>>5751694

After looking over the jobs, you decide that both girls will take a job with Sapphire Jewels today.
Comparing the payment for each job, you can't help but feel a pang of regret.
Although Kaiba is the more experienced idol, her jobs pays less than half of Chigusa's job.

If the scandal hadn't crippled Kaiba's fame, she might've been earning similar amounts.
It's unfortunate that things worked out this way, but it is what it is.

You relay the desired jobs to Matsui and receive this week's schedule before long.

The meeting with Handa Ako will be tomorrow, on Tuesday.
Flaunting expensive jewellery on Tokyo's busy shopping streets by Kaiba will be on Wednesday.
Enatsu Mari's job over at Cupid-san Shintaro will be on Thursday.
Finally, Chigusa's hand-modelling job will be on Friday.

All those appointments made; you spend the remainder of the day preparing your idols for their respective jobs.
Most of which went fairly well, though you did have to scold Kaiba a bit for making you wait after lunch.
Apparently, she had gone off to have lunch at a restaurant and ended up half an hour late.

----

>>5751695

Thursday, May 25th

Today's the meeting with Handa Ako and her manager.
If you can convince them to take up the job at Madhouse Animation, then Chigusa gets a passing grade for last weeks' performance.
If not, well, you'll cross that bridge when you get to it!

There's no use in planning for failure. Positive thinking!
Sure, what happened during your event probably mentally scarred Handa-san a little, but you made it better, right?
She wouldn't hold hold it against you.

Probably.

Though the Matsuno Inc. HQ building is a large place, the office of Handa's manager happens to be on the same floor as yours.
It's only a short walk to the manager's office.

Naturally, you're walking over there with some fresh lattés from the coffee shop just outside HQ.
That's right. You got them coffee and didn't even settle for the breakroom's bland slurry.
Dang, you're slick! Well, you did come over to ask a favour, so it's only natural.

You're carrying one of those carton carrier trays, that holds four cups.
Three of them are filled with lattés with the fourth occupied by your phone.
The phone buzzes the five-minutes-till-meeting alarm.

Better hurry!

---

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>>5751696

As you approach the manager's office, you actually find him outside as he's finishing up a call.
The manager is a well-set man in his late forties, Kaba Renjiro, talking animatedly on the phone -- his bald head reflecting the office lights as he paces around the hallway.

"...Yes, no. Don't worry. I'll make certain that Handa-san spares her voice leading up to your audition," Kaiba Renjiro says, opening the door to his office with his free hand before waving you inside. "Your job is vitally important to us. Of course. Yes."

His wrist sports a golden watch that catches your eye. Rolex.
How long would you have to save up for something like that?
Clearly, being Handa's manager is paying off for him.

You bob your head in gratitude and enter the office -- Handa Ako is already waiting inside and greets you with shallow bow and a smile.

----

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>>5751697

This is your first-time seeing Handa-san in the office and her current, dignified appearance is a hard contrast to the sweat-stained soccer uniform you saw her in previously.
Or the tear-stained, frantic version of that when the strange fan suddenly rushed the field.

Her modest clothing is various shades of brown, with both the clothing and her brown hair decorated with red ribbons.

Cute as a button.

Put a beret on her and have work the register at a coffeeshop and soon you'll have lovestruck men happily burning their money on their fifth coffee of the day.

The office itself is fairly plain, though it carries a heavy scent of cigarette smoke.
A noticeboard with a schedule, a desk with a computer, and a table with four chairs for meetings.

You smile back and place the lattés on the table before turning back and closing the door.
The sound of Kaba Renjiro's phone call dims as you do.

You take the coffees from the tray.
"These are for us," -- You say, placing one in front of Handa and then yourself -- "some coffee from a place nearby. Thanks for making time to meet with me."

Handa takes the paper cup gratefully, sliding it towards herself.
"Thank you, Nagata-san," Handa says, some concern slipping into her face. "How are your injuries?"

You sit down in the seat opposite of hers.
"Nearly recovered. Just some bruises left."

Handa places a hand on her upper chest and sighs in relief, "I'm glad to hear it."

"How about yourself? How are you doing?"

"I was unharmed because of your efforts. Remember?" says Handa, tilting her head.
She then smiles, "You really saved me back then."

"I meant more," you say, pausing to find the words to put this delicately, "It must've been shocking. What happened, that is."

Hey girl, how's your trauma?

>>5751698

"It certainly was an eye-opener. I should count myself lucky that it was only one man in an isolated setting. I've made arrangements with my manager to ensure all future events will have sufficient security."

You nod, then scratch your cheek apologetically, staring down at the table.
"...I apologize for the oversight. It should've been obvious. I just... Sorry."

"It's water under the bridge, Nagata-san. Things could've been handled better, but they also could've ended worse. I think you experienced the fallout of your oversight more than anyone, considering the state you were in. I got off easy. Just a few sleepless nights."

That's a relief at least. She doesn't seem to bare a grudge.
Though her overly formally way of speaking makes you feel like she's about to spring a lawsuit on you.

"I hope you're doing well now, at least," you say.

"Never bette-- Ah."

The office door swings open and Kaba Renjiro enters, pocketing his phone.
"Sorry about that," Kaba Renjiro says. "You know how it is."

You nod in understanding, "It's me that's taking up some of your time, so don't feel troubled."

"Fair. What is it tha..." -- he interrupts himself to point at the last coffee in the tray -- "This mine?"

You answer with a small gesture and a smile, "All yours."

"Thanks," says Kaba Renjiro, taking the coffee and having an experimental sip, then taking the seat beside Handa-san with a grunt. "Now. Nagata-san, what is it that we can do for you?"

Decision
>1 - (Truth) I need a favour. My idol underperformed, but they're willing to make do if Handa can do a job for Madhouse Animation. I'll be in your debt.
>2 - (Obfuscate) A studio I worked with specifically requested Handa-san for a job and I was wondering if you'd be interested.
>3 - (Appeal) I'm in a bit of a bind. I was wondering if Handa-san could help me out.
>4 - Write-in

>>5751702
>3 - (Appeal) I'm in a bit of a bind. I was wondering if Handa-san could help me out.

we
are
so
back

hope the votes are still open when I wake up because it's 6am and I haven't slept yet

>>5751702
>3 - (Appeal) I'm in a bit of a bind. I was wondering if Handa-san could help me out.

A half truth is best

We’re back lads!

>>5751702
>>3 - (Appeal) I'm in a bit of a bind. I was wondering if Handa-san could help me out.
AI is good now

>>5751702
>3 - (Appeal) I'm in a bit of a bind. I was wondering if Handa-san could help me out.

>>5751702
>3 - (Appeal) I'm in a bit of a bind. I was wondering if Handa-san could help me out.
WE ARE SO FUCKING BACK

>>5751702
>2 - (Obfuscate) A studio I worked with specifically requested Handa-san for a job and I was wondering if you'd be interested.

>>5751702
>2 - (Obfuscate) A studio I worked with specifically requested Handa-san for a job and I was wondering if you'd be interested.
Wleocme back, QM!

>>5751697
>"...Yes, no. Don't worry. I'll make certain that Handa-san spares her voice leading up to your audition,"
Lol...
>>5751698
>reduced
GIVE US THE REAL TITS
Voting for
>3 appeal

>>5751702
>>3 - (Appeal) I'm in a bit of a bind. I was wondering if Handa-san could help me out.

>>5751702
>2 - (Obfuscate) A studio I worked with specifically requested Handa-san for a job and I was wondering if you'd be interested.

>>5752005
It's not Miho it's fine anon.

>>5751702
>3 - (Appeal) I'm in a bit of a bind. I was wondering if Handa-san could help me out.

>>5752005
>reduced
>GIVE US THE REAL TITS
Filesize. Reduced filesize.
I try to keep all images around 300-500kb for mobile viewers.

Winner
>3 - (Appeal) I'm in a bit of a bind. I was wondering if Handa-san could help me out.

So, my plan regarding updates is more or less:
>Close the ongoing vote in the morning
>Post updates in the evening.

>>5752433
huh, formatting.
got it...

>>5752433
Should've delayed starting the new thread a bit.
Update, hopefully tomorrow evening. After that, daily updates.

>>5753492
No worries, QM! Thanks for the heads up.

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We need a version of this but kaiba

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>>5754716
Closest I could get.

>>5755106
kek that's great
uuuuu i miss kaiba

>>5752433

Negotiations are always tricky. The correct approach is often dependant on the opposing party.
You need something from them. So, do you blatantly request help and depend on their mercy?
Or do you go in all haughty as if you're doing them a favour for being able to help you?

Perhaps a position hinting at mutual gain is the best.

"I'm in a bit of a bind," you say, "The relationship with a studio I work with, Madhouse Animation, has taken a hit and I'm trying to get back in their good graces. I was wondering if Handa could help me out with this."

Kaba Renjiro's eyes narrow, "And what exactly do you expect from Ako-chan?"

"They're actually big fans of Handa-san's work. So, I said I would mention to you the studio's desire to work with Handa-san."

Kaba's brow furrows.
"Madhouse Animation, was it?"

Handa pipes in, "They're the studio behind Chihayafuru if I remember correctly. I haven't done any anime work so far, but I'd lo--"

Kaba Renjiro cuts off Handa's reply with a gesture.
"Let me Handle this, Ako-chan." Kaba Renjiro says to her before turning back to you, "Handa-san can't afford to deviate from her current career plan. I'm sorry, Nagata-san, but we can't help you."

Handa looks towards her manager with pleading eyes.
"Kaba-san. Can't we make an exception? Considering what Nagata-san has done for me...?"

Kaba scoffs.
"Which is what? Put you in harm's way?" He says, then glances at you.
"No offense, Nagata-san, but you could've handled that event better."

"...I won't deny that..." you reply sheepishly, eyes downcast.

Handa frowns at Kaba.
"Kaba-san. She went through a lot to make up for what happened. Can't we help her out a little?"

Kaba sighs loudly as he folds his arms and rests them on his stomach, "We've done enough, Ako-chan. In fact, I don't think Nagata-chan here realises how lenient the company has been regarding her blunder."

That's true. You fully expected to get called into the CEO's office first day back at work.
But no such things happened. It's like everyone forgot it ever happened.

"I'll be plain with you, Nagata-chan." Says Kaba. "I put in a big complaint with the other managers regarding your slip-up. There were at least a dozen names on the list.

A cold shiver runs down your spine, eyes going wide.
Is the reason you haven't been reprimanded simply because it's been blown up to such a size that it needs to slowly work its way through the company?
Is your fate resting in a thick pile of papers sitting on the CEO's desk?

>>5755216


Kaba drills down on you with a firm, condescending stare.
"If it was up to me then a swift return to your job at HR was the absolute best you could hope for," he says, his gaze breaking away from you in order to wipe away a smudge on his fancy watch, "Until Ako-chan here pleaded. No. Begged me to reconsider."

You look towards Handa-san, who looks down at the table in embarrassment.
She did that for you? If so, then she might be the only reason you have a job right now.

Kaba shrugs with a sigh, "I guess I'm far too soft-hearted when it comes to my girls. I relented. I wasn't going to at first, but after thinking it over -- Well, what the heck. What happened was inexcusable, but we're all co-workers in the end, right?"

You quickly bob your head towards Kaba, "Thank you for reconsidering, Kaba-san. I'll try to do better from here on out."

Kaba smiles, "Don't worry about it. I was young, too, once. You're my junior as a manager, Na.. Miho-chan. The least I can do is be lenient. At least this once. I say this now, but back then I was seriously pissed at you for endangering my Ako-chan. You owe her for changing my mind."

He laughs loudly, slapping a hand down on Handa's leg, "This girl is a genius after all. Able to write, record, and help produce a chart-topping single in less than a week! I couldn't deny her heartfelt request!"

You bow as far down towards Handa Ako as your seating position allows, "Thank you, Handa-san."

Uuu... This has gone all sideways.

Handa has a complicated expression on her face, equal parts embarrassment and shock.

"I agreed to this meeting to hear you out, of course, but also to give you some advice as your senior, Miho-chan. You might've gotten off easy on the company level, but the other managers and I haven't forgotten what you've done."

You keep your head low, "I apologize, Kaba-san."

Kaba's smiles in satisfaction, "You at least seem to understand the importance of networking considering you came here regarding the Madhouse Animation matter, but I'd advise you to tend to your relationships with your coworkers as well."

"...Thank you for your guidance," you say, head kept low.

Exhaling through the nose, Kaba gets up and pats you on the shoulder twice before giving it a squeeze.
"Mistakes happen. I expect great things from you here on out, Miho-chan. Feel free to come to me for questions or advice at any time. You are my junior after all."

