ikazuchi Rika quite happy as well. She answered with a smile.
"Yep!"
After responding, she couldn't help reaching out and pinching his cheeks, "Your face looks so fair and soft. Honestly, I wanted to touch it the moment we met."
Seeing her actions, Hikari could only conclude that his appearance combined with the pure-love aura was working again, maybe even getting stronger. Before, it had mainly been effective on mature women and married women. Now it seemed to work just as well on older-sister types.
While his thoughts wandered, he still asked, "Then why didn't you touch it earlier?"
Ikazuchi Rika laughed, "Because I was worried you'd accuse me, an investigator, of harassing a male high school student."
Hikari smiled, "Not worried now?"
Ikazuchi Rika laughed, "Of course not. You're my little brother now. What am I afraid of? Isn't it only natural for a big sister to bully her little brother?"
Hikari said, "We're not actually related. Just sworn siblings."
"That still counts. What, you've got a problem with it?"
Ikazuchi Rika put her hands on her hips confidently.
Looking at her like that, Hikari could only raise both hands, "No objections."
Seeing his reaction, Ikazuchi Rika couldn't help laughing again.
"Hmph! Good that you know what's best. Your big sister here has quite the background, you know~"
Although she sounded like she was joking, Hikari knew it was true.
He knew that Ikazuchi Rika's father held a high position within the Metropolitan Police Department. She really was the daughter of an important official.
In any case, accepting this sworn sister would definitely be useful in the future.
After that, Hikari chatted with this newly acquainted and enthusiastic sworn sister for a while longer.
Once they had agreed on a time for tomorrow's surveillance operation, Hikari finally parted ways with Ikazuchi Rika.
———
However, while walking home alone, his phone suddenly rang.
After glancing at the caller ID, he quickly answered.
"Hello, Principal. What's up?"
The caller was none other than Sumeragi Rikka, the principal of St. Seika Girls' Academy.
Sumeragi Rikka replied irritably, ["What else could it be? Did you think I was calling because I wanted to take advantage of you again? Of course it's because I need you to fulfill your duties as an external teacher and provide physical and mental counseling to one of our students!"]
"I really thought the principal was planning to take advantage of her subordinate again."
Hikari laughed and joked before asking, "Which student is under pressure this time? Kisaragi Tomoe? Katou Mio? Or our adorable student council president Louisa?"
["None of them. It's a new student,"] Sumeragi Rikka said.
"Oh?"
Hikari raised an eyebrow.
["She's the daughter of a prestigious noble family..."], Sumeragi Rikka said slowly.
"Oh? Then I guess I should take this seriously and be extra polite."
["There's no need to be that formal. With your abilities, this job shouldn't be a problem at all,"] Sumeragi Rikka laughed.
"I still need to take my work seriously. And right now, I really do need a shower."
Hikari glanced at his slightly damp clothes covered in sand.
Earlier, he had sparred with the beautiful investigator Ikazuchi Rika in a children's sandbox. Even though he had been in control the entire time, some sand had inevitably gotten on him.
As for the dampness, that was because of Ikazuchi Rika.
More specifically, because of her sweat.
So being covered in sand and smelling of sweat, then going to provide physical and mental counseling to a noble young lady, felt a bit inappropriate.
Since he had chosen this profession, he intended to take it seriously.
He considered it necessary to go home and clean up first.
Hearing his insistence, Sumeragi Rikka could only say, ["Alright then. I'll send you the address and tell her you'll arrive a little later."]
["But don't take too long, Hikari-kun. Don't keep her waiting~
Hikari smiled, "Don't worry. I'll be there on time."
After memorizing the hotel address Sumeragi Rikka sent him, Hikari hailed a taxi and had the driver take him back to Asou Apartments.
———
After returning home, Hikari first did some simple exercise and completed several sets of pelvic floor training, preparing himself for the work entrusted to him by St. Seika Girls' Academy.
Just as he had worked up a slight sweat and was about to take a shower, a hurried knock suddenly sounded at the door.
Having just taken off his shirt, Hikari turned and walked toward the entrance.
After opening the door and seeing the curvy figure outside, he raised an eyebrow slightly.
And when the beautiful woman saw him, she lowered her head a little, embarrassment showing on her face.
———
[About Two Hours Ago]
Azuma Hisato and Norihiko left home at the same time as Hikari and met him in the hallway.
After going downstairs, Hikari headed straight to Yoshida Saki's home and helped her resolve the crisis that might have caused her to "transform."
Meanwhile, Azuma Hisato and Norihiko went to Norihiko's workplace, Gouzo Corporation.
As soon as they arrived, the receptionist at the entrance led them directly to a reception room on the top floor.
Sitting in the company's reception room, Azuma Hisato felt uneasy.
She had been a housewife for quite some time and no longer worked, so she wasn't used to places like this.
She had originally wanted to seek some reassurance from her fiance, Norihiko.
After all, he was a regular office worker and an employee of this company.
But when she turned to look, she discovered that Norihiko was in even worse shape than she was.
It looked as though the chair beneath him was burning hot. He kept shifting around while constantly wiping sweat from his forehead with tissues.
Well, considering he had caused such huge losses for the company, his nervousness was understandable.
