134: Sayuri's Request

Yotsuba retrieved a small diesel generator from the management room as per Hakuto's request.

According to her, carrying the generator earned her the highest number of glances and pick-up attempts in her entire life!

Meanwhile, Nino used the generator to power an oven, baking a large batch of cookies. 

Thanks to the open-style preparation process, the business run by the five sisters was unexpectedly booming!

Students from Toyosaki Academy nearby were left in tears, all demanding that their school provide them with generators as well.

At this moment, Hakuto was carrying a bag of cookies as he continued walking around the event grounds reserved by Toyosaki Academy.

He hadn't lingered long at the five sisters' stall—there wasn't much for him to do there, and he also had to fulfill his role as a mascot.

As for the cookies in his arms, they had been prepared for him by Nino.

"I just wanted to thank you for bringing the generator… Don't… don't get any weird ideas!"

"Yeah, yeah, sure."

That was basically how things went. Hakuto didn't refuse Nino's cookies—after all, it could be considered a form of payment.

Though he still preferred cold, hard cash, this wasn't bad either!

As Hakuto patrolled the event area, a call suddenly came through on his phone.

"Who now?"

Holding the bag of cookies with one hand, he answered the call.

"Good morning, Hakuto…"

"Oh, it's sister Sayuri. What's the matter?"

Hakuto had no idea why Sayuri was calling him at this time. Could she actually be interested in supporting his business?

If so, it would only end up benefiting that troublemaker, Tomori Nao.

"Are you at the event grounds right now?"

"Of course. I'm the mascot—how could I just wander off?"

As he spoke, Hakuto glanced around because he felt like someone was watching him.

But after a moment, he withdrew his gaze. In this kind of setting, with his identity, it was almost impossible not to be watched.

What he didn't know was that not far away, at one of the stalls, a woman dressed in casual clothes and wearing sunglasses was gripping her phone tightly, staring intently at him.

That woman was none other than Sayuri herself. She had followed Eriri to Toyosaki's event venue for the sake of her daughter.

However, her attention wasn't on Eriri—she was more focused on searching for Hakuto.

In fact, Sayuri had been present when Hakuto got into a fight. He simply hadn't noticed her in the heat of the moment.

She had seen him fight on Yotsuba's behalf against the sports club. She had also observed his interactions with the five sisters.

She even caught the moment when Hakuto ate a cookie that Miku had already bitten into!

A hardcore stalker! 

Terrifying!

But the more she watched, the more Sayuri felt that her daughter was doomed.

She had initially assumed that, due to Eriri and that contract, Hakuto's romantic prospects at school would be extremely low.

And for a while, that was true… 

But it had only been a little over half a month since the contract was lifted, and Hakuto was already radiating charm.

Putting everything else aside, just the girls he had encountered recently—the ones at the night market, Tomori Nao, and now the Nakano sisters—

Even without considering personality and habits (since she wasn't familiar with them), just in terms of appearance, they were completely on par with Eriri.

Now that her daughter's greatest advantage was gone, how could Sayuri not be worried?

Still, just because the situation was tough didn't mean it was unwinnable. As a mother, Sayuri was determined to fully support her daughter!

"Hakuto, can I ask you for a favor?"

Hakuto was a little surprised. Lately, Sayuri had been asking him for favors quite frequently.

And that was even after their contract had ended. Although he was grateful to her, he couldn't just keep doing things for free.

"Huh? I mean, I guess… but I'm kind of bu—"

[Bank transfer received—100,000 yen]

"Sister Sayuri, please feel free to command me!"

If there's payment, it's not freeloading!

Hearing Hakuto's now-enthusiastic tone, Sayuri breathed a sigh of relief. She had been worried that this amount wouldn't be enough to move him.

After all, over the past two years, Hakuto had taken more than ten million yen from her. While it wasn't an exorbitant amount, it was definitely substantial.

Sayuri had already been prepared to offer more if necessary, but it turned out she didn't need to—Hakuto was still willing to give her some face.

If Hakuto ever found out that his quick agreement had cost him a fortune in potential earnings, he might just hang himself with a noodle.

"Eriri is also participating in this event with the art club. Could you go check on her?"

The moment Sayuri said this, Hakuto frowned, looking as if he had something to say but didn't know how to.

"Sister Sayuri… Is Eriri in some kind of trouble that she needs my help with?"

That was the only explanation he could think of. Otherwise, she couldn't possibly be asking him to return the gift now, could she?

That would be way too public—Eriri's entire persona would be ruined.

On the other end of the phone, Sayuri quickly agreed.

"Yes, exactly! There are things that only you, Hakuto, have the authority and ability to handle…"

Hakuto did have some authority and ability—on a galactic scale.

"(;一_一)… Fine, I'll check on her. But I'm not sure if I can help."

Hakuto made sure to set expectations in advance. Though he found Sayuri's request a bit strange, he lived by the motto: Take the money, get the job done.

Now that he had been paid, he had to follow through.

It wasn't that Hakuto hadn't considered other possibilities—it was just that Eriri's past attitude made it hard for him to overthink things.

"Alright then, Hakuto. I won't keep you. Take care."

Hearing his agreement, Sayuri hung up the phone and took several steps back to put some distance between herself and Hakuto.

It wasn't that she was timid—it was just that Hakuto's counter-surveillance skills were too sharp.

She had nearly been caught several times already.

But she wasn't planning on giving up. She was going to keep following Hakuto—after all, this was about her daughter's future!

"Wait… (;一_一) Where is the art club's booth again?"

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