Can I brag about my very devoted wife to you?

A savings account to make me happy

“One, ten, one hundred, one thousand, ten thousand, one hundred thousand, one million, eh…?” [TN: 1 000 000 yen = 8 000€ = 9200$]

I scrubbed my eyes and counted again, but the result was still the same.

“I think I’ll be able to save a lot more by the time I get out of high school and finish college.”

“Saving up… this is the money Riko saved up! But a high school student’s allowance can’t be this much!”

“Yeah, this is what I borrowed from my parents to finance myself and then increased it with stocks.”

“Riko, then you know a lot about stocks!”

My head started to spin as Riko told me one amazing fact after another.

“I thought stocks would be a good way to grow a reasonable amount of usable deposits at my age. So I studied it.”

“…!”

“I think I need a lot more savings to make you happy, so I’ll keep trying.”

How to make me happy? I think that’s the wrong way to be happy.

But still, this amount of money saved… I couldn’t believe that anyone could save that much just by studying stocks. I had no idea that she had such a talent… Riko was mysterious.

“By the way, that’s really amazing…”

In this day and age, even working adults don’t have this amount of money in their bank accounts. I’ve been saving up some of my part-time job money, but this is different by about 100 times.

Riko smiled modestly as I looked at her in amazement.

“If there’s anything you want, Minato-kun, don’t hesitate to tell me, okay? I’ll give you anything you want!”

Riko’s words startled me.

“For example, a car, or a vacation home! Using a car is still forbidden by school rules, but if you just own one, it’s no problem!”

“Ehh!? A car!?”

This is no time to be surprised…

“I can’t let you do that, Riko!”

When I hurriedly shook my head, Riko tilted her head with a puzzled look on her face. Even at a time like this, she’s just as cute as ever…

“What do you mean?”

“I-I mean, that kind of tribute…!”

“Huh? But that’s what we’re saving for, right?”

So…, you’ve been saving money to finance others!

I wanted to hold my head in my hands.

Riko’s desire to do everything for me is really troubling…

“Oh, also, if you ask me so you can enjoy yourself for the rest of your life, that’s totally okay!”

Rikoooooooooo…!!

“You know what, Riko…! Riko’s money has to be used for Riko herself! Besides, someone who approves of you saying ‘I’ll give you anything you want’, is definitely not a decent person. If Riko tries to do anything for someone like that, I can’t let you do that…!”

“… Then it’s okay to devote myself to Minato-kun, right?”

“Huh?”

“Because, you see, when I said earlier that I would give you anything, Minato-kun said, ‘I can’t let you do that’. That means that Minato-kun is a decent person who refused, right? So I’m sure Minato-kun won’t be opposed to my devotion to him!”

“Well, um, yes, but not that…”

It’s starting to sound like a philosophical question and answer.

“Anyways! I definitely don’t want to use Riko as my wallet or cash machine, so there you have it!!”

There was no way I could mistreat the girl I love like that. It didn’t matter how much money Riko had.

“I see…”

Riko was blatantly disappointed because she had lost her chance to serve me, and she turned over in a pout.

“It’s hard to take care of you…”

Riko muttered to herself in a volume that sounded like she was talking to herself. I wondered what it meant.

“Riko?”

“Oh, I’m sorry! It’s nothing…! Um, will you allow me to buy the circulator for you…?”

I’m not sure if I should be taking advantage of Riko, but I’ve just made her depressed, and it’s hard to say no more.

“… Just the circulator, please.”

After a long discussion, Riko’s expression brightened.

“…Thank God!”

I love Riko’s smile, but I have mixed feelings about her right now.

I can’t believe she’s so happy to be able to do so much for me. I can’t help but worry that Riko will fall for some bastard in the future.

I have to keep an eye on her at all costs…. Even if she never falls in love with me, I don’t want her to fall in love with an useless person. I want to stay by Riko’s side and protect her as long as she allows me to.

“Well then, I’ll be going to the electronics store this weekend as soon as I can!”

“Oh, I’ll be off from work this Saturday, so can I come along with you?”

I’d like to be allowed to at least carry the luggage. When I asked, Riko froze with her eyes wide open.

“Eh… eh!? Really…!?”

What are you so surprised about?

“…? As long as it’s okay with Riko.”

“I’m so happy…! Then see you Saturday…! I promise!”

Riko was a little excited and held out her pinky finger. A beat later, I realized what she was asking for.

A pinky swear.

“Oh, oh, um, yes!”

I hurriedly wiped my hands on the hem of my shirt, and then timidly held out my little finger. Riko’s thin finger intertwined with it.

“…”

Even though it was only my fingertip that was touching, my heart was pounding so hard I felt as if my heart would come out of my mouth.

Oh, no. If we keep touching each other, Riko might notice that I’m acting suspiciously…!

When I awkwardly untied my fingers, Riko smiled and pulled out her phone. I caught a glimpse of her calling up the calendar app she’s been looking at every day lately. Feeling bad about peeking any further, I averted my gaze there.

So I didn’t notice that Riko had stamped a heart mark on Saturday’s schedule.

Translator & Editor: Riciel