Chapter 21: Who Stole Her Rich Second-Generation Life
In the end, the girl named Togawa Sakiko did not stay.
"That's the sister next door. I asked her to help me with my studies."
Hikigaya Hachiman remembered that Kei-chan's grades were excellent; she was basically the top student in Shuchiin's middle school division, yet she studied so diligently. It just goes to show they are truly siblings; their personalities are exactly the same.
"Hachiman-nii, you're here for my brother, right? I'll go call him."
Miyuki must have been studying. Although that guy hadn't issued a challenge to Hikigaya Hachiman like those two girls, Hachiman knew that Miyuki always wanted to steal the title of top student from him, or at least share it.
Kei-chan walked into the room, and Hikigaya Hachiman thought of the blue-haired girl from earlier again. Seeing so many tormented high school girls in one day, he finally understood why this dreadful place, Japan, had so many Cursed Spirits.
All beings suffer.
The pressure radiating from the blue-haired girl was enough to suffocate a normal person; it was a wonder she hadn't broken down.
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Not long after, Shirogane Miyuki walked out of the room.
"Hachiman, hmm? Did Toyokawa leave?
Wow, you bought so much food again?"
Shirogane Miyuki saw the cakes on the table and the large box of black coffee placed in the corner. Bringing so many things every time he came, someone who didn't know might think he was a live-in son-in-law.
Hikigaya Hachiman gave him a look. "I didn't buy it for you."
"That's exactly the problem." Shirogane Miyuki just shook his head and whispered to Hikigaya Hachiman, "Don't spoil Kei-chan too much.
Also, she's been very conscious of her figure lately. If you keep buying her these desserts, you might upset her."
"Baka Onii-chan, what did you say?" Kei Shirogane raised her small fist, her expression cold and forced.
"Sorry."
Shirogane Miyuki sensed his sister's killing intent, so he pushed Hikigaya Hachiman and immediately ran out the door.
"Rebellious children are truly terrifying.
Is Komachi like that too?" Shirogane Miyuki escaped, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
"How could that be? Idiot. Who do you think Komachi is related to?" Hikigaya Hachiman shared his experience as an older brother.
"Also, when sisters get older, their self-esteem is strong. Don't force your opinions onto her.
That's a major taboo for an older brother."
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After getting into the car, Hikigaya Hachiman handed the iced black coffee he had bought earlier to Shirogane Miyuki, while he opened a can of MAX coffee for himself.
"Thanks. By the way, how much did the things you bought just now cost?" Shirogane Miyuki, the "Emperor of Part-Time Jobs," earned 100,000 yen a month.
"It's a gift in return, idiot." Hikigaya Hachiman naturally refused.
"It's just food, it's not worth much.
If I can give things to my sister, why can't I give things to yours?" Hikigaya Hachiman shut down Shirogane Miyuki, whose pride was extremely high.
"Then, thank you." Shirogane Miyuki could only sigh.
Hikigaya Hachiman was driving towards the home address left by Ishigami Yu.
"By the way, who was that girl tutoring Kei-chan just now?"
"Oh, you mean Togawa Sakiko, right?" Shirogane Miyuki thought for a moment. "Togawa Sakiko moved here two months ago."
Although their own father was unreliable, he didn't have bad habits; Papa Shirogane didn't touch a drop of alcohol or smoke. Toyokawa Sayoko's father, on the other hand, indulged in both smoking and drinking, was a mad gambler, and was deeply in debt.
Shirogane Miyuki remembered that she seemed to be working a part-time job as a customer service representative.
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While they were discussing Togawa Sakiko, Kei-chan took a few cakes bought by Hachiman-nii and knocked on the neighbor's door.
"Sayoko-nee, it's me."
Togawa Sakiko opened the door. The sight that met her eyes was the neighbor's dwelling, which was clearly more dilapidated and much smaller than the Shirogane family's, radiating a gloomy and impoverished atmosphere.
Kei-chan politely said, "Sayoko-nee, my brother's friend just brought some cakes. I can't finish them all.
Could you help me finish some?"
Togawa Sakiko recalled the boy she hadn't met earlier. The Shirogane siblings next door were students at the private prestigious Shuchiin Academy, and they were on full scholarships. That school was an aristocratic institution even more luxurious than the Tsukinomori Middle School division that Sayoko used to attend.
The reason Togawa Sakiko felt uncomfortable and wanted to leave then was also because of him; his aura was too strong, and his gaze was too cold. She couldn't imagine how stressed she would be if she had to work for a company under him. It's impossible.
"Thank you, Kei-chan, but I..."
But Kei-chan forcefully handed the cakes to Togawa Sakiko. "Sayoko-nee, if I can't finish them, I'll have to throw them in the trash. They're still fresh right now."
After speaking, she didn't allow Togawa Sakiko to refuse and immediately closed the door.
Hearing the sound of the door closing, Sayoko could only sigh and accept Kei-chan's kindness.
"Gurgle~"
Togawa Sakiko didn't want to accept kindness from others, but the hunger in her stomach told her not to be stubborn.
Togawa Sakiko unwrapped the packaging and immediately recognized the familiar trademark on the cake. She recognized it as the high-end dessert shop she used to frequent with her friends before her family fell from grace. A single serving of strawberry cake costs 5,000 yen. Right now, a day's work for Customer Service Sayoko can't even earn that much.
The familiar taste and sweet indulgence made Togawa Sakiko remember the past, and bitter tears flowed down instantly. A poor wallet, an alcoholic father, and a dilapidated home—this was the plight Togawa Sakiko currently faced.
Togawa Sakiko ate the cake while crying, encouraging herself inwardly.
The weak me is dead; now I am the stronger me.
"No matter what, I must win the rights to the theme songs for the first Space Marine miniature, the Blood Angels."
Hikigaya Hachiman had sold a portion of his copyright, and the company that bought it wanted to create a tabletop game similar to wargaming. To promote this set of miniatures, they were recruiting outstanding theme songs from the entire society.
After eating, Togawa Sakiko focused on the manuscript she had pinned great hopes on, which she had heavily revised. Little did she know that she had just brushed past the original author.
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Hikigaya Hachiman and Shirogane Miyuki finally arrived at a high-end villa complex. Ishigami Yu 's family was a famous toy manufacturer, so it wasn't surprising that they could afford this high-end neighborhood.
However, as Hikigaya Hachiman drove there, he immediately noticed something was amiss. The aura of the curse on the villa where Ishigami Yu lived was too obvious. It was the smell of a Cursed Spirit.
He had mentioned before that too much negative emotional energy attracts Cursed Spirits.
Hikigaya Hachiman did not drive directly up but stopped the car about six hundred meters away from the incident location.
"What's wrong, Hachiman?"
Hikigaya Hachiman said to Shirogane Miyuki, "Miyuki, can you wait for me in the car?
Also, if you see any sudden situation over there, please ignore me, get out of the car immediately and run. Run as far away as possible."
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