My System Allows Me to Copy Talents - Chapter 562: The Shop II

Since they were in a chamber-like location surrounded by paper walls, even if he were to reveal himself, he wouldn’t get found out by others.

Also, he had already been found out. So, there wasn’t any point in hiding his identity. With that thought in mind, Hiro revealed himself to greet the girl before him.

Yuki, however, wasn’t impressed by Hiro’s gesture.

Previously, whenever he was seen in public, people would flock to him. However, at this moment, he felt as if he was an ordinary person before her.

Unaffected by Hiro’s fame, she responded to his greeting in a cold indifferent tone, “I’m Uzumaki Yuki, the granddaughter of the owner of this shop.”

“If I’m not being too blunt then can you tell me more about what you said earlier?” Hiro asked politely. “It’s fine if you don’t want to talk about it.”

Before responding to him, Yuki sized him up. Then she looked at Ishikawa as if she wanted to confirm something.

“To invest in my father’s business, my grandfather sold many of his assets but fortune played pranks on him as just when his business was starting to bloom pandemic struck. However, after selling many of his assets, my father somehow kept the business afloat despite the perilous situation.”

“Even so, it didn’t last long. So, we had to borrow some more to sustain the business. My father genuinely believed that once he got through the crisis, he could pay off all the debts. And my grandfather didn’t want his belief to die. So, he burrowed some money from the local loan sharks at a high interest.”

“However—”

Until now, she was fluently interpreting the words without any trouble. But all of a sudden, she paused. Even her face showed a drastic change.

She appeared to be in great distress.

Yet still, she continued, “However, just when it seemed like everything was going to be alright, my father and mother got involved in an accident that took their life.”

All of a sudden, it got eerily silent around them for a brief moment. The only sound that could be heard was the sound of the television and the passionate cheers of Yoshida.

Hiro could guess what happened afterward.

“I’m so sorry-”

Hiro was about to say something to console her. However, she cut him short, “But it’s alright because I’m going to stabilize our life.”

She spoke with conviction making it seem as if she meant what she said.

“We might be buried in debt right now but we will emerge out of it. We won’t remain buried for long,” she continued, her eyes glowing with determination.

It seemed that he didn’t need to console her. With such an attitude, she could face the fiercest of the storm and emerge victorious.

If someone can remain hopeful even in such a perilous situation, they’re bound to find the light at the end of the tunnel.

Hiro was thoroughly impressed by the determination possessed by the girl before him. She didn’t look older than him. Yet she possessed such an unwavering attitude.

So, he refrained from saying anything that evoked sympathy. Instead, he agreed with her, “If it’s you, I’m sure you’ll be able to do it.”

Hearing those words, she squinched her eyes and looked at him with a hint of skepticism, “Are you trying to flirt with me?”

Immediately, Hiro denied her accusations, “No, no. I’m just saying what I felt. No, what I meant is that I’m saying that I get the feeling that you’ll be able to do it… Argh! No! What am I saying? That’s not what I meant.”

Hiro kept on ranting with a flustered tone.

Seeing such a reaction from Hiro, Yuki let out a soft chuckle, “Pft— Hahaha…, Chill, I’m joking. I wouldn’t dare to say those words before her.”

“Her?” Hiro felt puzzled.

He couldn’t tell who she was referring to. Was she indicating to Sumire?

Ishikawa’s face reddened in embarrassment as she heard her. So, she quickly pinched her to make her realize how far she had gone.

Yuki, upon getting pinched winced in pain before realizing that she had made a blunder. She had assumed that the two had already started dating after seeing the two together.

But it seems like she had misunderstood the situation.

So, she immediately corrected herself, “What I meant to say is that I have promised her that I wouldn’t act chummy with anyone before I stabilize our family’s state. So, I can’t say those words before her or anyone else.”

She made it sound so convincing that Hiro couldn’t bring himself to doubt her. Seeing how close, she was with Ishikawa, it wouldn’t be an entirely false statement.

“Yes, yes. She promised me that she wouldn’t act chummy with anyone before she reached her goals,” Ishikawa was quick to aid her.

“Ahh-Is that so? Then I must commend your determination,” Hiro felt nothing but reverent toward her.

To be able to make such bold convictions in a world where people of their age are so distracted was something extraordinary.

There were only a handful of people who shared the same determination and conviction.

Although Shun had been a bit distracted in the beginning, later he had the same flames of determination burning in his eyes.

The three then cheerfully chatted for a while.

“It’s getting late, so, should we head home now?” Hiro asked.

Well, they had been conversing for a long time but they still had to go home. If they had dropped by the place in the daytime, Hiro would have stayed.

But he still had to drop Ishikawa home. And if he delayed further, her parents might worry about her safety. So keeping those thoughts in mind, he suggested leaving the place.

“Yeah, he’s right, Sumire. It’s getting really late,” Yuki nodded in agreement.

The three then stood and left the table. Outside the chamber, Yoshida was still engrossed in the match. Glancing on the screen, he found the score tied.

The score was tied with each team scoring a goal.

“Just what are you doing? Pass it to the flank… Argh! Why are you passing in the center?” Yoshida couldn’t help but exasperate.