Macho Man Doesn't want a Slice-of-Life

The two of them sat on the bench and started chatting about their lives.

"Rinji, did you manage to find your family afterward?" Hayasaka asked.

"My family isn't in Japan. I'm currently staying at a place arranged by one of my dad's colleagues," Rinji said. "I guess you could say I'm living alone now."

"Eh… Then you must miss home a lot."

"Not at all. I've got work to do here."

"You're working at such a young age too?" Hayasaka was slightly surprised.

"Too? Are you working as well?"

"Yes, kind of like a part-time job."

As she spoke, Hayasaka lightly tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Like you, I left home for work. I don't get to see my mom very often."

"That must be tough."

"It is. The job is exhausting, and sometimes I feel like I can't take it anymore." Her fingers clenched the fabric of her skirt tightly. "I don't even know how I've endured until now. Maybe I just got used to it."

Seeing her furrowed brows and trembling shoulders, young Rinji felt a bit of heartache.

"Is your employer bad to you?"

"The person I serve isn't bad. But the people behind her… they're disgusting scum. Evil."

These were words Hayasaka could never say at work. But after meeting Rinji, she found herself venting freely.

But Rinji suddenly felt anxious.

"Um… Hayasaka…"

"Hm? What is it?"

"Do you… hate bad people?"

"Of course," Hayasaka said without hesitation. "Who would like an evil person?"

"…"

"People who hurt others without remorse for their own benefit, who think it's their right to trample on others… They're disgusting."

"…"

Rinji lowered his head, retreating into himself.

Hayasaka wasn't referring to him specifically, but Rinji realized he checked all the boxes. He assumed she must hate him too.

Just then, Hayasaka glanced at her phone and stood up.

"It's getting late. I should head back. Thanks, Rinji. Talking to you really helped lift my mood."

Being able to say things she normally couldn't, Hayasaka did feel lighter.

"Um…"

Rinji looked up at her.

"Hm?"

"I'll… try to become a good person."

Hearing that, Hayasaka didn't quite understand why he suddenly said that, but she still smiled and reached out to ruffle his hair.

"Mm. I believe in you."

---

"Young master, this guy was secretly leaking our trade intel. We've brought him here."

"Ugh… ugh…"

Inside the abandoned warehouse, a bruised middle-aged man was tied to a chair, looking in horror at the men in black and the child standing in front of him.

Rinji looked at the man and asked, "The intel wasn't leaked, was it?"

"No. We intercepted everything."

"Backup?"

"All destroyed."

"I see." Rinji looked at the terrified middle-aged man in front of him and said, "So this guy's useless now, right?"

"Yes."

"Then…"

Rinji stepped forward with a small knife and, under the fearful gaze of the man, cut the rope.

"You're free to go."

"…Huh?"

Not only was the middle-aged man stunned, but even the black-clad men behind Rinji showed looks of disbelief.

Normally, someone like this would be handled personally by Rinji. But today, out of nowhere, he let the guy go?

It didn't make sense.

"Young master?"

"He's of no use anymore. Letting him go isn't a big deal, right?"

"It's not."

"Then let him go," Rinji said, smiling as he looked at the man who had narrowly escaped death. "Don't let it happen again."

"Y-Yes! Thank you! I'll never do it again!"

The man scampered out of the warehouse. Only Rinji's people remained.

"I think... we should stop getting involved in this black market stuff. Put the deal with the Ryujuka Group on hold and shift all operations to personnel training."

"Huh?"

No one knew why Rinji suddenly decided to halt this line of business. Had something gone wrong?

"It's just... how should I say this…"

Rinji looked a little embarrassed.

"I suddenly realized I might be a bit too evil. If I keep doing this, I'll get worse. I want to try some legitimate business."

"…"

'Young master's brain might be malfunctioning.'

The men were stunned.

They weren't too worried about losing this side of the business—it only made minor profits. What they were worried about was the boss's son possibly going crazy. That would definitely be hard to explain to the higher-ups.

"So... what kind of work does young master want to do?"

"My old man gave me some money when he came. I want to invest. Got any suggestions?"

"…How about this?"

One of the black-clad men spoke up.

"I know a real estate company nearby. They're developing new land. If you're interested, you could invest."

"Perfect."

Rinji was very satisfied with this idea.

---

"Hayasaka, I hear you've been going to the park a lot lately."

"…Yes."

In the study, the cold-eyed black-haired girl Shinomiya Kaguya was flipping through a book. Behind her stood Hayasaka Ai, now dressed in her maid uniform.

"You should know that during work hours, you're not allowed to leave the mansion. If word gets out, even I won't be able to protect you."

"Yes. It won't happen again." Hayasaka bowed slightly.

"Sigh…"

Kaguya let out a sigh and turned back to look at Hayasaka.

"You haven't been taking care of some stray animal, have you? I'm not completely against it... but don't bring it into the mansion. And wash your hands properly before coming home."

"Yes... but, Kaguya-sama, it's not an animal."

"Oh? Then what is it?"

"It's a little boy. The one you met a few months ago."