Chapter 176 – To Make More Money
<span style="font-weight:400">"Good work again today,dies. Mio and Saeko, your numbers are up so I added a bonus. Here are this month''s wages and don''t forget to collect today''s tips from Taira." Konomi, the manager of Isekai Gohan handed each of us an envelope of money and left for the day.
<span style="font-weight:400">The exhrating feeling of making money was going to die once I got home and paid the bills. We earned a lot more than the average wage worker, not quite sried status but enough to be somewhat stable. However, cutting expenses to ount for rent and tuition really hurt.
<span style="font-weight:400">When I turned to Mio, she was giving me the heartwrenching, teeth-clenched, and quivering lower lip demeanor from thinking the same.
<span style="font-weight:400">"This sucks," we said at the same time.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Wee to the ''working while in uni'' life. Chin up. You guys got some juicy tips today. Looks like you two have some secret fans with stacked wallets." Taira handed us a roll of 10,000 Yen bills and our jaws dropped.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Wait, huh? There''s like ten bills in here!" Mio eximed while pulling the rubber band off.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Are you sure they <i><span style="font-weight:400">wanted</i><span style="font-weight:400"> to give us this much? It wasn''t by mistake?" I asked
<span style="font-weight:400">"No way. Saw the gents count the paper and drop ''em in earlier today. Guys from the tables you two waited no less. Must''ve gotten a raise, promotion, or something. Still running on hard times with this much?" She threw an arm around each of our shoulders and pulled us in. The usual Taira thing to do. It was always when we were down in the dumps, so it''s been happening a lottely.
<span style="font-weight:400">We exined to Taira how my parents and I had a falling out that ended in me swearing to be independent. Even Taira stared at me like I was stupid. Tsukiji University was a private school. It wasn''t an easy financial burden to carry even for well-off kids.
<span style="font-weight:400">"So, yeah… It started off alright until our savings started dripping. Now we''re eating cup ramen and sweeping under vending machines with our tails," I said.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Hmm… Konomi''s gone. Let''s take a peek in his office, yeah?" Taira nudged us forward.
<span style="font-weight:400">"What''s in the boss'' office? We gonna klep the safe?" Mio asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">"No! Are you crazy? You guys know whatpensated dating is?" she asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Been there done that," we answered together.
<span style="font-weight:400">Taira choked on her spit.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Seriously? Damn, high schoolers these days are wilding." Taira pulled a bobby pin out of her hair and began picking the lock to the office.
<span style="font-weight:400">A minuteter, the door opened wide.
<span style="font-weight:400">"What doespensated dating and sneaking into the manager''s office have to do with anything?" I asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Konomi likes to keep tabs on our regrs on hisputer. Has their deepest darkest desires, knows the skeletons in their closets, and most of all… their contact information." Taira turned on the PC and browsed through a spreadsheet regarding a long list of names.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Oh, I get it. We''re gonna rob the sobs<i><span style="font-weight:400">!</i><span style="font-weight:400">" Mio nted a fist on her palm like she figured out the winning lotto numbers.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Mio…" The both of us stared at her in disbelief.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Though I guess it''s about as legal as we can get when ites to robbing. Guys like these will shell out to get some attention from you. Or in this case, to do somepensated dating. Imagine how much more they''ll spend when <i><span style="font-weight:400">you</i><span style="font-weight:400"> reach out to <i><span style="font-weight:400">them</i><span style="font-weight:400">," Taira exined.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Why does it sound like you''ve done this before, too?" I asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Hey, you gotta do what you gotta when falling on some rough times. No shame. Them''s the hustle. You want in or nah?" She hovered the cursor over the x-button on the spreadsheet.
<span style="font-weight:400">"One sec," I said, and pulled Mio to the other end of the room for some privacy.
<span style="font-weight:400">We huddled up.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Look, I like money. I also ain''t afraid to spread my legs or charm someone for it, so I''ve made up my mind. You gotta make up yours," Mio said.
<span style="font-weight:400">"I know we''ve donepensated dating before and screw strangers on the regr, but it feels wrong when money is involved. P-P-Prostituting myself is just… I mean, you really don''t mind? At all?" I asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Nope," she answered promptly.
