Mash-Up: Anything for Money

"But this is just a guess..."

As she spoke, Nao placed the video she had just recorded in front of Hakuto. Otosaka Yuu's face filled the entire screen.

"What? Are you trying to compare who's more handsome?"

"Who told you to do that?"

"Then what do you want?"

"Use your ability to figure out what he was doing a few hours ago."

"Me?? You!! Unbelievable!"

Hearing this, Hakuto sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He didn't mention the side effects of his ability, not wanting anyone to know his weaknesses.

After all, Nao was right—those scientists were watching him closely, and the protection of Hoshino Academy wasn't absolute.

But looking at the situation now, keeping his ability's side effects a secret had its downsides too.

After hesitating for a moment, Hakuto let out a breath, casually glancing at Nao beside him, then pretended as if he had just deactivated his ability.

To outsiders, Hakuto's power appeared to have a time-stopping effect, so faking the use of his ability was quite simple.

They were only trying to confirm whether Otosaka Yuu was the holder of a power-stealing ability—there was no need to actually activate his own.

"It's him."

"As expected... But how does he steal other people's abilities?"

"I saw him possess someone within his line of sight. During that time, his own body remains unconscious, and he can only stay in the target's body for five seconds."

Hearing this, Nao nodded. With Hakuto's confirmation, she was now sure Otosaka Yuu was the one she was looking for.

She then took out her phone and sent a photo of Otosaka Yuu to Jojiro, who was waiting outside.

"Okay!"

"So? What's your plan? Confront him directly, expose him, and then invite him to Hoshino Academy?"

"..."

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"A few days ago, when I invited you to Hoshino Academy, you beat me up."

"That wasn't a beating! It was an accident—I just happened to hit you with a stick. Besides, didn't you kick me back?"

Nao waved her hand dismissively, unwilling to argue with Hakuto.

Just then, her phone suddenly rang. It seemed like some important information had just arrived.

"Here it is! That was fast!"

Nao unlocked her phone and scrolled through the basic information on Otosaka Yuu that Jojiro had sent.

Standing behind her, Hakuto saw everything.

"Are we really not some kind of underground crime syndicate?"

"Huh? Why would you say that?"

"You got someone's basic information in just a few minutes. Isn't that something only the police can do?"

"If the police were the ones investigating Otosaka Yuu, he'd be finished already."

As she spoke, Nao continued scrolling through the data on her phone.

A moment later, she turned to Hakuto and shoved the phone in front of his face again.

"...What now?"

This time, the screen no longer displayed Otosaka Yuu's face. Instead, it showed a photo of a middle school girl.

"This is Otosaka Yuu's younger sister, Otosaka Ayumi..."

Before Nao could finish speaking, Hakuto quickly waved his hands to stop her.

"Wait, if you're just showing me a picture, I won't be able to figure anything out."

That was a lie. Even from just a photo, Hakuto could deduce a lot. He just didn't want to deal with the side effects of his ability.

"I'm not asking you to use your ability. I don't know what the side effects are, but unless absolutely necessary, it's better to avoid using it."

Hearing this, Hakuto let out a sigh of relief. 

Though he knew how to suppress the side effects of his power, his method was only a temporary fix—it couldn't truly resolve the problem. 

Over time, it would still backfire on him.

Just as Hakuto had breathed a sigh of relief, Nao's voice rang out again.

"I want you to make contact with her."

Hakuto's face immediately scrunched up in disbelief.

Hakuto: ??

Nao: ??

"What kind of contact are we talking about?"

"Do I really need to spell it out? Isn't this your specialty?"

"Do you even hear yourself? That little girl is clearly still in middle school! Where's my conscience supposed to go?"

"Isn't Ginko still in middle school too?"

"..."

"..."

The two locked eyes for a long time, neither looking away, until Nao finally spoke again.

"Didn't you just tell me you had something to do this afternoon and wanted to take a leave?"

"What? President, are you saying you'll approve it?"

The student council of Hoshino Academy wasn't focused on academics; its primary goal was finding ability users.

Because of this, members spent most of their time outside on investigations.

Still, attendance records were never an issue, and graduation certificates were handed out without fail.

So when Hakuto wanted to take a leave, he naturally didn't ask his homeroom teacher or the principal—he went straight to the student council president in front of him.

"If you make contact with her, I'll allow you to take the afternoon off."

"President, this is going to weigh on my conscience..."

"I'll double your pay tomorrow."

"Huh? HUH!!?"

The moment he heard the word "pay," Hakuto's back no longer hurt, his legs were no longer sore—he felt completely refreshed!

"Alright… wait! What pay?"

"Every student council member gets a fixed salary each month… You didn't know?"

Upon realizing he could get paid just for attending school, Hakuto nearly slapped himself.

What kind of miserable life had he been living before?! 

Getting paid to go to school?!

Now that he was at Hoshino Academy, he finally felt at home!

Other schools made students pay to attend, but this one paid students to study!!

If you do not abandon me… Then I shall call you Father.

Hakuto truly felt like slapping himself twice. What was he even being reserved for before? What was so noble about that?

What nonsense was Toyosaki?! Hoshino Academy is my true alma mater!

"Send me Otosaka Ayumi's basic information."

Seeing that Hakuto had agreed, Nao nodded.

"As expected, money is still the most effective way to deal with you."

"No, no, no. Money is the most effective way to deal with everything. It may not be all-powerful, but without it, you can't do anything."

___

Read 20 Advanced Chapters on p@ tr eon (.) com/HalflingFics

Also, please point out my mistakes in the comment, thank you!

Don't forget to leave a review too~ [5 bonus chapter if we reach 10 reviews]

Check out the other translations too: [Mash-Up: I'm Not A Substitute]

___