Chapter 103
But the waiting time was exceptionally long.
Yukina's apron outfit...
Efnir held the tablet and swiped her fingers, her mind wandering. She couldn't help but smile, but quickly suppressed it.
Fortunately, Yukina didn't notice.
After browsing for a while without finding anything new, Efnir opened her social media account again. When she was in the hospital, she updated her status according to the template given to her by Shinomiyami Nami. Instead of posting her own photo directly, she used images of herself that had been edited.
The identity of "Yanase Naoko" will remain confidential, and this will not change. Agents rarely reveal their original identities directly, in order to avoid unnecessary trouble.
145. Yukina's Financial Crisis
Three days have passed since Efnir updated her personal status, and it has received many new comments and reposts.
Efnir randomly selected a few to reply to, which was part of her job.
"There's really nothing else to do..."
Efnir put down her tablet, bored, and glanced at the time.
Only ten minutes or so have passed.
It will be another half hour before we can see Yukina in her apron.
Efnir sighed, feeling that the day was especially long.
The pen tip touched the notebook, and the ink spread slightly, leaving a small black dandelion.
From an angle that Efnir couldn't see, Yukina rested her cheek on her left hand and slowly moved her right hand across the notebook, writing two lines.
"--Wedding ring?"
"--Wedding photos?"
Engagement ring or wedding photos? That is the question.
In fact, Yukina didn't study much at all. When she saw the ring on Efnir Nier's finger, she suddenly felt as if she had found the answer she had been searching for all along.
"Will Naoko marry me when I come of age?"
"Meeting."
She asked that question, Naoko gave her the answer she had been hoping for.
Even though Yukina could sense the helplessness in Naoko's eyes, she could also feel the burning warmth of that promise in Naoko's hands.
They were both serious about each other.
Yukina found the answer to the question, "What should I give Naoko birthday?"
That was an important promise that belonged directly to them, or rather, a longing for "that day" that they could see and touch right now.
Yukina wants to get engaged to Naoko and wants to take beautiful wedding photos with Naoko.
However, neither of these options is really realistic for Yukina —her aunt and uncle Yanase aren't short of money, and neither is Naoko, but Yukina is...
Yukina actually has a lot of disposable income each month, far exceeding the average level among her peers, and even more than some people's monthly take-home pay. But this doesn't mean that Yukina has enough spare money to order an expensive engagement ring or purchase a high-end wedding photography service.
A silver ring or a perfunctory art photograph would be fine, but that's not what Yukina wants. What she wants is a birthday gift that will definitely leave a deep impression on Naoko.
That leaves only two questions.
"--If you choose an engagement ring, then you must find a way to get the size for Naoko finger and prepare enough money."
"If you choose to take wedding photos, you need to prepare enough money."
In short, Yukina needs money right now, and she can't ask Naoko for it, otherwise it would be pointless.
There's still a month until Naoko's birthday.
She had a lot of pocket money; in fact, it was frighteningly much compared to her peers.
Based on Yukina's monthly allowance, she could get a pair of decent quality custom-made engagement rings in just two or three months, and the same goes for wedding photos.
However, she has spent most of her money on things related to "Magical Girl Efnir", such as buying limited edition support posters, sometimes supporting crowdfunding projects for Fan Club activities, and the cost of VIP tickets is also a considerable sum.
Because Efnir's performances are not in the traditional idol format but more like a kind of "charity performance," a large portion of her tickets are free and open to a large number of low- and middle-income people. They can be obtained by lottery with proof of residence.
The so-called VIP seats and support merchandise are not only a way to reward core fans, but also primarily a means to collect operating funds. In addition to paying the salaries of relevant personnel, a portion will be set aside to support welfare programs and city construction funds.
Therefore, this part of the expense is relatively expensive.
In short, the expenses of a small number of people support the entire operating expenses, so the products targeted at this small group of people are relatively expensive. Therefore, the result of Yukina's attempt to acquire all the limited-edition items is that she has a lot of pocket money, but she can't save any money at all.
Moreover, after deducting Yukina's daily expenses from her allowance, there's even less left. This is when the disadvantages of having no savings become apparent.
How can I raise enough money to buy a pair of engagement rings or a wedding photoshoot in just one month?
Yukina was pondering this in her mind when she glanced cautiously at Naoko. Naoko was lying on the sofa, hugging a cushion and smiling, seemingly lost in thought. Yukina took out her phone and sent a message to her friend Kanade Kotone.
("Kanade- san, are you there? I have something I'd like to ask you.")
Kanade Kotone is a very outgoing person with many friends in her class and good relationships with many people. Unlike Yukina, who is single-minded about idols, Kanade Kotone understands the students' lifestyles better and can offer more advice on many things.
("Shiomi Sang, good day.")
A short while later, Kanade Kotone sent a reply.
("What's the matter?")
("Let me put it simply... are there any simple and quick ways to make money?")
("You're kidding, right? Shiomi- san is actually short of money?")
("I want to buy my sister a birthday present, but I don't have enough money.")
Yukina did not tell Kanade Kotone her specific thoughts.
