Sumita Mana returned to the living room and sat on the sofa with Toyokawa Sakiko.
"Saki-chan, Mana wants to ask you something!" Sumita Mana put on a very serious expression. "Are you really short on money?"
Toyokawa Sakiko immediately felt embarrassed and awkward. If she weren't in someone else's home, she probably would have gotten up and left immediately.
This situation of having to ask for help was too embarrassing for Toyokawa Sakiko to put into words.
Seeing this, Sumita Mana immediately realized and quickly waved her hands: "Stop, stop! Mana didn't mean it like that. Don't overthink it, Saki-chan!"
Just like Hoshino Miru's earlier reaction, Sumita Mana also felt she had asked an inappropriate question.
"What Mana wants to say is, since Mana doesn't necessarily have to learn piano and will probably only study for a while, even if I hire Saki-chan, it won't be long-term employment. So I wanted to ask if Saki-chan can accept this."
Toyokawa Sakiko understood. She meant this job was temporary and couldn't become a fixed position, which was why she asked about needing money.
Actually, at this point, she had no choice anyway.
"Yes, I can accept it. I should be thanking Miss Mana." Toyokawa Sakiko stood up and bowed slightly to Sumita Mana. "Thank you very much for choosing me. I'll work hard to be competent at this job."
Sumita Mana blinked. This girl somehow gave her the feeling of a fallen young lady.
Because Toyokawa Sakiko's personality, behavior, and even her way of speaking up to now gave the impression of someone trying to adapt to current life while inadvertently revealing traces of an upper-class upbringing.
Sumita Mana glanced at Hoshino Miru, then said to Toyokawa Sakiko: "How about 5,000 yen per hour?"
Toyokawa Sakiko was startled. She didn't know the industry's salary standards, but this pay was much better than the jobs she had been looking for.
"Isn't that too much?" Toyokawa Sakiko felt uneasy.
In the past, she certainly wouldn't have questioned this, but since running away from home, life had taught the girl many things.
A temporary job paying 5,000 yen per hour was definitely high-paying work.
"It's fine! Since learning piano is just Mana's whim, I might even cause trouble for Saki-chan later." Sumita Mana smiled sweetly. She had originally planned to offer 8,000 yen or over 10,000 yen, but after carefully observing Toyokawa Sakiko, the other party probably wouldn't accept such a salary.
Toyokawa Sakiko's background should be quite good - her movements and demeanor showed this. But from the moment she entered, she occasionally showed signs of being overly cautious, as if trying hard to stay calm while being overly concerned about Hoshino Miru and Sumita Mana's gazes.
This girl was too sensitive. If the salary offered was too high, she would be the first to refuse.
"If I were to hire a professional piano teacher, this amount wouldn't even be enough. Plus, I can't let everyone know." Sumita Mana showed a slightly troubled expression. Actually, if she wanted a piano teacher, she could have the company help without paying herself.
Sure enough, hearing that professional rates were more expensive, Toyokawa Sakiko visibly relaxed.
"Can't you tell your family?" Toyokawa Sakiko asked puzzledly.
"Mom wouldn't care about such small matters. I'll just tell her we're friends." Sumita Mana winked. "I just want to keep it secret from my partner."
Toyokawa Sakiko became even more confused, but faced with such a job opportunity, she really had no reason to refuse now.
"Alright, I won't disappoint you, Miss Mana." Even though it was just temporary work, Toyokawa Sakiko planned to give it her all.
Sumita Mana was very happy. Just thinking about playing beautiful piano on stage made her feel her good partner would definitely be surprised.
Seeing that the discussion was almost finished, Hoshino Miru said: "You two can exchange contact information. It's time to head back now."
"You're leaving so soon?" Sumita Mana was shocked. Was she just a tool?
"I still need to go back and prepare dinner. It's inconvenient for Sora to be alone at home." Hoshino Miru had sufficient reason.
"Mm, then there's no choice. By the way, isn't little Sora planning to go to school yet?" Sumita Mana also knew about Kasugano Sora's situation and looked concerned.
"She's already registered for Toyogasaki High School. She probably won't go to school anymore."
"Eh! Mana also wants to go to Miru's school!"
"Didn't you already register for Horikoshi High School?"
"That was the manager and Mom's idea, not Mana's intention!"
"Forget it. Whichever high school you go to will cause a commotion. You should just stay at Horikoshi honestly."
Horikoshi High School was a school that specialized in training entertainment talent. Many famous idols, models, actors, and singers had studied there.
Sumita Mana was too popular now. Setting aside fan issues, her regular studies would definitely conflict with work. Rather than going to a regular school and receiving excessive attention, it was better to go to a school more suitable for her.
"Mm, now it feels like Mana is just Miru's tool, only remembered when needed!" Sumita Mana hugged the giant panda cushion on the sofa huffily, then extended her small hand toward Hoshino Miru. "Quickly give that to Mana!"
"Give what?" Hoshino Miru was completely confused.
"It's almost Mana's graduation ceremony, and Miru probably can't come, right?" Sumita Mana pointed at the second button on his uniform. "So quickly give Mana your button, or Mana will severely bully little Sora!"
The girl's fierce appearance was a bit scary, so Hoshino Miru had to remove his button, though he didn't know what meaning this had.
Getting the button, Sumita Mana felt extremely satisfied.
"How am I supposed to go to school tomorrow?" Hoshino Miru was depressed. People would definitely notice his missing button.
"Wait a moment!" Sumita Mana pattered back to her room, then came running out excitedly, slapping a button into Hoshino Miru's palm.
"This couldn't be one you just removed, could it?" Hoshino Miru was somewhat dumbfounded.
"That's right, it's an exchange!" Sumita Mana beamed. "You must keep it safe! Of course, if you want to sew it onto your uniform, Mana won't mind!"
Hoshino Miru felt this was completely unnecessary, but the girl was already pushing his back.
"Okay, okay, you should go back quickly. You don't want Mom to find out you secretly came over again today, do you!"
As she spoke, Sumita Mana pushed Hoshino Miru to the door. This little idol had incredible strength only in situations like this.
...
The two left Sumita Mana's apartment. By now, they could see the setting sun bathing the entire street.
Hoshino Miru walked ahead with Toyokawa Sakiko beside him. They weren't very close, but Toyokawa Sakiko could see his profile.
The troubles that had been bothering her these past days seemed to have been solved today by a boy's help.
In others' eyes, she should feel fortunate now, right?
But Toyokawa Sakiko found herself feeling more confusion and bewilderment. She didn't understand why this boy would help her - what about her was worth helping?
If they were acquaintances, Toyokawa Sakiko could find reasonable explanations, but today was only their second meeting. Apart from names, they knew nothing about each other.
Toyokawa Sakiko thought for a long time, then asked Hoshino Miru with slight hesitation: "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, what do you want to ask?" Hoshino Miru responded, though the boy was looking at cherry blossom trees in the distance, thinking that this year's pollen season was coming again.
Toyokawa Sakiko looked at his profile, then at the ground beneath her feet. It had rained just yesterday, and she could still smell that scent of rainwater splashing on concrete and the cold feeling of being completely soaked.
"Why... are you helping me?"
Hoshino Miru turned back. He stared at Toyokawa Sakiko for a while, probably guessing what she was thinking, and his lips curved up slightly.
"Does being happy to help need a reason?"
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