Chapter 21 - I Will Become the Prime Minister of Neon!

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"Here comes the beer!"

The ramen shop owner, wearing a chef's hat and looking to be about fifty years old, brought over two frosted mugs of draft beer with a smile. He handed one mug to Hirasawa Shizuka and placed the other in front of Fujiwara Tooru.

Fujiwara blinked, puzzled. "I didn't order any beer."

The owner winked, pointing at Shizuka. "Let her treat you."

He leaned in conspiratorially, lowering his voice but not enough to avoid being heard. "You see, she's a regular here. Whenever she comes to eat, I tease her about boyfriend troubles, and she immediately orders a few beers to drown her sorrows. I've made quite a bit of money off that trick."

The owner's words made Fujiwara chuckle. "You just said all of that right in front of her?"

"Haha, she doesn't care about stuff like that," the owner laughed heartily, his voice booming through the small shop.

Shizuka waved dismissively. "Ha! I don't mind it at all. But boss, maybe you should stop meddling in things that aren't your business."

The owner grinned and excused himself, heading off to attend to other customers.

Fujiwara thought for a moment and quickly understood the man's intentions. On the surface, it seemed like he was just trying to make a quick buck, but in reality, this playful banter was subtly bringing Shizuka and him closer together.

The owner had a way of doing things so smoothly and unobtrusively that Fujiwara couldn't help but think he'd chosen the wrong profession—he should have been a matchmaker instead!

Though Fujiwara understood what the owner was up to, he decided to pretend otherwise.

So, everyone thinks they can play tricks on me, huh? Look at how pure and innocent I am as a college student.

"This owner sure is interesting," Fujiwara remarked after a brief pause.

Shizuka raised her glass. "He really is. And his cooking skills are great too—that's why I come here often. Can you drink? Let's clink glasses. This round's on me; don't worry about it."

Looking at her straightforward demeanor, Fujiwara lifted his glass and tapped it against hers with a smile. "My alcohol tolerance isn't bad."

Just as Shizuka was about to take a sip, she suddenly remembered something and asked hurriedly, "Are you over twenty yet?"

In Neon, the legal drinking age was twenty. While many people ignored this law privately, public places still adhered to it strictly.

"I may have attended high school at Shuuchiin Academy and now study at Todai, but technically, I hold American citizenship," Fujiwara explained.

This implied that the laws of Neon didn't apply to him.

"Oh, so you're an international student?"

Now reassured, Shizuka took a hearty gulp of her beer.

Seeing this, Fujiwara followed suit and downed half his glass in one go.

Shizuka gave him a thumbs-up.

By now, the modest-sized ramen shop was packed full. Around them, weary middle-aged salarymen clinked their glasses and began venting about work or family life. Most patrons who visited such izakaya-style ramen shops late at night were these very same office workers—people seeking cheap food and a lively atmosphere.

Alcohol warmed their stomachs, loosening tongues and lifting spirits. Many shy individuals became more outgoing under its influence. As the saying went, liquor emboldened the timid—and Shizuka, already extroverted by nature, was no exception. With her guard down, she opened up freely.

"Fujiwara-kun… It's okay if I call you that, right?"

"No problem. Actually, since I grew up in America, I'm not used to Neon's honorifics. You can just call me by my name."

"Haha, I've lived in Neon my whole life. If you ask me to change how I address someone, I'd feel awkward."

Shizuka paused briefly before asking, "...What are you studying at Todai, Fujiwara-kun?"

"I'm enrolled in the School of Political Science and International Relations."

"Political Science and International Relations? Are you planning to become a diplomat?"

Curiosity sparkled in Shizuka's eyes.

"A diplomat? No, my goal is to become the Prime Minister of Neon. But if becoming prime minister requires me to first serve as a diplomat, then I'll give it a shot."

Fujiwara spoke with unwavering seriousness.

His gaze subtly flickered toward the invisible system panel only he could see. This system not only granted him skill upgrades, stat boosts, and access to cutting-edge technology—it also came with another feature.

Ultimate Mission: Legally, reasonably, and compliantly become President of the United States or Prime Minister of Neon. Upon completion, receive the ultimate mystery reward.

When Fujiwara first received the system, he was utterly baffled by this mission. Its difficulty level was off the charts, especially given the stipulation that all methods must remain within legal, reasonable, and compliant bounds.

In both America and Neon, "legal" essentially meant participating in elections—a daunting task for anyone.

Still, Fujiwara was intensely curious about the promised final reward. Ever since acquiring the system, completing this mission had become his primary objective, even a lifelong pursuit.

After some deliberation, he ruled out aiming for the U.S. presidency.

Why? Because he was Asian!

Even though he'd grown up in America and wasn't an immigrant, his ethnicity would pose insurmountable challenges in a presidential election. To date, no Asian-American had ever reached the White House—and Fujiwara had no interest in being the first. The effort and sacrifices required would be immense.

Thus, he decisively chose the second option: becoming the Prime Minister of Neon. At worst, he could always embrace the role of an anti-establishment hero and end up as the last prime minister—it wouldn't matter.

Moreover, his current identity gave him a significant advantage in pursuing this path.

As everyone knew, Neon's political landscape operated almost like a hereditary system. Without connections, climbing to the upper echelons of power was nearly impossible. Most high-ranking officials came from families with deep roots in politics.

And the Fujiwara family? They were an old, prestigious political dynasty. Leveraging this background would allow him to enter the political arena seamlessly.

This system set clear goals while offering unique benefits tied to romantic relationships, which enhanced his abilities. Thus, Fujiwara dubbed it the *Career and Love System*.

What did a successful man need?

Power to command respect and admiration—and beautiful women by his side for happiness. Career and love—they went hand in hand.

Seeing Fujiwara's earnest expression, Shizuka's cheerful smile faded slightly. She probed cautiously, "Fujiwara-kun, are you serious?"

"Absolutely," Fujiwara replied without hesitation. "I've even mapped out my career plan."

"First, establish myself as a student at Todai, meeting the best and brightest in Neon to build a network for the future."

"Then, find a way to gain fame—to make the public recognize me, laying the groundwork for running as a city councilor."

"After becoming a city councilor, join Neon's largest political party to pave the way for entering the national parliament. Once I secure a seat there, aim to enter the cabinet and rise to a prominent position."

"At that point, I'll focus on becoming the leader of the party. With enough internal support, securing votes within the party will put the prime ministerial seat well within reach!"