Upon arrival, two armored guards were stationed at the entrance, and a capacious waiting area lay beyond. Approaching the reception counter, they were warmly greeted by an attendant, "Greetings and welcome to The Grand Hotel. How may I assist you today?"
"I would like to book a room on the highest floor," Yuji informed the attendant. The attendant proceeded to check the computer system for an available room.
"We currently have three available rooms on the one-hundredth floor: one on the right side of the building, another on the left, and the last one directly in front of the elevator," she informed Yuji.
Without hesitation, Yuji asserted, "I'll take the room on the right." The attendant nodded and proceeded to input the information into the computer system.
"How long do you plan to stay here?" she inquired.
"A year," Yuji replied. Both she and Misaki exchanged surprised glances. It might be more cost-effective to consider purchasing a room on a lower floor rather than the highest floor.
"Are you certain? The expenses will be a lot. It might be better to acquire a room on the lower floors for an extended stay," she advised. However, Yuji shook his head, stating, "I prefer the scenery from the top."
She sighed inwardly, recognizing Yuji's unwavering decision. "Okay, you have the option to either pay the full amount for a year's stay upfront or pay for the first night now and settle the remaining balance upon finishing of your stay," she explained.
"I'll pay it all now," Yuji declared. The attendant nodded and provided the total for a year's stay on the highest floor, "That will be 43,102,412 yen," she stated, causing Misaki's eyes to widen in astonishment at the substantial amount.
(T/N: about 292,000 USD)
Yuji promptly paid the amount with his card. "Thank you. I hope you enjoy your stay. Additionally, room service is free for those on the highest floor," she informed them.
Expressing gratitude, they proceeded to the elevator. Yuji's willingness to invest in such secure accommodations stemmed from the presence of players and robust security, ensuring his family's safety. In the tower, where his identity became more and more known, it was only a matter of time before he was found out. He aimed to eliminate unnecessary worries for his loved ones and himself while he was in the tower.
During the elevator ascent, Misaki exclaimed, "That was a lot of money! Where did you get so much money?" Misaki was flooded with questions but lacked answers. She was aware that some players made money by selling their gold, but it was insufficient to cover the substantial amount Yuji had just spent.
Her concern heightened, fearing that Yuji might have gone into something bad to secure money for his family.
Observing her concerned expression, Yuji discerned her thoughts and clarified, "It's not what you think. I lied about making money from the tower; in reality, I won the lottery."
Upon hearing Yuji's revelation, her expression transformed into one of disbelief. The skepticism stemmed from the awareness of the near impossible odds of winning the lottery. However, when Yuji presented proof on his phone, shock replaced her initial skepticism.
"Six billion yen!" she exclaimed in sheer astonishment.
For the remainder of the ascent, Misaki remained silent, attempting to process the staggering amount of money Yuji had revealed.
Upon reaching the top, as the elevator doors opened, they were met by the presence of Atsuko.
Recognizing Atsuko, Yuji swiftly greeted her and attempted to discreetly distance himself from her presence.
"Wait!" Atsuko called out to the retreating Yuji, squinting her eyes as she sensed familiarity but struggled to pinpoint the source.
As she observed the blue sweater he wore, everything clicked, and she smiled, remarking, "For such an innocent face, you are very dangerous~"
Yuji realized that she had identified him based on his distinctive sweater, the only one he owned and wore everywhere he went.
Due to this moment, he made a mental note to acquire a new sweater as soon as possible.
"Who is she?" Misaki inquired, sensing a connection between Yuji and Atsuko.
"A friend," Yuji replied, and Misaki immediately crossed her arms. "You don't have friends, especially not girl friends who are as pretty as her," she remarked skeptically.
"Aww, you have such a sweet little sister," Atsuko remarked, approaching Misaki and playfully pinching her cheeks.
Misaki's face turned rosy in embarrassment for being treated like a child. "What's your relationship with my brother?" she asked, removing Atsuko's hand from her cheeks.
She held her heart, feigning hurt, "I fell in love with him, and when I told him, he didn't accept me."
Misaki's eyes widened in shock, finding it hard to believe that someone like Atsuko would be interested in her brother.
"Stop teasing her," Yuji instructed Atsuko. Misaki, realizing Atsuko's mischievous expression, felt embarrassed for falling for such an obvious lie.
"Here, this is the keycard for the room at the end of the hall, number 9,989," Yuji said, handing Misaki the keycard for their new room, signaling his intention to speak to Atsuko in private.
Misaki nodded, taking the keycard. Once she was out of listening distance, Yuji cautioned, "They don't know my identity in the tower, so don't say anything. If I find out you told them, I don't care who you are, I'll make you pay."
The intensity of Yuji's warning sent a shiver down Atsuko's spine, leaving her momentarily paralyzed and struggling to breathe.
Rather than succumbing to fear, Atsuko felt an adrenaline rush surging through her body. She struggled to resist the urge to pounce on Yuji and engage in a fight.
"I wasn't going to tell her about your identity anyways. As I said, I don't really care about that," Atsuko stated, walking towards the elevator and gesturing for Yuji to join her.
He shook his head, "I've got to stay with my sister. I'll be here for a while, so we may see each other around," Yuji explained.
"I'll be at the cafeteria for an hour, so if you make up your mind, I'll be waiting for you there. I've got something important to show you," she said with a smile before entering the elevator and departing.
Yuji wondered about the importance of what she mentioned, but choosing to set it aside, he headed to his new room to stay with Misaki.