You’re Right, They’ll Expel Me if I Run into the Store with a Weapon!! - Chapter 3: Is What the Boy Grasps Hope, or Desire...?

A week had passed since Hiroki had learned about his combat power.

A boy walks around, looking around suspiciously. That boy is Hiroki.

(I hope I don’t run into anyone I know…)

He prays, as if casting a curse, hoping not to encounter any acquaintances. A week earlier, Saiki had said to him, “Maybe Yamamoto has some kind of luck enhancement ability?” This made Hiroki wonder if he might have a similar ability. So, he decided to test his luck.

With a lottery ticket.

Returning to the present, …

Hiroki had won purely by coincidence.

A hundred million yen, no less.

Pure chance. No special abilities or powers are involved.

His mind was far from thoughts of combat power. All that occupies Hiroki’s head now is the figure of one hundred million yen and his silent curses.

Then, he arrives at the bank.

He tries to maintain composure as he enters, gets a ticket from the reception counter, and sits down. Hiroki believes he’s acting normally…

“Doesn’t that guy look suspicious?”

“Definitely. Let’s alert all the staff, just to be safe.”

“Understood.”

The conversation between a woman at the reception counter and her supervisor. Hiroki’s aura is one hundred percent suspicious.

Suit

Sunglasses

Hyperventilation

Profuse sweating

Red-faced

Other customers waiting their turn are keeping their distance from Hiroki. Despite his efforts to be inconspicuous, he is the most noticeable person in the bank.

The hyperventilation, sweat, and flushed face are physiological reactions to the huge sum of money, while the suit and sunglasses are to conceal his age and identity.

It is illegal for those under eighteen to purchase lottery tickets, and the same applies to claiming the prize. Hiroki’s current getup results from his efforts not being recognized as a high school student.

“But we hardly ever get criminals in this bank, right?”

“True. We are known as the safest bank in Japan, after all.”

“Right.”

This bank is the largest in the capital, with thorough security measures. In emergencies, they respond perfectly to resolve the situation.

And now, two security guards are about to approach Hiroki, who seems suspicious.

“Looks like they’re going to talk to him. That’s a relief.”

“Yes.”

The bank employees feel a sense of relief as they watch the security guards’ impending approach and return to their tasks…

“What should we do? He doesn’t seem like a criminal, but everyone’s eyes are practically telling us to go talk to him.”

“I agree. Honestly, the way everyone’s looking at us is intimidating. But nobody is stupid enough to commit a crime in this bank.”

The conversation between two security guards. One is an eight-year veteran assigned to this bank, while the other is a young rookie, recently transferred from another bank.

Both are experienced as security guards. They are aware of the messages in the stares of the many customers, all focused on one man.

“Suit, sunglasses, hyperventilating, sweating profusely, red-faced. It’s like a full house of suspicious signs. I’m starting to feel embarrassed just looking at him…”

“Me too. If he were criminal planning to attack this bank, he’d be the talk of our next drinking party. But he’s suspicious, that’s a fact. Let’s go talk to him. I don’t think he’s a criminal, but we must fulfill our role as security guards.”

The two guards firm up their resolve and start moving towards Hiroki. As they get closer, they begin to see his condition more clearly.

He fidgetted, covered in sweat, the sunlight coming through the windows reflected off his sweat, giving him a shiny appearance.

(What’s with this guy, really?)

The two guards think the same thing about the man in front of them as they close the distance…

(I look just like a salaryman right now! I’m fine! So please, call my number already!!)

Hiroki was sweating so profusely it was a physiological phenomenon in itself.

(There are so many people here, well, that’s expected, it’s the biggest bank in Japan after all! But damn it!!)

There was a reason Hiroki chose this bank.

Minors are not allowed to buy or claim lottery tickets. However, Hiroki discovered that age verification is not required when receiving the money. He found a way.

Pretend to be an adult, receive the one hundred million in cash, and just go home.

He wants to save the money but does not have an adult’s bank account.

So, he has no choice but to receive it in cash and return home. He would have asked his parents for help if he could, but they are currently missing, ostensibly traveling. Ever since he started living in a dormitory, his parents had gone on a trip and only sent him living expenses with letters.

After carefully selecting a bank where he could receive one hundred million yen in cash today, he chose the biggest bank in Japan.

However, choosing this bank resulted in unexpected agitation for Hiroki.

(Crap! Those security guards! They’re looking at me and coming closer! Why?!)

The reason is you.

