Infinite Cashback System

Chapter 254: 254 | How To Befriend a Dandere

Kumiko burst from her alcove like a cosplayer late for a photoshoot, her yukata slightly askew and her twin tails half-escaped from their ribbons. She’d somehow managed to tie the sash backwards, creating a situation where the robe kept trying to slide open in directions that would’ve been extremely inappropriate in public.

Chloe reached over and fixed the sash without comment. Kumiko submitted to the adjustment with the patience of someone accustomed to being gently corrected.

"Ready?" Jordan asked.

Two nods.

The hallway to the private bath wound through the building’s interior, past sliding screens that revealed glimpses of other treatment rooms and meditation spaces. The air grew warmer and more humid as they progressed, carrying mineral scents that suggested proximity to the springs. Jordan’s System notification pinged once, confirming that "Romantic Environment Bonus: Active" had triggered somewhere in the background of whatever algorithm governed his supernatural phone app.

He ignored it. The onsen existed independent of the System’s gamification. The mineral springs would provide benefits whether or not some golden interface tracked the results.

Tomoe intercepted them at the final corridor junction, bouncing on her heels with an enthusiasm that suggested she’d been waiting specifically for this moment. Her athletic frame seemed barely contained by the maintenance uniform she wore, and her short dark hair was mussed in a way that indicated recent physical activity.

"Guests! Perfect timing." She gestured toward a wooden door that appeared significantly older and more ornate than anything else in the building. "The private bath is through here. Water’s at optimal temperature. I checked twice. Okay three times because the first time I got distracted by a squirrel outside and had to start over."

"Thank you, Tomoe-san." Chloe’s voice carried genuine warmth despite her earlier wariness about the staff.

"You’re welcome Pretty Guest Who Asks Smart Questions!" Tomoe’s grin could’ve powered a small city. "Yumi-chan is already inside setting up refreshments. Please be gentle with her. She’s been practicing her greeting for twenty minutes and I think she might faint if anything unexpected happens."

"We’ll be careful," Jordan said.

Tomoe nodded vigorously, then paused. "Also the koi get fed at sundown so if you hear splashing that’s just Mochi being demanding. He’s kind of a diva. We love him anyway."

She departed down the corridor with the same explosive energy she’d arrived with, her footsteps somehow managing to be loud and cheerful at the same time.

Jordan slid open the wooden door.

Steam billowed outward like the world’s most expensive welcome mat. Beyond the threshold lay a space that shouldn’t have existed in Southern California. The private bath occupied a half-indoor half-outdoor area where traditional architecture met natural landscape, with warm wooden decking surrounding a stone-lined pool that glowed blue-green in the fading light. A bamboo fence provided privacy while allowing glimpses of the carefully maintained garden beyond. Paper lanterns hung from wooden posts at regular intervals, their flames beginning to catch as the sky darkened. The pool itself was maybe fifteen feet across and shaped like an irregular oval, with steam rising from its surface in lazy spirals that caught the lantern light.

Standing beside a low table arranged with refreshments was a girl Jordan hadn’t met yet.

Yumi Nakamura was small. That was the first thing he noticed. Maybe five-two, with a delicate frame that made Kumiko look substantial by comparison. Her dark hair fell past her shoulders in soft waves, partially obscuring a face that seemed designed for looking at the ground. She wore the same staff uniform as the others but somehow made it look like she was borrowing someone else’s clothes for the day.

Her eyes were fixed on her shoes.

"W-welcome." The word emerged at approximately three decibels, barely audible over the gentle sound of water. "To the private... the private bath. I am Yumi and I will be your... your attendant for the evening. If you require anything please don’t hesitate to..." She trailed off, apparently having exhausted her prepared script.

Kumiko moved before Jordan could react.

The distance between the doorway and Yumi disappeared in approximately two seconds. Kumiko stopped just short of collision range, her entire body vibrating with restrained enthusiasm.

"Yumi-chan!" She kept her voice deliberately soft, clearly making an effort not to startle the poor girl into cardiac arrest. "Your uniform is so cute. Did you do your hair yourself? The waves are really pretty. Also I love the way you arranged the mochi on the plate. The colors are coordinated. That shows really good aesthetic sense."

Yumi’s head lifted by approximately fifteen degrees. Her eyes remained fixed somewhere around Kumiko’s collarbone, but she was technically looking up now.

"Th-thank you." The volume increased to maybe five decibels. "I... I practiced the arrangement. Kaori-san helped."

"Kaori-san has excellent taste. So do you." Kumiko’s smile radiated warmth with the intensity of a portable space heater. "I’m Kumiko. This is Chloe-chan. And that’s Jordan-kun who apparently owns this whole place but he’s being weird about it for emotional reasons we’re still unpacking."

"I’m not being weird about it."

"You literally just called a million-dollar inheritance ’not real money’ because you didn’t earn it yourself."

"That’s pragmatism, not weirdness."

Yumi’s eyes flickered toward Jordan for approximately half a second before returning to Kumiko’s general vicinity. "M-Master Jordan. We are honored by your visit. The springs have been maintained according to your grandfather’s specifications and the water quality exceeds all industry standards."

"Thank you, Yumi." Jordan kept his voice deliberately gentle. "The arrangement looks perfect."

Yumi’s face flushed pink. She bowed so deeply her hair swept the wooden decking, then scurried toward the far side of the bath area where a small attendant’s station had been set up with additional supplies.

"She’s adorable," Kumiko whispered, loud enough that Yumi definitely heard. "I want to protect her."

"Don’t adopt another employee." Chloe had already begun examining the refreshment arrangement with professional interest. "We talked about this. The boundary between friendship and hiring decisions needs to remain clear."

"But she’s so small."

"So are you."

"That’s different. I’m small and confident. She’s small and needs encouragement."