Chapter 287 - Chapter 253: Setting Up The Environment
Sunday
"Alright, let's take them out."
Mion nodded vigorously.
In the bowl filled with ice water, bite-sized `Warabi Mochi` floated.
The initial heat should have completely dissipated, so I transferred them into glass bowls.
"`Kinako` and `kuromitsu` are optional."
"Mmm."
Those two, of course, were store-bought.
Since there was no proper container for `kinako`, I served it in a small bowl, to be taken with a spoon as desired.
The `kuromitsu` came in a plastic container, so they could each add as much as they liked, and the rest would go in the fridge.
"Ojou-sama. I will take this to the President, so may I ask you to plate it?"
When Tsubaki-san asked, Mion arranged the `kinako` and `kuromitsu` perfectly.
Even when making `Warabi Mochi`, she carefully measured the portions, so it seemed she wouldn't make a mess like Tsubaki-san, which was a relief.
"Please, you two eat first."
"Mmm."
The President, Mion's mother, Shizuku-san, was working today despite it being Sunday.
For lunch, I had made `yakisoba`, which I'd treated Natto to before, but she went straight back to work after eating.
I was happy she said it was delicious, but I wished she would savor it a bit more.
Well, it was still much better than my own mother, who shows no expression no matter what she eats…
"Tsubaki-san, are you waiting?"
"…N-no."
Mion thought for a moment, then carried three servings on a tray to the living room. Perhaps because she would pass through the living room when she returned?
She placed the tray on the low table, set a spoon in a bowl, and handed it to me.
"Alright, let's eat."
"L-let's eat…"
I hadn't tasted it, but it wasn't something I could fail, so it should be fine.
Without hesitation, I took a big bite of a piece generously covered in `kinako` and `kuromitsu`.
"Yeah, it's delicious."
Mion seemed relieved and brought a small portion she'd served herself to her mouth.
"D-delicious…"
"It was easy to make, right?"
"Mmm. But stirring it was… tough…"
"Well, Tsubaki-san was there for that."
We had turned off the heat and kept stirring when it started to clump, but it required quite a bit of strength, and my arm got tired.
Thanks to Tsubaki-san's enthusiastic help, Mion and I just had to watch, which was the punchline.
"I'm back. The President said it was 'very delicious'."
Tsubaki-san returned with a smile and sat on the single-seater sofa.
And immediately reached for her own portion…
I thought I might have made a bit too much `yakisoba` for lunch, but Tsubaki-san cleaned it all up, so she really does eat a lot.
"It's delicious, isn't it?"
"Mmm."
"It's also good with jam, but please make it less sweet."
"I see."
The plain `Warabi Mochi` gets a lot of sugar, so something sour like strawberries or blueberries would probably be better.
However, Tsubaki-san scares me with her strange arrangements. Like curry powder…
Snack time ended, and I was thinking about Mion's new avatar outfit, but Tsubaki-san connected her tablet to the `Holographic Display` and started doing something.
"Excuse me, but the President asked me to present the financial report for last month to both of you."
"Ah, yes. I'm sorry to have left it all to you."
"Not at all, this is my job. I just want both of you to focus on your streaming."
And then, the financial report was displayed.
I had a vague idea that the donations from the May live stream were incredible, but the numbers from Argenta-san's appearance were insane…
Another surprise was,
"Advertising revenue from views is quite significant, isn't it?"
"Yes. Lately, the short videos, in particular, have very high viewership, and the ad slots seem to be commanding high prices."
"I-I see…"
The short videos were mainly IRO cooking videos, and apparently, food manufacturers were scrambling for those ad slots…
"In contrast, last month's expenses were…"
I thought it was just the cost of Mion's clothes, but it also included subscription payments for video editing software.
"O-oh?"
"Ah, yes, of course. Is this the best plan?"
"Yes, it's for professional use. We received a surplus license from the head office's PV creation department."
She said 'surplus,' but Shizuku-san probably intentionally made it surplus so Mion could use it.
It was quite expensive, but I decided not to question it. The reason being,
"Even including that, the profit is still too high…"
"Yes. Is there anything related that you would like? For example, the latest `VR HMD` or a `PC (Personal Core)`?"
"No, I bought the latest one when I entered high school…"
My parents splurged on it as a celebration for passing exams, so the specs were more than sufficient.
If asked what else I wanted… I wanted a `dishwasher`, but that was clearly unrealistic.
"Ch-chair, buy?"
"Ah, a gaming chair for `VR HMD`? I certainly want one, but only for me… It would be bad to ask for one for Miki too, wouldn't it?"
It would feel a bit off to get a nice gaming chair just for myself.
Asking Bell-buchou to buy one for Miki… that would be too much.
"That's an accounting matter, so there's no problem. The company can purchase them and rent two units, including a spare, to the Ise family."
"Ugh. Then, with that… Ah, but I don't know anything about which manufacturer or model is good."
All I knew was the one in the club room. That one was pretty good, and I figured it must be expensive.
"Hm?"
Mion nudged my upper arm,
"Is this the one Mion uses?"
"Mmm."
The tablet she showed me displayed a gaming chair from a famous manufacturer. And it was the highest-grade model.
"Expensive…"
"It's better to spend money on things you use daily," Tsubaki-san chimed in. That was certainly true.
My Grandpa always said, "`penny-wise and pound-foolish`," and bought an expensive fishing rod, only to be scolded by Grandma.
"Uhm, for now, I'll decide after talking to Miki when I get home. It wouldn't be right to just decide on my own."
"Understood. That concludes the report. Is it alright to continue with monthly reports whenever you visit?"
"Ah, yes."
I answered, then looked at Mion, who gave me a cheerful smile, so it must be fine.
And from now on… I guess I'll come once a month.
It feels a bit one-sided if I'm always coming here, so inviting Mion to my place… that should be fine if Tsubaki-san is with her, right?