The discounted bento was heated in the microwave.
Itsuki sat on the sofa in the living room, fiddling with his phone and waiting.
Ai stood beside him, faithfully performing her duties like the head maid in a medieval European noble family, and would occasionally ask about his well-being.
"Onii-chan, are you thirsty? Ai will go get you a glass of water."
"No, I'm afraid you'll poison the water."
"Then would you like Ai to peel an apple for you?"
"No, I'm afraid you'll poison the apple like the old witch from Snow White."
"Then Ai will help you massage your legs and relax your body."
"No, I'm afraid you'll..."
He raised his eyelids and said, "Please go ahead."
After getting the consent, Ai immediately put on a sweet smile, sat next to him, and gently hit his thigh with her little fist.
"Very good; Ai has successfully taken the first step."
"This small fry is slowly letting down his guard against me." She thought
He snorted suddenly while looking at his phone.
"Ah? What's wrong?"
This startled Ai, and she reduced the strength on her hands guiltily.
"Don't you know that if someone shows too much kindness for no reason, he is either a traitor or a thief?"
He put down his phone and looked at Ai calmly.
"What? A traitor and a thief. Ai doesn't quite understand."
Ai's brain seemed to be overclocked, and she said quickly, "Didn't Onii-chan ask me to be a slave to pay off my debt? I just wanted to perform well so that Onii-chan can forgive me sooner."
"Oh? Is that so?"
"Of course, Ai would never lie."
In order to dispel Itsuki's doubts, Ai forced out a cute smile and giggled twice.
"When did you become so sensible?"
He curled the corners of his mouth, stretched out his hands, and pinched Ai's soft face, kneading it into various shapes, as if he were playing with a doll.
He didn't know what she was up to, but he knew what kind of person she was.
How could a little two-faced devil who was used to disguising herself in front of outsiders possibly submit to someone she had once bullied?
She definitely has other intentions.
"Hehe, it's all thanks to Onii-chan's good education."
She smiled and raised her pretty face towards him, like a docile cat asking for its owner's love and support.
"Well said. I can't help but reward you with some pocket money." He smiled with satisfaction and gently rubbed her hair.
"Huh? Really?"
Her eyes lit up, and her expression was no longer as fake as before.
After leaving Itsuki, the stable ATM, her own pocket money was not enough for her own spending, and it was all squandered before the end of the month.
"Yeah, but I fortunately held back."
She froze there as if the pause button had been pressed.
After a long pause, she forced a smile and said, "Haha, Onii-chan is really good at joking. Ai almost took it seriously."
Suddenly, there was a noise coming from the microwave.
He walked into the kitchen and took out the steaming bento from the microwave. He ignored Ai, who was sitting on the sofa, and went upstairs on his own.
Seeing this, she followed Itsuki on the stairs.
Returning to the bedroom, he threw away his schoolbag.
"Why are you following me?"
He glanced at her, as she was standing in front of the door.
"I... I came to see if Onii-chan needs any help, hehe."
Her eyes wandered around.
"Then go to the bathroom and run me some hot water. I'm going to take a shower after dinner."
"Okay, Onii-chan!"
She immediately stood up and agreed. After leaving the room, she very sensibly closed the door for him.
"I have already gained the initial trust of that small fry."
"The 'tree-cutting operation' is progressing rapidly. Ai needs to keep up the good work and keep going."
After she left, he checked his system panel while chewing a large piece of barbecued pork.
The revenge points have accumulated to 700 points, but he already knew the driving and cooking skills in the system mall.
If it was a higher-level "intermediate," he might exchange it for it to try out the effect.
Besides, how could a poor guy like him afford to drive a car?
The only Honda car in the family is the one that Eiko has been using.
As for cooking, he has handed it over to Ai and will probably rarely cook by himself in the future.
"I can only wait until next Monday when the mall is refreshed to see if there are any useful skills."
He thought to himself and then turned his gaze to the only item in the mall, "Steel Mixture.".
Within five minutes of taking it, your strength and defense will be greatly increased, and you will be immune to some pain, but you will fall into a weak period after the effect of the drug wears off.
"Isn't this adrenaline?"
He curled his lips, thinking that the broken system was exaggerating.
"I bought it."
But complaints aside, he still had to buy it. After all, the price was only 300 points, which he could definitely afford.
Besides, the mall will be refreshed in a few days, and he doesn't know when he will be able to get it next time.
The system prompted "Exchange successful," but Itsuki did not receive the medicine in his hands.
Instead, it was stored in his exclusive space like cash, and he could use it at any time by selecting it with his consciousness.
This is quite convenient, as it saves him from having to physically take out a small medicine bottle to take drugs when he is in danger.
After finishing eating, he walked into the bathroom on the second floor carrying his clothes.
…
When she woke up the next morning, Ai was still as humble and respectful as ever.
At one point, he even suspected that she was mentally ill.
Or maybe he suffers from Stockholm syndrome and has an unusually high tolerance.
"Never mind."
If an enemy comes, he will fight them.
How could he be afraid of a two-faced little girl who was spoiled by her mother?
After stuffing the lunch box on the table into his schoolbag, he walked to the entrance and changed into flat shoes.
"Onii-chan, Ai prepared breakfast for you; don't you want to have some?"
Holding boiled eggs and instant sandwiches, she gave him a sweet smile.
"No, I'm not hungry."
He merely just glanced at her, then looked away, pushed open the door, and walked out.