Rai Hikaru's attention was still mostly fixed on Yukino Shindou, and he had no idea that Shinonome Natsuka had so much inner turmoil packed into such a short span of time.
Seeing her dazed expression, he assumed she was just stunned by the scene she had witnessed earlier—by him stepping in again.
Noticing her small hands clutching the hem of her school uniform skirt, Rai Hikaru casually remarked,
"Finished changing yet? If you are, then hurry up and get to school."
"I… I… not yet!" Natsuka's cheeks flushed faintly.
"This outfit… I don't think it dried completely… it's still a little… damp… sticky! Can you… wait for me a moment?"
She darted back into her room.
Rai Hikaru shook his head, feeling a bit exasperated. After what had just happened with Yukino Shindou, being late was inevitable anyway. Might as well think about how to squeeze more Pure Love Points from the Yuki-onna in front of him.
Yukino Shindou, still looking slightly embarrassed from being interrupted earlier, kept her gaze lowered. Rai Hikaru took the initiative.
"Miss Yukino… are you all right?"
Hearing him speak first, she finally lifted her head and replied softly, "I… I'm fine. And… you?"
"Did Administrator Takahashi… hurt you? Are you okay?" she asked, concern flickering across her beautiful face.
"Don't worry. That guy's nothing. I despise people who threaten women at the drop of a hat," Rai Hikaru said calmly.
Only then did Yukino Shindou visibly relax.
She lightly bit her lips, her hands clasped neatly at her waist, and bowed formally. "Thank you very much for your assistance just now. My name is Yukino Shindou."
The white-haired widow's serious, almost shy way of biting her lip while expressing gratitude was… undeniably enticing.
Seeing a sight that could make anyone's blood rush in a single glance, Rai Hikaru cleared his throat.
"No need. I'm just an ordinary high schooler who stands up for what's right. You can call me Rai Hikaru."
She still looked grateful. "Rai Hikaru-kun, to show my thanks, I'd like to invite you in for a cup of tea… would that be all right?"
"I… maybe another time? I've still got school. Let's talk about it later," Rai Hikaru said, waving her off.
Though Yukino Shindou seemed harmless, even grateful, sharing a room with a Yuki-onna whose strength might rival his own was… unsettling.
Besides, the invitation was, at face value, just an invitation for tea. Rai Hikaru thought it was safer to postpone. School still came first.
"All right… then. You must come when you have time," Yukino Shindou said, bowing slightly again.
Her movement caused the considerable weight of her chest to press the sweater down dramatically. From his angle, Rai Hikaru's gaze inevitably caught a glimpse down the neckline.
A gorge, impossibly deep, filled his vision.
Rai Hikaru, being young and unusually fit for his age, felt his blood stir involuntarily.
"No, Miss Yukino… I'll definitely come if I have time," he said, extending a hand to help her up.
She seemed about to speak again but was interrupted by a familiar, grating voice.
"Hmph! Yukino Shindou, don't get too comfortable! I may have been rash earlier, but… cough cough… you still have to pay your rent or move out immediately!"
The administrator, Takahashi, still sprawled on the floor, hissed viciously.
Rai Hikaru turned to watch him struggle upright, a wry thought crossing his mind: only in this world could a yellow-haired man, after taking such a beating, not only stand but speak coherently.
Perhaps realizing he couldn't win against Rai Hikaru, Takahashi avoided his gaze—but his eyes remained fixated on Yukino Shindou, unwilling to let her go.
He spoke, voice laced with resentment:
"I may not be able to beat that kid, but I won't lose my temper again. If he dares to touch me, I'll call the cops immediately! And you, Miss Yukino… you wouldn't want to be kicked out of your apartment for not paying rent, would you?"
As he said this, Yukino Shindou's face went pale, the color drained completely.
Takahashi was right.
His prior attempt to barge into her home and do something terrible had been wrong—getting beaten for that was fair. But her unpaid rent? That was real. No payment meant she had to move out.
Caught off guard, she fidgeted nervously. Takahashi's lips curved into a triumphant grin.
He couldn't beat Rai Hikaru—but this stunning widow? With the excuse of rent collection, he could easily control her.
And that high school kid? Strong or not, he was nothing.
Takahashi glanced provocatively at Rai Hikaru. He was jealous of the closeness and gratitude Yukino Shindou had just shown him.
