When the notification sound rang in his mind once again, a trace of delight flashed through Sora’s eyes.
He had already earned money from Megumi once yesterday.
Yet today he could earn from her again.
From the looks of it, this money-making mechanism could probably be triggered once per day.
After asking Megumi for the favor, Sora returned to his seat and opened the system panel.
He checked his wallet balance.
— [0 Gold Coins, 0 Silver Coins, 44 Copper Coins] — Another ten copper coins.
The amount hadn’t increased or decreased compared to yesterday.
It felt a lot like a daily login reward.
The only difference was that the check-in target wasn’t a location, but a specific person.
Closing the panel, Sora thought of Miyuri.
If his theory was correct, he should be able to earn another ten copper coins from the landlady when he returned home tonight.
He’d test it later.
—— Megumi looked helplessly at the chewing gum and envelope sitting on her desk.
Still, a promise was a promise.
She picked up both the gum and the envelope.
During the next break, she left the classroom.
Eriri was extremely famous at school.
Students often talked about her during their free time, and Megumi had occasionally overheard the gossip.
As a result, she knew which classroom Eriri was in.
The hallways were crowded with students.
Yet nobody seemed to notice Megumi passing by.
Everyone continued chatting, laughing, and doing their own things.
Like an invisible ghost, Megumi arrived smoothly at a particular classroom.
After checking the class sign to confirm she had the right room, she walked inside.
The students inside barely paid any attention to the unfamiliar girl from another class.
Megumi glanced around and quickly found a blonde girl with twin tails.
Several girls were gathered around her desk.
Meanwhile, boys throughout the classroom occasionally stole glances in her direction.
It was obvious that she was the most popular girl in the class.
The center of the girls’ social circle.
So this was the type of girl that transfer student liked…
Thinking that, Megumi walked over.
—— Eriri was currently discussing cosmetics and clothing with several girls from her class.
With a father working in the British diplomatic service, a mother from a prestigious family, excellent family circumstances, and beautiful looks, Eriri naturally lacked neither luxury goods nor popularity.
As a result, she had never lacked male or female friends eager to approach her.
At that moment, an unremarkable-looking girl suddenly stopped in front of her and handed her an envelope.
Eriri blinked.
“…?” Megumi said expressionlessly, “A boy asked me to deliver this to you.
My job is done.” Then she turned around and left.
“Who was that?” “No idea.
She looks kind of plain.” “I bet she doesn’t even use makeup.” The girls surrounding Eriri casually commented on Megumi’s departing figure.
Eriri frowned and looked down at the white envelope in her hands.
“Eriri-chan, another confession letter?” “Your popularity is incredible.” “Seriously!
Open it and let’s see which class he’s from!” Eriri looked both helpless and slightly pleased.
She couldn’t help it.
Since entering high school, she had received countless confession letters.
The first few had made her nervous.
Now she barely reacted.
If not for the girls around her making such a fuss, she probably wouldn’t even bother opening it and would have thrown it away immediately.
After all, these letters usually contained nothing but overly dramatic declarations of love.
Eriri tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter.
[Meet me on the rooftop at noon.
Come alone.] [Eri Kashiwagi-sensei.] Eriri’s pupils instantly contracted.
Before the girls around her could lean over to read it, she folded the letter shut.
“Eriri-chan, what’s wrong?” “What does it say?
Read it for us!” “Yeah, tell us!” Forcing herself to smile calmly, Eriri replied, “Nothing worth reading.
Just some boring nonsense…” As she spoke, she casually tore the letter apart.
Not just once.
She shredded it into tiny pieces.
The other girls didn’t think much of it.
Instead, they laughed and complained about annoying boys, while wondering what kind of guy could ever be worthy of their beloved Eriri.
Eriri smiled along with them.
Inside, however, her thoughts were in complete chaos.
Who was it?
How did he know her secret?
He wanted her to come to the rooftop alone at noon.
Was he planning to use that secret to blackmail her into doing things she didn’t want to do?
Just imagining that terrifying future made her legs feel weak.
She was only a second-year student.
Was she really going to spend the next two years of high school being manipulated by someone?
No way!
Absolutely not!
—— Noon.
Students headed toward the cafeteria in small groups.
Megumi took out her lunch and quietly ate at her desk.
Meanwhile, just like the previous day, Sora headed to the rooftop.
Leaning against a shaded corner, he took bread and milk from his inventory and patiently waited while eating.
When he was halfway through the bread, he heard footsteps coming up the stairs.
Very light footsteps.
Walking toward the door, he watched it open.
A blonde girl with twin tails stood there.
Half Japanese, half British.
Naturally blonde.
Beautiful features.
Looking exactly like her anime counterpart.
Sora examined the girl and smiled warmly.
“Eri Kashiwagi-sensei.” Eriri looked at his smile.
Her heart, however, felt as though it had plunged into an icy abyss.
Pretending to be confused, she asked, “What are you talking about?
Who’s Eri Kashiwagi-sensei?
Do we even have a teacher by that name at school?” Sora looked directly at her.
“Stop pretending, Eriri Sawamura.
You don’t want this identity exposed, do you?” Eriri was silent for a moment before speaking.
“I don’t know how you found out.” “But let me tell you this.” “My family is wealthy.
My father is a British diplomat with connections to many officials.
My mother also knows plenty of influential people here.” “If you’re planning to blackmail me over my doujin work, I can always transfer schools.” “But you’d better be prepared for my family’s retaliation.” Hearing her response, Sora couldn’t help laughing.
“Your head is surprisingly clear.
As expected of an honor student.” “What are you laughing at?” “It just proves that those stories in your doujinshi where someone casually finds a secret and uses it to force the heroine into doing whatever they want could never happen in real life.” “…” Eriri glanced away guiltily.
Truthfully, when she first received the letter, she really had felt like one of the heroines in her own books.
As though her life were over.
But after spending two entire classes thinking it through, she’d realized there wasn’t actually much to fear.
Worst case scenario, she transferred schools.
If necessary, she could simply return to England.
But she definitely wouldn’t let the other side get away with it.
“Relax, Senpai.
I have no intention of exposing your identity.” Sora smiled.
“I was only joking earlier.” “I asked you here because I need a small favor.” Eriri eyed him suspiciously.
“What favor?” “I want you to help promote a light novel.” “…That’s it?” “That’s it.” “…” Looking at Sora’s completely serious expression, Eriri fell silent.
Then she exploded.
“If that’s all, you should’ve said so from the start!”