You nod, with your gaze still fixed on the table, "Thank you, Kaba-san."

Kaba fishes his phone from his pocket.
"This is about as much time as I can spare right now. If you'll excuse me..."

He exits the office, leaving you and Handa-san by yourselves in the office with the heavy, lingering scent of cigarette smoke.

>>5755217

Handa swallows, "...Are you okay, Nagata-san?"

You're not. You weren't aware that your career escaped the executioner's axe by inches.
It takes all you have to keep the tremor from your voice.

"I'll manage. Thank you again, Handa-san. For sticking up for me."

Handa smiles uneasily, "At the time it felt like he wasn't going to change his mind no matter what I said, but I'm glad he ended up doing just that."

That was a stroke of luck, indeed, but it seems like you still need to find a way to get into the good graces of your fellow managers.

Furthermore, it you also need to find a way to make Madhouse Animation make do with Chigusa's earlier performance.

You take a deep breath and force up a smile.
"In any case, I'm happy to still have a job, but it does seem like I'll have to settle for that."

Handa Ako shuffles in her seat.
"What if... you don't have to?"

"What do you mean? Your manager seemed pretty firm on that."

"I could drop by Madhouse's studios in my own time. Maybe do the job under a different name? He doesn't have to know."

You grace Handa with an appreciative smile.
"Handa-san... I don't think it's a good idea to go against the wishes of your manager like that."

Handa's mouth opens and closes as she considers what to say next, she's wringing her hands.
She isn't saying anything, but the almost frantic movement of her eyes betrays the racing effort in her mind.

"Please keep this between us, Nagata-san, but... I don't like my manager very much and despite what he says, I still feel like I owe you at least this much."

It would solve your problems, but you clearly don't have her manager's permission.
Idols don't get to decide who their manager is, but it does seem Handa-san is planning to get out from under Kaba Renjiro's management.

Pitting idols against their managers probably isn't going to be appreciated though.

Decision
>1 - No. You've created enough animosity as is.
>2 - It's her own decision, right? Let Handa-san do the job. Be sneaky about it.
>3 - Why not? You get what you need. Openly support Handa's little rebellion.
>3 - Write-in

>>5755218
>1 - No. You've created enough animosity as is.
Popular as she is, doing the job under a different name won't work.

By the way, I want back to look what decision we could've made differently to avoid the stadium shitshow, and it looks like the moment we decided to hold the match, it was inevitable (unless we rolled well). I'm going to see a trap in every vote from now on.

>>5755231
I am a little perplexed by the other characters' insistence -- and our character's acceptance-- that we fucked up. I don't remember what vite we might have cast differently to avoid what happened.

Regardless...

>>5755218
>1

>>5755218
>1 - No. You've created enough animosity as is.

>>5755218
>1 - No. You've created enough animosity as is.

>>5755296
I have the feeling it wasn't a single vote by itself but the culmination of all the little things that happened so far, guided by the votes.

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>>5755218
>2 - It's her own decision, right? Let Handa-san do the job. Be sneaky about it.

it might be kinda low but... handa is a great idol and if she's not happy about her manager.... well......

>>5755317
>I have the feeling it wasn't a single vote by itself but the culmination of all the little things that happened so far, guided by the votes.
This just means that doing even one of those votes differently would've changed the outcome. But I don't see how it could.

>>5755296
>I am a little perplexed by the other characters' insistence -- and our character's acceptance-- that we fucked up.
I don't typically engage in the discussion between players, but I just wanted to throw out there that anything in dialogue (and to a lesser degree Nagata's internal response to it) should not be taken as fact.
In a competitive environment, people will blow even the smallest mistakes out of proportion to make the other party feel like they messed up big-time.
Then you can press for direct consequences or gracefully "forgive them" to make them feel like they owe you and/or you're on their side.

The older managers are different from the two from Nagata's generation (Matsuno Kojiro / Yukimori Kyoden), they're familiar with manipulation.
Nagata has no experience with the shady part of business that comes with sales and talent management.

There's also things that the players might know, but Nagata doesn't.
The below are all things that have been revealed, but pointing them out might border on spoiler.


>Matsui Tomo took Hada Midori's deal and made the fallout of the event go away (not revealed to Nagata)
>To do this Hada Midori either called in favours or paid them off (as observed by Matsui Tomo)
>Some of them got new cars, others bought themselves expensive watches (shared in quest)
>Kaba Renjiro said he was going to file a complaint
>But suddenly decided against it later
>He said it was because Handa Ako had pleaded for him to, but he was among those with an expensive watch.
>By insisting that it was Handa Ako's pleading, she may now feel like she owes him
>Even though the "fallout of the event" is gone, Nagata's guilt / speculation of it isn't (Sensitive personality)
>Kaba Renjiro pointed it out to see how badly Nagata felt about it
>Kaba starts with calling Nagata "Nagata-san"
>Moves onto "Nagata-chan" with no mention of it or consequence
>Tries to establish a senior / junior role which puts him in the leading position
>Moves onto calling Nagata "Miho-chan", infantilizing her
>Finishes off with careless touch and a squeeze on Nagata's body, which goes unremarked on
>Kaba Renjiro engages in the same careless touching with Handa Ako -- she doesn't resist either

>>5755394
Wow, this guy's slew,ied than I realized innthe first read through.
Thanks for the clarification!

>>5755398
>Thanks for the clarification!
The fact that the clarification was neccesary in the first place is a failing on my part.

>>5755433
I wouldn't blame myself too much if I was you. /qst/ is notorious for not being able to see subtlety/looking between the lines in writing.

>>5755217
>>Feel free to come to me for questions or advice at any time. You are my junior after all."
My ugly bastard alarms are blaring also don't believe his lies, QM is only now introducing more managers besides the initial three

>>Why not? REBELLION

HEAR ME OUT SHE HAS A FALLOUT WITH HER MANAGER AND THEN WE BUY HER CONTRACT ON A LOW LOW PRICE BWAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

>>5755433
it was fucking obvious. Moreso because it happened on the span of a couple hundred words and not a whole chapter in a paper novel

>>5755505
lastly I am voting for option three**** I put it in >>5755505 but I have this habit of not doing it propperly

>>5755505
>Ugly Bastard Alarms
...Oh. Oh no.

>>5755218
Changing my vote (>>5755296) from 1 to 2.

I dunno anons, we gotta think about priorities.

On one hand we ensure our idol succeeds (with so much autotune) PLUS we win friendship points with Handa becuse we would be accomplices in this (and idols love rebelling) BUT we will piss off one (1) manager and possibly further a chain of events that would bother not only Miho but her assistant and maybe inconvenince the mastermind of all this.
On the other hand we choose to do nothing, giving Iki a huge stress penalty and maintaining a neutral or negative relationship with other managers. It is my belief that trying to please everyone will only make them hate you or see you as a tool. Pissing one or two managers on the other hand... paves the way into politics.

>>5755218
>>2 - It's her own decision, right? Let Handa-san do the job. Be sneaky about it.
>>3 - Why not? You get what you need. Openly support Handa's little rebellion.
I vote for Handa to do what she wants, the way Miho supports that is irrelevent for me since Kaba would still be mad at us. My only hope is to up our rep with Handa enough so that Miho might learn if this really is an ugly bastard situation.

>>5755218
>1 - No. You've created enough animosity as is.

As manipulative as the guy seems, it is worth remembering that some casual touching of the shoulder does not make him into a sexual predator

>>5755218
>>5755317
Screw it, changing my vote to
>3 - Why not? You get what you need. Openly support Handa's little rebellion.
Let's poke the hornet's nest.

>>5755565
so you vote for 2 and 3¿? if so vote for 3 so we support her

>>5755433
Players being completely retarded and brainrotted beyond recognition isn't a failure of your writing skills - you can only make things so obvious before you literally gather everyone on a Zoom meeting, open MS Paint and literally draw the things you want to convey.

>>5755433

I like this /qst/ and your writing quite a bit, but with all the other characters (even the ones who like us like Handa) seemingly sort of blaming us for an 'oversight' or 'mistake', and Miho HERSELF feeling as if she's to blame, I definitely read it as a consequence for some mistake we made as players. I guess I'm not used to a quest where the MC's internal narration is so self-blaming and defeatist, since MCs tend to be very defiantly on-their-own-side in the other quests I play here. it isn't a failure in your writing, just something to keep in mind as a player and to adjust for.

>>5755976
The QM post >>5755394 didn't actually say we haven't made a mistake. It said Kaba is trying to make Miho feel like she owes him when she really doesn't, thanks to Matsui.

>>5755218

Winner
>1 - No. You've created enough animosity as is.

>>5756394
>write a bunch
>remember that even though a month has passed IRL, only days have passed inside the quest
>update makes no sense
postpone it all
small update coming, I guess.

>>5756394
>>5758324

"I appreciate that you'd be willing to go out of your way to help me, but we shouldn't sidestep your manager like this." You say. "If you're unsatisfied with your manager, then you might want to consider talking to HR. Perhaps they can mediate and help you resolve any issues."

Handa's face falls. "I see."

"Things seem to be going great for you, I wouldn't want to make you commit to anything that'd risk all that." You say, throwing in a smile.

"I understand," says Handa.

Strange mood.

You declined her help, but it almost feels like you denied her a favour.
With that settled, there's nothing left to discuss. The meeting is over.

"Well, I suppose I should get going. It was good seeing you again, Handa-san."

Handa Ako looks up at you, unspoken words forming on her lips, but then simply nods.
"See you around, Nagata-san."

With a final smile and wave, you depart and return to your office.

---------

One back in your office, you sink into your office chair.
With Handa out of the picture, you'll have to either commit to that sketchy job offer for the lewd anime or bite the bullet and reveal to Chigusa that she really did come up short.

Singer needed for ecchi songs (DC 60, Rank F, Vocals, 50 stress)
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2023/5716126/#p5722797

Tapping your pencil on the desk, you consider your options.
The producer, Mase Katsuhiko, said they couldn't get anyone to sing the opening song.
You doubt that "Oppai Entertainment" cares who sings the opening song, they just want it done.

You could send one of your other idols, Watase also still owes you a favour.
The difficulty of the job won't change if you send somebody else, but the payment might.

Decision
>1 - Bite the bullet. Chigusa's job was a failure. It is what it is. You tried.
>2 - Have Chigusa Iki do the job for "Oppai Entertainment"
>3 - Have Enatsu Maru do the job for "Oppai Entertainment"
>4 - Have Kaiba Aoi do the job for "Oppai Entertainment"
>5 - Have Watase Yoko do the job for "Oppai Entertainment"
>6 - Write-in

>>5758332
>>5 - Have Watase Yoko do the job for "Oppai Entertainment"
This will use the outstanding favour that Watase still owes you from back during the hot spring trip.

>>5758332
>2 - Have Chigusa Iki do the job for "Oppai Entertainment"
Her vocals skill is the best fit for this job

>>5756394

>>5755231, >>5755296, >>5755301, >>5755317, and >>5755599 were for no, but two of them changed votes to yes (>>5755513 and >>5755632). As such, I'm pretty sure that with three vote for No and
>>5755329
>>5755512
>>5755565

all for yes, plus the two changed votes, we voted to accept Handa's suggestion in some form... Right?

>>5758332
>5 - Have Watase Yoko do the job for "Oppai Entertainment"
This works, though. Poor Handa. :(

>>5758332
>1 - Bite the bullet. Chigusa's job was a failure. It is what it is. You tried.
I don't think it's worth to spend the favor with Watase on this.

>>5758416

Vote: No
>>5755231
>>5755301
>>5755599

Vote: 2 - It's her own decision, right?
>>5755329
>>5755296 (From 1 to 2)
>>5755565 (Voted double)

Vote: 3 - Rebellion
>>5755512
>>5755565 (Voted double)
>>5755632 (From 1 to 3)

I think this is the correct count

I don't think you should be able to double-vote unless the vote states you can, but either way it would've resulted in a tie somewhere.
The vote was a bit messy, but you're right. My bad.

If somebody had pointed it out in the past two days since the vote was called >>5756394 then I would've asked for a tie-breaker.
Apologies for my inability to count, but I'll move forward with what we have.

You can always do a write-in at a later time (like at the start of week) if you'd like to contact a character you've met before.

>>5755218
In hindsight it feels a bit like a dick move to divide the "Yes" vote in "stealthy/not-stealthy" and thereby splitting the "Yes" votes, making "No" win.
We're gerrymandering up in this quest.

I'll keep that in mind going forward.

>>5758332
>2 - Have Chigusa Iki do the job for "Oppai Entertainment"

>>5758332
>4 - Have Kaiba Aoi do the job for "Oppai Entertainment"

>>5758332
>2 - Have Chigusa Iki do the job for "Oppai Entertainment"
>do it under a different name too
don't waste the Yoko favour in this

>>5758431
>>do it under a different name too
Adding this to my vote
*corrected

>>5758332 Voting for:
>>Kaiba Aoi
I want to sell her so bad...

