novellhall 2. This kind of romantic relationship is fine.
2. This kind of romantic relationship is fine.
Despite his complaints, Genji Aoyama decided to take it seriously.
Reborn and then acquiring a system, he intends to challenge himself with a different life and gain different interests—that's his idea.
After reviewing the correction tasks, Genji Aoyama began to study the system's precautions.
The less important content, such as "[Note that this system is not a dating strategy system]" and "[To reiterate, this system is not a dating strategy system]", was quickly glanced over by Genji Aoyama.
He had already figured out some of the basic rules and content that had appeared before.
[Correction Quest: After binding a target, a correction quest will be triggered the first time you encounter the target. It will then be triggered randomly at important junctures. Rewards include, but are not limited to, money, attributes, skills, and special items.]
After closing the panel and reorganizing his thoughts, Aoyama Genji, who only had 2700 yen in his wallet, began to analyze the situation.
Objective: To establish a romantic relationship with Yuko Asahi, and ideally, to maintain it long-term.
It is now known that she works at this convenience store; she is also a first-year student at Shirakawa High School; the two did not know each other before.
Poor, but ambitious.
From the very beginning, Aoyama Genji felt that reading Asahi Yuuko's information was like looking in a mirror.
Let's take him as an example—this kind of person is definitely not love-struck.
Even with that face, it would be incredibly difficult for him to establish a romantic relationship with someone like that within seven days.
This means that conventional tactics are unlikely to be effective.
"Asahi, huh?" The middle-aged woman's voice rang out from the direction of the cashier.
Aoyama Genji, whose thoughts were interrupted, looked over.
The shop manager, indeed a middle-aged woman, was standing next to Yuko Asahi, holding a shrunken envelope.
"Store Manager."
"This is your salary for this week, thirty-five thousand yen."
"Forty hours, according to what we agreed before, should be forty thousand yen."
"Asahi, you need to be more hospitable to your guests, otherwise next time it might not just be a 5,000 yen deduction."
"...Yes." Asahi Yuko took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly with restraint.
"It's time to change shifts. Remember to take out any unsold discounted food and throw it away before you leave. Oh... you can feed it to the stray cats too."
"Yes."
The brief conversation ended there. Asahi Yuko walked out from behind the cashier and went to the room with the sign that read "Changing Room".
Genji Aoyama listened intently to the entire conversation.
From initially frowning slightly to now completely relaxing, he has come up with a more reliable solution.
After finishing the last sip of his cola, he picked up his food bag, stood up from his seat, and walked out of the convenience store amidst a noticeably more heartfelt "Thank you for your patronage."
As night fell on the streets, the streetlights dimmed considerably, and only occasionally could one see workers who had just finished their shifts walking through them.
Aoyama Genji waited by the streetlight in front of the convenience store for a few minutes before Asahi Yuko, wearing a Shiratsuru High School uniform, came out.
"Good evening, Asahi-kun." Aoyama Genji walked naturally to Asahi Yuko's side as if he were waiting for a friend, and walked alongside her.
"Is there something you need? I don't remember knowing you."
Yuko Asahi vaguely recognized the voice; the person often came to buy discounted food while wearing a Shiratsuru High school uniform.
It was someone she didn't want to see.
"I just had a brief chat with your store manager," said Genji Aoyama, looking at Yuko Asahi.
"complaint?"
Asahi Yuko frowned slightly as she thought about the 5000 yen in salary that had been deducted from her pay.
"no."
Genji Aoyama laughed: "I said I could accept a lower salary because I'm a man, which gives me an advantage in physical labor. I'm handsome and warm-hearted, and I hope to replace you in your position."
"Since you enjoy being cheap labor so much, you can have it then." Asahi Yuko laughed, though she was angry.
Just kidding.
Looking at her beautiful profile, Genji Aoyama said with a grin, "I'll tell her I'm your boyfriend and that I'll demand she pay back the 5000 yen she withheld from my salary, or I'll file a complaint with the labor inspection agency."
"Don't do anything unnecessary."
Asahi Yuko stopped and turned halfway to look up at Aoyama Genji. Her originally endearing eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her somewhat flat chest rose and fell gently.
"Does 'unnecessary trouble' refer to your boyfriend or filing a complaint with the labor inspection bureau?"
Genji Aoyama looked directly into her eyes, leaned down slightly, and whispered in her ear, "So, you really don't want the school to know you're working secretly, do you?"
