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nRin clutched her hands to her chest, holding onto the bronze key. She stood in front of the door to room 101, her heart pounding in her chest.

nThis… she knew what would happen next. It was obvious. But at the same time… she needed the money.

nThose thoughts churned and churned again in her heart, making Rin nauseous. Her cute face was distorted with hesitation and despair. Still, she couldn’t just stand there.

nThe man, Aoyama-san, wasn’t one to cross. It was just as easy for him to not pay her and turn her away as it was for him to find her a job. In short, if she didn’t make a good impression now, he could take away that bonus in a heartbeat.

nAnd Rin couldn’t allow that.

nShe needed both to afford the hospital bills. If she didn’t have that bonus…

nBiting her lips, Rin shook her head and then took a deep breath. Then, plastering as bright a smile on her face as she could, she unlocked the door and walked inside. Stepping inside, she recited the scripted words that man told her. “P-Pardon me. My name is Rin Hibana and I’ll be your… companion for this afternoon?”

nShe trailed off.

nThere was a man standing there. Lightly tousled blonde hair. Clear blue eyes and a bright smile. A handsome face that wouldn’t look out of place on the overseas fashion magazines or in Hollywood.

nStaring at the television screen, he was singing along to a song in a sonorous tenor voice.

nBut most of all, she recognized him.

nThe person that she was to ‘date’… was the foreigner that she bumped into on the way here?

nRin’s mind was in turmoil. But at the same time, she didn’t dare speak up. Not because she was afraid, but rather…

nI was such a fool… and I was childish.

n…Because she couldn’t bear to interrupt his singing.

nHolding the mic to his mouth, standing and swaying to the music, the man continued singing.

nChasing dreams, while being hurt then every day

nLying still to you and to your face

nThat I’m alright and everything’s okay.

nWas it coincidence? Rin quietly shut the door behind her and felt her heart throb.

nThe lyrics were a chastisement as well as a regret message. The man sang with deep emotions and swayed to the somber instrumental, holding the mic in one hand and a glass in the other.

nI love you so, words that I could never say.

nFeelings that I had inside, but let fade away.

nOr so I thought, yes that’s what I had thought. But now in the end, I can’t let go….

nDon’t walk away, those three words I could never say. But in the end, I’m the one who just let it fade.

nDowning these drinks, trying to wash out those brilliant dreams.

nAll these thoughts of you… And of what to do…

nI’ve been a fool.

nWith those last words, the song came to an end.

nWhen it did, the man turned around and smiled, a gentle expression without malice, desire, or guile. “Well? Did you enjoy the show?”

nThe girl flushed and quickly shook her head. “I-I’m sorry! I didn’t want to intrude. That is to say… Um…”

nJohn laughed and shook his head. “That’s fine. I figured you’d be nervous, so I thought it would be a good way to get you relaxed.”

nHearing that, the girl tensed.

n“Ah.” John sighed, remembering the situation. “Sorry. Forgot where we were.” He waved his hand and said, “Don’t worry. We’re not doing ‘that’. I’m not here for the service you’re thinking of.”

nThe girl looked skeptical.

nOf course. The circumstances were too suspicious to begin with.

nEven so, she nodded and took a seat across from John.

nWhen she did, he poured her a glass of spirit water and handed it to her.

n“Here. Hopefully some water will calm your nerves.”

n“That’s…”

n“It’s not alcohol.”

nThe girl looked hesitant, but she accepted it and took a sip. When she did, she slowly relaxed.

n“See? Just some cold water.”

nThe girl nodded.

n“Now… Since I have your time for the next hour or so, I’d like to get straight down to business.”

nThe girl blinked. “Business? That… Um…” She shifted and then stared at John, her eyes hesitant. “What… kind of business?”

nJohn stared back at the girl and said, “Your name… You said it was Rin Hibana, right?”

n“Y-Yes. That’s right.”

nJohn studied her features for a while.

nKind and innocent light brown eyes. A cute but pretty face. The faint traces of youth and a naivety that made others want to despoil it. A meek hesitance that pulled at men’s hearts… but also one that would undoubtedly draw their desire.

n“How would you like a proper job instead of doing things like this?”

n“Huh?” The girl… Rin blinked and said, “U-Um…”

n“You need money, right? And fast. That’s the only reason a sweet and cute girl like you would be hanging around a place like this.”

nRin froze and then lowered her gaze.

n“…Am I wrong?”

nShe slowly shook her head. “No. You’re right. I… need money.”

n“How much?”

nRin was quiet and then she looked back up. “A lot. I need a lot.”

n“And like I said, how much? Since you were… No, since you ‘are’ willing to give up something as precious as your future, it can’t be a small amount. A hundred thousand yen? A million? Ten million?”

nRin nodded. “A million yen. That’s… how much I need in total. B-But-“

n“Done.” John pulled out a checkbook along with a pen and then wrote out the value before signing it, with the reason being ’employment bonus.’

n“H-Huh?” Rin blinked, staring at the check.

