Chapter 42: Aoi Todo
Hikigaya Hachiman wouldn't go back on his promise, and wearing a suit was just an extra request from the client.
Hikigaya Hachiman adjusted his tie and glanced down at the new bank notification that just popped up on his phone: Balance +20,000,000.
Transferring party: Mei Mei.
This should be the referral fee Mei Mei mentioned earlier. The Shinomiya family was truly efficient when it came to transferring money.
Mei Mei's fee for acting as the intermediary to engage Hikigaya Hachiman was as high as 40 million. Splitting it in half upon receipt was their agreed-upon arrangement.
Not bad, he just earned half a month's manuscript fees for free.
There would be a final payment after the job was done, and that would be the real big money.
Hikigaya Hachiman was about to leave when he happened to bump into Yukino Yukinoshita, who had just returned from outside.
"Good afternoon, Yukinoshita. Just getting back?"
Today, Yukinoshita was wearing a light, knee-length white dress with lace trim. The fitted design was simple yet exquisite, perfectly highlighting her slender waist and elegant posture.
In her hands were some shopping bags with clothing logos, suggesting she had just returned from shopping.
Yukinoshita Yukino stepped out of the elevator and nodded to Hikigaya Hachiman.
"Good afternoon, Hikigaya-kun."
"Yes, because my sister said her new banquet dress had arrived and dragged me along."
Yukinoshita Yukino's expression held a hint of surprise, but not at running into Hikigaya-kun by chance.
She was surprised by his appearance in formal wear and couldn't help but look twice.
Hikigaya Hachiman was wearing a well-tailored brown suit. The slim fit accentuated his upright physique. Inside, he wore a white shirt, and the gray-green striped tie added a touch of nobility.
He looked mature and steady, with a sense of style that perfectly highlighted his personality.
His neat, glossy black short hair emphasized Hikigaya Hachiman's sharp features and resolute jawline, making him look exceptionally dashing.
Hikigaya Hachiman's gaze was sharp as a blade. He already commanded an involuntary sense of reverence, and now even more so.
The cello case Hikigaya Hachiman carried on his back was the finishing touch, adding a musical element and giving the impression of a musician destined to showcase his talent in a magnificent concert hall.
"Is something strange?"
Hikigaya Hachiman noticed Yukinoshita's peculiar look. He thought that maybe his unusual choice to wear a suit might seem odd.
"No,"
Realizing she might have been rude, Yukinoshita Yukino immediately apologized.
Hikigaya Hachiman actually preferred yellow.
Space Marines also had times when they didn't wear power armor. Astartes Brothers often styled their attire based on their Legion's Primarch.
"The Great Angel" Sanguinius favored the brilliant color of gold, the same color as his custom Power Armor.
When not on missions, he usually wore ornate golden robes.
Hikigaya Hachiman, considering the formal nature of the occasion, felt bright yellow might be inappropriate, so he settled for a more subdued brown.
"No, it suits you very well."
Yukinoshita Yukino shook her head.
"It suits you, Hikigaya-kun. Are you attending some kind of banquet?"
"I have an event I need to attend."
Hikigaya Hachiman certainly wouldn't say he was going to exorcise a Curse. He simply held up his cello case.
"The appointed time is approaching, so I'll be going now."
Yukinoshita Yukino replied,
"Yes, alright.
Please be careful on the way."
Hikigaya Hachiman walked through the apartment lobby and onto the street outside.
With his imposing, noble air, like a dominant vampire noble, he had an insane head-turning rate.
He attracted the attention of a great number of people.
Standing not far down the street, a short-haired purple-haired girl holding a selfie stick and live-streaming, looking like a streamer, spoke:
"Good afternoon, Nyamu Nyamu."
The girl was dressed very fashionably, posing cutely for the camera.
"Nyamu, I think I smell a handsome guy."
Yuutenji Nyamu was a currently active beauty influencer, so most of her viewers were young girls.
"Wow, look over there."
Nyamu pointed the selfie stick toward Hikigaya Hachiman. She hadn't seen such an exceptionally handsome man in a long time.
