[Mission Rewards]:
System Completion +3% (Current Progress: 1%)
butter coins +100 (Can be exchanged for items in the mall.)
Stamina +2 (Current Stamina Rating: Frail → Improving Slightly)
The system broadcast rang out, signaling the official start of the plot. She had to resolve this situation alone (plus the system) and save her cheap best friend.
Three people?
"Tsk, one against three... the odds aren't in my favor."
Natsuhi muttered as she crouched by the door. Simply put, with her current physical capabilities, a direct confrontation definitely wouldn't work.
If it were just one ordinary person, she could rely on her fighting skills to push through, but three people... and one of them was that dark-skinned burly man.
I can't just use brute force; I need to come up with a plan.
——————
"Excellent, excellent!"
Inoue clapped his hands and cheered, his eyes filled with irrepressible desire.
"Miss Wada, your physical condition is outstanding. You were born for this! The sense of dynamic lines is beautiful!"
"Now, let's move on to the most important part—the audition."
"No matter how much I say, a model needs to produce photos, so we need to see your performance on camera."
Inoue stood up with a "professional" smile and guided Saki toward an area separated by a small wooden door next to the photography zone.
The words "Dressing Room" were written on it. Although it was a bit crude, Inoue had said from the start that the company was newly established. Saki assumed it was just a lack of funds and didn't think much of it.
"We will provide you with several sets of clothing in different styles. You'll need to change into them so we can see your camera presence and versatility in specific looks."
He observed Saki's reaction as he spoke, his tone carrying a subtle hint of enticement.
"This is the decisive step. As long as your performance satisfies our chief photographer..."
At this point, Inoue paused intentionally, like a street agent exchanging a secret code.
"The pay... might even be more than ten thousand yen per hour. We can discuss the specific figure further based on your final performance."
"More than... ten thousand yen?!"
Saki took a few steps back in disbelief, her eyes instantly sparkling like lit stars.
The temptation of such a huge sum was like a demon opening its maw to swallow her whole, instantly shattering the final line of defense in her heart called "caution."
[Oh my god! Over ten thousand yen an hour?! Just to change clothes and take a few photos... this, this is like a pie falling from the sky!]
All her previous slight unease and doubts seemed so insignificant at this moment!
Such a massive sum of money was enough to crush everything for an ordinary high school student like Wada Saki.
She had never seen so much money before; those long-awaited limited-edition bags and cosmetics seemed to be beckoning to her.
Thinking about how she would shine under the envious gazes of her friends later, Saki wished she could sign the contract right now and fully display her charm.
"I... I'm willing to try!"
The young girl's voice trembled with excitement. Inoue took in her eager appearance, feeling a hint of disdain and superiority in his heart.
[Hehe, no girl can resist this kind of temptation, especially an inexperienced little girl like this.]
[Today, I'll teach you a good lesson. Don't worry, I'll "instruct" you properly in a moment...]
He knew the fish had completely taken the bait. Even if someone were to expose him as a fraud right now, this silly girl definitely wouldn't believe them; she might even punch the person, thinking they were just jealous of her.
"Miss Wada is very confident. Good, then I'll look forward to it. The dressing room is right here."
Inoue pulled open the door and "gentlemanly" led Saki inside.
The space inside was small, the lighting was dim, and several sets of clothing that looked trendy but were made of cheap, revealing material hung on the rack.
"Please change into the first set as soon as possible. We'll have the lights ready for you outside."
Having said that, he exited the dressing room and closed the door behind him.
With a click, Saki was now alone in the dressing room.
Almost the moment the door closed, the fake smile on his face vanished. He rubbed his hands together impatiently, revealing a truly perverted grin.
He walked quickly toward Fujino, who was guarding the door and acting as the receptionist, gave him a look, and whispered:
"Keep a close eye on her; don't let the big fish get away. I'm going to find the Boss to get ready to 'pull in the net'."
In the enclosed, dark environment, Saki's excitement gradually cooled, and a trace of unease crept back into her heart.
Up close, those "outfits" on the rack were even more shocking; the fabric was pitifully scarce, and the designs were so bold they could hardly be called clothes.
"Can these... really be worn out?"
Saki's fingertips brushed over the coarse lace, and a chill spread down her spine.
Feeling of unease instantly surged in her heart. As she subconsciously looked around the uncomfortable small space,
Her gaze suddenly froze on the ventilation duct in the corner—a hidden small hole emitting a faint red light was staring straight at her!
[It couldn't be a camera, could it?!]
A terrifying thought popped up. Saki took a sharp step back, hugging herself tightly and shivering.
As if doing so could shut out that invisible prying eye.
No! I absolutely cannot change clothes!
She took a deep breath and swallowed the scream that was almost about to escape.
With one last shred of hope, she grabbed the most "conservative" (but still revealing) outfit and yanked open the dressing room door.
"Mr. Inoue!"
Saki's voice trembled slightly, her heart already filled with fear and anger. She held up the piece of fabric in front of him.
"Are you sure... you want me to wear this for the photos?!"
Inoue, who was about to leave, stopped in his tracks. He turned back to look at the girl with a smile and nodded as if it were a matter of course:
"Of course, Miss Wada. Otherwise, why do you think we'd offer you such a high hourly rate?"
"But you never said anything about wearing clothes like this before!"
Saki's voice rose, filled with the anger of being deceived.
"This is fraud! If you had said it was this kind of work beforehand, I definitely wouldn't have come."
"Oh? You don't actually think you can still leave, do you?"
"Wh-what do you mean by that?!"
Inoue's smile instantly turned cold.
At the same time, Fujino, who had been acting as the receptionist, seemingly heard the commotion and silently moved behind Saki, blocking the way back to the dressing room.
Then, the heavy soundproof door of the inner room, which had been closed all this time, was pushed open, and a dark-skinned burly man walked out.
The skin exposed outside his white tank top was incredibly dark, and his arms had clear muscle lines, making him look powerful and strong.
He looked just like a character appearing in many such works.
He crossed his arms. Saki felt a shadow looming over her, and her voice lost its confidence.
Three people, from three directions, surrounded Saki in the middle with ill intent.
Those previously professional-looking gazes were now scanning her body without any disguise, filled with greed.
At this point, no matter how foolish Saki was, she understood—she had been tricked!