In this crossover anime, I've been bound to two systems.

living room.

At the dinner table.

Listening to her mother's nagging, Suzumiya Chisato said with a hint of helplessness,

"So, since we all know we can't find people in the countryside, let's find a way to recruit people from the city. Let Dad post job openings on relevant websites. If he doesn't know how to do it, I can help him."

"Don't think of your dad as an old-fashioned person; he knows how to use the internet."

Suzumiya's mother glared at her son.

"Your father not only posted job information on the website, but also uploaded job videos on various mainstream video websites, but it was no use. The daily wage was increased from 20,000 to 40,000, but still no one applied."

"Cough! Cough cough..."

The other three people at the table simultaneously turned their attention to Aki Tomoya, who had coughed.

"Are you alright? Did you get a fishbone stuck in your throat?"

Suzumiya Senri poured a glass of cold water and handed it to her.

"It's okay... I'm fine..."

Aki Tomoya took the water glass but didn't drink it.

"I'm just a little surprised that your ranch is offering 40,000 yen a day for jobs."

Suzumiya's mother picked up the conversation and explained,

"This is because there has been a lot of work piling up at the family ranch recently. If I go to work, I'll probably be busy from morning till night, so the salary is so high. Normally it's only around 20,000."

Aki Tomoya nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

"Even if it's only 20,000, it's still a very high salary."

"Yes, who can argue with that? But we just can't find anyone to help us. What can we do?"

As Suzumiya's mother spoke, she grew increasingly angry.

"The school is about to have a ten-day holiday, and I was planning to have Qianli go back to help his father, but he refused. He really doesn't understand anything."

Chisato Suzumiya shifted her body to the side.

“I already said it wasn’t a holiday, it was a group trip, how could I not go? I’ve never really gone out to play much in my life.”

"You'll have plenty of time to play when you grow up, why rush things now!"

"I already said it's not just about playing, there's also a training camp..."

"That's just playing!"

"that……"

The conversation between the mother and son was interrupted by Aki Tomoya, who looked expectant.

Seeing his expression, Eriri Sawamura, who was standing next to him, slowly pursed her lips and unconsciously tightened her grip on her chopsticks.

But Aki Tomoya completely failed to notice her expression and still said it.

"I don't know if I can do it, but if it can be of any help..."

"no!"

Before Aki Tomoya could finish speaking, Suzumiya Chisato slammed down her chopsticks, shook her head coldly, and...

"There are so many mosquitoes in the countryside, and the animal droppings on the ranch smell awful. You haven't experienced it, so you don't know how hard it is to work on the ranch. Besides, didn't you decide to go to the training camp from the beginning? What's with changing your mind halfway through?"

Aki Tomoya's face immediately turned awkward.

The next moment, Suzumiya's mother slapped her son on the head.

"You brat, how can you talk to your friends like that! Your temper is starting to resemble your father's more and more, and you're not learning any good things..."

She grumbled on and told Suzumiya Chisato to keep her head down and eat, while she looked at Aki Tomoya with a smile and started talking again.

"I'm sorry, Tomoya. I understand you want to help your aunt, but your mother would definitely not want you to work in such a hard place, especially since it's based on sacrificing your time at the training camp."

Aki Tomoya took a deep breath and slowly shook his head.

"No, Auntie, I'm not as noble as you think. Actually, I'm really short of money lately for some reasons. The specific reasons are complicated to explain, but please believe me, I'm serious. If you can really give me this opportunity, I believe I will do my best to do my best."

After he finished speaking, he stood up from his chair, walked to the side, and bowed to Suzumiya's mother.

Suzumiya Senri frowned and remained silent.

Eriri Sawamura's lips trembled as she gently put down her chopsticks.

After silently watching Aki Tomoya for a while, Suzumiya's mother reached out and helped him up.

"If you are truly determined and can get your mother's consent, I have no reason to refuse, and the daily wage will be calculated as I initially stated."

"Ten! Thank you so much!"

Aki Tomoya was so excited that he bent down again!

Eriri Sawamura took a deep breath, trying her best to appear nonchalant.

Suzumiya Senri picked up a piece of fried chicken and put it in her mouth.

The golden, crispy batter bursts open in your mouth with a "crunch," releasing the juicy filling that's incredibly delicious.

…………

Chapter Thirty-One: I'm Afraid I Won't Like You

As Marx once said in Capital, "Capital becomes bold when there is a suitable profit. With a 50% profit, it dares to take risks; with a 100% profit, it dares to trample on all human laws; with a 300% profit, it dares to commit any crime, even risking being hanged!"

