I Just Want A Single Ending!

After Yahata Umiri left, Kamigawa Saku didn't leave immediately.

Instead, he stayed till the end, politely listening to Kikuri Hiroi's band's performance.

He might not be too interested in the music, but basic courtesy mattered.

After all, she was a friend and his future bass teacher.

Before heading out, he made sure to give Kikuri a quick goodbye, and only then did he leave the livehouse.

However, he wasn't in a hurry to go home. Instead, he began looking around for any restaurants or cafes he hadn't yet tried.

He planned to gather some "research material" while also grabbing dinner.

As he wandered, Saku intentionally chose less crowded streets, taking note of the positions of security cameras along the way.

This was a habit he'd developed ever since he'd gotten his teleportation ability.

While teleporting was undoubtedly convenient, using it freely in a modern city was nearly impossible.

City streets were full of security cameras, effectively limiting his freedom to use the ability.

If he ever teleported somewhere without realizing there was a camera, he'd be caught on footage, causing all sorts of problems.

For safety, even with his teleportation ability, he only used it in the privacy of his home.

But he was preparing for the day he'd need to use it outside, paying close attention to camera locations in case of emergencies.

Luckily, the country's surveillance coverage wasn't too extensive, with cameras mostly in key areas.

Many secluded alleyways, in particular, had no surveillance, giving him a broader range of movement.

Saku was delighted by this.

After marking the locations of cameras and camera-free areas on his phone's map, he finally entered a cafe he hadn't tried before.

Taking a seat, he ordered a few recommended items from the menu and settled in, messaging Togawa Sakiko in the meantime.

It wasn't casual chit-chat to build rapport—he was assigning her tasks as her boss.

Since he'd bought her that luxury makeup, Sakiko had started using it.

Now, he was assigning her the job of writing a preliminary review, watching competitor videos, and evaluating pros and cons—a set of tasks that weren't overly complex but weren't simple either.

This would help her feel that the generous salary he was paying her was well-deserved.

After all, most people believed it was natural to be well-paid for hard work.

This approach was central to how he managed Sakiko.

Plus, the hard work wasn't his to do, and she'd gain extra writing skills out of it.

Why not?

---

Togawa Sakiko: Message received.

Responding to her boss's message, Togawa Sakiko reluctantly gave up her study plans and began writing her report.

She'd chosen Shuuka High School specifically for its scholarships and benefits for top students.

So with midterms around the corner, she should be studying hard to aim for high scores.

But ever since she'd agreed to work for Saku and run his account, everything had changed.

Mainly because he was paying her so well.

She'd initially wanted to score high for a scholarship reward.

Now, it didn't even matter.

Juggling school and work was tough, and priorities had to be set.

Compared to scholarship money, Kamigawa Saku was offering way more.

She had no choice but to choose his work.

"Wait, wasn't Saku the top student when we started? Is he giving me all this work now just to keep me too busy to study so he can hold onto first place?"

In the midst of writing her report, Sakiko's mind wandered with a mildly conspiratorial thought.

...

Time flew, and the day before midterms finally arrived.

"Bocchi-chan, how's your studying going? Think you'll pass?"

Once again, Saku was at STARRY, where he knew he could find the Kessoku Band girls, checking in on Gotoh Hitori's study progress.

"…I'll pass!"

Faced with his concern, Hitori responded with fierce determination.

This was the passing grade declaration she'd made after weeks of tutoring from Chihaya Anon!

Anon had invested so much effort in her; she had to pass to show her gratitude.

Seated nearby, Anon couldn't help but mutter, "I don't know why, but it feels like Hitori just raised a really big flag…"

"I know what you mean," Kita Ikuyo chimed in.

"Maybe you should try rephrasing that, Bocchi-chan. That sounds risky." Saku suggested with a smile.

"Uh… okay! After I pass, I'll make sure to practice with everyone so we can get serious about the band."

Hitori, taking his advice, changed her answer.

"No, that's even worse! Way more of a flag than the first one!" Nijika Ijichi joined the group's complaints.

Saku laughed, adding, "Honestly, those two phrases sound pretty much the same to me."

"Anyway… no matter what, I'm going to pass."

Hitori changed her line one last time.

"Good luck!"

Everyone cheered her on in unison.

---

Finally, the day of the exams arrived.

Saku wasn't worried in the least, brimming with the confidence of the top-ranked student.

As the first day of exams ended, most students went home to study.

Saku, however, headed to the high-end mall he'd recently visited with Togawa Sakiko.

Today, he was back to buy more makeup.

What could he do? The last batch just wasn't enough.

He'd bought fifteen sets previously, of which ten were already gifted.

With six more capturable characters left, he had no choice but to make another trip to replenish his supply.

As he walked toward the same stores he'd visited before, he noticed a girl with long green hair and doll-like features exiting a luxury boutique.

Is that... Wakaba Mutsumi?

As a CRYCHIC fan, he recognized her immediately.

This brought Saku to a sudden stop.

---

Hello! Thank you so much for reading this chapter. WiseTL has worked hard to bring these wonderful stories to you, and I'm so happy we could share this moment together! Don't you think stories are a little like dreams? Each one has its own colors and shapes, and they grow even brighter when shared with others.

If you'd like to support WiseTL, you can visit [patreon.com/WiseTL]. Even a small gesture is like sunlight and rain to a growing flower—it helps the garden of stories flourish and bloom!

-With love, Nahida 🌱