The very next day, after classes, Shinohara shows up at Book Room #2. She seems vibrant and excited to start working, and she bows down and thanks us for this opportunity. We tell her to not mention it. I show her to the room that she'll be working in.
"This is the Book Room #1. You'll be dealing with Suzui and counting the profits from each hand. You'll add the totals to this spreadsheet that will add the amount to the total, and then you'll put the money in this safe-"
Right before I finish the orientation about her job, a group of teenage girls kick in the door. Shinohara flinches and turns away.
"Hey you!" one of the girls say in a gruff voice. "You're coming with me! It's time to go to your 'slumber party' with Kobayashi-san!" She points to Shinohara and the group of girls around her laugh maniacally. "Hey. Why the hell don't do you have your tag, Mittens! You know that puts you into more debt."
"Knock it off!" I say loudly. The girls seem confused as to why I'm defending Shinohara. "I bought her freedom. You don't control her anymore!"
"Like we totally believe you." they respond, as if they're annoyed at me. "She has 11.1 million yen in debt. There's no way you'd pay that much for someone as useless as her."
Ririka Momobami, the Vice President of the student council, must have heard this commotion and entered the room. "I, as part of the crediting body of Shinohara Amai's former debt, decree that yesterday, Saotome Mary and Kokoro Akari paid the entirety of Shinohara Amai's outstanding debt." Her voice is monotonous due to the voice changer underneath her white comedy mask. "Now please, end this commotion at once."
The girls try to argue with Ririka, but to no avail. They look at me with anger and leave the room.
I finish up the orientation and have her start working with Ryota, with Ryota showing her the ropes. By the end of the day, Shinohara managed to earn over 50,000 yen in a single session- much higher than the average earnings per day in a room that small.
When I come back and congratulate her for a job well done, she hugs me by surprise. "You've turned my life around. I owe you such a debt!"
I, once again, tell her to not worry about it as I close up the book room for the night.
