Chapter 07: High-Rise Apartment Building
A brand-new apartment building stood in an upscale residential area in the heart of the city. Hayato followed Riri, who stepped into such a place without hesitation, feeling no small amount of unease. Uniformed staff were waiting in the entrance hall, but they were able to enter without being stopped.
They took the elevator to an upper floor. When the numbers reached 25, a chime sounded, and the doors opened. Thinking to himself that this was the first time in his life he’d been this high up, he walked down the corridor and stopped.
“This is it.”
Riri took out a key and opened the door.
“This is… incredible.”
Upon opening the front door, they found a spacious three-bedroom apartment with a living room, dining room, and kitchen. A magnificent marble entrance hall, large windows reaching to the ceiling, a sophisticated kitchen, and a vast living room. Hayato was overwhelmed by the opulence, which was like that of a celebrity’s mansion.
“Are we going to live in a place like this? No, no, there’s no way I, now unemployed, can afford the rent.”
To Hayato’s question, Lilia nodded happily.
“Yes, of course. This apartment is… Mr. Kageno-san’s… no, wait, um, it’s John’s property.”
“John’s?”
John was one of Hayato’s precious companions. An informant. What did she mean, his property? Just as Riri was about to answer Hayato’s question, the apartment door opened, and a young man entered.
“It’s been a while, Hayato-dono.”
A young man in a suit entered the room with a confident stride. He had short black hair and grey eyes. The moment Hayato saw his sharp gaze, he was certain.
“Could it be… John?!”
It was John, his reliable informant companion who had saved them from crises countless times in the past.
Hayato and John firmly shook hands and then clapped each other on the shoulder. It was a long-awaited reunion, but their movements were perfectly synchronized and familiar. Seeing the two of them, Riri also smiled happily.
“In this world, my name is Kageno Josuke. It’s a pleasure to meet you again, Sato Hayato-dono.”
“Yeah, likewise, Josuke. You can just call me Hayato.”
The two, meeting for the first time in this world, exchanged introductions once more.
“I’ve been so busy, I apologize for being late in coming to see you.”
“You don’t need to apologize. Anyway, I’m truly happy to see you, Josuke.”
I had heard beforehand from Riri that all the companions, aside from Lilia, were working adults and quite busy. Therefore, I, Hayato, had no complaints whatsoever.
“How’s the new residence I prepared for you? The view from here is amazing, isn’t it?”
Josuke guided me to the large window in the living room. The view of the city center from the height of the 25th floor was breathtaking. Tokyo Tower was also visible up close, and the night view would surely be beautiful.
“Yeah, it’s wonderful. But, are you sure it’s okay for me to receive such a luxury property?”
“What are you saying, Hayato? You’re the benefactor who saved our world. This much of a repayment is only natural, wouldn’t you say?”
Josuke, too, spoke just like Riri had. That it was a natural repayment to the benefactor who saved the other world. And so, he wanted me to accept it without worrying.
“Besides, I earn quite a lot. There’s no need for you to worry.”
Josuke took out a business card from his pocket. On the simple yet sophisticatedly designed card, the title ‘Kageno Real Estate Investment Co., Ltd. President and CEO’ was written.
“I might not look like it, but I’m actually a company president.”
“President?! That’s amazing.”
It’s said that Josuke utilizes the knowledge and experience he cultivated in the other world to make enormous profits in real estate and stock investments. It seems his information processing abilities, honed as an informant, along with his insight and sharp intuition, are also being fully demonstrated in his talent as an investor.
“I started with small investments at first, but I reinvested the profits and increased my assets. Now, I’m the owner of this apartment building. It’s one of my many assets.”
Josuke spoke proudly. Coming from him, who was an exceptionally skilled informant, it was a story I could readily believe.
However, even after hearing that, Hayato still couldn’t shake off his sense of indebtedness.
“But, still, I can’t just do nothing in return.”
“Rather, if you were to hold back, Hayato, we’d be the ones feeling bad. It just shows how much we appreciate what you’ve done.”
“…Alright. In that case, I’ll gratefully accept, Josuke.”
“Yeah, that’s fine. If you’re happy, then I’m happy too.”
Having been told all that, he had no choice but to accept it frankly. To be honest, for Hayato, who still hadn’t found a new job, it was an incredibly welcome offer.
“Don’t worry about work either. If you can’t find anything, I can hire you at my company. Or, you can choose a completely different path. I want you to rest well and find what you truly want to do. As your companion, I’ll continue to support you.”
“Me too, Hayato. If you face any difficulties, I’ll support you.”
“Josuke, Riri, thank you. That’s very reassuring.”
At their words, Hayato couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of gratitude. He could search for his own path without worrying about finances. They had also promised their support as companions. That was a very significant gift.
However, he had no intention of continuing to accept their charity forever. He would either become able to pay the rent himself or repay their kindness in some other way. For that, he had to find his next job quickly. To keep receiving their favors indefinitely still weighed on his conscience. With that determination in his heart, Hayato began his life in his new home.