"So Hinata Manor is finally built."
Standing at the gate, looking at the courtyard in front of him, Fang Zheng nodded with satisfaction.
This is primarily a benefit for the members of the Dark Moon Sword Guild.
It’s been a few months since the Death Game incident, and everyone has resumed their daily routines — going to work or school. However, there’s the issue of distance — quite a few people live far from school, making the daily commute quite a hassle. Of course, it’s not a big deal for someone like Asuna who has money, but it’s not as friendly for someone like Black Cat who might be struggling financially. Plus, taxis in Japan are incredibly expensive and unaffordable for most students.
As for trains? Are you kidding? Trains during school rush hours are nightmare!
Even though Black Cat is now relatively well-off, thanks to the household’s thriftiness. Once, Fang Zheng overheard Black Cat complaining about it, so he promptly came up with a solution — buy a piece of land near the school and build a dormitory!
It’s just a place to live, right? Forget the dormitory, if you think the university is too far, I’ll even move the university for you!
This is boyfriend power! Rich and wilful!
If you wanted a fish pond, I’d even contract that for you!
Ultimately, Fang Zheng bought a large piece of land in this valuable location and built a dormitory, entirely in a Japanese style. It’s right next to Black Cat and her friends’ school, and not far from a business district and University City, making it a prime location with convenient transportation. Walking is all it takes to get anywhere, and the pleasant surrounding scenery makes it all the more comfortable.
To commemorate his childhood, Fang Zheng named it Hinata Manor.
"Looks nice."
Fang Zheng walked into Hinata Manor and looked around at the setup. The whole place was constructed like a Japanese hot spring inn, with a main building, a new building, and an annex. There’s a river and an artificial pond in the back, with a restaurant next to it. In front of the new building is a large parking lot, and naturally, a hot spring is a must-have for any hot spring inn...
"Commander."
"Oh, Belfast, thanks for your hard work."
At this moment, a girl in a black-and-white maid outfit approached with a smile and slightly bowed to Fang Zheng, who nodded in return. Since it’s an apartment, it needs a manager, so Fang Zheng chose Belfast from the Azure Fleet to oversee Hinata Manor. After all, Belfast’s maid skills and prowess are exceptional, making her more than capable of managing the apartment.
Of course, Fang Zheng is equally assured about the safety — because Belfast’s ship is flying above Hinata Manor, in a lower earth orbit. Anyone with ill intentions toward Hinata Manor would quickly face justice from orbit.
"How are things going?"
"Everything is smooth, and here is the occupancy list."
As she spoke, Belfast handed over the register, and Fang Zheng immediately started reviewing it.
Unsurprisingly, the names of Asuna, Eiriri, and Black Cat were all on it. Girls of this age clearly crave freedom, which is normal. In addition, Fang Zheng also saw Aoba Suzukaze’s name. According to her, this place is closer to the company...
And then there’s Shiina Mashiro.
"By the way, Commander, there’s something I would like to ask you."
Just as Fang Zheng was about to head to the station to pick up the girl named Shiina Mashiro, Belfast seemed to remember something and spoke up.
"What is it?"
Fang Zheng turned to Belfast, who nodded.
"In fact, I’ve received calls in the past couple of days asking if any rooms at Hinata Manor are available for rent."
Hearing this, Fang Zheng frowned slightly. Strictly speaking, it’s not surprising to receive such inquiries, given the prime location with convenient transportation and numerous schools around. Naturally, those who want to live nearby to avoid crowded trains are more. But...
"Not for rent at the moment."
Fang Zheng shook his head. This is a benefit for the Dark Moon Sword Guild, and apart from that, girls from other worlds who come to this world can stay here too. For example, Nanoha, Fate, Little Sakura, Shisei, and Shana, they all have their own rooms here. Although they don’t come often, they have a place to stay when they do. That’s the real purpose of building Hinata Manor. He doesn’t intend to earn money from it, and thus, he doesn’t want strangers coming in to disturb him.
"Understood."
Belfast nodded, and Fang Zheng said nothing more, waved his hand, and went out.
Such peace...
With hands in his pockets, Fang Zheng walked leisurely down the street. He didn’t intend to drive to the station — for one, there was still time before the appointed hour, and second, the station wasn’t far, just about a half-hour walk.
That’s why you say the place is worth its weight in gold, but Fang Zheng claims he can buy it even if it’s worth its weight in diamonds.
Being rich means being this wilful.
"Meow... meow..."
As Fang Zheng passed by a shrine, he heard a cat’s meow. Curious, he turned his head toward the sound. Beneath the shrine’s Torii stood a cardboard box containing a little white cat meowing softly. Next to the box, a girl in a school uniform with a ponytail stood, looking hesitant, as if unsure of what to do.
Fang Zheng walked over and looked at the white cat in the box. Judging by its appearance, it was slightly larger than the kittens at home, but not by much. Turning to the girl with the single ponytail, he asked.
"Did you abandon this cat?"
"Huh?"
Hearing Fang Zheng’s question, the ponytail girl was taken aback, then hurriedly waved her hands.
