Living in Tokyo, starting with a lifestyle-related job

"Huh, more and more people every day?" Kawai Kana asked, bewildered. "What's going on? Explain in detail."

The takoyaki vendor took another deep drag of his cigarette, tilted his head back, and sighed deeply:

"I used to laugh at him for only having one customer on his first day."

"But the next day, suddenly there were more than thirty people."

"Today is even more outrageous. It's only about six o'clock now, and there are already about forty people."

"This is outrageous! It's infuriating to compare people like this!"

Kana Kawai was dumbfounded:

How did you know the number of customers in his store?

The takoyaki vendor complained irritably:

"You ask me how I know?"

"My takoyaki shop is right across from his. I've been sitting here all day and haven't had a single customer. I'm so bored!"

"They're so bored they could count how many customers come to his shop."

"What do you say?"

Kana Kawai felt somewhat embarrassed.

She could tell that the takoyaki shop owner was quite resentful.

Thinking about it carefully, I guess that makes sense.

After all, the owner of this takoyaki shop had hardly any customers in the past six months.

Shiro Kaede also took over the shops in this area.

I guess the takoyaki shop owner initially thought that Kamishiro-kun was a naive young man like him.

That's why I sat at the door, intending to watch the show.

But to my surprise, Kamishiro's business got better and better every day.

But his place was still deserted, with hardly anyone there.

The difference is indeed quite significant.

If she were the owner of this takoyaki shop, she might also find it hard to keep up the act.

But this also shows that a good store cannot be blamed solely on low customer traffic.

First, consider your business philosophy before opening the store. Have you made any sound decisions?

Now it seems so.

The owner of this takoyaki shop is completely outclassed by Shiro Kaede in every aspect, from business philosophy and the quality of the products to the taste of the food.

There was absolutely no one who could win.

But that's right.

No normal person would choose to open a takoyaki shop here.

At first, she did want to complain about the takoyaki shop owner.

But considering that someone was willing to take over this mess, she didn't bother to offer any further advice.

After all, we're all adults, and no one will tell you what to do or what's right in everything.

Now that they're adults, they have to bear all the consequences themselves.

Even if you get scammed by someone else, it's the same.

After asking these questions, Kawai Kana was planning to say goodbye and then go to Kamishiro Hakufu's shop to return the key.

But suddenly at that moment, she received a call from headquarters.

Upon seeing the phone call, Kawai Kana's heart skipped a beat.

Why is headquarters calling again?

Could it be that this time it's still about that Kamishiro-kun?

After all, the fact that Kamishiro-kun had that plaque and those pieces of furniture showed that he did indeed have a strong connection with headquarters.

Otherwise, why would the headquarters have offered such generous assistance twice in a row?

You should know that a single plaque costs at least a million yen.

The furniture, on the other hand, is of considerable weight.

That carpet was so expensive that even she had never heard of the brand.

If she hadn't looked it up later, she wouldn't have known that the carpet was worth one million yen.

To this day, she still can't figure out why Kamishiro-kun, with such a powerful background, would want to open a shop in this godforsaken place.

Forget it.

She, an ordinary person, could never understand the world of the wealthy.

Hearing the phone still ringing, Kawai Kana dared not slack off again. She ran to a secluded spot and answered the call nervously and humbly.

"Hello, is this Ms. Kawai Kana, the manager of the Millennium Shopping Street?"

"Yes, yes, this is Kana Kawai. How can I help you?"

"It's good that it's you. Didn't I ask you to help me with some problems at the BLUE EDEN coffee shop before?"

"Yes, yes, is there anything you need me to handle this time? Please let me know, and I'll find a way to solve it!"

"This incident isn't entirely related to 'BLUE EDEN'."

"Hey, what's that?"

"I remember all the shops near BLUE EDEN were closed, weren't they?"

"Yes, yes, what does headquarters mean?"

"Headquarters needs you to take back all the shops on that street except for 'BLUE EDEN,' and preferably without paying any penalty fees. Ideally, you should take them back at the lowest possible price. If anyone is really unwilling, paying one or two times the amount is still acceptable. I remember there are basically no shops left there. Can you do this?"

Kana Kawai looked completely bewildered: "Huh? Take it all back? But this place... this place isn't worth it. There's practically no foot traffic. Wouldn't it be a sure thing to make money if they just kept paying rent every month?"

The person on the other end of the phone patiently explained, "You don't need to worry about those things. You just need to complete the task. If you can't complete it, we don't mind sending someone else to help you. But I think you understand the consequences of doing that, right?"

Kana Kawai knew, of course, that if headquarters sent someone over, it meant they no longer needed her and she would most likely be reassigned to another appalling place.

Panicked at the thought of this outcome, she quickly replied, "No, no, I can definitely complete the mission. Please trust me!"

The person on the other end of the phone instructed, "Then remember to make it look good; the higher-ups are paying close attention to this."

"Yes, yes, I understand!" Kawai Kana replied meekly.

After finishing the conversation, the person on the other end didn't explain why and hung up the phone directly.

Kawai Kana was completely dumbfounded.

I don't quite understand what headquarters is trying to do.

Is this place, which has virtually no foot traffic, really worth it?

Isn't it great to keep ripping off those shops with their rent?

They even went out of their way to recycle it?

If no one is willing to rent a storefront then, won't we make even less money?

Furthermore, they specifically requested that the store selling "BLUE EDEN" not be reclaimed, but rather other stores.

It seems this matter is also related to that Shinjiro-kun.

What exactly is Kamishiro-kun's background at the Millennium Group headquarters?

Such immense power?

Although Kawai Kana felt that this incident was a major crisis for her, she also felt that if she did well, it might also be a great opportunity.

at this time.

She walked back to the takoyaki shop owner, sighed, and suggested:

"Hey boss, I've seen your situation too."

“I know you still have two or three years left on your contract.”

"To be honest, I feel really sorry for you, and I really can't bear to watch anymore."

"How about this, it's only April now, you give us the remaining eight months' rent all at once, and then I'll plead with headquarters on your behalf."

"Please ask them to treat the remaining eight months' rent as a penalty for breach of contract."

"Although I don't know if it will work out, I really think you're a good person and honest, so I thought I'd give you a hand."

What do you think of this?

"Oh, really?" The takoyaki shop owner stood up excitedly.

Eight months' rent?

It's only around 1.6 million?

He can still borrow that much money from relatives!

Keep in mind that he still has about two or three years left on his lease.

If they don't agree, then I'll have to pay three years' rent.

Anything would be a much, much bigger loss than this!

The penalty for breach of contract in the Millennium Shopping Street is more than 10 times the amount owed.

Although he knew that under normal legal procedures, the penalty for breach of contract would be at most 1.3 times the amount owed, he didn't have the money to sue these large companies.

They're all experts; they'll definitely rip off individual business owners when it comes to contracts.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been lingering here.

Fearing that Kawai Kana might refuse, he quickly expressed his gratitude with tears in his eyes:

"Of course, of course, thank you so much. I swear I can get the money for you tomorrow."