When I left the school grounds, the sun was already setting.
Today’s day had ended without really beginning.
I didn’t make it to the lessons.
All the time had gone to explanations, questioning, and filing statements.
I let out a tired sigh.
“Well…
At least it wasn’t for nothing.”
Taking out my phone, I opened the app.
Hundreds of notifications had come in today.
Subscribers.
Comments.
Private messages.
A short video with Takagi’s detention had somehow already leaked online.
Fortunately, what actually happened in the storage room wasn’t there.
Only the part where I was leading the teacher through the school corridor.
I shook my head.
“The internet…
Works faster than the police.”
I opened the camera.
Set the phone on the railing next to me.
Recording.
“Hi everyone.
A lot of people are asking today what happened.
I’m fine.
I just had to help one person.
Thank you to everyone who was worried and wrote words of support.
I can’t tell the details yet.
I hope you understand.
Take care of yourselves.”
I stopped the recording.
No music.
No editing.
No attempts to make it dramatic.
It was exactly this sincerity that worked best right now.
A minute later, the video was already up on the page.
Comments started updating almost instantly.
“Main thing is you’re alive!”
“Take care of yourself, Kurisaki!”
“Waiting for the continuation!”
“Respect for not hyping up the situation.”
I smiled.
The algorithms loved activity.
Today’s day was supposed to give the account another strong boost.
When I approached my apartment, the hallway was quiet.
It seems…
The neighbors were already home.
I opened the door.
Threw my bag by the entrance.
Took off my jacket.
And almost immediately opened the analytics app.
The screen loaded for a few seconds.
Then the numbers appeared.
Subscribers.
Views.
Revenue.
I froze.
“No way…”
In one day, the monetization counter had grown so much that the withdrawal button had appeared for the first time.
I pressed it.
A few seconds later, a bank notification arrived.
Funds successfully credited.
I opened the banking app.
The balance had changed.
A smile appeared on my face by itself.
“So…
It really works.
Not some side hustle.
But my own.
Honestly earned.”
I checked the statistics again.
Views continued to grow.
Subscribers were increasing literally every second.
For the first time in a long while, I felt a strange calm.
Now I had not only a plan to change the plot of this game.
I also had a way to provide for myself financially.
And that meant…
In the future, I could act much more freely.
I closed the comments app and opened the creator’s dashboard.
The statistics continued updating right before my eyes.
Views.
Subscribers.
Revenue.
I instinctively clicked the “Monetization” tab.
The screen froze for a few seconds.
Then the numbers appeared.
Available for withdrawal: ¥728,430.
I stared silently at the screen for several seconds.
“…
Seven hundred twenty-eight thousand… four hundred thirty yen?”
I even double-checked.
No.
It wasn’t a mistake.
This money was really mine.
In two days.
From just a few videos.
I let out a quiet breath.
“The internet…
You’re a scary thing.”
In my previous life, earning a similar amount required uploading videos for months.
But here…
A little understanding of algorithms.
And knowing what people are really interested in.
Without hesitation, I pressed the “Withdraw Funds” button.
A few seconds later, the phone vibrated briefly.
Account top-up: +¥728,430.
I opened the banking app.
The balance updated.
A smile appeared on my face by itself.
“So…
It all worked out.”
These were the first earnings I had made in this world solely with my own head.
The phone vibrated again.
Then again.
And again.
This time, notifications came to my email.
I opened the first letter.
Dear Kurisaki Ren.
We represent the sports nutrition brand IronFuel Japan.
We liked your content. We would like to offer you a collaboration.
I raised an eyebrow.
“Already?”
The next letter.
Vital Peak Nutrition.
We offer advertising integration in one of your next videos.
Another one.
This time from a small Japanese store of sports supplements.
I involuntarily smiled.
“The algorithms work faster than I expected.”
I carefully reviewed the terms.
Nothing complicated.
Honest product review.
No loud promises.
No deceiving the audience.
Fixed fee.
Plus a percentage from sales via the affiliate link.
I closed my eyes for a few seconds.
“Never advertise something you wouldn’t use yourself.”
This was a rule I decided to set back in my previous life.
And I had no intention of changing it.
I quickly signed the first two contracts with an electronic signature.
IronFuel Japan.
Vital Peak Nutrition.
The amounts were still modest for now.
But this was only the beginning.
I was about to close the mail when my gaze caught on one more letter.
The sender was familiar to me.
Nova Active Japan.
I frowned.
“Where have I seen this name…”
A few seconds later, my memory gave the answer.
“That’s right…
A few days ago, Rin posted an advertising integration for this exact brand.”
I quickly opened the letter.
Dear Kurisaki Ren.
We represent the company Nova Active Japan.
After analyzing the statistics of your joint video with Sakamoto Rin, we would like to invite you to participate in a new advertising campaign.
Filming will take place in our studio.
We have already contacted Ms. Sakamoto and received her preliminary consent.
If you also confirm participation, we will be waiting for you tomorrow after classes at 16:30 in our studio.
I involuntarily smiled.
“Even like this…”
It turns out the first joint video was noticed not only by viewers.
It was already being used as proof that we look good together in one frame.
I carefully reviewed the terms.
Fully paid filming.
Fixed fee.
Travel compensation.
Additional bonus for publishing the video on our own social networks.
Not bad.
Without hesitation, I pressed the “Confirm Participation” button.
A few seconds later, a reply came.
Thank you.
We will be waiting for you and Sakamoto Rin tomorrow at 16:30 in our studio.
I put the phone back in my pocket.
“So…
After school, I already have plans.”
This was even more convenient.
I didn’t need to negotiate.
I didn’t need to look for a place for filming.
The company had already organized everything.
All that remained was to show up.
And, by the looks of it…
Tomorrow I would spend several hours with Rin outside of school for the first time.