<span style="font-weight:400">I rolled my eyes. "Of course. Only because you''re doing it, I will, too, and… see how it goes."
<span style="font-weight:400">We returned to Taira, who was grinning from ear to ear having likely eavesdropped on the entire conversation.
<span style="font-weight:400">"We''re in. Sign me up with the richest, saddest fucker possible," Mio said.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Uu… Me, too." I raised my hand.
<span style="font-weight:400">sses ended for the day, and I came out of the lecture hall having taken zero notes. Absentminded scribbles were all that I had drawn in my notebook. Today was the day I''d meet with my ''papa'' as Taira called it.
<span style="font-weight:400">I shuddered.
<span style="font-weight:400">Just thinking that word left a weird taste on my mind and mouth. That innocent word had be downright filthy.
<span style="font-weight:400">The guy I was to meetter in the afternoon was Gotoh Usui, a mid-40s man who worked in upper management for a marketing firm based in Osaka. Mio had her own man. Taira assured us, through her own vetting process we weren''t privy to, that they were decent guys and not some psycho or lunatic.
<span style="font-weight:400">Not that it mattered. Mio and I were more than capable of dealing with crazies. Not to mention…
<span style="font-weight:400">"Queen Saeko, we havee to escort you."
<span style="font-weight:400">Three subinded and kneeled before me, startling the students nearby but not everyone apparently.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Hey, subus!" Some dude brushed his hair and thought to try his luck with one of them. "Maybe I can give you a little something to drain—"
<span style="font-weight:400">"Back, you insolent human!" The brte subus drew her sword with the point up to his throat.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Oh, fuck— Sorry!" he cried, scrambling as he ran away.
<span style="font-weight:400">The rest of the students gulped hard and went back to minding their own business.
<span style="font-weight:400">"What did I say about pulling out weapons in public?" I folded my arms.
<span style="font-weight:400">She quickly sheathed her sword. "Forgive me, my queen! It''s just recent events have left us worried about you."
<span style="font-weight:400">"If it''s money you need, we can earn for you on your behalf," the mature one said.
<span style="font-weight:400">"That''s right!" a subus with hoop earrings eximed. "The time you fought Lady Delh, going to Elza… you rarelye to us for help when we''re readily at your service. Now, you''re even going as far as prostituting yourself!"
<span style="font-weight:400">I pped a hand over her mouth. "Shhh! We can talk on the way there."
<span style="font-weight:400">The four of us took off towards the meeting ce. My subus subjects trailed worriedly behind me.
<span style="font-weight:400">"You all should know by now that I was originally human," I began while facing forward. "Things beyond my control happened and this is my form now, but I''ve epted it. However, I''m still human deep inside. I''m also only neen years old and queen of a race I''d only gotten to know for a little over a year. If I have everything handed to me, then I''ll just turn into a spoiled brat. Which is why I have an obligation to myself, my family, and all of you to be the subus queen worthy of respect. I know you''re worried, but worry about me from afar. If I really do need help, I''lle to you, okay?"
<span style="font-weight:400">When their auras grew more distant, I turned around and saw that they had stopped. They were in tears and choking up.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Our queen has been thinking of us, too…" The one with earrings sniffled.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Indeed. A mature response from someone so young. You truly are nothing like Queen Beatrice, and it is why we shall always remain fiercely loyal to you. Very well, Queen Saeko. You have made your point. Please, do not forget we are always ready to be of service."
<span style="font-weight:400">The eldest of the three tugged on the others'' arms. I nodded to her in thanks, and they flew away after another nce in my direction.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Beatrice, I only knew you at the end of it, but you must have really messed up if my normal self won every subus over. I guess that only adds to why it''s so important I don''t end up letting here back." I sighed and gazed down at my two hands.
<span style="font-weight:400">So far, I''d kept my sexual energy drain to a minium. Enough to be sated and enough not to go into crazy-starved hunger.
<span style="font-weight:400">My phone rm went off. I was supposed to meet the guy soon. The city was abuzz with energy today. Downtown Tsukiji always had a bad habit of attracting more people than it could handle. Maybe it would be the new Tokyo in another decade. Heck, I might even live to see it.
