After Yuuka's terrible lecture time ended.
The three of them went down to the Schale cafeteria together.
The cafeteria inside the building was about the size of an average school lunchroom. It was excessively wide for a club used by only two people, but since receiving the building as a club room was strange from the start, they didn't mind that.
The chef in charge of the cafeteria was a robot with a cozy impression.
It was unclear how a robot could look plump. If you took off that pure white apron, would a cold metal body come out? She was curious, but she didn't particularly want to undress it. Kenji had no hobby of forcibly removing a robot's clothes.
And the most important virtue for a chef is food, not appearance. Fortunately, the food he served seemed quite tasty. Judging by the satisfied expressions on both Ha-yul and Yuuka's faces. Kenji chuckled and took a spoonful of the rice bowl.
"It's delicious... How long has it been since I've had a proper meal..."
Ha-yul said with a melted expression. The food she ordered was spicy braised chicken, and the sight of tender chicken and red broth mixed with rice was indeed quite appetizing, just as she said.
"From now on, don't eat things like convenience store lunch boxes, okay? Understood?"
Yuuka let out a deep sigh and spat out towards Ha-yul, who was chewing the chicken as if savoring it. Ha-yul nodded but didn't stop using her chopsticks. Although she was on the rather small side, she had a surprisingly good appetite. The fact that she didn't gain weight while eating like that made one wonder where all the nutrients were going.
Perhaps... the nutrients were gathering in that massive bust. Certainly, if that were the case, it would make sense. Kenji nodded secretly and took a sip of water.
After the modest meal time ended.
Since their work was done too, instead of immediately returning to work, the three entered the cafe located in the Schale dormitory. Since the cafe opened a week after Schale started operating normally, it didn't have many menus, but it was still sufficient. Kenji and Ha-yul ordered iced americanos, Yuuka ordered a latte, and the three sat at a suitable spot.
One wall of the cafe was made of full glass, so you could see outside directly. Kenji rested his chin on his hand and watched the various students walking around the streets.
Although the Schale building itself was on the outskirts of the Union District, so one would think foot traffic would be low, unexpectedly there were many people on the streets. Perhaps because it was the Union District, the affiliations of the students were diverse. Kenji watched Trinity students and Gehenna students engaging in a nerve war across a short crosswalk, then turned his gaze at the sound of a forced cough that reached his ears.
It was Ha-yul. She cleared her throat while glancing at Yuuka.
"So Yuuka, I have something I want to say..."
"Huh? What is it?"
"Well... If it's okay with you, would you like to join our club?"
"You mean Schale?"
Yuuka tilted her head. Ha-yul went 'hmm', let out a thoughtful sound, and neatly placed both hands on the table. It looked like a salesperson's pose.
"Yeah, as you saw, our club is short-handed right now. Kenji and I are trying our best somehow, but there are limits."
"......"
"Of course, I don't intend to force you. Even if I forced a position on you, you'd only feel resentment, not move sincerely. What do you think? Personally, I'd like you to help... But you're from the student council, right? Then you must be busy with that work too, so I guess it might be difficult?"
Ha-yul spat that out with a bitter smile. Just then, the bell rang as their ordered drinks were completed. Kenji grabbed the vibrating bell and stood up from his seat. Because he didn't want to interrupt the flow of their conversation.
He took the drinks from the cafe manager and additionally ordered a strawberry cream cake. Usually, when having such serious conversations, sweet food was essential. If only bleak coffee was placed alone, even conversations that could end well wouldn't resolve.
Since the cafe didn't have pre-made cake, the manager asked for a moment to wait. Kenji nodded and sat alone on an empty chair near the counter, listening to their conversation. It seemed they were quite focused, as the two didn't show any particular concern even though Kenji hadn't returned.
"It's true that Seminar work is busy. I've been distracted by this and that lately. Practically, our student council, including me, only has two people handling everything. If I take on Schale's work too... I think it would be really tough."
It was a meaning of refusal. Ha-yul nodded as if understanding. But before her mouth could open, Yuuka moved her lips faster.
"But, that's assuming I visit every day. If it's just coming to help occasionally, it seems possible."
"Re, really?"
Yuuka smiled faintly and nodded. Her gaze momentarily shifted towards Kenji, then returned to Ha-yul.
"Yes. So, as long as you don't just work me to death, I think I could join."
"Of course I won't work you to death! Just dropping by whenever you think of it is enough!"
"Alright. Then, I'll be in your care from now on."
"Yeah, me too. I'll be in your care too."
The two exchanged a simple handshake. Just as it was about to end warmly, a slight strength entered Yuuka's grip.
"That doesn't mean I won't look at the household account book, okay?"
