Ayumi swirled her coffee cup, staring into the murky liquid. As she did, she kept glancing at the door to the cafe.
She didn't know what to look out for. But from what the owner of the cafe said, there was already a table reserved.
So she ordered a coffee to wait.
There was nothing to worry about. Even if this job interview went poorly, then she still had her fallback plan. She just... had to go home and work at the onsen for a few years before getting back on her feet.
But... She couldn't help but hope.
No, she wanted to believe.
If there was someone out there who could help her fulfill her dream...
She didn't want to say goodbye to her students just yet. She didn't want to head home just yet. And if she could find just something, anything that she could show to her parents to let her stay a little longer...
A chime echoed. The door opened.
Ayumi looked over and then her eyes widened.
It was a man. A professional suit and tie combo. A briefcase.
Sleek, muscular. Lightly tousled brown hair and sharp eyes. But eyes that softened into a friendly smile when he saw her.
"Miss Ishida?"
Ayumi felt her face heat up, but she tried to keep on a calm look. Smiling, she said, "H-Hello! Are you Mister Mura?"
The man nodded and then sat down across from Ayumi. "That's right. Zenki Mura. My family name is Mura, and my given name is Zenki. I am also the CEO of VIM Syndicate."
"It's a pleasure to meet you! I'm Ayumi Ishida. Um... So you're Sen-kun's friend?"
"...It's a bit complicated, but Sen and I know each other well, yes. More importantly..." Zenki pulled his suitcase up and placed it on the table. After that, he looked at ayumi and said, "You're in need of work?"
"A-Ah. No." Ayumi instinctively responded and shook her head. "I'm fine with the way things are. But Sen said that I could be of help to you?"
Zenki gave her a calm look.
Ayumi shifted and averted her gaze.
"...Mm. I am in need of some help, actually. But before that, have you eaten yet?"
"Y-Yes. I thought I might be nervous, so... Um, sorry. Have you?"
Zenki waved his hand and said, "Don't worry about it. In that case, we can just get down to business. First off... How much do you know about YouTubers?"
Ayumi blinked. "YouTubers? A little? I think my friends used to watch them a lot in university..."
Zenki pulled out a notepad from his briefcase. Grabbing a pen, he took some notes and said, "Alright. Then how much do you know about Anime?"
"Ah. Sorry... Not much. I was always too busy to watch any...Oh! But I used to watch some CapsuMon when I was younger!"
"CapsuMon?"
"A-Ah. Yes, it's the show where the kids capture monsters in these capsules and carry them around-"
"Pocket monsters?"
Ayumi blinked. "...I think you could call it that? But the show never does..."
"Mm. That's a bit different from what I remember... but alright."
Ayumi felt sweat gather on her forehead.
"In that case... Hm. Do you have any particular interests or dislikes towards anime in general? And YouTubers?"
"No? I mean, I don't know enough to make an opinion of them."
"Then would you like to experience being one?"
"Excuse me?"
"Ayumi Ishida." Zenki smiled and placed a sheet of paper on the table. "Won't you make a contract with me?"
"P-Pardon?!"
Zenki slid the sheet of paper over and placed his pen in front of Ayumi. "A contract. Specifically, an employment contract."
Ayumi grabbed the contract and looked it over.
It wasn't very complicated. In fact, it wasn't very long either. While it was a single sheet of paper, it was only the one side.
The terms were the following:
-VI|IV-
1. Ayumi Ishida would agree to work for VIM Syndicate (GK) to produce video content, preferably educational, on YouTube under a pseudonym and digital avatar.
2. Ayumi Ishida would be paid a monthly salary of 200K Yen.
3. Ayumi Ishida would have total creative control over her work along with any intellectual property rights, subject to operating under a pseudonym.
4. VIM Syndicate (GK) would provide the initial start up equipment and information, as well as potential training.
5. VIM Syndicate (GK) may request Ayumi Ishida's help to collaborate with other talents under its umbrella.
6. The identity of any talents are to be kept completely confidential and signing the contract means that Ayumi Ishida would do her best to maintain confidentiality of any information she may learn about VIM Syndicate (GK)'s talents, including information about herself.
7. VIM Syndicate (GK) would possess a limited time (1 year) renewable license to use whatever content Ayumi Ishida produces under her pseudonym for all intents and purposes.
-VI|IV-
Ayumi blinked and said, "...This is my contract?"
"It is."
"Um..." Ayumi looked at Zenki and said, "Are you sure? I thought contracts were supposed to be complicated..."
She remembered reading a few in the past. A few of the places she looked into working at also offered her contracts too. But they were a lot longer with all sorts of terms and conditions that made her head spin.
But this one was clear and straight forward.
Basically, they were hiring Ayumi to make video content for them that she could decide on. She got to keep the content she made. They would pay her a yearly salary to work, and they would also provide her the starting equipment too.
The only strange thing was that portion about a pseudonym and protecting the confidentiality of other talents...
Zenki shook his head and said, "It's better to keep things simple. You only need complicated contracts for big business deals. For something like this, simple is best. I tried to make it clear... but is there any part you're unsure about? Any questions you might have?"
Ayumi nodded. "Yes. A big one."
