The Guy Who Messed Up Is Gradually Doing His Best - Chapter 111: (Saotome Kaoru's Perspective)

“Kaoru, are you watching!? Taketo-kun is promoting your store right now!”

I received such an important call from a friend, so I hurriedly started playing the live stream, but I thought it would be a waste to start from the middle, so I decided to play it from the beginning.

“Taketo-kun looks like he’s having fun.”

Just a few hours ago, seeing Taketo-kun come to the shop and look lively, made me involuntarily smile.

Half a year ago, due to a certain incident, the days when I could laugh from the heart became fewer. But when I was by Taketo-kun’s side, for some reason, my heart felt warm.

Even when I danced “Hiku Tea Mata” with Taketo-kun at the sports festival. And even when I received an autograph from the armed girl, which has now become one of my treasures. I was truly healed by the smile he directed at me.

“Ah.”

It seems that the filming staff understands women’s hearts, as they keep inserting Taketo-kun’s figure in between.

When the mannequin cat appeared from the lucky bag, I couldn’t help but laugh, but at that moment, the glimmering object around Taketo-kun’s neck was undoubtedly the clover necklace I had given him (which I had forced him to wear). That necklace was my pride and joy, meticulously crafted by me.

Even so, it felt a bit forceful when I handed it over, and I was worried he might not wear it after leaving the store, but Taketo-kun was wearing it around his neck properly.

I was so happy about that that I put my hands down and got absorbed in the live stream.

The most intriguing item was the men’s costume lucky bag. It apparently contained a live photo of an Armed Girls used in the poster, but it was said to be too provocative to show to everyone.

Of course, the comments section was a mess. The netTuber Kamifukuro-san (sister) showed a glimpse of it, but as expected, the photo with the body parts hidden showed Taketo-kun.

He looked really cool with his makeup on. I was very curious about the parts hidden by Kamifukuro-san (older sister), but my attention quickly shifted to the introduction of Taketo-kun’s lucky bag.

And then, I am surprised.

“N-no…”

These are our lucky bags. At the same time, I understood that this was what my friend had called me about on the MAIN phone.

That day, since that model came, our handmade accessories have hardly sold at all.

About six months ago, a close friend of mine bought a few star-shaped accessories that were displayed in our shop with the money they earned from their part-time job.

My friends liked it so much that they immediately posted it on SNS.

Then, a person claiming to be a fashion model named Kasumi sent a message to a friend, saying they happened to see the SNS.

That accessory is cute; I’d like to know the location of that store.

My friend knew that our products were cute and of good quality, but also that the store’s reputation was low.

So I thought it would be good for me if the model became even a little famous and successful, so I introduced her to my shop.

She had striking features and was very beautiful. I deeply felt that the model was of a different race.

At first, the model Kasumi spoke politely and interacted in a friendly manner, but after looking around the store and picking up about eight accessories (which were expensive even in the store, totaling several tens of thousands of yen), when it came time to discuss payment, she said, “You should be grateful that a model like me is using them,” and refused to pay at all.

If there is no payment, the product cannot be delivered. Even elementary school students understand this.

We have exchanged messages multiple times, but this is also a business for us. What is impossible is impossible.

Seeing our response, the model Kasumi, who was showing her irritation, suddenly flaunted her (slightly) featured self in a fashion magazine and tried to assert her dominance again. However, even though she is a model and we are meeting for the first time, we can’t just give it away for free. Our livelihood is at stake.

When I refused again, they left with fierce expressions but for some reason only bought one item (the cheapest one) and went home.

A few days later, I understood why Kasumi only bought one item and left.

Kasumi broke the accessory she bought at home and posted it on SNS.

It broke immediately, the craftsmanship was poor, and charging money for this is a scam, and I’ve experienced that many times.

They were also harassing their fellow models by showing them broken (or intentionally broken) accessories…

Every time something happens, people on SNS murmur things like, “That store was the worst,” or “I can’t understand why anyone would use that store’s accessories,” just when people are starting to forget. Before you know it, bad rumors start to spread as if they were true. Of course, they made explanations, but as the saying goes, where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and customers have stayed away ever since.

Due to the loss of trust in management, I gave up on furthering my education. Of course, I wanted to eventually take over from my mother and manage this shop, and if possible, expand it. But now, even that dream was fading away… and that is now…

“My lucky bag is from the Handmade Saotome ~ Karen Store. It’s from a handmade accessory shop. Thus, as you can see, the clover necklace I’m wearing now is also from this store. It’s made very meticulously, and I really like it.”

“Wow, you’re right. So cute.”

“It’s done very meticulously.”

“Oh, do you understand? Thank you. Then, I’ll open the 3,000 yen item and the 1,000 yen item, starting with the 1,000 yen item.”

Taketo-kun carefully takes each accessory out of the bag one by one and arranges them so that the viewers can see.

Star-shaped earrings, a simple silver ring, a leather cord bracelet, and a heart-shaped necklace… Everyone is surprised by the contents that you could never buy for a thousand yen. However, the Kamifukuro sisters love accessories and they seem a bit excited because each piece is carefully crafted, not poorly made. My heart is racing, restless, and uneasy, though.

“Next is the three thousand yen one.”

A barrette with intricate craftsmanship, a snowflake-shaped necklace, and a ring. A mysterious necklace and ring that look like they are layered multiple times, earrings, penguin earrings, and so on… As I watched in awe, remembering that they made such things, my heart raced.

“Since you can also order online, if you like it, everyone please buy it too.”

Taketo-kun is recommending our store’s products. Until now, he had never recommended any products from anywhere, but now he is recommending ours, and it has been quite a challenge since then.

It was a small amount, but even the maintenance costs felt wasteful, so I was thinking of stopping online sales. Despite being live-streamed, orders are pouring in. The remaining lucky bags sold out immediately.

As soon as I went out to remove the sign saying “Lucky Bags Available,” about three customers entered the store, each holding a lucky bag.

Ah… was I too late?

I’m happy that they sold well, but I have to make new ones for the ones that ran out. That day, I made new lucky bags.

But that day, several other accessories sold as well, and my mother and I shed tears of joy.

This is also thanks to Taketo-kun, thank you, Taketo-kun. Even if this is temporary, I will never forget this day.

I thought that, but the pleasant surprises kept coming. Customers who bought the cute accessories posted them on SNS. If it were just one or two people, it wouldn’t have much impact (probably), but since several women posted them, now my mother and I are working hard on making accessories every day. Our stock is starting to look a bit suspicious.

I told my mom that I could only help during winter break, and little did I know at that time that I would end up making accessories every day after school because she pleaded with me.