Tokyo, 1994, starting with medical training

Chapter 9 Let's Make a Bet

Dom Pérignon, the King of Champagne.

The retail price on the market is 3 yen, but in these stores, service fees and premiums are added, bringing the final price to 8 yen per bottle.

"Nakamori-san said he would pay my bill, he won't go back on his word, right?"

With a warm smile, Kiryu asked gently.

Yes, the second branch only asked him to compete with Sachiko Nakamori for Imagawa Nao (Imagawa Ori)'s exclusive companionship, but it didn't say that he had to use his own money.

When Kazusuke Kiryu's voice echoed in the luxurious booth.

The female guests at the surrounding tables, who were whispering to their chosen male companions, all cast curious glances their way.

Since the opening of "Kagura Club", there have been male customers before.

But usually, they would accompany important female clients, sit quietly in a corner the whole time, and obediently serve as a wallet or a background prop.

This is the first time someone has taken the initiative and ordered food right away.

Moreover, he ordered the Dom Pérignon Rosé Champagne, which cost twice as much!

It's like you can smell money burning in the air.

The shop's staff and regular customers all know that Sachiko Nakamori is Naoko Imagawa's number one supporter and practically treats her as his own.

It's no secret that Imagawa Nao is actually a woman disguised as a man.

Earlier, several male companions in the store who were not performing well secretly reported this to the big spender in order to steal customers.

But as a result, all those who gossiped were kicked out.

Tonight, Sachiko Nakamori brought a strange man with her, and this man seemed to be planning to challenge her ownership of Naoto Imagawa.

The waiter stood there, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Logically, at this point he should have complied with the guest's request and invited Imagawa Naoto out.

but……

Because the customer who paid the bill did not speak.

Sachiko Nakamori's well-maintained face showed no emotional fluctuations.

Of course, she's also past the age where she'd be easily overjoyed by the smallest things.

Sachiko Nakamori picked up the glass of ice water that the waiter had just poured for her and gently swirled it, the ice cubes inside making a crisp clinking sound.

"You know, if I just say the word, they'll kick you out, right?"

Kazusuke Kiryu certainly knew this.

But he also knew that if he did nothing, wouldn't he really become Nakamori Sachiko's tool?

"I know, but... Nakamori-san, you wouldn't do that, would you?"

"Oh? I'm a little curious, where does your confidence come from?"

"Because I know, I know that Nakamori-san let me in just to make Imagawa-kun jealous. Actually, you don't like me, right?"

Upon hearing this, Sachiko Nakamori stared at Kazusuke Kiryu for a while.

A few seconds later.

She suddenly smiled.

I do not like him, but it is not directed at him personally.

To her, there are only two kinds of men in the world: those who smell bad and those who don't smell so bad.

The young man in front of me is now at least not that smelly.

But she didn't seem inclined to explain.

Sachiko Nakamori turned her head and looked at the waiter who was already sweating profusely.

"Go, go and call Imagawa-kun over. The champagne is open."

"Okay, sure, I'll get right on it!"

The waiter felt like he had been granted a pardon and practically ran away from this troublesome place.

After the outsiders were gone.

Sachiko Nakamori leaned back on the soft velvet sofa and crossed her legs.

"You know Imagawa-kun is a woman, right?"

"certainly."

"So, you're not a hostess from another establishment soliciting customers; you're just using me to bring you here."

Sachiko Nakamori nodded thoughtfully.

So he was an admirer of Imagawa-kun in his private life.

Did he want to take this opportunity to show off after learning that she worked here?

This explains why Kiryu Kazusuke immediately pointed to her upon entering, because her target was never her.

However, Sachiko Nakamori did not become angry or embarrassed because of this.

On the contrary, I feel that things are starting to get interesting.

When she first came to "Kagura Club", she immediately recognized that Imagawa Nao was actually a woman disguised as a man, and that's why she was immediately attracted to it.

Despite being a woman, she possessed a cool and aloof quality that fell between a boy and a young woman, and she accurately hit her target area.

