Episode 95 - The True Face of Hans

【Asset Requirement for Acquiring Sunrise Global Trading】

“I’ve run the numbers for the acquisition cost… roughly… 200 million dollars.”

Shota muttered this while tapping away on the calculator of his laptop.

“Haha… for me to make 200 million dollars working a part-time job… let’s see… at an hourly rate of… about 33,000 dollars… I’d need… 6,000 hours…?”

“Shota-kun, how many hours a day are you planning to work at that rate?”

“About 365 hours a day, I think…”

“…Idiot♡”

—And yet, neither of them was smiling.

Even Ryoko fell silent under the crushing weight of the reality called 200 million dollars.

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【Central Racetrack, Clear Skies, Summer Breeze】

》 “…The sixth race will be starting shortly.”

The announcer’s voice echoed through the grounds. On this Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse, the air was thick with the scent of sweat, passion, and red ink pens.

In a corner of the stands, Ryoko wore black sunglasses, a white shirt, and a hat pulled low.

Beside her, Shota trembled as he held a paper cup of iced coffee.

“R-Ryoko-senpai… are we really doing this? Using superpowers in front of all these people…?”

“Fufu, don’t worry, Shota-kun♡ I’m masking my hormone manipulation right now♡”

“That’s just because you’re wearing sunglasses, isn’t it!? That logic is straight-up horror-movie stuff!”

Glancing over the race chart in her paper, Ryoko murmured quietly.

“This number 11… odds are 4.9 to 1. Good stamina, but sloppy on the corners. —But…”

Behind the sunglasses, Ryoko’s eyes glowed red.

“If I just give it a little push from behind…♡”

—The fanfare blared.

The gates flew open and the horses burst out at full speed. Number 11 was trailing in the back.

But on the final stretch—

“Watch closely, Shota-kun♡”

The moment she extended her finger and touched the air lightly—

Number 11 cut through the wind, surging forward to overtake the others in one swift burst.

》 “Eh!? What the heck was that!? What happened to number 11!?”

》 “He’s overtaking! Number 11 overtakes them all!!!”

As the crowd roared, sweat trickled down Shota’s forehead.

“…Wow, that’s just straight-up cheating…”

“Fufu♡ I just ‘helped him win.’ Cute, right? I also tweaked the jockey’s hormones to flood him with dopamine and adrenaline, so he’s convinced he won entirely on his own♡”

Several hours later—

Three consecutive race wins. Betting the full winnings each time, they now had nearly $75,000 in cash piled before them.

Shota:“Okay, so… we started from $600 → $3,000 → $15,000 → $75,000… Five more jumps: $375K → $1.8M → $9M → $45M → $225M… Boom! Target hit: $200 million! See? Simple math! We just have to win… what…eight races in a row? No big deal!”

With a snap, Ryoko closed the sports paper. Her face was a mix of fatigue and cool calculation.

Ryoko: “…But you know, Shota-kun… I’m starting to see how the system works. If we bet at these amounts much longer, even at 5-to-1 odds the odds will shift, lowering the payout. Plus, we’ll stand out — and the JRA bookies might realize we’re ‘altering fate’♡”

Shota: “Wait, so not just getting caught…”

Ryoko: “…We might get erased?♡”

Shota: “…Hiiiiii!… Yeah, maybe making $200 million from Japanese public gambling is impossible after all…”

____________________________________________________________________________________

【Ryoko’s Personality Takes After Her Mother】

Just then, Ryoko’s phone buzzed.

[Caller: Mother (Germany)]

Ryoko: “…!”

Shota: “Who is it?”

Ryoko: “…Masako-mama.”

She pressed the call button, and from the speaker came a voice both sweet and unfathomable.

》　Masako: “Fufu… Ryoko. You seem to be in trouble, hmm?”
》　Ryoko: “Mother… what do you want? Why now?”
》　Masako: “I foresaw it, of course. This outcome was obvious.”
》　Ryoko: “Then you could’ve told me sooner…!”
》　Masako: “Ufufu♡ That’s because, Ryoko… your personality… is just like your mother’s♡”

—In that instant, Ryoko understood.

Her mother had predicted everything from the start. That they would end up going to Germany, that they would reunite with Hans — and that the real battle to shake Sunrise Global Trading was only about to begin.

