Chapter 205: 204: Are You Planning to Go Into the Industry?

Words : 1339 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

"Wait, you're serious?" In a newly opened dessert shop in Shibuya, Tokyo, Takashi glanced down at the thick wad of cash laid out in front of him, then looked up at the 'icy' girl sitting across from him—Komi Shouko. Given the setting and the scene, this didn't look like a date at all. It looked more like... sugar baby arrangements. Except it was the girl sponsoring the guy. Both Takashi and Shouko were eye-catching figures in any crowd. Ever since they entered the shop, people had been stealing glances at them. And the moment Shouko sat down and took out that thick stack of bills, several nearby high school girls began eyeing her with suspicion. "Mm," Shouko nodded, her expression even colder than before. To those who didn't know her, they might've thought this ice-cold beauty was angry. But in reality, Shouko was just getting nervous from all the staring and instinctively stiffened up her face. "I remember your family's not exactly well-off," Takashi said, not taking the money right away. He was definitely greedy, but like a luxury product, he only scammed the rich—never the poor. "Mm." "Where'd you get this money?" Shouko lowered her head and typed on her phone before holding it up: [New Year's money] At this point, she was capable of carrying on somewhat normal conversations with Takashi—but only within the limit of a single word. Any longer and her verbal system would crash. "You do know I'm expensive to book, right?" Takashi picked up the money and flipped through it—270,000 yen in total. For a high school student, that was a lot. "With this much, you can book me at most twice. Maybe three times if I give you a discount. What are you going to do after that?" Shouko didn't reply. Her expression only grew more serious, giving off an almost oppressive aura. Takashi lightly tapped her forehead with the wad of bills. "Be good. Go home." He placed the money back in front of her and slung on his backpack, getting ready to go to the batting center for some practice swings. Shouko lightly tugged at his shirt. After taking a deep breath, she lowered her head and typed: [Then I'll get a job and earn more.] "You're seriously planning to support me?" "Mm." Shouko clenched her small fists. Her eyes shone with the kind of resolve people have when they're about to join a revolution. Takashi suddenly felt that maybe... he wasn't so desperate for easy money after all. At least not if it came from Shouko. "Hold up... what exactly are you planning to do?" He'd been about to turn her down outright, but then remembered her dream was to make 100 friends. Maybe getting a job and meeting new people would help her stop fixating on him. Right now, Takashi has too many female friends to keep track of. He needed to cut some out. And Shouko, with her average household income and shy, kind personality, was at the top of the layoff list. She was way too innocent. So innocent that Takashi would actually feel guilty living off her. [When I left the subway the other day, a talent scout gave me a postcard.] [One shot pays 50,000 yen!] Fifty thousand for a new face? What kind of shoot was this? "You got a business card?" "Mm." Shouko reached into the pocket of her skirt and pulled out the card the scout had given her. "Hokuto Group – Haneda Takumi." Takashi looked at the card and rubbed his temples with his fingertips. "You're seriously thinking of going into the industry?" Shouko: "?" "Do you know what kind of company this is?" [Entertainment company?] "That's Japan's largest adult video production group. They also run DMM, the country's biggest adult film platform." Yes, the company also dabbled in music and software development, but none of that changed the fact it was mainly a porn empire. [Adult video?] Looking into Shouko's eyes—so pure they bordered on idiotic—Takashi could tell she genuinely had no idea. She wasn't pretending not to know; she really didn't. "Just to be clear—what you're about to see was something a friend of mine sent to my phone. I haven't watched it yet," he said as he passed her his phone, earbuds still attached. Shouko took it and looked down. A few video titles were listed on screen—though they were all... odd: "After the Graduation Ceremony – Airi Kijima" "Missed the Last Train, Ended Up at Kouhai's Place – Ayaka Kawakita" "My Daughter's Fiancé Is Actually My Ex – Kana Mito" "Wife Working Part-Time at a Convenience Store – Mayuki Ito" "Seductive Legs Exuding Pheromones – Tsumugi Akari" She put in the earbuds and tapped on one, automatically jumping to the last spot Takashi had watched. Seconds later, her entire face turned a vivid red. Her round eyes turned into a tangled mess of scribbled lines. T-this... this kind of thing... could a high school girl even watch it?! "That's what you were about to shoot." Takashi removed one of her earbuds and lightly knocked her on the head. "You still want to go?" Shouko's head shook like a rattling bell. She frantically shoved the phone back at him, as though it were a cursed object. "If you really want a job, I'll introduce you to someone." Takashi figured if this girl went out looking on her own, she'd end up scammed six ways to Sunday. Better to have someone guide her. ... In Tokyo's Nerima Ward, inside a wildly popular family home— Wearing a frumpy grey outfit, with braided pigtails and glasses, Ichinose Chizuru leaned her cheek against her hand and listened as Takashi finished his story. "...So, you came to me?" she asked. Takashi cut a piece of hamburger steak. "Well, you do have more part-time work experience than I do~" When it came to connections, there was no doubt Takashi had more. But those connections were fine to use for himself—using them for Shouko would be suicide. After thinking it through, only two people came to mind who could help him. One was Kitagawa Marin. The other was Ichinose Chizuru. Chizuru sipped juice through a straw and tilted her head slightly. "But why should I help you?" "As the mentor who led me down the path of renting myself out to make money, don't you think you have some responsibility for me?" "Even if it wasn't me, you'd just find some other girl anyway." "I don't care. The way I see it, it's your fault. Besides, didn't I treat you to a meal?" Takashi started acting shameless. "A family restaurant? You think that's enough to pay me off? At least start with a Michelin-starred place." "Huh? You mean those restaurants rated by a tire company? There are actually idiots who eat at those?" Takashi had been to a few. Huge plates, tiny portions, empty space decorated with a sprig of grass. Smear on some sauce, sprinkle a few crumbs, and charge you 88,000 yen. That's a Michelin restaurant for you. Given the choice, Takashi would rather eat braised chicken over rice. "Say that again!" Chizuru raised her leg to kick him. But Takashi had already predicted her prediction. He spread his legs and caught hers midair—firmly trapping her leg wrapped in black thigh-high stockings. Her right leg now locked in place, Chizuru's pale face flushed lightly. She gave him a fierce glare. 'Let go.' Takashi clamped tightly and grinned. "Mizuhara-senpai, you wouldn't want your grandma finding out you're working as a rental girlfriend, would you?" ___ 20 Advanced Chapters available on p@ tr eon (.) com/HalflingFics Also, please point out my mistakes in the comment, thank you! Don't forget to leave a review too~ Check out the other translations too ___

Chapter 205: 204: Are You Planning to Go Into the Industry?

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