Chapter 6: Wish upon a star

“…I’m sorry about that, Mister Smith.”

John handed Rin a handkerchief and said, “It’s no trouble at all. I figured something like this might happen so I came prepared.”

Well, considering that he had his personal Heavenly Realm with him, he was always prepared. Of course, he couldn’t say that, so he said that excuse instead.

Rin smiled, a genuine bright expression in contrast to that forced one John saw before. “I can’t thank you enough. This… It’s like a dream come true.” She shook her head and said, “I… I still can’t believe it.”

John smiled and said, “I could always slap you if you still don’t- Ah wait.” John paused and said, “It’s not a slap, but a pinch, right?”

It had been a while, so he got the expression mixed up. The former would definitely be considered harassment or assault…

Rin laughed. “No. I believe you, Mister Smith. This… As unbelievable as it seems, I… guess this is real.”

John nodded. “That’s right.”

The waitress came by and then passed out their orders. A simple mocha for Rin and a plain black coffee for John.

Rin thanked the waitress and then turned back to John. She was quiet for a bit, contemplative, but then she said, “Earlier you asked me if I wanted a job?”

John paused.

What with her crying, the trip to the bank and everything else, he had forgotten about the reason he went out for the day.

“I did,” John said. “But I think that can wait for another day.”

“But-“

John shook his head and then pulled his coffee close. “For now… Hm. How about we treat this as a job interview?”

“An interview… Alright.” Rin nodded. “I can do that.”

John paused and pulled out his phone to check the time. “Before that though…” The display showed that it was nearing four o’clock. He shifted his gaze back to Rin and said, “Do you need to head back home? It’s a weekend, but-“

“It’s fine.” Rin shook her head and said, “I’d be at home alone anyway.”

“Hm? Home alone?” John frowned. “Do you not have parents?”

Rin nodded. “I do. But my mom is in the hospital and… I don’t have a dad.”

“Ah.”

So it was the typical background then. Mother falling ill, no means to support either of them and the medical bills, leading her to resort to selling her body.

“Well, I don’t want to be too much of a downer… How about we change the topic? Let’s see… since this is technically an interview, what are your hobbies?”

“Um… Well I like singing and dancing.”

John paused. “Singing? Dancing?”

Rin blushed and then nodded. “It’s… a bit embarrassing, but I always wanted to be an idol. I was actually planning to go to auditions this winter, but then Mom was diagnosed with cancer and I had to work instead.”

John blinked.

This… Was it a result of his accumulated fortune? It must be. For a perfect candidate to just fall into his lap like this…

Rin sighed. “Sorry, Mister Smith. I know you wanted to help me, but I… don’t really have any other talents.”

John smiled. “That’s perfect, actually.”

“Huh?”

“I’m actually looking for-” John paused, realizing that he didn’t come up with a name for his idol group yet.

“Mister Smith?”

John shook his head. “This is it for the interview. As for your job details… Meet me tomorrow at the office and I’ll go over what I have in mind.”

“Um… Alright.”

“In the meantime… I suppose I could answer your questions.”

“In that case…”

Rin locked the door behind her and looked around.

An empty house.

After a bit of persuading, Mister Smith had convinced Rin to drop her off at her home.

Clutching that man’s business card tightly in her hand, Rin set down the food he sent her with on the table and walked to her room. The moment she was inside, she flopped onto her bed, staring at the ceiling.

Her mind raced as she went over what happened that day. Her chance encounter with Mister Smith. Her resolve to sacrifice herself to save her mother. Mister Smith’s gift and support… and then the job offer.

Outside, the sun had already sunk below the horizon. Night had replaced day, and a few stars were glimmering in the sky above.

Just like how her dark day had become filled with hope.

Rin pulled her phone out again and opened her bank account. There, the statement was the same as before. A million yen, plus extra for rent and food. The gift that Mister Smith gave her because he empathized with her situation.

Remembering that brought the man’s face to mind again.

The handsome appearance and that carefree smile. The deep and unfathomable gaze. That rough but gentle hand.