It wasn't that she didn't trust Kanade Kotone, but this secret might still be too shocking for others. Besides, Yukina probably preferred that Naoko be the first to know this secret.
So she simply said, "I don't have enough money."
("Looks like you've got your eye on something really valuable... That's great.")
After a pause, Kanade Kotone replied again.
("Speaking of which, how is Ms. Yanase's recovery going?")
("I'm doing well so far, I just got discharged from the hospital and went home.")
("Huh? So fast?")
("That's how she is...")
In recent days, Kanade Kotone seems to have something on her mind. She leaves immediately after school and seems to be much busier every day. She doesn't have much time to visit Efnir, Miss Canary, and Miss Nishizaki Yuki in the hospital, so she is unaware that Efnir has been discharged from the hospital.
The two chatted for a few more minutes before getting down to business.
("If you want to make money easily and quickly, part-time work is the way to go, right?")
Kanade Kotone replied.
Part-time work was something Yukina had certainly considered, as it was the simplest, most direct, and straightforward way.
However, part-time wages are generally less than half of the average wage, and it's impossible for Yukina to earn the ideal amount of money in a month.
Moreover, Yukina doesn't have time to go to her part-time job every day—her identity is no longer just that of a simple student. If she can climb the Stairway from a prospective agent to an agent, her life will definitely undergo earth-shattering changes. In that case, let alone part-time jobs, she probably won't even have time to take care of her school life.
146. The Maid Supporting the Melody of Kanade Kotone
("That won't work. The income isn't enough to meet the target, and you know I might not have that much time.")
Yukina replied.
("Are you short of money?")
(I guess so.)
("Well... given Shiomi- san's looks, perhaps we could consider making money from online traffic. I remember you're in charge of her Fan Club, right?")
("That was just a temporary role... and I messed it up.")
("That's not your fault!")
("It doesn't matter. In short, this path won't work either. Popularity and attention take a lot of time to accumulate, and converting them into revenue immediately is not an easy thing.")
("Tutoring?")
("I can't do it...")
Yukina could almost imagine how awkward it would be for her to tutor a stranger's house, given her personality and difficulty in dealing with other people.
("Speaking of which, don't agents get paid?")
("I'm not quite there yet, so...")
Rather, it's more accurate to say that Yukina wasn't even a prospective agent. She didn't get in through an vetting process, and it seems that because of Efnir, Masaki Hina treated her more like a "friend's sister" than a "prospective agent." She neither took the initiative to impose any restrictions on her nor provided her with any special conveniences.
She's completely detached from the organization now.
("Is that how it is?")
Kanade Kotone seemed a bit stumped, and it took him a while to reply with the next sentence.
("In that case, it's still part-time, right? But we'll have to do some screening... I know a place, that place... it might be a bit special, some of the senior students from our school often go there, and of course, some people work there too. I heard that if it's just part-time, you don't have to go to work regularly, and the salary is quite good. I wonder if you're interested.")
Yukina's eyes lit up. Since it was a place frequently visited by students of the Youcheng Girls' Academy, which was known as the "Young Ladies' Academy," it must be a pretty good place.
("Kanade -kun, I think this is a good idea. Please explain in detail!")
("Don't rush into a decision... I've taken some pictures here, you can look at them before making a decision.")
Immediately afterwards, several images appeared in the chat interface, but Yukina's expression became subtle after just one glance.
Those were some concept images of job postings and store introductions, as well as some actual photos of the store.
It has to be said that the business looks really good, and the interior decoration is also very natural, quiet and comfortable. If you only look at it, Yukina would probably like it very much.
But...
("Why is it a maid cafe?!")
At least Yukina knew what a maid outfit was, what a maid cafe was, and could guess the target audience... When it came to maid outfits, Yukina wanted to see Naoko in Naoko, not herself! Besides, she didn't want to be stared at by men with strange looks. Although she wouldn't easily develop prejudices against men, she was still somewhat repulsed by the thought of standing in front of them in a maid outfit.
Seemingly worried that Yukina might misunderstand, Kanade Kotone quickly added:
("To avoid any misunderstanding from Shiomi- san, let me explain: This maid cafe is actually only open to women, and it's owned by one of our alumni, so most of the customers are students from our school.")
Huh? Yukina was taken aback.
Is it only aimed at women? And only students from its own school?... If that's the case, then it seems more acceptable.
("But speaking of which... why do you have this job posting, Kanade- kun?")
Kanade Kotone remained silent for two seconds before withdrawing the recruitment information image.
("The daily tasks are actually not much different from those of waitresses in other restaurants. The so-called maids are just part of the restaurant's design. If I had to describe it, that place is probably a classic-style restaurant.")
Simply put, it's a unique restaurant management model inherited from the Old Era.
The target audience is primarily students at the Youcheng Girls' Academy.
("I also know some classmates who have worked part-time there. Well, after all, it's called 'Ladies' Academy,' so for the 'ladies,' 'maid experience' is definitely essential, right?")
Kanade Kotone said, following up with funny and quirky emoticons.