Back in the apartment hallway, Hayashi Itsuki and Shiina Mahiru returned to their respective rooms.
There wasn't much conversation between them during the walk.
With no club activities to attend, Itsuki found himself with plenty of free time ahead.
He opened his laptop and dove back into writing.
In his previous life, he had been a struggling writer without grand ambitions. Like most ordinary guys, all he wanted was financial freedom and a beautiful girlfriend—a leisurely life of comfort and ease.
That simple mindset didn't change overnight. Perhaps once he experienced more of life and climbed into the upper echelons of society, he might grow.
For now, though, making money and improving his daily life was the priority.
Itsuki had no intention of subsisting on sausages, bread, or instant noodles every day.
An hour passed as he organized his thoughts, and he had effectively completed the upper half of the first volume of the novel he intended to submit.
A few days of polishing, and it would be ready for submission.
Closing the laptop, Itsuki stretched.
Then he picked up his phone, going online to research this world's information.
First on his list: the major financial conglomerates.
The Shiinomiya family.
According to online sources, the Shiinomiya family was considered the most prominent, often called the "heart of the nation."
Of course, this was limited to Japan.
The Sanchiin family, ranked second, was even more impressive.
According to the data, the Sanchiin family had only one heir, a very young girl who had skipped a grade and was now in high school—Sanchiin Nagi.
And her school was… Holy White Emperor Academy?
That was the school Itsuki was attending.
Sanchiin Nagi?
The heroine from Hayate the Combat Butler?
Itsuki thought of the anime instantly and realized that keeping a low profile was definitely the right choice.
If the Hayate characters were integrated into this world, the power hierarchy here was no joke.
The Sanchiin family controlled special abilities and had the resources to make waves internationally.
Unlike the Shiinomiya family, which kept its wealth largely domestic, the Sanchiin family had countless overseas assets.
Among them, the butler of the eldest daughter of this major conglomerate, after rigorous training, could wield powerful techniques—essentially "finishing moves."
The wealth and power of such a family were beyond imagination.
By comparison, the Shiinomiya family seemed somewhat weaker. From what Itsuki remembered of the anime, they didn't display any extraordinary powers.
Aside from the heir, Shiinomiya Kaguya, being an exceptional woman, the family was otherwise just a standard financial powerhouse.
The Yukinoshita family was even weaker.
It seemed they had only recently risen in prominence, leveraging their resources to cultivate a politician with some influence in government.
Itsuki was certain the Yukinoshita family did not possess any supernatural abilities.
Why?
Because Yukinoshita Yukino was still lying in a coma in the hospital after being hit by a car.
If her family had secret powers, she would have been out long ago.
Thinking of the Yukinoshita family naturally made Itsuki think of Yukino herself.
Perhaps there was a way to… manipulate the situation.
If he remembered correctly, Yukino's older sister, Yukino Yukari, was an extreme little-sister fan, right?
So maybe, once he gained the ability to heal others, he could use it as a bargaining chip to get closer to Yukino Yukari.
A mischievous smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Besides the Yukinoshita family, the Takanomiya family was also worth noting.
Since Sanchiin Nagi existed in this world, her close friend, the so-called "Priestess of Light," Takanomiya Isumi, would naturally exist too.
She wasn't someone to be taken lightly. Rumor had it that any supernatural incidents could be traced back to her uncontrollable powers as a child.
Even Itsuki, a demon, felt a twinge of apprehension.
If he got too mischievous, what if Takanomiya Isumi just waved a hand and treated him as an evil spirit to be exorcised?
Better to take it slow.
If he wanted to build a relationship—or even contract this Priestess of Light—he needed to start with Sanchiin Nagi.
From his hazy memories, Nagi seemed like a homebody, a hardcore fan of the two-dimensional world, a girl who loved manga and drew her own.
Approaching her through light novels and gradually building recognition seemed like a solid strategy.
There might even be other ways to get close, like saving her in some heroic scenario.
According to online reports, she was occasionally targeted by kidnappers attempting to extort the Sanchiin family.
But that sounded like a headache—better to focus on what was immediately in front of him and let things happen naturally.
Of course, proactively contracting other potential allies was also important.
Relying solely on Mahiru's super-healing powers wouldn't make him unstoppable.
Putting his phone down, Itsuki stopped thinking for a moment.
He rubbed his stomach, ready to grab a bite.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
Opening the door, Itsuki was surprised.
"Shiina-san? What's going on? Did something happen?"
Standing there was none other than his little angel neighbor—Shiina Mahiru.
Suppressing a mix of emotions, Mahiru handed him a bento box.
"I… accidentally made a bit too much food. You probably haven't eaten yet, right? If you don't mind, could you help me finish this extra portion?"
"Of course! But… are you sure it's okay?"
Itsuki accepted the still-warm bento box, his eyes fixed on her.
"What do you mean? What could be the problem?"
Mahiru frowned slightly, clearly displeased as she stared at him.