"No, no, no, I just saw the cat looked pitiable, so..."
"So do you want to keep it?"
Hearing this, the girl looked down dejectedly.
"I want to, but..."
"Then would you mind if I take it in?"
As a cat lover, Fang Zheng has a soft spot for cats. Since he stumbled upon this one, he might as well keep it at Hinata Manor. Moreover, Fang Zheng also plans to keep Musesha here, too. Anyway, that Erha isn’t really an Erha. Of course, if it dares to act like one at Hinata Manor, Fang Zheng will send it to Yulin for a festival straight away.
"Is... is that really okay?"
Hearing Fang Zheng’s words, the ponytail high school girl seemed a bit uncertain, mostly because Fang Zheng’s appearance was quite distinctive. Even though his outfit was more casual today, it was obvious he was either wealthy or well-connected. In the girl’s mind, someone like him shouldn’t be adopting an abandoned cat but buying the finest breeds from pet stores.
"Of course, but I don’t have time now. Please take this cat to Hinata Manor — just keep following this road, and you’ll see it. Tell the administrator inside that Fang Zheng wants it kept there, and she’ll understand."
After all, he was going to pick someone up, so naturally, he couldn’t bring such a cat with him. After saying this, Fang Zheng waved his hand and turned to leave. The ponytailed girl watched Fang Zheng’s departing figure, stunned, wanting to say something but not knowing what to say.
"Meow..."
At this moment, the kitten in the box meowed again, and the ponytailed girl gritted her teeth and picked up the box, running towards the direction Fang Zheng had pointed out.
Meanwhile, Fang Zheng, having done his good deed, swaggered his way to the station.
Eiriri was also unreliable in her arrangements; she only gave Fang Zheng the name of the person and the arrival time of the train, but no photo. However... was this a problem for Fang Zheng?
Of course not, he had already prepared a solution.
Fang Zheng grabbed a sign and swiftly wrote "Shiina Mashiro" in big characters on it, then held it up.
In Fang Zheng’s view, with characters this large, anyone could see them!
As long as they’re not blind.
So Fang Zheng confidently waited there with the sign, waiting for the girl named "Shiina Mashiro."
Time ticked away, minute by minute.
The sun set, the evening came.
Until night fell, no one had approached to meet him. Instead, several girls invited him for dinner, which Fang Zheng naturally declined.
But what’s going on? Didn’t she come?
Thinking about this, Fang Zheng looked around curiously.
Then, he saw a blonde girl sitting on a nearby bench.
She was seated there, gazing dumbly at the sky, saying nothing.
Could this girl be Shiina Mashiro?
Fang Zheng hesitated for a moment but walked over, looked at the girl in front of him, and asked.
"Shiina Mashiro?"
Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s voice, the blonde girl finally lowered her head slightly, focusing her gaze on Fang Zheng. Then, she suddenly spoke.
"What color do you want to become?"
"Color?"
Faced with this inexplicable and peculiar question from the girl, Fang Zheng was also stunned. He thought for a moment and then answered.
"Yellow, I guess. What about you?"
"I haven’t thought about it."
The girl quietly replied, then lowered her head, looking at the petals on her skirt.
"Right now, maybe... white."
"So you’re Shiina Mashiro... I’m Fang Zheng, sort of the person in charge at Hinata Manor, and Eiriri asked me to pick you up."
"Hinata Manor?"
"It’s the place where you’ll be staying next."
While speaking, Fang Zheng casually picked up the box beside Shiina Mashiro.
"Alright, let’s go."
By the time Fang Zheng took Shiina Mashiro to Hinata Manor, it was already dinner time.
"Eiriri, how did you trick her into coming here?"
Fang Zheng took a moment, caught Eiriri, and asked, to which Eiriri blinked.
"What do you mean trick? She wanted to draw manga and decided to come to Japan, and her parents entrusted my father to look after her. My father then handed the task over to me... I didn’t say anything."
"I’m really amazed she managed to come to Japan alone. Seeing her dumb and silly look, I feel like she’ll be tricked away by someone."
"Dumb and silly? She’s fine, isn’t she?"
Hearing Fang Zheng’s comment, Eiriri curiously glanced at Shiina Mashiro sitting on the sofa.
"I’ve heard she’s a world-renowned genius artist."
"Well, a world-renowned genius artist comes here to draw manga, and you persuaded her to draw adult-themed ones. Aren’t you afraid her parents will strangle you?"
"With Mr. Fang Zheng here, I’m not worried at all."
Eiriri cheerfully gestured at Fang Zheng.
"So for this period, please take care of Mashiro. Anyway, Mr. Fang Zheng, you’re quite free recently. Of course, if you can use your skills to make Mashiro our good friend, it would be even better."
"Did you lure her over here with that intention?"
Hearing this, Fang Zheng rolled his eyes helplessly, while Eiriri laughed, turned around, and left.
"Never mind."
Looking at Eiriri’s back, Fang Zheng shrugged his shoulders.
Anyway, idle hands are the devil’s workshop. Just consider it a vacation...

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