"As an Ojou-sama, utilizing both rewards and punishments is the way to govern subordinates. I'm no black-hearted capitalist, you know." Yamada Elf put her hands on her hips, proudly lifting her chin, revealing her snow-white, slender swan neck.
"So Servant, accept this reward list with tears of gratitude."
"As long as you have enough redemption points, you can come to me to redeem rewards."
"All the rewards on there can be redeemed."
After a pause, the blonde loli averted her gaze, her small face flushing slightly:
"I-Including the kiss..."
After finishing her sentence, Yamada Elf hurriedly added with a red face:
"Of course, a kiss is the highest tier reward. You need at least one hundred redemption points to redeem it!"
Sora asked curiously:
"How many redemption points do I have now?"
The blonde loli extended her right hand, holding up a slender, jade-like finger, her voice sweet and pleasant:
"Servant performed well today. Not only did you carry me up and down the stairs, but you also helped exterminate the bugs... So I'll give you one redemption point."
Good heavens, that's not even a pittance! How can you have the nerve to say you're not a black-hearted capitalist!
"The legendary reward that can only be looked at but never successfully redeemed, right?"
Sora couldn't help but complain:
"You should just take the redemption list back."
"No." Yamada Elf put her hands on her hips, rejecting him outright, and proudly lifted her chin.
"This lady never goes back on her word!"
After a pause, Yamada Elf continued:
"I hadn't finished speaking earlier... Servant came to rescue me yesterday, I naturally haven't forgotten this debt of gratitude. I can give Servant fifty redemption points."
Hearing this, Sora looked at the redemption list in his hand: "To be this generous... Can I redeem a Lap Pillow + Back Walking now?"
"And..."
Yamada Elf's small face burned hot, her gaze darting left and right, involuntarily lowering her voice:
"That day when I was trapped on the school roof, it was also Servant who came to save me. I remember it in my heart... So, so I'll give Servant another fifty redemption points."
The corner of Sora's mouth twitched slightly: "That makes a hundred points?"
"Y-Yes..."
Yamada Elf crossed her arms over her chest, looking over shyly:
"I keep my word. If Servant wants to redeem the highest-tier reward, I won't go back on it either..."
Wait a minute, you didn't intentionally want someone to redeem the kissing reward, did you?
It definitely is, right?
"What reward does Servant want to redeem?"
Yamada Elf tilted up her small face, looking over expectantly.
Sora said with a face full of righteousness:
"I want to redeem double the Lap Pillow + Back Walking reward."
"Ugh—"
Yamada Elf's cheeks quickly puffed up like an angry blowfish, clearly very dissatisfied with Sora's "failure to appreciate the situation." She kicked Sora's leg, then turned and walked away:
"Idiot Servant! So infuriating!"
"..."
Sora returned home, had a simple glass of water, and then began to work hard grinding his skills.
In the blink of an eye, it was 7:50 PM.
Buzz buzz.
His phone vibrated gently.
Picking up the phone, it was a message from Angel-sama:
"Sora-kun, it's almost 8:00 PM."
Clearly, Mahiru was worried Sora would forget their business, so she specifically sent a message to remind him:
"Leaving the house exactly at eight o'clock."
Turning off his computer, Sora told Sagiri he was leaving, then changed his clothes, put on his shoes, and headed out early.
However, just as he stepped outside, he was surprised to see a beautiful silhouette standing at the door next door, already waiting expectantly.
"Mahiru, sorry to keep you waiting."
Sora strode toward Angel-sama, his eyes brightening slightly.
For the convenience of their night run, Mahiru had tied her waist-length hair into a refreshing high ponytail. On top, she wore a simple, clean white short-sleeved shirt, and on the bottom, a pink athletic mini skirt. She wore black over-the-knee socks that made her legs look slender and straight, and pink sneakers on her feet. The simple color coordination made her look bright and beautiful.
Compared to her gentle and sweet demeanor at school, Mahiru at this moment appeared much more youthful and lively, exuding a cute aura.
Noticing Sora's appreciative gaze, Mahiru's pretty face flushed slightly. She tilted up her small face, her voice gentle:
"Sora-kun, good evening."
"Good evening." Sora asked curiously, "How long has Mahiru been out here?"
