My Stepsister in Kyoto

"That's Ingen Ryuki's calligraphy." 

While Mizuto knew that Kiyotaka should know which calligraphy it was, he wanted to tell Yume as he could tell that she became even more curious when she saw Kiyotaka's expression. 

"Ingen Ryuki?" 

"Ingen Ryuki was a Chinese poet, calligrapher, and monk of Linji Chan Buddhism from China. He is best known for founding the Obaku school of Zen in Japan. He is also famous for introducing Ming Dynasty style calligraphy to this country during the Edo Period." 

It was also the reason why Kiyotaka was surprised since he didn't expect that Mizuto would show him such an amazing item, especially when the quality was good. 

"In his life, he has six famous works, which are "Ingen-zenji-goroku," "Fusho-kokushi koroku," "Obaku Ingen Zenji Untoshu," "Gukaihogi," "Obakusan-jishi," and "Obaku-shingi." This one happens to be "Gukaihogi." 

"...." 

Yume felt at a loss since she didn't expect the calligraphy that was bought by Mizuto for 150 yen to be something precious. 

As for lying?

Yume didn't think so since she knew that her "boyfriend" wasn't someone that would lie.

"You can see each stroke of the brush is both sharp and fluid. These words are written without hesitation but also carefully...." 

With the halo of something written by a famous historical calligrapher, even if Yume didn't understand, the calligraphy appeared radiant and beautiful for some reason. 

Hearing Mizuto's explanation, Kiyotaka also nodded. "That's right. This is the "Gukaihogi (disciplines and precepts)," which is written in one volume." Kiyotaka looked at Mizuto and asked, "Do you have a complete volume of it, Irido-san?" 

"Sorry, I only found that one." 

"That's a shame..." 

Kiyotaka sighed helplessly, but even if it was only a single scroll, it was still precious. Still, there was something that he wanted to confirm. "Are you going to sell this item here, Irido-san?" 

Mizuto didn't answer immediately but patted Yume's buttocks casually. 

"Wh-What are you doing?!" 

Yume was startled and then glared at him with a blush.

While she didn't hate his touch, she wished for him to see the place and occasion as they were watched by people!

"Go and check the shop. It's your first time here, right?"

Yume pouted, hesitating, but then she nodded obediently. 

Mizuto knew that this transaction must have twisted her view of making money and even staggering for Yume to accept, and he didn't want to impress her with the amount of transaction that he was going to make from this calligraphy.

While Yume might not be someone who would move by money, Mizuto was afraid that her feelings toward him would become complex. What was it again? Inferiority? While Yume might be beautiful, she was a nerd before, and her view of herself wasn't positive. Instead, she always looked at herself quite negatively. Moreover, no matter how she tried to act or fake herself to become outgoing, it was impossible for her to change her core. 

Lastly, if Yume knew how much money he gained, he was afraid that she couldn't take it, considering how much he bought this scroll for, so it would be better for her to leave, especially when his current action was illegal. 

While Aoi, the female employee, also blushed due to their intimate and shameless gesture, Kiyotaka only smiled helplessly. "Aoi-san, can you guide the customer?" 

"Ye-Yes!" Aoi nodded hurriedly, then politely gestured to Yume. "Please follow me. Let me guide you around the shop."

When Aoi and Yume left, Mizuto faced Kiyotaka alone. "I plan to sell it for nine million yen. Can you accept it?" According to the "Identify" skill, if he wanted to sell this calligraphy fast, this was the correct price. 

Kiyotaka was surprised, but then he hesitated and asked, "I don't mind, but you should know that you can sell it higher at the auction, right?" According to his estimation, this scroll could fetch a much higher price, and nine million yen was even on the lower side.

"If possible, I want to sell it at auction too, but I don't have much time, and to be honest, I don't have a connection since it is my first time to enter an antique trade. I hear that your shop has a good reputation, and I can see that reputation from your honesty in reminding me to sell it at the auction so I can get a higher price. Think of this as my goodwill, especially when I plan to sell more antiques in this place in the future." 

Kiyotaka couldn't help but look at Mizuto differently, but he knew that the reality was like this. As long as something was related to money, everyone wished to get a bigger share of it. However, Mizuto wasn't greedy and sacrificed some profit in exchange for a good relationship and connection. 

Mizuto was young, and Kiyotaka could tell that it was Mizuto's first time selling an antic, yet he could feel an aura of a master from him. 

While Kiyotaka didn't want to lose, he knew that their skill at appraisal should be similar, and he couldn't help but feel challenged as it was his first time to know someone around his age who could match his skill.

However, unlike him, who had a good family that could make him able to work without being questioned, underestimated, or looked down on as he was young, Mizuto didn't have that, so Mizuto tried to bet on this shop, gaining access, so Mizuto could get access to the antique market in this country. 

Kiyotaka thought that Mizuto must become someone who was worthy of his attention in the future, and that was why—

"Ten million yen. I will take it at that price. If you can't accept it, then I won't buy it from you." 

