Chapter 250: What Happened

Ten thousand dollars?

I’m only worth that little?!

What kind of stupid System is this?!

It doesn’t know a good deal when it sees one!

Himekoji was furious!

Yup, just as everyone witnessed, what pissed Himekoji off first was the measly price tag the System stuck on him…

Well, that’s understandable. It’s only human nature.

[Ding!]

[Important Notes—]

[If you fail, this option will repeatedly trigger for some time afterward, until you successfully sell yourself off.]

[You have ten chances to fail. Use them wisely!]

[Best of luck! If you fail, you know what’ll happen!]

If I fail…

“What happens if I fail?”

“Hey! Tell me already!”

“You know?”

“No! I have absolutely no idea! I don’t know anything!”

Annoyed at the System’s riddle-speak and secrecy, Himekoji couldn’t help but curse at it mentally.

What’s been going on lately?

The aftermath of Miura’s forceful kiss, getting Yukinoshita and Yuigahama to have a baby, Kuchikamizake, helping Hiratsuka Shizuka realize her wish, collecting Yuigahama’s scent, Nanami’s seven-colored underwear, plus this new task…

Himekoji seriously lost track of how many missions he was juggling simultaneously!

These were just the ones he could remember off the top of his head, and he already needed more than one hand to count them.

Headache!

Being a pervert is exhausting…

Being a pervert with outstanding performance is downright draining!

Of course, complaining doesn’t solve anything. Himekoji knew that well. So, he took a deep breath, adjusted his mindset, and decided to tackle the current option first.

After all, his head was already throbbing like it might split open.

This was the System’s nasty, shameless way of pressuring Himekoji. The longer he delayed making a choice after the option triggered, the worse the headache got.

It was a level of pain ordinary people couldn’t stand.

And practical experience proved that perverts couldn’t stand it either.

……

“A.”

Even though he thought option B’s fifty thousand dollars was more suited to his status and worth, Himekoji decided to swallow his pride and pick the easier ten-grand option just to finish the task sooner.

Darn it, he’d just have to undersell himself!

Also, there was another important reason he didn’t pick B:

He didn’t even know Hikigaya Komachi from option B!

So, how could he sell himself to someone he didn’t know?

Even though he could guess from the name that this Hikigaya Komachi was probably the “Imouto” that guy with Dead Fish Eyes mentioned earlier.

An Imouto type character? Awesome…

But no matter how awesome, it had nothing to do with him!

The top priority now was figuring out how to scam that ten thousand dollars out of Hikigaya!

……

“Ahem.”

The thought of what he was about to say next made Himekoji’s face burn. He covered his embarrassment with a dry cough.

Then, trying to sound casual, he asked offhandedly.

“So… how’s the shopping list coming along?”

“Eh, almost done, I guess.”

Hikigaya’s answer was ordinary; the conversation seemed headed for a dead end like it always did with her.

She was famous in class as a conversation killer.

“Almost? Well… that there?”

Just getting those words out felt incredibly awkward.

For Himekoji, this kind of dialogue was downright flirty! Not only flirty, but it also reeked of innocent puppy love. Honestly, saying perverted stuff would be easier!

At least he was used to the latter. He could do that without blinking.

“That there?”

Sharp Hikigaya immediately sensed something. She subtly took a step back, seemingly startled by Himekoji, her face practically screaming “You can’t mean…”.

“Well… the boyfriend, did you get one?”

Holy crap! He actually said it!

The moment the words left his lips, his face felt hot enough to steam.

Crap, Himekoji was sure his face was blazing red now…

This was so embarrassing!

Relief washed over him when he saw Hikigaya blushing slightly too.

“Phew-”

At least he wasn’t the only one flushing.

Himekoji sighed inwardly.

No! Not the time to relax yet!

The more shameful, more awkward line was still coming!

“W-What?”

Hikigaya started playing dumb.

“Aren’t you supposed to buy a… b-boyfriend? If you haven’t got one yet… I could…”

Himekoji couldn’t look at her anymore. He turned his gaze away, his fingertip unconsciously scratching his cheek.

“W-Wait! Don’t say those weird things I don’t understand!”

The girl flustered and retreated again.

Himekoji was all too familiar with this reaction.

The distance she created was the inviolable line she wouldn’t let anyone cross.

Himekoji had done such things numerous times before.

“I’ll just say it straight out!”

Himekoji closed his eyes and plunged ahead recklessly.

“Don’t!”

Even though Dead Fish Eyes tried to cut him off, Himekoji paid no attention.

