[Ding! Sudden crisis resolved!]
[Mission not yet completed. Please seek a way out for the fallen girl.]
[Oh? So just chasing the man away doesn't count as completing the mission... Well, that makes sense. Yui still doesn't have a place to stay...]
[Seems like besides letting the girl stay at my place, there aren't any other options. After all, my 'tools of the trade' have been confiscated. Any crooked ideas are just empty talk now.]
Thinking this, Natsuhi looked up in the direction the salaryman had left, her heart filled with guilt.
[Sorry, mister. You probably don't dare go back to the subway station, and taxis are expensive in this country too. This was my bad.]
[Hey, system, can't you just transfer some money to the man's account? Otherwise, I won't be able to live with myself...]
It seemed Natsuhi's moral standards for herself were still too high.
At the same time, the man's phone chimed appropriately.
Ding! Congratulations on winning the grand prize in yesterday's lottery! 10,000 Sakura Coins have been deposited into your bank account.
Having a duck snatched right from your hands would make anyone upset. After a flicker of barely perceptible surprise and bewilderment,
the girl shot Natsuhi an unfriendly look. Those blue eyes finally held genuine emotion—the annoyance of being seen through and having her plans disrupted.
"Look at the mess you've made. That man was almost about to agree. Now I have to figure something else out for tonight."
"Such a busybody. It's because there are too many people like you who love to 'help' that my life is so hard."
Yui's words were sharp. Clearly, Natsuhi's actions had displeased her greatly.
"My acting was so terrible, yet that man still got scared off and ran. He must be an idiot."
"Takes one to know one. Your acting wasn't much better, I'd say."
Natsuhi didn't indulge this rude girl in the slightest, firing right back.
She dropped her previous 'performance' demeanor, crossed her arms, and looked at her, her tone returning to flatness, even carrying a hint of mockery.
"Unlike you kids, adults have a lot to consider in their world. Even if it's fake, he wouldn't want to take that risk. Work pressure is already heavy enough."
Natsuhi truly resembled a yakuza boss right then, starting to lecture the girl before her.
"Let me give you a tip. Next time you play a stray cat, remember to mess up that expensive-looking hair of yours first. The flaw is too obvious."
"What's with that tone of yours? So annoying, acting like you know everything, you old hag."
Yui glanced at the strands of hair falling over her shoulder, pursed her lips, and pulled a hard-pack of cigarettes from her pocket.
She took one out and was about to light it, seemingly to vent her frustration.
[Old hag?! This body should be quite young. Never thought I'd be called an old hag by someone my own age.]
The term 'old hag' was far too damaging for Natsuhi, who usually paid great attention to her appearance.
Seeing the girl's movement, Natsuhi directly reached out and snatched the lighter from Yui's hand, which naturally provoked her anger.
"Just what are you trying to do?!"
"Nothing much."
Natsuhi pointed at the red sign posted on the wall, which read 'No smoking'.
"Didn't you see? No smoking in public areas. Don't cause trouble for the staff, kid."
Yui, unconvinced, pointed at the symbol next to it: 'No loud noises'.
"I don't want to hear that from the first rule-breaker."
Natsuhi's voice when intimidating the salaryman had indeed been very loud. This made her give an awkward, embarrassed smile, but she still kept the lighter clenched in her hand.
"Alright, alright. I won't smoke here. Just give me back that lighter."
"Uh-huh."
"So what do you want, then?"
"Nothing."
Natsuhi gestured with her chin towards the direction where the train would arrive.
"Just a stranger who doesn't want to see a girl go astray. Come home with me."
"No."
"Then get on the... What?!"
Natsuhi hadn't expected Yui to refuse her so bluntly, even when she was about to get her on the train.
"Why?"
"No reason. I just find you annoying."
Yui looked Natsuhi up and down.
"You look all prim and proper, but who knows if you have even weirder tastes? Want to play a game of raising a pitiful girl? Disgusting!"
(...This kid's mouth is truly filthy.)
[You won't take what's offered freely, you have to beg others for it, huh?]
Natsuhi felt her blood pressure rising, but seeing the deep-seated distrust and resistance in Yui's eyes, she forced it back down.
Natsuhi didn't want to waste words. It wasn't her style. She issued a direct command.
"Your tough talk doesn't work on me. Either you come with me willingly, or I carry you. Choose one."
Yui was stunned. She had thought her sharp tongue would drive the other woman away, but this woman seemed completely unfazed.
Looking at the steady, strong hand gripping her wrist, Yui muttered under her breath:
"...Bastard..."
At the same time, the strength of her struggle also diminished.
"Had enough cursing?" Natsuhi loosened her grip slightly but didn't let go completely.
"Really... a rude, self-righteous savior complex."
She muttered quietly, the sense of dejection in her tone growing heavier, as she boarded the train with Natsuhi.
(Once this burst of passion cools, she'll probably kick me out without hesitation. Whatever. At least I don't have to sleep on the streets for now...)
[Ding! Mission completed.]
[Mission rewards distributed.]
[Successfully prevented Jinguji Yui from going astray. Next, guide her back to a normal life step by step. Please continue your efforts!]
This encounter on the platform began with Natsuhi forcibly taking the girl away. Their cohabitation was about to start, but Natsuhi felt these days were destined to be anything but peaceful.
"By the way, I'm Ito Natsuhi. And you?"
"Jinguji Yui..."
Although very reluctant, the girl still answered Natsuhi's question.