Chapter 497

Xia Xia Xia Mujun shook his head with a smile, the smile carrying a hint of disdain for so-called "standards" that even he himself didn't notice.

"Nothing else."

"As for the rest, I really don't care."

"What I care about is only that feeling when I'm with her."

"If the feeling is right, everything else doesn't seem to be a problem anymore."

Suzuki Takayuki fell into deep thought.

He looked at Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s outstanding facial features and calm temperament, which were hard to hide even in the light, and suddenly understood a little.

If Xia Xia Xia Mujun says so... it also fits his own situation very well.

With Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s looks and gradually emerging talent, what kind of beautiful and excellent girlfriend couldn't he find?

Therefore, compared to external conditions, he values internal feelings and the comfort of being together more, which actually seems more real, and also more... elusive.

Thinking of this, Suzuki Takayuki felt that Akatsuki might really need to put more effort into "internal feelings" and "natural interaction."

But as he thought about it...

An irrepressible heartache and regret surged into Suzuki Takayuki’s heart like a tide again.

He felt heartbroken that he couldn't personally give Akatsuki happiness, couldn't be the person who made her feel "comfortable and natural."

He felt even more heartbroken that he hadn't been able to beat Xia Xia Xia Mujun in the arena.

If he had won...

Where would there be a need to carefully probe, humbly plead, and painfully imagine here?

He would just need to be like a true winner, watching Akatsuki and Xia Xia Xia Mujun move toward happiness under the opportunity he "created."

Although the thought of the girl he likes eventually liking another boy still made his heart ache as if it were being pinched...

But if that boy was of low character and not worth entrusting, Suzuki Takayuki would never agree, even if he violated the bet, he wouldn't hand Akatsuki over.

But if it were Xia Xia Xia Mujun...

He stared at the calm, powerful boy who still stood tall in adversity, and the unwillingness in his heart caused by the defeat strangely calmed down a bit.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s looks were impeccable, his strength was shocking, and his character and sense of responsibility could stand up to scrutiny.

Losing to such a person...

Suzuki Takayuki was convinced.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun and Suzuki Takayuki were on their way back to the area where Furukawa Masahiro and the others were.

They inevitably had to pass through a corridor next to the spectator stands.

As soon as the two appeared, they were spotted by sharp-eyed spectators.

"Ah! It’s Player Xia!"

"He won! He won!"

A few excited shouts were like stones thrown into a calm water surface, instantly stirring up ripples.

The crowd began to stir.

Immediately after, more than a dozen spectators—most of them young and beautiful girls—quickly gathered around, blocking their path forward.

Their faces were flushed with excitement, and their eyes shone with worship.

"Xia Xia Xia Mujun! Please give me an autograph!"

"Can we take a photo? Just one!"

"Too amazing! He actually beat a quasi-professional!"

"Look here! Xia Xia Xia Mujun!"

They waved notebooks and competition brochures in their hands, and some even handed out their phones directly.

Their voices were chattering, carrying the enthusiasm and boldness unique to youth.

Several hands holding pens were almost poking into Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s face.

Even bolder girls tried to use the crowding of the crowd to get closer, and the faint scent of perfume mixed in the air.

Witnessing this scene, Suzuki Takayuki couldn't help but pause.

He stood half a step behind Xia Xia Xia Mujun, looking at his opponent surrounded by the girls, and the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably a few times.

A complex emotion surged into his heart.

There was both a faint sense of disparity from being a fellow contestant but receiving no attention.

And an even deeper worry for Akatsuki.

*Akatsuki...*

*If she wants to win Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s true heart...*

*The challenges she faces are probably far more than just the gap in shogi skills.*

Xia Xia Xia Mujun was clearly also startled by this sudden "siege."

Compared to the situation after winning the first battle in the morning, there were clearly more people gathering around now, and the enthusiasm was even higher.

He was not used to being such a focus.

Especially when he noticed a girl trying hard to squeeze over from the side, almost sticking to his arm, his brows furrowed imperceptibly, and his body instinctively shrank back.

*Can't stay here any longer.*

Once this thought arose, he reacted immediately.

"Sorry, everyone, excuse me."

He scanned quickly, looking for an escape route.

"I... am going to the restroom."

After saying that, he ignored the pleas and calls around him, turned slightly, and drilled out through the gaps in the crowd with fairly agile steps.

He walked quickly toward the direction of the restroom on the arena sign without looking back.

Leaving behind a group of slightly disappointed spectators, and Suzuki Takayuki, who was standing in place with a complex expression.

Soon.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun arrived at the restroom alone.

It was relatively quiet here, with only the low hum of the exhaust fan and the occasional sound of water dripping.

The air was filled with a faint scent of cleaning agent.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun walked into a stall and locked the door behind him.

He leaned his back against the cold door panel and let out a soft breath.

Having shaken off the crowd, he immediately thought of the more important thing—testing the ability of the "Leather Wallet" he had just obtained.

Just right, the 150,000 yen in cash he had won from Morimoto Yūki earlier was currently lying safely in his regular wallet.

He first moved his mind slightly and confirmed the existence of the "Leather Wallet" in the item bar.

The dark brown icon was floating quietly.

Immediately after, he focused his mind, trying to "equip" or "enable" it.

In an instant.

He felt a slight lightness in his pants pocket—that was the feeling of the "Leather Wallet" that had been there as a physical object disappearing.

It didn't really disappear, but had gone into the panel.

Subsequently, Xia Xia Xia Mujun took out the thick stack of banknotes from his regular daily wallet.

150,000 yen, quite heavy in his hand.

He focused his mind, locking his gaze on one of the 10,000 yen banknotes.

A thought moved—store!

As if by magic.

The 10,000 yen banknote in his hand disappeared into thin air instantly.

No sound, no light effects, it just disappeared naturally.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun immediately sank his consciousness into the system panel and looked at the icon of the "Leather Wallet" in the equipment bar.

Sure enough!

Next to the icon, in a place that was empty before, a line of clear small text now floated:

[10,000 yen]