“All right.”
Kiryu Kazusuke did not feel much psychological burden over it.
The other party had probably taken him for one of Imagawa Ori’s suitors, which was why she had made this demand—she simply wanted to use it to deal him a blow.
Nakamori Sachiko looked relaxed, as though victory were already in her grasp.
If she really did use money to stun someone senseless, then all he could hope was that when the time came, Doctor Imagawa would not still think she was joking right up until the moment she reached her hand in.
“Very good.”
The smile on Nakamori Sachiko’s face deepened.
Just then.
A waiter came over, carrying an ice bucket in his hands. Slanted inside was a bottle of champagne with a pale pink body, a small shield-shaped label hanging from its neck.
Dom Pérignon Rosé.
The waiter placed the ice bucket steadily on the table, then used a corkscrew to pry open the cork with practiced elegance.
There was a soft pop.
A stream of fine bubbles surged from the mouth of the bottle.
He picked up two tulip-shaped champagne flutes, first pouring Nakamori Sachiko half a glass, then pouring one for Kiryu Kazusuke.
Before long.
A figure appeared beside the booth.
The newcomer wore a well-tailored black suit. Two buttons were undone at the collar of the white shirt, revealing a small stretch of collarbone.
Her features were exquisite, and when arranged together, they possessed a coolness that transcended gender.
However, when she reached the booth, her steps clearly paused.
It was normal for Nakamori Sachiko to be here.
But why was there also a man sitting beside her?
If she was not mistaken, wasn’t this the resident from the medical office, Kiryu Kazusuke?
Had her part-time job been exposed?
Gunma University Hospital was a national hospital, and its doctors held the status of national civil servants or equivalent. In other words, they were governed by the National Public Service Act and the Local Public Service Act.
Therefore, in principle, she was not permitted to work part-time outside.
Unless she could obtain permission from the National Personnel Authority or the hospital.
If it were a part-time job helping cover shifts, seeing outpatients, or performing surgeries at another hospital, then she might still have been granted approval.
But cross-dressing as a man and working as the No.1 at “Kagura Club”?
Once the matter came to light, at best she would be suspended for reflection; at worst, she would be dismissed outright. She might even have her medical license revoked for damaging the hospital’s reputation.
Imagawa Ori, who had already obtained her specialist certification, naturally understood this.
But she had still done it.
The reason was simple. Under the medical office system, even after becoming a specialist, she was still cheap labor, and her income could hardly be called very impressive—roughly around the national average annual income.
Here, as long as she coaxed women well and opened a few bottles of expensive champagne, her earnings could easily exceed a month of her salary.
While she was still young, if she could make money off her youth, then she ought to.
A series of questions surfaced in her mind, but Imagawa Ori’s expression quickly settled, revealing no abnormality at all.
“Nakamori-san, good evening. It’s only been a few days, and you’ve become even more beautiful.”
She continued playing the role of Imagawa Nao, opening with a voice that carried a slightly androgynous, magnetic texture.
Only then did she look toward Kiryu Kazusuke.
“However, who might this be?”
A faint trace of displeasure at being offended entered Imagawa Ori’s tone.
At a time like this, she could only assume that Kiryu Kazusuke had not recognized her—or that she had mistaken him for someone else.
“Could it be that Imagawa-kun doesn’t know him?”
Nakamori Sachiko picked up her glass of water and took a sip, seeming to greatly enjoy the small display of possessiveness Imagawa Ori had shown.
“Someone I know?”
Imagawa Ori turned her face slightly and studied Kiryu Kazusuke for a while longer, her expression carrying just the right amount of confusion.
“I only met him at the entrance just now as well. As soon as he came in, he asked specifically for you, Imagawa-kun.”
Nakamori Sachiko let out a soft laugh as she spoke, then set down the glass of water in her hand.
Imagawa Ori’s expression stiffened.
He had specifically asked for her?
Sure enough, it was Kiryu Kazusuke, the resident from the medical office. How had he found out she was working part-time here, and even learned her stage name?
But she said nothing, only let her gaze fall on Kiryu Kazusuke.
“I came after hearing about this place from a friend at the university hospital,” Kiryu Kazusuke hurriedly explained. “My friend said Imagawa-kun is actually a girl, so I specially came to see for myself.”
This could be considered giving her a way out.
After all, something like “Doctor Imagawa, you wouldn’t want others to find out that you’re working as a host for rich women, would you?” could only be said in private.
Imagawa Ori felt slightly more at ease.
Since Kiryu Kazusuke did not intend to expose her on the spot, there was still room to maneuver.
“So you’re a guest who came because of my reputation. Thank you very much for your support.”
She revealed an expression of sudden realization, then prepared to sit beside Kiryu Kazusuke. After all, the waiter had just told her that he was the one who had asked for her.
“Imagawa-kun.”
Nakamori Sachiko spoke, her face expressionless.
She had brought Kiryu Kazusuke in to give Imagawa Ori a sense of crisis, not because she truly wanted to create an opportunity for the two of them to get to know each other.
She was the star of tonight, and also the sole patron.
Although Nakamori Sachiko had not said anything yet, here at “Kagura Club,” reading the room was a basic survival skill everyone had to master.
And in this regard, Imagawa Ori was naturally among the best.
Still, she said nothing. She merely adjusted her posture, took a natural step forward, and sat down beside Nakamori Sachiko.
Nakamori Sachiko was extremely pleased by this small gesture of hers.
“In order for you, Imagawa-kun, to feel my intentions more clearly.”
She placed her hand on Imagawa Ori’s shoulder, declaring her ownership. Then she raised her other hand.
A waiter waiting not far away immediately trotted over and bowed respectfully.
“Nakamori-san, what can I do for you?”
“Set up a champagne tower.”
“You mean a champagne tower?”
The waiter was stunned for a moment. He had bent down precisely because he was afraid he would not hear the guest’s request clearly, but now, even though he had heard it clearly, he still could not help confirming it again with some uncertainty.
“That’s right. Just make it a simple six-tier one.”
“As for the champagne, use the best Louis Roederer Cristal your club has.”
Although Nakamori Sachiko was speaking, the corner of her eye was glancing toward Kiryu Kazusuke.
Louis Roederer Cristal, with its transparent crystal bottle and gold cellophane wrapping, was extremely eye-catching. It was a favorite of hip-hop singers and Western celebrities, and here, its price was as high as 200,000 yen per bottle.
To build a six-tier champagne tower required ninety-one glasses and seventeen bottles of champagne.
That was a total consumption of 3.4 million yen.
In this depressed era after the collapse of the bubble economy, such a scene of lavish spending had not appeared for a very long time.
Even a few years ago, it was the sort of legendary scene that would only occur when the very top guests celebrated the birthday or anniversary of the very top star host.
Tonight was neither anyone’s birthday nor any anniversary.
The only reason Nakamori Sachiko wanted to open a champagne tower for Imagawa Nao was to demonstrate her power to Kiryu Kazusuke.
“Nakamori-san, this is far too extravagant. How could I possibly…”
Although Imagawa Ori was overjoyed deep down, her face still revealed a look of being overwhelmed by favor, and she hurriedly declined.
Of course, these were merely polite words for the occasion.
She had no reason to refuse, nor was it possible for her to refuse.