<span style="font-weight:400">I descended into the city and found a public bathroom to change in. Taira and Hhan had taught me some pointers about these things. Be a pleaser. Easy enough as a subus. I dressed in the style he liked most— streetwear, so my outfit consisted of baggy ck pants and an oversized but light gray hoodie with a digitized rabbit graphic.
<span style="font-weight:400">"And… a baseball cap worn backwards." I put it on and looked into the mirror. A confused girl who wasn''t sure what the heck she was doing stared back. "Why dressed like this? What part of this does he find attractive?"
<span style="font-weight:400">As I tried toe up with an answer, Mio sent me a message through LINE. A picture popped up. Of her making the peace sign at the camera while sucking a fat dick.
<span style="font-weight:400">The text read, <i><span style="font-weight:400">Easiest 10 big ones of my life. He wants to creampie me for a 100. Gonna fuck his wallet deader than his balls by the end of the night LMAO</i><span style="font-weight:400">.
<span style="font-weight:400">"For a hundred thousand?!" I eximed just as a woman walked in and looked at me funny.
<span style="font-weight:400">Just so I didn''t draw any more attention, I left the bathroom and walked the rest of the way to the station. There were many people around, but since I already had a picture, I knew who to look for. He was standing in front of a fountain, still in his work suit and intermittently looking down at his phone. I recognized him as a regr immediately. He only ever came on Sunday afternoons, never ordered much other than a simple meal and coffee, and then left after finishing.
<span style="font-weight:400">I took a deep breath and headed over. We locked eyes right away.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Uhm… Saeko, right?" Gotoh nced between me and his phone, likely double-checking if the picture I sent matched me.
<span style="font-weight:400">"From Isekai Gohan. You must be Gotoh. So, where do you want to go first? Or maybe you want to go straight to a hotel?" I grabbed his arm to be as friendly as possible.
<span style="font-weight:400">"I-I was hoping to watch a movie first! If… that''s okay with you?" he timidly asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">Movie? Was this howpensated dating was supposed to go? I supposed the whole point was for it to be like a date. Or maybe, he wanted to get frisky there? Bold move, Gotoh. Bold.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Sure!" I smiled.
<span style="font-weight:400">There was a nearby theater we went to. Gotoh purchased two tickets to an epic space opera that came out months ago, so when we got to the auditorium, most of the seats were empty. There was an old guy in the front row. That was it.
<span style="font-weight:400">I made it through half the movie before realizing what I''de out here to do. To seduce this guy and get paid.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Hey~ There''s no one here. You want to get a little cozy—" I turned to Gotoh only to see tears streaming down his face,pletely engrossed with the movie. "Ehhh? You''re crying?"
<span style="font-weight:400">"Sorry, it''s just… when Mosely sacrificed himself so the rest of his crew… Oh, god… I''m going to tear up again…" Gotoh pressed a hand over his mouth as he choked up.
<span style="font-weight:400">Mio sent me another picture. This one was of her in subus form riding cowgirl on a guy and sucking on another dick.
<span style="font-weight:400">The text read, <i><span style="font-weight:400">Bozo called a friend. Im getting paid x2!!! Why tf are we going to college? We should prostitute ourselves for money instead!</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">"d you''re having fun…" I sighed quietly.
<span style="font-weight:400">A couple of rowdy high school students entered the auditorium, cackling loudly about something. They took a seat a few rows down from us. Music yed from their headphones worn around their necks. One of them started chucking popcorn at the old guy up front.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Look at this nerd shit. We really staying here?"
<span style="font-weight:400">"The other movies suck."
<span style="font-weight:400">"Let''s just stay here ''til Kai texts us."
<span style="font-weight:400">They continued with their conversation without a care that others were watching the movie. Gotoh was getting antsy.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Excuse me, can you guys speak a little more quietly?" Gotoh asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Hahh?" A guy with a shaved head turned around and made a face. "You say something, old man?"
<span style="font-weight:400">Gotoh mmed up and shrunk in his seat. He tried to continue enjoying the movie, but all the squirming and shifting made it clear he wasn''t having a good time anymore. If he wasn''t having a good time, then my prospects of making money off this date goes to crap.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Why don''t you guys get lost?" I asked while putting the four of them in a stranglehold charm with my aura.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Sure thing," the headphones guy said and got up to leave with his friends.
