Chapter 598
"Not doing it is definitely not an option, and there's a risk of slow death."
"... I need to think about it."
"This is such a dilemma~ But I need to hurry!"
"I understand."
She grabbed her hair in frustration, her posture completely unlike that of trendy beauties like PA; instead, she looked like an old man, even though she was only about five years older... Ah, that's a lot already.
What a sad story~
Sakurakoji Talent looked up at the lights with a melancholy expression.
Just what if—just what if!
What would his parents think if he were to date a woman of her age...?
The age difference between him and her is even greater than the age difference between her and her own parents... Forget it, what am I thinking? It's all just idle thoughts.
Unsure what impolite thing he was thinking, Ichiji Hoshika hesitated for a moment before looking up into his red eyes and asking, "If we're going to do this, should we hire new people?"
Online operations, including ticketing, traffic generation, store setup, promotion, and effects production, as well as offline communication with performance organizers, selection, and venue arrangement, all seem incredibly complicated!
It's even more troublesome than the current situation in the store!
Naturally, hiring new employees to handle this is also a necessary step.
"You can also choose to give me a raise."
"Hmm?" She narrowed her eyes slightly, puzzled.
"In other words, I'll help you with the initial setup of your online store," he explained in detail.
"Can you do it? Is this something new?"
"You don't believe me?" He glared at her, feigning anger, looking down at her.
"It's not like... you can just do it if you want," she avoided his gaze, "And I'll give you a raise if you do a good job."
Speaking of this, she was filled with helplessness. His salary was already very high... She must have been crazy to hire such a habitual absentee at such a high salary.
"No need for a raise, just don't hold a grudge against me for taking so many days off, store manager~" He glanced around, and in her shocked gaze, he took her soft hand in his and whispered:
"Also, consider this as continuing to owe me a favor."
"What favor...?"
"Manager, you haven't repaid me for the favors I made by helping Nijika and the others last time, have you?"
"..."
Although it hadn't been long, in the eyes of Ichiji Hoshika, who had been secretly observing and recording them, they had indeed made a lot of progress.
The two guitarists she highly regards Kanau and Gotou Hitori, are both impeccable in terms of skill, but they both have some flaws in their personalities.
However, recently, under the guidance of Ichiji Nijika, Kanau has slightly changed her headstrong ways, Gotou Hitori has become braver than before thanks to everyone's efforts.
She felt very gratified to think that her shop had produced two such high-level professional juniors.
In addition, Nijika, Ryo, and Kita's professional skills have recently shown signs of improvement.
Besides their extraordinary efforts to avoid falling behind the other two, his teaching was also extremely important...
Reminded by him again, Ichiji Hoshika's heart pounded. She had been forced to agree to some unknown condition of his under her Kabe-don, and now, unsurprisingly, it made her extremely uneasy!
What kind of proposal will this guy make...?
"Well, I'm not planning to ask the store manager to repay the favor right now. I haven't decided yet."
Hearing him say that, she instantly relaxed, feeling a sense of powerlessness after the tension.
"But I'm really looking forward to it!"
After whispering those magnetic words affectionately in her ear, he returned to the counter, leaving behind someone who reacted exactly the same way as Hiratsuka Shizuka had just done.
But after a short while, he turned back.
"!!!" As she trembled like a startled fawn, he used his fingertips to smooth her slightly disheveled hair.
"What style should I wear today? How about a cute low ponytail?"
"..."
"Then this one will do."
Unable to get a response from her, he got right to work, using various small clips and hair ties to secure and rotate her gold thread, wrapping it around her bun and then hiding the inconspicuous props.
Most of the raw silk was combed back, leaving only a few strands of short, hesitant bangs on the shy front of the face.
She looked like a quiet, sweet girl who had just fallen in love, and suddenly seemed ten years younger.
With his skillful hands, a beautiful stranger appeared in the Starry sky in no time.
Someone who isn't so familiar with her probably wouldn't notice at first glance.
"..." After seeing the amazing transformation she achieved, Hiratsuka Shizuka was furious. They were all around the same age and had similar habits, so why was she so much younger?
"Talent! I want that too! I want someone like Hoshika!"
"..." I almost forgot, she's also a naturally long, straight person who doesn't really like doing her hair.
"Hi~ Hi~ I'm here."
"..."
After giving new hairstyles to the few people who had come to join the fun, including Yukino Shita Hiyori, the matter outside came to an end.
Afterwards, he went into the recording studio at the back and checked the work of each member of the Kessoku Band, giving them lessons.
When it was almost time, he returned to the lobby and began his formal professional work.
At the same time, he looked at the beautiful girl next to him with a temperament as clear as a mountain spring, full of doubt.
