With the deal tentatively struck, Finis sat back in the car. "Uncle Gong, how long has it been since you started driving for me?"
In the driver's seat was an old gentleman in a neat suit with white hair. "Since you were brought back at thirteen, Miss. Exactly five years."
"Would you be happy if I gave you a long vacation starting tomorrow?"
"Haha, I'm an old man; I don't know how to do anything but drive. If you give me a vacation, I won't know what to do with myself."
"Everyone needs a hobby outside of work, Uncle Gong. You should enjoy your retirement. Fishing, gardening... away from the family conflicts."
She spoke casually, but her beautiful silver eyes never left the Amano house. Even she was surprised by the promise she'd made. When she sensed Zero was about to refuse, she'd blurted out the 100,000-point offer without thinking. But she didn't have that much money.
If the duel was lost tonight, her only plan was to hock the luxury car for emergency funds. She couldn't believe she was putting this much faith in a boy she'd just met. Perhaps it was the miracle she saw in the sunset yesterday—winning against the odds. Or perhaps she sensed something special about the Amano family.
The debt was a common loan, yet her father had insisted she handle it personally. And that debt contract turned out to be a Duel Contract. She also vaguely remembered her mother mentioning the name "Amano Yuuichi" when she was very young. All these subtle, hard-to-catch threads seemed to point in one direction, leading to her decision.
She would use tonight's underground duel as a wedge to bet on Amano Zero's potential.
"It's too dangerous, Zero! How could you agree to an underground duel in Sector 11!"
Wangchuan You had remained silent while Finis was there, mostly because he was stunned by the massive reward and the insane conditions. But once she left, he couldn't stop himself from trying to talk Zero out of it.
"I know it's dangerous," Zero explained as he organized his cards on the table. "But with 100,000 points, I can get Shio her prosthetics. She won't have to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair."
"Ah... that..." Wangchuan You went silent. Shio wasn't home; Yui had taken her to the card shop to pass the time. With just the two childhood friends in the room, they didn't have to hold back.
"Think about it, You. For people at the bottom like us, when a life-changing amount of money is dangled in front of us, shouldn't we grab it? This might be the only chance I ever get."
True. What kind of crazy Young Lady would pay 100,000 points to a slum duelist? Zero knew the situation was suspicious, but when a chance to change his and his sister's lives appeared—and the only condition was to survive a duel—he had to take it. He didn't care if there was a catch; if there was money on the table, he was pulling up a chair.
"Fine, I get it," You finally relented. "But I have one condition!"
"What?"
"Take me with you!"
"That's not up to me."
"Sure, why not?" Finis agreed surprisingly easily.
"Yay!" You raised his arms in excitement.
Underground markets usually operated at night. Finis and Zero agreed to meet at 5:30 PM, where she and the driver would pick him up. Having left Shio in Yui's care, Zero didn't have to worry—his sister was used to being home alone when he worked night shifts anyway. Now he just had to focus.
"Hehe, so this is what a rich person's car feels like? It's so comfy!" Sitting next to Zero in the back seat, You bounced happily on the leather.
This kid was so worried a minute ago; why is he so relaxed now that she let him come along? Zero wondered.
Finis glanced at the two in the rearview mirror and smiled. "Amano, your girlfriend really loves you. She's willing to follow you even to a dangerous place like that."
"Girlfriend?" Zero realized she'd made the same mistake as the guys at the scrap yard. "Finis, don't let the looks fool you..." To prove it, Zero reached over and gave Wangchuan You's chest a casual, "bro-style" pat. "He's a 100% genuine man."
It was a standard gesture between guys—a pat on the back or a chest-bump. As "revenge" for the chest-pat, You reached over and gave Zero's rear a quick pinch. It was a mundane interaction with no "strange" physical sensations, and in the dim light of the car, Zero didn't notice the uncontrollable curl of a smile on You's lips.
Finis's mouth hung open in shock. "A man? Oh, I am so sorry, Wangchuan. I completely misunderstood."
Zero: "Don't worry about it; he's used to people getting it wrong."
Finis: "It's just that Wangchuan is so pretty—or should I say delicate for a boy? And when we talked earlier, he didn't seem to..."
Right. Before Zero had returned that afternoon, Finis had already mistaken You for Zero's girlfriend. And the "kid" hadn't denied it; he'd chatted her up excitedly, talking non-stop about Zero.
"Well, whatever," Finis continued. "So, Amano... you don't have a girlfriend?"
Zero laughed. "Me? A pure, card-carrying member of the Single Dogs Club."
"Oh~"
[Finis Favorability +1] [Finis Favorability: 57]
That earns me favor? Seriously, are you sure you're not lusting after my body?
"Where are we going now?" After his "girlfriend" status was debunked, You's voice sounded a bit colder and more detached. "I thought the market didn't open until ten. Isn't it too early?"
"Dinner first," Finis said, twirling a lock of her red hair. "And some pre-battle preparations. Tonight is a very important duel; I don't want to see you get crushed immediately."
"Pre-battle preparations?""I managed to get my hands on some cards that might be useful. Pick a few out for yourself."
"Are they free?!"
Amano Zero's eyes lit up. He actually had a chance to fleece a capitalist for free cards. But then again... was anything truly free?
Zero stole a glance at Finis's eyes in the rearview mirror. Her silver-gray pupils, though as exquisite and beautiful as gemstones, were cold enough to make one's heart shiver.
"Of course—they'll be deducted from your reward."
Heh. Turns out all capitalists are cut from the same cloth. Even the pretty girl ones.
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