Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk.

Yuki Matsushita was speechless for a moment after hearing those words, and even her tears stopped for a second.

She looked up and glared at him fiercely.

"You are a really annoying person."

"Thank you for the compliment."

I wasn't praising you!

"I know."

Kiryu Yaya put his hands back in his pockets and looked at her for two seconds.

"Tonight, tell your grandmother everything that needs to be said."

"If you said so, come find me tomorrow morning."

"If you don't come looking for me..."

He paused.

“Then I will tell your grandmother in person tomorrow morning, since the rent is due this month.”

Yuki Matsushita stared at him blankly.

It was as if they hadn't expected that the bank employee living upstairs could say such hurtful and despicable things.

Kiryu Yaya didn't look at her again.

I've said everything I needed to say.

His only act of kindness as an adult was to point out a clear path to success for this girl who was preparing for college entrance exams.

After saying that, Kiryu Yaya turned around, opened the glass door of the apartment, and went straight upstairs.

The door slowly closed behind me.

Separated by a pane of glass, Yuki Matsushita remained standing in the same spot, clutching Yoyogi's textbook in her hand, her eyes terribly red.

It felt like being slapped in the face.

……

The next morning at 7:30.

Sunlight streamed in from the narrow window of the old apartment in Osaka, falling into the six-tatami mat room.

Kiryu Yaya had just finished washing up and was about to go out for breakfast when there was a knock on the door.

Thump, thump.

The sound was very soft.

Each movement was very disciplined.

He went over and opened the door.

There were two people standing outside the door.

One was the landlady, Mrs. Matsushita.

The other one is Yuki Matsushita.

Unlike last night when she was all prickly and stubbornly refused to back down, Matsushita Yuki's eyes were noticeably swollen and her face was somewhat pale today.

She stood behind her grandmother with her head down, not saying a word.

The elderly lady Matsushita was carrying a box of pastries.

As soon as the door opened, she bowed her head.

"Kiryu-kun, sorry to bother you this morning."

I'm sorry for causing you trouble last night.

Kiryu Yaya turned to the side.

"Please come in and have a seat."

"No, it won't stop you from going out."

Grandma Matsushita quickly waved her hand and glanced at Yuki Matsushita behind her.

“Last night, Yuki told me everything.”

"The debt, the tutoring classes, and her coming to you to borrow money."

She paused for a moment, then lowered her voice.

"I know it all."

Yuki Matsushita's shoulders tensed slightly.

Mrs. Matsushita bowed her head again to Kiryu Yaya.

"This child did something very rude. I'm so sorry."

“Yuki.”

When her name was called, Yuki Matsushita remained silent for two seconds.

Then, she took a step forward.

Her hands hung at her sides, her fingers gripping the hem of her skirt tightly.

She lowered her head and bowed deeply to Kiryu Yaya.

"...I'm sorry about last night."

"I shouldn't have asked you for money that way."

"I shouldn't have said those things."

She paused, as if the next few words were harder to say than an apology.

"And... thank you."

Kiryu Yaya glanced at her.

"If you really want to thank someone in the future, don't do anything foolish again."

Yuki Matsushita pursed her lips.

This time, she did not refute it.

He simply nodded slightly.

"understood."

Mrs. Matsushita sighed beside her.

“This child cried for a long time last night, and I scolded her.”

"Fortunately, I still have some savings, which can help my wife get through this difficult time."

Kiryu Yaya nodded:

"That's good."

Mrs. Matsushita handed the snacks in her hand forward.

"This isn't a thank-you gift, it's just some snacks from home."

"Kiryu-kun, please accept this."

Kiryu Yaya initially wanted to refuse.

But seeing the old lady's serious, almost stubborn expression, he finally accepted it.

"Thank you."

Mrs. Matsushita seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

She bowed to him again with Yuki Matsushita to express her gratitude before turning and leaving.

The sound of two people's footsteps gradually receding into the distance could be heard in the hallway.

Yuki Matsushita paused for a moment when she reached the top of the stairs.

She seemed to want to turn back.

But in the end, there was still no reply.

I just followed my grandmother downstairs.

Kiryu Yaya stood at the door, watching their figures disappear around the corner of the stairs before closing the door again.

The room fell silent again.

Just then, a semi-transparent system interface appeared before my eyes.

[World line converging - fork two selected]

[Bank deposits increased by €5]

Current bank account balance: €713,200

[Obtain the item "Kitahama Old Shop Japanese Confectionery Exchange Coupon"]