Although Rokuhara Ren was an orphan, he never faced financial difficulties. In fact, his income was higher than that of most salarymen who worked from morning till night.
How did he do it? Flea markets.
With Insight Gaze, Ren had an advantage that others didn't—the ability to know the true value of an object just by staring at it long enough.
At flea markets, many vendors didn't know the true worth of the items they were selling. Most of them acquired their goods from cheap auctions, abandoned houses, or unwanted inheritances. To them, these items were just old trinkets with no real value.
But for true collectors and appraisers, every item had a history and a price.
A classic painting that looked like meaningless scribbles? It could be the work of a forgotten master.
An antique tea cup sold for cheap? It might be Ming Dynasty porcelain worth hundreds of millions of yen.
And Ren? He was the bridge between ignorance and wealth.
Every week, he visited flea markets and searched for valuable items overlooked by vendors. Once he found them, he bought them at a low price and then resold them to wealthy collectors willing to pay a fortune for their hobbies.
That was Ren's source of income without relying too much on his parents' life insurance money.
As Ren entered the apartment, a woman with pink hair and bright blue eyes greeted him with a cheerful smile.
Her hair was tied back with a red bandana, giving her a sporty and energetic vibe. Though she wore casual clothes—a plain white hoodie with the number '428' on the chest—her alluring figure was still clearly visible.
She wasn't just any woman. Nakano Yotsuba, now Uesugi Yotsuba, was someone full of energy and always smiling. Even though she was married, her cheerful personality hadn't changed one bit.
"Welcome back, Rokuhara-san!" She said, waving her hand.
"Yotsuba-san, thank you for taking care of Itsuki during her pregnancy."
Since Itsuki became pregnant eight months ago, Yotsuba had often come over to help with housework. Ren wasn't surprised to see her in his apartment.
"No problem! I'm happy to help my own sister! By the way, have you had dinner, Rokuhara-san?"
"Great! I've cooked something for you!"
Seeing him shake his head, Yotsuba went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
After taking off his shoes, Ren stepped inside and saw Itsuki sitting comfortably in the living room, watching TV.
Her long pink hair cascaded beautifully, with her signature ahoge sticking up on her head as if it had a life of its own. She wore red-framed glasses, which made her look more mature and intellectual, though her face remained soft and adorable.
Her outfit for the day was a loose pale green sweater, yet it couldn't hide her enticing curves. The most noticeable part was her swollen belly, clear evidence that she was pregnant. A maternal aura radiated from her, giving off a gentle and warm impression, unlike Yotsuba's more cheerful and energetic vibe.
As soon as she saw Ren, Itsuki smiled warmly, then in a soft but loving voice, she greeted him.
"Welcome home, hubby."
Those words made Ren smile slightly. Though they weren't officially married yet, Itsuki was already carrying his child, and they both knew how deeply they felt for each other.
Without hesitation, Ren stepped closer and lightly kissed Itsuki's lips.
"I brought your favorite food." He said, pulling out a plastic bag.
Itsuki's eyes sparkled as soon as she saw the meat buns in his hand.
"Meat buns!" She exclaimed excitedly, then began eating heartily.
"Eat slowly, don't choke."
Ren stroked Itsuki's belly, which carried his child. He might be a scumbag who had impregnated his teacher at school, but that didn't mean he was irresponsible.
From the kitchen, Yotsuba quietly observed their interaction. Her eyes dimmed slightly, a strange feeling rising in her heart. Though she had been married to Fuutarou for two years, they still hadn't been blessed with a child.
Meanwhile, Itsuki—who wasn't even officially married—was already pregnant.
Unconsciously, Yotsuba rubbed her still-flat stomach.
However, she quickly shook her head, dismissing those negative thoughts. Now wasn't the time to feel jealous or dwell on unnecessary things.
Taking a deep breath, Yotsuba refocused on her task and called out to Ren cheerfully.
"Rokuhara-san, dinner's ready!"
After kissing Itsuki's forehead, Ren changed out of his school uniform into casual clothes before having dinner.
The night in Tokyo was filled with neon lights and the sounds of vehicles still passing by. However, behind the city's hustle and bustle, invisible dangers always lurked. Supernatural beings could attack at any time.
Ren didn't have supernatural powers to fight them directly, but he always carried magical artifacts he had obtained from flea markets thanks to Insight Gaze.
After dinner, Ren escorted Yotsuba home.
Her home was a luxurious apartment, but it felt so empty and cold. It wasn't because of the atmosphere, but because her husband, Fuutarou, was almost never home.
As a salaryman in Japan, Fuutarou was trapped in an inhumane work cycle.
Even after office hours ended, he couldn't go home immediately. He had to accompany his boss and colleagues for drinks until they were drunk, then return to work the next morning as if nothing had happened. Stress and fatigue piled up, but he had no choice.
This phenomenon even had a name: karoshi—death from overwork.
Yotsuba smiled weakly as she opened the door to her apartment.
"Thank you for walking me home, Rokuhara-san."
"Don't hesitate to call me if anything happens." Ren said lightly.
Yotsuba hesitated for a moment, then nodded slowly.