"I am glad that I have come to this shop, Kiyotaka-san," Mizuto said calmly with a gentle smile while inwardly thinking this guy was so innocent, but he was glad to meet such a person.

The two of them quickly became friends with each other, talking about antiques while settling the payment for this antic calligraphy. 

Nevertheless, the two girls couldn't help but glance at them from time to time as they wished to know what their conversation was about. However, they didn't intend to disturb them as they knew that the men were talking about business. 

Only Yume couldn't look away from Mizuto as she thought his confidence when discussing business was so charming. Aoi was also the same and kept glancing at him from time to time as she could not focus on her job. 

Meanwhile, Mizuto and Kiyotaka only cared a little about Yume and Aoi. Instead, Kiyotaka was curious about something. "Irido-san, if it isn't a problem, can you ask me where you learned to become an appraiser?" According to his observation, Mizuto must be learning that acute, machine-like appraisal skill from a hermit since if Mizuto learned from someone famous, then he was sure that Mizuto's name was already echoed in this country. 

"I learned by myself." 

"B-By yourself?" 

"Yes." 

"...." Kiyotaka. 

Still, Mizuto was curious about something. "Are you not curious where I got this calligraphy scroll?" 

"Can I?" 

"Why not?" Anyway, Mizuto had gotten his money. His account was full of 15 million yen from his savings and the payment of the scroll. If he wished to, he could even buy an apartment or house in Kyoto now. "I got this on the flea market for 150 yen." 

"...you are amazing." 

Kiyotaka sighed and felt that Muzuto's luck was good, but then he asked, "Is the Royal Copenhagen the same?" 

"I got each for 50 yen." 

"....." Kiyotaka. 

Nevertheless, Mizuto also thought that his luck was good, and it made him wonder whether he was able to find those antiques due to the Merchant's passive skill, Golden Luck. Yet, whatever the cause was, his net worth increased, and that fact didn't change. 

With the completion of the transaction, Mizuto didn't intend to continue to linger in this shop since he was afraid that this young manager might notice many amiss things about him. 

"Then, I will leave first. See you again, Kiyotaka-san." 

"Yes, please come visit again. I hope that we can exchange our views for the antics." 

"We must be." Mizuto nodded with a smile as if he would come next time, then called for Yume. "Yume, come on. Let's go back." 

"Wait." 

Yume quickly came to his side like a puppy who was eager to be on the side of her master. 

"Then, please take care of me next time." 

Mizuto then nodded politely and smiled at Aoi. 

Yume also followed, but unlike him, she bowed her head deeply as she was nervous and wished for them to take care of Mizuto more in the future. 

Aoi was surprised, but then she nodded politely and nervously as she was affected by Yume's mood. 

When Mizuto and Yume left, Aoi sighed and said, "What an enviable couple..." Her luck with love wasn't good, especially when she was betrayed by her boyfriend after she moved to Kyoto. 

"They are not a couple." 

"Eh?" 

"No, their relationship should be a couple, but it is one-sided," Kiyotaka said. 

"What do you mean, Holmes-san?" Aoi asked with confusion. 

As for why Aoi called Kiyotaka "Holmes-san," it was all because, besides being known as the manager of training of this antique shop, he was also known as a famous detective in this city who had solved many incidents, and she knew that he was observant with everything, especially when one needed to be careful in this industry. 

"While the girl must love the man deeply, the man's feelings toward his girlfriend aren't that strong. Probably, she is just one among many of his girlfriends." 

"Wh-What?!" Aoi was startled. 

"You should be careful with this type of guy, Aoi-san. He might appear sincere and gentle, but everything is just his guise, so he can make the woman lower her guard before taking down the woman of his interest as his partner and taking her into a bed." 

"Ho-How could that be?!" While Aoi felt unbelievable and couldn't accept it for a while since she couldn't imagine such a handsome and gentle man like Mizuto doing something like that, she also knew that Kiyotaka wouldn't say something without a reason. "Then, should we tell her?" 

"You don't need to." 

"Why? If she is really deceived, then we should help her." Aoi was confused. 

"First, she isn't deceived yet, and love will make people blind. Would you believe a stranger who suddenly says that the person you care about is deceiving you?" 

"That's..." Aoi was helpless.

"That's why, let's hope that nothing will happen and everything is just my misunderstanding, but..." 

"But?" 

"That type of guy must be popular with girls. You also like him too, right, Aoi-san?" Kiyotaka asked casually as if he didn't show much interest. 

"......." 

Aoi was in a daze before furiously shaking her head as she was startled by his words. "No! No! No!" While it was true that Mizuto was her type, it was impossible for her to fall in love with someone at first sight, especially when her experience in romance wasn't that good before. 

"Is that so?" Kiyataka nodded calmly while sighing in relief inwardly. 

"Yes. It's my first time seeing him, after all. There is no way I will fall for him just like that."

Aoi nodded and refuted Kiyotaka's words, but he wondered why it felt Kiyotaka was jealous.