She enjoys the process of gradually breaking down the other party's defenses with money.

From specifically naming someone to sending expensive gifts, and then becoming the undisputed number one on the other party's performance list.

This process allowed her to rediscover the true feeling of being human.

Of course, she wasn't the only one in the shop who was obsessed with Naoki Imagawa.

She and the other women had engaged in countless open and covert battles for the right to be chosen and for their ranking in the store.

They compete to see who opens the most expensive wine, and who gives the rarest gift.

But later...

Everyone realized that they couldn't win no matter what they did, so no one dared to compete with her anymore.

That's a bit boring.

Even if she wanted to open the champagne tower, she couldn't muster the energy.

But today, Kazusuke Kiryu has joined the game.

Moreover, judging from the lingering youthful naiveté on his face, if I were to defeat him head-on, and in front of him, pull Imagawa Naoya into my arms and play with him wantonly...

Thinking of this, Sachiko Nakamori couldn't help but tremble.

The lights were dim and yellowish.

Kiryu Kazusuke had no idea what the woman opposite him was thinking, but he noticed that an unnatural blush inexplicably swept across her face.

Sachiko Nakamori seemed to realize that her posture was a bit inappropriate. She coughed lightly and sat up straight.

"Kiryu-kun, you have to rely on your own abilities to win a girl's heart."

"However, the table opening fee, the seating fee, the cost of your request for Imagawa-kun, and the champagne you just ordered, will still be on my tab."

"But from now on, I won't be spending a single yen anymore."

"If you want to get Imagawa-kun's attention, you'll have to have a contest with me."

Hope you have fun tonight.

She had a persuasive and encouraging demeanor.

The sudden appearance of Kiryu Kazusuke was probably one of the few moments of joy in her monotonous daily routine.

Next, all she has to do is enjoy watching how poorly the other person performs in the face of such a disparity in financial resources, and how they ultimately make a pathetic exit.

"certainly."

Kazusuke Kiryu nodded in agreement.

"But if that's all there is to it, it's a bit too boring."

"How about we make a bet?"

As he spoke, he propped his elbows on the table, raised his hands, rested his chin on them, and looked directly into Sachiko Nakamori's deep black eyes.

"Oh?" This successfully piqued Sachiko Nakamori's interest.

"That's interesting."

"Tell me, what are you willing to bet?"

Kazusuke Kiryu smiled and said, "Let's bet... whether you can get what you want tonight."

"You bet on this because you know what I want?"

"Nakamori-san, don't you want to get Imagawa-kun?"

That's not entirely wrong.

However, to be more precise, what Nakamori Sachiko wanted was not just Imagawa Naoko's man, but also for Imagawa to beg her with a cold and aloof expression, asking for a little more.

"What's the stake?"

"If Nakamori-san doesn't get what he wants tonight, then all my expenses here will be paid by you, just as you initially agreed."

Upon hearing this, Sachiko Nakamori couldn't help but chuckle softly.

She took a closer look at the young man she had brought in on a whim. All his clothes probably cost less than the champagne they had just ordered.

Now that he knows Imagawa Naoko is determined to have him, how does he intend to stop him?

Sachiko Nakamori really couldn't see any chance of him winning.

"Sure," she readily agreed.

"What if I win?"

"If I get what I want tonight, Kiryu-kun, what will you give in return?"

"Is there anything about you that could interest me?"

Kiryu Kazusuke was about to speak.

Sachiko Nakamori, however, seemed to have suddenly thought of something more interesting. She waved her hand, interrupting him.

"Forget it, I'm not interested in your money anyway."

"Alright then, if I win tonight, I'll bring you along when I take Imagawa-kun home."

As she spoke, she leaned forward slightly, getting a little closer.

A scent of perfume, characteristic of mature women, wafted over and entered Kiryu Kazusuke's lungs.

"You need to be outside the room, with your ear pressed against the door..."

"Listen carefully to the voice Imagawa-kun makes..."

(End of this chapter)