Dom Pérignon, the King of Champagne.
Its retail price on the market was thirty thousand yen, but in an establishment like this, service fees and premiums were tacked on, bringing the final price to eighty thousand yen a bottle.
"Nakamori-san said she would pay my bill. You aren't going back on your word, right?"
Kiryu Kazusuke asked gently, his face carrying a warm, pleasant smile.
Indeed, Branch Two had only required him to compete with Nakamori Sachiko for the right to have Imagawa Nao (Imagawa Ori) as an exclusive companion. It hadn't stipulated that he had to use his own money.
As Kiryu Kazusuke's voice rang out in the luxurious booth, the female guests at the surrounding tables, who had been speaking softly with their respective nominated male companions, all cast curious glances his way.
Since "Club Kagura" had opened its doors, it wasn't as if male customers had never set foot inside.
But they usually came accompanying important female clients, sitting quietly in the corners the entire time, honestly serving as wallets or background decorations.
Someone like this, who immediately turned the tables and started ordering upon arrival, was a first.
Moreover, what he had ordered was Dom Pérignon Rosé at double the price!
It was as if the very air smelled of burning money.
The staff and regulars all knew that Nakamori Sachiko was Imagawa Nao's number one patron, practically treating her as her exclusive property.
And the fact that Imagawa Nao was actually a woman disguised as a man was hardly a secret anymore.
Earlier on, a few male companions with poor performance had secretly reported this matter to their patrons in order to steal customers.
But as for the result—those who had gossiped were all kicked out.
And tonight, Nakamori Sachiko had brought in an unfamiliar man, and this man seemed to be preparing to challenge her claim of ownership over Imagawa Nao.
The server stood frozen in place, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
By all rights, he should have followed the guest's request and gone to call Imagawa Nao out.
But...
Because the patron footing the bill had not spoken.
On Nakamori Sachiko's well-maintained face, no emotional fluctuation could be seen.
Of course, she was also past the age where she wore her heart on her sleeve over trivial matters.
Nakamori Sachiko picked up the ice water the server had just poured for her, gently swirling the glass. The ice cubes inside let out crisp, clinking sounds.
"You know, with just one word from me, they'll have you thrown out, right?"
Kiryu Kazusuke was, of course, aware of this.
But he also knew that if he did nothing, wouldn't he truly become Nakamori Sachiko's tool?
"I know, but... Nakamori-san, you definitely won't do that, right?"
"Oh? I'm a bit curious—where does your confidence come from?"
"Because I know. I know that Nakamori-san only let me in to make Imagawa-kun jealous. Actually, you don't like me at all, right?"
Hearing this, Nakamori Sachiko stared at Kiryu Kazusuke for a moment.
A few seconds passed.
She suddenly smiled.
She truly didn't like him, but this wasn't anything personal.
To her, there were only two types of men in this world: stinking men, and men who didn't stink as much.
And the young man before her eyes currently barely qualified as the latter.
But she had no intention of explaining this.
Nakamori Sachiko turned her head, looking toward the server who was already drenched in cold sweat.
"Go. Call Imagawa-kun over, and open the champagne."
"Y-yes, I'll take care of it right away!"
The server felt as though granted amnesty, practically jogging away from this minefield.
With outsiders gone.
Nakamori Sachiko leaned back against the soft velvet sofa, crossing her legs.
"You know Imagawa-kun is a woman, don't you?"
"Of course."
"So, you aren't a companion from a rival establishment out to poach customers. You simply used me to get inside here."
Nakamori Sachiko nodded thoughtfully.
So he was an admirer from Imagawa-kun's private life.
After learning she worked here, he wanted to seize this opportunity to make an impression?
With this, Kiryu Kazusuke's behavior of nominating someone the moment he entered could be explained—because his target had never been her from the very beginning.
But Nakamori Sachiko wasn't angered or embarrassed by this.
Instead, she felt things were beginning to get rather interesting.
Back when she first came to "Club Kagura," she had recognized at a glance that Imagawa Nao was actually a woman disguised as a man. It was precisely because of this that she had been immediately captivated.
