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V2 Chapter 20: Serika Was Just Showing Her Thanks
🕑 Added 2025-10-01 10:15:04 +0000 UTCThe bank clerk hung up the call and politely declined me.
Then he jogged over to Serika, who handled the accounting, his display screen showing an emoticon that looked like a smile but even more like tears.
"Congratulations! Because, um… you just happen to be the hundred-thousandth customer to pay interest with our company! Your credit rating has received a critical hit bonus, and you've won the privilege of a permanent sixty-six percent interest reduction!"
"…What the heck?"
The cat blinked, still a little dazed.
The bank clerk pulled out a calculator.
"In other words, from now on you only need to pay… 2,627,750 yen in interest each month! Isn't that just… just wonderful…"
His voice was already breaking.
It wasn't because he loved the company, but simply because the interest he collected was directly tied to his performance pay.
On the other side, Serika's eyes lit up. She deliberately put on a serious face, but the corners of her mouth, her narrowed eyes, and the twitching of her cat ears betrayed her excitement.
If she had a tail, it would already be wagging with joy.
"Does that privilege apply to this month's interest too?"
Serika asked with hope in her voice.
The clerk froze like he had crashed, then after a long pause, cautiously asked in a strained tone,
"Could we consider it as us collecting three months in advance?"
"Of course!"
Serika answered immediately.
So the clerk slumped, dejected, and left in defeat.
"What incredible luck, we actually hit the jackpot~" Serika eagerly shared her joy with the others.
But what she got back were worried looks and Ayane's pointed remark,
"Um, Serika, you don't really believe that lottery story, do you…"
"Hmph~
I'm not that stupid~"
Somehow gathering courage she rarely showed, the usually tsundere Serika did something unprecedented. Blushing slightly and with some awkwardness, she gave me a brief, gentle hug in front of everyone.
"The jackpot I meant is Sensei."
The soft, fragrant warmth of the girl pressed against me. Even through our clothes, I could feel her heat.
"Meeting you, Sensei, was the best thing that could happen."
She whispered those words, then quickly pulled back, her face still flushed, glaring fiercely at me.
"Don't get the wrong idea! Th-this is just a gesture of gratitude! After all, I've owed you so much lately… I'll definitely repay you someday!"
The old sharp-tongued Serika had returned.
But I understood what that lingering warmth meant. Serika had already given her answer.
"I should be the one saying it. Meeting all of you has been my honor."
Serika froze, staring blankly at me. The blush that had just faded quickly returned.
Just as the mood seemed about to turn tender, a chuckle broke the silence.
Nonomi grinned, "My my~
Serika-chan has gotten so bold~"
"I told you it was just etiquette!"
Mortified, Serika blurted an excuse about accounting work, shot me one last glance, then fled toward the clubroom.
Shiroko came up next, slipping easily into a hug.
"Sensei, thank you."
"No need. This is what I should do."
I patted her back, and she quietly stepped aside, her calm eyes never leaving me, just as always.
Nonomi, however, was brimming with energy.
"Everyone's being so sneaky. In that case, I'll give Sensei a big, big hug too~"
My eyes instinctively drifted down from her innocent face. Somehow, Nonomi's hug really did seem like it would be big.
But just as she was about to move, Ayane frantically blocked her—
"Senpai, stop! Where's your dignity gone?"
"It's fine, right? Ayane-chan, why are you reacting so strongly? Could it be you're thinking, once everyone's hugged Sensei it'll be your turn? I see~
Being shy like this means you'll miss out on a lot~"
"I-I'm not!"
Damn it, Ayane, ruining my chance!
Feeling a bit let down, I turned my expectant gaze toward Hoshino.
Hoshino was watching me with an odd expression, somewhere between amusement and suspicion. When our eyes met, she said,
"Well well~ Sensei's gone and stolen all my kids' hearts, how impressive. Next you won't be aiming for me, their mom, right? Sensei's tastes really are unusual."
I blinked and retorted, "Hoshino, you're plenty charming…"
"As expected of an adult, you sure know how to say sweet things. I'll take that as a compliment."
Something felt off.
Was Hoshino… hinting at something? Could it be…
Was she jealous?
The thought made me a little ashamed of my own charm. Attracting too much attention could sometimes be a sin.
In the end, I only hugged Shiroko and Serika.
Then Ayane announced she had a new discovery to share, so everyone headed to the clubroom.
On the way, I quietly pulled out a card.
—
Authority Type: [Conversion]
Name: Lion's Dignity
Effect: The wielder can expend stamina to unleash pressure. The intensity of the pressure scales with the wielder's anger.
Source: Successfully won over Serika Kuromi.
—
I was beginning to understand the naming pattern.
Solidify meant a passive skill, Conversion meant an active skill, Fusion meant equipment.
Still, a bit of a tongue-twister.
I put the card away and caught up with the girls as we entered the clubroom.
Once again, Ayane presided.
"First, thanks to Sensei's help, our loan interest rate has been drastically reduced. With our current monthly income, at most twenty years will be enough to pay it off completely."
Serika's eyes sparkled, her tone light, "That's way better than the soul-crushing number before. At least now there's hope of paying it off before we die~"
Shiroko cut in with a dose of realism, "Still an astronomical sum, though."
Ayane continued, "Next, about the Problem Solver 68 group who attacked us yesterday… you already know them, so I won't go into detail."
Just skipping over them like that, even though they were enemies.
Nonomi chimed in, "Aru-chan's a really cute girl though~"
Hoshino agreed, "Yeah. Seems like she's just been misled by some crooked adults."
Clearly, after yesterday's encounter, the Task Force had gained a decent understanding of Problem Solver 68, especially their leader, Aru.
"Finally, about the Helmet Gang who attacked the school a few days ago. I analyzed fragments of their strategic weapon from that battle and discovered it was a model not available on the market."
"You mean it's discontinued?"
"Then how did they buy it?"
Ayane answered the questions, "The only place you can still find discontinued models in Kivotos… is the black market."
The black market, a haven for students who had left their academies for various reasons, beyond the General Student Council's jurisdiction.
After a brief discussion, Hoshino made the decision.
"Alright, it's decided. Let's head to the black market first. We might just find some unexpected clues."
She turned her gaze to me.
"Wouldn't you say so, Sensei?"
—
Patch note: [Armed Authority] renamed to [Fusion Authority].
Hoshino, always finding new ways to tease Sensei with that playful tone… she really is adorable.
P.S. Had to cut up some sentences like for example:
1.
Nonomi grinned, "My my~
Serika-chan has gotten so bold~"
2.
Nonomi grinned, "My my Serika-chan has gotten so bold"
