Ginza 3-chome. Chanel Building. 10th Floor.
The French restaurant, Beige Alain Ducasse, was a first for Mari. She had never been to such an upscale place before. Surrounded by attentive, flawless service and a warm, inviting atmosphere, her eyes drifted toward the boy sitting across from her... now a newly minted billionaire.
"I've lived in Tokyo for so long, and yet this is my first time in a restaurant like this," she said.
"Same here," Haruto replied.
They both settled into the soft, springy sofas. Haruto picked up the menu the waiter handed over, glancing at the dishes and their prices.
"Not as expensive as I imagined," Mari murmured. "Maybe I can come here occasionally with Sonoko, just to experience it."
On the menu, the lunch set was listed at 12,000 yen. Other pricing options resembled a conveyor-belt style system: three plates for 20,000 yen, four plates for 24,000 yen, and specialty dishes at 30,000 yen, all tax included, with an additional 12% service charge.
Haruto, unfamiliar with this restaurant, simply ordered a specialty dish. Mari, unsure what to choose, decided to follow suit and ordered the same.
"So, how does it feel, our young billionaire?" Mari asked.
"Not much, really," Haruto replied. "I just feel... relaxed. All my previous life goals, my plans and efforts... they almost feel like a joke now. Closing my eyes, I feel at ease."
The official retirement age was 65. Even assuming someone started working straight after high school with an annual salary of four million yen, ignoring other variables, total lifetime earnings wouldn't reach 200 million yen. Combined with a spouse, it might barely reach 400 million yen.
Yet Haruto, at just eighteen, already possessed the lifetime income of two middle-class households without working, without restrictions.
"So this is what it feels like to be free from the worries of daily life?" Mari asked.
"Will you still write books?"
"Of course. Now I'm freer than ever. I'll probably create even better works. Before, I always worried about sales, but now, I don't have to. I'm free."
Seeing the boy smile with such confidence, Mari felt a surge of admiration for him.
"Have you told your family about this? Ten billion yen is a lot... you'll need a solid plan for it," she asked.
"Not yet," Haruto said. "I plan to keep it secret for now. I'll give some to my mother, and the rest I'll use myself. I'm planning to buy a high-end apartment in Bunkyo. That's what I've been working toward, and now..."
A high-end apartment in Bunkyo.
Mari felt a twinge of envy, a mixture of admiration and jealousy, though her rational mind kept it in check.
When the dishes arrived, Haruto sipped his juice, while Mari lifted her glass of red wine. The rich liquid flowed down her throat, and as she closed her eyes, her mood steadied slightly.
"Are you free this afternoon?" Haruto asked.
"Anything else you need?" Mari's curiosity was piqued; it had taken her some time to calm down from the earlier shock.
"I want to go see some apartments. Could you come with me?"
If Haruto went alone, it might draw suspicion, but having an adult like Mari by his side would make it look perfectly normal.
Mari had taken the day off and had nothing planned for the afternoon. Hearing Haruto's request, she agreed immediately. She also lived in a standard apartment, so checking out high-end apartments sounded like an interesting experience.
After enjoying their French meal, they met with the real estate agent in the afternoon to see the apartments Haruto had browsed online.
There were four properties of interest: Chiyoda, Kasuga, Nezu, and Otsuka.
The Kasuga property was not far from Haruto's current residence... right near the school attended by Setsuna and Sekai. It was priced at 99.8 million yen, with a floor area of 65.32 square meters. Nearby were two stores, an elementary and a middle school, and even a park.
Completed in March 2005, it was about ten years old.
"It's three floors, with a garage on the first floor. From Myogadani Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, it's a twelve-minute walk. How does this property feel to you?"
The young female agent glanced at Mari and then at the masked Haruto, sensing a subtle dynamic: the decision-maker appeared to be the quiet young man.
"It seems good overall. Can I ask why it's on the market?"
"The previous owner was assigned overseas for work. It's unlikely they'll return," she answered frankly.
Haruto decided to hold this property temporarily and see the others.
The Chiyoda property had a great location but clearly catered to commercial use; the interior design suggested a business rather than a home. Haruto remained silent for a moment before moving on.
Nezu.
Surrounded by Tokyo University, its medical hospital, the University of the Arts museum, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, National Science Museum, National Museum of Western Art, Ueno Zoo, and Ueno Onshi Park, the area was rich in cultural and academic atmosphere.
The exterior had a Western style, while the interior maintained traditional Japanese design. The price was 105 million yen.
Haruto felt drawn to it, especially with the medical hospital nearby a huge convenience for someone who valued health and safety.
"This one will also be held temporarily. That leaves..."
Otsuka.
Located six minutes on foot from Otsuka Station, the property had a land area of 109.37 square meters... larger than the previous three. Completed in July 2002, it was roughly thirteen years old.
Surrounded by Otsuka Metropolitan Hospital, Ochanomizu Women's University and its affiliated middle and high schools, and a cluster of apartments, the interior felt quite satisfactory. Price: 350 million yen.
