“Do you need money?” Haru asked directly.
“Yes.” Utaha nodded and didn’t hesitate to tell him. She felt that she could tell him anything.
Haru thought for a while and decided to sit down next to her. “What’s wrong?”
Utaha sighed and said, “My father has been laid off from the office.” She started to tell him a lot of things since the thing that had happened yesterday made her realize that she was powerless. Her family was normal, but because her father had been laid off the economic condition on her family had been hit badly. Her mother had decided to work in the supermarket to support the family and her father was searching for another job, but the result wasn’t good. She also told her that her father was working in a newspaper company. She also told him that he was working really hard and was in the position of chief editor, but he was laid off in this economic crisis. She was wondering why it was her father and not someone else.
In this economic crisis, there are a lot of companies that have decided to cut off the number of their employees to stay alive and Utaha’s father is just one of them.
“How about your income from your book?” Haru asked. He remembered from his promotion the number of sales of Utaha’s book was quite good.
“It might not be enough and I don’t have the inspiration to write the second volume,” Utaha said with a sigh. She rubbed her face with her hands and said, “But the thing that is making me worried is my father is planning to sell his kidney if he isn’t able to find a job.” Her expression was quite tired and said, “I am not sure what to do…” She smiled at him and said, “I have even thought to sell myself to you.”
Haru shook his head and said, “Don’t say that I might take you seriously.” He didn’t want to make this conversation serious and teased her a little.
Utaha chuckled and said, “You’re a real bastard.”
“I love your smile and I want to see this expression of yours forever,” Haru said.
“Don’t tease me, you have a girlfriend,” Utaha said.
“Isn’t it you the one who has invited me?” Haru said while twitching his lips.
They talked for a while then the waitress sent his coffee to their table.
Utaha smelled the blue mountain coffee and seemed a bit interested.
“Do you want to try it?” Haru asked.
“……” Utaha seemed a bit hesitant.
“I am happy if you try since we might share an indirect kiss,” Haru said.
Utaha snorted and didn’t feel that worried anymore. “You pervert who enjoys having saliva of beautiful girls on his coffee.” She said those words then sipped his coffee slowly. She had to admit that the taste of this coffee was very good.
Haru frowned when he heard such misleading words, but he seemed a bit glad of something.
Utaha looked at Haru and said, “You really love my saliva?”
“Don’t say such misleading words in a public place!” Haru said with a sigh.
“Then is it okay in private?” Utaha asked.
“Say, let’s continue our talk earlier,” Haru said.
Utaha seemed a bit dissatisfied and said, “You really know how to kill the atmosphere.”
“Oh, but when we solve this problem, you might become really happy,” Haru said.
“That’s true, but this problem isn’t something that you can help with,” Utaha said.
“Who said that?” Haru asked.
Utaha looked at Haru and asked, “You can do it?”
“Hmm… I have thought for a while that I should buy a newspaper,” Haru said.
“Newspaper? There is a newspaper in this cafe, you don’t need to buy it,” Utaha said.
“No, I mean I am going to buy a newspaper company,” Haru said.
“……” Utaha twitched her lips and used her hand to check the temperature on his forehead. “You don’t seem to be sick.”
“That’s because I am not sick. I am serious,” Haru said. He wanted to buy a media company since his love with his sister might cause a lot of trouble in the media then he decided to control the media in this country and his first step was a newspaper.
“Are you serious? Buying a newspaper company isn’t similar to buying a snack at a convenience store,” Utaha said.
“That might not be the case with the economic crisis, there are a lot of companies that have decided to sell their companies to stop the loss,” Haru said.
“Do you have the money?” Utaha asked directly.
“I should have it,” Haru said.
“……” Utaha looked at Haru and felt the boy who was sitting beside her during middle school had become more mysterious and powerful. She didn’t know where he had gotten his wealth and she didn’t care much, but at this moment she knew that she felt very secure beside him. She felt safe and this feeling made her comfortable.
Haru sipped his coffee slowly and raised his eyebrow. He looked at the barista at this cafe and had to admit that her skill was really good since this coffee could make his tongue dance.
Utaha took a deep breath and asked once again, “You’re serious, right?”
Haru nodded and said, “If you want then let’s go now and meet your father.”
Utaha shook her head and said, “I just don’t want you to waste your money on this newspaper company. I have heard that the newspaper business is dying from my father.”
“Don’t worry, I have a plan here.” Haru pointed his finger at his head and said, “I am not going to waste money and it is good that I have someone who can help me to manage it.”
Utaha nodded and said in a low voice, “Thank you.”
Haru smiled and said, “No problem.”
Utaha sighed in relief and rested her head on Haru’s shoulder. “You’re not going to think that I am materialistic, right?”
“Materialistic is normal. In a world where the future is unsure, only the power of money can make everyone safe,” Haru said.
Utaha looked at Haru and said, “You’re very different from the people around you.”
“Oh? How is it different?” Haru asked.
“Seems like you can see your own future,” Utaha said and had decided to fight Megumi for him.
Haru only smiled and said, “Of course, I want to conquer this country.”
“……” Utaha seemed a bit speechless but didn’t say anything. “It’ll be nice if you’re my boyfriend.” She looked at him to see his reaction.
“……” Haru was calm and said, “Sorry, did you say something?”
Utaha twitched her lips when she heard him. “Coward…” She muttered those words in a low voice, but she knew that she had a chance in the future.