nJohn slid it over to her and said, “Your signing bonus, if you accept it- No. Let’s call it a gift.” He shook his head. “Yue would kill me if she thought I was forcing you… Yeah. Let’s call it a gift to get your situation sorted. After that, we can talk more on what your job would actually entail.”

nHe grabbed the check and then scribbled out the purpose, changing it to ‘gift’. Satisfied with that, he slid it back to Rin.

nShe stared at the check and then slowly shook her head. “I… don’t understand.” She looked up at John and said, “This… is this real?”

n“Ah.” John nodded. “Right. It would probably seem suspicious… I know I have it somewhere… Ah, here.” He pulled out a business card and then slid it over to her.

nRin picked it up and read it. “John Smith, Myth Inc. CEO? Office space… 1200 Roppongi Hills?” Her eyes widened. “The whole building?”

n“That’s right.” John laughed and said, “Though it’s pretty empty right now. The previous owner turned it over to me in a rush with just the bare necessities so I’m still sorting things out.”

nRin set down the card on the table and then shifted her gaze to the check. With trembling hands, she reached out to pick it up.

nOne and six zeros. 1,000,000 yen exactly.

nThe amount that she needed to not only pay for her mother’s current treatment, but the surgery as well.

nShe looked back up at the man.

nHe smiled, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. “Right… This is probably super suspicious.” He paused and then said, “Should I go with you to the bank to deposit it?”

n“…Would you?”

nIt was too good to be true. Rin still couldn’t believe it. The goodwill that the man… that Mister Smith was showing was too unreal.

nLike a prince out of a fairytale or the male lead of a drama.

nNo, wasn’t this situation just like out of a shoujo manga?

nDespite everything, she was still hesitant to believe it.

nJohn nodded. “Alright. Let’s take a trip to the bank then.” He stood up and pulled out his phone. “Let’s see… it’s around 1 PM. The nearest bank is Roppongi Star… Ah.” He glanced back at Rin and said, “Do you have a bank account there?”

nRin blinked and then slowly nodded. “I do.”

n“Good.” John stood up and brushed himself off. After that, he adjusted the wine bottles by the table and then walked in front of Rin. Holding out his hand he smiled and said, “Here.”

nRin glanced at his hand and his face in a daze and then reached out with her own hand.

nHe took it and gently wrapped his hand around hers.

nAs he did, Rin noticed that his hands were slightly calloused. The signs of someone accustomed to hard labor, unlike his handsome face. But more than that, it was warm.

n“Up you go.” Saying that, John pulled Rin up to her feet.

nRin was quiet, still wrapping her mind around the person holding her hand.

nWho was he? Why did he make that offer?

nBut more importantly… Was this real? Or… was this a delusion that she was experiencing to escape from what she was undergoing at her ‘job’?

n“Alright. Now, off to the bank.”

nStill holding her hand, John started walking off, leading the way.

nLost in a daze, all Rin could do was follow.

nA cafe by Roppongi Hills. There, Rin stared at her phone, reading and re-reading the amount written in her bank account.

n1,000,000 yen. No, more than that. 1,050,000 yen. The promised gift and then another fifty thousand to pay for rent and food expenses. Something that John added in after she mentioned that she would still be a bit short after paying those expenses.

n“Well?”

nRin lowered her phone and stared at the man across from her.

nJohn smiled and said, “Satisfied that it’s real?”

n“This…” Rin slowly shook her head. “I… don’t believe it.” She took a look around.

nA high-class cafe where everything on the menu’s price were in five digits. But more than that, a private booth in the back where nobody would interrupt them.

nHow much money would it cost to achieve such a thing? And… most importantly, why her?

n“Because you’re cute… and because you’re a bit pitiful, to be honest.”

n“Huh?”

nDid she say that out loud?

nJohn shook his head and said, “No. It’s just easy to read your thoughts on such an innocent face.”

n“Innocent?”

nJohn nodded. “That’s right. An innocent, beautiful young girl with a bright future ahead of her. I couldn’t just let someone like that throw their life away for quick cash, no matter how desperate they were.”

n“That’s… it?”

n“Hm?”

nRin stared into John’s eyes.

nThey were a clear blue. Guileless, and yet somehow as deep as the cosmos.

nIn short, unreadable. But at the least, they weren’t hiding anything malicious.

nIt wasn’t desire. It wasn’t lust. Unlike Aoyama-san who wanted to use her and the men she interviewed to be prospective clients who only looked at her like a piece of meat, the one seated in front of her… Showed goodwill. Concern.

nEmpathy.

nWithout realizing it, Rin’s vision started to blur. She blinked, and then flinched when she felt tears splash to the table. She quickly brushed them away and opened her mouth to apologize. But as she tried to say a word, her throat hitched. She swallowed and tried again. But as she did, her body shuddered and her vision blurred completely.

nA soft sigh echoed and then a rough but gentle hand patted her head. “There, there. You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”

nThat was the last straw. Hearing those words and feeling that gentle hand, Rin broke out sobbing.

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