"Sakiko, do you want to come along?"
Hearing Kikukawa Kyo's question, Sakiko hesitated for a moment. She had just been thinking about how to use the internet as a tool to improve herself, and now seemed like the perfect opportunity to learn more about it from this Nyamuchi-san.
But after a brief consideration, she shook her head. "No need, Kyo. Someone has to watch the bookstore."
There was no rush. Her current abilities were still lacking, and in her plans, now that she had solved the most pressing issue of daily survival, the next priority was ensuring she maintained a consistent piano training routine.
Music remained her greatest strength and advantage. Her piano skills, which she took pride in, were her biggest asset. Just like Nyamuchi-san—no matter what new projects she planned, they always revolved around her core expertise.
There would be plenty of time to talk to Nyamuchi privately about "digital" matters when it truly became relevant to her.
"Alright." Kikukawa Kyo nodded without any objections. She then turned and led Nyamu out of the bookstore and into VA-11 HALL-A.
Today, VA-11 HALL-A was being run by Izumo alone.
"Ah, little shop owner, haven't seen you in a few days," Izumo greeted her before noticing the woman following behind. "And what would the little shop owner and this noble, cat-like beauty like to drink?"
"I'll have milk tea, instant is fine," Kyo answered without even glancing at the menu—she knew exactly what drinks her own café carried.
Meanwhile, Nyamu curiously scanned the surroundings. The store's décor might provide her with insights she couldn't glean from the tabloid gossip about Kyo.
To be fair, even if Nyamu hadn't known that this shop belonged to Kyo, she might have still considered it as a potential filming location for the "Makeup for Different Settings" project she had proposed—half-jokingly, half-seriously.
The café had a warm and soothing atmosphere, with soft lighting, wooden countertops featuring a unique built-in water tank, and decorations imbued with flowing water motifs throughout the space. Even without the water tank, the entire shop gave the impression of being immersed in a gentle stream. The bartender behind the counter, dressed in an elegant uniform reminiscent of a mixologist, carried an elusive smile that only added to the tranquil ambiance.
Despite technically being a café, the place had the air of an upscale private bar. A passerby might even describe it as "sophisticated."
"Nyamuchi-san, what would you like? Consider it my treat," Kyo offered.
Nyamu turned her gaze to the menu on the wall. It featured everything from coffee to tea and various fruit juices.
"This is a nice place," Nyamu praised sincerely. The comfortable atmosphere and the wide variety of drinks—if they tasted good as well, she might just find herself visiting again, even though Akabane was quite out of the way.
"I'll have an Earl Grey tea, please. And no need for Kyo-san to treat me," she added with a casual tone. Since she had no control over the situation at the moment, it was best not to owe any favors.
After placing their orders, the two found a quiet corner to sit down. This time, it was Nyamu who initiated the conversation.
"Since Kyo-san wants to put everything on the table, I'll be direct as well," Nyamu crossed her arms, her naturally well-proportioned figure accentuated by the gesture. She even leaned forward slightly, attempting to apply pressure through body language.
Unfortunately, Kyo was just a kid. She glanced at Nyamu, then at her own petite frame, and simply thought, Wow, Nyamuchi-san does have a great figure. She couldn't help but find it amusing—what exactly was Nyamuchi-san thinking, trying to flaunt her curves in front of a middle-school graduate?
"So, does Kyo-san agree with my project, or do you have any additional suggestions?"
Nyamu wasn't holding back. She deliberately omitted the option of refusal, framing the conversation as agreeing, but with conditions.
Unfortunately for her, this type of negotiation—one devoid of emotional entanglements—was Kyo's specialty. This level of rhetoric wasn't going to work on her.
Kyo actually found it easier to talk to someone like Nyamuchi, whose priorities were numbers, profit, and clear goals, compared to dealing with someone like Sakiko—who spoke of "interests" and "exchanges" but was often influenced by her emotions.
And naturally, her approach to speaking with both was entirely different. As the saying goes, speak to people in their own language, and to cats in theirs.
"As for Nyamuchi-san's project, I do have a better suggestion," Kyo maintained her usual unhurried tone, sitting upright. "Why not change the location to this café?"
"Oh?"
"When my sister and I first set up shop here, our plan was to link the bookstore and the café together—similar to how some bookstores have small café sections inside. Our setup just happens to have the two spaces separated next door to each other. So, changing the filming location to here wouldn't be an issue, and it could also help drive traffic to the bookstore."
"Additionally, if we choose VA-11 HALL-A, I can give you a definite answer today. My sister has to consult with all her staff, but aside from Izumo-san, most of my employees here are temporary. If you want, you could even start filming today."
"And most importantly, between my sister and me, I imagine Nyamuchi-san initially wanted to collaborate with me anyway, correct? I can bring in better numbers and have deeper connections in the entertainment industry."
