Chapter 92: Is Yamada Ryo's Mint Scent Caused by Eating Greenery? (Patreon)

Sakayanagi Arisu looked Ryo Yamada over. A woman who could catch Daniel's interest had to be a good girl, at the very least.

With that thought, she smiled and greeted her. "Pleased to meet you, Miss Yamada."

Masumi Kamuro, on the other hand, had no idea how to answer someone so earnest, but she squeezed out a reply anyway.

"Uh, hello?"

Ryo nodded in acknowledgment. Then she turned to Daniel and held out a pale palm.

"Since you're my boyfriend now, can you lend me some money?"

Are you sure you found a boyfriend and not a sucker?

If Daniel hadn't known her personality, he'd have been certain she was messing with him.

Who asks for a loan the moment they start dating? Anyone who didn't know better would think she'd only wanted to date him for the money in the first place.

"I can lend you money, but first tell me what you want it for."

"To pay Nijika back!" Ryo answered without a flicker of hesitation.

Perhaps sensing that Daniel had no idea who Nijika was, Ryo gave a look of sudden realization and explained.

"The blonde drummer, the pretty one from just now, that's Nijika. If you can lend me a bit more, I'll get her contact info for you."

Ryo sold out her best friend without a moment's hesitation.

Besides, Daniel was so handsome that Nijika wouldn't be losing out anyway.

Sakayanagi Arisu, quietly watching from the side, was enjoying the show immensely. Borrowing money right after getting together, and even offering up another woman's number to her own boyfriend for it.

This Miss Yamada was truly a marvel among marvels.

Daniel thought it over for a moment, then pulled a wad of yen from his pocket and handed it over. "Sure, why not. Here, is 100,000 yen enough?"

"Thanks, Boss. You're so generous. I'll go get that number for you right now."

Ryo snatched the bills, yen signs practically spinning in her eyes, and turned to head for the practice room.

But Daniel caught her arm, and her whole body stiffened.

"What's wrong, Boyfriend-kun? You lent me the money, so you can't take it back now."

Ryo hurriedly stuffed the cash into her pocket and eyed Daniel warily.

Daniel's smile didn't change. "Nothing. I just don't want you running off with my money. What if this place has a back door? I'd lose the girl and the cash both."

Ryo thought about it for a moment, then looked enlightened. She reached out and took hold of his collar. "Lower your head."

Daniel seemed to guess what she was after and let her pull him down.

Then Ryo's flawless face filled his vision. Their lips met, and a faint taste of mint spread through his mouth.

Come to think of it, with someone like Ryo, had she eaten a mint candy earlier, or was that the taste of grass from nibbling on the shrubbery?

The thought flashed through Daniel's mind.

It didn't last, though. A cool, slick little tongue soon put an end to his musing.

"There. Now you feel safe, right?"

Ryo let go, stepped back to put some distance between them, and wiped the corner of her mouth with her sleeve, perfectly calm.

But judging by her slightly flushed cheeks, she wasn't unaffected. She wasn't actually frigid.

"Mm~ Actually, what I meant was for you to take me to the practice room so I could keep an eye on you."

Daniel said it with deliberate mischief.

"..."

Feeling she'd just given it away for free, Ryo fell silent for a moment, then decisively pushed her luck.

"That was my first kiss. It costs extra!"

"Here."

Daniel pulled out another 10,000-yen note and handed it over. Money was something he had as much of as he wanted, so he didn't mind in the least.

Ryo instantly felt she hadn't lost out after all. She turned and headed for the practice room, then glanced back halfway there.

"Aren't you coming?"

Daniel thought it over and decided he'd better follow. He was quite curious to see Bocchi-chan, too.

"Arisu, Masumi, do you two want to come meet the members of that band?"

Masumi Kamuro looked tempted, but Sakayanagi Arisu smiled and shook her head. "No, thank you. I won't get in the way of Yoru-kun spending time with other girls."

Hearing that, Kamuro gave up on the idea too and stayed in her seat. "I'll pass as well. It wouldn't be right to leave Sakayanagi here alone in a place like this."

Daniel nodded. "Then just wait for me a little while. I'll be back soon."

Before leaving, Daniel stamped the Mark of the Beast on both of them. A boost in strength would keep them safer.

After all, this world also had the Dragon Raja setting. If they ran into a half-blood gone berserk, they'd at least be able to protect themselves.

Sakayanagi Arisu and Kamuro both noticed the change in their bodies at once. They exchanged a glance and confirmed that the other felt that same strengthened sensation.

It could only be Daniel's doing.

"I never imagined I'd have this kind of power someday. It seems Yoru-kun really does value us."

Watching Daniel's retreating back, Sakayanagi Arisu said to Kamuro in high spirits.

"Hmph. He's just afraid we'll get in the way of his girl-chasing."

Kamuro answered insincerely, but she was deeply touched in her heart. Under the bar counter, her hand tested her new strength, and she was having the time of her life.

Daniel followed Ryo into the practice room. The moment he pushed the door open, he saw Seika Ijichi hauling Hitori Gotoh out of a box.

"Listen, stop trying to crawl into boxes all the time. So you messed up a little. What's the big deal?"

"Oyster, oyster, oyster!"

"A person like me really should just stay in some dark corner and rot. Dreaming that someone would invite me to join a band and I'd stun everyone on stage, that can only happen in dreams."

"I finally got into a band, and I ruined the show. I can't face anyone anymore. Just let me stay in here and die alone..."

Nijika Ijichi stood to one side, at a loss, watching her older sister play tug-of-war with Hitori Gotoh, who had turned into a pink blob.

At the sound of the door, everyone froze, and Hitori Gotoh took the chance to dive back into her box.

Seika Ijichi saw that but didn't deal with her first. Instead she turned to Daniel with a strange look. "Why are you here? This isn't a place for customers."

Daniel pointed at Ryo and answered casually. "I came with my girlfriend. Ryo's in the band, so it's fine for a family member to tag along, right?"

"Wait, since when is she your girlfriend?"

Seika's mouth twitched. Just a moment ago this punk had two pretty schoolgirls with him, and he'd already hooked up with Ryo this fast?

What a scumbag!

Ryo vouched for Daniel. "That's right. This is my boyfriend, Daniel."

"Oh, right. Nijika, give him your contact info."

"?"

Nijika froze. She'd thought Ryo was pulling some weird stunt again, but judging by how serious she looked, she meant it.

"Um, are you serious, Ryo?"

"You little punk, you've got the nerve to go after my sister?!"

The sisters spoke one after the other, one mostly confused, the other furious.

Daniel spread his hands like an innocent little bear and grinned. "Don't blame me. Ryo offered your sister's contact info herself."

Seika turned her gaze on Ryo, and a murderous glint flashed in her eyes.

But Ryo was no ordinary person. She answered with perfect self-righteousness. "I did it all for Nijika!"

"I traded Nijika's contact info to my boyfriend for 100,000 yen. It's exactly enough to pay Nijika back."

???

Is that even right?

Who pays back a debt like this?