Chapter 121: Isn't This Just Keeping a Mistress?
The next day, they visited the final establishment in Chiba connected to the word "Angel" that remained open until dawn.
It was an upscale bar called the Stairway to Heaven.
Judging from its address and interior design, the place was clearly high-end. Luke had never visited anywhere like it, so the experience felt surprisingly novel.
Because they had agreed to meet rather late, they did not travel together after school.
After eating a simple meal, Luke reached the building before the others.
Yukino had emphasized that he should dress like an adult—meaning something mature and formal—or the bar might refuse him entry.
However, after thinking about it, Luke had no idea what an adult was supposed to look like.
He carefully recalled the adults he knew.
Among the exorcists were Kasumizuki and Shibuya Jun. Among the teachers was Hiratsuka Shizuka.
None of them matched the public image of a responsible adult. The only word Luke could use to describe every one of them was unreliable.
Therefore, he dressed as usual.
Inside the elevator lobby, the illuminated elevator carried him steadily upward.
The pressure beneath his feet increased where they touched the floor. Although the elevator was as refined as the building and moved smoothly, Luke still felt slightly uncomfortable due to his motion sickness.
'This is the sensation of increased apparent weight.'
Looking through the transparent glass at the lights reflecting over Tokyo Bay, he distracted himself with physics until the elevator reached the top floor.
The doors slowly slid open.
Soft lights appeared before him, illuminating a dim bar that resembled flickering candlelight.
A male server approached without asking any questions and guided him to a seat at the bar beside a glass window.
Behind the counter, a tall and attractive female bartender silently polished a glass.
In the dim lighting, the beauty mark beneath her eye perfectly suited the atmosphere.
Luke sat down and looked at Kawasaki Saki.
Her movements were elegant, without any trace of her usual laziness. Only her long sky-blue hair remained familiar as it swayed behind her.
"What are you doing here?"
Saki raised her exhausted eyes and calmly questioned her classmate.
"I came to find you."
Luke answered directly.
There was no longer any point in hiding it.
He had originally planned to wait for Yukino and the others, but the server had immediately brought him to Saki.
If he had known this would happen, he might as well have waited downstairs.
Still, this outcome was probably better.
Compared with the others, who were nearly strangers to Saki, Luke could at least speak with her normally.
Besides, if someone with Yukino's personality encountered someone like Kawasaki Saki, there was no telling how badly they would argue.
"So you found out…"
Saki muttered, then looked at him again.
"No wonder people have been bothering me lately. Hiratsuka-sensei also spoke to me after school yesterday."
"That was because of you, wasn't it?"
Saki did not hand him a menu, and there was no visible price list behind her.
Luke withdrew his wandering gaze and did not deny it.
"Yes… but I was only acting on someone else's request."
Saki did not ask who had made the request. She merely sighed, folded her arms, and leaned against the wall.
"What do you want to drink? You bought me lunch before, so I can treat you to one drink."
"Do you have anything without alcohol?"
Saki sighed again.
"If you don't know what to order, you can ask for cola, Sprite, or another soft drink."
"Eh? A place like this sells soft drinks?"
Luke asked in surprise.
He had never visited any bar, much less an expensive one intended for socializing. He had assumed they served nothing except alcoholic drinks.
"…We do. No one orders them, though."
Saki muttered.
"Then I'll have cola."
Saki skillfully took out a glass, filled one quarter of it with ice, poured in the soda, and placed it on a coaster before him.
Luke took a sip through the straw.
Mm.
Familiar Pepsi.
He examined the luxurious surroundings and curiously asked, "How much do you earn here each month?"
"Did you come all this way just to ask me that?"
"Of course not. Your younger brother is worried because you stay out all night working."
Luke explained.
Saki frowned.
"So it was Taishi. He worries too much."
"What did he tell you? I don't know how you met him, but I'll explain things to him after I go home."
"You don't need to interfere."
