Chapter 24: Promise

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Translator: Soafp

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“T-that means I'd be at Fukagawa-kun's house from night until morning…?”

Sugawara-senpai asked, and I nodded.

It was no wonder she was confused. Even though it was a night shift, it would basically mean staying overnight at a teenage boy's house.

“If my place is inconvenient, we can book a nearby hotel. I'll deduct it from your salary, though,” I added.

“…Wouldn't working from home be okay?”

“If something happens while you're monitoring, I need you to wake me up directly. Once I fall asleep, I sleep so deeply I wouldn't even notice if someone carried me away. A phone call won't wake me at all.”

That, too, was a lie. I was actually sensitive to sounds and would wake even if someone turned over in bed beside me. But if I admitted that and allowed her to work from home, this plan would become completely meaningless.

(There’s definitely no way Sugawara-senpai’s house is in my neighborhood.)

On the way to school earlier, I checked the nameplates of the nearby houses, but there was no “Sugawara.” Of course, she might just not display one, or maybe she lived in an apartment or condominium. But if a fire were to occur near my place, I would have likely seen that “nightmare.”

“Oh, and of course, when I say you'll work at my place, it won't be in my room. You can use the spare room.”

“So if something happens in the middle of the night, I'd need to run to Fukagawa-kun's room immediately to wake you up?”

“Exactly. If we end up using a hotel, I'll give you a spare key as well.”

Sugawara-senpai murmured “Hmm…” and rested her chin on her hand. The conditions themselves weren't bad. But working at night, and above all, having me as her employer, was understandably making her uneasy. No matter how much money I had personally, I had almost no social credibility like a convenience store or family restaurant that guarantees regular pay.

(And once this becomes a working relationship, things might not stay as casual as they are now.)

Perhaps what Sugawara-senpai needed most right now was emotional support, not money. I had brought up money only as a means to prevent the “nightmare.”

She carefully spoke.

“If I go home at night, I'll probably just collapse and sleep. So if I take this job, I'll have to quit my other part-time jobs…”

“Yes, that would be necessary. That's why I set the salary higher to account for that.”

Ideally, I'd like her to quit all her other jobs, but that was probably unrealistic.

“For me… the salary amount is important, but whether I can keep receiving it continuously is even more important.”

“You mean you want to know if I can employ you long-term?”

“Yes. Since I'd have to quit the jobs I've been doing for a long time, if it ends in a month or two, it's meaningless.”

Honestly, for me, just avoiding the fire incident was enough. But right now, Sugawara-senpai was focused on paying off her father's debts. And the amount was probably not small, so I could understand. The problem was that the debt was created through gambling.

“This is my first time trying something like this, and I plan to observe for at least five months, to see if it's truly helpful.”

“…I see. But I really don't know anything about stocks.”

“You don't need to have an expert-level understanding. I just want you to do what's easy enough for you to handle.”

She would check whether my stocks were surging or dropping, watch news that could affect stock prices. It might be too simple and even boring.

“And if it turns out you're really useful to me?”

“Then I'll keep employing you at least until I graduate from university.”

“Huh? From now until graduation is almost seven years, isn't it?”

“Yes.”

Technically it was six years and nine months. That part wasn't a lie. If she could truly support me and reduce my burden, I intended to keep her employed—especially during her senior year of high school.

She rested her chin on her hand again and thought carefully. She was likely weighing everything in her mind. Money was the main concern, so it was understandable.

“All right. I understand your proposal. I think it's fine. But I'll need to ask my father for permission since it means working at night, right?”

“Yes… understood.”

At this point, Sugawara-senpai probably didn't know that her father was a gambling addict. No matter what happened—being set on fire or anything—would someone who left their daughter alone at night to gamble really care for her?

(I also need to figure out how to reveal her father's true nature.)

---

The next day, again at the lunch break in the emergency stairwell, Sugawara-senpai spoke first.

“About the job you suggested yesterday…”

“Yes?”