Choosing among them wasn't easy for Haruto.
Kasuga felt good; Nezu was appealing. Chiyoda was clearly a commercial property and wasn't considered further. Otsuka was expensive, and combined with future property taxes, it would be a significant expense.
"Myogadani Station's property is nice, but the area feels slightly remote. It's a bit inconvenient in Kohinata," he noted.
"If you prefer a more bustling area, why not consider Minato or Chiyoda?" the agent suggested.
"I've lived in Bunkyo for so long that I've grown attached to it. Moving elsewhere would feel unfamiliar. Are these the only good properties in Bunkyo?"
"There are others. For instance, Hakusan or Hon-Komagome. Both are suitable for a family."
The Hakusan property seemed a little low-rise despite exceeding 100 square meters, which didn't quite appeal to Haruto. Hon-Komagome had a lively, lived-in feel but was somewhat old.
Disregarding costs, Haruto favored Nezu overall. For space, Otsuka was preferable; for location, Chiyoda was ideal.
"I'll go ahead and reserve the Shimazu property. I'm very satisfied with it. I'll think about the others later."
"Have you decided?"
"Yes."
The agent quickly contacted the owner of the Nezu property, while Haruto and Mari stood inside, taking in the space.
"What do you think of it?" Mari asked.
"Not really my style. The Nezu one seemed better. Are you planning to buy that one?"
"Yes, that's what I'm thinking."
"That's great."
"When you have time, you can come visit my place too."
"Aren't you worried your girlfriend will get jealous?"
"She wouldn't mind."
Mari recalled the girl who had been with Haruto the last time they met. Hearing Haruto's answer, she smiled faintly.
"I see… understood," she said.
A short while later, the real estate agent approached, looking slightly apologetic.
"Sorry, Mr. Miyamizu, the Nezu property you were looking at… it's already been sold."
"Already?"
"About half an hour ago."
"…"
Haruto was momentarily speechless. He hadn't expected the property he had his eye on to be taken in just thirty minutes. Standing silently, he reached out and took back the property brochure, carefully reviewing it.
"This one is near Gokokuji and Ochanomizu Women's University?"
"Yes, and Kodansha Publishing is right across the station."
"This is the one, 150 million yen?"
"Yes."
"Contact them for me. If there's no problem, we'll take it."
"Understood!"
After losing the previous property, the agent quickly dialed to confirm everything, then invited Haruto and Mari to her office to finalize the contract.
"Wasn't this one styled like a café?"
"Yes."
Nodding, Haruto sat quietly in the agent's car. Even signing a 100+ million yen property didn't faze him much, which made Mari feel a little envious.
"It really is outstanding... full of modern charm. Young people would love a place like this," she remarked.
"Being right next to Gokokuji Station, transportation is very convenient. I don't see any major issues," Haruto replied calmly.
"Shall we go take a look?"
"Yes, let's go see it first."
Confirming that no one else had signed for it, they followed the agent to the property. Once inside, Haruto inspected everything, finding no issues. They returned to the agency and signed for the property.
The agent's fees were covered on their end, so Haruto didn't have to pay extra.
"Let's leave it at that for now. I'll consider the others and come back if needed," Haruto said.
"No problem. You're always welcome to return," the agent smiled as they parted ways.
Holding the keys, Haruto looked at Mari.
"Shall we go take another look?"
"You're planning to?"
"First, I'll change the locks. Then I'll check what else we might need, maybe some furniture."
Haruto grabbed the documents, stopped a taxi, and Mari followed quietly. Soon, they returned to the property. Haruto looked at his new home and closed his eyes.
He took the key from his pocket, stepped forward, and unlocked the door, inviting Mari in.
"Please, come in."
"Just got the keys, and already you have the air of the owner," Mari teased.
Haruto only gave a faint smile, offering no comment.
Evening was approaching, and there was no way to call someone immediately to change the locks. That task would have to wait until tomorrow. Haruto and Mari went to a nearby restaurant for dinner, and after a round of thanks, he called a taxi to take her home.
Left alone, Haruto watched Mari's figure disappear before heading back to his apartment.
Stepping inside his familiar space, he felt a little affected by the day's house-hunting; after seeing so many properties, his own room now felt a bit small. Still, he had no intention of moving at least not until after graduating high school.
He placed the contracts and documents in a folder on his desk and deliberately hid them in a more obscure spot. Sitting down, he let out a long breath, feeling unusually relaxed.
"150 million yen has been spent… leaving 850 million. I should keep 350 million in reserve, and I need to figure out how to use the remaining 500 million."
The little interest from a bank wouldn't do much; it might even be better to buy more lottery tickets or investing in funds and stocks…
After a brief pause, Haruto's thoughts drifted to several stocks that had begun rising in recent years. A thoughtful expression appeared on his face as he considered his next move.
~~~~~~~~~~
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