After listening to Ichin's preferences, Hiratsuka Shizuka nodded in agreement.
"Hmm~~ If you're not considering Japanese brands, then German cars are definitely a solid choice. There's not much difference between the major German manufacturers, especially in the high-end segment. But if you're looking for comfort, Audi really is a good option. So? Have you decided? I've got a friend in the business—if you're interested, I can take you to check out some cars tomorrow."
"Tomorrow, huh?"
Ichin turned to Utaha, who was snuggled up beside him on the same beanbag chair.
"What do you think? Want to come?"
Utaha smiled and nodded.
"Sure! We're going to do it anyway, and having someone familiar there makes things a lot easier."
With that, Ichin finalized their plan for the next day.
"Alright then, Hiratsuka-sensei, we'll be counting on you tomorrow."
Grinning, Hiratsuka gave a thumbs-up.
"No problem! So, Umiko, Kō—what about you two? You should be getting your licenses soon, right? Any plans for what kind of car you want?"
Kō raised her hand immediately.
"Something practical and cheap!"
Her straightforward answer made Hiratsuka burst out laughing.
"Pfft—hahaha! You really are a funny one, aren't you?"
She patted her thigh and turned to Ichin.
"You're not underpaying her, are you?"
Ichin raised his hands defensively.
"Of course not! Forget the salary—even the place they're living in, I'm barely charging them anything. At most, I just ask them to cover their own utilities. The car thing is totally up to her. I've even told her she could go for something nicer, but she won't listen."
Kō nodded firmly.
"That's right, that's right! I really don't think I need anything fancy. As long as it works, that's enough for me!"
Hiratsuka, however, didn't agree. She wagged her finger.
"Let me ask you this—what's your position in the studio?"
"My position?"
Kō tilted her head and hugged her knees.
"Art Director?"
"Exactly—Art Director."
Snapping her fingers, Hiratsuka continued,
"Even if your studio isn't huge—what, around forty people including the new hires?—it's still a proper company. And as the Art Director, you're one of the top figures in the entire team. Even if you're not the type to be in the spotlight, you still need to carry yourself like a leader. And a car? That's a great way to make a statement. Same goes for Umiko."
Ichin nodded and added,
"Exactly. It's not like we're strapped for cash, so it's totally okay to get a slightly nicer car. Something comfortable to drive, at the very least. No one's saying you have to blow your whole savings on it."
The combined persuasion from both Ichin and Hiratsuka seemed to get through to Kō.
"Hmm~~ That does kinda make sense. What do you think, Rin?"
Rin smiled calmly.
"I'm fine with it. We already agreed to split the cost of the car, so it's no problem if it ends up being a bit more expensive."
Hiratsuka raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Wait—you two are buying one car together? But if you're both getting licenses and have steady incomes, couldn't you each afford your own?"
"We could, yeah," Rin replied cheerfully.
"But since we're living together now, having one car between us is actually enough—for commuting or going out."
"Ahh~~ I see. If you're living together, one car really is plenty."
Nodding in understanding, Hiratsuka turned to Umiko.
"So, Umiko—what kind of car are you thinking of getting?"
Then, Umiko raised a finger and said,
"I have only one requirement: it needs to have a lot of space. Aside from the upcoming move, I often have to carry a lot of stuff during outings. Sometimes I'll be picking up a few people too, so I'm planning to get an SUV."
"Hm~~ an SUV, huh. What's your budget like?"
Umiko crossed her arms and replied calmly,
"I've saved up a fair bit over the past few years. As long as it doesn't exceed 8 million yen, I'll consider it."
"At that price point, there are quite a few good options."
Rubbing her chin, Hiratsuka Shizuka said,
"No problem—I can help you weigh the pros and cons. Oh, and Kō, what about you two? As for Ichin, I won't bother asking. You're obviously not hurting for money."
"Hey hey hey, don't say it like that, Hiratsuka-sensei," Ichin protested.
"It's true I'm not short on money, but part of it goes into running the studio—I can't just spend it recklessly."
He added firmly,
"My car budget isn't going to be much higher than Umiko's."
"Within 10 million yen?"
"Yeah, roughly."
"That's more than enough. You're not planning to buy a sports car or anything, so that budget should cover it comfortably."
In the end, Kō and Rin also settled on a budget range of 5 to 6 million yen.
On Sunday, guided by Hiratsuka Shizuka, the group visited a dealership where her friend worked. After test-driving and comparing various models, they ended up buying a car right on the spot.
Thanks to their connection, the paperwork and procedures were all handled quickly and efficiently.
After getting into the driver's seat and fastening his seatbelt, Ichin's eyes met Utaha's, who had taken the passenger seat.
She had also buckled up, and the angled seatbelt accentuated her graceful figure.
Noticing Ichin's wandering gaze, Utaha gave a playful smile and straightened her posture.
"Ichin, your eyes should stay on the road when you're driving, you know~"
"You don't need to remind me."
Turning to look at Kō and Rin in the back seat, Ichin asked,
"Kō, Rin—really didn't see anything you liked?"
The two exchanged a glance before responding,
"Well, not exactly. It's just that we haven't gotten our licenses yet, so there's no rush. Hiratsuka-sensei already gave us a crash course in car knowledge today, so we figured we'd take our time and find the right one while we prep for the test."
As for Umiko, who was riding in Hiratsuka's car, she had already picked out a vehicle and arranged with Hiratsuka's friend to pick it up as soon as she had her license.
"Alright, that wraps up today's plan perfectly. It's getting late—let's find a place for dinner. Utaha, give Umiko a call and ask if she and Hiratsuka-sensei have any place in mind."
With that, Ichin started the car.
As the engine purred to life and he gripped the steering wheel, a deep sense of satisfaction washed over him.
This kind of grown-up toy… really is something else!
He made a smooth turn and merged onto the road, the car gliding forward.
In the backseat, Kō leaned on the window frame, watching the scenery flash by.
"Whoa! Ichin, you drive really steady. I was honestly a little worried you might not handle it well as a newbie!"
"There's no need to worry about that," Ichin replied calmly.
"If you've got energy to worry about me, better use it to study for your license exam next week, Kō."
...
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