>>5758332

Winner
>2 - Have Chigusa Iki do the job for "Oppai Entertainment"
>do it under a different name too

It's time for Chigusa to enter the wonderous world of "BounceBounce Adventures".
This job will be scheduled for next week.

Out of curiosity, what would be a scenario you'd want to burn a "favour" on?
Just asking because people seem hesitant to use them and, well, if they're not used then they're of no use.

>>5759083

The job offered towards Handa Ako was a bit more refined, but it wouldn't be fair to involve anyone else in this seedy, alternative job.
This whole thing will begin and end with Chigusa Iki.

Decision made, you pick up your phone, take out the business card that Mase Katsuhiko gave you, and give him a call.

After a dial tone and a brief crackle, you hear the music producer's voice.

"Mase here." He says.

You're momentarily thrown off by the casual way he answers his phone.
Furthermore, his voice sounds rather gruff or deep on the receiving end of the phone.

"...Hello, Mase-san. This is Nagata Miho from the Mastsuno Inc. Idol Agency? We spoke last week about Chigusa Iki's performance on the Madhouse Animation job?"

"Ah, yeah. I remember. You'd talk to Handa Ako for me," he says, then coughs and rasps his throat.

"Yes, I would. Are you alright? Did I call at a bad time?"

"Hmm? No. I was at a concert yesterday, rock thing. So, my voice is shot. Figured I'd enjoy myself before you're gonna make me work overtime for the next week."

Rock concert, huh? Like j-rock? Or foreign stuff? Same stuff you're secretly into?
You'd ask if it wasn't so terribly unprofessional to do so.

Leading with a nervous chuckle, you reply.
"I'm sorry. I talked with Handa Ako's manager, but she's fully committed to other jobs. However, we're willing to take on the Oppai Entertainment job to smooth things over as agreed upon."

There's clear disappointment in Mase's voice as he sighs.
"No Handa, huh? Shame, but this'll work, too."

"Good. You mentioned at the time that there's the option to keep Chigusa's name from any credits. Is that still an option?"

The conversation is briefly halted by the noise of Mase taking a sip of his tea, then putting down his mug with a thump.
"Yeah. For sure. It'll almost half the pay, though. Brand name value and all."

"That's fine. We've accepted that concession."

"Let's see --" Mase says, his voice suddenly growing distant, followed by some rapid action on computer keyboard, "-- Next week. Wednesday at 3 PM. It's freelance stuff, so the recording will be done at my own studio. That works for you?"

"Yeah, that's fine. Thank you for meeting us halfway like this, Mase-san."

"All good. I'll forward you the address. I can understand wanting to shield your talent for a bit. Harsh world out there, though."

You allow yourself a small huff of satisfaction, seems like it's all working out.
"Next week. Wednesday at 3 PM. We'll be there."

"I'll make sure to get the Madhouse job's recordings in shape in the meanwhile. See you then."

"See you then," you echo and end the call.

---

>>5759120

In the afterglow of things going your way for once, you glance over Mase's business card.
There's no mention of Madhouse Animation on this, so this is probably his freelance business card.
Meaning this would be his personal phone number.

That explains why he answered the phone as casually as he did.

The Handa Ako job was an official Madhouse Animation job, right?
Doesn't that mean that he should've given you one of those cards?
Maybe he expected you to fail at recruiting Handa Ako, so discussions for the freelance job that's unaffiliated with Madhouse Animation would naturally have to happen with his own number?

You fold your arms as you lean back in your chair.
"Hmm," you say, "I'm overthinking this."

After noting down next week's job in your calendar, you get back to work.

---

Wednesday, May 26th

Today you find yourself at Sapphire Jewels for Kaiba's "flaunt the bling" job.
The job itself is straight-forward. They're gonna doll Kaiba up and then bedazzle her with expensive, eye-catching jewellery.
All that combined with the amazing dress she's wearing has Kaiba looking like a downright socialite.

Security will be following closely behind to protect Kaiba and the thousands of dollars' worth of rings, bracelets, earrings, and the monstrous amulet she's wearing.

Honestly, you're a little jealous.
You could never hope to afford nice things like that.

Even if you did, it's not like you would have opportunity to wear it.
Weeks ago, when out shopping with Kaiba, you had a dress sized and that's done nothing but collect dust ever since you collected it.

Focus, Miho! A job is a job.

Need one PERSONALITY roll for Kaiba Aoi
Please roll 1d100+47 (DC100)

Rolled 45 + 47 (1d100 + 47)

>>5759121

>>5759126
Thanks for rolling.

>>5759126
>>5759141

Kaiba's job takes her through many of Tokyo's most uptown streets and neighbourhoods.
Although her attire pulls many lingering gazes, she doesn't succeed in enticing many to come up and talk to her to inquire where she got it.

To be fair, Japanese aren't particularly eager to strike up conversation with strangers to begin with.
Perhaps it's something in the way she carries herself, Kaiba just doesn't seem approachable enough to overcome that.

Turns out that the security that had been watching over Kaiba simultaneously kept an eye on her performance.
You're not sure what the criteria are and how they calculate the possible order conversation from today's endeavour, but the end result is clear -- failure.

Kaiba didn't do terrible or anything but was still found wanting.
Although some in Sapphire Jewels may disagree, Kaiba's performance was still good enough to warrant full payment, but the company may be hesitant to work with you again if you do try to claim that.

As with Chigusa's job, there's now the uncomfortable negotiation stage.

Decision
>1 - Take full payment ($15.000, Decrease in job offers from Sapphire Jewels)
>2 - Take half payment ($7.500, Decrease in job offers from Sapphire Jewels for Kaiba)
>3 - Take no payment - No change in job offers from Sapphire Jewels.

>>5759146
>2 - Take half payment ($7.500, Decrease in job offers from Sapphire Jewels for Kaiba)

Fair compromise

The Bo1 system is a harsh mistress

>>5759146
>2 - Take half payment ($7.500, Decrease in job offers from Sapphire Jewels for Kaiba)

>>5759083
>Out of curiosity, what would be a scenario you'd want to burn a "favour" on?
You're asking so that you can throw that scenario at us, aren't you?

>>5759146
>2 - Take half payment ($7.500, Decrease in job offers from Sapphire Jewels for Kaiba)

>>5759083
>the favour
Players are always hesitant to expend a unique and finite resource, in my experience.

>>5759146
>2 - Take half payment ($7.500, Decrease in job offers from Sapphire Jewels for Kaiba)
Ugh. Bo1 with almost 50/50 DCs is brutal... But that's the grind!

>>5759083
>Out of curiosity, what would be a scenario you'd want to burn a "favour" on?
Something that can't be done in any other way.
For example, if the optiones were either bitting the bullet and tanking the failed job or using the yoko favour that's worth it.
If you can just do it with our resources right now, why waste that special thing

>>5759146
>2 - Take half payment ($7.500, Decrease in job offers from Sapphire Jewels for Kaiba)
kaiba, kaiba, kaiba... will you get a good roll some day?

>>5759146

Winner
>2 - Take half payment ($7.500, Decrease in job offers from Sapphire Jewels for Kaiba)

>>5759309

You decide to take half payment.

This earns you a scowl from the company's representative, but also seventy-five hundred dollars added to your budget.

Business done, you part ways with Sapphire Jewels for now, though you'll meet them again on Friday as Chigusa's job is with the same business.

Outside, you meet up with Kaiba.

"Another failure, huh...?" Kaiba says.

"Part of the job." You say. "Sapphire Jewels still provided half the payment though. Your performance was just ever so slightly below par. Though if you ask me, they might've been moving goalposts. Don't worry about it too much. There'll be a new job next week."

Payment, but no fame increase.

Kaiba cranes her neck to the sky, watching clouds drift by.
"Will there be though?" Kaiba says. "I've got more failed jobs than successful ones at this point."

"So does everyone else when they start out, failure is very much pa--"

Kaiba interrupts, sighing loudly, her gaze fixed on the sky above, but her tone is melancholic.
"Chigusa-san doesn't. Neither does Enatsu-chan. They haven't slipped up even once. It's just me. Over and over and over. Failing jobs left and right, leeching off Yui's hospitality, and causing scandals. I'm just tired of always coming up short. Tired."

"...It'll work out. You just have keep going at it. Good things happen because of it, too. I heard you've made some new friends lately. That's good, right? That's what you wanted to accomplish as an idol if I remember correctly. Change yourself little by little?"

Kaiba nods, taking a deep breath.
"Met them at the Yoshikawa Sailing job. The only job that worked out in the past months. Maybe that's all I'm good for," she says, staring down at her chest, "Putting myself on display."

"We can take some time to work on your skills, if you like. Expand on your talents," you say.

"I'm not so sure I have any," says Kaiba.

"Aoi-chan... don't say that. I know that you do."

"I know you're trying to cheer me up and I'm happy for that, but right now I just... I guess I want to be alone for a bit. I'm going to go on a walk, I think. I'll make my own way back to work later. If that's alright?"

Everyone deals with things in their own way.

"If you want," you say, "Call me if you need anything."

Kaiba nods, bows, then walks off into the distance.

You return to the office and work out the remainder of the day.
Activity logs show that Kaiba worked on some things for her livestream in the afternoon, but you haven't heard from her yourself.

Decision
>1 - Send a message to Kitabayashi to check in on Kaiba in the evening.
>2 - Drop by Kitabayashi's apartment to check in on her yourself.
>3 - She worked, right? She's fine.
>4 - Write-in

>>5759357
>2 - Drop by Kitabayashi's apartment to check in on her yourself.

>>5759357
>2 - Drop by Kitabayashi's apartment to check in on her yourself.
I want to vote for the first one, but since the other anon voted for this instead I will too. Better than the third option.
Deleted the other reply to make things prettier.

>>5759357
>3 - She worked, right? She's fine.

>>5759357
>>3 - She worked, right? She's fine.
I don't want to invest on kaiba no more. If she gets cynical with her new friends, I am interested however

>>5759357
>1 - Send a message to Kitabayashi to check in on Kaiba in the evening.
Or
>2 - Drop by Kitabayashi's apartment to check in on her yourself
As long as we don't neglect Kaiba.
(Backlinking to >>5755296, I'm on mobile)

>>5759357

Winner
>2 - Drop by Kitabayashi's apartment to check in on her yourself

>>5759357
>3 - She worked, right? She's fine.

>>5759440
Noooooooooooo. I just wanna ditch Kaiba

>>5759440

It's not that much of a detour, you can simply swing by Kitabayashi's apartment on the way home.

As you park your car near Kitabayashi's apartment, you press the little buzzer of her home near the main entrance and are greeted by Kitabayashi's voice cheerfully saying, 'Come on up!' and cutting the connection before you can even get a word in.

You don't recall sending her a message that you were on your way, maybe you should've done so.

After a short walk through the apartment complex's long corridors, you stand before Kitabayashi's door and knock twice.

The door opens moments later with Kitabayashi in her loungewear, speaking in a sing-song voice, "Sushi~ Suh-- Hueh!? MIHO?"
Wide-eyed, Kitabayashi closes the door almost entirely, only her face and a sliver of the apartment complex are visible in the crack.

There's a sound behind her not entirely unlike somebody falling off the couch.

"Hello, Yui. No need to shout," you say, "I came to check in on Kaiba. She had a hard time at work today."

"I see..." Kitabayashi says, "I don't think you need to worry."

"That's good to hear at least," you say, raising an eyebrow, "Can I come in? I'd like to talk to her."

Kitabayashi squeezes herself through the door and closes it behind her, both of you in the hallway.

"Yui?" you say, stepping back to allow her to move in, "What's going on?"

"Hey," says Kitabayashi, "Can I collect on my favour? How about you and I go out for dinner?"

"I mean, I'm not against getting dinner, but you said you wanted to use your favour to take Kaiba to that restaurant, remember?" you say, "Besides, it seems like you have sushi coming?"

"I can get sushi anytime," says Kitabayashi, shrugging, "Let's go now."

You gesture at Kitabayashi and the loungewear and fluffy slippers she's wearing, "Looking like this?"

"Ah..." says Kitabayashi, frowning to herself.

You lean against the wall and hold your arms in an attempt to look stern, "What's going on?"

Kitabayashi inhales deeply, "...I didn't want to resort to this..."
She moves in with speed, looking down on you as she slams her hand against the wall just to the side of your head.

Kabedon.

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>>5759538

Why do people keep trying this?
Watase Yoko did this to you, what, two or three times already?

