"The view count on my recent videos has been a bit sluggish…"
As per her daily routine, Yuutenji Nyamu checked the stats on the videos she had uploaded online. Having recently started her journey as a beauty vlogger, she had gained a fair amount of recognition thanks to her striking appearance, quickly amassing a considerable following.
"And the follower growth has slowed down too."
However, the downside of relying on her looks for rapid success was that Nyamu soon found herself hitting a content creator's bottleneck. The explosive growth phase was over; from here on, her follower count would only increase at a slower rate until it eventually plateaued. When that time came, her concern wouldn't be about gaining more followers—it would be about retaining the ones she already had.
Even now, despite her numbers looking impressive after that initial surge, Nyamu wasn't satisfied. Compared to those top-tier influencers whose videos easily racked up millions of views, her own numbers—still in the hundred-thousand range—felt insignificant.
Maybe I need to branch out beyond beauty content and try making other types of videos.
This wasn't a new thought. From the very beginning, Nyamu had known that sticking solely to beauty content wouldn't take her far. She had chosen it as her starting point because it allowed her to leverage her looks for quicker traction.
Beyond just growing her follower base, there was another reason she had opted for this type of content—it was a way to showcase herself indirectly. If she could gain enough recognition, she might even get offers for photoshoots and similar opportunities. Nyamu was just as confident in her figure as she was in her face. The way she often dressed—in revealing outfits that highlighted her curves—was proof enough of that.
Exiting her video page, Nyamu scrolled through the latest industry updates. "There aren't any new product launches lately… If I want to try something different, now might be the perfect time."
That being said, she wasn't about to make a drastic shift and start posting content completely different from her usual style. Nyamu understood that her core focus was still beauty; if she suddenly changed direction, her audience would only feel confused and start unfollowing her.
So, whatever new video she made still had to incorporate makeup in some way…
Without any concrete ideas yet, Nyamu decided to step away from beauty-related news and began browsing broader entertainment industry headlines, hoping to find some inspiration.
Suddenly, a particular article caught her eye.
"Rising Girl Idol Group sumimi Set to Release New Single…"
What drew Nyamu's attention wasn't sumimi itself. While the up-and-coming idol group was certainly a hot topic right now, the real highlight of the article was the composer behind their new song—none other than the renowned Kikukawa Shuku, a woman whose influence spanned across multiple industries.
It was no exaggeration to say that sumimi's recent buzz was largely thanks to Shuku's involvement.
"Ugh, I wish Nyamuchi could get lucky like that and latch onto a big name…" Nyamu muttered to herself, equal parts envious and frustrated. As an independent content creator with no industry connections, she couldn't even dream of riding the coattails of someone as influential as Shuku.
Clicking on the hyperlinked name "Kikukawa Shuku" within the article, Nyamu was redirected to a search results page filled with lists of Shuku's achievements, career milestones, and various gossip pieces.
Wait a second…
Her eyes quickly locked onto a particular headline. She tapped into the page of a gossip vlogger who specialized in covering celebrities' personal lives. There, she found exactly what she had been looking for—news about Kikukawa Shuku's two daughters.
It wasn't a secret that Shuku had two daughters. Compared to the older one, who had stayed out of the entertainment industry, the younger daughter, Kikukawa Kyo, was frequently in the headlines. Stories of her "debut performance" and "instant stardom" circulated constantly, often exaggerated to almost mythical proportions.
Despite having no official works to her name, Kyo already commanded an enormous amount of attention. The public was endlessly curious about this so-called genius girl shrouded in mystery.
Even for a small-time vlogger like Nyamu, if she couldn't chase the fame of Kikukawa Shuku herself, settling for her daughter's spotlight seemed like a decent alternative.
But there was just one problem—despite all the buzz around Kikukawa Kyo, actual information about her was scarce. Where on earth am I supposed to find her?
It looked like she'd have to settle for an even lower-hanging fruit. Nyamu continued scrolling through her phone. A few seconds later, three words appeared on the screen: Kikukawa Bookstore.
---
"Sakiko, it's time! Take a break and have lunch first."
Inside Kikukawa Bookstore, Kikukawa Yuu glanced at the time. It was midday, and most people had gone off to eat lunch, meaning there likely wouldn't be any customers for a while. She called out to Sakiko to take a break and eat.
"Just a moment, let me finish checking the last few books." Sakiko replied without even looking up, focused on the checklist in her hands as she carefully verified the newly arrived books one by one.
So diligent… Yuu scratched her cheek, feeling a bit guilty for slacking off behind the cashier counter. As the store owner, she couldn't help but feel a little ashamed.