The exceptionally gentle whisper, like a breath caressing Asahi Yuko's ear, was an intimate gesture that was enough to make one blush and their heart race.
But she felt no romantic feelings at all. After understanding the meaning of those words, her body tensed up instantly, and her already fair and pretty face turned almost bloodless.
After a moment of silence, Asahi Yuko took a deep breath as if trying to force herself to calm down.
"...So, what are you trying to say? You want money? Or are you threatening me to have sex with you?"
"Don't be so nervous. The conversation we just had didn't happen, and I didn't mean to threaten you."
Aoyama Genji put away his joking expression and his demeanor gave the impression of being serious about conducting business negotiations: "Before I state my request, please be patient and listen to my analysis, Asahi-kun."
Before he overheard Yuko Asahi talking to the store manager at the convenience store, he felt something was off.
To ensure college entrance examination pass rates and student safety, Baihe High School explicitly prohibits students from taking part-time jobs outside of school.
no doubt.
Yuko Asahi works part-time in secret.
Aoyama Genji had considered using this to blackmail the other party into dating him, but the idea was ultimately abandoned in an instant.
Cooperation based on this premise is not equal in terms of the cooperative relationship.
Since being threatened is not a need, relationships built on threats are certainly not stable.
Only when both parties agree on their needs can the cooperative relationship last.
Yuko Asahi is so short of money that she's willing to work even if it means breaking school rules, earning less than the minimum wage, having her salary deducted by the shop manager, and trying to maintain a restrained attitude towards the shop manager.
"The convenience store shortchanged you by 5000 yen this week, and next week it might be 10000 yen, or even more."
"Of course, you can continue to look for part-time jobs, jobs that know you're working privately but are still willing to let you work part-time. But you have to gamble, gamble that your next job will be like this convenience store, continuing to exploit your value."
"Aren't you resentful?"
The boy's melodious voice drifted on the night breeze, brushing past Asahi Yuko's ears, describing a scene she knew but didn't want to think about.
Please state your request.
Yuko Asahi's voice was very calm. She did not answer the question, or rather, she went straight to the point, which made her attitude clear.
"When dealing with intelligent people, it feels like you're wasting your breath by saying too much."
Genji Aoyama clapped with a smile: "Then I'll get straight to the point. Please go out with me, Asahi-kun. If you agree, I'll pay you 10 yen immediately, and then I'll pay you 10 yen every week for as long as possible."
This was the safest plan that Genji Aoyama could come up with in a short time.
Yuko Asahi needs money, while he needs to establish a romantic relationship, but their ultimate goal is still money, and their needs are perfectly aligned.
When needs are aligned, a romantic relationship can simply be part of a collaborative effort.
Money is such a convenient thing.
Asahi Yuko's delicate brows furrowed, and for a moment, some unpleasant words flashed through her mind.
Compensated dating? Sugar daddy/sugar baby?
She even wanted to question the boy in front of her, "If you think I'm the kind of girl you can hug for money, then you've probably picked the wrong person."
But these thoughts vanished without a trace when he saw the boy's eyes—his bright, star-like eyes, though smiling, clear and sincere, gave the impression that they contained no form of 'love'.
It wasn't because I liked her, it wasn't because she was pretty, and it wasn't because I wanted to sleep with her; it was just to establish a romantic relationship.
"I don't understand," Yuko Asahi said.
"It's similar to renting a girlfriend, only the details are slightly different. It might be a bit complicated to explain, but at least it won't force any intimate behavior," Genji Aoyama explained. "Of course, you can decide after you've read the official agreement."
Yuko Asahi fell into a brief moment of thought, then a beautiful smile appeared on her lips: "I agree."
Although she didn't understand, she didn't dislike deals that were purely about giving away money.
"Please take care of me from now on." She bowed slightly, her lowered gaze noticing Aoyama Genji's actions.
A slender, long hand extends out in a shaking gesture.
It gives people the perfect sense of business, like a deal has just been made and a friendly cooperation has been reached.
"I am Genji Aoyama, a first-year student at Shiratsuru High School. Nice to meet you."
what--
It was indeed a transaction, she said, grasping the hand that Aoyama Genji had extended.
My hands are very cold, like I've been dead for a while.
But Aoyama Genji didn't look like a dead person at all.
It might be kidney deficiency, which is good, because even if you want to force an intimate relationship, your body won't allow it.
Yuko Asahi thought so.