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"This is a one-night, two-day hot spring voucher. We can have fun for two whole days," Anna Yanaimi said, her voice full of anticipation. She practically sparkled. "So… want to go to the hot springs together this weekend?"
A "one-night, two-day" stay was a pretty standard package in Japan's travel scene. Stay one night, enjoy two days of activities.
"Oh, and also—let's come back again tomorrow," she added, lifting her gaze toward him. "We should grab another voucher and take Sagiri with us next time."
You make it sound so easy. What is this, bulk shopping?
"Sagiri definitely won't go out," Blake said, shaking his head. "No need to prepare one for her."
"And that's exactly where you're wrong, Blake." Anna Yanaimi held the snack bundle in one hand and poked his waist with the other, her slender finger tapping lightly. "Little sister might not go, but you still have to prepare it. Otherwise Sagiri will definitely feel upset, right?"
…Girls really are troublesome.
He grumbled inwardly, but he had to admit she had a point.
There was a 99% chance Sagiri wouldn't step outside, but that didn't mean she didn't care.
If he really didn't get her a voucher, she'd probably feel hurt.
"Alright, we'll come again tomorrow," Blake agreed.
Each voucher cost several thousand yen. Saving where you could was only natural.
"There are still a few days until the weekend. If we come once a day, we can even grab some for Aunt and the others…"
"Um…" Anna Yanaimi pressed her lips together, suddenly looking a little embarrassed. "Isn't it kind of bad to keep… taking advantage like this?"
Blake raised an eyebrow. "Is that illegal?"
She shook her head. "Of course not."
"Then are you happy doing it?"
"Cough…" Her cheeks turned slightly red. "Actually… yeah, it's pretty fun."
"Then that settles it. It's fun and not illegal, so there's nothing to feel ashamed about."
"…"
They reached a crossroads and split up.
"See you tomorrow, Blake!" she called, waving brightly. "I'm heading home."
"See you."
He nodded, carrying a bag of snacks in one hand and a newly bought computer in the other as he walked home.
He hadn't gone far when a flash of brilliant blonde suddenly caught his eye.
"…Servant!"
The blonde girl spotted him too, her eyes lighting up as she jogged over happily.
Yamada Elf.
Noticing that none of the passersby reacted—one elementary school kid even nearly bumped into her—Blake sighed.
"Why are you invisible for no reason?"
"Obviously for research!" Yamada Elf planted her hands on her hips, chin raised, her voice bright and lively. "I told you before, didn't I? I'm the strongest genius light novel author in history, destined to save the industry! Field research is super important!"
Of course. A chuuni girl.
Saying something that embarrassing in public without even blushing… not something most people could pull off.
"Then why be invisible for research?"
"To observe the truest side of humanity, of course." She crossed one arm under her chest and spread the fingers of her other hand across her face, covering half of it in a dramatic pose. "Humans always wear masks when others are around. Only when they think they're alone do they reveal their true nature."
Honestly, wearing a mask wasn't such a bad thing. If everyone spoke their mind all the time, society would fall apart.
"Thanks to invisibility, today's research was a huge success," she continued cheerfully. "For example, I went to a café this morning. There was this super elegant, beautiful girl in black tights. Looked refined and classy… but in the corner, she was secretly picking at her foot and then sniffing it."
…Okay, to be fair, sniffing after picking your foot might just be a universal human instinct.
"And then! I saw this really gentle-looking girl on a date with a guy. After they split up, she turned around and immediately held hands with another guy."
Rental girlfriend, maybe?
If that's the case… Kazuya deserves no mercy.
Yamada Elf went on.
"Just now, I saw a band performing on the street. Hardly anyone was watching, but they were really serious about it. One pink-haired girl was even hiding inside a cardboard box like a little hamster. After I listened, I gave them a thousand yen, but the wind blew the money away. The other girls panicked, but one blue-haired girl wasn't scared at all. She actually thanked the 'divine benefactor' and hoped I'd give more!"
"Wait," Blake interrupted, quickly spotting the issue. "You went out for research this morning… didn't you go to school?"
"I don't need school," Yamada Elf said proudly, hands on hips. "Instruments, cooking, and even bride training—I've already completed everything under my mother's guidance."
Blake couldn't help himself.
"…Didn't something weird just get mixed in there?"
"Huh?"
"Bride training? That was a slip of the tongue, right?"
"It was not!" She lifted her chin proudly. "I graduated bride training with a perfect score. I could get married anytime."
…In this day and age, that's still a thing?
The world of the rich really is something else.
"You're way too young to get married," Blake said. "Pretty sure that'd be illegal."
Thump.
Yamada Elf lightly kicked him.
"Idiot servant! Don't call me small! And remember to call me 'Milady!'"
"I meant your age," he said calmly. "Not your figure."
"Shut up!" She covered her chest and glared at him, flustered. "My mom has huge boobs! I inherited her genes, so I'll definitely grow into a proper busty beauty!"
Blake let out a quiet breath. "Back to the point… is it really okay for you not to go to school?"
"Idiot servant, call me Milady." She sniffed. "Let me ask you—what's the point of going to school? Isn't it to get an easier job after graduating?"
"Look in my eyes!"
"Answer me!"
"My mom says our family has enough money to last two lifetimes, so not studying is fine, right?"
"…"
Right.
Yamada Elf was ridiculously rich. She even had her own private resort island or something.
Skipping school really wasn't a problem for her.
"Hello, rich lady. Goodbye, rich lady."
Blake turned and started walking away.
People were already giving him weird looks for talking to "thin air." Time to leave.
"Wait!" Yamada Elf hurried after him, grabbing the hem of his clothes. "I need to ask you for a favor."
"....."