Chapter 809: My brother can't be this popular!

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

They inevitably had to pass through an aisle beside the audience seating.

As soon as the two appeared, they were discovered by sharp-eyed audience members.

"Ah! It's Player Natsume!"

"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 audience members—most of whom were young and beautiful girls—quickly gathered around, blocking the path forward for the two.

Their faces were filled with excited blushes, and their eyes sparkled with worship.

"Natsume-kun! Please give me an autograph!"

"Can we take a photo together? Just one!"

"Too amazing! Actually beat a semi-pro!"

"Look here! Natsume-kun!"

They waved notebooks, match brochures, and some even handed out their phones directly.

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

Several hands holding pens almost poked into Natsume Chikage's eyes.

More bold girls tried to get closer by taking advantage of the crowd, the faint scent of perfume mixed in the air.

Suzuki Takayuki, witnessing this scene, couldn't help but stop his steps.

He stood half a step behind Natsume Chikage, watching his opponent surrounded by girls, the corners of his mouth twitching uncontrollably a few times.

A complex emotion surged into his heart.

There was a faint sense of disparity as a fellow contestant who was ignored.

And there was an even deeper worry for Akatsuki.

*Akatsuki... *

*If she wants to gain Natsume-kun's true heart... *

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

Natsume Chikage 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 surrounding him now, and the enthusiasm was higher.

He was not used to being such a focus.

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

*Can't stay here anymore. *

As soon as this thought arose, he immediately reacted.

"Sorry, everyone, excuse me."

His gaze scanned quickly, looking for an escape path.

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

After speaking, he ignored the pleas and calls around him, turned slightly, and drilled out from the gaps in the crowd with flexible steps.

He walked quickly towards the direction of the restroom on the venue's sign without looking back.

Leaving behind a group of slightly disappointed audience members, and Suzuki Takayuki standing in place with a complex expression.

Soon.

Natsume Chikage came to the restroom alone.

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

The air was filled with a faint scent of detergent.

Natsume Chikage walked into a stall and locked the door behind him.

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

Having escaped the siege of 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 won from Morimoto Yuki earlier was lying securely in his ordinary wallet.

He first moved his mind slightly, confirming 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 was originally placed there as a physical entity disappearing.

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

Subsequently, Natsume Chikage took out the thick stack of banknotes from his ordinary daily wallet.

150,000 yen, quite heavy in his hand.

He concentrated, his gaze locked on one of the 10,000 yen banknotes.

With a thought—store!

Like magic.

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

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

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

Sure enough!

Beside the icon, in the place that was originally empty, a line of clear small text appeared:

【10,000 yen】 ===== CHAPTER 810 =====