The Passive Income System

[Side Quest: Ensure Sawako Enjoys the Night.]

[Rewards: Moderate Improvement in relationship, upgrade to tier 1.2, and a Cash Bonus Game]

A side quest? Nice! This should be easy enough to complete, and I'm curious about this "cash bonus game." While heading to the restaurant, I decided to check my relationship tab. I'd already reviewed my main status earlier and noticed I only had $10 left! Most of my funds had gone toward buying a suit set for tonight. Since I didn't own one, it was a necessary expense. I could have opted for traditional Japanese clothing or formal wear, but I had no idea how to put it on properly. Amane rarely wore such outfits himself, so I was completely at a loss.

Walking through the quiet streets under the glow of the night, I mentally prepared myself for the evening ahead. Sawako had texted me around 18:00, letting me know she would meet me directly at the restaurant. I figured her mom probably encouraged her to do that, but it worked out just fine. This way, I could take care of my business before we sat down for dinner.

The reservation wasn't until 9:30 PM, so she had plenty of time. As long as she showed up, everything would be fine, hahaha! If she didn't, that would be beyond awkward, but I was confident she wasn't the type to flake without a reason. Even if something urgent came up, she'd let me know long before being late. Sure, I'd only known her for about five days, but she wasn't exactly great at lying. So yeah, I wasn't too worried.

"System Three." I didn't have to care about anyone's opinion, so I didn't hide my words. A few people looked at me questioningly, but I didn't care.

[Relationships] 

Tier 5: MAX

- Shuuto Fujimiya (Father)

- Shihoko Fujimiya (Mother)

Tier 4:

- Sawako (???): (250/1,250) <-- Promoted from Tier 3

- Itsuki (Friend): (35/1,250) <-- Updated from 25/1,250

- Yūta (Friend): (0/1,250)

Tier 3:

Mahiru (Friendly Acquaintance): (25/250) <--Promoted from Tier 2

Yume (Friendly Acquaintance): (0/250)

Kitao Kuronuma (Father of Sawako): (0/250)

Youko Kuronuma (Mother of Sawako): (0/250)

Tier 2:

Shizuka (Sensei): (30/50)

Shōko (Acquaintance): (15/50) 

Nanami (Acquaintance): (6/50)

Hmm, not bad. I can definitely get everyone to Tier 3 by the middle of next week—especially Shoko and Nanami. Oh, wait... I'm broke as hell. Should I just reschedule? It's not like we've set anything in stone anyway. Yeah, I'll wait and see how this cash bonus game turns out first. Whatever happens with that will decide if we hang out tomorrow!

"Hah~" I let out a deep breath, the excitement finally catching up to me. Glancing at my phone, I took note of the time.

[8:10 PM]

With 50 minutes left until 9 and being only 30 minutes away, I had plenty of time to get there and relax. I could even make some final touches to my outfit. The cologne in one of my pockets would come in handy, and I still needed to button up the shirt properly and clean off my shoes a bit. Nothing too serious!

.

.

.

"Phew~" I let out a breath of relief, catching my reflection in the restroom mirror. Thankfully, the restroom near the entrance was spacious and well-maintained.

Speaking of the restaurant, stepping inside had been an experience in itself! The soft glow of warm, amber lighting greeted me, casting a cozy yet elegant atmosphere. The smooth notes of jazz music flowed seamlessly through the space, adding a sophisticated charm. Sawako and I wouldn't be dining here on the main floor, though. We'd be on the rooftop, where a garden-dining area awaited. I couldn't wait to see that!

The suit I'd bought wasn't overly fancy, but it wasn't poor-quality either. It came as part of a bundle set—everything I needed for formal wear—which led me to expect cheap fabric. To my surprise, the material felt incredible. The dark blue color quickly became my favorite detail, perfectly complementing my dark hair and eyes while maintaining a sharp look without veering into emo territory. The cologne I wore added a subtle, pleasant touch, though it lacked a recognizable brand logo. It must be something unique to this world.

I'd also taken a moment to style my hair—not too elaborate, just enough to show that I'd put in some effort.

Feeling satisfied with my appearance, I walked out of the restroom and headed back toward the reception area. Thankfully, there wasn't a line, so I went straight to the desk without any delay.

"How may I help you, sir?" one of the employees greeted me as one should, but there was something weird. This lady... she looked familiar. I couldn't put my finger on it, but her black hair and dark-purple eyes were giving me a strange feeling. I brushed it off.

"I have a reservation for Amane."

She typed some things in with a straight face. "Yes, sir. It's for two in the garden."

I nodded.

"Okay, follow me. When your guest arrives, we'll bring them up." The lady left the counter and pointed toward an elevator. I finally got a chance to look at her name tag: Inoue.

I don't know an "Inoue," but why does she feel so familiar? Hah~ Whatever. We headed up the elevator, and she led me to my seating arrangements.

Ding~

In no time, the elevator reached its destination, and a stunning view entered my eyes. The rooftop had been transformed into a beautiful garden with an assortment of well-taken-care-of flowers and plants! It truly was a visual masterpiece.

We walked through the vibrant garden, and I noticed there were a few other tables filled with people. Workers lined the side areas and kept their interference to a minimum unless needed.

"Here you go. Would you like something to drink while you wait?"

"Yeah, I'll just go with water for now. I'll wait on anything else."

"Okay, I'll have that brought to you. Enjoy."

Now we wait.

[25 minutes later]

HMMM~ Hmmm~

A phone call? I picked it up, and it was Sawako.

She must be here.

"Hey! Are you here?" I asked.

"Yeah! T-This place is way nicer than I thought. Are you sure it's alright for us to eat here? I m-mean, it looks really expensive!"

"Of course! Besides, I've already paid for everything, so no take-backs!"

"Okay... I'm heading to the desk now."

She sounds so nervous. I should head down there, I think.

"Amane."

"Are you his guest?"

"Y-Yeah."

"Okay, follow me."

I could hear the conversation between Inoue and Sawako. I feel kind of bad now. Perhaps this might not have been a good idea. I should have given her more prep time! I'll work on it for next time. For now, I'll just make sure she gets comfortable.

"I'll see you when you get up here." 

"Okay!" 

I hung up the phone and rose from the table, making my way toward the elevator. Just as I arrived, the doors slid open, revealing my date. She hadn't noticed me yet, her fingers gently fiddling with a delicate bracelet on her wrist. The subtle motion gave her an air of quiet nervousness, and I couldn't help but pause, taking a moment to admire her.

Her lavender dress seemed to glow under the soft light, perfectly complementing her jet-black hair that cascaded in soft waves. The sparkle of a small crystal hairpin caught my eye, adding a touch of elegance to her already stunning presence. For a moment, the world around me faded, leaving only the image of her—beautiful, poised, and completely unaware of how captivating she looked.

"You look beautiful, Sawako! This must've been what you meant by recharging."

"S-Shut up!"

"Ahem! Would you like me to get her water as well?"

I nodded, letting Inoue go back down the elevator. I then took Sawako's right hand into my left and led her to the table. I really hope nothing goes wrong tonight!