"I see, it seems well thought out, huh?" said Rito, surprised.
"Of course, we live in a capitalist society, people have to be smart to think about how to make more money than others" Yuuji nodded.
"But even so, a manga studio doesn't sell on-site, right? So isn't it unnecessary to be in this 'modern commercial zone'?"
Before Yuuji could answer Rito's question, Mikan spoke.
"It's about image, right?"
"That's right" Yuuji nodded, somewhat surprised.
"Image?"
"Think of it this way, Rito, who usually buys more manga?" Mikan asked.
"...Kids and teenagers?" Rito replied after thinking for a moment.
"That's right, and both usually have a tight budget, so they can't buy everything.
Now, Chaos Studios doesn't just have advertising for its manga, it also has its giant logo on an easily recognizable building, a building that is on the city's most crowded route.
Many kids and teenagers tend to be indecisive when choosing what to buy, this is the case unless there is a story that is overwhelmingly superior to the rest, making the decision easier, but when that doesn't happen, which is almost always, any small thing can make them choose one manga over another. So, even unconsciously, recognizing familiar images they always see will make them choose that one" Mikan explained, but after doing so she looked at Yuuji. "Is that right?"
Yuuji looked at her in surprise before smiling and nodding. "That's right. Mikan, by any chance, are you looking for a job?"
"Huh? Are you offering me a job?"
"That's right, hmm, although you're too young to work right now. Unless you want to become a business administrator, in that case, Ruri could take you as an apprentice and teach you, and also pay you."
"Waaah, we're back to RPG terms, do apprentices even exist nowadays?" Rito said, surprised.
"Of course they do, although it's more like an internship. Or rather a sponsorship. Someone who trusts your potential invests time and money in you, in return, when you grow up, you'll work for them or replace them. You need not only to be very capable but also reliable to be accepted."
"But, Yuuji, I looked into the Yuuji family a bit before and... Isn't Ruri like... super amazing? Or are we talking about a different Ruri?"
"No, we're talking about that one. The one nicknamed super manager Ruri" Yuuji nodded, if someone researched the Yuuji family, she would be one of the first names to appear, so it was impossible to confuse her.
"And you think someone like that would really want to sponsor me?" Mikan asked.
"She definitely would" Yuuji nodded, and this had less to do with his knowledge of Ruri and more with his knowledge of the plot, if we talk about trust and talent, Mikan is definitely at the top among the humans in the anime.
Although that has more to do with the authors' obsession with making supporting characters extremely overpowered.
'Although Mikan wasn't a supporting character, but a heroine. Although it was never confirmed that she ended up with Rito, since she is his blood sister.
Damn it, I'll stop thinking about that.'
"I guess I'll think about it then" Mikan said. "Extra money is always good."
'Extra money?' Yuuji thought with disdain. 'The money I would pay you would be enough for you to live in luxury your whole life.'
"Well, you're young, so you don't need to rush, but you can always go if you need money. Just remember you won't have any advantages for knowing the boss."
"Of course, I don't want that" Mikan smiled.
While Mikan and Yuuji talked, Rito simply observed the situation, feeling like an extra even though they were talking about giving a job to his own younger sister, a conversation that somehow came from a simple doubt he himself had raised.
"Ah! Yami! Hello!" Lala, who had only been listening to the business talk from the side without understanding anything or being able to intervene, was overjoyed when she saw Yami and ran to greet her.
"Lala, it's been a while, here" Yami said, handing her a paper bag full of Japanese sweets.
"What is this?" Lala asked.
"A gift" Yami said simply.
Faced with Yami's explanation that didn't really explain anything, Lala did the most Lala thing she could have done.
She questioned nothing and just hugged her gratefully.
"Yuuki Rito, I'm sorry for wanting to kill you once, take this as an apology."
"You regret what?"
"Mikan, thank you for being my friend, take this as thanks."
"O-oh, thank you?"
"Yuuji, thank you for giving me a place to stay, take this as thanks."
"No, thanks" Yuuji refused.
And Yami simply widened her eyes in surprise, not expecting the refusal.
"Yuuji, thank you for giving me a way to earn money, take this as thanks" she said after thinking for a moment.
"No, thanks" Yuuji refused again.
"..."
"Yuuji Rito..."
"No, thanks" he interrupted before she could finish. "Rather, tell me, why do you want to give me that so much?"
