Hide took Aizawa to lunch at Tohru Ramen. A traditional ramen shop located near Sakura Shopping District. As soon as the two got a seat, Hide poured a glass of cold water for Aizawa and himself.

Tohru Ramen wasn't big. It was also located in a small alley. However, this ramen shop was very popular among Sakura Shopping District's visitors because from generation to generation the owner had never used instant spices.

Tohru Ramen's menus were original ramen, thick ramen, curry ramen, seafood ramen, and curry rice. It was a bit strange that a ramen shop also provided a rice-based menu, but the owner had no hesitation in including the curry rice because many customers asked for it. According to them, the curry served by Tohru Ramen would also be very fitting when enjoyed with rice.

Aizawa without hesitation chose chicken curry rice, a menu for 600 Ren. Hide was not surprised by her choice. As whenever Emily took both of them to Tohru Ramen, Aizawa would always choose curry rice.

As soon as their chicken curry rice arrived, Aizawa repeatedly swallowed hard while looking at her favorite menu. But she did not immediately eat it and looked at Hide for a while, as if waiting for permission from him.

Noticing Aizawa's gaze, Hide immediately smiled gently. "Have a nice meal."

"Mhm."

Perhaps because she was nervous, Aizawa only answered with a small nod, then ate a small bite of curry rice. Until the third bite, Aizawa enjoyed her curry rice carefully, but from the fourth bite she finally drowned in the delicacy of Tohru Ramen curry rice.

Hide secretly realized that Aizawa was very nervous and this made his chest feel very tight.

Life just didn't go according to his expectations. Often ridiculed for growing up without a mother. Then his father's love which was previously only devoted to him, suddenly had to be shared with his stepmother. Then once again had to be shared with her half-sister, and finally sadness made his father stop paying attention to his own life and his two children.

'How can I view the situation around me so narrowly?' A deep regret grips Hide's heart.

Even though he lived his life more positively and optimistically, life may not have flowed as he hoped, but for Aizawa it would make her life a little more colorful and she could grow better.

Seeing Aizawa eating heartily, Hide's regret and bitterness immediately soared to the sky. But at the same time, he got the feeling that in this life seeing Aizawa eating heartily would be a source of happiness for him.

"Do you like it?"

"Mhm."

Aizawa spontaneously nodded, but the joy on her face suddenly dimmed when she remembered Hide was nearby. Aizawa was really worried she would do something that would irritate Hide.

However, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Hide smiling at her. Moreover, Hide then gently wiped the corners of her lips with a tissue.

"We'll eat here at least once a week then.”

"Mhm."

Aizawa nodded without hesitation. In her heart, she felt something was odd because Hide was so different today. But she was also happy because Hide would take her to visit Tohru Ramen at least once a week. Remembering that in that small shop she cherished many fond memories with her mother.

At the same time Hide hardened his determination.

'I will pay ten times as much for every sadness you experienced in your previous life.'

---

Once dinner was over, Hide asked Aizawa to help him wash the cutlery. This made Aizawa dumbfounded. It was natural because Hide had always refused her every time she wanted to help.

"Make sure you dry it completely."

"Mhm."

Aizawa gave a small nod while her little hands did their best to dry the spoon Hide had just rinsed.

"Aizawa, in a few days Big Bro will transfer you to a boarding school. So you have to pack some of your clothes."

"Boarding school?"

"Yes, you will study and live at the school. Big Bro will visit you once a week and on weekends Big Bro will take you home."

Aizawa stared at Hide while her eyes filled with tears. The curiosity in her heart why Hide was so different today was finally answered.

For Aizawa, school was not a happy place and only gave her sadness. So Aizawa instinctively would avoid it, and because she didn't know Hide's true intentions, the image where she had to stay at school for several days made her tears flow freely.

"Big Bro, Aizawa won't be naughty so don't leave Aizawa at boarding school."

Hide immediately stuttered. He was completely at a loss for words while Aizawa's tears flowed like a waterfall.

'At school she has no friends, at home she has no parents to rely on, only stupid half-brother who ignore her and end up leaving her.'

Hide's heart crumpled as he imagined the lonely and gloomy life that Aizawa had to go through in his previous life.

"Big Bro will never leave you no matter what."

Hide immediately hugged Aizawa tightly before carrying her into the living room. The two then watched tv in silence.

Hide remembered very well that in school Aizawa was shunned by other kids and even received bullying several times. So he put the plan to transfer Aizawa to a boarding school as one of his top priorities.

'I have to find a way to persuade Aizawa without making her cry.'

---

The night had reached its peak, but Nichiko's atmosphere was far from quiet. It was known that the capital city of Nikko was never sleeping.

With a casual step Hide entered Beauty & The Beast, the largest fitness center in Nichiko which also manages a betting exchange for various sports events, be it local, national, or international.

As soon as Hide arrived in front of the betting counter, an attractive young woman immediately smiled at him. The woman was about 168 cm tall with a well-tuned and perfect body outline.

The name-tag on her chest was 'Hanna Kitagawa', and with a cheerful tone she asked, "First time or have you put a bet before?"

Handing out his student card, Hide answered, "First time, I want to make a bet on the match between Nakamura Ocean and Yuko Mountain next Friday."

Hanna nodded slightly before reaching for a 10" tablet hanging on her right thigh. "Nakamura Ocean vs Yuko Mountain, rate 0.85 : 2.1 for Nakamura Ocean win, minimum bet 3,000 Ren, cancellation limit is 24 hours before the match with a 20% penalty of the stake.

If you bet on the Nakamura Ocean, the winning money is 0.85 times the stake, whereas if you bet on Yuko Mountain it's 2.1 times the stake."

Hide firmly handed out an envelope as he said, "500 thousand Ren for Yuko Mountain."

Hanna did not immediately receive the envelope. Instead, she bent her body in front of Hide and whispered, "Your stakes are not small, I have to work hard for a month to get 400 thousand Ren. So you better think about it again.

After all, if you need extra pocket money then working part-time at a convenience store is a much better option than betting."

Hide casually said, "It's not my money and my dad will beat me up if I come home without the bet slip."

Hanna pondered for a while before saying, "I heard rumors that Yuko Mountain's main striker has a knee injury and won't be playing next Friday. Tell your father about it and if he persists and doesn't cancel the bet, then at least he's prepared."

"Thanks for the advice. I'll pass it on to him."

Hanna smiled slightly before making a receipt for Hide's bet, and soon Hide was already on his way back home.

This wasn't the first time he'd left Aizawa home alone at night. But now, he was no longer the idiot in his previous life. So he wasted no time getting home as quickly as possible.

On the way home Hide had remembered Hanna's advice. But from his previous life, he already knew that Yuko Mountain's main striker was indeed suffering from a knee injury. In a few days, the news would spread until the bet rate had drastically changed for Nakamura Ocean's superiority.

However, many people didn't know that in the next Friday match a young Yuko Mountain player would make an impact by stabbing into Nakamura Ocean's goal three times.

The young player who was known to always play solidly had never intended to hide his skills, but in every previous match he only had a minimal role. That’s why, only his potential was recognized and not his real abilities.

'This bet will be an opportunity to see if I can make a change in the path of my new life, or I have to go down the same route,' Hide muttered as he accelerated his pace.

*****