Add one on the pile, because why not?

"So that's everything, right?"

Liam scowled.

He was more than eager to go back to his home now, and hopefully never have to be involved with this line of work ever again.

"Hold on."

To his surprise, however, someone placed their hands onto Liam's cheek and guided his head upwards.

"...now what?"

Liam asked, looking up at the upside-down face of Fumiko.

"Well, since you already made one purchase,

"I'm flattered but I do like the work environment I have currently."

That only left one other option.

"......"

When Liam's eyes headed over to her, Mitsuki flinched and shrank in her spot.

"..."

But at the same time, a hint of hope glinted in her eyes as she shyly glanced at Liam.

"I'm not going to just buy you like a product."

Liam stated.

Mitsuki flinched again and fiddled with the hem of her apron.

"...I mean, I... uhm..."

"She just wants to be around someone as young as his son."

Fumiko added with a smug grin.

"H-hey!"

Mitsuki complained with blushes on her cheekes, but that explanation only confused Liam even more.

"Wait, but I thought her child was a teenager."

Fumiko shrugged.

"Well, that is still closer than boss.

Besides noone is going to buy a used Character for a nanny, and boss doesn't have any plans on having a children."

"That, I do not have."

Ronan agreed.

Liam shot him a dirty look.

It didn't take a genius to figure out that he was glad to take an extra profit.

Liam pondered about the idea.

He couldn't help but feel like he was quickly becoming a "rescue operator" for these Characters, for the lack of a better term.

And while he wasn't against helping them, his house was going to feel incredibly small when he got back.

"Well?"

Ronan pestured for an answer.

Liam glanced between Fumiko and Mitsuki before letting out a deep sigh.

"Fuck it. Sure. But—"

Before Ronan could gladly make an offer, Liam slammed his palm on the table.

"100 credits."

"Excuse me?"

For the first time, Ronan's expression went sour. That alone made Liam's lips twitch up, but he kept his expression straight.

"You heard me, I'm not taking her if the offer is over one-zero-zero."

"But that's one third of her full price!"

"It's either that or na-da."

Liam said in a firm voice.

Ronan narrowed his eyes, but a cheap purchase was a purchase nontheless.

It wasn't like he had much use for Mitsuki apart from attending the kitchens, and he could have that easily replaced without any hindrance.

"Fine, a hundred credits."

Ronan begrudgingly sealed the deal.

"It was a pleasure doing buisness with you."

With a final smirk, Liam sent the extra 100 credits to Ronan's account.

"Well, not really.

Let's hope we don't see each other again, shall we?"

* * *

"Is it over?"

Starfire came over as soon as Liam got back out of the office.

"Yeah, sorry for the hold up."

Starfire glared at the two Characters standing right behind Liam.

"Oh, these are—"

"I heard what happened inside the office."

Starfire huffed and folded her arms.

"I can't believe those vana-hiri before me..."

"Vana-what?"

Liam frowned.

That was a distinctively alien language and he had no idea what it meant.

Starfire didn't elaborate, instead opting to sticking her tongue out at Liam before flying out of the open window.

"Not to be naggy, but you should really have a tighter rein around your Characters."

Ritsuko muttered, looking outside of the window.

Liam shrugged.

"She's actually not mine."

"Oh?"

Ritsuko was taken aback by the news, but she seemed to have decided it was not her buisness to ask further.

She simply nodded and opened the way out to them.

"By the way, you should get dress up."

Ritsuko also handed a paper bag to Mitsuki, who was still only in her naked apron.

"Oh, right... can I—"

The door closed shut before Mitsuki could ask for another favor.

"Oh..."

Since the transaction was done, Ritsuko was far more distant than she had been.

"...we'll wait for you in front of the bathroom."

Liam offered.

"Thank you..."

Mitsuki muttered while clutching the paper bag a little closer.

While Mitsuki went to the nearest [Safe Female Character Bathroom](opposed to the [Non-safe Female Character Bathroom] used for various exhibition plays), Liam and Fumiko sat side by side on a bench.

Immediately, Fumiko's hand rested on Liam's thigh and slowly rubbed up and down.

When Liam gave her a look, Fumiko giggled and winked.

"It's just a small massage."

"It better be."

Liam was already tapped dry from Fumiko's antiques, and he also had Komi waiting for him back home.

'Maybe I should buy one of those stamina boosters from the convenience store...'

When he tried to get up, Fumiko leaned in and prevented him from doing so.

"What's wrong? Bathroom?"

"No, I'm just going to the convenience store to buy some stuff."

"Condom?"

"No. Wait..."

A chill slid down Liam's spine as a horrifying possibility wriggled into his mind.

"Do I need condoms? I thought Characters couldn't get pregnant."

Thankfully for him, Fumiko shook her head.

"We can't, unless you mod us to get pregnant. I believe there is a setting for that for the owners.

Speaking of... I think you should get us set up before going anywhere."

"You mean this?"

Liam pulled out a small piece of paper Ronan gave him after their buisness was finished.

[Mifune Fumiko

Reset Code: 3DQ94XD2R

Bakugo Mitsuki

Reset Code: 7BL26WY7A]

Liam had read through the brief Q&A section in his RealDreams App, and figure that there was a 'Reset Code' for a re-sold Character instead of an 'Access Code' like the newly bought Characters.

As the name suggested, the Reset Code would reset the Character in question of their previous ownership.

The process didn't wipe their memories or undo any modifications, only change the owner from one to another.

It also required another "DNA engravment" to finalize the process, so Liam was putting it off for the time being.

Especially since there wasn't a time limit set to the Rest Process, although the code itself would expire as soon as he used it.

So there was no need for rush, except...

"Y-yeah, about that..."

Fumiko trailed off.

"Can't you just used the code now?"

For the first time, Liam noticed a state of discomfort come up on Fumiko's face.

"Are you alright?"

He asked.

Fumiko took a deep breath and slumped back onto the bench.

"...look, it's weird to be in possession of someone else while still having to acknowledge the original prime human as our "Master", alright?

It's like having your reality split in two, and they're having war against each other in here."

Fumiko tapped the side of her head.

"Oh."

Liam looked down at the codes.

He had never given it much thought, but to the Characters, their literal world depended on who owned them or not.

From their perspective, being owned by someone could be tortuous to them as much as being owned.

'...in that case... maybe, the best I can do is take responsibility of owning them... instead of simply being stressed over it.'

"Alright. Sorry for not realizing it sooner."

Liam straightened out the paper and looked at Fumiko in the eyes.

"Reset Code: 3DQ94XD2R."

"Ah..."

Fumiko froze on the spot.

Liam waited for a few seconds while the code was slowly processed through Fumiko's head until...

"Haaah..."

Fumiko let out a relaxed sigh.

She blinked a couple of times as life returned to her eyes.

At the same time, a notification appeared on his phone.

It was from the RealDreams App.

[DNA detected inside Character.

Registration complete.]

"Better?"

Liam asked.

"Much better."

Fumiko hugged Liam's arm and pecked him on the cheek.

"Thank you...Master♡"