Kitabayashi isn't even that much taller than you. She's standing on her tippy toes, too!
There's nothing remotely intimidating about her in her fluffy slippers.

You retort with a flat stare.

"...I was hoping for a different kind of reaction..." says Kitabayashi, beginning to blush out of embarrassment.

"Hmm?" you say, "What were you hoping would happen?"

Kitabayashi scratches her cheek with a finger.
"Er... I dunno. Some bubbly mumbling, maybe? You blushing. That sorta thing."

"And then?" you prompt, watching Kitabayashi being consumed by ear-burning embarrassment, "What's the follow up?"

"...Jeesh... I would, like, be all 'Fufufu~ I'm taking you out to dinner.' and maybe tuck a strand of your hair behind an ear. Y'know, cool-like. I guess. But it seems like it didn't work..."

"I built up a fair bit of resistance against this, actually."

"H-huh? Resistance? What? How?"

"Doesn't matter. Why can't I speak to Aoi?"

Kitabayashi pulls her lips into a line.
"I... don't want to lie to you, so, well, I can't say."

"Hoooo....?" you say, "Keeping secrets from me?"

"Can we go out to dinner instead?" says Kitabayashi, "Let's go to a real fancy place! I'll pay! We can meet up at the restaurant so we can both get ready."

It's obvious that Kitabayashi wants to keep you away from the apartment. But why?

Then again. Dinner at a fancy place?
You were thinking just earlier today that you don't get the opportunity to wear that nice dress you've ordered.
Eating out with a friend sound like a nice break. Some welcome stress relief.

She wants to keep you out of the loop?
Fine. But she's paying for drinks!

Decision
>1 - Pretend to agree but force your way inside the moment Yui turns to enter the apartment.
>2 - Dinner party! And Yui's paying! Time to squeeze into your nice dress and enjoy yourself.
>3 - It's clear that they had different plans. They had sushi ordered and everything. Go home.
>4 - Guilt-trip Kitabayashi into telling you what's going on (DC40 -- Go home on failure.)
>5 - Write-in

>>5759549
>3 - It's clear that they had different plans. They had sushi ordered and everything. Go home

>>5759549
>3 - It's clear that they had different plans. They had sushi ordered and everything. Go home.
(Backlink >>5759435)

>>5759549
>5 - Write-in
>Counter-Kabedon Yui and ask what's happening
Kaiba is still our idol, her wellbeing is our priority and Yui gave us the perfect opportunity to get a flustered reaction out of her.

>>5759549
>2 - Dinner party! And Yui's paying! Time to squeeze into your nice dress and enjoy yourself.

>>5759619
We can't do that. Last time we teased her, she got IDEAS, we had to shoot her down, and we ruined her birthday and made her cry.

>>5759664
But she finally gave up on Miho, and teasing friends is normal.

>>5759666
If you flirt aggressively with your friends, it is an unusual friendship or you are leading them on.

>>5759672
Or you're just getting along and are secure in your friendship? I'd maybe even say that actively avoiding it could be admitting that your friendship isn't so solid as may be imagined.

>>5759664
I would say that it is less teasing and more of a powerplay, even if we aren't ruthless we are still on the corporate ladder and Yui is hiding stuff about our idol. Plus, it would be absolutely poetic to have Yui to thr bubbly mumbling and blushing as she put it.

>>5759549 Voting for:
>2 go out on a dinner.
Kaiba INVITED SOMEONE OVER YOU DUMB DUCKS. Let's not clit block her please. I want her sold by next week but that doesn't mean i want her to keep her muff dry

>>5759694
Plus we are cashing in that favor

>>5759549
>2 - Dinner party! And Yui's paying! Time to squeeze into your nice dress and enjoy yourself.

Just make clear, softly, that it’s two friends getting dinner - not a date

>>5759549
>3 - It's clear that they had different plans. They had sushi ordered and everything. Go home.

>>5759694
She invited someone over to date and had Yui chaperone? In a housecoat?

>>5759549
>3 - It's clear that they had different plans. They had sushi ordered and everything. Go home.

>>5759549
>4 - Guilt-trip Kitabayashi into telling you what's going on (DC40 -- Go home on failure.)
Lots of lesbians in the idol industry.

>>5759549
>5
>Go home now, but talk with kitabayashi tomorrow in the office

If it's just Kitabayashi trying to cheer up kaiba with some sushi she's just gonna tell us, it's probably for the worse that we get involved since kaiba probably wants some time without any work related stuff happening.

>>5759767
The only straight girl in a world of lesbians is a great bit. Wonder why there isn't an anime about it already.

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>>5759767

>>5759549
>3 - It's clear that they had different plans. They had sushi ordered and everything. Go home.

>>5759549
>2 - Dinner party! And Yui's paying! Time to squeeze into your nice dress and enjoy yourself.

>>5759549

Winner
>3 - It's clear that they had different plans. They had sushi ordered and everything. Go home

>>5760421
Can't finish this in time. No more updates today.

>>5760514
see ya tomorrow

I am working on the update, hopefully posting it within the hour.
Once that update goes up, there'll be a few rolls and votes in quick succession.

>>5761282
It's done, spellcheck then posting.

>>5761350

As much as you'd like to finally flaunt the dress you've bought, it's clear that you're intruding on something.

"I'm not so dense that I can't see what's going on, Yui. You don't have to go through the extra effort to whisk me away to some strange place to keep me from seeing what's going on inside. I'll go."

Kitabayashi back off, no longer looming over you, then nods sheepishly.
"Ehehe..." she says, "I don't want to keep secrets from you... but... yeah..."

"Just one thing. You can promise me that Aoi-chan is fine?"

A sort of grin finds its way on Kitabayashi face, which she immediately pushes down.
"Yeah," she says, coughing into her fist, "I can promise that much."

You exhale sharply through your nose.
It isn't fun being kept out of the loop like this, you've tried to exude a welcoming, open aura in the hopes that your friends or idols would be comfortable to tell you anything.

Doesn't seem like that worked.

"Good. That's all I was here for. Be sure to tell me what's going on once you can, okay?"

"I will," says Kitabayashi, "Thanks for being so understanding."

Business here concluded; you go back home.
You pass by the sushi deliveryman as you walk into the parking lot.
Once home, you put on your new dress and show it off to your cat, Azuki.

It doesn't care.

------

>>5761370

Kitabayashi closes the door with a deep sigh, "Survived that somehow..."

"...That was close," says Kaiba, her head peeking out from behind the couch.

"Haa... Like I said, there's no need for all this," says a third voice, clearly troubled.

Long, black hair and tan skin, the girl sits beside Kaiba behind the couch, poking her head over the edge.
Her eyes are pools of gold, with slender, almost cat-like pupils.
On the ground beside her sits a large bag, parts of a maid uniform spilling over the rim.
There's a small nametag attached to the uniform's chest: Azuma Ryouko.

Kitabayashi places her hands in her sides, "Nonsense," she says, "You went through all the trouble to help Kaiba back home. Dinner is the least I can do."

The intercom crackles.
"...Hello. This is Subara with Sakura Sushi Delight. I've got your order here."

Kitabayashi presses the button on the intercom, "Ah, great. Thank you. I'll be down in a moment," she says, not wanting a repeat of what just occurred.
She takes her wallet from her purse and hurries down to fetch the delivery.

"...Who was that anyway?" asks Ryouko.

"My manager," replies Kaiba, "I'll get in trouble if she sees."

Idols aren't typically allowed to date.

"...You're allowed to have friends, right?"

Kaiba is silent for a long moment.
"...Well, yeah. I suppose I so..."

"Hoo...? Didn't even occur to you, huh, Aoi-chan?" says Ryouko, smirking, "I wonder what I am to you."

Kaiba averts her gaze sharply to the side.
"Eh? Eh-he... Well. It's n-not like that...Ryouko..."

Ryouko slides closer to Kaiba, their shoulders touching as she leans in, "I guess you make daily visits to every girl you know, then. Busy schedule. Here I was thinking I'm special."

Kaiba glances to the side, managing a few seconds of eye-contact with Ryouko's domineering gaze before looking back down.
"...Aha-ha... d-don't say stuff like that. I don't want you thinking I'm creepy," says Kaiba, eyes flicking between Ryouko and her own knees, "I'm just a strange customer."

Ryouko tilts her head slightly, "That so?" she says, a large, playful grin spreading across her face, "But I like you too, y'know?"

"Hue!?" says Kaiba, eyes widening as she loses reason, "...e...ehe-eHueheHeEhehHe."

"Umm...Aoi?" says Ryouko, leaning back a bit with an uncertain smile on her face.

Kaiba looks down at her hands as she continues to laugh.
"Eheuhehe... I'm just so happy! ...eheHuehehehe. I can't sto--HMPF!"

Without warning -- a kiss.
A kiss that demands surrender.
Both passion and possession.

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>>5761373


They part. Kaiba utters a small gasp, brushing her lips with her fingers.

Ryouko's tongue slips over her own lips, tasting Kaiba's lip-gloss there -- cherry.

"That quieted you down~" Ryouko says, smiling. "Never kissed a girl before, but I don't like taking things slow. If we're gonna be dating, the--"

Kaiba knocks her over with surprising strength, placing Ryouko on her back.

Ryouko winces, propping herself up on her elbows, "Hey! What giv-- HMMPF?!"

One wet kiss after another, lips locking together again and again.

Ryouko has to get her breathing done in tiny gasps, in brief intervals.
Her mind and thoughts filled with all the sense and reason of a fizzy drink.
"Aoi...Wai-- Hmpf!? ...Pwoah~ ... Haaa.... Aoi, C-calm down!"

"Ryouko! Ryouko! ...Ha~ Ryouko!"

------

"I'm really sorry about this, ma'am," says the sushi delivery man, "Can't believe the device broke."

Kitabayashi digs in her wallet for loose coins, shivering as the cold wind ignores her loungewear.
What she hoped would be a ten-second transaction, turned out to be somewhat of a scavenger hunt.
Her toes curl and uncurl in her fuzzy slippers in an attempt to draw some warmth into them.
"That's alright. You got any change?"

"No, I'm sorry. We're actually told not to carry any money at all. Risk of robberies and all. I'll have to go straight back after this."

"I get it," says Kitabayashi, "I'll just give you extra, forget about the change."

"Sorry again, but we're not allowed to take tips."

Kitabayashi sighs, moving around some coins, "I think I might have the exact amount..."

-------

>>5761375

Thursday, May 27th

A long time in the making, today you deliver on one of the promises you've made back during the fallout of Kaiba's scandal.
It feels like forever ago, but today's job at Cupid-san Shintaro and the "scoop" you're supposed to deliver to Everything Idol are the final things to handle before you can leave that all behind.

You've got the talent scout, Tachibana Ichiro, working on the second bit, but you haven't heard back from him yet.

Right now you've only got a short window until you need to set off towards the recording studio for Enatsu Mari's job.
There's quite a bit of travel time to reach the studio where "Cupid-san Shintaro " is being recorded.
Still, perhaps you should skip answering emails and check on Kaiba.

Despite Kitabayashi promising that Kaiba is fine, you can't help but fear for her.
Failing this many jobs is sure to take a mental toll on anyone and Kaiba isn't the most stable person to begin with.

First, some coffee though.
You ponder your situation while making the short journey towards the break room.

"Ah, good morning, manager-san."

Eh?

You look up to find Kaiba there.
Kitabayashi was right, Kaiba doesn't look depressed at all!
Scratch that. You don't remember seeing her looking this happy in months!

"Good morning, Aoi-chan." you reply.

Kaiba's watch emits a little noise.
"My meeting," she says, giving you a little wave, "Excuse me, manager-san. Let's both work hard today."

She walks off.
Not in her usual, hunched way, but with good posture and a determined stride.

Glancing left and right, you pause to confirm if anyone else is seeing this.
However, nobody seems to pay it any special attention.

You rush towards the HR office and barely keep yourself from kicking the door down, then point an accusing finger at Kitabayashi, "Explain!"

Kitabayashi slams both hands down on her desk, "Never!"

Despite your best efforts, you don't manage to pry any information out of Kitabayashi.
All your arguments, like how being her manager requires you to know what's going on her life, get mercilessly shot down.
Both of you having years of experience in HR, you know you're fighting a losing battle.
You know quite well where the line between work and personal privacy is drawn.

The line tends to blur when it comes to idols and their relationships, but Kitabayashi isn't giving an inch.

Still, you want to know!

Hmpf!

Defeated, you mope back to your office to answers some emails before you have to head out.

-----

>>5761378

Cupid-san Shintaro

As you pull into the studio's parking lot, you're amazed at the wide variety of expensive cars parked here.

Don't feel inadequate, Renault Twingo-san!
You're just as impressive as these imported luxury cars!

