Chapter 9: Signing Fee

Sakura Hibana flipped through the news on her phone and sighed. “Damned doctors. Won’t even let me call my own daughter…” Seeing the same old headlines, Sakura placed her phone on the bedside table and leaned back. With nothing better to do, she glanced around the room.

It was a cramped space, barely enough for the bed and a chair. A tiny window showed a small square of the blue sky, but that was the only interesting splash of color in the sterile white room.

Sakura frowned, feeling the usual weariness settle in. “Rin…”

She was worried. How could she not be worried? Because Sakura was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer, her daughter was forced to work part-time jobs and give up on school to pay for her bills.

While Sakura still had savings to pay for the rent on the house and food, the medical expenses were quickly draining away at them.

She had tried to hide it from Rin, but it seemed like her innocent daughter was too clever for her own good.

Sakura turned her head over to stare out the window. “Mister Smith, was it?”

A mysterious foreigner who saved her daughter from a terrible fate. At least, that’s how Rin put it. But Sakura didn’t believe it. At least… it seemed to good to be true.

Not only that, but the job that person offered Rin…

Sakura wanted to believe it wasn’t anything illicit. That it was a proper and well-paying job that wouldn’t make Rin do anything she would regret later in her life like Sakura did.

But she knew her daughter. Rin was sweet and naive. Just like she had been back then.

Like mother like daughter… Despite the bastard that Rin’s father was, it seemed like she hadn’t inherited anything, if at all, from him.

Unfortunately, that meant she inherited a lot from Sakura. And considering the circumstances that led to Rin’s birth… that concerned her. A lot.

“…Should I end it?” Staring at the window, Sakura seriously considered it.

There was a decent policy on her life insurance. Not substantial, but enough for Rin to live comfortably through university.

If not for the fact that there wasn’t anyone around that Sakura could entrust Rin with, she would have gone through with it a while ago.

But at this rate-

“Mom! I’m here to visit!”

A bright and innocent voice.

Sakura blinked and then looked up to see her daughter barrel into the room. Not only that, but she saw her daughter dressed up in a cute outfit. Paired with that cheerful greeting, a tone that Sakura hadn’t heard since before she began treatment, Sakura was confused.

Rin walked over and then sat down beside her mother. She smiled and then said, “How are you feeling today?”

“Alright, I guess. But sweetie, what are you doing here? Didn’t you have that meeting with Mister Smith?”

“Ah.” Rin fidgeted and said, “W-Well…”

At that time, someone else walked into the room.

Sakura glanced over and then found herself at a loss for words again.

A tall man with a muscular body barely kept beneath a white t-shirt and form-fitting jeans. His bright blonde hair was matched with a modest smile and deep blue eyes. He scanned the room as he entered, his smile dimming a bit as he took in the surroundings, but then it returned as he met Sakura’s gaze.

“You must be Rin’s mother.” He bowed his head and said, “I’m John Smith, CEO of Myth Incorporated and Manager of MirrAIs.”

“Pleased to meet you?” Sakura blinked, still caught off guard.

John walked forward and said, “I heard from Rin that you’re very sick. I know you can’t have much, but I made some soup in the hopes that it helps you recover.” Saying so, he reached into a bag he carried with him and pulled out a small thermos and bowl. Pouring out a clear broth with a few greens, he held it out and said, “You probably haven’t eaten yet, so I hope you would be so kind as to accept this.”

Sakura frowned and glanced towards Rin.

Rin smiled and gestured for her mother to accept it.

Seeing that, Sakura was still doubtful. But at the least the man was respectful… and spoke fluent Japanese at that. So, with a smile, Sakura nodded and said, “Thank you. I suppose I am a bit hungry…”

John watched Rin’s mother and carefully evaluated her.

Like Rin, the woman was beautiful, with delicate facial features, light brown hair and matching eyes. It was clear to see where Rin inherited her looks. However, where Rin was naive and innocent, a cute beauty, her mother was sharp and cold. That edge was mellowed a bit with Rin’s presence and the illness, but John was certain that the woman there wouldn’t be one to trifle with.

She also clearly loved her daughter, considering how her eyes mellowed when she saw Rin… and how they sharpened when examining John.

But more than that, John noticed that the woman was young. Although the medical treatment had taken its toll, Rin’s mother couldn’t have been past her thirties.

To raise Rin by herself and not only that, but to have such a close bond where Rin was willing to sacrifice so much to save her…

Well, John couldn’t just let such a person disappear, could he?

Ovarian cancer… he didn’t know the specifics of it, but John knew that a simple mortal disease couldn’t hold a candle to the spiritual herbs from the Three Realms. Not only that, but when stewed in the elixir of life, even if diluted, it would be enough to bring even a dead man back to life… So long as the body was recently deceased, of course.

The effects wouldn’t be immediate, but like this it would be another of Rin’s worries resolved in the near future.

After finishing the soup with a satisfied sigh, Sakura looked up at John. “Now… I hear from my daughter that you helped her the other day? And that you offered her a job?”

John nodded. “I won’t belabor the details since it seems you two discussed it, but I do have a job for her. As for the details…” John reached into the bag again and pulled out the forms. When he did, he handed it to Sakura.

She took them with a sharp gaze and carefully started reading.

“In short, I want her to become an idol.”

