Rain poured in sheets as Jun Aragaki and Takada Mitsuru stepped into the family restaurant, their shoes squelching with every step. The lower halves of their bodies were soaked, clothes clinging like second skin.
Jun seemed unfazed. A healthy body and a strong immune system made him resilient. But Mitsuru—a petite, malnourished girl already running on fumes—looked moments away from collapsing.
Thankfully, the staff offered them towels and hot water. Wrapped in warmth, color slowly returned to the girl's cheeks. She clutched the mug with both hands, eyes half-lidded under the soft glow of the restaurant's warm yellow lights.
She looked like a lost doll.
Her damp, naturally curly gray hair clung to her face, which still held remnants of childhood with its faint baby fat. Her fair skin was smooth and unmarred, her deep blue eyes flickering with both suspicion and exhaustion.
Aragaki Jun handed her a menu. Mitsuru cautiously flipped through it, eventually settling on a modest omelette rice.
Jun glanced at her, nodded, then ordered an array of dishes without hesitation.
Mitsuru sat stiffly, fingers knotted tightly in her lap. "I think... you ordered too much."
"Eat more," Jun said gently, serving her plate after plate. "Only by eating can people live."
Though her stomach growled, Mitsuru's eating pace was timid. She barely finished half her omelette rice.
"I'm full."
"You're too thin. Keep going."
"Really... I can't."
Jun sighed and pulled her plate toward himself. Mitsuru watched in stunned silence as he devoured every bite from every plate.
"I'm full and satisfied~"
She blinked. "Are you sure you're not some kind of food-devouring demon?"
Jun chuckled and leaned back, calling the waiter to clean up and bring two large ice creams.
"You see? I'm a glutton. Giving you food is like raising a kitten. Easy."
"Weren't you supposed to explain more about... my mom?"
Jun stared at her, tone shifting.
"I can tell you're not okay. Are your relatives mistreating you?"
Mitsuru flinched. "They just... don't like me."
"You ran away today. So what now? Going back? Or waiting for divine rescue?"
"I... I don't know."
He softened his voice. "Our mothers were close. There was an understanding between our families. I believe I'm trustworthy. Do you?"
He never said the words "come home with me," but everything he said led there. Mitsuru trembled under the weight of that implication. Outside, thunder cracked. Her wet hair clung to her cheeks.
She lowered her head, fists clenched on her knees.
"Please... please help me."
Jun tapped his phone, starting a voice recording. "Louder. How can I help if I can't hear you?"
She bit her lip, tears dripping onto the table.
"Until I can support myself, please let me stay with you! I'll pay back every yen, with interest. I don't eat much, I stay quiet, and... if it comes to it, you can even use my body."
There was a pause.
Not from shame. But because she had accepted her own worth was transactional.
Jun sat up straight, eyes serious. "Takada Mitsuru, I hear your wish. I accept it."
He raised his fist.
"So—will you be part of my family?"
Mitsuru slowly met his gaze, then curled her tiny fist and bumped it against his.
"I will."
Ding!
"Contract concluded! Mitsuru Takada has become your family member."
System Notification:
"Financial Management LV1" acquired (+5,000 yen/day)
[Attribute Points +1]
[Skill Points +1]
[Entanglement +10]
Aragaki Jun glanced at his stats:
[Status]
[Strength: 7]
[Agility: 8]
[Constitution: 7]
[Spirit: 7]
[Charm: 9]
[Attribute Points: 1]
Skill Points: 1
[Entangled Fate: 10]
Skills
Battle Intuition: Detect enemy attacks
Financial Management LV1: Daily income of 5,000 yen
But now wasn't the time for system menus. Jun stayed present, finishing the ice cream with her.
Mitsuru finally relaxed. Her replies became audible, though she still didn't initiate conversation. When Jun asked about her guardian, she hesitated.
"He's... not awful, just... not very kind."
"Don't sugarcoat it. I can see it in your eyes."
Jun didn't dig deeper. Instead, he pressed the bigger issue.
"We're the same age. I can't get your custody. If he comes looking, you're legally still his dependent. Are you prepared for what that means?"
Mitsuru clenched her fists.
"I understand."
"Good. I won't waste my time raising someone only to get arrested."
"No! I promise it won't happen!"
Jun met her eyes calmly. "Can you promise he won't come back for you? That he won't try something worse? That I won't go to jail trying to protect you?"
She flinched. Tears welled up again.
"Do you have a solution, Jun-san?"
"Drop the honorific. Just Jun."
He looked out the window. Rain still lashed against the glass. Lightning flickered across the gray sky.
Then he stood.
"Let's go. While this storm lasts, we're paying your uncle a final visit."
Mitsuru wiped her tears and stood slowly.
This time, she wasn't trembling with fear.
She was ready to reclaim her life.