They've probably collected quite an impressive cast.
The show's host, Shintaro Akira, even went as far as calling today's show a "celebrities games segment" in the mail he sent you a while back.

Enatsu Mari sits in the passenger seat beside you, looking a tad anxious, but with a wide grin on her face.
Last week's break worked wonders though, you can still detect some lingering fatigue in his face.

"Manager-san! I'm so excited, I've never been on a game show before!"

Today's show is scheduled to be a variety show with games featuring a large cast of both male and female participants. As can be assumed from show's name, Cupid-san Shintaro, the entire thing is just a thinly veiled excuse for a dating show.

Honestly, you'd much rather keep your idols away from stuff like this, but it can't be helped.

Today's main objective is simply getting this all over with.

"It's a big event but keep a low profile if you can. There should be a lot of people, so they probably won't ask you too many questions. Try and be professional and keep your answers short."

Enatsu tilts her head to the side, confused.

"Eh...? I mean, shouldn't I be trying to impress them as an idol and stuff? Isn't this a big opportunity?"

Normally, she'd be right, but you looked into Shintaro Akira a bit and he's known as a sleazebag.
He's notorious for cracking jokes at the expensive of his guests and won't stop even if they end up in tears.

The cast is also filled with tons of models, actors, idols, and other guests that have been in the industry far longer than the recently debuted Enatsu Mari.
You don't want the industry's bigshots to hold a grudge if the newbie ends up accidentally taking the spotlight in this.

"The host, well, he's a bad man. He likes picking on new people. So, you don't want to stand out too much. It's good to be here, there's a lot of famous people that'll make people watch the show and the more people watch, the more people get to see you. Fame by osmosis, kind of."

"Eh? O-osmosis? If you say so..."

The both of you exit the car, retrieve Enatsu's prepared clothing from the back, and head into the studio.

---------

>>5761381

As indicated by the cars outside, there's tons of people.

You make your presence known at the reception area and the receptionist there directs you towards a long corridor of dressing rooms which they refer to as "green rooms".
Most of them are filled and have their doors locked, though you can hear voices coming from the inside.
Some have kept their doors open and it appears they even brought their own stylists.

This makes you feel a little underprepared.
You remember the company behind the show saying they had stylists and make-up artists on staff, but it would feel bad if you ended up being the only one making use of them.

Matsuno Inc. has plenty of such people on staff, but it didn't occur to you to ask one to come along.

The fact that they've got separate green rooms for each participant is impressive though.
Usually, everyone is stuffed into one room with several make-up stations lining the walls.

After a long walk down the corridor you spot your changing room.
The door has a small, replaceable sign next to it with "Enatsu Mari" on it.
You pridefully point out the name sign to Enatsu and she happily takes a picture of it to send to her mom.

Inside you find your provided make-up artist who hastily puts out her smoke, dropping it into an opened can of soda.
You enjoy a brief chat with the make-up artist (who sounds like she gargles gravel on the daily) while she works on Enatsu's hair and make-up.

Once finished, the make-up lady nods in satisfaction at her on handiwork.
"Ended up quite the looker. Cute thing. I was sure the show was sixteen and up, though."

"I am sixteen!" roars Enatsu, blowing up her cheeks like an angry chipmunk.

You pat Enatsu's head, nodding knowingly.
You're well aware of the perils of being on the shorter side.

"There, there. I'm sure you'll grow taller soon."

Please, don't! Enatsu's the only person around you that's shorter than you!
Five foot two is the average height for a woman. Average!

It stands to reason there should be plenty of people shorter than you.
What's that? Most of those would be elderly? You refuse to accept that!

This head patting earns you a scowl by the make-up artist, who quickly fixes up Enatsu's hair.

A little buzzer rings in the corner of the room.
It's time for the participants to take the stage.

-------

>>5761384

All contestants are lined up, an equal split on gender. Sixteen in total.
The line-up contains both well-established and up-and-coming celebrities.
How a show like "Cupid-san Shintaro" managed to rope in all these people is a mystery, but there's probably some shady business involved.

The managers are allowed to sit front-row or backstage while supporting personal like the hairdressers were relegated to public audience.
Which was packed. Apparently, those tickets come at a heavy cost.

These people paid to be here!
Is this actually a good show?
You skipped through some episodes to get an idea of what to expect, but at the time you just felt it was fairly tasteless.

You decide to take a seat in the front-row area.

Some production staff stand before the participants, revealing today's schedule in broad strokes.
A large portion of the show's appeal comes from the earnest reactions of the participants, so they don't receive the planned activities until the very last minute and even then, the information is quite vague.

As you eye-over the participants you notice that all of them seem to be in their late teens to mid-twenties.
Enatsu might actually be the youngest contestant here.

One long-haired, male contestant smiles your way after a moment of accidental eye contact, leaving you flustered.
You have absolutely no defence against handsome men like these.

A spectacled woman in the seat beside you opens her wallet and extends a stack of bills towards the distant man with both hands.
Apparently, she thought the man was looking at her.

In any case, the man refuses with a light shake of his head and a smile on his face.

"F-free service...?" murmurs the woman beside you.

Out of the corner of your eye, you spy Enatsu waving at you.
You quickly wave back. You're back to being a soccer mom, it seems.

A female celebrity notices and laughs wickedly, her mouth hidden behind her hand.

Hah? Laughing at your little girl, is she?
You'll break her spine, the rat bastard.

Calm down, Miho. You're not Enatsu's mom, but her manager.
Oooh. Enatsu's smiling your way again! Hello, hello~

File: Shintaro_SmallerResolution.jpg (375 KB, 500x800)

375 KB JPG

>>5761385

Suddenly, the studio lights go out and a hard spotlight reveals a man amid the centre stage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaRrDZWhtWA

There was some kind of countdown, but you didn't even notice.

"Haha! Hello everybody! Good that you could all make it." The man says. "For those watching for the first time, my name is Shintaro Akira. Today's and every day's very handsome host!"

A brief chuckle rolls out from the audience.
Hanging from the ceiling, bright letters spring to life.

[Applause]

The audience does as instructed. Clapping and woo-ing.

"Thank you, thank you," says Shintaro, "Welcome to today's very special episode of Cupid-san Shintaro," he adds, pointing to himself with a thumb, "That's me, by the way!"

[Applause]

The audience laughs and applauds.

"In today's celebrity beatdown all sixteen of our contestants will be facing off against each other for the ultimate prize..." says Shintaro, going quiet.

Shintaro perks up like somebody asked him a question, "Eh? What's the prize?" he says, tapping the side of his nose, "That's a secret, of course!"

Jeering from the crowd. Boos.

Shintaro waves their complaints aside, "Come on, come on. Some mystery makes it fun! But before we continue, we have some work to do... Gentleman and ladies of the audience, could you please remind me the name of the show?!"

The audience answers with passion, "Cupid-san Shintarou!!!"

"Hahaha!" laughs Shintaro, "That's right! Now I wouldn't be Cupid-san if I had all our lovely contestants face the upcoming games alone, would I? Let's pair 'em, folks! Lady luck will be our matchmaker!"

Once again, all lights in the studio are dimmed and sixteen spotlights shine down on the contestants.
The men have blue spotlights shining down on them and the women have pink ones.
An ominous tune plays as each of the lights begin to flicker and ultimately, one-by-one, they wink out until only two, a blue and pink one, remain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyG94SV3hBo

Each time this happens a new pairing is formed.

"Sato Yusuke and Yamaguchi Rina!"

"Nakamura Kazuki and Ito Sakura!"

"Kato Haruki and Enatsu Mari!"

"Inoue Kenjiro and Takahashi Ayumi!"

"Suzuki Keisuke and Yamamoto Futaba"

"Wakaba Masato and Kawasaki Kana"

"Suzuki Keisuke and Morine Aiko"

"And finally, Tanaka Kazuki and Mori Ayumi"

[Applause]

The crowd cheers loudly, stomping their feet as the final pairing is decided upon.

>>5761389

"These will be our contestants. Bonded for the duration of the show... and beyond? Haha, just kidding, of course! Unless...? You never know where love may bloom after all! Today's trials and tribulations might just be that which inadvertently connects these two souls together! Without further ado, let's get on with the first game!"

This is bad. You weren't told that contestants would be pairing up.
To keep a low profile, you'd have to underperform in the games, but when you're paired up like this that would mean dragging your partner down with you.

As the contestants walk on the stage and move towards the first game, you pull out your phone and look up Enatsu's partner, Kato Haruki, up on Yahoo.

Kato Haruki, eighteen years of age and over six feet tall, a former boyband member that has unshackled himself from his former group and decided to get solo -- with great success.

On occasion, he'll perform other activities like modelling and acting in small-time dramas, but these activities are only meant to draw attention to his music career.
Various magazines consider him an A-list celebrity in the making.
His popularity is currently at its peak.

The worst possible pairing for keeping a low profile.

"Let's introduce our contestants! Everyone, please provide a brief introduction!"

A co-host in a beautiful dress walks down the line of contestants, microphone in hand.
One by one they introduce themselves.

The co-host stops beside Kato and Enatsu, laughing quietly, "Fufufu~ The both of you look more like a younger sister on her day out with her handsome, older brother. Please, introduce yourselves."

Kato takes the comment in stride and laughs along, "So it seems, but I have no doubt my partner is a talented artist in her own right," he says, "My name is Kato Haruki, eighteen. Singer, songwriter, actor, model. I do it all. Pleased to make your acquittance and do keep eye out for my upcoming album release, okay?"
His closes his introduction off with a wink.

Several women in the audience begin to cheer and scream until their voice fails them.

File: EnatsuMari_AtShow_Smaller(...).jpg (438 KB, 500x800)

438 KB JPG

>>5761395

The co-host makes a show of bending at the knees to lower the microphone to Enatsu's level.

This is blatant height discrimination.
Short people rise up! With stepladders!

"Hello, I'm Enatsu Mari from the Matsuno Inc. Idol Agency! I work as an idol and do modelling, dancing, and livestreaming! I'm hoping for your support! I'm excited to be here! I may be short, but I'm sixteen and what I lack in height, I make up in spirit! I won't lose to anyone!"

"Fufufu~ Well, then. Good luck to the both of you!"

After completing the introductions, it's time for the first game.

"It's time for the Shintaro Special: Reaction Game!" roars Shintaro, "Clap, clap, clap!"

[Applause]

The audience applauds and roars in excitement.

The camera pans to a large machine with ten wooden sticks hanging overhead, spread in a half-circle.
There's a staircase beside it that allows somebody to stand on top of it and access ten levers.

"In this game the man will go up the stairs and pull the levers, making the sticks drop! The woman will be on the receiving end, having to catch the sticks before they hit the ground!"

Oh, that doesn't sound too bad.

"Here's the catch!"

Of course.

"Sometimes the lever will drop the wooden stick in the correct spot. The far-right lever would drop the far-right stick, but sometimes it won't! Sometimes it'll drop in a different place or even drop two! Haha! Contestants, get ready!"

-------

Since dancing would be the most "physical" skill on record, that's what we'll use here.
DC120 for a perfect game of 10 caught stick. Lowering DC by 10 for each stick beneath that.
Other contestants will roll 1d120 to compensate for Enatsu's extra modifier.

Need one DANCING roll for Enatsu Mari
Please roll 1d100+47 (DC100)

>>5761389
>"Suzuki Keisuke and Yamamoto Futaba"
>"Suzuki Keisuke and Morine Aiko"
I fucking knew I was gonna slip up, Suzuki you two-timing whore.

>"Suzuki Keisuke and Morine Aiko"
Is
>"Yasuhiko Kida and Morine Aiko"

I underestimated the amount of time formatting would take me.
No more updates today.

Rolled 19 + 47 (1d100 + 47)

>>5761399
This pic is extremely cute.

>>5761408
Welp. I won't roll anymore today.

Rolled 74 + 47 (1d100 + 47)

>>5761399
Go Enatsu!

Rolled 69 + 47 (1d100 + 47)

>>5761399

>>5761408
Thanks for rolling.

Earlier, I rolled all 7 pair rolls myself, but I might as well let people do it overnight as I won't be posting any updates more today.

Need 7 1d120 rolls
One roll per person, please.
No need to include what pair you roll for, I'll just go top-down. (not including Enatsu)

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>5761425

>>5761426
1d120, not 20

Rolled 78 (1d120)

>>5761425

>>5761428
Woops!

>>5761375
AAAA MY BALLS
THEY ARE GONE
I CAN'T FIND THEM NO MORE

Rolled 83 (1d120)

>>5761425

Rolled 72 (1d120)

>>5761425
Rolling.

>>5761453
>anime lesbians snipped anon's balls
Very sad, many such cases.