“My father gave his permission.”

“You talked to him about me and where I'll be working, right?”

“Of course.”

A normal father would surely oppose the idea of a high school daughter working at a teenage boy's house. From that alone, Sugawara-senpai could tell he wasn't normal. Whether she knew that fact or not…

“Actually, my father said we should get along.”

“Huh? Why?”

“He said there are very few people in Japan, or even the world, who have succeeded at your age.”

On the surface, it sounded like praise, but it wasn't. Through his daughter, he likely saw a convenient source of money—that was all.

Of course, I didn't intend to let my money be used for gambling. By next month, when I paid her salary, I'd make sure she knew the truth about her father. Then, I'd separate them.

“When should I start working?”

“I'd like it to start as soon as possible. But you'll need some time to quit your other jobs and hand over duties, right?”

“I think it won't take that long. Got it.”

“How many jobs will you quit?”

“About two. I'll keep the last one only on weekends, and do the work you gave me on weekdays.”

That was probably the limit for now. Ideally, I'd like to keep her within sight even on weekend nights, but there was no excuse left. Asking her to go on a paid overnight “date” would seem like renting a girlfriend.

(Wait, if it's not a date, just hanging out…?)

By chance, I had plans to hang out with Nodoka this weekend. They had met once before, but Sugawara-senpai and Nodoka might actually get along. If I managed the situation well—

“Senpai, about going to the theme park with Nodoka the other day…”

“That date?”

“It's not really that kind of relationship. But honestly, are you interested in theme parks?”

“…I don't know. I've never been, and it seems expensive.”

“Then I'll cover all the costs. Why don't we go together—three of us?”

“Really? Won't your girlfriend get mad?”

“I told you, she's not my girlfriend.”

Even so, judging by her reaction, Sugawara-senpai didn't seem completely opposed.

“Well, if she agrees, then I'm fine… But we'll meet after work, right? Will the timing work?”

“I'll handle that. And since we're going, why not stay one night?”

“Stay one night?”

“Yes. Of course, we'll book separate rooms. Nodoka can have a girls' night with you.”

“Girls' night…”

I'd also treat them to dinner at the hotel. It would be a nice distraction for her, and I'd be at ease. Not bad for an impromptu idea.

“All right. I feel like everything is going according to your plan, and that annoys me a bit, but honestly, I don't lose anything.”

“What are you aiming for?”

“Who knows? Well, if Fukagawa-kun takes responsibility and supports me for life, I wouldn't mind staying alone in a room with you. You seem to have that kind of money anyway.”

“Senpai, if you choose a husband based only on money, you'll get scammed.”

Sugawara-senpai hugged her knees and smiled faintly at me.

“I won't worry. You're the first one I've felt this way about, Fukagawa-kun.”

She looked more beautiful than any expression I'd seen from her before.

---

“Ha!? That senpai is going too this weekend!? And staying one night at a hotel!?”

Now all that was left was convincing Nodoka. I explained Sugawara-senpai's proposal exactly as it was, but it was trickier than expected.

“Wait, were you really looking forward to going just the two of us?”

“N-no! It's just… you know I freeze around people I just met.”

“But you talked normally in the stairwell last time, right?”

“Th-That was because I was stubborn, thanks to you!”

“Stubborn? About what?”

I tilted my head, not understanding Nodoka's words. Was she really that nervous? She hadn't shown it before…

“So you can't go?”

“N-no, that's not it! …But what if I don't go?”

“Then I guess I'll go another time with you, and this weekend it'll just be me and senpai.”

“One night at a hotel?”

“Yes, that's how it'll be.”

She groaned and buried her head in her hands. Did she really dislike Sugawara-senpai that much? Maybe I was wrong thinking they would get along.

“All right! We'll go as three!”

“Yeah. I'll make sure the hotel has good food.”

“Tha-that sounds really fun!”

In an instant, Nodoka's eyes lit up with excitement.