Mash-Up: Anything for Money

Just thinking about those words made Ginko's mood improve significantly, and before she knew it, a bright smile appeared on her face.

"Ginko, what are you thinking about?"

"You look way too happy."

"Ahem... nothing... Let's continue."

Hearing Hakuto's comment, Ginko quickly withdrew her smile and returned to her usual cold expression.

Hakuto didn't press further, though, because he was also in a good mood.

After all, in just a little while, he would be getting his overtime pay—a nice little bonus for his pocket money.

However, just as Hakuto thought he was about to get paid with ease, Ginko gave him a brutal lesson.

"Ahhh~~~"

"I can't do this anymore, Ginko... I'm completely drained..."

Hakuto sat by the shogi board, his mouth slightly open as a transparent, ghostly soul slowly floated out of him.

"Ahhh…"

"Three hours… three whole hours..."

For three straight hours, Hakuto hadn't rested for even a second. 

His legs were numb, his back stiff—he had no idea how Ginko managed to keep going.

Ginko looked at his utterly defeated expression, rubbed her sore wrists, and slowly stood up.

"That's enough for today."

With that, she made her way toward the entrance. Seeing this, Hakuto quickly sucked back his escaping soul and hurried after her.

"Be careful on your way home."

Hearing his reminder, Ginko paused at the entrance, a hint of confusion flashing across her face. 

Then, she picked up a paper bag that had been left near the doorway and… turned back.

Hakuto: "??"

Although puzzled at first, he quickly realized what she was up to. After all, this wasn't the first time.

"Ginko, I am a normal, healthy guy, you know. Are you sure it's fine to stay over at my place without a second thought?"

Ginko, now rummaging through the paper bag, pulled out what looked like pajamas.

She glanced at Hakuto, sized him up from head to toe, and then—

She smirked.

"With you?"

That smirk, combined with her tone, was pure, undisguised mockery.

Hakuto covered his eyes and turned away, muttering under his breath.

"Stay calm, stay calm... She's the client. She's the one paying me..."

Despite his grumbling, he still prepared a sleeping area for Ginko.

Since this was just a small rental apartment, the so-called "guest room" was actually just a space separated from the main bedroom by a sliding door. 

The soundproofing was terrible—you could hear even a slightly loud snore.

Having been ruthlessly worked to the bone for three hours, Hakuto was completely exhausted.

As soon as he finished setting up Ginko's bedding, he collapsed onto his own bed and immediately fell asleep.

At that moment, Ginko, now dressed in the pajamas she had pulled from the bag, stepped into the bedroom.

Noticing Hakuto sprawled out on the floor, fast asleep, she quietly approached.

She reached out and gave his cheek a few light pats. 

Seeing that he didn't wake up, she stopped bothering him and, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, casually removed the hair tie from his head.

"You're a guy, yet you keep your hair this long..."

Ginko couldn't help but complain. At this point, Hakuto's hair was already as long as hers—maybe even longer when it was let down.

Although Ginko's hair was on the shorter side,but for a guy, Hakuto's hair length was definitely pushing it.

That said, complaints were just complaints. Ginko took off her own hairband and, using the hair tie she had just taken from Hakuto, tied her hair up again.

With that done, she turned toward the futon Hakuto had prepared for her, but just as she sat down, she realized she had forgotten something.

"Oh... right..."

She pulled out her phone and glanced over at Hakuto.

Even though she and Hakuto had been childhood friends for over ten years, when it came to money, Hakuto had never backed down.

There was nothing she could do about it. She had been his client for nearly a decade now—starting from a mere few hundred yen per hour to tens of thousands today.

Was this a sign of progress? Or just inflation running wild?

Ginko stared absentmindedly at Hakuto's face, a face that seemed like it had been sculpted with divine precision. 

Before she realized it, she had unconsciously walked closer and lightly poked his cheek.

"...When will it stop being just a business transaction?"

As the strongest female shogi player of her era—the most talented in a thousand years—holding both the "Queen" and "Women's Meijin" titles, Ginko was anything but lacking in wealth.

But Hakuto was different. In her eyes, he lived a life of constant struggle, even relying on part-time work and her "assistance" just to afford tuition.

That's right—every time she transferred his payment, Hakuto would always wear this awkward expression...

A strained, helpless smile, his gaze evasive, his face stiff and tense, as if he were holding something back...

Ginko understood. Hakuto didn't actually want to accept her money, but he needed it. That's why he was always caught in this dilemma.

"So, I'm telling you..."

"With your skill, even getting the Dragon King or Meijin titles wouldn't be difficult for you, right?"

This wasn't just her being biased or exaggerating. 

Ginko was sure of it—if Hakuto entered the professional shogi club, he would undoubtedly become a professional shogi player within months.

A professional shogi player... Just thinking about those words made Ginko's expression dim slightly.

For a thousand years, no female shogi player had ever attained professional status. They were always confined within the women's league.

Currently, Ginko was ranked Ladies 3-dan. To become a professional, she needed to reach 4-dan or higher.

Kiyotaki Kousuke had once said that Ginko might become the first-ever female professional shogi player in a thousand years.

She had brought this up with Hakuto multiple times, but every time, he would simply smile and say—

"With your talent, Ginko, becoming a professional player shouldn't be that hard for you, right?"

"What? You think it's difficult?"

"Then if I become that so-called Eternal Seven-Crown Champion, would I have the right to just promote you to a professional player myself?"

"What? You say you want to rely on your own strength?"

"Then... I'll always be right behind you."

Hakuto had spoken slowly, sincerely, each word lingering in Ginko's ears.

It might have seemed like a joke, but the fact that he was willing to pursue something he had no interest in—just to stay in the world of shogi for her—

It made Ginko happy.

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