'She's got potential to be trained...' Takashi thought, smiling slightly as he patted the obedient girl's head.
He wasn't doing this because he lusted after her.
He wasn't some Canadian pervert king. His size was more than enough. He had zero interest in small or the pale-skin-tiny-type.
Not to mention her age.
Besides, Takashi already had access to plenty of high-quality women.
Which meant he didn't care much about girls.
Is Horikita Suzune beautiful?
Yes.
Is Sagiri cute?
Absolutely.
Cute.
But what did that have to do with him?
He wasn't sleeping with them, so why should he care what they thought of him?
Just because a girl was considered "romanceable" by the system didn't mean Takashi would pursue her.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have let Watanabe Akari go untouched.
Takashi's romantic pursuits always had a purpose.
Because he knew—there was an infinite number of girls in the world, but a human's energy is limited.
You can't fight the infinite with the finite, even if your day had 48 hours.
If the quantity is infinite, then you have to screen them. Focus on "quality."
The girls Takashi chose to pursue were either rich and powerful or full of potential.
Sagiri belonged to the "potential" category.
But only with limited potential.
Takashi had no intention of pursuing her—just squeezing some value out of her was enough.
[All done. You can come in now.]
After dealing with Sagiri's situation, Takashi sent a message to Shirogane Kei.
She quickly walked back in.
"I've been so busy lately, I forgot to ask how you've been doing," Takashi said with a smile, placing a slice of grilled meat on her plate after she sat down.
"I'm doing great. I've gotten close to all those uncles in the back alleys, and they've introduced me to lots of clients."
Shirogane Kei bit into the grilled meat, now drenched in her favorite sauce, feeling completely satisfied.
It wasn't that the meat was particularly amazing—she was just touched that after all this time, Takashi still remembered what sauce she liked.
That might seem like a small thing.
But girls are often moved by those tiny details.
"Let me treat you this time, Senpai," Shirogane Kei said. She wasn't the type to take a guy's kindness for granted.
When someone did something for her, she'd always find a way to repay it.
"This place is pretty expensive. You sure?" Takashi reminded her.
"I've been making good money lately. I can afford a high-end meal every now and then."
She really had been earning quite a bit.
All in all, she'd made about 120,000 yen.
This translation gig didn't even require her to go work in a store.
As long as she spent some time on it before finishing her homework, it was easy work.
Don't underestimate 120,000 yen. According to surveys, 37.3% of high school girls earn between 30,000–50,000 yen per month from part-time jobs.
The highest proportion, 33.5%, earned between 50,000–80,000 yen. Only 4.0% made more than 100,000 yen a month.
Shirogane Kei was now part of that top 4%.
Money gives people confidence.
That's why she could talk with such assurance now.
"Alright then, this one's on you," Takashi said, not turning down her offer.
"How about you, Senpai? Are you feeling better?" Shirogane Kei asked, following the flow of the conversation.
She had wanted to visit him in the hospital before.
But Takashi had flatly refused.
"I've recovered well."
More than well.
He was bored to death during that period.
The media reported he'd been shot and was seriously injured, so he couldn't go out. He was stuck in the hospital seeing Nakano Maruo's ugly mug every day—it drove him nuts.
During his hospital stay, he didn't see any of the Nakano sisters even once.
It was obvious they didn't get along with his dad.
While Takashi and Kei chatted over their meal, they completely forgot about Sagiri.
Not that she minded.
She didn't want Takashi to notice her anyway.
Throughout the meal, it was mostly just Takashi and Shirogane Kei eating and chatting.
Sagiri quietly sat off to the side, sipping water. She didn't eat anything.
She preferred light food and didn't care much for grilled meat.
"Miss, Mr. Kitahara has already paid the bill."
When Kei got up to pay after the meal and reached the counter, she was told it had already been taken care of.
Remembering that Takashi had said he was going to the restroom near the end of the meal, she figured that must've been when he paid.
As they walked out of the restaurant, Kei, now wearing a mask and hat, pouted and scolded Takashi: "Senpai, didn't we agree I'd treat this time?"
"Next time, Little Kei."
Takashi mimicked Uchiha Itachi and lightly tapped her forehead with his finger.
"Liar."
Kei pouted like a little girl, her lips so pursed you could hang an oil bottle from them, and kicked a pebble on the ground.
"I'm taking her to sign the contract later. Want to check out my agency?" Takashi asked Kei, tugging on Sagiri who had been trying to quietly sneak away.
"Really?" Kei's eyes lit up with interest.
"Let's go."
Takashi tugged Sagiri along and headed out.
The company wasn't far from the yakiniku place—it was just a short walk, enough to help them digest.
"So this is your agency, Senpai?"
Kei tilted her head up, looking at the building.
It wasn't particularly tall—just over ten stories—but owning an office building in the high-rent Minato Ward spoke volumes about one's financial strength.
"Good afternoon, Kitahara-san."
"Kitahara-san, how's your recovery going?"
"Kitahara-san, can I get your autograph?"
People greeted him the whole way through.
He wasn't the oldest at the company, but his fame and net worth were by far the highest.
Every industry has its hierarchy. But even to be ranked, you have to qualify.
Takashi didn't act like a diva. He greeted everyone in return along the way.
Sagiri quietly followed behind, and only now did she realize the scale of the mess she'd gotten herself into.
Ogitsu Yoshiko's agency didn't have top-tier celebrities, but they had plenty of A- and B-listers.
Even actors frequently seen on TV had to bow their heads when greeting Takashi.
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