》　“You really do have the worst personality, Mother!”

With that, Ryoko hung up.

Shota: “Wait, what? Did we just… decide to go overseas in a flash?”

Ryoko: “…Shota-kun, do you have a passport?”

Shota: “Eh, eh!? What!?!”

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【The Fated Flight to Germany in First Class】

Haneda Airport – International Terminal.

With $75,000 in hand from their winnings at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Ryoko and Shota immediately purchased two round-trip first-class tickets on Lufthansa via smartphone and rushed to Haneda.

Shota: “Uh, wouldn’t business class be good enough…?”

Ryoko: “Shota-kun, if a man who’s about to move $200 million is flying economy or business, it kills the credibility♡ This is already a solid investment.”

—At Haneda’s Terminal 3, they passed through security, cleared immigration, and stepped into the restricted area.

There, the glamorous lights of duty-free stores and rows of high-end brand shops formed an adult’s paradise.

While Shota’s eyes darted around in awe, Ryoko moved naturally into the luxury zone as if she belonged there.

A few minutes later—

Shota: “Eh, Ryoko-senpai!? When did you change!?”

Ryoko approached in a soft ivory summer tweed set-up, walking elegantly in heels. Around her neck glimmered a gold pendant she had casually chosen at the Tiffany’s display.

“Nfufu♡ At the Tiffany’s in the departure area. After all, we’re about to meet German investors in person. I have to leave an impression in place of a business card♡”

Shota: “Uh… uh… I’m still in the same jacket I wore to the racetrack…”

Ryoko: “It’s fine, Shota-kun♡ You’re the ‘representative of the common people’ — it balances out♪”

They headed to the first-class lounge.

“…This is… first class…!? This isn’t an airport lounge… it’s basically the lobby of a luxury hotel…!”

Shota stared up at the tall reception counter in shock.

Beside him, Ryoko calmly smiled, holding her newly bought designer passport case.

“It’s fine, Shota-kun. This is an ‘expense’♡”

“A—an expense for what!?”

“…For the necessary expenses of our destined investment activities♡”

—

After boarding, they were shown to Lufthansa’s first class.

Plush seats, private suite-like space, and a welcome glass of champagne signaled the start of a different world.

“Ryoko-senpai… this is my first time stretching my legs on a plane…”

“Ufufu♡ Relax, Shota-kun. Today marks the launch of our new future.”

Soon, an extravagant meal course began.

Caviar, steak, and a cheese cart wheeled to their seats made Shota’s face tighten further.

“Is… is all this really free…?”

“Fufu, more than ‘free,’ it’s ‘only natural.’ …Isn’t that right?”

Ryoko cast a glance and a smile at the flight attendant, who returned it with, “Yes♡ of course,” without hesitation.

Even without hormone manipulation, first class service on a plane was all smiles.

After the meal was cleared, the attendant reclined their seats into full-flat beds. The lights dimmed, creating a comfortable sleeping space for the flight to Germany. Shota, reflecting on the whirlwind of the day, fell asleep as if dead.

When the lights came back up, the attendant brought breakfast with a smile.

“Hey, Shota-kun. We’re almost in Germany — the city of the Rhine.”

“Yeah… somehow, this feels less like a trip and more like a journey to overthrow a nation…”

“Fufu♡ But this is what it means for me to be ‘seriously’ on your side.”

“It’s hard to believe that just last week I was an ordinary employee, oversleeping and getting scolded by my senpai, lol.”

Up in the sky—

Far from Japan, the plane carrying the couple of “love and superpowers” was gliding into a German airport after a 14-hour journey toward their future.

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【Arrival in Frankfurt, Then to Rhein Welt Asset】

Lufthansa Flight LH717’s first class arrived at Frankfurt International Airport on time.

Descending the stairs, Ryoko smiled with a refreshing expression.

“Fufu, the air in Germany feels so crisp. …Come on, Shota-kun, grab the suitcase♡”

“Y-yeah… but isn’t this airport ridiculously big? Just moving between terminals is making my pedometer scream…”

Checking the signs in the arrivals lobby, Ryoko quickly decided on their route.

“First, let’s get to the Regionalbahnhof. We’ll take the S-Bahn to the central station.”

