Just as the Reversed Two of Wands he had "divined" with the Tarot Cards that day had foretold: "obstacles and stagnation."
This time, the Student Council's selection standards had seemed far stricter than usual, eliminating nearly every candidate. Naturally, Ichinose Honami, who had entered with high hopes, was among them.
(Actually, the Student Council recruitment this time had been entirely orchestrated by the siscon Student Council President, Manabu Horikita, to pave the way for his younger sister, Suzune Horikita.)
She had walked away from the disappointing selection, feeling as though something inside her had gone hollow, leaving her lost and confused.
Lin Mu's words from that day—especially the failure foretold by the Reversed Two of Wands and the "help from a benefactor" suggested by the Upright Hierophant—kept echoing in her mind.
Alongside her amazement at how frighteningly accurate the divination had been, more questions crowded into her thoughts: Who was this "benefactor" who could help her? Who should she seek out now?
(Yellow-haired Miyabi Nagumo, who would bring Ichinose into the Student Council.)
How could she manage to join the Student Council after all? She had thought it over and over, and in the end, her yearning for an answer had overcome her disappointment and slight embarrassment.
Following her memories, she had once again made her way to the fortune-telling stall she had fled in a panic before.
Lin Mu glanced at the hesitant figure beneath the trees, then at the sunset slowly turning orange-red. He quickly calculated the day's "earnings" and how much energy he had spent.
Mm, that was about enough. Time to pack up.
Earning Private Points was certainly important, but sacrificing his upcoming dessert and leisure time just to make a little more didn't fit his lifestyle.
So he raised a hand toward the line of around seven or eight people still waiting and, in his usual flat tone, announced the disappointing news to those remaining:
"That's it for fortune-telling today. I'm off work, seniors."
As soon as he spoke, the people in line burst into commotion, their faces uniformly filled with regret and frustration.
"What?! Come on, junior! I've been waiting almost half an hour!"
"I'm only two people away! Just one more reading, just one! I'll pay extra!"
(Money-Adding Layman.)
"I'll pay double the points! Two hundred thousand! Could you tell me if I'll win a prize in this competition?"
"Junior, can't you make an exception? Will you be back here around this time tomorrow?"
Lin Mu leaned back on his little stool, too lazy even to sit up straight. The lemon-flavored lollipop in his mouth rolled lazily around as he nudged it with his tongue.
His eyes were half-lidded, and his voice was languid, as if he were stating the most obvious thing in the world. Yet his resolve was as solid as a rock.
"No. Work is work, and life is life. You have to keep them separate."
He paused, then added, "The rest of the day is my private time. I'm closed for business. Not even double pay will do."
This was one of the Slacker's core principles: never give up his allotted leisure time for extra rewards.
Money—Private Points—was certainly nice, but freedom and comfort were priceless.
(The author currently has neither much money nor much freedom...)
Even if they offered three or five times the price, they wouldn't get him to spend one more second on work that was supposed to be over.
(Leaving work on time makes me happy. Heh heh heh.)
Seeing that his attitude was firm, his expression flat, and there was no room for negotiation, the crowd realized that further pleading would be pointless. They could only sigh and gradually disperse, their faces full of regret.
Before leaving, they still asked when he would set up his stall again, but Lin Mu merely waved a hand without making any definite promises. He left them with only two words: "We'll see."
After all, the name "Divination Immortal" had already become well known, and he had established both his reputation and an air of mystery.
From then on, he would set up the stall whenever he felt like it, depending on his mood. Though, in practice, he'd probably do it a few times a week.
A steady trickle would let him lounge around more comfortably and keep earning for longer.
(The art of scarcity marketing.)
Once the crowd had completely dispersed, the Club Recruitment Plaza gradually returned to its usual quiet as evening approached. Only a few clubs in the distance were still packing up their stalls.
Only then did Lin Mu slowly rise to his feet and stretch, his bones cracking softly.
He turned toward the trees, where the same figure was still standing, seeming unsure what to do.
He lifted his chin. His expression remained as flat as ever, and his tone was as casual as if he were greeting someone he knew.
"Why are you still standing there? Come over, Ichinose."
At his words, Ichinose Honami paused, as though she had been roused from a daze.
She looked up at Lin Mu. Her amber eyes, usually full of warmth, now clearly held disappointment and confusion.
She pressed her lips together as if steeling herself, then hurried over to Lin Mu's stall.
"Good afternoon, Lin Mu."
She managed a faint smile, trying to make her voice sound cheerful, but she couldn't hide her disappointment. Her greeting came out somewhat strained.
"Sit."
Lin Mu gestured toward the empty little stool across from him, then sat down again. He casually gathered the Tarot Cards scattered across the table and put them away in their box.
Then he pulled two lollipops from his pocket. One was his usual Alpenliebe original flavor, and the other was strawberry.
He unwrapped the original and popped it into his mouth, then offered Ichinose Honami the strawberry lollipop in its pink wrapper. "Want one?"
Ichinose Honami paused. She looked at the candy held out to her, then at Lin Mu's expressionless face, which seemed to bear no ill will.
After a moment's hesitation, she accepted it and quietly said, "Thank you."
She peeled off the wrapper and put the pink candy in her mouth. Its sweet flavor melted across her tongue, easing the heaviness in her chest a little.
She sat stiffly on the little stool, her hands resting on her knees pressed together. Her fingers once again twisted the hem of her skirt without her realizing it.
Silence settled between them for several seconds. Only the distant murmur of voices and the rustle of wind through the leaves could be heard.
At last, Ichinose Honami mustered her courage, lifted her head, and looked at Lin Mu.
The setting sun filtered through a gap in the tent, falling across half her face and gilding her delicate profile with a soft golden edge. It also made her disappointment all the more visible.
"Lin Mu," she began, her voice soft and trembling despite her efforts to control it. "I came today... because I wanted to ask you about the fortune you told for me that day."
She paused, as though she needed to gather some courage. "I took part in the Student Council selection... and I didn't make it. Just like you said."
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with confusion like mist:
"But you said that day that if I could get help from a 'benefactor,' I would be able to join the Student Council."
Before you continue