"Yukino Shita- san, you don't have class today?"
Yukino Shita Yukino skillfully helped him with his daily preparations, pouring the whipped and mixed concentrate into a container. "I know."
Unexpectedly, Yukino Shita Yukino appeared here.
"So, what are you doing today?"
She remained silent.
"I see." He nodded in understanding.
"... What do you know? Don't make wild guesses, okay, Sakurakoji- kun?" Yukino Shita Yukino rolled her eyes at him, clearly annoyed.
He put on his cooking gloves and took the perfectly timed cupcakes out of the oven.
The sweet and rich aroma filled the entire space in a short time and spread into the hall outside.
If someone happens to be hungry and takes a sniff, they're guaranteed to be tempted to place an order and queue up to buy it—for example, musicians who occasionally come here to practice or perform.
After a strenuous and famished struggle, how many people can resist this temptation?
A significant portion of the ticket revenue they painstakingly earned ended up back in the hands of Ichiji Hoshika through this method.
"Isn't it because you went to the cat café again today, and thought you'd stop by on the way, but then you saw your sister, and because you didn't want to be with her, you used helping out as an excuse to come in?"
He calmly and deliberately combed through the information.
"..."
The silent testament to the correctness and victory of his reasoning.
"Where 'Classmate Yuihama? Did she come today?" he asked casually.
"... She's here. She didn't come yesterday." Yukino Shita Yukino's eyes were lifeless. This feeling of being seen through was truly unpleasant.
But putting that aside, she doesn't dislike this kind of time.
She could chat and relax with her colleagues while doing familiar tasks, and occasionally even learn something new – this kind of time wasn't bad for her.
Of course, the situation of someone lonely covering for another person's shift is another matter.
"I see."
In other words, she was invited by herself yesterday; Yuihama Yui didn't come, and today Yuihama Yui wanted to buy sweets, and she wanted to play with the cat, so they came together—is that what you mean?
If it weren't for Yuihama Yui, she probably wouldn't have "conveniently" come by.
After all, the Minato Ward and Shimokitazawa are quite far apart.
"You have exams next week, is it alright for you to be working so leisurely now, Sakurakoji?"
"It should be fine, if the goal is just to get first place."
"... Kokoro not to let your horse stumble!"
"Don't worry, the probability of me failing is much lower than the probability of Yukino Shita twisting her ankle."
I really dislike your arrogance.
"Then you haven't seen anyone more arrogant. Besides, what I call confidence, thank you."
"Is there anyone more arrogant than you? It seems this world is truly doomed."
"You need to learn to accept species diversity, Yukino Shita. It's part of growing up."
"Although you said it, I admit that what you said makes a lot of sense."
"..."
After a conversation that, as always, was tinged with disparagement, Sakurakoji Talent suddenly remembered something and asked, "Yukino Shita- san, have you ever thought about doing something truly difficult?"
Yukino Shita Yukino paused, tilting her head to ask, "What do you mean?"
"That means not just doing ordinary things like studying and club activities, but doing things that can prove your uniqueness."
"For example, Ijichi and her band activities?"
"That can be considered one of those categories."
She continued her actions, "Unfortunately, I'm not very interested in that."
"I know your goal is to become a politician, right?"
"How did you know that? Did your sister tell you?"
He didn't answer, but instead said, "I talked to your sister last time. Since she doesn't like the family's arrangements, and you're upset that she took away your dream opportunity, why don't you switch places?"
"You even told her that kind of thing?!" Yukino Shita Yukino was genuinely shocked, staring at him in disbelief. After a long while, she lowered her head. "It's not that simple."
"Isn't this just what your parents think? Ultimately, it's because you're too weak in front of her and lack real achievements."
"..."
"You're probably thinking, 'That's easy to say. How can high school and college students accumulate achievements so easily?'"
"..."
"It's not that I have no solution, it just depends on whether you want to."
Seeing her beautiful eyes, filled with earnest inquiry, cast his glances at him, he curled his lips into a smile, as if he had caught another fish.
"However, before that, you need to prove yourself through some small tests."
"After all, you have to eat one bite at a time, and you have to accumulate experience step by step, right?"
Chapter 541 A Special Reward for the Night
Yukino Shita Yukino a small step back, glaring at him warily. "What do you want me to do now?"
"You're so perceptive... Don't be so nervous~ It's a very simple thing~"
"I only smell trouble."
"Human beings grow through difficulties; without difficulties, there is no progress."
"So, if you just dump everything on others, doesn't that mean you're not making any progress?"
"How rude of me, I have so much to do."
"You always take on more tasks than you can handle, that's why you haven't made any progress."
"Okay--STOP!" Sakurakoji Talent made a stop gesture; if this continued, it would never end.