Near Ikebukuro Station in Nerima Ward, inside a newly renovated bookstore.
"Thank you very much for your kindness."
With a customary 30-degree bow to follow local customs, Luo Shu apologised to the shop manager and successfully resigned from the bookstore.
After leaving the shop, Luo Shu walked down the street, tugging at his collar as he exhaled a long breath.
"Phew, good thing the manager's easygoing. Someone like me quitting on short notice could've easily earned a scolding or two."
In Japan, resigning from a job required formal notice, as work schedules were typically set a week in advance. Quitting abruptly meant other staff would have to cover your shifts.
Clearly, Luo Shu—who was due to start at Café LycoReco the day after tomorrow—couldn't give advance notice, hence his gratitude towards the manager for taking on his shifts. Fortunately, she'd been understanding, not giving him any trouble or harsh words, which left Luo Shu feeling somewhat guilty now.
"These past couple of days have been one thing after another... No helping it, I suppose. Might as well stop dwelling on it and grab dinner—it's almost half past eight already."
Shaking his head, Luo Shu glanced around before stepping into his usual ramen shop.
At the ordering machine, he deftly inserted a 1000-yen note, selected a large 950-yen tonkotsu ramen, and received his 50-yen change along with the order slip.
With that done, he handed the slip to the chef at the counter, accepted a hand towel to wipe his hands, and settled in to wait for his bowl.
Since his part-time job was nearby, this shop had become Luo Shu's regular haunt. The owner-chef ran his own establishment, so ingredients were reliably fresh. Occasionally, while taking a break outside the bookstore, Luo Shu would even spot the owner simmering fresh pork trotters for broth—reassuringly wholesome fare.
Of course, according to his memories, the 'previous Luo Shu' had frequented this place for another reason.
Japan's current top idol, 'Utau Hoshina', supposedly visited often in disguise with her manager.
The thrill of potentially bumping into the singer had been a key motivator for the former 'Luo Shu'.
But for the present Luo Shu, this familiar ramen shop served as a 'soundproof room' to recalibrate his thoughts.
Though the only difference between the two versions of Luo Shu was the awakening of past-life memories, divergences in behaviour were inevitable—after all, their 'life experience' now differed.
"The bookstore's shared bicycle is still parked near Utaha Kasumigaoka's apartment. Need to ride it back before school tomorrow."
"The manager said she'd pay me for these last few days, but since she's covering all my shifts after I quit, taking the money feels wrong. Once I get it, I'll buy a nice gift to thank her properly."
With Mika having already transferred 500,000 yen as an advance on his salary to his account, Luo Shu currently faced no financial pressure—free to prepare a more substantial present.
"Come to think of it, the deposit Mika mentioned... The 'parents' had placed a year's worth with the agency. If I terminate the lease now, those seemingly friendly but exploitative agents won't let me cancel the contract so easily."
"Borrow Mika's connections? Forget it. Even though I'm a half-baked deity, I still have some pride. Besides, giving up that house like this feels a bit... heartless."
After some thought, Luo Shu decided not to change his address for the time being this year. After all, the apartment he currently rented was mid-to-high-end, leased by his late 'parents' when they first came to Japan. It held sentimental value—the first 'home' he shared with them after arriving in Japan.
Even though his reincarnation was, in the system's eyes, just reliving his past life with the same DNA, his current parents had still raised him.
Completely erasing their last traces... Luo Shu felt deeply reluctant about that.
"I should find an opportunity to buy the apartment I'm currently living in. Even if I don't stay there, I should keep a place for remembrance."
As for whether the landlord would sell or if he could afford this 120-square-metre luxury apartment near Ikebukuro Station in Nerima Ward within a year, Luo Shu had a rough idea.
It was just 52 million yen, equivalent to 3.12 million RMB. At his current income, if he saved every penny, it would take about seven and a half years.
Damn, seven and a half years? He'd probably have to keep renting until he could afford it, or pull off something big to get a cash injection.
Hmm, maybe he should ask Mika the day after tomorrow if there are any lucrative jobs. Secret agents must have special money-making channels, right?
