Living Normally In An Abnormal World

Chapter 34: Reward ≠ Money, Reward = Crab

“Yuuto-sama, there’s something else I’d like to ask of you at Saint Athena Academy…”

Currently, at my house, Principal Hayashi of Saint Athena Academy has something she wants me to do, judging from what she just said.

I knew it.

Just like the interaction event, it would be great if it ended with just one time.

Maybe they’ll ask me to participate in the interaction event again next year. No, they will definitely ask me to do it.

According to what Principal Hayashi told me, a few years ago, they hired a man for such an event once who completely prevented any interaction with the girls, just like a prison visit, with a cloudy glass partition that obscured his face. On top of that, they didn’t even let people hear his voice!

That’s why my interaction event was so well-received by the upper and lower grades, kindergarteners, preschoolers, and parents.

And as a reward, I received about 100 letters.

I thought the letters would be a single sheet of paper each, but they were five or six sheets each.

I thought a thank-you letter would be something like,…

[Yuuto-sama, thank you very much for coming. I hope you can come again.]

But I was wrong, and I felt guilty for sending such generic letters to people who came to my school for career guidance in my past life.

“So, what do you want me to do this time?”

“No, before that, let’s talk about the reward for last time.”

“Principal Hayashi, how many times do I have to tell you that it’s fine and I don’t need any more money?”

After that, the reward was an extravagant ‘kinppu,’ a money envelope with an unspecified amount. On top of that, there was no amount written on it.

However, Principal Hayashi told me to write down whatever amount I wanted, so I did and already received the money.

“But it’s a bit much to put in just 1 yen…”

Well, I’m probably the only one who would use a kinppu in such a wasteful way.

Principal Hayashi’s reaction at the time was hilarious, like a pigeon that had been shot with a bean.

“Didn’t you say I could put in whatever amount I wanted? You told me to decide, and now you’re saying it’s too little. I originally said that just receiving these letters would be enough.”

“Absolutely not. If the young ladies at the school found out, they wouldn’t stay quiet about it.”

“I’ll just tell them I participated as a volunteer, and they’ll understand.”

“No, I won’t accept that.”

Principal Hayashi leaned in closer.

“Principal Hayashi! Nii~cha said it’s fine, so please give up!”

Until now, Yuuna, who had been leaning against my back, hugging me, and hiding in my clothes, spoke up.

Also, Mana was next to me.

“Well, Principal Hayashi. Since Yuu-kun is still a child, it would be troublesome for him to receive a large sum of money, so please be more lenient.”

“…… That’s true. I forgot because Yuuto-sama is so mature. Understood, I’ll leave the amount of the reward to Mana-san.”

“Huh?”

“Please write the amount on this.”

Principal Hayashi said and handed Mana a kinppu and a ballpoint pen.

Yuuna and I stared at Mana’s profile.

Mana was trembling with tension as she held the ballpoint pen and wrote the amount on the kinppu.

The amount she wrote was…

1 yen.

“Why did both mother and son write 1 yen?!”

“No, it’s impossible.”

(I don’t want to take money using my son as an excuse.)

“Then I’ll transfer 3 million yen right now!!!”

“Don’t be hasty!”

(…… Is the Kinoshita family this reluctant to accept money?)

In the end, they reluctantly agreed to a reward other than money, a high-quality taraba crab.

I’m looking forward to the crab.

XXXXX

“By the way, what did you want me to do again?”

“Ah! I forgot. Actually, it’s this.”

Principal Hayashi placed a piece of paper on the table.

“A competition, I suppose?”

“Yes, it’s a competition where young ladies from all over the world, who are students at our academy, perform with their chosen instruments.”

“Hmm… so, a surprise guest?”

“That’s right!”

“I’m sorry, but I have to decline.”

“What?! Why?!”

“Well, isn’t the venue Saint Athena Academy?”

“Ah…”

“Ah… then, no. Don’t you remember the kidnapping incident?”

“Yes, I forgot. The competition is held at our academy every year, so we can’t change the venue like last time. I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s my fault for being too concerned about my safety.”

After that, Principal Hayashi left.

And an hour later, the crab arrived.

Their response was so quick that I had to think about what to make for dinner tonight.

They even thoughtfully included crab-specific scissors.

XXXXX

“Anyway, let’s eat.”

“Kinoshita-kun, did you really think I would calmly eat this expensive taraba crab after hearing that you put 1 yen in the kinppu?”

“Huh? But Rina is calmly eating.”

“Asuka-chan, this is delicious. It’s so good. It’s so yummy.”

“Rina-chan… you should be a little more reserved.”

“Well, well, let’s eat for now, and we’ll scold Yuuto-sama later.”

“Hey, Maria. Did I do something wrong?”

“For those who don’t understand their own value, it’s necessary to educate them to a certain extent.”

Because a large amount of crab suddenly arrived, I suddenly invited them to my house, and we suddenly decided to have a crab party.

“Onii-san, the crab is delicious!”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

I escaped from Maria and headed towards Sanae-chan.

By the way, I don’t know Sanae-chan’s L○NE ID or contact information, so Yuuna invited her herself.

The way she eats with her cheeks puffed out like a hamster is so cute.

If I poked her cheeks with my finger, she would definitely react adorably, but I didn’t.

“If I made a newspaper article about this, I think I’d be the one getting flamed.”

“For now, put down the camera and eat.”

I also invited Yanagida.

“I got a message from Yuuto-kun on L○NE, and when I saw it, he was inviting me to his house to eat crab…”

“Sorry.”

“By the way, why am I the only one being treated so casually? Is it my imagination?”

“No, it’s not your imagination. Ask your chest. All the negative rumors about me are your fault, right?”

“That’s right.”

This woman just admitted it!

I thought about inviting Yaya-chan as well, but the only people she knew here were me and Yuuna, so I decided not to invite her. It would probably be awkward for her.

And then,…

“Let’s drink tonight~!”

“Miu-san, don’t drink too much, okay~?”

“Ribbon, take it easy now.”

“Understood, I’ll pour you some alcohol, Erina-sama.”

The adults were also here. Yes, with their guardians.

“Yuu-kun, I think everyone will get drunk, so don’t get too close.”

“Understood.”

I decided to definitely stay away, as Mana had warned me.

“Nii~cha, a~n.”

“A~n.”

Yuuna fed me some crab, so I obediently ate it.