The first day of kindergarten reopening.
The entrance to the Daycare Center seemed exceptionally quiet in the early morning.
The bustling scenes of parents dropping off their children were gone, replaced by a sparse crowd.
After all, it had only been three days since the Ekans intrusion accident.
Most parents were still shaken and preferred to take a few more days off to keep their children at home for observation rather than immediately sending them back to what they now saw as a high-risk area.
But the orphans in the Daycare Center had no choice; they had to attend classes on time, and life had to go on.
A high-end black sedan slowly pulled up to the curb.
Kaname hopped out of the car with her small backpack on her shoulders, then naturally turned around to take the hand of Erika, who was still rubbing her eyes and looking like she hadn’t woken up yet.
“Thank you for driving us back, Auntie.” Kaname bowed politely to the woman inside the car window to express her gratitude.
“Go on, and be careful.” Erikas Mother waved with a smile, her gaze lingering on Kaname for a moment before adding meaningfully, “Don’t forget our agreement; remember to bring Erika back this weekend.” “…I understand.” Watching the luxury car drive away, Erika, still like a sleepwalking doll, was led by Kaname into the quiet school gates.
…
After sending Erika back to her classroom, Kaname returned to her own room carrying her heavy small backpack.
Click.
The door lock clicked shut.
Looking at the narrow, simple little room with its slightly peeling walls, Kaname found that after being away for a few days and getting used to living in a mansion, she actually missed her own little snail shell of a home.
Although there was no soft big bed or on-call maids here, it felt more comfortable to live in.
She placed the backpack on the bed and unzipped it.
A small brown head immediately popped out, let out a long breath, and its two large ears drooped down.
Eevee also looked as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
“Ee-vee…” Finally, it didn’t have to face that troublesome human cub anymore!
Even though this place was shabby, it would surely be much more free than staying over there in the future, right?
“Don’t let your guard down just yet.” Kaname looked at the fluffball with comfort written all over its face and casually threw a bucket of cold water on its mood.
“Now is the most dangerous time.” “Although the Daycare Center has strengthened security, it also means there will be more powerful people watching.
If you’re discovered, those bad people from before might come back to catch you again, and I won’t be able to protect you then.” “Ee-vee?!” Strategic intimidation was very effective.
Even though Eevee was occasionally disobedient now, as soon as those bad people who locked it in a cage were mentioned, it immediately had a PTSD episode, clutching its head and sliding under the bed, not even daring to show the tip of its tail.
Kaname sat on the edge of the bed and sighed softly.
Actually, she wasn’t entirely just scaring Eevee.
Since leaving the Daycare Center these past few days and staying at Erika’s house, her information channels had become very limited.
She still didn’t know the specific follow-up handling of the Ekans incident, only that the Daycare Center had updated its security system.
But had the identities of those guys pretending to be government personnel been uncovered?
She was still completely in the dark for now.
As long as Eevee wasn’t sent away, Kaname couldn’t truly let her guard down for a single day.
“…What a hassle.” The little girl lamented, reaching into her backpack to rummage around, and after a while, she pulled out a thick hardcover book.
—”Building Your Code World from Scratch”.
This was one of the spoils she had borrowed from Erika’s house.
Kaname decided to prioritize learning computer knowledge recently.
Before leaving the mansion, Kaname and the Madam had finally reached a new agreement.
Kaname did not accept the Madam’s full sponsorship.
The main reason was that she felt her current relationship with Erika was relatively pure.
Whether before or after awakening her past life memories, Kaname didn’t have any real friends in this world.
Even if she occasionally found Erika too childish, deep down, Kaname cherished this relationship and didn’t want the dynamic between her and Erika to easily change flavor.
If she accepted the Madam’s sponsorship and took a huge amount of money from an elder, it would be difficult for Kaname to continue looking at Erika with the same equal gaze as before.
One who eats another’s food must listen to them; one who takes another’s gifts is beholden to them—this was an eternal truth.
Even if the Madam herself said nothing, and Erika likely wouldn’t think about such things, Kaname herself would find it hard to ignore the change in their relationship.
On the other hand.
Kaname truly didn’t feel she was that desperate for money.
Even if she was penniless for a moment, she had decades of future knowledge and the pokédex system in her head.
If she really wanted to make money, there were plenty of ways; there was no need to rush to cash in on a favor.
Therefore.
After Kaname talked honestly with the Madam about her thoughts and clearly stated her position, the Madam was surprised but also offered a new proposal.
“I didn’t expect you to have such a stronger sense of self than I anticipated…
Since that’s the case, let me put it another way.” Which was the current “mutual aid agreement.” From now on, the Madam would no longer mention sponsorship, but would still interact with Kaname as “Erikas Mother.” In return, Kaname would need to provide labor.
Occasionally teaching Erika her lessons and looking after the dazed girl in kindergarten.
In exchange, Kaname could stay at Erika’s house on weekends and have a spare key to the study, allowing her to freely use the computer and read all the books.
This was exactly what Kaname wanted.
A computer was an indispensable part of her subsequent development plan.
She couldn’t afford a computer for the time being, so being able to borrow a machine for long-term use through an equal exchange was simply perfect.
Recalling the Madam’s expression when they reached the agreement, Kaname couldn’t help but rub her temples.
“Hehe…” At that time, the smile on the Madam’s face simply wouldn’t stop.
Although the process was a bit roundabout, she truly felt the strong self-esteem and principles of the child in front of her.
This instead made the Madam appreciate Kaname even more, feeling she had backbone.
However, for the Madam, the result was actually the same—in the end, she successfully brought Kaname under her wing and bound her to Erika’s side.
Even if there was a layer of friendship with Erika in between, what did it matter?
Before leaving, the Madam, in a great mood, couldn’t help but tease her.
“Little Kaname would rather not have money just to maintain her relationship with Erika; you really do like our Erika…
It seems Erika’s daily clamoring at home about wanting to be Kaname’s bride when she grows up isn’t unrequited love; you two are truly in love with each other~” “…???” At that time, Kaname’s head was full of question marks, and she almost couldn’t maintain her expression.
Who is in love with this little girl?!
One really couldn’t let their guard down for a moment when facing Erika.
Just when had she not noticed her saying such embarrassing things to her mother?!