As Luo Shu thought this, he recalled what Mika had mentioned earlier about Chisato Nishikigi's school enrolment.
"But speaking of which, is Chisato Nishikigi also enrolling at Toyogasaki? I should probably give Utaha and Eriri a heads-up later. It'd be hilarious if the news reported 'SDS Agent Chisato Nishikigi Uncovers Toyogasaki Cult Case' in a few days."
The mental image of himself being handcuffed in a news report made Luo Shu sigh internally.
He'd thought a school environment would be the perfect cover, only for several female agents to show up—and worst of all, he was the one who'd brought them there.
"Fuck, so this is the so-called 'You led the enemy here' scenario?"
Amused by his own self-inflicted predicament, Luo Shu couldn't help but chuckle.
But to be fair, in that situation earlier, he really couldn't refuse Mika. There was no convincing reason to give these special agents.
"Besides these trivial daily matters..."
Luo Shu opened his system interface and looked at the notification displayed.
[Joining the official organisation SDS grants 3,000 points. Monthly fixed point income increased to 1,000 points.]
"The 3,000 points are fine, but a 600-point increase in monthly points... Is it because my personal influence has grown?"
[Answer: Yes. After joining the official organisation SDS, the host's influence has increased, resulting in automatic growth of monthly points.]
As he received this answer, Luo Shu took the tonkotsu ramen handed to him by the chef. Eating while pondering, he asked internally:
"So it's not just recruiting so-called heroines that increases monthly point income? If I grow stronger, accomplish something, or experience a change in status, that can also boost monthly points?"
[Answer: Yes.]
Looking at the system's reply, Luo Shu grinned:
"Are you hinting that I should hurry up and stir up some major incidents to harvest points?"
That said, Luo Shu still had to carefully consider how to create such incidents, how to clean up afterwards, and how to distance himself from them.
Any thought of recklessly causing trouble non-stop with the system's help had been nipped in the bud from the start.
Even the wallet in Kirika Tachibana's possession could screw him over to some extent. Who knew how many Abyss Artefacts in this world could track him down?
The last thing he wanted was to be holding a sign at the Metropolitan Police Department the next day, proudly modelling a black-and-white striped T-shirt.
'Becoming a deity in a modern prison' or 'enlightenment at modern Longchang Prison'?
No thanks. Luo Shu wanted none of that.
After finishing the ramen and settling for a simple dinner, Luo Shu headed towards the subway with his school bag in hand.
His part-time workplace was about a five to six-minute walk from his apartment, located in a high-end residential building near the main road, where tenants were either industrialists or high-ranking white-collar workers.
In Japan, it seemed to be common knowledge that the top tier lived in large villas, the upper class in apartment buildings, while the middle class and below resided in detached houses.
Thanks to Luo Shu's parents previously being high-ranking white-collar workers, he now lived in such an upscale place.
Of course, the truth was that the former 'Luo Shu' had considered changing his residence during his university years. With his previous income, he definitely couldn't have afforded this high-end apartment with a monthly rent of 200,000 yen and a maintenance fee of 50,000 yen, had his parents not passed away earlier.
The rent alone would have exhausted the 200,000 yen sent from his hometown.
Now, however, the 200,000 yen monthly allowance from home and his 500,000 yen salary from SDS allowed him to continue renting.
Oh, and he remembered that the housing subsidy in the SDS contract could cover 90% of the rent. So 200,000 yen would become 20,000 yen, plus the 50,000 yen maintenance fee, totalling 70,000 yen? That was quite a steal.
With the thought that freebies were always good, Luo Shu finally arrived at his apartment and pressed his finger against the glass door with fingerprint recognition.
With a beep, the glass door opened.
Just as Luo Shu was about to enter, someone suddenly seized his right arm.
Then, a woman's hushed voice sounded by his ear.
"...Is that Luo Shu-kun? Please don't push me away right now."
Hearing this somewhat familiar voice, Luo Shu froze.
Wasn't this the voice of his next-door neighbour, Miss Mira Tsubakihara?