"It's so hot."
Eriri fanned herself with a small fan for a while.
The school still had classes in this weather; she felt like she was about to be steamed.
Kasumigaoka Utaha and Kato Megumi beside her also felt somewhat the same.
Looking at the ice cream shop nearby, Kato Megumi pointed and said, "How about we buy some ice cream before we go?"
"Good idea!"
Their eyes lit up; an ice cream on a hot day.
It could perfectly dispel the heat.
"Did we forget something?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri each held an ice cream, walking and eating.
Indeed, the ice cream slightly dispelled a hint of the heat.
But they always felt like they had forgotten something.
"I have that feeling too..."
When Kasumigaoka Utaha mentioned it, Eriri suddenly also felt like there was something she hadn't done.
But what it was, she couldn't recall at the moment.
"Kato Megumi!"
The two looked at each other and instantly remembered what they had overlooked.
When they went to buy ice cream, there were three of them, but now there were only two!
Kato Megumi had been left at the ice cream shop by them.
Thinking this, the two quickly ran back, but as they turned around, Kato Megumi was silently following behind them.
Looking at the familiar bob cut, Eriri awkwardly touched her cheek and said, "Um..."
"It's okay, I'm already used to it."
Kato Megumi silently took a bite of her ice cream and said.
She had always silently followed behind the two of them.
She was already accustomed to being ignored.
However, her words also made Eriri feel a little guilty.
She had just promised Kato Megumi today that they would be good friends.
Yet, in the afternoon, she almost lost her.
"Oh, right, didn't that guy say he could help with anything? We'll see if he can boost Megumi's presence!"
Eriri suddenly remembered what Kasumigaoka Utaha had told her earlier.
Mizusaki Yuma seemed to do this kind of help, though it required payment.
It would be perfect to test it with Kato Megumi. If he really had the ability,
he should be able to make Kato Megumi's presence stronger, so people around her wouldn't ignore her so much.
"This must be the place, right?"
Following the address Mizusaki Yuma gave her,
Kasumigaoka Utaha found Mizusaki Yuma's so-called Yorozuya in a small alley.
It was really hidden. Would anyone even be inside?
"Should we just go in?"
The three of them lingered at the entrance for a while.
The other party was working now; would it be rude to go in?
"This shop seems to be his."
Kasumigaoka Utaha knocked on the door, then quietly pushed open the outer door.
She peeked inside and saw Mizusaki Yuma sitting there, seemingly talking to someone.
"Have you decided?"
Looking at the young man who was still a bit hesitant, Mizusaki Yuma was not in a hurry.
People who came here to trade their lifespan always hesitated.
But compared to others, ordinary people trading their lifespan for money—so far—
he had never failed.
As long as the other party was after money, then the deal could absolutely be made.
Because they understood the stakes involved.
"Ten years... that's ten years. Let me think about it..."
A trace of struggle flashed in the young man's eyes.
Five hundred million Japanese Yen and ten years of lifespan.
But he was also reluctant to give up the five hundred million Japanese Yen that was within his grasp.
"Even if you work for ten years, you might not earn five hundred million Japanese Yen. If you trade ten years from me, you can skip the hardship of earning money and go straight to enjoying life. Isn't that good?"
"Earning money is just so you can enjoy yourself. Now there's an opportunity right in front of you to enjoy yourself without hardship. Don't wait until you lose it and regret it!"
Mizusaki Yuma's words were like the whispers of a demon.
His heart was also being continuously eroded.
Just as he said, he would never earn five hundred million Japanese Yen even if he worked hard for ten years.
Why not just trade it directly? He could go straight to enjoying life.
He remembered the goddess at his company who disdained him, and his bald boss who constantly scolded him.
He would be scolded for even the slightest mistake.
His colleagues were indifferent, and he had no friends.
He had often fantasized about how wonderful it would be if he were rich.
This opportunity was right in front of him.
The young man gritted his teeth, then nodded and said, "Okay, I agree. How do we trade?"
It was just ten years of his lifespan. Today, he would take this five hundred million Japanese Yen back and show everyone who had ever looked down on him!
"Just sign your name on the contract."
Mizusaki Yuma placed the contract in front of the young man. The other party took it and immediately signed his name.
The moment he signed, the young man's face visibly aged a little.
He picked up his phone, and the text message showing five hundred million Japanese Yen credited to his account made him ignore his aging body.
This was money he had never seen in his life.
"Welcome back next time!"
Watching the young man leave, Mizusaki Yuma's lips curved into a smile.
In the end, he would come back to him.
These kinds of people were the easiest to trade with.
"You've been watching for so long, aren't you coming in?"
"Is this how you usually conduct your business?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha had seen everything clearly from outside earlier.
After signing such a contract, five hundred million was given directly.
And because the man earlier had his back to them, they hadn't seen the young man's face rapidly age.
"This is so mysterious. I feel like it's all fake. How can anyone trade lifespan?"
Eriri always felt this was definitely a scammer.
He kept talking about five hundred million for ten years of lifespan.
And it was done by just signing a contract. With such a good imagination, why didn't he write novels?
"Perhaps you could also trade with me to become a bit more charming!?"
"This young lady doesn't need your help!"
Eriri believed she was quite charming.
Seeing her confident look, Kasumigaoka Utaha silently added a jab: "He said to make you bigger."
"Kasu... Kasumigaoka Utaha!!"
Eriri's twin tails instantly floated up, and then she looked seriously at Mizusaki Yuma.
This was absolutely not true!
But upon seeing him nod, Eriri's twin-tail whirlwind whip, which was already charged and ready to strike, was caught by Mizusaki Yuma.
There was still a hint of shampoo scent on this 'steering wheel'.