Rin’s heart raced. She blushed as she realized that and she shook her head. Slamming her head back into her pillow, she said, “Argh. Don’t get ahead of yourself, Rin.”

He wasn’t interested. Despite his actions, that much was clear to Rin. Mister Smith cared for her situation, but he didn’t have any intentions to look at her like that. More than that, he was already an adult. Probably twice her age!

So it was silly to think of him like that, even if he was handsome, muscular, and-

Rin groaned and pulled her pillow over her face, trying to smother the shame.

Suddenly, her phone rang.

Rin flinched and sat up. “That’s right! Mom!”

She had forgotten in everything, but she always made sure to call her mom at night after she was admitted into the hospital.

It seemed like since Rin forgot, her mother was calling her instead.

Rin sat up and answered her phone. “Mom!”

A delicate voice echoed from the other side of the line. “Evening sweetie. Have you eaten yet?”

Remembering the pile of entrees Mister Smith sent her home with, Rin nodded and said, “I haven’t yet, but I got food earlier. A…” She paused to consider what to call Mister Smith.

Friend? Benefactor? Acquaintance?

“…Friend took me out to eat earlier and sent me home with food.”

“A friend, huh?” Her mother’s voice paused, and there was the faint sound of shifting hair. Like she was nodding. “I see. So you finally found a boyfriend.”

“Wh-What? No! Mister Smith isn’t like that!”

“Oho? Mister Smith, is it?”

Rin froze and then slumped backward onto her bed, groaning.

“And just where did you meet this Mister Smith? At that new job you were talking about?”

“That’s…”

Rin paused, realizing she didn’t have a good way to explain it. Not only that, but the situation probably didn’t seem good.

A foreigner, the job where Rin had promised that it would pay enough to solve the hospital bills, and then the money she had sitting in her bank account right now…

“Rin.” Her mother’s soft voice echoed. “You know I don’t want you doing that for me. If it’s between me and your happiness-“

“It’s fine, Mom.” Rin shook her head and said, “I quit that job.” She paused and said, “Actually, Mister Smith stopped me from doing it.”

“Did he now?” Rin’s mother sounded surprised. “And how did that happen?”

Rin realized that it would probably be all night if she didn’t tell her mother everything, so she did.

When Rin finished, her mother was quiet.

“…And that’s what happened.”

“I see. And you’re going to his office tomorrow to find out what you would be doing in your job?”

“That’s right.”

Silence again. Then, a deep sigh echoed on the other side of the line. “Well, I suppose it’s better than having my daughter sell her body.”

Rin froze. “T-That…”

“Don’t tell me you thought I wouldn’t know. There’s only two ways to earn money that quick, and you’re far too innocent to be selling contraband.”

Rin was quiet.

Her mother sighed again and said, “I’m still worried about you. If I wasn’t in this bed, I’d march up there with you tomorrow and have a good look at this Mister Smith with my own eyes.”

Rin smiled, imagining her spunky mother crossing her arms and glaring at Mister Smith.

“…But be careful, sweetie. If something were to happen to my little girl, I…”

Rin nodded and said, “I know, Mom.”

“Then I’ll believe you. Call me the moment you’re done meeting with him, alright?”

“Alright. I promise.”

Faint mutterings from the background. Following that, Rin’s mother sighed and said, “Looks like they want me to sleep. Guess we’ll have to cut it short, sweetie.”

“That’s fine. Get some rest, Mom.”

“I will. And you take care of yourself too! We… can’t afford to have both of us here.”

“…I know.”

The line disconnected.

When it did, Rin stared at the ceiling again.

With that somber ending, she realized it. This… wasn’t a dream. But at the same time… there was hope.

At that time, a streak of light crossed the sky. Seeing that, Rin reached out her hand and made a wish.

Since everything was being resolved, since some hope had finally emerged… she made a small wish.

That her mother would recover swiftly and quickly without any complications. That was all she could ask for.

Like that, Rin closed her eyes and fell asleep, the exhaustion from the mental stress finally catching up with her.