Though a woman, she possessed an aloof temperament caught between that of a boy and a young man, precisely striking Nakamori's sweet spot.
She enjoyed the process of breaking down the other's defenses bit by bit with money.
From nomination, to sending expensive gifts, to becoming the immovable number one on the other's performance board.
This process allowed her to regain the tangible sense of her own humanity.
Of course, she wasn't the only one in the club infatuated with Imagawa Nao.
To compete for nomination rights and ranking within the club, she had engaged in countless open and covert battles with other women.
Competing over who ordered more expensive alcohol, who gave rarer gifts.
But later...
Everyone realized they couldn't win no matter what, and no one competed with her anymore.
That was a bit boring.
Even if she wanted to order a champagne tower, she couldn't muster the enthusiasm.
But today, Kiryu Kazusuke had joined the game.
Moreover, seeing the lingering traces of youthful innocence on his face—to crush him head-on, and right in front of him, pull Imagawa Nao into her arms and toy with her freely...
At this thought, Nakamori Sachiko couldn't help but tremble.
The lighting was dim and yellow.
Kiryu Kazusuke didn't know what the woman across from him was thinking. He only noticed an inexplicable, unnatural flush sweep across her face.
Nakamori Sachiko seemed to realize her posture was somewhat unbecoming. She cleared her throat lightly and straightened up.
"Kiryu-kun, pursuing a girl requires relying on your own ability, you know."
"However, the table fee, seat fee, the charge for nominating Imagawa-kun, and the champagne you just ordered—all of that goes on my tab."
"But from now on, I won't pay a single yen more."
"If you want to catch Imagawa-kun's attention, you'll have to compete with me."
"I hope you enjoy yourself tonight."
She had the air of someone offering earnest, well-meaning advice.
The suddenly appearing Kiryu Kazusuke was probably one of the few bits of amusement in her day-after-day monotony.
From here on, she only needed to appreciate how he would put on a clumsy performance before the reality of their vast financial disparity, and ultimately make a sorry exit.
"Of course."
Kiryu Kazusuke nodded in response.
"But if it's only this, then it's a bit too boring, isn't it?"
"Why don't we make a bet?"
As he spoke, he propped his elbows on the table, raised his hands, and rested his chin upon them, staring directly into Nakamori Sachiko's deep black eyes.
"Oh?" This successfully piqued Nakamori Sachiko's interest.
"Interesting."
"Tell me, what do you want to bet on?"
Kiryu Kazusuke smiled. "Let's bet on... whether you get your wish tonight."
"You know what I want, and you're still willing to bet?"
"Isn't Nakamori-san trying to win Imagawa-kun over?"
This wasn't exactly wrong.
However, more accurately, what Nakamori Sachiko wanted to obtain was not just Imagawa Nao's body, but to have her beg for more with a cold, ascetic expression.
"The stakes?"
"If Nakamori-san doesn't get her wish tonight, then all my expenses here will be covered by you, just as you promised from the beginning."
After hearing this, Nakamori Sachiko couldn't help but laugh lightly.
She reappraised the young man she had brought in on a whim. The clothes on his entire body probably cost less than the champagne he had just ordered.
Since he knew she was determined to win Imagawa Nao over, how did he plan to stop her?
Nakamori Sachiko truly couldn't see any chance of victory for him.
"Very well." She agreed readily.
"Then what if I win?"
"If I get my wish tonight, Kiryu-kun, what can you offer?"
"What do you have that could possibly interest me?"
Kiryu Kazusuke was about to speak.
But Nakamori Sachiko seemed to suddenly think of something more interesting. She waved her hand, cutting him off.
"Forget it. I'm not interested in your money anyway."
"How about this—if I win tonight, when I take Imagawa-kun home, I'll bring you along too."
As she spoke, her body leaned slightly forward, drawing closer.
The scent unique to a mature woman wafted over, filling Kiryu Kazusuke's lungs.
"You'll stay outside the room, pressing your ear against the door..."
"And listen properly to the sounds Imagawa-kun makes..."