Chapter 58: Pocket Money
In the morning, as Yuta watched Sora, who was walking over in an apron, he recalled something important. Sora often made some noise when she woke up in the mornings, mainly because she would sometimes unconsciously cling to Yuta and appeared tired each morning.
This wasn't just a morning occurrence; Sora would also sometimes zone out during the day, sitting blankly as if deep in thought. While a few instances could be overlooked, frequent occurrences raised concerns.
To avoid awkward situations in the morning, Yuta had arranged for Sora to sleep on one side of the bed, with Hina and Miu occupying the middle space. This arrangement had successfully prevented any awkwardness from occurring in the mornings.
Previously, Yuta hadn't paid much attention to these issues, but seeing Sora bring breakfast and sit across from him reminded him of these concerns.
As a technician with strong hands-on skills, Yuta was accustomed to working with individuals who engaged in heavy physical activities. Such individuals, including athletes and laborers, often exhibited symptoms of low blood pressure.
They frequently felt tired and weak in the mornings, though they might feel better after a nap or rest, only to experience fatigue again later in the day. This fatigue was disproportionate to their actual physical exertion and wasn't always due to overexertion.
Sora's morning fatigue and need for warmth were consistent with these symptoms. Yuta felt he had been neglectful in addressing this issue.
"Sora, how much pocket money did you receive each month before?" Yuta asked, avoiding a direct inquiry about Sora's health. Some things were better left unsaid, especially when they were not particularly severe and could be managed with proper diet and rest.
Sora looked at Yuta and shook her head. "We don't need it. You already take good care of us. We don't need pocket money."
"It's important to have some money for daily expenses," Yuta insisted. "Sora, you cook for me and help with the house. I haven't complained, but this time, you should accept the pocket money. It's necessary!"
Yuta understood that even though he was a boy, he was aware that appearing too poor could lead to a lack of respect among girls. In their country, students often didn't study well, and idle individuals were common, leading to significant peer pressure and a rise in materialism, with high school girls even asking their parents for money for cosmetics.
Seeing that Miu and Sora were reluctant to accept the money, Yuta turned to Miu and asked, "Miu, how much pocket money did you used to get each month?"
After some hesitation, Miu answered honestly, "10 thousand yen."
Yuta nodded. "Starting today, I'll give each of you five thousand yen per week. If it's not enough, you can ask me for more. I'll also give Sora some money for groceries and other expenses. Sora is in her growth phase, so she should have more food."
Hina looked up at Yuta, not fully understanding but still eager. "Hina wants some too!"
Even if she didn't fully grasp it, kids wanted to be included.
In this place, middle school students usually received an average of 3,000 yen a month. This amount was sufficient for about five novels or a few snacks but would make video games or additional treats out of reach unless they worked part-time.
Working part-time jobs could affect students' studies and their time for tutoring, reading, or gaming. In his previous life, students had even less opportunity to work part-time, and there were fewer places to do so.
Yuta believed that Sora and Miu needed to focus on their studies. Sora's academic performance was decent, and if she studied well, she could likely get into a good university. Yuta didn't want money to affect their education.
After discussing the allowances, Yuta left for the city center, heading towards Aoi's nail salon.
The plastic basin factory was still running mainly due to Yuta's reputation, but he needed to clear the remaining debts before buying a house. For now, renting in Ikebukuro was the only option.
If Sora could stay in her original home, it would indeed save a lot of money.
Yuta considered whether he should tell Aoi about the situation with Kaoruko but decided against it. The events from yesterday were not something he wanted to disclose.
When Yuta arrived, Aoi greeted him and led him into her nail salon.
"How do you like it? Not bad, right?" Aoi stood at the entrance, showing off the salon she managed.
Yuta, not being familiar with nail salons, replied, "I'm not really sure, but it looks nice."
The decor was luxurious, and the space was quite large, though there weren't many people around. It was unusual for such a place to be busy so early in the day.
Aside from a few female staff members, there were no other clients. Yuta observed the leather sofas and the artwork on the walls. This was his first time visiting.
"Your staff seems to be all women…" Yuta inquired cautiously, feeling a bit uneasy.
Aoi looked at Yuta calmly and reached out to gently pinch his cheek. "What did you think you were coming here for?"
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