Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Drunken Heroine Home Visit
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I'm not seeing things wrong.
Among the recent deposits, there's a whopping 400,000 yen from someone with the extremely rare surname Kanemochiru.
"What the hell is this...?"
The unexpected info that caught my eye out of nowhere made my head spin, accelerating my thoughts.
Kanemochiru Kenji.
A name not in my intel.
But no ordinary person would have a surname straight out of some fictional character. Plus, the fact that a name like 'Kanemochiru Kenji' shows up in the transaction history of the guy who's been commissioned by papakatsu to approach 'Kanemochiru Harumi'—that's no coincidence.
Which means that guy's blood-related to Harumi. But from what I know, she's an only child with no older or younger brothers. Her parents had a rock-solid marriage, so no half-siblings either.
So this 'Kanemochiru' must be some other kind of relative.
Looks like the guy's scheming to swallow the whole business.
A father who suddenly vanishes before he can pass the company and inheritance to his beloved daughter. A mother who ends up in critical condition in the ICU overnight. Obvious as hell.
So why harass Harumi?
"Ah...!"
Right.
He took out the parents, but Harumi's still around.
No matter the country, when a typical business couple dies at the same time, their shares and control pass to their kids. Otherwise, there'd be a will or something prepared in advance by her parents regarding inheritance.
Either way, to the bastard plotting to gobble up the company, Harumi herself is the final obstacle.
That's why he's trying to deal with her this way?
But why go for something so sleazy and hassle-filled?
And his methods feel sloppy. If he wants her gone, just fake an accident with a quick assassination. Why bother with papakatsu commissions? And using his own name for the payments?
This doesn't scream pro... more like some amateur kid copying shit he saw somewhere. No way he's not an adult, right?
"No clue here. Why the hell commission papakatsu...? Unless he's into some netorare fetish or something."
I shook my head.
No way someone has a taste for incest and NTR. That's nightmare fuel.
First things first, time to move.
Meet up with Harumi, feed her, and dig for more info. Family internal drama like this—even I have limits reasoning solo.
.
.
.
"Hurry up already, you commoner!?"
"Ahaha, sorry, miss. Got rear-ended by a pig on the way."
"Rear-ended by a pig...? What the heck does that mean? You're making weird jokes."
"It's nothing. Shall we go?"
Harumi followed me without a hint of suspicion, probably convinced it was me who messaged her on SNS.
"How about that restaurant from last time? I looked it up—menu du jour means 'today's special,' right?"
"Heh...?"
She scanned my big frame up and down, then nodded with a proud smile, like I was a good boy.
"Right. Menu du jour is a simple three-course set that's easy to eat."
"Then how about a full course there today? They have a nine-course one."
"H-Huh!? F-Full course...!!"
"Yup~ Little bites to start, all the way to dessert. Perfect, right?"
"Y-Yeah! Super grea... Hmph. We eat stuff like that every day at the mansion anyway? Of course I'm happy about it, you idiot commoner fool! Lead the way."
She hopped in place for a second, then realized it screamed poor, so she schooled her face into nonchalance.
But every time I glanced back, her lips quivered as she grinned ear to ear. Just thinking about a full-course feast has her floating on imagination alone.
Makes sense. The girl blew most of her first part-time paycheck on her mom's hospital bills, leaving herself 500 yen for cup ramen and packed lunches... How thrilled must this surprise be?
"Here we are."
I pushed open the fancy wooden door from before, and cool jazz melodies with soft lighting welcomed us.
"Welcome. Do you have a reservation?"
"Yes, table for two. Under the name Yuu. Nine-course full menu."
"Right this way."
Harumi clasped her hands over her chest the moment she sat, eyes sparkling. So damn cute, I couldn't help but chuckle.
Soon, the dishes started coming.
Tiny pretty amuse-bouches, meticulously plated soup, salad, main courses.
With each course, Harumi's face lit up brighter.
Food way pricier than what normies eat in one sitting. Call it extravagant?
But to Harumi, this extravagance isn't extravagance.
It's the only bridge linking her past and present self.
A pontoon bridge letting her feel that happy era from her current cold, lonely reality...
*Nom nom!*
"Fwaah...♡"
"Tasty, miss?"
"Hmph! Y-Yeah! It's... whatever. We ate stuff like this all the time at home."
She whipped her head away, playing cool, but her cheeks were flushed red.
"Care for a drink? They have wine pairing today."
I carefully lifted my wine glass and looked at her.
Harumi hesitated a beat, then raised hers slightly.
"Fine, maybe a little...? Since it's your treat, commoner."
A few sips, and her cheeks went beet red instantly. Small frame, delicate build—turns out she's a total lightweight. Never fed her booze in the game, so I had no idea. Makes sense; in her pinched situation, sharing drinks would've been tough.
That's why she came to school every day during summer break to hang with me.
No money for anything else.
Shopping, movies, karaoke, drinks—all cost cash.
So Harumi...
As my mind wandered, we'd hit the halfway mark of the courses.
Harumi's complexion was off. Flushed from the sips she'd taken with her meal, but shadows lingered under her eyes.
She's the type who sinks into gloom when drunk, not the hyped-up kind?
Perfect timing for family talk, maybe.
I broached it as naturally and carefully as possible.
"You're always so confident and bold, miss. Makes you super cool. Even this meal feels special because of you."
"Flattery won't work. I'm a daughter of the Kanemochiru family. Of couuurse I am~!"
Her usual haughty tone, but slurred—no dignity left.
Already wasted?
From my fine dining research to vibe with Harumi, pairing wines here run 11-14% ABV.
One glass per course means by the end, it's basically a bottle of soju's worth.
We're midway, but for a lightweight like her, half a bottle equivalent is plenty to knock her out.
Anyway, perfect. 'In vino veritas,' right?
Time to loosen her tongue.
"The Kanemochiru family... Your parents must be amazing people too, huh?"
I asked as gently as I could, and Harumi's face stiffened for a split second.
"...Th-that's not for a commoner like you to worry about? Nosy commoner!"
She snapped sharply, then dipped her head and took a sip of wine. Her small shoulders trembled faintly.
"Sorry if that was rude... I was just curious how great your parents must be."
I awkwardly shifted topics on purpose.
"My family's kinda messy too... Got me thinking random stuff. My bad."
At my careful pivot, Harumi peeked up at me.
"You? A commoner with a family as messed up as mine...? Tch."
Her tone dripped disdain, but she seemed subtly intrigued.
"Hey, even commoners have backstories. Probably looks like I don't to you, though."
"M... Maybe you do."
Harumi trailed off, falling silent.
*Sip.*
She sipped her wine again.
Her nose even redder now.
She nudged her plate aside and thunked her forehead on the table.
What? Did she pass out?
Guess that means I've gotta piggyback this defenseless little girl home...