"I just came out not long ago." Mahiru raised her hand to tuck the stray hair by her ear, asking softly, "Does Sora-kun know a good place for a night run?"
"There's a large park two kilometers away. It has a man-made lake with a running track around it. I've been there before." Naturally, Sora was well-prepared.
"We'll ride our bikes there, and then run around the lake?"
"Sounds good."
"Then let's go get the bikes."
"..."
A few minutes later.
Sora and Angel-sama met up again. The two got on their bicycles and headed to the lakeside park together.
The journey was silent.
Upon arriving at the lakeside park, Sora led Mahiru to the bicycle parking area and parked their bikes in the designated spots:
"We can park here. Riding bikes isn't allowed inside, so we'll walk in."
"Okay."
Mahiru parked her bike and walked beside Sora. The two entered the park shoulder-to-shoulder.
Before long, a shimmering lake appeared before them. Looking around, they were surrounded by brilliantly lit skyscrapers, the night view dazzling.
Even though it was dark, the park was still quite lively. There were elderly people taking walks, young people jogging, couples sitting on the grass chatting, and even a band performing by the side of the path.
Sora followed the sound and saw four girls performing a street live show by the lake. Their backs looked somewhat familiar, as if he had seen them somewhere before.
"This park is so beautiful."
Mahiru widened her eyes in pleasant surprise, curiously looking around.
"It's very beautiful at night." Sora commented.
"If you come during the day, it feels very ordinary."
Click.
Mahiru took out her phone and started taking pictures.
Arriving at a place with beautiful scenery, one naturally wants to record it with a phone. Angel-sama was no exception.
"Sora-kun." Mahiru looked up, her pretty face slightly flushed, extending a soft invitation. "It's my first time coming to the lakeside park, it feels very meaningful... Let's take a group photo, okay?"
"No problem."
Sora naturally wouldn't refuse. He stepped over to Mahiru's side:
"Send the photo to me after you take it."
"Okay."
Mahiru's pretty face blushed slightly. She unobtrusively moved a half step closer to Sora, held up her phone, and started taking pictures.
Click click.
Angel-sama took several photos in a row before finally stopping.
Next was time for the night run.
The bike ride over served as a warm-up, so they didn't need to stretch and could start running directly.
There were still quite a few people night running at this hour. Sora and Mahiru matched their pace, their figures quickly blending into the night.
Time quietly slipped by.
Unknowingly, it was 9:00 PM.
"Hah... haah..."
Mahiru rested her hands on her knees, panting heavily, dripping with sweet-smelling sweat:
"Sora-kun, how long have we been running?"
"More than half an hour." Sora took out his phone and checked the sports app he had specifically downloaded.
"Being able to run three or four kilometers in one go, Mahiru is amazing."
"Sora-kun is clearly more amazing, you're not even panting..." Mahiru was panting heavily, her voice carrying a hint of acting spoiled.
"My legs are so sore, let's rest for a bit, okay?"
"Let's rest for a bit and grab something to drink." Sora looked around and saw a vending machine not far away. He walked over and bought two bottles of drinks.
"Does Mahiru need to use the restroom?"
"I do, I'm covered in sweat..."
After a quick wash up, Mahiru came out and saw a bench facing the lake not far away:
"There's a bench over there, let's go sit for a while."
The two walked towards the lake. Before long, a couple sitting on the grass came into view.
Both were young adults, currently kissing on the grass. The girl's skirt was flipped up, revealing a patch of snow-white, smooth thigh.
Mahiru's pretty face flushed slightly. She quickly stopped walking and grabbed Sora's right hand:
"Sora-kun, don't look."
Sora looked innocent: "My eyes just drifted over there on their own."
"Let's go sit somewhere else."
Mahiru pulled Sora, turning to leave. The two walked along the stone-paved path, heading towards the other side of the park.
The night grew deeper.
The lakeside park quietly fell silent, the number of visitors noticeably dwindling.
"Sora-kun..." While passing through a deserted small grove of trees, Mahiru suddenly stopped.
"Did you hear a sound?"
Sora listened carefully:
"Sounds like a cat meowing?"
"Sora-kun, let's look for it."
The two searched following the sound. Before long, they found a small, trembling kitten perched on a tree branch.