Ren opened the door and returned ho.
He was already used to being alone.
Tap, tap!
A series of soft footsteps broke his usual silence. A girl appeared, wearing mismatched pajamas with long, unbrushed golden hair. She clearly had no intention of keeping up appearances.
"You’re back."
There was a hint of excitent in her watery eyes. It seed she still wasn’t comfortable being ho alone.
Ren walked forward, crouched down.
"Still not used to staying ho by yourself?"
"Yeah."
"Then from now on, co with when I go out."
"...Okay."
He picked her up and walked further into the house.
There was a quilt in the living room. It looked like she had stayed out here instead of resting in her room.
Ren sat down on the sofa in the living room with Nagi in his arms.
"Did you settle things with the policewoman?"
After sitting down, Nagi turned slightly, resting her head on Ren’s shoulder as she asked curiously.
"More or less. Officer Sato was easier to talk to than I expected. Or rather, I chose to approach her because she’s the kind of person who’s easy to talk to."
"I thought soone in her position would instinctively refuse to deepen her relationship with you."
Nagi had assud the policewoman would be more guarded.
"She was already set up by the tropolitan Police Departnt. What else could she do? She’s not stupid either. She can tell I’m not harboring any real hostility toward the MPD. Plus, I proved everything to her through my actions."
"A show of strength?"
Nagi nodded slightly. That was certainly the most straightforward and convincing way—though it was admittedly a bit crude.
"That was just the initial impression. After getting to know better, Officer Sato will realize I’m not interested in stirring up trouble. I’m just an idle observer who enjoys watching the fate of others unfold."
"By the way, you haven’t checked the results from yesterday, have you?"
"Huh?"
Seeing Nagi’s blank expression, Ren knew he had guessed right.
"You were directly involved in sothing that big yesterday. You didn’t think you’d walk away without getting any benefits, did you?"
"But, but I didn’t do anything yesterday?"
Nagi knew that just participating in events could earn her rewards from the diary. But yesterday, all she did was sit next to Ren. She hadn’t taken any action.
"You didn’t do anything?"
Ren looked at her in surprise, then sighed helplessly.
"You changed my mind yesterday. That was the biggest thing you did. I would’ve just sat back and observed. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have caught the person behind everything so quickly."
"That counts?"
Nagi’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Ren gently flicked her forehead.
"How many people do you think would’ve died yesterday if I had done nothing and just watched?"
"Uh... I don’t know. Probably worse than the Shinjuku bombing?"
"Good instinct. It wouldn’t just be worse. It would’ve turned into a massive disaster. Maybe the Todou Loop Line incident could’ve been handled, but the bomber targeting the Beika Municipal Building wasn’t planning to give any warning. If that building collapsed, how many people would’ve been caught in it? At least thousands."
With his explanation, Nagi realized just how many ordinary people were moving through the municipal building every day.
The building wasn’t just a Beika City landmark. It had malls, theaters, arcades, even so of the city’s administrative departnts.
If that place ca down, casualties would easily number in the thousands.
"You changed the fate of thousands of people. That’s what led to the result."
"Maybe if you hadn’t changed my mind, all those people would’ve died. But because their fates were altered, I also received a gift from fate."
"You should try too. I’m pretty sure I’m right."
"Okay."
Nagi took a deep breath, pulled out her diary, and initiated the lottery of fate.
Altering soone’s fate naturally brings about fate’s reward.
So, when the wheel of fate stopped at the Seven Dragon Balls, just as Ren had predicted, her reward arrived.
[Dragon Ball]
[You have obtained the Two-Star Dragon Ball (one-ti use).]
A yellow-orange orb appeared, with two small red stars visible inside.
Nagi stared at the dragon ball in her hand for a long ti, then suddenly jumped up in excitent.
"The second one! This is the second one!"
"I finally got the second one!"
There were seven Dragon Balls in total, and once all seven were collected, she would be granted a wish.
To Nagi, the act of gathering them was equivalent to the process of reviving her mother.
Because she had no other wish—only to bring her mother back.
She had always believed that collecting all seven wouldn’t be easy. She never expected to get the second one so soon.
Watching her overjoyed reaction, Ren let out a quiet sigh and clapped his hands softly.
"Congratulations on getting your second Dragon Ball so quickly. Just like the old man said, good people are always rewarded."
Hearing that, Nagi slowly cald down.
Looking at the second Dragon Ball in her hand, she turned her gaze to Ren.
"This is also thanks to you."
Nagi understood very well that she wouldn’t have had nearly enough opportunities to earn another Dragon Ball on her own.
This ti, it was only because Ren had chosen to act that she got the chance. Otherwise, it would have been impossible.
In fact, when you thought about it, it was more than worth it—saving the fate of thousands in exchange for a Dragon Ball.
Nagi took a deep breath, squatted down, and quickly kissed Ren on the cheek.
"This... this is a thank-you."
"I... I’ll go put my stuff away in my room first."
With her face flushed red, she ran back to her room.
(To be continued.)
***
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