Chapter 12: A Helping Hand

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Mifuyu Yukino, still feeling deeply grateful, smiled and said, "Hikari-kun, to express my thanks, would you like to come inside for a cup of tea?"

"Um… how about another time? I've got school in a bit, so maybe we can talk later."

Hikari hesitated for a moment but eventually waved off the offer. Despite Yukino's seemingly sincere gratitude, and the fact that she didn't seem to harbor any ill intent, being in close quarters with a Yuki-Onna whose strength might rival his own didn't make him feel particularly at ease.

Of course, the main reason for his refusal was the fact that Yukino's invitation was, quite literally, just for tea.

Compared to having tea, Hikari figured it would be better to accept the invitation at another time. After all, school was still something he needed to attend.

"Alright then… But when you have the time, please make sure to stop by," Yukino said softly, bowing slightly as she acknowledged his reasoning.

As Yukino leaned forward to bow, the oversized watermelons on her chest weighed down her sweater, causing it to dip dramatically revealing the purple bra she wore.

With Hikari's line of sight being directly aligned with her, the plunging neckline offered him a clear, unrestricted view. A deep, seemingly bottomless cleavage appeared before him, akin to the Mariana Trench.

As a young man, and one whose vitality far exceeded that of the average teenager, his blood immediately rushed to his third leg through his veins at the sight.

"Ahem, I'll definitely stop by when I have some time," Hikari said, helping Yukino back to her feet, though his voice betrayed a hint of strain.

Yukino seemed about to say something more, but they were interrupted by a sharp, angry voice from behind.

"Hmph! Don't think this is over, Mifuyu Yukino! Just because I acted rashly doesn't mean—cough, cough—you get to stay!"

"Cough... You still owe rent, and if you don't pay up, you'll have to move out of this apartment!"

Takahashi, the sleazy manager, spat these words from where he lay on the ground, his voice filled with venomous intent.

Hikari glanced back at the now struggling-to-stand Takahashi and couldn't help but feel a certain level of respect—no matter how much of a scumbag the man was, he sure was tough. Even after being hit so hard, he was still managing to get up and speak.

But as soon as Takahashi saw Hikari's eyes on him, he faltered. His confidence wavered, and he averted his gaze, no longer daring to meet Hikari's cold stare.

However, it was clear from the way Takahashi glared at Yukino that he hadn't given up on her.

"Yukino, just because that brat beat me up doesn't mean you're off the hook. If that punk dares lay a hand on me again, I'll call the cops right away!"

"And you, Yukino-san, don't think for a second that you can stay here for free just because you don't want to pay the rent!"

Takahashi's words were like daggers, and Yukino's face paled instantly.

As much as she hated it, Takahashi was right. His earlier lewd behavior was certainly reprehensible, but the fact remained—Yukino was two months behind on her rent.

Without the money to pay it off, she'd be evicted.

Seeing Yukino's growing anxiety, Takahashi's lips curled into a smug grin. Sure, he couldn't match Hikari physically, but as the apartment manager, he had the upper hand when it came to rent collection.

And what could this high school brat do about that? Nothing.

He continued to give Hikari a smug look, especially after seeing how Yukino had shown care and gratitude toward the boy. It filled him with jealousy.

Hikari, however, paid no mind to Takahashi's gloating. Instead, he looked at the clearly distressed Yukino, who was now anxiously twisting the hem of her sweater between her fingers, her head bowed low.

"How much rent does she owe?" Hikari asked calmly.

"I... I owe..." Yukino stammered, her voice soft and filled with shame. She clearly found it difficult to talk about her financial troubles, especially in front of Hikari, who had just helped her.

"She owes two months' rent—200,000 yen in total!" Takahashi interjected loudly, taking pleasure in Yukino's discomfort.

"Is that true?" Hikari asked, turning back to Yukino.

She nodded slightly, though her head remained bowed in embarrassment. The shame of being in debt weighed heavily on her, especially in front of Hikari, who not only had just helped her but also seemed to be someone she was starting to feel a bit of affection for. She couldn't bear to admit such a humiliating truth.

Seeing her silent nod, Hikari turned his attention back to Takahashi, whose expression twisted into a sneer.

"So, what now? Want to help her pay up? That's 200,000 yen! Do you even have that kind of money, kid? Ha!" Takahashi taunted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

As if to prove his point, he let out a loud, mocking laugh.

Just as Takahashi's laughter was reaching its peak, there was a sudden slap sound. A stack of cash landed at his feet.

"Count it. There's 200,000 yen right there," Hikari said coldly.

Takahashi's laughter died instantly. Stunned, he quickly grabbed the stack and counted through it. To his utter disbelief, the amount was exactly 200,000 yen.

"How the hell does a high school kid have this much money?" Takahashi sputtered.

"Take the money and get lost," Hikari said without bothering to explain himself.

Takahashi, intimidated by Hikari's icy stare and remembering the pain of being kicked earlier, quickly pocketed the cash. Though furious, he wasn't stupid enough to press the issue further.

Without another word, he stumbled to his feet and scurried away, not daring to mention anything about the police.

Hikari, relieved that the situation had been resolved without too much trouble, allowed himself a small breath of relief. He wasn't worried about any potential fallout, knowing that if things did escalate, someone like Lady Mira could easily sort it out.

Still, next time, he thought, it might be better to deal with someone like Takahashi more discreetly.

The memory of Takahashi's hypnotic ring flashed through Hikari's mind, causing a chill to run down his spine. That ring was useless against him, but it posed a real threat to Yukino.

As Hikari's thoughts swirled, a voice broke through his reverie.

"H-Hikari-kun, why… why did you pay my rent?" Yukino asked in shock, her delicate hands covering her lips as she stared at him.

"I couldn't stand seeing that guy act like such a jerk," Hikari replied casually. "Besides, if you didn't pay, Takahashi would've just kept harassing you."

"Consider it a loan," he added, smiling slightly. "You can pay me back whenever."

Though 200,000 yen wasn't a small amount, it didn't bother Hikari much. With his system, making money was far from difficult.

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