Her tone was quite surprised.
Instantly, the comments were filled with "It's a handsome guy, AWSL [Ah, I'm dying of happiness]."
Some even encouraged Nyamu to go and strike up a conversation.
-
-
-
Meanwhile, in a recording studio, a group of girls practicing their band set included one with long pink hair who was also watching Nyamu's live stream.
She looked at the impeccably dressed Hikigaya Hachiman, whose dignified presence resembled a prince from a fairy tale. She clasped her hands to one side of her face, wearing a look of deep admiration.
"So handsome, love, love!"
"Huh? Instead of practicing, what are you watching?"
The drummer, with her fierce gaze and long black hair, glared viciously at the pink-haired girl who was slacking off.
"But he really is handsome!"
Chihaya Anon, who had been reprimanded, was unconvinced and turned her phone over for her bandmates to see.
"Tomori, you think so too, right?"
"Uh-huh."
Tomori Takamatsu, who was suddenly called out by Chihaya Anon, jumped and nodded reluctantly.
Soyo Nagasaki, standing nearby, initially only glanced roughly—he was indeed quite handsome.
But after that brief look, she felt a growing familiarity, as if she had seen him somewhere before, and then she immediately recognized him.
"Huh?"
Isn't that the guy who lives downstairs from her?
Was Hikigaya-kun going to perform at a concert hall in a suit and carrying a cello?
It wasn't strange for Soyo Nagasaki to think this, as Hikigaya Hachiman was dressed far too formally.
The thought that the man was so accomplished that he could perform on stage, while her Crychic still hadn't even found hope for reunion, filled her with a sense of dread about the future.
However, just as Nyamu Utenshi was about to approach Hikigaya Hachiman to strike up a conversation, the person meant to pick him up arrived.
The audience only saw his back as he got into a black full-sized SUV and drove away.
This left the viewers feeling a sense of regret.
.
.
.
Once in the car, Mei Mei greeted Hikigaya Hachiman.
"Good afternoon, Hachiman."
Hikigaya Hachiman simply nodded in response.
He noticed that Mei Mei was also dressed formally today, wearing a purple evening gown that outlined her slender, upright figure. Ui Ui, sitting in the back, also wore a black small suit and let out a cold snort.
"Hachiman, isn't there anything you want to ask?"
To Mei Mei's question, Hikigaya Hachiman simply replied,
"I've already received the deposit. It's unlikely I'd forgo the final payment."
Mei Mei's request for formal wear likely meant they were indeed attending a banquet.
Hikigaya Hachiman immediately understood this upon seeing the attire of Mei Mei and her brother.
"Ah, being too smart isn't good either."
Mei Mei's tone was slightly frustrated. She still quite wanted to see a look of surprise on this man's face.
"The Shinomiya family's eldest son is hosting a banquet tonight, and we Sorcerers have been invited to attend.
The Cursed Spirit exorcism mission will commence afterward."
"I understand."
Hikigaya Hachiman didn't mind; he could have dinner first.
They drove to one of Tokyo's most affluent areas. Surrounded by towering skyscrapers, there was a private mansion covered by large swaths of lush greenery in this incredibly valuable location.
The gates were wide open, and various luxury cars, all worth a fortune, were driving into the entrance.
Only the Shinomiya Group could afford such extravagance.
Hikigaya Hachiman looked out the window and suddenly saw a familiar figure walking on the street.
It was a very robust man in a black suit with a particularly hideous scar near his right eye. This scar added an unapproachable, menacing aura to him.
However, contrary to his fierce demeanor, the man's face was full of anticipation and excitement.
Mei Mei also saw him and slowed the car down before Hikigaya Hachiman could speak.
As the car window rolled down, Hikigaya Hachiman called out the man's name.
"Todo."
The man was very excited to see Hikigaya Hachiman, and his voice was extremely loud.
"Great Author!"
The man Hikigaya Hachiman called Todo also saw Mei Mei next to him and greeted her.
"Miss Mei."
Read ahead (40 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting