I Just Want A Single Ending!

This bonus chapter is a small gift—may it bring you a touch of tranquility.

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"Well, you wanted to borrow money, right? So here… actually, no—let's consider it your bass lesson payment in advance."

Halfway through his sentence, Saku changed his mind.

Knowing Kikuri's tendency to be tipsy at all hours, expecting her to repay a loan was asking for the impossible.

What if her debt spiraled out of control, and she decided to do something bizarre to "pay him back"? Better to handle it as a lesson payment from the start.

"...Saku, you really are so kind."

Hearing this, Kikuri was beyond touched.

He was incredibly good to her, even advancing a hefty sum like this yet again.

With this, she could treat herself to some good drinks as a reward.

"Don't say such weird things. Kindness has nothing to do with this," Saku insisted.

He simply didn't want to see a friend living in such a miserable way—could that really be called "kindness"?

Kindness wasn't so easily defined.

Besides, he didn't lack money; helping out a friend now and then was no big deal.

It wasn't a handout either—Kikuri was expected to teach him bass as repayment.

Even though his bass skills were already professional-level, he still felt there was plenty to learn from her unique style.

At the end of the day, it was a fair trade.

So, where did kindness even come into it?

"Well, thank you, regardless."

Since he was willing to give her the money, Kikuri had no reason to argue.

If Saku suddenly declared that the sun rose in the west, she'd probably agree.

Just as she was about to take the wad of cash, though, Saku unexpectedly pulled it back.

"Huh?"

Kikuri blinked up at him in surprise.

Had he changed his mind?

Please, no!

"I think it might not be the best idea to give you so much at once."

Given her impulsive personality, Saku had a strong feeling that as soon as she got her hands on this cash, she'd spend it all in no time.

Then, she'd be right back where she started.

"So, what are you suggesting?"

Her gaze remained fixed on the stack of cash.

"Tell me your monthly rent, average drinking costs, meals, transport—anything else you need money for."

Saku put the cash back in his wallet and pulled out his phone to take notes.

"Why do you need to know all that?" Kikuri asked, confused.

"To figure out your monthly expenses so I can decide how much to give you without letting you blow it all," he explained.

"...Alright, fine."

Something about this arrangement felt strange, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

But since he was giving her money, she couldn't really complain.

Besides, it didn't hurt to tell him.

"Rent is…"

And so, she laid out her expenses one by one.

"You really spend that much on alcohol every day?"

Saku couldn't help but comment as he noted down her drinking costs.

"What can I say? If I don't drink, I get anxious," Kikuri replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Fine. Now, what about your income?" Saku asked next.

"You need to know that too?" She seemed a little taken aback.

"Preferably, yes. But if you'd rather not say, that's fine too."

"Well, it's not much, since most of my gig fees go toward paying for the equipment I break when I'm drunk."

"How have you managed to survive this long?"

"..."

"..."

With her monthly budget calculated, Saku finally had a clear picture. He stood up, tucking his wallet away.

"Wait here. I'll be right back."

"Sure."

Kikuri watched him leave, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Wasn't she here to teach him bass today?

How had things taken this turn?

---

A little while later, Saku returned with several small envelopes in hand.

"You're back…"

Just as she started speaking, Saku handed her the envelopes.

"What's this?"

She took them instinctively, looking down at them in confusion.

Each envelope was labeled with different expenses, like "Rent," "Drinks," and "Meals."

"Each one has roughly a month's worth of cash for the labeled expense," Saku explained. "For example, the envelope labeled 'Rent' has enough to cover your rent for a month. The others are the same—you get the idea, right?"

"Yeah, I understand."

With his explanation, Kikuri quickly grasped his system.

But her feelings grew even stranger.

"So, that's why you asked about my expenses and income earlier?"

Looking down at the labeled envelopes, she realized the reason behind his questions.

"Not sure if this'll work, but I hope you won't waste it all and end up back in some bathless apartment," Saku sighed. "Each envelope has more than enough to cover each expense for a month, especially for food."

"To be honest… don't you think you're treating me like a kid? Going so far as to sort it all out like this?"

Finally, she understood what had been bothering her.

It was the way he was taking care of her.

Not only did he give her money, but he'd also gone the extra mile to keep her from squandering it by categorizing her expenses.

It felt so odd!

After all, she was supposed to be the adult here.

Saku replied firmly, "Well, considering how fast you blew through the last payment I gave you, I'd say it's necessary."

"Besides, you can still take all the money out of the envelopes at once if you really want to. I won't be there to stop you."

"Or if you don't like the envelopes, you could just pull the cash out right now."

"Anyway, this money is your advance for bass lessons. How you spend it is up to you."

"Just keep in mind that, while I'm willing to advance your teaching fee, I won't give you unlimited funds. It'll still depend on the situation."

"With your income being pretty unstable, I figured you should be a bit more frugal. This setup lets you do that while still living decently."

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T/N: ...

Ah, Reader. You've stayed for the bonus chapter—how delightful.

Even amidst the quiet of eternity, there's joy to be found in shared moments like this.

If you wish to offer your strength, step forward: [patreon.com/WiseTL].

Each effort helps to shape a world where such moments can thrive.

— Ei