Rolled 53 (1d120)

>>5761425

Rolled 70 (1d120)

>>5761425

Rolled 41 (1d120)

>>5761425
HOUS HT THEORJGAGJ{ÑLK ROOLLS FUCKING IDE!!!
DIES DAMN IT

Rolled 42 (1d120)

>>5761425

>>5761430
>>5761463
>>5761471
>>5761474
>>5761490
>>5761503

Thanks for rolling.
I will roll the final one since nobody has done that so I can close the rolls and work on the update during the day.

>>5761399

"Kato Haruki and Enatsu Mari!"
Enatsu: Rolled 19 + 47 (1d100 + 47) = 66

Contestants

"Sato Yusuke and Yamaguchi Rina!"
Rolled 78 (1d120) + Higher

"Nakamura Kazuki and Ito Sakura!"
Rolled 83 (1d120) + Higher

"Inoue Kenjiro and Takahashi Ayumi!"
Rolled 72 (1d120) + Higher

"Suzuki Keisuke and Yamamoto Futaba"
Rolled 53 (1d120) - Lower

"Wakaba Masato and Kawasaki Kana"
Rolled 70 (1d120) + Higher

"Suzuki Keisuke and Morine Aiko"
Rolled 41 (1d120) - Lower

"And finally, Tanaka Kazuki and Mori Ayumi"
Rolled 42 (1d120) - Lower

Points / rankings will be mentioned in the update.

Rolled 7 (1d120)

>>5761425

>>5761734

Each pair of contestants plays the game.
The man pulls levers, causing sticks to fall, after which the woman has to catch the stick as it drops.

Communication between contestants is allowed, but as the host mentioned -- the game was rigged from the start.

"I'm pulling the left-most lever, okay!?" one participant said.

"Ready!" his partner would say, angled towards that stick.
Only for two sticks to fall down directly behind her, much to the delight of the audience.
You also notice that there's a small delay between the lever being pulled and the stick falling.

It's obvious this game comes at the expensive of the female participant.
They're constantly the target of ridicule and subject of laughter in this.
Shintaro, the host, adds further insult to injury.

"It's okay, haha! At least you have a pretty face, right?"

Shintaro seems to time his comments in the brief interval between the lever being pulled and the stick falling.

Eventually, Enatsu and Kato's turn comes up.
As she stands beneath the machine in her white dress, she gets her game-face on.
Surroundings forgotten. Only her and this reaction-game.

Kato shouts instructions from the top and Enatsu confirms.
With her athletic background, she should be fairly good at this.
Then again, all the contestants seem in tip-top shape.

The first stick falls and Enatsu's quick reaction seems on the money, hand speeding towards the falling stick.
It's as if she hit the thing with some kind of palm-strike, it rockets across the stage.

Even though the stick misses Shintaro by wide margin, he dodges in place.
"Woah! Come for my life, have you? Haha!"

"Ah, I'm sorry," shouts Enatsu, bowing towards the host.

Two more sticks fall while she's distracted.

"Pay attention, Enatsu-chan!" complains Kato.

The audience laughs at Enatsu's slip-up.

Enatsu fixes her attention back on the game and calls out to Kato to continue pulling levers.

She manages to catch several sticks in rapid succession.
Leaning in, swipe at the stick, and darting towards the next falling stick.
Moving much like she might be when engaging in a sport, causing her dress to flare up.

Shintaro folds his arms and leans theatrically to the side, as if trying to peep.
"Hmmm! Enatsu-chan, we can see your panties, y'know?"

"Hah!?" cries Enatsu, slamming both hands down on her butt to keep the dress down.

The final sticks fall to the ground.

Shintaro shrugs, and leans away with a huge, mocking grin on his face, "Juuuust kidding!"

[Applause]

The audience laughs, Enatsu's shoulders slump.

"Next contenders, please!"

Enatsu walks off, her face red with embarrassment.
Her partner, Kato, seems to try and reassure her.

>>5761784
---

The remaining contestants play out the game.
Levers are pulled, sticks fall, and the audience laughs and cheers.
Shintaro is there every step of the way, trying to put them off their game.

As the final pair walks off, Shintaro takes the stage and waves his hands towards a large scoreboard.

"In first place and receiving three points are Nakamura Kazuki and Ito Sakura. Second place are Sato Yusuke and Yamaguchi Rina! They will be receiving two points. And finally, in third place and receiving one point, are Inoue Kenjiro and Takahashi Ayumi!"

Scoreboard
Nakamura Kazuki and Ito Sakura: 3
Sato Yusuke and Yamaguchi Rina: 2
Inoue Kenjiro and Takahashi Ayumi: 1
Everyone else: 0

Nakamura and Ito do a double high-five as the audience cheers.

"Don't fret, don't fret!" shouts Shintaro, "We've got two more games coming up in this round! Let's see if our other contestants can claw their way back, shall we?"

All the participants seem to go back-stage, going somewhere else.

The stick-machine is carted off the stage and Shintaro gestures towards the scoreboard which does double-duty as a large monitor.
A video plays on the screen, explaining the next game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woqHkCcQ1nw

Underlined with suspenseful audio, the video shows various key items and all the corners of an escape room. The objective is to solve the puzzles within and escape from the room as fast as possible. Most points awarded to the pair that escapes from the room first.

"Haha, welcome to Shintaro's Escape Rooms!" roars the host, "Nothing bonds a pair of people quite like working towards a common goal," he adds, the pinching his fingers together, "With just a little bit of terror added in!"

[Applause]

The audience applauds and voices murmurs in quiet expectation.

"All our contestants have been escorted backstage to ensure they don't peep on the people that go first and gain unfair advantage. They will be entering the escape room one after the other. However, we have created two identical escape rooms to speed things along. The first two pairs have entered their respective rooms. They have ten minutes to escape!"

With two rooms, even if they all fail, this segment shouldn't last more than forty minutes.

As you fix your gaze to the screen, you're surprised to see Enatsu and Kato among the first contenders.

File: EscapeRoom.png (1.13 MB, 1024x1024)

1.13 MB PNG

>>5761785

They're standing amidst a square room decorated like a jungle. Roughly twenty feet on all sides.
There are fake, leafy vines suspended from the walls with short branches coated with leaves hanging overhead to give the illusion of a canopy.
Where there are no vines, the walls themselves have been painted to provoke the idea that they're in the middle of a large jungle, with small imagery of distant trees and depictions of jungle flora and fauna.

A ventilation shaft with a rotation propeller can be gleamed just beyond the canopy.

In the middle is a small firepit with a small pan, filled with water, and a carton of eggs beside it.

In the corner of the room are three stones with intricate carvings, depicting a snake, a jaguar, and a spider.
To the side of it is a stone plaque, with some lettering engraved in it.

A short distance away sits a locked, metal lockbox.
Furthermore, there's a suitcase with two, three-digit numerical locks.
There seem to be some other things, but the camera isn't giving them any time.

A small, digital timer displaying "10:00" in red letters is affixed to the wall.

"Enatsu Mari and Kato Haruki. The door is locked behind you. The only way out is using the key hidden somewhere within this room. You have ten minutes to escape. Some puzzles will require you to make a choice, a wrong choice will result in a one-minute reduction of your remaining time. Are you ready?"

Enatsu and Kato look up towards the ceiling where the speaker emitting Shintaro's voice is probably located and reply in unison, "Ready!"

"Begin!"

The timer in the room begins to countdown.
As does a timer displayed on the large screen in the studio itself.

Enatsu and Kato spring to action.
Moving and grabbing items which seem of importance.

Eventually, their attention falls on the three rocks with animal and insect carvings.

The plaque beside them reads as follows.

"GSZG DSRXS HORGSVIH."

----------

In a slight deviation from the norm, we'll allow the players to vote on actions of "Enatsu Mari" for the duration of this escape room.

Decision
>1 - Grab the rock with the "Snake" carving.
>2 - Grab the rock with the "Jaguar" carving.
>3 - Grab the rock with the "Spider" carving.

>>5761786
>2 - Grab the rock with the "Jaguar" carving.

>>5761795
I am extremely retarded
meant
>1 - Grab the rock with the "Snake" carving.

Rolled 2 (1d3)

>>5761786
>1 - Grab the rock with the "Snake" carving.
>2 - Grab the rock with the "Jaguar" carving.
>3 - Grab the rock with the "Spider" carving.

Let me think

>>5761786
Alright, it's not an anagram and not an alphabet shift cypher. I have no idea.
>1 - Grab the rock with the "Snake" carving.

>>5761786
>GSZG DSRXS HORGSVIH
>It's two words that ends in the same letter, how hard can it be?
>1 hour later
>Give up

>>5761786
>3 - Grab the rock with the "Spider" carving.
Trying my luck

>>5761832
It's definitely not an anagram. I tried all variations of a simple cipher but none of it works. If it's a complex cipher than it's practically unsolvable.

>>5761786
>1 - Grab the rock with the "Snake" carving.
An online cryptogram solver was able to pull out "that which spit" and then a string of letters. That probably means it just got it wrong, but I'm going for the snake anyway.

File: THAT WHICH SLITHERS.jpg (201 KB, 1080x2126)

201 KB JPG

>>5761854
see here, but
>THAT WHICH SLITHERS
ie choose snake?

>>5761871
Excellent job, anon!
Don't forget to actually vote though.

>>5761786
>1 - Grab the rock with the "Snake" carving.

File: Quetzalcoatl Codex_Borbon(...).jpg (476 KB, 1000x979)

476 KB JPG

>>5761871
>>5761876
It slithers... hmmm what sort of animal slithers???
It must be... A SLITHERING JAGUAR
>strongly support this anon
>>5761795
if only out of masochistic curiosity
(I liked this cipher puzzle, QM!)

>>5761786
>1 - Grab the rock with the "Snake" carving.

>>5761880
>if only out of masochistic curiosity
>update openly says that all that'll happen is a minute reduction to the timer
retard

>>5761840
Changing to
>1 - Grab the rock with the "Snake" carving.

>>5761786
>1 - Grab the rock with the "Snake" carving.

>>5761786

Winner
>1 - Grab the rock with the "Snake" carving.

>>5762029

The both of them look over the message and after thinking it over for a while, Kato speaks up.

"It's a reverse alphabet cypher, isn't it? A becomes Z, B becomes Y, so on and so forth?"

Enatsu glances towards the side, "Y-yeah, a s-syfur...?"

Kato looks around the campsite for a piece of paper and a pen, which seems suspiciously provided.

After lining out the alphabet, he counts out the spot of each of the letters when starting from the back, notes down the number, and then counts from the front.

-------

Normally this would be a 1d170+10 (up to 3 min), but since you solved the cypher as players it becomes a 1d50+10.
The amount rolled is the amount of time that Kato spends on the cypher and thus gets deducted from your timer.

Please roll me 1d50+10
A single roll, please.

Rolled 7 + 10 (1d50 + 10)

>>5762076

>>5761894
Calm down.

File: Mystery Snake.jpg (1.19 MB, 3888x2592)

1.19 MB JPG

>>5762081

Some mental effort later, he holds up the paper.
"That which slithers." Kaito says, reading it out loud.

Enatsu ponders, her brow furrowed as she thinks, "Ah! Snake!" she says, snapping her fingers.

Kato gives her a look, "Well, yes."

Upon confirmation, Enatsu hurriedly picks up the snake stone and the fact that no time has been deducted, means they're probably on the right track.

>Natural time progression - Puzzle 1 - 1 minute
>Rolled 7 + 10 (1d50 + 10) for solving the cypher.
>17 extra seconds have been deducted from the timer.

Timer: 8:43

As she inspects it, she notices that the bottom of the stone has actually been scraped out and the hole contains a small key.

"A key," says Enatsu, handing it to Kato.

Kato looks it over, "Too small for the door and the suitcase has no slots for a key. Must be for the lockbox, then."

Kato hurries over to the lockbox and inserts the key, "This probably contains the new clu-HIAAAA!?"
He stumbles backwards, landing on his behind, then puts another few feet between himself at the lockbox.

Enatsu leans over the lockbox to look inside.

There, coiling around a metal box, is a snake with a spotted pattern of orange scales.
>pic related

"Don't worry. It's just a snake," says Enatsu.

"I KNOW!" shouts Kato.

The sound of Shintaro's room echoes through the room.
"Haha! It seems like our slithering friend over here has taken ownership of the next clue. Do you dare retrieve the metal box of this fierce predator?"

---

Meanwhile in the studio, you shiver in your seat.
Snakes and other reptiles are things you'd rather stay far, far away from.
You know that Enatsu is an outdoorsy person, but it would still take a certain level of guts to put your hand near a creature like that.