Sakura bristled. “An idol? My sweet daughter?” She glanced at Rin and said, “I know she’s talented and wanted to audition, but this…”

“Is suspicious. I’m well aware.” John nodded. “But I assure you that I have no malevolent or nefarious intentions towards your daughter. Well, to begin with I’m interested in women a bit older.”

Sakura laughed and then smiled. “My. Then I suppose you wouldn’t be interested in me now, would you?”

Seeing the chance to tease Rin, John paused, pretending to consider it.

Rin stood up, looking over with wide eyes. “M-Mister Smith!? Th-That’s not allowed!” She jumped between her mother and John and crossed her arms. “No! Absolutely not!”

John laughed and said, “Relax, Rin. I’m not interested in your mother.”

Sakura smiled and said, “Well now, I’m hurt. I’ll have you know that I’m not even thirty yet.”

John turned to her and said, “And my apologies, Miss, but I’m afraid that a certain someone would kill me if I thought of flirting with anyone.”

Well, try to anyway.

Yue might be dimensions away and countless cycles from being able to reach Earth, but he had the feeling that tempting fate would definitely speed up that process.

And considering the karma binding them… well, it would probably get a lot more complicated.

Sakura laughed. It seemed that hearing John’s words reassured her since the wariness in her eyes faded a bit. “I see. Well, stay on your toes then. My daughter’s a bit naive when it comes to love, so she might come on a bit strong after all you’ve done for her.”

“MOM!” Rin flushed and then looked at John. But when she did, she turned an even deeper shade of red and sat down, covering her head.

John smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

And mentally, he made a note to create a few more restrictive formations just in case.

“Hm…” Sakura flipped through the papers and said, “Pretty thorough. Everything seems legitimate as well… and you definitely seem to want to protect my daughter. There is one thing I’m concerned about though.”

John nodded. “I’m open to suggestions. That contract is just a draft in any case.”

Sakura shook her head. “No. It’s fine. Just… Are you sure about the salary?”

John blinked. “Why? Is it too little?”

Rin sighed. “I told you, Mister Smith. It’s too much.”

“Huh?” John frowned and said, “How so? Three thousand yen per hour is average for a salary in Japan, isn’t it?”

Sakura nodded. “It is. But…” She frowned and said, “You’re hiring Rin as an idol, are you not?”

“I am.”

“…And this is it?” She gestured towards the paper and said, “These terms… they’re all of the agreement, right? No hidden costs, debts, fees?”

John shook his head. “None. Why would there be?”

Sakura set down the papers and said, “Mister Smith. I want to ask you a question.”

“…Yes?”

“Are you sane?”

“Huh?”

Sakura gestured towards the paper and said, “An average idol’s typical salary is approximately ten thousand yen per month. Not only that, but all of the idol production companies charge for the training fees and equipment.” She flipped through the papers and said, “I’m not exactly sure what all of this means when you talk about avatar and live streaming… but you had to acquire computers, equipment, and the model that my daughter will be using, did you not?”

“I did. And?”

Sakura blinked. “And… Do you not care about the cost? Of how long it will take you to gain a return on investment?”

Rin nodded. “Mom’s right. Mister Smith, this… aren’t you giving up too much?”

John paused and then laughed. “Oh. Is *that* what you two are worried about?”

It was a bit amusing. To think that there would be people who would be concerned that the Richest Eternal would go broke…

John shook his head and said, “Don’t worry about my business going under. This is just a… side hobby of mine. I do quite well for myself on the stock exchange. This is just something I started up after a certain person practically forced me to accept it.”

Rin winced. “M-Mister Smith. That’s…”

“Ah. It wasn’t you, Rin. Don’t worry about it.” John waved his hand and said, “Think of it as just your good fortune that you bumped into me in the street the other day.”

“Hm?” Sakura glanced towards Rin and said, “You bumped into Mister Smith on the street?”

“Th-That… um…”

John nodded. “To be fair, I was a bit distracted too. But yes, Rin bumped into me and almost fell over onto the street. I pulled her up, of course, but it did turn out like that.”

“Hm…” Sakura glanced at the papers again and said, “Well. I suppose everything’s in order.” She nodded and handed the papers over to Rin.

“Mom?”

Sakura shook her head and looked to John again. “You are insane… but you seem to be a decent enough person. Not only that, but you saved my daughter from her own rash decisions and even helped us in our time of need.” She bowed her head. “Thank you.”

“Like I said, it’s fine.” John waved his hand and said, “Besides, it’s too early to thank me. I’m afraid that I’m going to put your daughter through the wringer in the near future.”

Sakura raised her head and said, “That’s fine. A sweet girl like her needs a firm hand to guide her well.”

“M-Mom! Stop that!”

“Hm?” Sakura played coy and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Ugh…”

John smiled and stood up. “Well, I suppose we shouldn’t keep you any longer. You need some rest if you want to recover properly.”

“Ah.” Rin glanced at her phone and said, “Right… We’ve been here for a while now.”

John bowed and said, “It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Hibana.”

“Please, call me Sakura.” She smiled and said, “And I’ll be entrusting my daughter to your care. Do keep her out of trouble, will you?”

John nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ve no intention on letting a sweet girl like her fall into misfortune or ruin.”

Rin looked between her mother and John. With a frown, she said, “…Why does it feel like I’m being given away as a bride?”

_________