Rai Hikaru ignored him entirely and focused on the distressed widow, her fingers twisting nervously at her skirt hem.
"Miss Yukino, how much rent do you owe?" he asked.
"I… I… owe…" Her head sank lower, embarrassed to speak the truth.
"Two months' rent, twenty thousand yen in total!" Takahashi blurted out.
"Is that true?" Rai Hikaru asked calmly.
She hesitated, clearly mortified at the mention. Being shy and proud, owing rent was already humiliating—but with Rai Hikaru, who had just helped her and seemed kind, handsome, and trustworthy, it was even worse.
She had no choice but to admit it.
Rai Hikaru glanced at Takahashi, still seated on the floor. Takahashi's eyes flicked toward him, body trembling, but he forced a response:
"What are you staring at?! Trying to scare me? Collecting rent is perfectly justified! Totally lawful! Even the gods can't intervene!"
"Why do you ask so many questions? Planning to pay for her yourself? Hahaha! Twenty thousand yen! Can you even afford that?" Takahashi mocked, pointing at Rai Hikaru.
Yukino Shindou, humiliated, was about to stop him from mocking Rai Hikaru further. She didn't want to see him insulted, even if she had to leave the apartment herself.
Slap!
Before Takahashi could gloat further, a stack of bills landed beside him.
"Twenty thousand yen. Count it yourself."
Takahashi froze, then quickly verified the stack—exactly twenty thousand yen, not a yen missing.
"How does a high schooler even carry this much cash?!" he exclaimed.
"Take the rent and leave," Rai Hikaru said, cold and authoritative, with no intent to explain.
The sight of Rai Hikaru's icy eyes made him shiver, recalling the earlier pain from the kick. He scrambled away, humiliated, and didn't dare linger or threaten to call the police.
Rai Hikaru relaxed slightly. He wasn't afraid of legal repercussions—police were useless here, and even if trouble arose, Mira could handle it—but it was simpler not to attract attention.
Thinking about the hypnotic ring Takahashi possessed—useless to Rai Hikaru, but dangerous to Yukino Shindou—his eyes gleamed coldly.
Suddenly, Yukino Shindou's voice broke through his thoughts:
"Rai Hikaru-kun… you… you paid all my rent?!"
Her silvery lips trembled as she looked at him, astonished.
"I couldn't stand that guy acting all high and mighty. And if you didn't pay, he might have tried to threaten you. Consider it a loan for now," Rai Hikaru said with a faint smile.
Twenty thousand yen wasn't much to him. With the system backing him, money was easy to earn. Trading it for the friendship and trust of a Yuki-onna? Worth every yen.
The system confirmed it immediately:
[Ding! Host has paid Yukino Shindou's rent, thwarting Takahashi's malicious scheme. Reward: +100 Pure Love Points!]
One hundred Pure Love Points for twenty thousand yen—an absolute steal.
Yukino Shindou had no idea what Rai Hikaru was calculating. She was just overwhelmed—by his ability to produce so much money, and by his generosity, which left her feeling ashamed and grateful.
"I… I'll treat it as a loan from you, Rai Hikaru-kun. I'll pay you back, principal and interest. I'll write an IOU right now!"
Rai Hikaru stopped her gently. "No, no, Miss Yukino. You don't need to. I trust you. There's no need for an IOU—I know your character."
Her eyes widened.
"Trust… my… character…?"
A subtle moisture welled in her eyes, and icy tendrils crept along her body.
As a Yuki-onna with poor social skills, Yukino Shindou had never truly fit into human society. Combined with her beauty, she had mostly encountered people with ill intent. No one had ever helped her and trusted her like Rai Hikaru.
Since losing her husband, she had been alone for many years. The kindness she felt from him stirred emotions she had never known, and tears pricked her eyes.
"T-thank… you, Rai Hikaru-kun…" she whispered.
"You're… so good to me… the best person I've ever met… thank you so much…"
Her silver hair framed her tear-streaked face, and her chest heaved as she spoke. Rai Hikaru's hand instinctively patted her back, offering comfort.
"Don't cry, Miss Yukino. It's okay. Things will get better from now on."
After a while, she stopped sobbing, still half-leaning into his embrace, unknowingly letting herself be held warmly.
Her emotional outburst had made her seek some support—and Rai Hikaru's arms were just the right place. His hands slid around her back, securing her gently under her arms.