Feeling a creeping sense of insecurity, Neon approached Girori, asking, "Is there any pay-to-win feature here? Like gacha rolls or in-game purchases?" Neon figured that since it was a game, there might be a monetization system.
However, Girori replied with a friendly smile, "I apologize, but the system allocates Desire Money based on the player's game time. Players can use Desire Money to customize their appearance."
"But equipment items like Buckles cannot be purchased with Desire Money."
Girori then offered an apologetic gesture.
Raven, hearing this from not too far away, gave a knowing smile. He knew the game did have a "pay-to-win" aspect, but the ones paying weren't the players; they were the supporters in the VIP seats—the so-called "Top Spenders."
And Neon did, in fact, have a "Top Spender" who was secretly in love with her. However, that person's influence wouldn't fully come into play until later in the game. For now, the only one directly supporting a contestant was Keiwa Sakurai's "Top Spender," Kekera.
"Spoiled rich girl. You were born able to have anything you want, so why bother participating in a game like this?"
At that moment, a low, discordant voice sounded, aimed directly at Neon. It was Kanato Sumida.
"That's because money can't buy what I really want," Neon replied, giving an embarrassed laugh.
"Then what did you write on your Desire Card?" Morio asked curiously.
"I wished for a world where I could meet my destined person."
"Your destined person?" Keiwa was surprised that her wish was something like that.
"That's right. A prince who will ride in on a white horse and take me away." Neon's face was beaming with a happy smile as she indulged in her fantasy.
The "prince" she was visualizing in her mind right now was none other than Raven. After all, he perfectly matched her aesthetics in every way and was incredibly formidable.
"Do normal people really risk their lives for something like that?" Kanato failed to grasp her reasoning.
His aversion to Neon intensified. Typical rich girl, he thought. She was born without a care for the future, so she has the luxury to worry about such trivial things.
"Love is something you have to give your absolute best effort to, all the time, you know." Neon said, holding her hands together, stealing a glance at Raven as she spoke.
"Annoying." Kanato simply got up and walked away.
This left the kind-hearted Keiwa worried. He felt that at a time like this, everyone should avoid conflict and unite to fight the Zombie Jyamato and protect the city. He still hadn't fully grasped that this was a competitive game.
The small interlude quickly passed. Neon eagerly took Girori's tablet and began selecting suitable outfits and accessories. She had previously thought she was limited to the standard contestant uniform in the game lobby, but now she realized she could customize her appearance in the rest area.
She immediately splurged her Desire Money on several new outfits, almost all of which included tights and high heels. She then changed right there on the spot. She even deliberately stood in front of Raven, giving him a close-up view and asking for his evaluation.
"It looks great."
Raven was naturally happy to admire a beautiful woman's fashion show in front of him. He offered his praise without hesitation. And despite Neon appearing to follow a cute, idol-like aesthetic, she actually had a rather curvaceous figure. It was just that the clothes she usually wore were very loose and didn't show it off.
Having received Raven's positive evaluation, Neon was ecstatic, her face full of smiles.
She then deliberately stretched one of her beautiful, black-tights-clad legs toward Raven, asking tentatively, "So, how does this compare to the navigator?"
Her competitive streak was quite strong in this area.
"Well..." Raven hesitated.
While Tsumuri and Neon each had their own charm—one the cool, elegant Onee-san type, the other the cute idol aesthetic—the current, sexy version of Neon was also quite alluring.
However, he decided to be diplomatic. "I think both are wonderful."
This answer naturally didn't satisfy Neon, but she didn't press the issue. She simply plopped down next to Raven, crossing her beautiful, black-tights-clad legs. Her high-heeled foot dangled back and forth near him.
At this point, Ace asked curiously, "Na-Go, do you really just want to fall in love?"
"It's a secret." Neon didn't answer directly.
However, her small actions had already betrayed her. As the 'thousand-year fox,' Ace easily picked up on her feelings for Raven.
Just then, Keiwa began recounting things he had heard about Neon from his sister. He spoke of how strict her family was, with numerous rigid rules: no eating out, no dating, and she was even forbidden from playing with others.
Neon, who had been sitting cheerfully next to Raven, darkened immediately upon hearing this.
Keiwa tried to encourage her, "As long as you try hard, your wish will definitely come true."
Unfortunately, this simple statement broke Neon's composure.
"Do you really think every wish can be granted just by trying hard?" Her voice was filled with deep melancholy.
She had had enough of being caged like a golden canary for so many years. All she longed for now was to break free of her shackles. But born into the Kurama family, doing so was easier said than done. It was likely impossible for her to ever escape their control.
Now, she could only place her hope in the Desire Grand Prix, the game that could grant any wish.
Sensing her emotion, Raven leaned over and offered a brief moment of comfort, placing his hand on her exposed shoulder.
This kind gesture made Neon's heart flutter. If it's Raven, she thought, he can surely rescue me from that cage.
Just then, the phone next to Girori rang. After answering, he turned to the group with a serious expression.
"The second wave of Jyamato has arrived."