At his words, Yami pulled several more paper bags out of her hair, forming more than twenty in total.
"Where did you get all that?" Rito asked.
"A delinquent gave it to me" Yami replied.
"A delinquent?"
"Yes, a delinquent tried to enter without permission, but I didn't let her."
"And what is this? A bribe?"
"No, an apology," Yami said, shaking her head.
"I'm getting more confused."
"While I wasn't letting her in, I didn't use much force so I wouldn't kill her by accident, so my taiyaki fell.
The delinquent and her followers started apologizing, bowing many times before leaving. After a while they came back with a van full of sweets as an apology. Then they apologized again and left."
"Ah, I think I get it now" Yuuji said. "Mona, can you..."
[Right away] Mona said before Yuuji finished speaking, instantly beginning to project images from nearby security recordings, reconstructing the entire scene in 3D.
Just as Yuuji guessed, the supposed delinquent was Saki, who after trying to enter, both she and her followers in ridiculous ways, always being stopped by Yami, ended up making her drop her taiyaki on the ground.
What followed was complete silence between both sides, while Yami just looked at the ground sadly, that second was enough for them to start apologizing with extreme regret, after that everything happened as Yami had said.
Although something Yuuji found interesting was a scene that, thanks to Mona hacking external cameras to follow her, they saw inside a bakery.
It turned out Saki went in and didn't even ask for prices, instead choosing to buy everything.
This led to the iconic scene where she literally pointed from one end of the counter to the other while saying:
"From here... to here. I want everything."
"That's Saki? Why would she want to enter your company?" Rito wondered.
"Well, since the last time I ruined her plans, she told me she would defeat me somehow too" Yuuji explained.
"And she wants to sabotage your company for that?" Rito doubted.
Yuuji shook his head.
"No, with her personality, the most likely thing is..." Yuuji pointed straight ahead, where a building was under construction.
"You mean?!" Rito realized.
"Yes, she's probably opening her own company, she just wanted to see what mine looks like inside" Yuuji explained.
"Even so, that's still illegal" Mikan added before sighing. "You have a pretty amusing group of people around, eh?"
"Yeah, I think so" Rito admitted, laughing a bit, not sure whether to take it as a compliment or an insult.
"Well, let's leave that aside, we didn't come here to talk about Saki's plans" Yuuji said, changing the subject. "Yami, we came to invite you to the water park with us."
"Oh, that's why Mikan is here" Yami said, expressing surprise with a monotone voice that didn't match her words. "But is that okay? I'm working."
"It's fine, today is your day off" Yuuji replied, and Yami frowned.
"Today is not my day off, it's tomo..."
"I'm your boss and I'm giving you the day off" Yuuji interrupted.
"...Alright" Yami finally nodded.
Yuuji ordered Mona to notify Ruri, seconds later he received a message saying it was fine and that they should have fun on her behalf.
"Alright, we're all here, let's go to the water park!" Lala said excitedly.
"Before that, Rito, don't you want to stop by Haruna's?"
"Haruna? Right, she lives around here. Is there also a deep reason for that?" Rito asked with interest after the previous conversation.
"Of course not, it's just a coincidence" Yuuji denied, waving his hand dismissively. "Shall we go then?"
"Yes?... I mean, why are you asking me?" Rito said, suddenly blushing.
"So your brother likes that Haruna, Mikan?" Yami asked, seeing Rito's reaction, which only made him blush even more as he tried to deny it.
"N-no, it's not..."
"Rito, Rito" Yuuji said, putting his arm over Rito's shoulder. "Yami figured it out in less than ten minutes, do you really think none of us know?"
"You... everyone knows?" Rito gave up.
Mikan and Lala nodded, while Yuuji and Yami looked at him like he was an idiot.
"Then, do you think she likes me? No, do you think there's any chance she might like me? I-I don't mean now, I mean if you think I could make her like me somehow, you know, if I try really hard and..." Rito asked, getting more embarrassed and mixing up his words as he spoke.
"Well, I have no idea" Yuuji shrugged.
"W-what?"
"If I told you, it wouldn't be fun."
Rito lost hope and looked around, expecting an answer, but everyone simply ignored him just like Yuuji, not wanting to give him one.
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+15 chapters in advance on Patreon.
p-atreon.com/IAMME26
(just delete the hyphen)
80 power stones = 1 extra chapter (cumulative)