Before the words finished leaving Souma’s lips, he felt his tail flick back and forth in anticipation. He could already imagine hiring on a cleaner to help with the renovations and work that the new storefront still needed. Of course, she’d end up being much more than that. How much would he need, really?<br/><br/>A solid day’s work, but nothing he wanted to do<em>himself</em>. If he was going to bother with that, it’d only ever be in the company of a girl to make it worth his while and his effort!<br/><br/>No sooner did the door click shut behind him than a small, white-haired beauty of a bunny-girl all but literally hopped out from behind the counter. She looked like a tiny little thing, even to Souma, and hardly made it past his waist when she stood right in front of him, giving him a warm, colorful greeting in a friendly voice.<br/><br/>With an entrancing little giggle to top it off—they knew how to train their girls, here!—she nodded at a sign sitting right in the middle of the counter. Souma looked over, his mind already spinning with possibilities at the sight of this first girl, and then felt his own heart nearly stop dead in the chest.<br/><br/>Those numbers weren’t in silver or copper, they were in gold, for a full<em>day’s</em>worth of work.<br/><br/>“Oh, I’m so terribly sorry,” he sighed and scratched the back of his head. Just like that, all of the light and confidence in his golden eyes vanished. Even his tail, so full of energy and excitement, wrapped around his waist in solemn defeat. “I think I’ve wasted your time. I just opened up my own store all but next door and I just can’t afford to pay that much for help with my initial cleaning. All the fees to get setup…”<br/><br/>His voice trailed off for a moment as Souma shook his head and hooked a single finger inside the opening of his white shirt and vest. He tugged on it a few times, pulling in cooler air and letting the bunny-girl—who was up close and personal with the exposed chest and well-toned stomach—get a free peek. Bunny or not, he had a feeling she’d enjoy the show.<br/><br/>“Well, it’s got me strapped kind of thin,” he finished, but quickly turned his disappointment into a somber, polite smile. “Thanks for your time, though.”<br/><br/>With an equally friendly wave, Souma turned to leave, pivoting on his heel. Then, as if caught by the pull of a rope, he stopped.<br/><br/>“But, if there’s any chance you could cut a deal for a new merchant on the square,” he started, slowly turning back around to face the white-haired bunny girl.<br/><br/>“I’d be grateful enough to take advantage of your top-shelf ‘Super Plus’ service, with the brunette, as a thank you.”<br/><br/>The blonde and red-head were tempting, of course, but something about the other one screamed, 'opportunity.' What good business man passed up opportunity?<br/><br/>Before the bunnygirl could so much as part her perfectly pink lips to respond, Souma already had a stack of polished coin, perfectly balanced, in his left hand—ready and waiting.<br/><br/>Perhaps a little irresponsible, even with a discount? Souma thought about it for a moment, but reached a quick and resolute answer.<br/><br/><em>No.</em>