Kyo laid out the reasoning and benefits in a clear and structured manner. No matter how Nyamu looked at it, there was no reason to refuse—choosing VA-11 HALL-A as the location had no downsides for the Kikukawa sisters and only advantages for herself.
And yet, because Kyo presented everything so plainly, Nyamu hesitated. It felt like a pie falling from the sky—why would Kyo offer a deal where she benefited the most?
"So, what does Kyo-san get out of this? A proposal this favorable to me… it feels like a trap waiting for me to step into." Nyamu, having grown accustomed to Kyo's direct style, voiced her doubts just as bluntly.
"What I gain… Well, first, it's for my sister's bookstore. She's invested a lot of effort into it, and it's only just beginning to take off. I don't doubt Nyamuchi-san's ability, but the best way to handle potential risks is to prevent them entirely."
"As for VA-11 HALL-A—while I do like this place, it wouldn't really matter to me if it went out of business."
"As for the other reason, it concerns that bookstore clerk from earlier—Sakiko."
Kikukawa Kyo paused oddly here before continuing.
"Sakiko will definitely come looking for you in the future. Maybe she'll ask you about online operations or something similar. When that time comes, I hope you'll be willing to teach her and lend her a hand."
"And if what she asks of you turns out to be more than just a few simple questions… well, that decision will be up to you, Nyamuchi-san. That's all I ask."
Kyo spread her hands slightly, indicating that she had laid everything out without holding anything back.
To Nyamu, this still sounded like an incredibly favorable deal. It was understandable that Kyo would go to such lengths for her sister, but why did it feel like this was more for Sakiko's sake than anyone else's?
For a brief moment, Nyamu found herself curious—why did Kyo value Sakiko so much? Her mind wandered, conjuring up late-night drama plotlines of a "young lady from the entertainment world falling for a poor girl from a humble background."
"This is a very generous offer. I see no reason to refuse—I accept. But about Sakiko… you're really handing that decision over to me? You're not afraid that I might outright reject her?"
"Leaving aside whether or not she'll actually come to you, if Sakiko is reaching out for something truly important, she'll find a way to convince you herself. That'll be up to her skills. If I demanded that you accept every request of hers, not only would you refuse, but Sakiko would probably come after me for interfering," Kyo said with a slight upward curve to her socially polite smile.
Nyamu studied the girl before her, this seemingly unconventional negotiator who had approached the discussion with an almost chaotic, unorthodox style.
At the start, Kyo had boldly laid her cards on the table, discarding any need for pretense and showing an aggressive stance. Then, just when Nyamu had adjusted her expectations and braced for a standoff, Kyo had instead revealed all her conditions without reservation—offering no room for further maneuvering.
And yet, those conditions were overwhelmingly in Nyamu's favor.
It was precisely this unpredictable, brazen approach—placing the temptation of honeyed wine and milk right before her eyes—that made it so difficult for Nyamu to refuse.
"Kyo-san, I honestly can't tell if you're just swinging wild punches and somehow knocking out the master, or if you've actually calculated my expectations perfectly." Nyamu sighed in surrender. Even if she had technically "lost" this negotiation, the amount she had gained made it feel like she had won instead. "You really did offer terms that are hard to turn down."
"Then, Nyamuchi-san, looking forward to working together?"
"It's Yuutenji. Yuutenji Nyamu." In the end, she hadn't even said much before being completely convinced. Nyamu had now fully dropped the underestimation she had previously held toward Kyo. "Looking forward to working together."
"Alright, Nyamu-san."
Right on cue, Izumo arrived with their drinks, placing them in front of them.
"Now that business is settled, Nyamu-san, you should take the time to enjoy it. Izumo-san's skills are top-notch, you know," Kyo said. Her serious demeanor instantly faded as she picked up her milk tea with a grin and sank into the small sofa beneath her.
Nyamu, however, didn't immediately take a sip of her Earl Grey. With the atmosphere now much lighter, her curiosity flared up. "So, what exactly is the relationship between you and Sakiko? You went through all this trouble just to help her."
"I don't know," Kyo answered frankly. "You say I'm helping her, but in the end, the outcome should benefit me as well."
Now, that was a strange response. If anyone else had said something like that, Nyamu would have thought they were just brushing her off. But coming from Kyo—who had been nothing but upfront throughout their entire conversation—Nyamu had no choice but to believe she genuinely meant it.
Well, it was just an idle question asked out of curiosity. Nyamu didn't particularly care about the answer. I'll just assume they're flirting like some bickering couple.
She finally took a sip of her tea, savoring the rich aroma and smooth texture. The taste was undeniably good.
Looks like I'll be coming here more often.