What if she gets bitten!?
You remember seeing a documentary where a snake's venom melted a man's hand off!

The host's voice echoes across the room again.
"Will you risk it all? If you don't want to, then just say the word! For the low-low price of three minutes of your timer, we'll slide the same clue under the door of the escape room! Oh, I suppose you could also knock over the box and wait for the snake to get out, but then you'd have a loose snake on your hands, haha! I wouldn't recommend it!"

Time remaining: 8:13

Decision
>1 - Let Enatsu reach towards the metal box surrounded by the snake.
>2 - Request the clue and sacrifice three minutes.
>3 - Write-in

>>5762121
>Let Enatsu reach towards the metal box surrounded by the snake.
Trust in the heart of the idol!

>>5762121
>1 - Let Enatsu reach towards the metal box surrounded by the snake.

>>5762121
>1 - Let Enatsu reach towards the metal box surrounded by the snake.

>>5762121
>>1 - Let Enatsu reach towards the metal box surrounded by the snake.
The snake is chilling, it won't do a thing.
Plus what are the odds the snake does bite? we would sue the FUCK out of shintaro and everyone that dared to set foot in this studio

>>5762121
>1 - Let Enatsu reach towards the metal box surrounded by the snake.

>>5762121
>1 - Let Enatsu reach towards the metal box surrounded by the snake.
it's a gameshow. They won't have venomous snake here and, if they do, they'll have antivenom handy.

>>5762121
>1 - Let Enatsu reach towards the metal box surrounded by the snake.
Can she keep it?

>>5762121

Winner
>1 - Let Enatsu reach towards the metal box surrounded by the snake.

>>5762728

Enatsu looks towards the man panting on the grand with panic in his eyes, tilting her head in confusion.
She picks the snake up by the tail, retrieves the metal box with her other hand, and places the snake back.

"Got it." Enatsu says, holding up the box.

Kato pounces forward and in one frenzied movement, slams the lockbox shut.
He slides the ground, breathing heavy.

"You have a death wish, girl!?"

Enatsu shrugs, "I don't think that snake was dangerous, it's like the ones you see outside when hunting beetles and stuff."

"H-hunting beetles? Bugs?" says Kato, colour draining from his face.

Enatsu ignores the follow-up question, instead messing with the metal box which opens with a clunk.

"A note." Enatsu says, turning it over. "Three numbers. Seven One Five."

Kato gets up, steadies his breathing, and brushes off his clothes.
"Ehum," he says, clearing his throat, "Number combination of one of the two locks on the briefcase."

Time remaining: 7:43

"Oh, I see," says Enatsu, "So, where's the other code?"

Kato covers his mouth with his hand as he thinks, "I'm not sure. We'll have to look around a bit."
His gaze pans over the escape room and the various items within it.

In the middle is a small firepit with a small pan, filled with water, and a carton of eggs beside it.
The firepit has been going since you entered and although the water isn't boiling yet, it will soon.
There's also a large flagon with extra water next to it.

Placed down on a far-off crate, there's what appears to be a journal.

Kato taps his chin.
"We have to assume everything is here for a reason, but we can't deny the possibility of red herrings, decoys, either. Could also be hidden compartments in the walls or trees..."

"So, everything is either useful or not?" says Enatsu.

"...Well, if you put it like that..."

-----

>The snake shown in the image (although not a Japanese native) is a corn snake.
>Corn snakes are one of the most well-known and docile snakes (and this one would be trained as well) and make excellent pets.
>I used a corn snake because I felt like there'd be a higher chance of people recognizing it.
>I named the image "Corn Snake" first, but I felt that might've been too obvious.
>In hindsight, I should have kept the name "Corn Snake" as people might've googled it and discovered it is harmless.

Decision
>1 - Check the journal for clues. (1 minute)
>2 - Check the egg carton and eggs for clues. (1 minute)
>3 - Simply start boiling an egg. (1 minute)
>4 - Start splashing water in places. (1 minute)
>5 - Check the walls for hidden compartments. (1 minute)
>6 - Write-in

>>5762821
Mari a chad.
>6 - Kato checks the journal, Enatsu looks for hidden compartments
>BUT! First check that the journal isn't a bait in a trap. It's too sus.

>>5762821
>1 - Check the journal for clues. (1 minute)

>>5762830
Supporting.

>>5762821
Backlinking to
>>5762430

>>5762830
>+1

>>5762830
Support

Maybe the pan has a thing inside that colours when hot enough. Checking the walls is a good bet too.
>Check the walls

>>5762821

Winner
>6 - Kato checks the journal, Enatsu looks for hidden compartments
>BUT! First check that the journal isn't a bait in a trap. It's too sus.

>>5763430

Kato hurries over to a nearby crate supporting a small, leather-bound journal.
He kicks the crate experimentally to trigger any hilarious jump-scares, but none seem to activate.

"Let's start by gathering whatever information we can." Kato says, leaving through the journal. "The two parts of the code seem to be separate puzzles. So, we have to find a new lead to get started. Just push, pull, and nudge whatever you can. Look for hidden compartments on the wall."

Enatsu begins to pat and thump the walls, hoping for a secret door to click open or a mechanism to activate.

Kato reads the contents of the journal out loud, "I'm hidden from sight, a mystery to unveil. On a surface warmed up, my secrets I detail. Invisible at first, I'm a message untold. But with heat, I emerge, my story unfolds. Hmm, what does that mean?"

-----

>>5763195
>Maybe the pan has a thing inside that colours when hot enough.
How dare you be so correct.

-----

There's a sharp hiss from the firepit as now boiling water splashes over the rim and hits the fire.
The sudden noise catches Enatsu's attention, who looks over to the pan.

"Ah! Kato-san." Enatsu says. "There's number on the side of the pan!"

Kato looks over, a big smile on his face, "There is! Nice catch!"

"But how? It wasn't there before!"

"The pan mustn't have been hot enough then. The letters only show above a certain temperature. One Eight Nine."

Kato memorizes the numbers and rushes towards the suitcase.

Enatsu pulls the code retrieved from the lockbox from her pocket, "Seven. One. Five."

Nodding, Kato enters the code into the combination locks.

"...One. Eight. Nine."

Clack. Clack. The case opens.

Enatsu does a little hop for joy, "It opened!"

Upon opening the suitcase, a large frog jumps out -- looking smug.
Frogs aren't like to do such a thing, but this one manages it quite nicely.

Letting his guard down this close to the finish line, the unexpectedly expected jump-scare has Kato toppling backwards and clutching his chest, "...Bastar--- I mean, whew, that got me. Haha."

-----

[Applause]

Meanwhile the audience is in shambles.
There's only a certain kind of person that laughs this hard from silly pranks like those and it seems like Shintaro managed to acquire a studio full of them.

-----

File: Kato_ReducedResolution.jpg (461 KB, 500x800)

461 KB JPG

>>5763468

"The key! The key!" shouts Enatsu, pointing a finger.

A shiny, steel key slides around at the bottom of the suitcase.
Kato picks up the key and the both of them rush towards the door.
A moment later, the door unlocks, and the pair stands outside.

"MWWWOOOOAAAAA!!!"

A horn blares loudly and the timer stops.

Time remaining: 6:22

Enatsu has her hands raised towards the sky -- triumphant.
Meanwhile, Kato is leaning down on his knees, breathing heavy.

Shintaro's voice booms across the studio.

"It seems like we have our first winners! With their quick thinking and no fear, it only took them three minutes and thirty-eight seconds! Amazing! But it does seem Kato-san should've considered wearing some dirt-coloured pants today, haha! Maybe not quite so fearless, then?"

Kato grumbles and brushes the dirt off his butt.

"Enatsu-chan and Kato-san, please return to the secondary waiting area until the games are over!"

The both of them head-off and the camera switches to the other contenders.

Rolled 1, 1, 2, 4, 3, 4, 2 = 17 (7d4)

>>5763469

I will now roll a bunch of dice to determine how the other contestants did.
The results of these seven rolls will be attributed to the contestants top down in the order shown here:

>Sato Yusuke and Yamaguchi Rina (2 points)
>Nakamura Kazuki and Ito Sakura (3 points)
>Inoue Kenjiro and Takahashi Ayumi (1 point)
>Suzuki Keisuke and Yamamoto Futaba
>Wakaba Masato and Kawasaki Kana
>Yasuhiko Kida and Morine Aiko
>Tanaka Kazuki and Mori Ayumi

Rocks Puzzle
The roll is for the "Rocks Puzzle"
Incorrect guess is a 60s penalty.

>1 - Correct Guess First Try (30s)
>2 - Correct Guess Second Try (90s)
>3 - Correct Guess Third Try (150s)
>4 - Solving the cypher (10s - 180s)

Will roll the cypher rolls if any of them roll a 4.

+30s natural time progression

-----

Rolled 145, 4 = 149 (2d170)

>>5763476

>Sato Yusuke and Yamaguchi Rina (2 points)
1 - First Try - 30s + 30s natural time progression = 60s

>Nakamura Kazuki and Ito Sakura (3 points)
1 - First Try - 30s + 30s natural time progression = 60s

>Inoue Kenjiro and Takahashi Ayumi (1 point)
2 - Second Try - 90s + 30s natural time progression = 120s

>Suzuki Keisuke and Yamamoto Futaba
4 - Solve Cypher - Need to Roll - (1d170+10)

>Wakaba Masato and Kawasaki Kana
3 - Third Try - 150s + 30s natural time progression = 180s

>Yasuhiko Kida and Morine Aiko
2 - Second Try - 90s + 30s natural time progression = 120s

>Tanaka Kazuki and Mori Ayumi
4 - Solve Cypher - Need to Roll - (1d170+10)

Rolling cypher solve

>>5763477

>Suzuki Keisuke and Yamamoto Futaba
4 - Solve Cypher - Need to Roll - (145+10) + 30s natural time progresion = 155s


>Tanaka Kazuki and Mori Ayumi
4 - Solve Cypher - Need to Roll - (4+10) + 30s natural time progression = 44s
Yes, this is very low. But unlike the players we rolled a 1d60 and there's a 30s time diff with regard to progression.
However, they rolled 1d180. It's just luck. They solved it at first glance.

Rolled 3, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3 = 14 (7d3)

>>5763480

Fear Factor: Snake
I will now roll seven dice to determine whether or not the other contenders were willing to go near the snake or if they took the 3-minute deal to avoid the snake.
Although there's only two options, I won't settle for a 1d2.

I feel like most people wouldn't want to go even near a snake.
However, most of them would use reasoning similar to the people in this chat "The show wouldn't put us in harms way. That'd be a lawsuit waiting to happen."

With that in mind, the roll becomes a 1d3 with 3 being moving the snake and 1-2 taking the 3-minute deal.
In those "Dare" shows a surprising amount of people actually touch the spider / eat the nasty thing / etc.

+30s natural time progression

>>5762121
>>5762821
Just noticed in these posts that I actually had 60s for the snake part.
So it'll be 60s natural time progression.

The act of getting the key, opening the box, seeing the snake, and then taking the deal is 30s

>Sato Yusuke and Yamaguchi Rina (2 points)
1 - First Try - 30s + 30s natural time progression = +60s
3 - Risk Snake - +30s messing with snake + 30s natural time progression = +60s
Current: 120s

>Nakamura Kazuki and Ito Sakura (3 points)
1 - First Try - 30s + 30s natural time progression = +60s
1 - Take Deal - +180s + 30s natural time progression +210s
Current: 270s

>Inoue Kenjiro and Takahashi Ayumi (1 point)
2 - Second Try - 90s + 30s natural time progression = 120s
1 - Take Deal - +180s + 30s natural time progression +210s
Current: 330s

>Suzuki Keisuke and Yamamoto Futaba
4 - Solve Cypher - Need to Roll - (145+10) + 30s natural time progresion = 155s
1 - Take Deal - +180s + 30s natural time progression +210s
Current: 365s

>Wakaba Masato and Kawasaki Kana
3 - Third Try - 150s + 30s natural time progression = 180s
2 - Take Deal - +180s + 30s natural time progression +210s
Current: 390s

>Yasuhiko Kida and Morine Aiko
2 - Second Try - 90s + 30s natural time progression = 120s
3 - Risk Snake - +30s messing with snake + 30s natural time progression = +60s
Current: 180s

>Tanaka Kazuki and Mori Ayumi
4 - Solve Cypher - Need to Roll - (4+10) + 30s natural time progression = 44s
3 - Risk Snake - +30s messing with snake + 30s natural time progression = +60s
Current: 104s

Rolled 2, 5, 4, 1, 2, 5, 4 = 23 (7d5)

>>5763469

Clue Hunt: Steamy Secrets
More than one option leads the contestants to a proper clue.
They would still have to sus out the meaning though if they get the journal.
The pot boiling over by itself (as it would've been heating the moment they entered) is another clue / way to attract attention to the number.

