Every night, Hide only slept for 4-5 hours even though he underwent intense physical exercise everyday. Therefore, on Saturday he would go back to sleep after Aizawa left for school, and only woke up an hour before the time to pick her up.

Unfortunately, this Saturday he had to miss the opportunity to erase the physical fatigue that had accumulated. Hide was just about to get into bed when the doorbell rang, and as soon as he opened the door, there was Takeo.

"Sorry I came without prior notice, but we have something important to talk about."

Hide nodded slightly before asking, "You didn't bring Kei and Rei?"

"No, every Saturday Kei and Rei will be at the restaurant from morning to evening."

After nodding once more, Hide then led Takeo to the terrace beside the house. Without delay, Takeo then showed him a document with the letterhead of the Nikko City Planning and Development Office.

"I heard that there will be a redevelopment project for a highway that connects the city and the beach on the south coast, as well as the construction of a drainage channel underneath. So I tried to find out the detailed plan."

"What did you find?" Hide calmly asked.

"The project is scheduled to last for three months, starting from next Tuesday, from both ends of the highway. Last night, I found heavy vehicles and material carriers already starting to go back and forth in front of Knosses. A traffic police post was also set up in front of Knosses."

After taking a deep breath Hide said, "Well, we'll have to wait until the project is finished then."

"Hide, I can't wait that long." Takeo worriedly added, "My quota from the previous job is only enough to pay my parents' two installments."

Hide casually said, "I can lend you 3 million Ren. Also, I'll ask if our Broker has other work."

"Thank you, Hide."

"No problem, but a friend is a friend and money is money. They are two different things. So the loan must be legalized by my financial consultant."

"I don't mind, but do you have a financial consultant?"

"Of course I have."

After a small nod Takeo said, "I've also made a fake explanation for the money that I will hand over to my parents. But I need you to join the act."

"Email me the details so I can play my role as best as I can."

"Okay."

While Takeo was smiling ear to ear on the terrace, Hide took his jacket and his stash in the garage. Not long after that, the two were already on their way to Totsuka Tower.

---

On Saturday, Aizawa only studied in Kitaro for half a day. Hide had also promised to take her shopping every Saturday. Therefore, after his business at Totsuka Tower with Takeo was over, Hide immediately pick-up Aizawa.

The shopping district that Hide and Aizawa visited was Sakura Shopping District, a regular shopping district located two blocks from where they lived.

Today, Aizawa wanted to have dinner with fish. So the first place Hide and Aizawa went was the fishmonger.

"Aizawa, what fish do you want?"

"Mackerel." Without hesitation Aizawa pointed to the mackerel fillet wrapped in styrofoam and transparent plastic.

Mackerel was the cheapest fish, but Aizawa really liked it. So Hide didn't correct Aizawa's choice, but he added another piece.

"Two mackerel fillets and one salmon fillet."

"Roger."

The fishmonger quickly wrapped up Hide's order, and cheerfully added a mackerel fillet.

"The visitors here have been decreasing lately, so don't hesitate with this little bonus, because it's a shame if it doesn't sell."

"Thank you, Uncle." As he handed over the payment, Hide asked, "Some of my favorite shops are also closed, is the drop in visitors really that bad?"

After taking a deep breath the fishmonger replied, "The real problem is, a developer wants to build a shopping mall and amusement park here. When the shop owners refuse to sell their land, the developer launches harassment to both shop owners and visitors."

Hide gave a small nod before saying, "I hope things get back to normal soon. This shopping district really makes my daily shopping easier. Also, this city already has eight malls, but there are only three shopping districts."

"Yeah, I also hope this shopping district survives," replied the fishmonger hopefully, although at the same time his gaze looked pessimistic.

After getting the main ingredients for dinner and breakfast tomorrow morning, Hide and Aizawa then continued their shopping for daily necessities.

---

Hide's groceries weren't much, so in 40 minutes he had already bought everything he needed. Then, he intended to buy a snack before going home.

"Aizawa, do you want some snacks?"

