Chapter 71: The 40,000 Yen Woman and the Two Goddesses

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Translator: Soafp

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A coffee shop facing the main street, Starblucks.

The cityscape visible through the glass windows shimmered, illuminated by neon lights and street lamps. The winter night sky was faintly cloudy, with the occasional breeze shaking the trees. The light leaking through the gaps softly seeped into the quiet interior of the shop.

At night, the coffee shop takes on a different atmosphere.

The inside was comfortably warm, with the roasted aroma of coffee and the sweet scent of baked goods gently blending together. The small clink of cups and saucers touching, the sound of beans being ground from behind the counter, and the soft jazz playing in the background all created a relaxing atmosphere.

In a corner, sitting by the window, I wrapped my hands around my coffee cup and sighed deeply.

In this season, still tinged with cold, the warmth of the hot coffee slowly seeped into my fingertips. But even that couldn't warm the coldness in my heart.

“Hajime!”

The glass door swung open with a loud jingle, and two familiar figures rushed in.

Kagura and Marin.

Bringing the cold air with them, they looked around the shop nervously. As soon as they saw me, their expressions softened instantly.

“Hajime!”

“Hajime-kun!”

They both called out in unison, running toward me. Then, in the next moment, they each hugged me tightly from either side.

“I missed you…”

Kagura murmured with a relieved voice. Her soft hair brushed my cheek, and the sweet scent of her perfume wafted over.

“I missed you too…”

Marin, with teary eyes, tightly gripped my sleeve, her body conveying a sense of vulnerability.

“Eh, wait, hold on… you two are too close!”

I panicked at the sudden closeness. But they were unfazed, pressing even closer.

“By the way… who is this?”

Suddenly, Kagura's tone changed. She squinted and looked over my shoulder.

The two of them, with sharp eyes, stared at someone—Ranko.

With bright blonde hair, striking makeup, and a polished face, Ranko was dressed in a black off-shoulder knit top, tight denim, and heeled boots, giving off a casual yet stylish vibe. But there was also an air of elegance surrounding her. Ranko was sitting at the counter, propping her chin up with her hand, and gazing at us.

“Ah, um…”

Before I could explain, Marin, looking displeased, opened her mouth.

“Hajime-kun, who is this person?”

She shot a piercing glance at Ranko, and I felt my stomach tighten.

“Wait, calm down…!”

I waved my hands desperately. However, either not noticing or ignoring the tense atmosphere, Ranko smiled and stood up, heading toward us.

“Nice to meet you~. I'm the girl bought by the Sensei for 40,000 yen~”

“…Huh?”

“…What!?”

Kagura and Marin gasped in unison, and I almost fell off my chair.

“M-Misunderstanding!! Ah, well, maybe it's true… but no, that's not what I meant!!”

Ignoring my frantic denials, Kagura and Marin closed in from both sides, giving me a sharp glare.

“Hajime-kun, what's going on?”

“Hajime! Explain properly!”

“Wait, it's really a misunderstanding!”

Ranko, on the other hand, watched the scene unfold with amusement and giggled.

With a trembling voice, I desperately explained everything that had happened.

How I had given 40,000 yen to a “sugar baby” and sent her away, and how she turned out to be Reiran, whom I met through a video stream—on top of that, how Ranko had overheard the conversation between Kagura and Marin about the threats from Kōda Subaru.

“So…?”

Kagura crossed her arms and summarized.

“Because you were broke, you gave 40,000 yen to this Ranko girl who came on to you, and then found out that Reiran was actually her, and you've been overheard by her in our phone call about Subaru?”

“…That's about right.”

I nodded quietly, and Marin glared at Ranko.

“So why is Ranko here now?”

“That's…”

Just as I was about to answer, Ranko smiled and spoke up.

“Well, I might be able to help.”

“Help…?”

“Yes, you're both being threatened by Subaru Koda, right? Well, I might be able to do something. I know him a little…”

A ray of hope seemed to shine through, and I looked at Kagura and Marin.

“Ranko says she can help, so I want you two to listen to her… what do you think?”

Kagura and Marin exchanged a glance. But their faces remained solemn.

“…So, what's the catch?”

Kagura cut to the heart of the matter. Marin nodded silently.

“Huh, a catch?”

I was completely lost, confused by the conversation.

Seeing my confusion, Ranko grinned mischievously.

“Are you two his girlfriends? Or something close to that?”

Kagura and Marin both nodded enthusiastically.

“Huh!? W-Wait!”

I almost fell off my chair again, hurriedly putting my hands on the table. I couldn't keep up with the sudden turn of events, and I looked at Kagura and Marin in shock.

“How nice~. Well then, I'd love to join in, even just a little…”

Ranko smirked and casually dropped a bombshell.

“Hah!? Wait, why does it have to be like this!?”

My voice cracked, and Kagura and Marin's eyes turned into sharp weapons.

“Hm… you have guts, don't you?”

“What do you think you're doing…?”

Without a hint of hesitation, Ranko shrugged her shoulders.

“Well~ I've kind of taken a liking to Sensei. But don't make that scary face. I'm not an enemy. I actually want to get along with everyone, you know?”

Ranko didn't look apologetic at all. On the contrary, her confident attitude only made Kagura and Marin's guard go up even more.

“Haha… what the heck is going on here…?”

Unable to bear the tension, I let out a dry laugh.

This coffee shop night was far from over, and the storm seemed like it would continue.