[Aki Tomoya isn't a capitalist, but he's short of money.]

[You cleverly exploited Aki Tomoya's weakness by casually offering him a job with a decent daily wage, which made him eagerly jump off the train on his training camp trip, disrupting his original plans and leaving him deeply grateful to you.]

[You're happy now because there's no one getting in your way during the training camp, so you can focus on developing your relationship with Eriri Sawamura.]

Aki Tomoya was overjoyed, because this high-paying job could solve his urgent problem of insufficient funds for game development.

Your mother and father were also happy because young laborers had come to help on the family ranch, easing their workload. The only cost was reasonable wages, which was perfectly acceptable.

Only one person is unhappy—Eri Sawamura.

She had been eagerly anticipating the group trip because she would be traveling with the person she had feelings for, but now that he had withdrawn, her joy vanished as quickly as the tide receded.

You know this clearly, but you don't really care because you know you'll make her happy during the training camp trip.

For some reason, Suzumiya Chisato watched the situation develop in this way.

A sense of quiet pleasure arose within me, and I grew increasingly eager to see how the story would unfold.

Could it be that deep down I really have a hidden "yellow hair" attribute? Usually, it's just suppressed by worldly conscience and doesn't show itself, but during the simulation, it can't help but emerge when stimulated by all sorts of naughty plots.

He couldn't help but wonder.

On the morning of the day the training camp departed, Aki Tomoya arrived at your house. Your mother drove him to a ranch in the countryside. You stood at the door waving goodbye to them, and after the car had completely disappeared from sight, a bright smile appeared on your face.

On your way to school, you think about your plans to take things further with Eriri Sawamura. Most things are confirmed, only the timing of implementation needs careful consideration.

After a moment's consideration, you finally made up your mind...

[1. Find an opportunity to implement this in the early stages of the training camp.]

[2. Find an opportunity to implement this in the middle of the training camp.]

[3. Find an opportunity to implement this later in the training camp.]

Is now the right time to choose?

Too early or too late doesn't feel right, so the middle is better. That way, no matter what unexpected events happen, there will be room for maneuver.

Suzumiya Chisato's current mindset is to seek stability.

[On the first few nights of the school's group travel program, the school organized a lot of mandatory group activities. You realized this wasn't a good time, so you patiently endured it.]

On the fifth day of the training camp, you invited Eriri Sawamura out of the hotel. You strolled along the beach, and you playfully splashed water on her. Your deliberate actions eased her mood, which had been gloomy for some reason, and a genuine smile appeared on her face for the first time in days.

On the sixth night of the group travel camp, you mysteriously told Eriri Sawamura to close her eyes and not peek. You had her hold the other end of a water bottle and led her to the observation deck at the top of the mountain behind the hotel. You found a flat grassy area, spread out a small camping blanket, and guided her to lie down slowly. Then you gestured for her to open her eyes.

Eriri Sawamura opened her eyes, stunned. Before her lay a dreamlike starry sky, surrounded by the sounds of birds and insects; the world seemed so pure, as if only the two of them remained.

First-person perspective.

Suzumiya Senri raised her arm, pointing her index finger to the southeast, high in the sky.

"That's Vega, and then... Deneb, Altair, it's obvious, right? When they're connected, they form the famous Summer Triangle."

"Yes, it's very clear."

Eriri Sawamura responded blankly, and the countless stars found their home again in her beautiful eyes.

"I told Eriri that my hometown is in the countryside."

"kindness."

"When I was a child, I would often climb onto the roof when I was in a bad mood, lie down like I am now facing the starry sky, and do that, no matter how many worries I had before, I would instantly feel relieved."

"Yes, nature is truly amazing."

"So, Eriri, you should be a little happier about this rare school trip during your high school years."

"Eh...no, I..."

"I've always known that."

"Understand what..."

"I know very well what's troubling you, Eriri, what's making you feel lost, because I'm going through the same thing right now."

Eriri Sawamura turned her head to the side.

Suzumiya Senri was lying next to her, about two fists' distance away.

"The Melancholy..."

"But it's okay. I'm very content with our current relationship. We can meet whenever we want and chat and laugh every day. Isn't that perfect?"

"I'm sorry, Suzumiya..."

"Why should Eriri apologize? I'm the one who needs to apologize. I did that back then, but I still stubbornly said that I didn't regret it, acting like it was my duty, without realizing that I had hurt you."