"I'll help you out. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can eat." Yuu got up and walked over to Sakiko, reaching for the remaining checklist.
"It's fine, Miss Yuu. I'm almost done here. You go ahead and eat first." Sakiko lifted the last checklist in her hands, indicating that there wasn't enough work left to split.
Yuu had no choice but to give up and turn to grab the takeout she had ordered earlier.
After spending the past few days together, Yuu had come to understand Sakiko better—and had also realized something her little sister had warned her about: Sakiko is incredibly stubborn. Don't bother trying to persuade her.
As a store owner, having such a hardworking employee was a good thing. But Sakiko always seemed to avoid accepting help from others, to the point where it almost felt… distant.
Unaware of the conversation going on in Yuu's head, Sakiko quickly finished her task, double-checked everything to ensure accuracy, and let out a satisfied breath.
"Is it already noon…?" She muttered as she walked toward the break room at the back of the store, where the employees kept their belongings. She retrieved the discounted bento she had bought from the supermarket and placed it on the large table.
These bentos were usually made from food nearing expiration. They weren't exactly delicious, but they were cheap.
Even now, despite earning a stable income from her job at the bookstore, Sakiko still saved every penny where she could. The hardships she had endured, though brief, had left a lasting shadow on her.
Just then, Yuu entered the break room with her takeout. She set her food down and immediately noticed Sakiko's rather pitiful lunch. Then she looked at the colorful, fragrant dishes she had ordered.
After neatly arranging her food, Yuu hesitantly asked, "Sakiko, want to share some of this?"
"Thank you for your kindness, Miss Yuu, but I'm fine." Sakiko swallowed back the involuntary saliva that betrayed her hunger and resolutely avoided looking at the delicious spread in front of her. She shoved another bite of her bento into her mouth, trying to silence the protest from her stomach.
"Come on, look at all this food. I can't finish it by myself. Just help me out, will you?" Yuu nudged the dishes toward Sakiko.
"Miss Store Owner." Sakiko sighed and looked up at Yuu. "Did you order this much on purpose?"
"Of course not…" Yuu chuckled awkwardly, the embarrassment practically written all over her face.
"If you want to share food with someone, at least discuss it with them first instead of deciding on your own."
"Then how about this—I'll order a few extra dishes for you tomorrow?"
"No need, thanks." Sakiko declined without hesitation. She gestured toward the table. "And also, please don't waste food."
"O-okay…"
What is happening? Why does it feel like our roles are reversed? Aren't I supposed to be the older one? Where does Sakiko get this overwhelming authority from?
Thankfully, Yuu's little sister had mentioned she'd be stopping by today. She'd just offload some of the extra food onto her instead.
Speaking of which, how did my sister even manage to get along with Sakiko in the first place?
Just as Yuu was thinking about Kikukawa Kyo, the break room door swung open. Then came the familiar greeting she always used—
"Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening!"
"Kyo? What brings you here today?" Sakiko was surprised. It had been a few days since she last saw her.
"Hmm? Am I not allowed to be here?" Kyo grinned, lifting the bag in her hand. Inside was a thermal container. "By the way, is this all you're eating?"
"It's enough." Sakiko eyed Kyo warily. Just because she had agreed to that ridiculous contract didn't mean she was going to accept whatever handouts Kyo offered. If Kyo was planning to share food, Sakiko would refuse without hesitation.
Even if Kyo tried to call it a trade, there was no way she would shamelessly say something like "I want to try yours too", especially when Sakiko's meal was just a cheap convenience store bento. Sakiko wasn't going to fall for it.
Kyo opened the thermal container, and a rich aroma immediately filled the room—it was a steaming bowl of chicken soup.
Soup. That was so Kyo.
"I made it myself. It's my first time, so I don't have much experience. Try it for me." Kyo scooped a full bowl of soup and pushed it toward Sakiko with an infuriatingly smug smile. "And I expect a full review, with proper thoughts and impressions. No half-hearted responses."
"…" Sakiko glared at Kyo, but it had no effect.
"Can't Miss Yuu be your taste-tester instead?" Sakiko tried.
"Of course, but feedback is more valuable when you get multiple opinions." Kyo countered effortlessly. Then, as if to seal the deal, she softened her voice and pleaded, "Please, Sakiko?"
Sakiko pressed her lips together, looking reluctant, but in the end, she still took the bowl of soup.
Yuu, who had been watching the entire exchange, was completely stunned.
Silently, she gave her little sister a thumbs-up.
You're the real MVP.