The way Mrs. Yukinoshita treated her two daughters couldn't have been more different.
Haruno was the first heir.
As long as she completed Mrs. Yukinoshita's assignments, she would receive funds from her.
Wataru's virtual idol agency had been Haruno's first investment.
That investment had now far surpassed the original one billion yen.
Even so, Wataru didn't regret it.
After all, without Haruno's investment, he might have been bought out before he ever got off the ground.
Selling shares to Haruno brought not only money and resources but also protection.
As for Yukino—
As the second daughter, to those who knew her, she was usually described as cold, a bit out of sync with others, the type to be solitary.
Mrs. Yukinoshita didn't show much concern for Yukino, either.
Now, Yukino wanted to invest.
That had to be connected to Haruno.
Wataru could guess it with his toes.
It had to be something Haruno said that gave Yukino the idea of investing.
Short on money? Impossible.
Yukino had at least several hundred million yen.
Even if Mrs. Yukinoshita didn't care for her, the New Year's money still came every year, same as ever.
Having figured this out,
Wataru set down Yukino's investment proposals.
"My proposals won't work?" Yukino couldn't help asking when she saw Wataru's action.
"They can work, but they won't make much. Compared to your sister's investments, they're way off," Wataru gave his assessment.
"What did my sister invest in?" Yukino looked at Wataru.
"Your sister bought forty percent of my shares for one billion yen. That money, she borrowed from your father. The result? She succeeded. The agency's likely worth over ten billion now. So Mrs. Yukinoshita rewarded her with more funds to invest in other areas," Wataru said slowly.
Hearing that, Yukino opened her mouth slightly.
"I once had only two residences, and still dared to mortgage one outright, use two hundred million yen, and create an agency. Your sister and I are the same type; she just has even more backing. That's why I chose to work with her," Wataru continued.
"I thought I could at least catch up a little."
"You're too naive. Investing isn't easy money. The risk is huge."
"I understand. Thank you for telling me this."
Yukino stood, ready to take back those proposals.
But Wataru pressed a hand over them.
"How much money do you have?"
"Three hundred million yen."
Yukino blinked, then answered.
"Do you have the guts to let me invest all of it?" Wataru asked.
"What are you going to invest in?" Yukino looked at Wataru, puzzled.
"Another market. I'll put in three hundred million as well. Your sister will put in four hundred million. As for shares, I'll hold thirty percent for you." Wataru didn't spell out the exact plan.
"I'll think about it." Yukino didn't make a snap judgment.
"If you end up losing and go bankrupt, I'll take a little loss myself and just marry you, haha," Wataru joked.
"Three hundred million yen is just my New Year's money." She rolled her eyes at Wataru.
"Then consider letting me marry in instead?"
"If you kneel while licking my toes, I'll consider it."
…
Lunch break ended.
As they left the Service Club—
"Come with me to the bank this afternoon," Yukino said to Wataru.
"Yes, Second Miss," Wataru wasn't all that surprised.
Three hundred million yen wasn't a big issue for Yukino.
She rarely had opportunities to spend.
Still, Wataru looked forward to the day she ran out of money and had to borrow from him.
"Your smile is kind of gross," Yukino glanced at Wataru.
"I learned it from Hayama," Wataru tossed the pan straight at Hayama Hayato without mercy.
At that, Yukino fell silent.
She didn't want to talk about Hayama.
As children,
Hayato chose "everyone," and only Wataru chose to stand on her side.
From then on, she and Hayato were people from two different worlds.
Even if they ran into each other every year, they wouldn't say much.
Seeing Yukino's expression, Wataru knew she didn't want to talk about Hayato.
He didn't say more.
The two walked toward Sōbu High's main building together.
…
Back to the classroom at Sōbu High.
Wataru sat by the window in the last row.
The standard anime protagonist seat.
As much as Wataru didn't want to admit it, still,
He might actually be the protagonist.
Transmigrator, system, childhood friend, and a girl who never left, always by his side.
Speaking of the system—
He had to complain a bit.
Other people's systems gave them superpowers.
His system only gave him money.
Money was great, sure, but at one point per ten thousand yen, he couldn't even be bothered to do the system quests.
By the way, the system quests were: interact with anime heroines, upload the "plot," and receive points based on the system's rating.
Points could currently only be exchanged for money.
One point for ten thousand yen.
Wataru's current points: zero.
The current system quest was still the first one, reward: ten points.
Naturally, this kind of system didn't have any "fail a quest and the host dies."
It was like a game, just sitting there, waiting for Wataru to start it.
Fortunately, when not in use, there was no virtual screen in front of him. The system didn't block his view.
Wataru and the system were on pretty friendly terms.
…
Afternoon classes were short.
It wasn't even four o'clock when school let out.
Some people were headed to club activities.
Some had plans with friends and left the classroom together.
Wataru was packing his things, but just then,
A girl walked over.
Pink hair in dumpling buns, backpack on, a slightly dejected look.
Wataru was very familiar with her.
Not only because they were childhood friends.
But because, even before transmigrating, he'd already liked this girl.
Her name was Yuigahama Yui.
She had the kind of figure that even Yukino envied.
A bit ditzy, not very bright.
And the reason for that expression today was because Wataru had gone to the Service Club for lunch instead of eating with her.
She hadn't joined the Service Club.
In her eyes, Yukino was the unreachable flower on the ridge—daunting.
"This afternoon I've got plans, a date with Yukinoshita-san. Go help Aunt at the dessert shop."
Wataru zipped his commuter bag and spoke to her.
Hearing that, Yui stepped in front of Wataru.
She pouted, her face full of grievance.
Seeing this, Wataru sighed and held out his hand.
Yui's face lit up.
However, Wataru flicked her on the forehead.
Yui clutched her little head in pain, looking even more wronged.
"Even if you look at me like that, I still won't go shopping with you. I'm not some Pushover protagonist of some manga. Unless… you come to my room tonight…"
"Wataru-kun, you big idiot!"
…
In the end, Yui still went back.
The family dessert shop had only opened because Wataru had invested some money.
Her father had been on that plane with Wataru's parents.
Afterward—
Because of debts, they'd planned to sell the house.
Wataru took out all his savings and helped the Yuigahama family through the crisis.
Because of that, the Yuigahama family was deeply grateful to him.
Of course, Yuigahama Asuna still transferred the residence into Wataru's name.