She paused, then added firmly, "In other words, stop getting involved with Taishi."
"We met your brother during a study session at a café. Our club accepted his request."
Luke stirred the ice with his straw, completely ignoring Saki's demand.
He was not someone who would give up so easily.
"Are you that desperate for money? A bar like this shouldn't even hire minors."
The most obvious explanation for Saki working so much was money.
However, there was a difference between working to satisfy personal desires, such as buying clothes or toys, and saving money to achieve an important dream.
Saki threw the yellow cloth she had been using to wipe bottles onto the counter and leaned against the wall again.
"I need money. I work because I need money."
"But that has absolutely nothing to do with you."
She clearly did not want to answer.
Seeing Saki's guarded gaze, Luke replied, "That's true. But as a friend, I still want to know why you need it."
"What friend?"
Saki turned her head away, concealing her expression.
"Our relationship isn't that close."
"Finish your cola and leave. I'm not in the mood to discuss my private affairs with you."
Luke fell silent.
Saki was different from Yukino, yet the two were remarkably similar in how completely they rejected other people's concern.
"…Kawasaki."
"What now?"
Saki answered weakly.
"If you refuse to tell me, I'll inform your manager that you're a high school student."
Luke would never actually do something that underhanded.
Still, it made an excellent threat.
"Y-you'll tell the manager that I'm underage? You…"
Saki stiffened upon hearing him.
She began stumbling over her words, unable to find any way to counter his threat. In the end, she could only glare at him like a wild beast.
"Even if I'm fired, I'll find somewhere else to work."
"That's true."
Luke took out his vibrating phone and read Yukino's message.
He sent a brief reply explaining that he was already inside the bar and speaking with Saki.
Afterward, he looked at her again.
"At least tell us the reason. Let everyone see whether we can help solve your problem."
"Even if we can't, we'll have an answer for the person who requested our help, and you won't need to endure us bothering you anymore."
"Bothering me…"
Saki spoke coldly.
"I don't care about that. It would be best if we simply stayed out of each other's affairs."
"What use would telling you be? Do you think money problems are that easy to solve?"
"Are you going to donate a large amount of money to me? That would certainly solve everything immediately."
"Of course not."
Luke paused.
"However, I can offer you a job."
"It pays roughly ¥250,000 per month, and it's extremely easy. It won't interfere with your rest."
"Based on my estimate, you would only need to work one or two days per week."
"How about it? Interested?"
"What?"
Kawasaki Saki froze.
Working as a bartender at the hotel's top-floor bar earned her a basic wage of ¥1,350 per hour, plus an additional twenty-five percent for night shifts.
Even after working six hours per day and excluding her days off, she still earned less than what Luke had offered.
"Eh—don't tell me you're secretly some wealthy and powerful person who suddenly plans to keep me as your mistress?"
Saki awkwardly shifted her shoulders away.
"…I suggest choosing your words carefully, Kawasaki-san."
Luke curled his lips in disgust.
Calling it "keeping a mistress" sounded terrible.
The [Maid Fund Card] provided ¥500,000 each month for every qualifying maid.
Luke merely intended to use its effect to solve Saki's problem while keeping part of the money for himself.
Saki took a deep breath.
Tempted by both the money and the chance to rest, she blinked and repeatedly sought confirmation.
"You're certain it isn't illegal work?"
"Or work where I would have to sell myself?"
"It really isn't?"
Luke also inhaled deeply, no longer willing to waste words on her.
"Your duties would be working as a maid and helping me manage daily affairs."
"You must wear a maid outfit, obey orders, and work at least two days each week."
"The salary is ¥250,000 per month. Once you meet the requirements, I can even pay you in advance."
"Is that clear enough?"
Saki blinked several times, apparently processing everything he had just said.
Luke assumed she would not reject the proposal.
However, after hesitating, Saki slowly replied—
"Isn't this… just keeping me as your mistress?"
"I'm going to hit you, Kawasaki."
…
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