"Looks like Rinji-senpai really does care about Kei-chan~"
"Of course."
Takamine watched Kei Shirogane still hesitating by the rack, his expression as calm as ever.
"More than anything, I'm concerned about the Shirogane family's financial situation. But it's obvious that both the president and his sister have strong pride. You have to tread carefully."
"Takamine-senpai's a really kind person~"
"You're overthinking it."
Moeha followed Rinji's gaze over to Kei and smiled faintly.
"Kei is really cute, you know. Super popular with both boys and girls in our class~"
"She does remind me a bit of the president."
"By the way, you're the student council's treasurer, right? Kei is also the treasurer in her middle school's student council."
"What a coincidence."
Moeha's face lit up with a sweet smile.
"She works really hard and is very proud. She hates roundabout things. She's the kind of girl who's pure and untainted…"
"I figured as much…"
"In fact, she's the kind that makes you want to sully her from head to toe, lock her in a dungeon and spoil her forever~"
"…"
Rinji silently turned his head and was greeted by Moeha's innocent, beaming smile.
"…Fujiwara's little sister."
"Just call me Moeha~"
"Moeha, let me ask you something." Rinji feigned casualness as he browsed the racks. "If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Tokyo Bay? Aokigahara Forest?"
"Why those oddly specific places?"
"You're Chika's little sister, so maybe Africa would be better."
"Still a weird pick."
She smiled like nothing was wrong.
"What I said just now was only a joke~"
"Oh, a joke."
"I felt like if I didn't clarify that, something really bad was going to happen."
"Your instincts are spot on."
Seeing Kei still hesitating by the rack, Rinji suddenly had an idea.
He walked away from Moeha and headed straight to the store manager.
"Hello, sir. Can I help—"
"No time for that. I'll be asking the questions."
He threw an arm around the manager's shoulder and led him aside.
Speaking in a hushed voice, Rinji asked, "Hey, are there any discounts today?"
"Uh… no special events today, so no sales. But if you're buying a lot, I can give you a bit of a discount…"
"I just want a simple markdown."
"Uh… how much?"
"Seventy-five percent off."
"...Are you joking?"
"Do I look like I'm joking? Even Black Friday offers that much."
"Today isn't Black Friday. And this is Japan, not the US."
"Kid, you clearly don't know business. You know why Gaben is rich? Because he puts little green labels on everything."
"That's totally different…"
"You're a stubborn one. So are you giving the discount or not?"
"You're really putting me in a tough spot here..."
Seeing that the store manager still didn't intend to give in, Takamine Rinji reached into his jacket and pulled out a thick wad of 10,000 yen bills, waving it in front of the manager.
That bundle had to be worth at least a million yen.
"Just for one day, okay?"
"..."
"This is half of it."
The manager still said nothing. After taking the cash, he tucked it into his chest pocket.
Once the unspoken transaction was complete, the two of them turned around with matching smiles.
The manager walked over to the counter, pulled out a sign that said "75% OFF," and placed it at the store entrance.
"Huh!? Manager, there's a discount today?" Fujiwara Chika exclaimed, startled. She had never heard anything about a sale.
"Oh, just for today. Looks like you're lucky," the manager said with a smile.
"Awesome!"
With the sale going on, the clothes, which were already reasonably priced, were now at shockingly low prices.
Shirogane Kei froze when she saw this, then turned around and picked up the clothes she had been eyeing but hesitating over earlier, bringing them to the counter to check out.
"Takamine-kun, since today's such a rare chance with the discount, don't you want to grab a few outfits?" Fujiwara Chika asked.
"Oh, then just pick a few for me."
"Alrighty, I'll do it~"
Chika casually pulled a few pieces from the rack—the same ones she had tried on him earlier and found satisfactory—and handed them to Rinji.
After everyone paid for their items, Rinji handed his chosen clothes to the manager.
As the manager took the clothes, he felt something thick inside. A quick peek revealed another wad of bills.
Without a change in expression, he quietly stashed them away, then packed up the clothes and handed the bag to Rinji.
"Not a word about today."
"Don't worry."
After a meaningful glance was exchanged, Rinji nodded in satisfaction and left with the bag.
---
"Ah~ We really got lucky today, Kei."
"Yeah."
Shirogane Kei and Fujiwara Chika walked side by side, completely unaware of Rinji's behind-the-scenes antics.
Only Moeha, walking beside Rinji, quietly asked, "Takamine-senpai, did you say something to the manager just now?"
"I just explained Gaben's business philosophy to him."
"And...?"
"That's all."
"Really now..."
Moeha didn't press further and simply smiled. "You and Kei-chan aren't that close yet, right? If you go out of your way for her but hide it, it's like you did nothing at all."
"I'm not the kind of person who cares how others see me. It's meaningless." Rinji smiled. "As for our relationship, her calling me 'big bro' is enough. I always wanted a younger brother or sister."
"You're really a weird one. Then if I call you 'big bro' too, will you be nice to me?"
"That'd be too transactional."
"Hehe~"
"Oh, right, Takamine-kun!"
Fujiwara Chika suddenly turned around and called to Rinji, pulling a ticket from her pocket and stuffing it into his hand.
"What's this?"
"A movie ticket~ We got it last week from a prize that arrived at home. I gave one to the president and one to Kaguya, and these are the last two." Chika smiled. "Let's settle our bet tomorrow~"
"Oh."
The bet was for a date, and going to the movies together definitely qualified as one.
Looks like Fujiwara Chika really planned to honor the bet.