Chapter 13: Akari Kawamoto

The neon-drenched streets of Tokyo Prefecture blurred past Leo as he wandered, desperately seeking a place to crash for the night. Returning to his father's house after that dramatic farewell was out of the question. His pride, once inflated like a pufferfish, wouldn't allow such a retreat. Calling Roberta wasn't an option either; he didn't want to disrupt her well-deserved rest.

Fueled by desperation, Leo took matters into his own hands. Following a local's tip, he stumbled upon a small, unassuming apartment complex. As a self-proclaimed member of the privileged class, venturing into such humble dwellings was a first. But hey, a roof over his head and a warm futon to sleep on were all he truly craved at that moment.

He pressed the buzzer on the building's entry panel. The door buzzed open, revealing not the grizzled superintendent he expected, but a young girl, barely out of elementary school. Despite her youthful features, her gaze held a disconcerting maturity. An inexplicable urge to bolt surged through Leo.

"Uh, hi there," he stammered, forcing a smile. "I was wondering if you had any vacancies for the next few nights. There aren't any hotels nearby, and..." He trailed off, catching the girl's unsettlingly appraising stare. Her eyes, gleaming with a predatory glint, scanned him from head to toe. He couldn't help but decipher the suggestive message lurking behind that thirsty gaze.

The girl, oblivious to his discomfort, finally spoke. "Oh, apologies for the lack of introductions! I'm Miyuri Asou, the landlord here." A sly grin spread across her face. "We might not have any empty rooms at the moment, but…" Her voice dipped to a conspiratorial whisper, "there's always room at my place, if you know what I mean."

"...what?" Leo was taken aback.

"Hehe, I see that you're a young man and quite handsome, so..." the girl winked and pulled her sleeves, teasingly revealing her non-existent cleavage. "I might be able to offer you some extra services~!"

Leo's mind short-circuited. Images of flashing red and blue police lights flooded his vision. Before Miyuri could elaborate on her "extra services," Leo used Flash Steps, sprinting away like a man possessed by Flash.

He didn't discriminate based on height or appearance, but there were limits as one can think from their lower body.

He finally skidded to a halt, gasping for breath, in front of a brightly lit establishment named "Misaki." A neon sign advertising "Beautiful Companions" flickered enticingly.

"Well," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow, "maybe some good company wouldn't hurt."

While not a huge fan of alcohol, the prospect of friendly company was far more appealing than another night on the streets. He pushed open the door and ordered a drink, hoping for a pleasant conversation. Just then, a face he recognized walked through the entrance, instantly turning his frown upside down.

"Hello, I'm your host, Akari Kawamoto...wait, Ryu-chan?" A gentle-faced woman entered the room, introducing herself after calling out Leo's Japanese name in surprise.

"Akari nee-san?" Recognition dawned on Leo as he rose to greet her.

Fans of the anime "March comes like a lion" might recognize her – Akari Kawamoto. In this world, however, Leo had known her since childhood.

They were childhood companions. Back then, Leo harbored a small crush on Akari, but she was more of a caring older sister to him. With a four-year age gap, they'd spent time together after school until Leo's move to the US. He'd even seen her on visits back to Japan at sixteen, but time and distance had dulled the memory.

Leo and Akari settled down, catching up and sharing their life stories. Talking to her brought a warmth and comfort he hadn't felt in a long time. The Akari he knew in real life was even more humble than her anime counterpart. She was, without a doubt, the sweetest woman he'd ever met.

"So that's how it's been," Leo said with a nod, offering a sympathetic smile. "I'm so sorry for your loss, Akari nee-san."

Recent tragedies had left a heavy burden on her shoulders. The loss of her mother and grandmother meant she and her grandfather now shouldered the responsibility of their entire household.

To make ends meet, Akari juggled a demanding schedule. Mornings were spent assisting her elderly grandfather in their traditional Japanese confectionery shop. Nights found her taking on a different persona – a hostess at a bar named Misaki in the upscale Ginza district, managed by her aunt.

"Oh, it's alright, truly," Akari replied with a wave of her hand, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. "I'm more happy to see you doing well, Ryu-chan."

"Hehe…" Leo gave a helpless smile, "Except with women. The only girlfriend who lasted more than a month was a Japanese girl. After that, I've been unlucky in love. Moreover, I have a gut feeling that someone might come after me for child support since I used to go on adventures unprotected."

Akari, flustered and unsure how to respond, offered a comforting pat on the back like a true elder sister. "Everything will be okay. Life throws its punches, but remember those who love you, Ryu-chan. Hold onto their smiles, and they'll guide you forward."

Leo stared at Akari, struck by her unwavering positivity. He'd never encountered such a heartwarming woman in all his time in the US. If not for his System and his new interdimensional hopping job, he might have blurted out a proposal right then and there.

Determined to do something for Akari, Leo bypassed her confused inquiries and summoned the bar's manager.

"Hello, I'm the manager here. How can I be of service?" The middle-aged woman, likely Akari's aunt, approached with a hint of curiosity.

Leo picked up the cocktail bottle Akari had brought him and held it up for the manager's inspection. "Could you tell me the price of this bottle?"

Confusion bloomed on the faces of the manager, Akari, and the other hostesses. Why was he asking about such an ordinary bottle?

"Around 800 yen," the manager hesitantly replied.

(Note: 100 ¥ = 1 USD)

Leo smiled and pressed on. "Hypothetically, if this were a brand-name cocktail, what would it cost?"

The manager's bewilderment deepened, then she caught a glance between Leo and Akari, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "I'd say 30,000 yen, maybe."

Leo, undeterred, continued. "But let's say this is a limited edition, one-of-a-kind brand. How much would it be worth then?"

"Hmmm," the manager pondered. "At least 100,000 yen, for sure."

By this point, Akari couldn't contain her curiosity. "Wait, Aunt, Ryu-chan, what's going on here?"

Ignoring Akari's plea for explanation, Leo persisted. "Come on, Manager, don't be modest. Let's consider this the only bottle of this cocktail in all of Japan." He then glanced at Akari, his smile widening. "And it's being served by an angel herself."

The manager's smile broadened. "In that case, dear guest, this bottle would be priced at 5,000,000 yen."

"Swipe the card," Leo declared, tossing his card onto the table. A chorus of cheers erupted from the cabaret girls.

Akari, however, snapped out of her surprise. "Ryu-chan, what are you doing?! 5 million yen is a ridiculous amount!"

"I know," Leo admitted, "but I also know you wouldn't accept help otherwise." He flashed a charming smile. "Besides, I'm a stubborn man. Those words you spoke earlier… I felt compelled to express my gratitude."

Akari's gaze faltered, her cheeks flushing. "That's… still unreasonable."

Leo reached out, gently lifting her chin to meet his eyes. "Akari nee-san, I've spent millions on entertainment and frivolous things. Can't I spare a little to support my childhood crush?"

Akari couldn't help but blush further. Playfully swatting his arm, she conceded, "You're as incorrigible as ever, Ryu-chan. But… fine. I'll accept this for now."

Just as Leo and Akari shared a tender moment, the manager returned, her face flushed crimson. "Dear guest, I believe you may have given me the wrong card."

She held out Leo's card, and as he glanced at it, his eyes nearly bugged out. It was a premium membership card for a strip club.

"Ahem, sorry about that," Leo stammered, handing over his actual credit card with an awkward silence.

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