Zenki leaned back and smiled. "Ask away."
"I thought this was an interview. Did... did I pass already?"
Was this a test? It had to be a test. If she took the contract and signed it right now, then would the do something like 'fooled you!' and cancel the deal? ...That couldn't be the case. Right?
Zenki laughed.
Ayumi flinched, fearing the worst.
And then Zenki shook his head and said, "It seems that you're mistaken, Miss Ishida." He smiled and said, "This isn't an interview."
"...It's not?"
"No." Zenki folded his hands on the table and said, "This is an opportunity- Ah, that sounds suspicious." He frowned and then said, "If you want to help, that would be ideal. But we don't want to force you into anything."
"I do want to help! But..." She looked at the contract again and said, "...Aren't you giving me too much?"
A yearly salary, start up equipment, the rights to whatever she made...
It reminded her of what her friends warned her about. A scheme to get her wrapped up in something terrible. And it was too convenient for her.
Not only that... but the person offering it was a handsome man. Someone who completely fit "Mister Tall, Dark, and Handsome."
It was suspicious. But on the other hand, if she accepted, she didn't have to go home. And she could stay with her cute students as well...
"Mm." Zenki nodded and said, "This is definitely suspicious. And I'll have to warn you to not accept such terms from other people. Since S- Miss Ishida is so nice, it would be easy to get tricked by someone pretending to be your friend."
Ayumi frowned. "I am not that naive."
Zenki held up his hands. "I am not implying that you are. But I *am* saying that helping out the wrong person might lead you to trouble. Unlike in fairytales, no good deed goes unpunished."
Those last words were like an arrow to Ayumi's heart.
No good deed goes unpunished...
She didn't want to believe it. But she had seen it. For all the good deeds she had done, there had been nothing but consequences. People were happy, but it always ended in misery for her. Always.
The only exception had been the cram school. She had been hoping the tides had changed since her students were so attentive and grateful. But...
Ayumi frowned and then looked at Zenki. "What do you get out of this, then? If you say that no good deed goes unpunished, why are you giving me this much?"
"Two reasons. One: Sen asked me, and I owe a lot to him for helping me establish my business. Two: This is an investment, not a good deed." Zenki smiled and said, "If you're as talented a Sensei as Sen believes, I have no doubt that we will quickly recoup our losses."
An investment. So this wasn't done completely out of goodwill. And it was also a favor for Sen, not her.
...But why?
Mister Mura seemed extremely well off. And she didn't know the details, but Ayumi was sure that the business he was running would be at least fairly successful. Not only that, but that man was the CEO of the company.
Considering how smart Sen was, having a person like that owe him a favor would definitely help him out after he graduated and started on his career.
But instead of saving that, he asked Mister Mura to help her. To help Ayumi instead of Sen.
That...
Ayumi's eyes started to water.
"H-Hey!" Zenki's eyes widened and he quickly held up his hands. "D-Don't cry!"
"I-I'm sorry." Ayumi sniffed and then brushed the tears out of her eyes. "I-I just... I'm just happy." She smiled and placed her hand over her heart. "...I'm so grateful to have met such kind students..."
Zenki frowned and then muttered, "You shouldn't have had to wait for a miracle like this, Sensei."
"Pardon?"
Zenki smiled. "Nothing, Miss Ishida. Then... are you willing to sign on as a member of the VIM Syndicate? Or should we-"
"I'll sign!" Ayumi picked up the pen and quickly signed her name. Or she tried to. But before she could, Zenki grabbed her hand.
"H-Hold on!" Zenki's eyes were wide and he said, "A-Aren't you being a bit hasty? L-Let's discuss the terms a bit so you're clear what-"
"I won't waste the opportunity my precious student gave me! Let me sign!"
"W-Wait a minute! You said you didn't even know what a YouTuber was like, so-"
"I said let me sign! And let go!"
"Miss Ishida!"
Ayumi quickly pulled the contract out from under Zenki and then leaned back.
He was caught off guard and could only watch as Ayumi signed the contract. After that, she slammed it back on the table with a triumphant smile. "There!"
Zenki rubbed the bridge of his nose and muttered, "Is every woman in this town mentally unstable?"
"What was that?"
Zenki smiled and held out his hand. "Nothing. Now... welcome to the team, Miss Ishida."
Ayumi smiled and grabbed his hand. "I'm looking forward to working with you, Mister Mura!"
"Great. Now." Zenki's smile vanished and he turned serious. "We need to talk about your finances. And job duties. And your bad habits."
"P-Pardon?"
"I knew you were pretty bad, but seriously signing off like this on such a suspicious deal after a sap story like that?"
"W-Well..."
"What if I wasn't the person you were supposed to meet? At the minimum, you should have called Sen to confirm it."
"T-That is..."
"Do you even have any common sense? Or concern for yourself? ...Hah. No, this is a conversation for another time. For now, let's talk YouTube and livestreaming... Ah, and send me your account number so I can give you a sign on bonus. Lord knows that you probably need it considering how you basically live in poverty. And how you spend so much money on your students instead of yourself... Hah." Zenki rubbed his face. "We've got a lot to cover..."
Ayumi blushed and lowered her gaze.