"Besides, this perfume and such are completely useless to me anyway."
Kobayashi Itsuki shrugged, feigning helplessness.
"So, just take it."
Upon hearing this, Yoshinaga Midori looked at the perfume in Kobayashi Itsuki's hand, feeling a little tempted, and found it hard to refuse any further.
"Then I won't be modest."
As Yoshinaga Midori's words sounded, the familiar system prompt rang out.
[Ding! Yoshinaga Midori's favorability has increased, you have received 1 green treasure chest.]
Kobayashi Itsuki nodded contentedly upon hearing the system prompt.
Sure enough, to increase favorability, one must spend more time together and interact more.
Today was certainly not a wasted trip; not only did he monetize many things he didn't need, but he also managed to get the green treasure chest from Yoshinaga Midori.
After dinner, it was getting late.
The two took a walk for a while, and as dusk fell, they prepared to go home.
Blue treasure chests were not so easy to acquire; Kobayashi Itsuki still had many things to do.
Women would only hinder his progress.
After bidding farewell to Yoshinaga Midori, Kobayashi Itsuki walked briskly towards the electronics store selling digital products.
Previously constrained by a tight budget, now that he had money, the first thing Kobayashi Itsuki planned to do was buy a mobile phone.
In this modern society, not having a mobile phone was simply too inconvenient, whether for contacting people or for daily life.
He still remembered that he owed that Policewoman a meal; as the first person to get him a green treasure chest, Kobayashi Itsuki was quite grateful.
Arriving at the electronics store, Kobayashi Itsuki bought a 30,000 yen phone.
It was neither good nor bad; it simply had all the functions of this era.
After buying the phone and getting a SIM card, Kobayashi Itsuki made his first call since arriving in this world.
"Moshi moshi."
"May I speak to Officer Higashimatsu?"
Regarding Kobayashi Itsuki's call, Higashimatsuyama Yone quickly reacted after a slight hesitation.
"Oh, it's Kobayashi-san. How have you been lately, are you doing well?"
Higashimatsuyama Yone still had a strong impression of the first person who wrote her a thank-you letter.
"Not bad. This is my new phone. We said we'd exchange contact information last time."
"Haha, I almost forgot if you hadn't mentioned it! I'll make a good note of it!"
"By the way, are you free today? I promised to treat you to a meal."
"No need! Your life isn't easy right now, save some money and we can talk about it later!"
"Besides, we've been very busy recently, and we might not have time."
Higashimatsuyama Yone politely declined, and Kobayashi Itsuki didn't insist.
A forced melon isn't sweet; this wasn't the right way to build favorability.
Since Higashimatsuyama Yone didn't have time, Kobayashi Itsuki, seeing that it was still early, decided to go to Commercial Street instead.
He had already gathered enough for this month's interest, so he might as well go and pay it back.
It was in the vicinity anyway, saving him a special trip later.
After a trip to a convenience store, Kobayashi Itsuki bought a pack of chewing gum, got a plastic bag, put one million yen into it, and leisurely headed towards the black loan company he had visited before.
Winding through alleys, Kobayashi Itsuki finally found the company where his original body had taken out a loan, located in a rather shady-looking alley.
Knocking on the door, Kobayashi Itsuki pushed it open... After a moment, Kobayashi Itsuki emerged from the black loan company amidst the polite greetings of several people.
Things went quite smoothly; in the current economic climate, black loan companies didn't dare to push too hard, especially with people like Kobayashi Itsuki who were willing to repay their loans.
If they pushed too hard and someone jumped from a building, they would lose everything.
After repaying the interest, Kobayashi Itsuki stretched, feeling much more relaxed. At least he had no burden this month; the rest was to work hard for next month and for the principal.
"It all depends on when 'planetarian: the reverie of a little star' will yield results; otherwise, next month will be quite difficult."
Walking through the alleys shrouded in night, Kobayashi Itsuki began to plan for next month.
"Should I go home and work harder, produce two more works..."
As Kobayashi Itsuki was thinking, a sudden exclamation sounded from outside the alley entrance, accompanied by someone shouting loudly.
"Stop! Don't run!"
Rapid footsteps quickly approached the alley where Kobayashi Itsuki was.
Just as Kobayashi Itsuki was wondering, a figure wearing a hoodie with the hood up appeared in his sight, rushing directly into the alley and running headlong.
Behind them, a slender figure in a police uniform quickly gave chase.
Seeing this, Kobayashi Itsuki quickly leaned against the nearby wall to make way.
Although Kobayashi Itsuki considered himself a person with a sense of justice, this was not his previous life after all.
If he had seen such a scene in his previous life, he would have done something no matter what.
But this was Japan, and he wasn't so kind as to contribute.
Even if it was just sticking out a leg to trip the person.
However, just as Kobayashi Itsuki was preparing to mind his own business, the figures, flashing by in the dim light as they ran, made Kobayashi Itsuki pause slightly.
Because the orange wavy hair on the person behind looked so familiar. Who else could it be but Higashimatsuyama Yone?
It turned out that when she said she didn't have time earlier, she really was busy, not politely refusing.
She was already this busy.
It might have been inappropriate to say before, but now that it was an old acquaintance, helping out a little shouldn't be too much, right?
Kobayashi Itsuki silently thought, while outwardly maintaining an honest, timid appearance, as if he dared not interfere.
But as the person passed by him, he seized the opportunity and suddenly extended his leg to trip them.
The alley was dimly lit, and Kobayashi Itsuki's movement was very sudden; any other person would likely find it hard to react.
However, in this situation, the person tilted their body, trying to jump a bit to dodge Kobayashi Itsuki.
But it was clear they were overthinking it.
Although there was a reaction, it wasn't enough.
"Thud!"
The person stumbled and was tripped by Kobayashi Itsuki.
Higashimatsuyama Yone, who was behind, certainly wouldn't miss this opportunity. She immediately leaped forward, grabbed the person's shoulder, and heavily pressed her knee onto their back, pinning them down on the ground.
"Don't move!"
Higashimatsuyama Yone said sternly, while quickly grabbing the person's hands, intending to handcuff them.
The person beneath her was still struggling violently, making it quite tricky for her.
At this moment, Kobayashi Itsuki also squatted down beside them, pressing on the person, and lent a hand.
Thank you..."
Higashimatsuyama Yone said subconsciously, but when she looked up, she saw Kobayashi Itsuki's familiar face.
"Kobayashi-san?"
"It seems we are quite lucky to run into each other."
Kobayashi Itsuki said with a chuckle, pulling the guy on the ground's hand, allowing Higashimatsuyama Yone to cuff him.
Seeing it was an acquaintance, Higashimatsuyama Yone immediately smiled, "Thank you so much. If it weren't for you, I don't think I would have been able to catch this guy."