“If you don’t end up buying it, how about me instead! As long as—”

“Enough! That’s disgusting! Please stop!”

The girl covered her ears, shoved Himekoji aside, and bolted out the door in a panic…

Disgusting?

Hey, you didn’t even let me finish!

Damn, this really hurts…

Even though he had expected this outcome.

“Whew—”

First, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, the delayed pain finally hit him.

“Hisss—”

Himekoji immediately clutched his chest where she had rammed him, sucking in a sharp breath.

This spot felt awful. She’d really crashed into him there.

So, that was way too hard, you know!

Ding!

Failure!

Remaining chances: 9.

…

Because of that whole incident, Himekoji was delayed quite a bit before finding Ebina and the others.

Speaking of which, they were in that souvenir shop earlier… They didn’t see that embarrassing scene, did they?

No, probably not. That would be way too coincidental.

…

Once everyone was together, Hayama led the lively group straight to the next spot.

There were plenty of things to see at TOEI MOVIE VILLAGE – Ninja Trick Mansion, Toei Animation Gallery, Ukiyoe Exhibition Hall, 3D Animation Show, Jidaigeki Film Set. After going through them one by one, it was already afternoon before they knew it.

Having walked around all day, the initial excitement faded, and everyone seemed pretty worn out. Seeing this, Hayama suggested they take a break.

No one objected to Hayama’s idea.

They all sat down on stone benches by the roadside.

Himekoji did the same, though he deliberately chose a spot in the corner.

The Movie Village was crowded, and roadside benches were rarely empty. The spot Himekoji picked was already occupied, but when he walked over, the person scooted sideways to make plenty of room for him.

Just as Himekoji raised his hand to greet and thank the person, they spoke first.

“My, what a coincidence.”

Huh? That distinctive tone of voice…

Himekoji focused his eyes and saw that it really was, just as she said, incredibly coincidental. Sitting there was none other than Yukinoshita Yukino.

“You’re here too?”

“Don’t pretend like you just noticed me now. You saw me sitting here, didn’t you? Shamelessly thinking you’d lucked out and decided to come over?”

Thinking he’d lucked out and came over?

Bullshit!

If I’d seen you sitting here beforehand, no way would I have sat down!

Himekoji grumbled internally.

As expected of Yukinoshita, he thought. Her way of speaking was as infuriating as ever.

“Huh?”

At the same time, a soft sound of surprise came from nearby.

Himekoji instinctively looked over.

Apparently, they were Yukinoshita’s companions – cute, quiet-looking girls sitting closely together. And the looks they were giving him… it was like he was some suspicious character…

Those stares made him feel a bit uncomfortable and awkward.

Though he kind of understood. To anyone else, the combination of him and Yukinoshita must seem incredibly strange.

Absolute mistake meets absolute correctness. Like black and white, completely distinct.

But well, he was used to it by now. How other people saw him… such trivial things hardly mattered.

…

It seemed Yukinoshita was properly participating in the group activity with friends from class.

Well, “friends” might be debatable.

The seating arrangement told the story. Yukinoshita sat alone on this bench, while the others sat a little distance away, looking at her with something like respect.

It felt different from how naturally she got along with Yuigahama.

Speak of Yuigahama and she appears—

“Yukino-chan! Ya-ha-roo~”

Spotting Yukinoshita, Yuigahama came bounding over happily from afar, smiling broadly… no, jiggling with every step. Her opening line was the same one Himekoji had mentally mocked countless times.

“Yui, ya… ya-ha-roo? Umm… Hello.”

Yukinoshita raised her hand in reply. She nearly got dragged into Yuigahama’s weird greeting mid-sentence, but thankfully caught herself before sinking to that embarrassing level.

Even so, Yukinoshita’s face flushed red at an alarming speed.

What the heck? Doesn’t this look like some kind of playful flirtation?

“Yukino-chan, they’re filming a big action scene over there! Want to go see?”

It did seem like they were. Himekoji had heard the gunshots earlier. While filming was common every day at the Movie Village, action-packed gunfights were comparatively rare.

Humans love a good spectacle. The classmates resting nearby had already dashed over, drawn by the sound of gunfire.

“Well then, let’s go.”

Seeing Yuigahama’s expectant face, Yukinoshita really couldn’t say no.

Honestly, in some ways, Yukinoshita spoiled Yuigahama way too much, Himekoji couldn’t help thinking to himself as he watched.

Rounding the corner, they reached the spot where the action scene was being filmed; the gunshots had definitely come from here.

However, the sight that greeted them as they arrived made everyone stop dead in their tracks, stunned…

…