Mash-Up Anime World: Anything for Money

Meanwhile.

After leaving Hiratsuka's office, Rikka hopped and skipped toward her classroom.

The process had been a little rough, but the goal was more or less achieved, right?

Rikka had complete faith in Hakuto's efficiency. It was a shame she hadn't managed to pull him into the club, but that could come later. 

The most urgent task now was to get the club established.

Feeling great, Rikka thought even her Tyrant's Eye had become stronger.

However, just as she approached the classroom door, she suddenly saw a girl with long golden twin-tails slowly walking out.

"Golden Retriever?"

Almost instinctively, Rikka hid behind a protruding column on the wall.

Noticing a movement, Eriri glanced in Rikka's direction. Fortunately, thanks to her small stature, Rikka managed to evade detection.

"…Just my imagination?"

Eriri didn't linger and continued toward her classroom. Lunch break was almost over, and Hakuto still hadn't shown up. 

With no choice but to leave, she would have to try again next time.

Only after Eriri had completely left did Rikka cautiously step out from behind the column.

As for why she had hidden in the first place?

That was entirely thanks to Hakuto's actions over the past two years.

Two years ago, every time she and Eriri crossed paths, there was bound to be some conflict.

Hakuto always had to step in to mediate. Neither of them ever had a valid reason for their quarrels—it was just plain, senseless bickering.

But Rikka knew Hakuto always leaned toward Eriri's side.

Over time, she developed an aversion to seeing Eriri at all.

Although Eriri's attitude had taken a complete 180 in recent months—now treating Rikka just like any other classmate—Rikka still resisted any interactions with her.

She knew that, logically, there shouldn't be any more conflicts.

But she still didn't want to see her.

So hiding just now? That was pure instinct.

"Damn you, Hero! How dare you refuse to stand by the Tyrant's Eye!"

Rikka muttered under her breath, her face full of dissatisfaction.

"Just wait until after school—I'll definitely make you taste the power of my Tyrant's Eye!"

"Taste what, exactly?"

"Wahhh!"

A voice suddenly spoke up behind her, making Rikka jump in shock.

Hakuto had silently appeared, gently tapping her on the shoulder.

Even though it was just a light tap, it startled her so much she nearly leaped out of her skin.

"…You're done talking with Hiratsuka-sensei?"

Seeing Rikka's reaction, Hakuto merely smiled faintly and continued in a relaxed tone.

"Yeah. Now all you need is five members, and your club can be officially established."

"But, well…"

A mischievous grin crept onto Hakuto's face.

Rikka immediately sensed danger and was about to make a run for it.

"Kana~!ヽ( ￣д￣;)ノ"

But there was no escaping Hakuto's grasp—he swiftly caught her wrist before she could flee.

With her petite frame, she was like a little bird caught by the leg, struggling in vain.

"Don't be in such a hurry to run away."

"No! Every time you smile like that, you're about to say something terrifying!"

"Really? I think my smile is pretty bright and sunny."

Hakuto said without the slightest hint of embarrassment.

"Relax, it's nothing major."

"You're not asking to borrow money from me, are you?"

"Do I look like the kind of guy who's obsessed with money?"

Rikka wanted to nod, but after glancing at his seemingly kind smile, she quickly shook her head instead.

Seeing this, Hakuto put away his mischievous grin and adopted a more relaxed expression.

"Hiratsuka-sensei said that a club needs five members, meaning that aside from you, you still need four more."

"I can help you find three of them, but you'll have to figure out the last one on your own."

Upon hearing Hakuto's condition, Rikka's eyes widened. If her Tyrant's Eye wasn't covered by a colored contact and one of them wasn't shut, she might've dropped her lens in shock.

"...I'd rather you just borrow money from me."

Rikka wasn't exactly the type who preferred being alone, but her chuunibyou tendencies naturally limited the number of friends she had.

At the start of the school year, she had tried making friends, but those attempts had ended in failure.

As Hakuto had pointed out, she should already be thankful that she wasn't outright bullied at school.

"Anyway, no matter how you do it, the last member is up to you, Rikka."

"At the very least, you should show me, the Hero, the true power of the Tyrant's Eye!"

It was rare for Hakuto to speak to her with this kind of expression and tone.

Just like he had mentioned before, it was a form of scarcity marketing—a bit cliché, but undeniably effective.

Looking at his expectant gaze, Rikka suddenly felt elated. She lifted her chin slightly, patted her chest, and put on an expression of absolute confidence.

"No problem! Leave it to me!"

"Mm-hmm."

Hearing Hakuto's encouraging tone, Rikka's smug expression intensified.

It was only after he left that she slowly snapped out of her confident act.

Simple-minded as she was, Rikka didn't even realize that Hakuto had basically coaxed her like a child.

All she knew was that she had to prove the power of her Tyrant's Eye!

…

Meanwhile, over on Eriri's side, she was currently grumbling about how she had wasted so much time without asking Hakuto about his situation.

"Eriri, where did you go during lunch?"

"Don't tell me you went to see Shiratori?"

At the entrance of Class F, a female classmate teased Eriri as she walked back in.

Just as Eriri was about to say something, the girl abruptly cut her off.

"Oh! Speak of the devil! I won't interrupt you two."

Eriri turned around in confusion, only to see Hakuto slowly approaching.

After parting ways with Rikka, Hakuto hadn't gone straight back to class. 

Since there was still some time before the next period, he decided to swing by Class F to retrieve the two lunchboxes he had left behind the previous day.

Even though his employment had been terminated, those lunch boxes were still his personal belongings. 

He doesn't want to waste it.

Since he had just barely missed Eriri earlier, Hakuto wasn't aware that she had already returned them.

And so, as he made his way toward Class F, he coincidentally ran into Eriri, who had just returned to her classroom.

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