Any third person would answer that. Hiroki’s appearance and behavior are the clear reasons for the guards’ approach.

(Could it be they realized I’m a minor? No way, I’m wearing sunglasses to hide my face, and I’m dressed in a mature-looking suit! There’s no way they’d figure it out!)

They haven’t realized it.

He’s too suspicious even before being recognized as a minor.

He was so focused on hiding his age that he forgot to conceal his suspiciousness. And Hiroki himself is oblivious to this.

(What do I do? They are coming towards me!)

He’s panicking to the limit. His sweating and nervous foot-tapping accelerate, making him look even more suspicious to the people around.

(What do I do? What do I do? What do I do!)

His mind was already beyond its limit.

He was rapidly thinking, trying to find a way out of this situation, but couldn’t come up with anything. And just as the guards were about to speak to him, a saving grace shone upon him.

“Ping Pong… Number twenty-five… Number twenty-five…”

The mechanical sound calling Hiroki’s waiting number was heard at a miraculously perfect timing.

(Yes!!!)

He felt something burst inside him and stood up energetically.

Though it was only a matter of minutes, it felt like dozens of hours for him. But now, he was free.

The security guards stopped in their tracks.

(Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!)

He stood up quickly, gripping the handle of his carry-on bag, and walked briskly towards the reception counter at a speed that wouldn’t seem unnatural.

“What’s happening!”

“That kid is a recruit who just joined our bank recently! What should we do!”

The bank supervisor and a subordinate were panicking.

They had just alerted the staff.

But the call came right when the security guards were about to speak and resolve the issue.

“It’s my mistake for only alerting them. I should have given specific instructions.”

“What can we do now? Should I handle it instead of that kid?”

“No, I’ll go. I’m the manager in charge at this time. You stay here.”

The supervisor, feeling responsible for his actions, headed to the reception counter where Hiroki was, sweating and looking tense.

The security guards couldn’t move.

As Hiroki headed toward the reception counter, the two guards were thinking. They had intended to approach him normally, but the closer they got, the more their bodies and minds reacted with a refusal to move closer, overwhelmed by something powerful emanating from him. Something so strong that they couldn’t even hear the voices around them. Despite knowing they were security guards, what Hiroki projected was enough to stop them in their tracks.

Normally, if someone knew that security guards were approaching, they would act in a way to avoid suspicion.

But Hiroki, instead, seemed to emit a black aura towards them as they approached. Impossible. Dangerous. They felt they couldn’t let him continue as he was.

It was something a criminal would exude.

Yet, they were still unable to move, only able to watch the remaining bank staff.

(I’ve made a mistake.)

A new employee, who had joined the bank two weeks ago, thought this. She had accidentally called the number of the person who had been flagged as suspicious.

Was it because she was still new to the job or the effect of seeing a man full of suspiciousness for the first time? She lost her ability to make calm decisions and called out the number she was supposed to avoid at all costs.

Regretting her action, she pinched the finger that had pressed the call button.

But it was too late.

He was already standing in front of her. Steam seemed to rise from his face, and through the thin lenses of his sunglasses, his eyes conveyed intense madness.

(Ah, such a short life.)

This phrase naturally came to her mind, a cry from within, induced by the feeling that something was going to happen because of the man in front of her.

Finally, he had arrived.

Hiroki was standing in front of the reception counter. And then, the woman in front of him finally spoke.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting.”

“Yes.”

(Yes, what am I saying? I’ve just made it sound like I’m sarcastically commenting on being kept waiting!)

He wasn’t relaxed after being freed from the previous situation, nor was he mentally prepared for what was next. As a result, he responded incorrectly.

(No, let’s just get this done quickly.)

He fumbled in his suit’s inner pocket, trying to take out the lottery ticket.

(Ah, I’m about to die.)

She must have thought he was angry for being kept waiting. He did respond with a “Yes,” after all. And the way he smoothly reached into his suit’s inner pocket was like something she had seen in a drama.

She thought this action was a death sentence for her and braced herself.

(Damn! It’s stuck in the back and hard to get! But I have to get it quickly, or I’ll seem suspicious!)

Hiroki was struggling to get the lottery ticket out smoothly. But it had been less than two seconds since he put his hand in his pocket. The thought of the one hundred million yen was accelerating his mind.

Trying not to make eye contact, Hiroki inadvertently looked up at the ceiling.

After a few seconds of fumbling, he finally managed to grasp the lottery ticket.