With a sigh, Azuma Hisato picked up the tea in front of her and took a sip.
Just as she set the cup down, the door to the president's office across from the reception room suddenly opened.
A fat man walked out.
He wore a suit and tie. Although he was overweight and not particularly attractive, he carried himself with authority. Every step gave off the presence of someone in power.
The moment Norihiko saw him, he immediately stood and hurried over.
"President Kamezo!"
Norihiko bowed deeply and respectfully greeted Kamezo Gouzo, the company president.
"So, Norihiko-san, you're here."
Kamezo Gouzo smiled and patted Norihiko's shoulder before helping him straighten up.
The two walked over to Azuma Hisato.
Kamezo Gouzo quietly swept his gaze over her full figure and beautiful face before greeting her.
"It's been a long time, Mrs. Hisato."
"Hello, President Kamezo."
Azuma Hisato politely replied, neither warm nor cold, then said nothing further.
The reason was simple.
She had never had a good impression of him.
She felt that he often stared at her body with a lecherous look, and something about him made her uncomfortable.
Seeing his fiancee treating the company president this way, Norihiko became anxious.
Kamezo Gouzo, however, showed no reaction and simply gestured for Norihiko to sit down.
Norihiko immediately returned to the sofa.
Kamezo Gouzo sat opposite the couple.
A coffee table separated the three of them.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Kamezo Gouzo got straight to the point.
"Norihiko-san, you know why I asked you to come today, don't you?"
Hearing that, Norihiko shuddered, "Y-Yes! It's... because of my ordering mistake that caused massive losses for the company, right?"
Kamezo Gouzo nodded, "That's right. Norihiko-san, the losses you've caused this time are extremely serious. More than one hundred million yen. A full hundred million plus."
Cold sweat immediately covered Norihiko's forehead.
For a moment, he couldn't find any words.
Looking at his frightened appearance, Kamezo Gouzo continued, "Although the company will try to cover the loss, you still need to take responsibility for the hundred million yen you cost us. What do you intend to do? Are you planning to repay the shortfall directly?"
Hearing that, Norihiko's legs nearly gave out beneath him.
"N-No... it's too much... I..."
Beside him, Azuma Hisato tightly gripped her thigh and clenched her teeth after hearing the amount.
Still, she forced herself to stay calm and answered for her fiance.
"President, we're sorry. We can't afford that debt right now..."
The moment she finished speaking, Kamezo Gouzo immediately replied, "Yes, I know. You two recently bought a house, didn't you? It hasn't even been fully renovated yet, and you're still paying the mortgage."
"Yes..."
Azuma Hisato nodded helplessly.
She and Norihiko had used all their savings and taken out loans to buy that house.
It was supposed to be their marital home after marriage.
Under normal circumstances, Norihiko's salary would have been enough to handle the pressure.
They had never expected something like this to happen.
Now, the mortgage combined with the company's losses was becoming impossible to bear.
Kamezo Gouzo looked at the grim expressions of the young couple and savored the despair, sadness, helplessness, and other emotions on their faces.
Only after those feelings had nearly fermented into something unbearably bitter did he finally speak.
"Actually, repaying the company's losses doesn't only have to be done through direct repayment."
"I can offer you another solution."
The moment they heard that, both Azuma Hisato and Norihiko looked up at him.
Norihiko was especially excited.
"What... what solution?"
"President, what other way is there for me to repay the debt?"
"I'll do anything I can!"
Hearing that and seeing the hope in Azuma Hisato's eyes as well, a trace of satisfaction flashed through Kamezo Gouzo's eyes.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
"It's simple. Let your wife, Mrs. Hisato here, work as my secretary to repay the debt. How about that?"
"H-How can that work?"
Azuma Hisato instinctively wanted to refuse.
She strongly resisted the idea.
The way Kamezo Gouzo sometimes looked at her made her sick.
On one occasion, he had even made inappropriate jokes toward her.
It could practically be considered sexual harassment.
So the moment he proposed this arrangement, she immediately felt that something was wrong and wanted to reject it.
Beside her, Norihiko also frowned.
He wasn't happy that his beautiful wife had suddenly become part of the discussion.
Seeing the young couple's reactions, Kamezo Gouzo wasn't surprised at all.
He simply smiled, "What's wrong with paying off debt through work? She'd only be acting as a secretary. There's no need for Mrs. Hisato to resist so strongly."
Then he turned to Norihiko.
"Norihiko-san, if you can't accept my proposal and also can't repay the company's debt of more than a hundred million yen, then you may very well end up in prison because of it."
Hearing those words, Norihiko swallowed hard.
Cold sweat poured from his forehead.
All dissatisfaction with the proposal instantly vanished, replaced entirely by fear.
Trembling, he turned toward Azuma Hisato.
"H-Hisato-chan..."
His voice sounded half like pleading and half like begging.
Seeing her fiance like that, Azuma Hisato felt terrible.
She looked at Kamezo Gouzo's fat face, which she found deeply unpleasant.
Then she thought about the possibility of Norihiko going to prison.
In the end, despite her reluctance, she forced herself to agree.
"T-Then... let's do as President Kamezo suggested. I... I'll work as your secretary for a period of time and repay the losses my fiance caused the company."
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