Aoyama Akira picked up the frightened Koro. Although the dog was clearly shaken, she didn't struggle or run away. Instead, she curled up pitifully in his arms, trembling slightly.
Akira had originally planned to head to Seaside Park for training, but that could wait. The priority now was returning Koro to her owner. The elderly woman had been worrying about the dog every single day—it was said she'd even been losing sleep at night.
"Yin-san, I found Koro," Akira said as he called Usagi Gin directly. "You can relax now. I'm bringing her over. Please contact the elderly woman."
"Huh? You found her already?" Gin was clearly caught off guard. He'd assumed the request would eventually be canceled. After all, the dog had been missing for quite some time—either she'd wandered far away or been taken by someone. The odds of her returning on her own were slim.
And yet, Akira had actually found her.
How could Gin not be shocked?
This request alone represented a significant payout. Gin couldn't help but feel that hiring Akira had been the right decision. Even compared to the people he'd worked with before, Akira's efficiency was on another level.
"Come back first. I'll contact the owner," Gin said quickly before hanging up and calling the elderly woman.
She was just as stunned when she heard the news. The moment she learned Koro had been found, the weight that had been hanging over her heart finally lifted. Otherwise, that constant worry would've kept her awake night after night.
"Koro!"
To Akira's surprise, the elderly woman arrived at the shop before he did. The moment she saw Koro in Akira's arms, tears streamed down her face.
Akira immediately handed the dog over. The woman hugged Koro tightly, crying as she spoke. "My precious Koro… you really worried me. Thank goodness you're back."
"You're impressive," Gin said with a smile as he walked over to Akira. "Where did you find her?"
"If I told you, you wouldn't believe me," Akira replied, rolling his eyes before breaking into a laugh. "By the way, does this count as overtime? Is there overtime pay?"
Gin froze for a moment, then raised his hand and gave Akira a firm pat on the shoulder. "Of course it counts. Your paycheck this month is going to look very nice. Just wait and see."
"That works for me," Akira said with a nod.
At that moment, the elderly woman wiped her tears, still holding Koro, and bowed slightly toward Akira. "Thank you so much, young man. I truly don't know how to repay you."
"It's part of my job," Akira replied modestly, a little embarrassed by the praise. "Even if you hadn't placed a request, I would've brought her back if I saw her."
"I want to give this to you personally," the woman insisted. "I'll pay the official fee separately."
She set Koro down, took out a worn fabric wallet, and pulled out a thick stack of bills, trying to hand them directly to Akira.
Akira immediately waved his hands. "I really can't accept that. Please just pay through the shop."
The woman refused to back down, and the atmosphere grew awkward. Seeing this, Gin stepped in. "Just take it. This is her way of thanking you. If you don't accept it, she won't feel at ease."
That finally settled it.
The woman nodded firmly. "He's right. If you don't take it, I won't be able to sleep tonight."
Most people around here referred to Gin as the owner out of habit, since Broken House literally carried the character for "house" in its name. Gin didn't care what people called him.
Seeing how insistent she was, Akira accepted the money with sincere thanks. After that, the woman happily completed the formal payment at the shop and left, humming a tune as she walked away.
The amount she'd given Akira alone was considerable. For someone usually so frugal, it was clear how important Koro was to her.
Broken House also earned a generous fee from the request, and Akira would receive a commission as well.
All in all, Gin was the biggest winner this time. As long as Broken House kept running smoothly, Akira would handle most of the outside work, and the income would continue to roll in.
"You really worked hard today," Gin said, clearly pleased. Glancing at the clock, he added, "It's already nine. How about we grab a late-night meal together? I know a place with great food."
Akira had planned to train later, but seeing the time, he relaxed. "Sure. You're treating, right?"
Gin laughed loudly. "Of course. You think I'd make you pay? And don't call me 'owner' anymore. That's just what others say. Call me Yin-san—it sounds friendlier."
"No problem, Yin-san. When do we head out?" Akira said, loosening up. The past few days had been intense, and a late-night meal sounded like a good way to unwind.
"Give me a minute. I'll wash my hair—it won't take long," Gin said, heading into the back room and closing the door.
Akira glanced at Gin's usual messy silver hair and shook his head in disbelief. Such striking hair, treated so casually—it was almost a waste.
He didn't wait long. About ten minutes later, Gin came back out, turned off the lights, and left with Akira. After pulling down the shutter, Gin said, "Hold on. I'll grab the ride."
"You have a vehicle?" Akira asked, surprised. He'd never seen one around Broken House.
Gin didn't answer. Instead, he walked into a nearby alley. A few minutes later, Akira heard an engine start—and Gin rode out on a motorcycle.
"This…" Akira blinked. It instantly reminded him of a certain silver-haired character from an old anime, stirring up a strange sense of nostalgia.
"What? Got a problem with my ride?" Gin asked, amused.
"No," Akira said with a smile. "It just reminds me of someone I know."
"Quit standing there. Get on. If we're late, there won't be any seats," Gin urged.
Akira climbed onto the back. Gin handed him a silver helmet, then started the engine and sped off into the night.
Their destination: a late-night food stall.