The time progression for this was actually done by me taking the individual steps into account and timing myself reading all the dialogue out loud.
Which ended up 80s in total (including the actions).
Not everyone will perform the exact same actions in the same way, so we'll roll a 1d50+10 for that.

>1 - Check the journal for clues. (60s) - Valid - 1d60s to decipher meaning
>2 - Check the egg carton and eggs for clues. (60s) - Invalid
>3 - Simply start boiling an egg. (60s) - Valid
>4 - Start splashing water in places. (60s) - Invalid
>5 - Check the walls for hidden compartments. (60s) - Invalid

>>5763492
Natural progression will be added afterwards as it makes up the time in-between actions.

>Sato Yusuke and Yamaguchi Rina (2 points)
1 - First Try - 30s + 30s natural time progression = +60s
3 - Risk Snake - +30s messing with snake + 30s natural time progression = +60s
2 - Check eggs + carton + 60s = 60s (TASK NOT YET COMPLETE)
Current: 180s

>Nakamura Kazuki and Ito Sakura (3 points)
1 - First Try - 30s + 30s natural time progression = +60s
1 - Take Deal - +180s + 30s natural time progression = +210s
5 - Check Walls + 60s = 60s (TASK NOT YET COMPLETE)
Current: 330s

>Inoue Kenjiro and Takahashi Ayumi (1 point)
2 - Second Try - 90s + 30s natural time progression = 120s
1 - Take Deal - +180s + 30s natural time progression +210s
4 - Splash Water - +60s = 60s (TASK NOT YET COMPLETE)
Current: 390s

>Suzuki Keisuke and Yamamoto Futaba
4 - Solve Cypher - Need to Roll - (145+10) + 30s natural time progresion = 155s
1 - Take Deal - +180s + 30s natural time progression +210s
1 - Check Journal - 60s - Valid - 1d60s Decipher (Need to roll)
Current: 425s

>Wakaba Masato and Kawasaki Kana
3 - Third Try - 150s + 30s natural time progression = 180s
2 - Take Deal - +180s + 30s natural time progression +210s
2 - Check eggs + carton + 60s = 60s (TASK NOT YET COMPLETE)
Current: 450s

>Yasuhiko Kida and Morine Aiko
2 - Second Try - 90s + 30s natural time progression = 120s
3 - Risk Snake - +30s messing with snake + 30s natural time progression = +60s
5 - Check Walls + 60s = 60s (TASK NOT YET COMPLETE)
Current: 240s

>Tanaka Kazuki and Mori Ayumi
4 - Solve Cypher - Need to Roll - (4+10) + 30s natural time progression = 44s
3 - Risk Snake - +30s messing with snake + 30s natural time progression = +60s
4 - Splash Water - +60s = 60s (TASK NOT YET COMPLETE)
Current: 164s

Rolled 46 (1d60)

>>5763497

>Suzuki Keisuke and Yamamoto Futaba
4 - Solve Cypher - Need to Roll - (145+10) + 30s natural time progresion = 155s
1 - Take Deal - +180s + 30s natural time progression +210s
1 - Check Journal - 60s - Valid - 1d60s Decipher (Need to roll)
Current: 425s

>>5763498
>Suzuki Keisuke and Yamamoto Futaba
Finished in 471 seconds.
Time remaining: (600 - 471 = 129s) 2m 9s

Rolled 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2 = 8 (6d4)

>>5763497

Suzuki Keisuke and Yamamoto Futaba - removed since finished
Now rolling d4 as they would not do something they've tried before.
The previously rolled result will be skipped over.

>Sato Yusuke and Yamaguchi Rina (2 points) - Current: 180s
>Nakamura Kazuki and Ito Sakura (3 points) - Current: 330s
>Inoue Kenjiro and Takahashi Ayumi (1 point) - Current: 390s
>Wakaba Masato and Kawasaki Kana - Current: 450s
>Yasuhiko Kida and Morine Aiko - Current: 240s
>Tanaka Kazuki and Mori Ayumi - Current: 164s

Rolled 13, 2, 25, 11 = 51 (4d60)

>>5763504

Items are removed on a per contestant basis.
So if you already rolled a 2, but roll it again, then the list assumes the item wouldn't be there and 3 becomes 2.
>1 - Check the journal for clues. (60s) - Valid - 1d60s to decipher meaning
>2 - Check the egg carton and eggs for clues. (60s) - Invalid
>3 - Simply start boiling an egg. (60s) - Valid
>4 - Start splashing water in places. (60s) - Invalid
>5 - Check the walls for hidden compartments. (60s) - Invalid

-----

>Sato Yusuke and Yamaguchi Rina (2 points)
1 - First Try - 30s + 30s natural time progression = +60s
3 - Risk Snake - +30s messing with snake + 30s natural time progression = +60s
2 - Check eggs + carton + 60s = 60s
3 - Boil Egg - +60s = 60s
Current: 240s

>Nakamura Kazuki and Ito Sakura (3 points)
1 - First Try - 30s + 30s natural time progression = +60s
1 - Take Deal - +180s + 30s natural time progression = +210s
5 - Check Walls + 60s = 60s
1 - Check Journal - 60s - Valid - 1d60s Decipher (Need to roll)
Current: 390s

>Inoue Kenjiro and Takahashi Ayumi (1 point)
2 - Second Try - 90s + 30s natural time progression = 120s
1 - Take Deal - +180s + 30s natural time progression +210s
4 - Splash Water - +60s = 60s
1 - Check Journal - 60s - Valid - 1d60s Decipher (Need to roll)
Current: 450s

>Wakaba Masato and Kawasaki Kana
3 - Third Try - 150s + 30s natural time progression = 180s
2 - Take Deal - +180s + 30s natural time progression +210s
2 - Check eggs + carton + 60s = 60s
1 - Check Journal - 60s - Valid - 1d60s Decipher (Need to roll)
Current: 510s

>Yasuhiko Kida and Morine Aiko
2 - Second Try - 90s + 30s natural time progression = 120s
3 - Risk Snake - +30s messing with snake + 30s natural time progression = +60s
5 - Check Walls + 60s = 60s
1 - Check Journal - 60s - Valid - 1d60s Decipher (Need to roll)
Current: 300s

>Tanaka Kazuki and Mori Ayumi
4 - Solve Cypher - Need to Roll - (4+10) + 30s natural time progression = 44s
3 - Risk Snake - +30s messing with snake + 30s natural time progression = +60s
4 - Splash Water - +60s = 60s
3 - Boil Egg - +60s = 60s
Current: 224s

>Sato Yusuke and Yamaguchi Rina (2 points)
>Tanaka Kazuki and Mori Ayumi
Finished. Just need "time progression roll" after this.

>Nakamura Kazuki and Ito Sakura (3 points)
>Inoue Kenjiro and Takahashi Ayumi (1 point)
>Wakaba Masato and Kawasaki Kana
>Yasuhiko Kida and Morine Aiko
Need 4x 1d60s journal rolls

Rolled 43, 49, 42, 17, 16, 33, 24 = 224 (7d50)

>>5763507

>Nakamura Kazuki and Ito Sakura (3 points)
1 - First Try - 30s + 30s natural time progression = +60s
1 - Take Deal - +180s + 30s natural time progression = +210s
5 - Check Walls + 60s = 60s
1 - Check Journal - 60s - Valid - 1d60s (13) = 73
Current: 403s

>Inoue Kenjiro and Takahashi Ayumi (1 point)
2 - Second Try - 90s + 30s natural time progression = 120s
1 - Take Deal - +180s + 30s natural time progression +210s
4 - Splash Water - +60s = 60s
1 - Check Journal - 60s - Valid - 1d60s (2) = 62
Current: 452s

>Wakaba Masato and Kawasaki Kana
3 - Third Try - 150s + 30s natural time progression = 180s
2 - Take Deal - +180s + 30s natural time progression +210s
2 - Check eggs + carton + 60s = 60s
1 - Check Journal - 60s - Valid - 1d60s (25) = 85
Current: 535s

>Yasuhiko Kida and Morine Aiko
2 - Second Try - 90s + 30s natural time progression = 120s
3 - Risk Snake - +30s messing with snake + 30s natural time progression = +60s
5 - Check Walls + 60s = 60s
1 - Check Journal - 60s - Valid - 1d60s (11) = 71
Current: 311s

>Sato Yusuke and Yamaguchi Rina (2 points)
>Nakamura Kazuki and Ito Sakura (3 points)
>Inoue Kenjiro and Takahashi Ayumi (1 point)
>Suzuki Keisuke and Yamamoto Futaba
>Wakaba Masato and Kawasaki Kana
>Yasuhiko Kida and Morine Aiko
>Tanaka Kazuki and Mori Ayumi
Now rolling the final "Time Progression Rolls"
Which is a 1d50+10. So we roll 7d50

>>5763477
Why was our natural time progression 1 minute and everyone else's 30 sec?

>>5763510

>Sato Yusuke and Yamaguchi Rina (2 points)
1 - First Try - 30s + 30s natural time progression = +60s
3 - Risk Snake - +30s messing with snake + 30s natural time progression = +60s
2 - Check eggs + carton + 60s = 60s
3 - Boil Egg - +60s = 60s
X - Final Time Progression = 43s + 10 = 53s
Total: 293s

>Nakamura Kazuki and Ito Sakura (3 points)
1 - First Try - 30s + 30s natural time progression = +60s
1 - Take Deal - +180s + 30s natural time progression = +210s
5 - Check Walls + 60s = 60s
1 - Check Journal - 60s - Valid - 1d60s (13) = 73
X - Final Time Progression = 49s + 10s = 59s
Total: 462s

>Inoue Kenjiro and Takahashi Ayumi (1 point)
2 - Second Try - 90s + 30s natural time progression = 120s
1 - Take Deal - +180s + 30s natural time progression +210s
4 - Splash Water - +60s = 60s
1 - Check Journal - 60s - Valid - 1d60s (2) = 62
X - Final Time Progression = 42s + 10s = 52s
Total: 504s

>Suzuki Keisuke and Yamamoto Futaba
4 - Solve Cypher - Need to Roll - (145+10) + 30s natural time progresion = 155s
1 - Take Deal - +180s + 30s natural time progression +210s
1 - Check Journal - 60s - Valid - 1d60s (46) = 104s
X - Final Time Progression = 17s + 10s = 27s
Total: 496s

>Wakaba Masato and Kawasaki Kana
3 - Third Try - 150s + 30s natural time progression = 180s
2 - Take Deal - +180s + 30s natural time progression +210s
2 - Check eggs + carton + 60s = 60s
1 - Check Journal - 60s - Valid - 1d60s (25) = 85
X - Final Time Progression = 16s + 10s = 26s
Total: 561s

>Yasuhiko Kida and Morine Aiko
2 - Second Try - 90s + 30s natural time progression = 120s
3 - Risk Snake - +30s messing with snake + 30s natural time progression = +60s
5 - Check Walls + 60s = 60s
1 - Check Journal - 60s - Valid - 1d60s (11) = 71
X - Final Time Progression = 33s + 10s = 43s
Total: 354s

>Tanaka Kazuki and Mori Ayumi
4 - Solve Cypher - Need to Roll - (4+10) + 30s natural time progression = 44s
3 - Risk Snake - +30s messing with snake + 30s natural time progression = +60s
4 - Splash Water - +60s = 60s
3 - Boil Egg - +60s = 60s
X - Final Time Progression = 24s + 10s = 34s
Total: 258s

Game Scores
>1 - Enatsu Mari and Kato Haruki: 214s - Wins 3 Points
>2 - Tanaka Kazuki and Mori Ayumi: 258s - Wins 2 Points
>3 - Sato Yusuke and Yamaguchi Rina: 283s - Wins 1 Point
>4 - Yasuhiko Kida and Morine Aiko: 354s
>5 - Nakamura Kazuki and Ito Sakura: 462s
>6 - Suzuki Keisuke and Yamamoto Futaba: 496s
>7 - Inoue Kenjiro and Takahashi Ayumi: 504s
>8 - Wakaba Masato and Kawasaki Kana: 561s

Scoreboard
>Sato Yusuke and Yamaguchi Rina (3 points)
>Nakamura Kazuki and Ito Sakura (3 points)
>Enatsu Mari and Kato Haruki (3 points)
>Tanaka Kazuki and Mori Ayumi (2 points)
>Inoue Kenjiro and Takahashi Ayumi (1 points)
>Suzuki Keisuke and Yamamoto Futaba (0 points)
>Wakaba Masato and Kawasaki Kana (0 points)
>Yasuhiko Kida and Morine Aiko (0 points)