CHAPTER 17: CHAPTER 17: AUCTION – PART 1

With the promise of seeing each other again, Zayden said goodbye to Sakurako.

But before parting, he gave her a gift.

It was the Garmin Lily 2 Active watch. With integrated GPS and complete wellness features.

He chose one with lilac straps.

It wasn’t too expensive, 52,800 yen.

It wasn’t a difficult gift to accept.

The most important thing was that she would use it; there was no point in giving something expensive if she wouldn’t wear it.

"Once again, thank you for the gift, I really liked it~" She said cheerfully.

Laughing a little, Zayden replied: "As long as you like it, that’s what matters."

After she met up with her grandfather and Zayden waved back as she left with him, he turned his attention to the blinking screen in front of his retina.

───────────

[Multiplier 21!]

───────────

He picked up his smartphone and saw the received message.

[You received 1,108,800 yen]

He checked the time and saw it was 11:32 in the morning.

’Very well...’ He thought: ’I’ll have lunch somewhere and decide what to do this afternoon.’

...

Zayden ordered some x-burgers and went to eat at the shopping mall’s food court. In front of him, there was a large television.

He took a bite of his x-burger while watching what was playing on the TV.

{Here are the latest news. A gang of bikers, led by Hideoshi Masubuchi, has been arrested on various charges, mainly vandalism, public disturbance, and suspicion of sexual abuse crimes. As some of the victims are minors, we will continue with the news_____}

’Oh, those pieces of trash.’ Zayden recalled them.

He had his suspicions, but knowing that they really abused minors made him feel like vomiting.

Picking up his smartphone, he sent a message to his mother.

That done, he ignored what was playing on the television and continued eating.

**

**

In the presidential suite, Zayden set aside the clothes he would wear.

He couldn’t just dress sloppily, after all, it was a social event.

Wearing tailored dark-toned pants and a suit from [Miracle Z], Zayden also wore dress shoes and a tie that cost over six figures.

He also wore the watch his mother had given him as a gift and a ring on his index finger.

Looking at himself in the mirror, he thought of a music video he had seen. It featured a man in a blue suit who winked and pointed at women, and they fell to their knees with a smitten look.

Imagining himself doing the same, he shook his head in embarrassment. Doing something like that was too much, even for him.

There was still an hour before meeting Tsukasa.

From the hotel to her house, it was a maximum of 30 minutes by car.

He went to the living room to kill some time watching television.

...

It was ten minutes to 7 p.m.

When he finished sending a message to Tsukasa, letting her know he had arrived and was waiting for her, he saw the lights outside turn on and the main entrance door of the mansion open.

A familiar face appeared, though with a different hair color.

Instead of bright blonde, the woman sported long, smooth, silky dark brown hair that fluttered in the wind.

She brought her hand to the side of her face as she approached, wearing a long, one-shoulder, strapless mermaid-style dress in emerald green satin with a Kenya slit. She completed the look with high heels, a diamond necklace, and a Harry Winston Avenue Lady Avenue Drops watch.

’Tsukasa?’ Only when he noticed the watch did he realize it might be her.

When she reached the gate, she pursed her lips with red lipstick, then a perfect arc of a smile formed, and she said: "Sorry, did you wait long?"

Zayden, who was waiting outside the car, said: "No, I just got here... By the way, you look beautiful. Your hair... The dark brown color suits you a lot."

"Fufu, this is my natural hair color. That color from before was something temporary I did for fun, and it would only last a day." She said as she approached after opening and closing the smaller gate on the side: "It was pure coincidence that I met you with that hair color~"

"I see." Zayden opened the door, saying: "Get in, it’s cold outside."

Smiling, she nodded.

After she got in, he closed the door.

After walking around the car and getting in, Zayden saw her putting on her seatbelt.

Sitting down and doing the same, he didn’t start the car but instead looked at her.

"Is there something on my face?" She asked while touching her face.

"Sorry. I got captivated by you and ended up getting a bit lost." Zayden replied.

"Wow!" She puffed out her cheeks, turning her face to the window: "I don’t need that kind of flattery..."

"But I’m not flattering?" He chuckled softly.

She blushed even more at his response.

Starting the car, he drove off.

The auction was to take place in a hall at the luxury hotel, Ritz Volts.

Unlike the hotel he was staying at, which was also luxurious, the Ritz Volts was even more opulent and massive. It had 492 rooms, 99 of which were suites (like executive suites and royal suites).

When they stopped at the first traffic light, Tsukasa looked at him and, with a smile, said: "I forgot to tell you... You look really cool in that outfit~ If I didn’t know, I wouldn’t guess you were still in high school. I’d easily think you were already in college."

"Really?" Zayden smiled at her. Then, he remembered something: "By the way, from your family... Are you the only one going?"

"Yes, my father was supposed to go, but he had another commitment, so I was sent in his place." She replied.

Zayden imagined that her father’s wives probably didn’t want to go without him. Well, maybe they did, but they also had commitments?

...

At the Ritz Volts, after arriving, Zayden and Tsukasa walked down the red carpet at the hotel’s entrance.

At the venue, there were several reporters taking photos and filming the entrance.

Some flashes nearly blinded them.

A model with a famous actor had just stepped out of a limousine, and all the attention was drawn to them.

Taking advantage of the moment, Zayden and Tsukasa entered the hotel.

...

After being guided to the charity auction hall, several decorated tables stood out. On each table, there were table markers, one with a number and another with the name of the family to which the table belonged.

The Takeda family’s table was number 7 and was very close to the stage.

Polite greetings were exchanged until they reached their table.

In the background, the sound of a piano echoed through the grand hall.

The lights were bright but not to the point of irritating the eyes.

When Tsukasa and Zayden sat down, waiters approached them, offering drinks.

Tsukasa ordered a wine and something to eat as well.

The event would officially start at 8:00 p.m. There were still several unoccupied tables.

"Don’t you plan to socialize with them?" Zayden nodded toward a group of girls who were talking and laughing, casting glances in their direction.

"Ohh, them." The disinterest was evident in her voice and face: "Better not." She held his hand, smiling provocatively: "I’d rather stay here and talk with you~"