After tilting her little head for a moment, Aizawa replied, "Can we buy steamed hopia from Old Sano's place?"

"Well, Old Sano happened to ask if Big Bro could repair his cash register program." After smiling slightly Hide then asked, "What flavour do you want?"

"Pear and orange."

"Okay, let's go there then."

"Mhm."

Aizawa firmly nodded, and without wasting time Hide took her to Sano's Steamed Hopia. While in his heart he sighed in silence.

'All of Aizawa's favorite foods and snacks are exactly the same as Emily's. Deep in her heart, she must miss Emily. If only I came back a little earlier to prevent the traffic accident.'

---

While he was wrapping steamed hopia ordered by Aizawa, with a complicated gaze Old Man Sano would occasionally steal glances at Hide.

Old Man Sano's uneasiness was understandable. Considering that previously, every time he asked Hide if he could spare some time to repair his cash register program, he always got a grunt of refusal before Hide hurriedly left.

The problem, the maintenance guarantee period already ended a long time ago. So he couldn't force Hide to repair the program.

But these few days, Hide always looked cheerful whenever he passed in front of his shop, not gloomy anymore.

So Old Man Sano dared to ask, "Umm . . . Hide, have you had time to fix my cash register?"

"May I check it out first?"

In an instant relief filled Old Man Sano's heart, "Of Course you can."

Old Man Sano then invited Hide and Aizawa in. Thirty minutes later, Hide had repaired the cash register.

"So fast," muttered Old Man Sano in admiration.

Hide calmly replied, "I just happened to make a similar program for Aizawa's school, and the data sheet on your cash register is still intact. So I just need to put a few pieces together."

"Thank you Hide."

Old Man Sano cheerfully handed him a small envelope, but Hide politely refused.

"Old Sano, you don't need to pay me. Instead, help me to spread the program to anyone who previously used my cashier program. They only need to copy the main program and replace the data sheet with their own. Then put the folder on the File System."

A question mark immediately appeared on Old Man Sano's forehead, "Are you sure it's free?"

"Absolutely."

After taking a deep breath, Old Sano said, "They must be very happy. Unfortunately, some of them just closed?"

"Does it have anything to do with the shopping mall development plan here?"

Old Man Sano nodded. "The people sent by the developers are really assholes. Old Nobukatsu who was the pillar of the resistance became a hit and run victim while jogging. Until now, he still hasn't woken up in the ICU.

The eldest son of the cafe owner on the end of the street was beaten by a group of people when going home after school. Some of the patrons were also become victims of extortion and some were even sexually harassed.

They also damaged several shops that opened at night. Worse yet, a member of Metro Police who was on duty here was stabbed by an unknown person, while his colleague was beaten to the point of being sent to the ICU. Both also lost their revolvers."

Hide immediately frowned, "Metro Police will definitely respond to the stabbing and violence against its members harshly. It's not surprising if they would ask for a limp or blood as revenge."

"Yes, they sent SAT undercover personnel to patrol here. An attempt to vandalize a shop was prevented and many arrests were made. Things have even calmed down for a few weeks." Old Man Sano took a deep breath before continuing. "However, some journalists wrote that the use of counter-terror units to arrest thugs was considered overkill.

The pressure on the Metro Police has led them to withdraw SAT personnel and it's only a matter of time before unrest has engulfed this shopping district once more."

"Why are there no journalists writing about dirty attempts to evict the shop owner here?"

"There are, but the problem is they also criticize strongly when Metro Police show their fangs as a form of deterrent to the thugs."

After taking a deep breath Hide said, "I bet there must be politicians and city officials at play."

Old Man Sano nodded firmly. "Yeah, I'm also sure the developer won't be so aggressive without adequate support. Besides, I heard the developer is also eyeing the other four blocks on the west side of this shopping district. So you should tell your father Hide."

"I'll tell him as soon as I can," Hide replied casually, but for a split second his eyes flashed.

After some light conversation, Hide and Aizawa then left Sano's shop. In exchange for Hide's payment, Old Man Sano gave Aizawa a box of mixed flavored steamed Hopia.

*****