The Passive Income System

{Amane's POV}

"Well, shit." I got kicked out of the apartment while my mom kidnapped Sawako from me. Thankfully, I still had a cash game to play and some work I could do. Time to start the main quest!

I picked up my phone, glanced at the time, and searched for directions to local shops.

10:30 a.m. Most places are probably open.

I started walking out of the apartment complex, giving a wave to the security guard. Entering the main street, which was slightly busy, I made my way to one of my destinations. In the meantime, I started my cash game.

"Accept Cash Game," I muttered under my breath, and the world came to a stop. I couldn't move either! The only thing I could move was my eyes.

[Cash game accepted. Rule: Choose a number, and that amount of balloons will appear on the screen. Each balloon will have a number. Say that number, and it will pop. The cash amount is random.]

Simple enough.

[You can speak.]

"Ten."

[Ten balloons... generating.]

[Complete. Pick a number 1-10.]

"Lucky number 7!"

[Popping... $25,000! Congratulations, you won the highest amount!]

"$25,000?!"

Holy fuck, yeah!

[Resuming...]

Huh? The world resumed its normal pace like nothing had happened.

Thank god I couldn't move during that; otherwise, I would have been in a seriously awkward situation! I started walking again while looking at the last prompt.

[Money doesn't count toward the main quest, even if you spend it.]

Damn. At least I'm not completely broke anymore! Hell, I came out richer! I passed the intersection, took a right, and walked into a locally owned café—a Maid Café, specifically.

Ring~

"Hello, Master~!" A black-haired girl with amber-brown eyes and a pretty good figure greeted me.

Isn't she from Maid-sama? Her name was... Misaki, right? I shook my head and put the thought behind me. It didn't matter.

"Yeah, I saw that the owner of this business is selling, so I came to talk, if possible. If I need to set—"

"NO! Please, please, for the love of god, help us! O-Oops." She grabbed my arm with a surprisingly strong grip and pleaded.

Damn, this woman is strong. How did that Takumi dude handle her?!

Her little outburst garnered some attention, which wasn't needed. I'll let it go, though.

"Is that fine?"

"Hm! Hm!" She nodded her head and dragged me to the back. I wonder if Sawako would be down to do this... This is kind of hot! Ooo, I wonder if she'll dress up in cosplay?

[Side Quest: Help the Café]

[Rewards: All workers will naturally be 30% more active, and the system will grant you a random opportunity at a random point in time.]

Another side quest! So, if I buy this place, the workers' happiness and relief will boost productivity by 30%? That's definitely good to remember for the future. And a reward that is... good? I mean, any reward is a good reward!

"Boss!" Misaki led me all the way to a short lady with dark purple hair and blue eyes. The most striking thing was that she was even shorter than Sawako! Sawako is 5'2, and this lady is maybe 5'0 or 5'1.

"Yes, Misaki? Huh? A boy? Y-you know the rules, Misaki!" she teased, clearly trying to get a rise out of this gorilla-like woman. Misaki didn't seem to understand—or maybe she just enjoyed the challenge.

"B-BOSS! He's here to help!"

"Help? I mean, we need a cook, but... he doesn't really look like he can."

"NO! About the payment!"

"Ohhhhh! Great~!" The short lady rushed up to me and grabbed my other arm, freeing me from Misaki's gorilla-like grip.

C-Can't I just walk normally? I hadn't said a word, simply accepting being dragged around. I didn't have the physical energy to resist after last night, but it's not like I could barge back into my apartment.

Sorry, sorry—the apartment my parents pay for and have every right to do whatever they want with. I should add getting my own place to my list, but it would be foolish to do so right now! I need more stable income.

Click~

She led me upstairs to a beautiful room with a bar and a nice lounge area. She dragged me all the way to a relaxing sofa and sat me down. Again, I didn't resist; her grip was way more comfortable than Misaki's!

She sat across from me, clearing her throat before speaking.

"Nice to meet you, my name is Hyōdō Satsuki! Keeping it frank with you, I don't want to lose this place."

"Fujimiya Amane. Feel free to call me whatever." I introduced myself but mainly let her continue.

"It's just... the place is in debt, and I have no way to pay it by the time they request it. So I put the place up for sale, but it's not really what I want."

"So, you want another loan?"

"No, more like a business partner! Someone who could handle the business side of things while I manage the workers and operations."

"Hmm... how about this? I'll make you the head/general manager, but I'll be the owner. That sounds pretty much like what you want to do."

"Nope!" She did a cute "X" with her arms.

"Huh? Why are you so quick to deny it?"

"The store is mine. I can't let go of it!"

Can't I just...

"Fine. What exactly is the reason why you need to pay whatever amount?"

"Rent and land issues."

I nodded and asked, "Can you cover your ears for me?"

"Why?"

"I'm going to make a phone call."

"Uh... sure!" She listened obediently, and I put my phone up to my ear, but a phone call wasn't what I was doing.

"System Shop."

[Say what you need.]

"Rights to the land of this café."

[Searching...]

[1 result found.]

[The right to buy the land of "Maid Latte" cost: $2,000.]

Hmm, pretty cheap. I'll just negotiate for the land, then!

"Buy."

[Purchased... incoming call in 3, 2, 1.]

Ring~ Ring~

I answered the phone, and a feminine voice greeted me. A rather sultry voice, I might add!

"Hello, is this Fujimiya-san~?"

"Yep! I take it you're about to ask me about the land offer?"

"Yeah~! How does $5,000 sound?"

"Fine to me. How do you want me to send it?"

"Wire transfer!"

"Alright, one second." I clicked the mute button.

"System Shop."

[?]

"Wire transfer?"

[Free feature. Just get the relevant information.]

Sweet!

"Hey, miss?"

"Yeah~?"

"Just shoot me a text about where to send it."

"Okay! Are you gonna stay on the line?"

"Sure."

.

.

.

"Done, Fujimiya-san."

"Alright, one second again." I entered the details, the amount, and the reason. In no time, the money disappeared, and her voice seductively spoke again.

"Thank you~! If you want, how about we meet up sometime? A little thanks for helping me out!"

"Maybe, but I can't anytime soon, I'm afraid."

"Aww~! I'll get the deed and stuff for you! Talk to you next time."

If there even is a next time...

[Deed purchased... handling procedures... the land is now yours!]

[New tab: Assets.]

"Really? System, Assets." I kept my phone to my ear even after hanging up to see what this was about.

[Assets]

[Deed of land for Maid Latte and Miyamura Bakery.]

A two-in-one deal for $5,000? Either I just got ridiculously lucky, or there's something about this place I'll regret later. Still, it's a risk I can manage! Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I waved at Satsuki, and she let go of her ears.

"That wasn't as long as I thought it'd be, haha~!" She started laughing, but I didn't crack a smile. Business came first!

"Alright, Hyōdō-san."

"Yes?"

"Keeping it FRANK with you, I now own the land for this place and the bakery next door."

"S-Seriously... how? WHEN?!"

"Just now."

"A single phone call... are you some young master?" She was in disbelief, but I wasn't really focused on that.

Sawako said the same thing! Do I really come off like that?!