My Stepsister in Kyoto

As it was time for the office to finish, the light was dim, and there were no people except for the security guards.

Usually, such a thing wouldn't happen as it was a tradition in this country for the employees to stay overtime. 

This was how the usual companies in this country were, no matter whether they were major or small, but at his equity firm, there was no such thing. 

However, if they had an unfinished job and wished to stay, then there was nothing that could be done. After all, they weren't artificial intelligence or robots; his employees were ordinary human beings, so it was normal for them to make some mistakes. 

Nevertheless, as it was night, the lights were mostly turned off, so the energy consumption in this building wouldn't be too costly.

Frankly, this matter didn't matter as the "Economic" skill of the "Real Estate Developer" would erase all the costs used to maintain all of his property. Still, the work of this skill was quite unique as he could also set up the ratio at how he wanted these costs to be erased. 

This might be hard to understand, so he would give an example. 

If he had to say, the "Economic" skill was quite similar to the "Discount" skill, as it would give him a return of money used, so when he paid for the cost of energy, that money would return to his inventory. 

Or, he could also make it something similar to a "Zero-Energy Building," a new building technology with net zero energy consumption, so even if this building used electricity from Kansai Electric Power Company, he didn't need to pay at all. 

Still, in his case, he made it into a ratio of 50:50, where 50% of the money would return to his inventory, and the other 50% would erase all the costs used to maintain this building. 

Nevertheless, as he had mentioned about the "Zero-Energy Building," did it mean that this "Economical" skill was meaningless as there was no cost to maintain the building in the future?

That wasn't the case, as there were many other types of costs to maintaining a building, such as renovation, maintenance, cleaning, electrical systems, plumbing systems, and many other things. 

So, energy wasn't the only expense for maintaining a property, which meant that this skill was useful.

The "Discount" might be good and all, but it could only be used by himself, and when it happened outside of him, such as his business and other things, he needed to manage it manually, which was slower and more troublesome than the "Economical" skill. 

Still, like the "Economical" skill, the ratio on the "Discount" skill could also be changed. 

Nevertheless, enough about his skills, as Mizuto entered the building with Akatsuki, the security officers quickly greeted him politely and even bowed their heads toward him. While he only nodded and went to his office, Akatsuki was startled and also bowed politely while sticking to him all the time as she was anxious about this new environment. After all, she had never thought that she would enter this building. 

Even though there was no doubt this was one of the most beautiful buildings in Kyoto, it could only be entered by those who worked, clients, and guests who were invited. 

This was different from most high-rise buildings where it could be entered by many, which integrated with a shopping mall, but this was normal as this building was an office building, and there were many secret things that couldn't be known by outsiders. 

Yet, this was also why she wondered how her man could enter this place! 

So, when they entered the lift, she kept staring at him, waiting to hear his answer. 

"What's wrong?" 

Watching his smile, Akatsuki pouted since she knew that she was being teased once again. 

"How?" 

"How?" 

"I mean... how could we enter this place? No, I mean, how could you be so welcomed?" 

Akatsuki couldn't forget the respect in the eyes of those security guards as they hurriedly bowed down toward him. It was like... it was like he had a high position in this place somehow. 

At that moment, her eyes were mixed with curiosity, adoration, admiration, love, and even obsession. 

Yet, this was normal. 

It was like those worldwide stars that were worshipped by their fans like they were gods. 

Still, he had to disappoint her since it was troublesome to expose his identity, and he also didn't think that it was appropriate for him to tell Akatsuki everything about himself. It wasn't that he didn't believe in Akatsuki, but he felt like it was wrong to tell everything about himself to someone, especially when he didn't even tell his parents, the closest relationship he had in this life. He might tell about what he was doing in the future to Akatsuki, but there was no need to hurry since they only dated for a while, so with all of that, there was no need to tell everything, right?

So, he answered, "Isn't it their job to welcome those who enter this building?" 

They were security guards, and wasn't it normal for them to be respectful to those who could enter this building?

"....." 

Akatsuki was speechless, but she knew she needed to ask him a different question, or else he would answer her with an ambiguous answer, making her pout. "Well, I know that, but let's return to the first question. How could you enter this place?" 

"I know someone here." 

Still, she didn't seem to believe his words as she kept staring at him. 

Did he know someone? 

If so, wouldn't it be rude for him to enter the office building when it was closed?

Akatsuki wasn't stupid, and she was relatively smart as she could enter the same school as him, so she knew there must be something else.

Mizuto was helpless, but he knew that whatever came out of his mouth after this would be more believable. "I am an associate." 

"A-Associate?" Akatsuki was dumbfounded. 

"Yes." Mizuto nodded. "You know that this is an investment company, right?" 

"Um, I have read that this should be something like... an equity firm, right?" 

Frankly, Akatsuki wasn't familiar with this company, and she also didn't know what an equity firm was. Yet, it was normal since not everyone was interested in the company's introduction, especially someone her age. It was like when one went to visit a particular store, but they were only interested in what it sold or just the store but didn't care about the company behind all of those things. 

Still, when Akatsuki stayed at her house without him, she had nothing to do, and she was alone, so she just browsed anything that interested her on the internet. 