<span style="font-weight:400">We finished the rest of the movie in peace. It was a surprisingly good watch, but I couldn''t stop wondering what Gotoh''s game was here.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Whew. I wanted to watch that for a while. I''m d I finally did," Gotoh said.
<span style="font-weight:400">"So… Where to next?" I asked when my stomach suddenly growled. My face went red with embarrassment. It urred to me that I hadn''t eaten much all day aside from some leftover instant ramen.
<span style="font-weight:400">"I was thinking about a curry house?" he suggested.
<span style="font-weight:400">My embarrassment vanished as I nodded eagerly.
<span style="font-weight:400">We got to a packed curry restaurant with a long line of people wrapping around the building. Gotoh came out dejected after checking inside.
<span style="font-weight:400">"I put my name down, but they said the wait is going to be two hours at this rate. Maybe we head somewhere else instead? Like for ramen," Gotoh said, not doing a very good job of hiding his disappointment.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Hmm… Let''s just wait a while. They''ll probably clear up soon," I assured him.
<span style="font-weight:400">As we headed to the back of the line, I quietly charmed everyone in front of us. One by one, people began to leave and considered going elsewhere to eat.
<span style="font-weight:400">"What''s going on? Why''s everyone leaving?" Gotoh gawked.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Table of three for Hinako— eh?" A waitstaff emerged from the restaurant, and her jaw dropped seeing no one else around. She only saw us. "I… I guess a table is ready for you two."
<span style="font-weight:400">Once we were seated, Gotoh ordered katsu curry right away without so much as looking at the menu. I ordered the same because why not? It was all on his Yen. When the food came, he dined so happily that he looked like a child discovering candy for the first time.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Mmm! You really can''t beat freshly-cooked katsu curry!" Gotoh sighed delightfully.
<span style="font-weight:400">My phone vibrated with another message from Mio. This time, it was of her shing a fan of ten-thousand yen bills next to her cum-dripping pussy.
<span style="font-weight:400">The text read, <i><span style="font-weight:400">EZ $$$.</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">"Say, how long have you been going to Isekai Gohan? I really appreciate the big tips you leave, but don''t you have anyone else to spend it on?" I asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Truth be told? No. My job crushes my soul on a daily basis. I only stick with it because it pays well. Even then, I don''t really have anyone or anything to spend it on. I''m also too busy for a hobby. Only reason I''m out here on a Friday workday is because my boss finally caved in for my time off request," Gotoh said.
<span style="font-weight:400">"What about family?"
<span style="font-weight:400">"Erm… Hey, I''m feeling full. How about we talk it off? Check, please!" He waved to a waitress.
<span style="font-weight:400">The conversation ended there. Gotoh paid for our dinner, and we strolled through Tsukiji as the sun finally began setting.
<span style="font-weight:400">Nothing''s happened all night. It had just been a regr date. Was this really the same guy who tipped tens of thousands of Yen at Isekai Gohan to me? We were about to pass by one of the love hotels that Hana runs. The neon signs and listed prices on the front door beckoned to us.
<span style="font-weight:400">I grabbed Gotoh''s hand and pulled him in.
<span style="font-weight:400">"W-What''s going on?" Gotoh asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">Inside the love hotel lobby, Hana was gaming on the TV behind the counter and perked up as soon as she saw me.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Yo, Saeko! What can I do for ya?" Hana asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Give me a room. We''ll payter," I said.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Er, hold on… can we slow down? Talk about this—"
<span style="font-weight:400">Hana tossed me a key, and I dragged Gotoh down the corridor and into a room. While ignoring his pleas, I opened the door and pushed him onto the bed. In the privacy of a room, I began to strip and let my subus form show.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Come on! Take your clothes off and fuck me, you coward! It''s like you''ve been stringing me on the entire night. <i><span style="font-weight:400">I''m</i><span style="font-weight:400"> the one getting frustrated now. Ten for a blowjob. A hundred to creampie me. It''s what you came for, right?" I asked while naked and wing at his clothes.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Wait, you''re a subus?! I guess that exins some of the things that happened tonight… Please, I don''t want to cheat on my wife!" Gotoh cried.