"Uh, yeah?"
"If you're an adult, act like an adult and spend reasonably. You're not a kid who blows all their allowance as soon as they get it, right? From now on, I'll do my best to assist you from the side!"
The corners of Ha-yul's mouth drooped downwards. Regardless, Yuuka looked at Kenji and shouted again.
"You too! From now on, report to me every time you spend money! Even so, two hundred thousand yen is too much, isn't it?"
Since they decided to speak casually while eating, Yuuka shouted that in informal speech. Kenji smiled slightly and leaned back in his chair.
"Do you know how much is in my account? Honestly, two hundred thousand yen is pocket change."
"......What? How much do you have...?"
"Twenty million yen."
Kenji laughed as if finding it ridiculous. Yuuka and Ha-yul's mouths fell open.
"H, how much?"
"Twenty."
Twenty million yen. Approximately 200 million Korean won.
He took out his smartphone and launched the internet banking app. As soon as it opened, his account balance appeared on the screen. Yuuka and Ha-yul widened their eyes as they confirmed the amount. His account really showed twenty million yen.
"W, where on earth did you get such money..."
"I worked hard to save it for a year."
It wasn't a lie. Kenji increased his value by solving all sorts of commissions for a year, and later became a big shot, receiving considerable sums even for ordinary commissions. Moreover, during the time he was with Gematria, the amount he received from the Black Suit as research funds was also substantial, so a lot of money had to be sleeping in his account.
He wasn't the type to spend that much to begin with. He had no interest in luxury brands, and due to his ruined palate, he couldn't even dream of gourmet food. For clothes, just wearing something human-like was enough.
The most expensive thing he bought was bulletproof clothing specially ordered from Shanhaijing, which cost a total of one million yen. He left the design to them, and they brought clothes that seemed like they were from a martial arts novel. When he first received them, he was dumbfounded, but they were comfortable to wear, so now they were clothes he frequently used.
"Two hundred thousand yen is just one percent of my total assets. It's an amount I can spend for momentary entertainment. Right?"
"......Grr."
It's true. Overspending uses extremely subjective standards as a medium. As an extreme example, money that someone can spend for momentary entertainment could be an amount greater than another person's total assets. Likewise, Kenji spending a mere two hundred thousand yen on a gacha game was nothing more than spending a small amount by his standards.
Listening to Yuuka's lecture was just because he was swept up in the mood. Kenji thought so and smiled triumphantly. Then Yuuka's face slightly crumpled. She was unexpectedly emotional.
"The cake is completed~!"
The dessert came out with perfect timing. The cafe manager placed three chilled drinks and three cakes on a plate and handed it to Kenji. Kenji paid for the cakes, then took the plate and returned to the table where the two were sitting.
"Here. Teacher's iced americano, Yuuka's latte. Right? Take a cake each."
Kenji slurped his americano, then cut a piece of cake with a fork and brought it to his mouth. The fluffy texture was quite to his liking. Of course, any cake would have the same texture.
"You're so annoying..."
Yuuka grumbled quietly and brought the latte cup to her mouth. Kenji giggled and crossed his legs.
"It's just who I am."
"Just you wait! I'm going to work you to the bone until you can do paperwork properly!"
"Do your worst!"
"Hey!"
Yuuka shouted loudly. Ha-yul burst out laughing, and Kenji pouted his lips with an irritated face.
Yuuka took a rough breath, then cut a piece of cake and put it in her mouth.
"Blergh?!"
It was an extremely intense taste for a cake. Yuuka's face contorted sharply, then she spat out the half-chewed piece of cake onto her palm.
"Wh, what is this?"
"......? What's wrong."
Kenji asked while chewing the cake. Yuuka stared at him with a confused expression.
"Is, is this really cake? It's too salty?"
"Salty?"
Ha-yul tilted her head, then carefully cut a piece of cake and put it in her mouth. Then she also contorted her face like Yuuka and spat out the piece of cake.
"I, it really is salty?"
"S, sorryyyyy!!"
At that moment, the cafe manager rushed over and bowed to the three.
"I made a mistake and put salt instead of sugar when making the cake! I didn't think I'd make such a beginner mistake, so I didn't even taste it! I'm so sorryyy!!"
"Salt...?"
"Salt you say...?"
The two's gazes turned towards Kenji.
Kenji sat still with a stone-like expression, then flinched at their gazes and contorted his face. It was clearly an awkward expression.
"R, really? The taste is weird?"
"......"
"......"
"Haha... ha... haa......"
"Kenji..."
"Don't tell me you..."
The two's eyes wavered. Kenji subtly avoided their gazes and muttered to himself.
Damn it.
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