Chapter 121. Middlemen Profit from Arbitrage
As evening arrived, Xander, having just finished class with Ken Sugisaki and the others, was lying comfortably on Kaguya's lap pillow, eating the fruit she had peeled for him.
Honestly, lying on a pretty girl's legs while listening to three good bros work in earnest is actually pretty great.
In the afternoon, Kaguya had headed back alone and kept him company the whole afternoon.
He lifted his head.
Unlike with Seele and Mei, here he could directly see Kaguya's gaze looking down at him.
"What are you looking at this lady for?"
She bent down a little, lifted a hand, and used her little finger to hook the loose black hair behind her ear.
Kaguya's voice was very gentle, carrying a hint of mature charm.
"Nothing much.
It just feels novel that I can see your face from here.
With Seele and Bronya I can't…"
Of course, he muttered that last sentence under his breath, so Kaguya didn't catch it and showed a puzzled look.
"Hm?
Why—"
"Kaguya, Xander, we're back~"
Before Kaguya could finish, Kiana's voice came from far away.
He looked toward the direction of the voice and immediately saw that silly big braided ponytail swinging back and forth.
"You're really living the comfy life, huh."
Even after running around all day, Kiana's face wasn't red and she wasn't out of breath when she ran over.
That stamina is something else.
"If you're jealous, just say it.
I'll give you a chance to use my lap pillow."
Propping himself up on the grass, Xander arched his brow and spoke.
"R-really?"
Looking at Kaguya still kneeling there and smiling at her, Kiana's throat bobbed.
That gentle, beautiful look made her so excited she was a little nervous.
"Of course!"
No sooner had he agreed than Xander patted his own thigh before Kiana could rejoice.
"Well?
If you want it, then come.
One time only, offer expires soon~"
By this point, Kiana couldn't fail to realize she was being teased.
She immediately pulled a face of disdain and opened her mouth to refuse, but on second thought she relaxed her brow and said with a grin, "Sure.
Is there a time limit?"
"Of course it's today only."
"Deal!
Don't go back on it.
You owe me one lap pillow today!"
Seeing Kiana so happy, this time it was Xander who frowned.
"Of course I won't go back on it.
But what are you planning?"
"Heh-heh, that's a secret~"
She blinked mysteriously.
Just then, the voices of the others drifted over from not far away.
"K-Kiana, y-you… why did you run so fast…"
Sirin was basically dragging herself along.
She braced her hands on her knees, her face flushed red from exhaustion, and even speaking took several breaths.
Thankfully, the livestream had ended long ago, so she didn't have to broadcast this embarrassing state.
Seele, Bronya, and Mei were doing much better.
They also panted twice, but recovered quickly.
"Come on, you're just too slow!"
Kiana turned around, suddenly took Kaguya by the hand, and walked toward Seele and Bronya.
Under the three girls' puzzled gazes, she announced smugly, "I've got a one-day-only Xander lap-pillow service.
Anyone interested?"
Smiling like that, she looked exactly like a shady merchant.
"Brother?"
"Lap-pillow service?"
"Huh?"
Kaguya blinked, then couldn't help laughing.
So that was why Kiana agreed just now.
"Yep.
Anytime today works.
Not tempted?
Highest bidder wins~"
Behind her, Xander's expression became… complicated.
Kiana wasn't keeping this quiet at all.
Who says Kiana is dumb?!
I object first!
"Hmph.
Selling something like that—aren't you looking down on us a bit too much?"
Arms folded, Bronya spoke proudly.
"Know this: it's just a lap pillow.
We can have it anytime, we—"
"Seele will bake Kiana a batch of your favorite cookies, okay?"
The timid voice cut her off.
Bronya's cold gaze instantly swung to Seele, who didn't dare meet her eyes.
Idiot.
You don't even know to start low and haggle?!!
Kaguya looked up at Seele, then at the frosty Bronya, smiled, took a step back, and chose to withdraw from the bidding.
"Heh-heh~"
Grinning happily at Bronya, Kiana turned to Seele at once.
"Nope.
One time is too few.
This is Xander's lap-pillow service rendered with utmost dedication for you girls—Seele, do you really think a single batch of cookies matches its value?!"
"…Then, two batches?"
"Deal!"
Just as Kiana was about to clasp Seele's hand and proclaim victory, Bronya suddenly wedged herself between them and frowned.
"I haven't named my price yet."
"Bronya!!!"
Seele's happy expression froze at once.
She glared at Bronya in dissatisfaction, and Bronya stared back without yielding.
Their eyes met, and something unspoken passed between them.
While the two looked a little at daggers drawn on the surface, Mei quietly came to Xander's side, tugged his sleeve, and motioned toward them.
"Aren't you going to stop them?"
"It's just a little game between two sisters who know each other well.
Don't mind it."
Waving to Mei, Xander sighed.
"Besides, if I go stop them, I'm the one who'll suffer."
Mei: "?"
Leaving Mei with a profound, mysterious face, Xander rubbed his lower back and didn't explain further.
As he expected, seeing that this little scene hadn't lured him over, Seele and Bronya exchanged another glance.
Very soon, Seele won final victory with four batches of cookies.
"Lucky you."
She play-cursed at the bubbling-over Kiana.
Kiana didn't mind at all, and chuckled back, "Gosh, when there's a next time, don't forget to call me~"
Four whole batches!
There's no way we can finish that.
Absolutely no way.
Smiling, Xander changed the subject.
"By the way, did you catch any Legendaries?"
At that, the previously cheerful Kiana deflated a little.
"No way.
We ran all over the whole mountain and didn't see even a single Legendary hair.
Hey, are there really going to be a hundred Legendaries showing up?"
"One hundred just looks like a lot," Bronya picked up.
"They're spawning randomly across the entire world for three months.
There's no way it happens that fast.
Today, it wouldn't be surprising if not even one person manages a catch."
"But we didn't even see one.
That's way too unlucky."
"No.
You, specifically, have no right to say that!"
Sirin glanced at the Shaymin at her feet and threw out a roast.
Who catches such a cute Mythical on day one and then calls herself unlucky?!
And right at that moment—at Eden's concert.
Because the show's special effects used the latest AR tech, under the gaze of a hundred thousand people, a Pokémon with long green hair and a humanoid form, delicate and slender, appeared along with Eden's singing.
She drifted around Eden, as if rejoicing for that beautiful song.
Brilliant notes flowed gently around Eden with the Pokémon's movements.
For a moment, the scene looked dreamlike.
Eden noticed her as well.
When the song ended, the Pokémon floated before Eden and waved happily at her.
She didn't speak, but in that instant Eden understood her meaning.
A Poké Ball soon appeared in Eden's hand.
Seeing this, the Pokémon floated over again, cried out happily to her, then reached out and touched the Poké Ball.
Light flashed rapidly.
Three stars popped out from the Poké Ball.
The first Legendary—captured!
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