Previously, when they came to Oike Street, they saw this building, and she just curiously browsed before knowing the "Dipper," the best equity firm in Kyoto that held shares in various companies from technology, pharmaceutical, finance, media, and many other things. 

It surprised her to know such a company existed in Kyoto, especially when the financial industry was something that one mostly avoided in this country, considering the experience of the Lost Decade. 

Among all the companies that existed in Kyoto, there was no doubt that this was the most special one as it was different and had the best building in the city. 

Still—

"Just to ask, do you know what an associate is?" 

"....." Akatsuki. 

"You don't need to get embarrassed. It is normal if you don't know." 

"Then, what is it?" 

"It's like an advisor. I made a review of the financial data and potential investments of a company to strategize the best plan to increase profits."

"That seems amazing..." 

"Hmm... it's not that really amazing, though. You can think of this as a part-time job, but my job is in this place." 

"...even so, that is amazing, right?" 

After all, most students worked at the cafe or other simple establishments. 

Even if there was a genius, they would make an illustration, write a light novel, or become a TikToker or YouTuber. However, those students were self-made. In other words, their future was unstable. 

Yet, her man was working as an associate investor, which made her dumbfounded, and from the expressions of the security guards, he should be better than most, right? After all, it was impossible to be that respected unless they got a high position or high achievement. Nevertheless, she didn't doubt it since she felt like if he wished to, he could do anything. Be something that one could only dream of, yet he could reach them easily if he wished to. 

Moreover, if he could get a part-time job in this place, then his employment would be guaranteed, right? 

So, if he made someone pregnant during high school, there shouldn't be a problem with their future, right?

Mizuto didn't know what Akatsuki was thinking, but he wasn't sure why he felt a little cold for some reason.

"Then, what are we going to do here?" 

"I need to get something, and I will change my clothes here." 

"...do you have your own room?" 

"Well..." 

"..." Akatsuki thought that her man was more amazing than she had thought. 

Still, as he walked, he noticed Akatsuki's eyes that kept looking around. "Do you want to tour around?" 

"...is that okay?" Akatsuki asked timidly, but she would be lying if she wasn't eager. 

"It's okay. I will show you the hanging garden inside. It's beautiful." 

"Hanging garden?!" 

By then, the two of them were walking around the office building together. 

Mizuto wanted to check his building, considering he had never been in this place and only saw the building through the hologram model created by the system. 

Yet, for Akatsuki, it was different. She recalled when they walked side by side around the Kamo River, making small talk and enjoying the beauty of the river and cherry blossoms. Their current situation was like that, she thought. Still, while they couldn't see the river and the cherry blossoms, she was happy to know the part that no one else knew about him. 

Then, when it was time for the hanging garden, the two of them fell in silence, watching the elegant and aesthetic Japanese garden that basked under the moonlight. If this garden was located outdoors, they wouldn't react this way, but this was hung on the ceiling of the top of the building like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. 

Yes, in the end, Mizuto thought of adding a garden since there was no need for him to pay anyway, so he might as well make it more extravagant. 

"It's beautiful." 

Still, when Akatsuki said this, she looked at him with a smile. 

Mizuto fell in silence, then took her lips. 

"...." 

Akatsuki was stunned, but she enjoyed it, so she didn't say much. But when they separated, she asked, "Why did you kiss me?" Nevertheless, she would be lying if she wasn't shy and her heart beat so fast as she wondered whether it was okay to kiss in this place. 

"I don't know. I just feel like... to kiss you. You don't like it?" 

"No, I like it, but... I am just surprised." 

"Can I kiss you again then?" 

"...you are really..." 

They kissed again before they went to his room so he could change his clothes. 

Still, when he was thinking about what kind of clothes he should wear, Akatsuki pointed at the navy-colored sweater. 

"Wear this. We will match." 

"..." 

While Mizuto was speechless, he didn't really mind, so after everything was ready, they went out. 

"So, are we going now?" Akatsuki was a bit shy when she asked this question. 

"Um." 

Only when she thought that they would leave the building, did she realize that he took her to a different place. "...where are we going?" 

"Let's get a car." 

"...car?" 

"It will make us feel like adults." 

"...can you even drive it?" 

"I can." 

"...then, what about the driving license for the car?"

"I have it." Mizuto showed his driver's license.

"...can you get a driver's license for a car when you are a minor?" Akatsuki held his driver's license in confusion, and at the same time, she wondered whether he had finished driving school. Also, didn't he enter a driving class for a motorcycle? How did he get the car driving license?

"I can." 

"How?" 

"Power of connection and money." 

"...." Akatsuki. 

Anyway, Mizuto had already been fed up with the driving school, so he just bought it directly on the "Store" skill for his driver's license, and as expected, he could easily get it. It was even registered on government records, which meant that it was legal even if there was some inconsistency with his age, but it didn't matter since as long as there was money, everything was solved. 

While Akatsuki wanted to ask, she decided to keep silent since she knew that silence was golden. Only she felt regret for not talking as she was unable to talk at that moment, especially when she saw a collection of luxurious cars before her. She felt her legs were shaken for the first time. 

"Come on, Akatsuki." 

"...um." 

Holding his hand, she realized that there were still many things that she didn't know about him.