After making sure Yotsuba entered safely, Ren turned and began walking home. The night grew later, and the air felt colder.
As he walked, Ren remained vigilant. Every time he passed a narrow alley or an area that was too dark. Fortunately, nothing happened tonight.
When he finally arrived at his apartment, Ren let out a sigh of relief. He had returned safely.
Ren sat relaxed on the sofa, enjoying the movie playing on the TV. Beside him, Itsuki leaned comfortably, her hand occasionally stroking her swollen belly. The dim light from the TV screen made the atmosphere feel warmer and more intimate.
However, in the midst of the silence, Ren suddenly spoke up.
"Itsuki, I need to tell you something."
Itsuki glanced at him, slightly annoyed because she was enjoying the movie.
"Masha is also pregnant."
"Masha? Oh, that Russian girl. Are you sure she's pregnant?"
"She showed me her pregnancy test during lunch. I've confirmed it's true."
Normally, a woman would be angry upon learning that her husband had impregnated another woman. However, Itsuki remained calm. It wasn't that she didn't care, but monogamy had been abolished two years ago.
The demographic crisis plaguing Japan had worsened every year. Birth rates continued to plummet, while the number of immigrant workers from abroad increased. The government, worried that Japan would lose its national identity, finally took drastic measures—allowing polygamy as a solution to boost birth rates.
Of course, this policy sparked massive protests from many women in Japan. Demonstrations occurred in various cities, led by feminist activists who vehemently opposed this rule. However, with the majority of power holders being men, their voices of dissent couldn't change the government's decision. Polygamy was officially legalized and widely implemented.
For some women, this new rule was a heavy blow. But for others, especially those raised in cultures that suppressed their choices in marriage, this could be an opportunity. Itsuki herself wasn't part of the group that opposed or supported it. She chose to accept reality and adapt to it.
"So, you really couldn't control yourself, huh?"
"It's not my fault I'm so attractive."
"You narcissist. You're the naughty student who successfully seduced your homeroom teacher and got her pregnant. Now you've even managed to impregnate a student council girl. Do you think this is something to be proud of?"
Itsuki puffed her cheeks and pinched Ren's waist.
The corner of Ren's eye twitched. This was the second time his waist had been pinched in just two days.
"So, you'll take responsibility for Maria-san too, right?" Itsuki asked bitterly.
"Of course. I won't run away from my responsibilities." Ren nodded.
"I don't know if this should make me feel relieved or even more anxious. Thinking that I'll have to share a husband with another woman is still... It's hard to explain."
Itsuki didn't feel angry, nor jealous. Perhaps because the polygamy rule had been ingrained in her mind for a long time, or maybe because she knew Ren was from the start. After all, no normal male student would impregnate his teacher.
"I'll still love you, hubby. But don't make the problem any bigger. At least, two for now. Don't let me hear about another woman getting pregnant because of you." Itsuki said lovingly.
"No one knows the future." Ren simply smiled mischievously.
Itsuki glared at him sharply, but then just shook her head and leaned back on the sofa.
"My pregnancy has entered the safe period. If we do it carefully, I'll be fine." She whispered softly, her face blushing shyly.
Ren wasn't a clueless man. He understood the implication behind those words. For a moment, he stared at Itsuki, making sure she truly wanted it.
Without much ado, Ren turned off the TV and shifted his attention to Itsuki. With gentle yet firm movements, he lifted her in a princess carry, making Itsuki let out a small surprised sound.
"Hyaaaa! Hubby! I can still walk on my own, you know?"
"I know. But this is more romantic, right?" Ren replied casually.
Itsuki let out a small snort but didn't try to break free. Instead, she rested her head on Ren's chest, enjoying the warmth of the man who had become the father of her child.
Ren's steps were steady as he carried her to the bedroom, passing through the dimly lit hallway of the house. Inside the room, the soft glow of the bedside lamp created a warm and intimate atmosphere. He gently laid Itsuki down on the bed, then looked at her with deep affection.
"I love you, Itsuki-sensei."
"I love you too, naughty student. You've kept your sensei full for nine months with just your sausage and two eggs, you deserve a reward~" Itsuki smiled softly.
Ren returned her smile before leaning down, kissing her lips with deep emotion. The gentle kiss soon turned deeper, more passionate. Itsuki's fingers crept up to his neck, pulling him closer.
The soft light of the bedside lamp colored the room with a warm glow. Their breaths mingled, creating their own rhythm amidst the rustling of fabric slowly coming undone. Gentle touches turned into bolder explorations, as if they were relearning every curve and warmth of each other's bodies.
The bed beneath them creaked softly as they lost themselves in an endless wave of emotions. Ren's fingers traced Itsuki's skin carefully, while Itsuki leaned her head back, letting herself be carried away by the current they created together.
Time seemed to slow, leaving only the two of them in a profound intimacy. In the silence of the night, the sound of heavy breaths and soft whispers filled the room. No words were needed, as every touch spoke more than a thousand declarations of love.
Outside, the moon shone brightly, as if bearing witness to the long night they spent together, letting themselves be immersed in a closeness so deep and meaningful.