<span style="font-weight:400">The mood died in an instant. Not that there was one to begin with anyway. I came back to my senses and got off him.
<span style="font-weight:400">"You''re married? But you don''t have a ring," I said, pointing out the empty ring finger, but upon closer inspection there was a visible imprint of one.
<span style="font-weight:400">Gotoh moved to sit at the edge of the bed with his head down. "I… I took it off beforeing. I only did this because my family doesn''t care about me anymore! Every single day, I work from eight in the morning to ten at night. I lose an extra hourmuting by train. The only day I get off is Sunday. My daughter and I used to have movie dates every month, but now she cares more about her phone andputer. My wife is asleep by the time I get home. My only source offort is the katsu curry I eat from the convenience store every night. The clerk microwaves it for me, but the machine must be malfunctioning because some parts of the curry are cold! Even still… I can''t bring myself to cheat on my wife. I just want them to hug me. Is that so much to ask?"
<span style="font-weight:400">I sat next to him and patted his back.
<span style="font-weight:400">"No, it''s not." I sighed. "Then… this whole date was…?"
<span style="font-weight:400">"To do things I used to enjoy with my family. Maiko, my daughter, she likes to dress in streetwear. Guess she''s in that rebellious phase I hear so much about. You look <i><span style="font-weight:400">a little</i><span style="font-weight:400"> like her. Mostly just the hair. That''s why I''ve beening to Isekai Gohan and agreed to do this. I''m so sorry for dragging you into my troubles!" Gotoh stood up and bowed deeply, a perfect 90 degree apologetic bow.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Don''t you think you''ve been going about this all wrong?" I asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Huh?" He lifted his head up.
<span style="font-weight:400">"You''ve been working non-stop. You only managed to get a day off today, so couldn''t you have spent today with your wife and daughter instead?"
<span style="font-weight:400">The gears in Gotoh''s head went into overdrive for a few seconds before everything finally clicked. He dropped to his knees and groaned aloud.
<span style="font-weight:400">"You''re right. Arrggghhh! Why am I so stupid?" Gotoh copsed to the groundpletely in the fetal position.
<span style="font-weight:400">While he was berating himself, I picked up my clothes and got dressed.
<span style="font-weight:400">I helped Gotoh up and made him face me. "You aren''t stupid. You''re working yourself to the bone to support your family. Stress has a way of making us act irrationally. I was kind of a little shit to my parents. They deserved it. We worked things out in the end, but only because we finally decided to sit down and talk. Fight your boss for another day off. n a day with your wife and another day with Maiko. And hey, if things don''t work out, you can always grow a pair of balls and fuck me like this was originally supposed to go down."
<span style="font-weight:400">Gotoh nkly and stiffly rose to his feet, then pped himself across the face.
<span style="font-weight:400">"You''re right. Thanks for that, and thank you for going along with my whims. I really did have fun today! Here, it''s not much but please take this… I was going to spend it at a pachinko parlor anyway." Gotoh stuffed a stack of five-hundred thousand in ten-thousand Yen bills into my hands.
<span style="font-weight:400">"This is a lot! A-Are you sure?" I gaped at the amount.
<span style="font-weight:400">"It''s chump change, since I''ll be promoted to executive management soon. My boss might be an asshole working me to the bone, but it was all to make sure I had what it takes. Once I''m my own boss, I don''t have to take abuse from anyone anymore!" he eximed in triumph.
<span style="font-weight:400">Must be nice having a lot of money… I stared at the stack inplete envy. Part of me wanted his family life to fail and be my sugar daddy.
<span style="font-weight:400">Gotoh went for the door but paused after opening it.
<span style="font-weight:400">"You can expect bigger tips at Isekai Gohan, too." He grinned before taking off and leaving me high and dry.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Well, I got the money. So why do I feel frustrated?" I stuffed the money into my bag just as Hana poked her head in.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Your man just bolted. I''m, uh… still getting paid, right?" Hana asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">"You know what? Get me in contact with some prostitutes. I need to vent," I told Hana.