“Eh, I thought Hans would come pick us up or something…”

“Idiot♡ If we start out like that, they’ll think we’re too dependent.”

So they headed to the underground airport station and boarded the S8. The train was clean and quiet, but perhaps because it was rush hour, there were many businessmen in suits, and the seats filled quickly.

Standing and swaying, Shota glanced at Ryoko while gripping the strap.

“…By the way, senpai, can you read German?”

“Well enough♡ Ever since Masako-mama started living in Germany, I’ve studied at least to a traveler’s level. Besides—language works through feelings and hormones♡”

(Yeah, that logic worked perfectly back at the company… but will it work in Germany…?)

—

Arriving at Frankfurt Central Station (Hauptbahnhof), they rolled their suitcases on foot toward the business district.

At the end of a straight stone-paved sidewalk stood the gleaming glass and metal of the Taunus Tower.

“…That’s the headquarters of Rhein Welt Asset?”

“Yes. Masako-mama’s email said, ‘Come to the 27th floor.’”

“Whoa… so we’re really going to buy a company…”

Shota’s voice trembled slightly.

But Ryoko quietly took his hand.

“It’s fine. This will absolutely work♡”

Their footsteps carried them toward the automatic doors of Taunus Tower—

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【Reunion on the 27th Floor, and the Terror of Germany】

The moment the elevator doors opened, Shota involuntarily gasped.

It was like stepping into the future. A lobby of pristine glass and white tones was accented with European art. At the far end—gleaming gold letters spelling “Rhein Welt Asset” floated on a glass panel suspended from the ceiling.

“Guten Abend, everyone!”

Hans burst in, wearing black-rimmed glasses, a bright red bowtie, and showing off a spectacular bald head.

“Ryoko-chan! How are you? Shota-kun, long time no see!”

“Hans-san, I’m surprised—your occupation is president of an investment company?”

“Occupation? …Nein! Just visiting!”

(Shota: …Is that supposed to be a famous Hans joke?)

Ryoko furrowed her brow slightly but smiled wryly at Hans’s familiar energy.

“Ufufu♡ You seem well, Hans. You’ve heard from Masako-mama, right? We’re going to buy the company.”

“Of course! Everything is foretold! In this world, the most dangerous things are love and foresight, ne! If you do as Masako says, stocks go sky-high and money pours into my company!”

Shota could only nod at the sheer force of his delivery.

(Shota: …How did this turn into a prophecy and a business plan at the same time…?)

—

They were shown into a reception room. From the 27th-floor windows, the Main River and Frankfurt’s financial district spread out before them.

“Hans-san… um, we’re really counting on you today.”

Shota bowed his head politely, his voice cracking a little from nerves.

“Of course. This plan is practically finished already♡”

“Eh…?”

Beside the surprised Shota, Ryoko’s smartphone rang.

—On the screen appeared Masako, in her home in Tegernsee, Germany.

“…Masako-mama!?” In that instant, Ryoko grasped the true meaning of Hans’s words.

“Fufu, hello Shota-kun. You’re as cute as ever. …Acquiring Sunrise Global Trading’s shares, and cornering President Sakurai—the whole scenario is already foreseen. I had Hans preparing for it since three months ago.”

“Eh, so the TOB is…”

“A performance♡ Officially we say ‘we’re starting now,’ but in reality—”

Hans raised a finger.

“Thirty-five percent already secured♡”

“No way…” Shota muttered blankly.

“So the remaining fifteen percent will depend on your and my negotiation skills, Shota-kun♡” Ryoko smiled meaningfully, and Hans playfully stepped back.

“A shareholder—or any mortal—who can say ‘Nein’ to Ryoko? …Nein. The very idea is inane!”

Shota looked at Ryoko and Masako with a feeling close to dread and thought:

—I must never oppose these women.

“But Shota-kun, your turn starts here,” Masako said. “Are you mentally ready to become president?”

Shota swallowed hard.

“…If Ryoko-senpai is with me, I think I’ll be fine.”

Ryoko placed a proud hand on his shoulder and smiled softly.

“Well said, Shota-kun♡ …Then, let’s return to Tokyo. The stage is already set.”

“Germany’s terror—we’ll show them!” Hans’s words gave Ryoko and Shota a firm push forward.