My Senpai Won't Let Us Lose.

Thirty million.

Instantly, I can feel my face turn pale. It looks like my mother's is, too. That would wipe out almost half our debt in one shot. But...she said sixty percent. Does that mean that we're gonna escape our debt to the yakuza...just to end up under the thumb of a venture capitalist?

"Oh, my..." Mom is nearly shaking, while President Suzuran is grinning. "This is all so sudden...please give me a moment..."

"Is thirty million not enough? I can go up to forty million for 75%."

"Oh, dear..." Mom can't even get out any words. Tamaki looks like she's about to faint. Forty million. This is crazy.

"Hold on a minute, Senjuuin-san!" Suddenly, President Suzuran steps between my pale, shaking mother and the investor. "I told you about the special circumstances behind this business, right? It's going to be tough for them to give away majority ownership."

"Yes, you did," Senjuuin nods. "I understand their circumstances. However, it's going to be tough for me to do anything under 51%. Salon Biwa has great potential- there's no doubt about that. But it'll take time to build it up- to see a return on my investment. As it currently stands, I don't see enough to justify keeping it in the hands of current management. If I'm to buy in- it has to be as majority owner. Or no deal."

It feels like a rock is sinking in my stomach. The president was right. This lady is our savior, the likes of which we've never had. With one contract- one signature- we could wipe out three-quarters of our debt. But then, instead of being under the control of the Yakuza...we'd be under her control instead. What if we don't make a profit? Will we be right back in the same place we were? And what if, despite her money, we still don't make the sixty-three million in time? We'll lose the business. And then we'll never be able to pay the money back in all of our lifetimes combined.

"Senjuuin-san!" My mouth moves without thinking. Oh, crap. Crap, crap, crap. What am I doing? "Thank you so much for your interest, but please listen to us!"

She turns her steely gaze to me. Holy balls, I've done it now. My heart is pounding in my chest. What if I say the wrong thing and screw this up?

"What's your name, young man?"

"My name is Tatsurou Aikawa. I'm a first-year in Class 1-1 at Shinchoushi Academy. First off, I would like to say- thank you, Senjuuin-san, for leading the PTA and helping us students. We wouldn't be able to function without you."

"Thank you, Aikawa-kun. My daughter will be in high school next year, and she’s been at Shinchoushi three years, so this is the way I’m giving back to the school for providing her with the best education possible. However, I believe you had something else you wanted to say, didn't you? Something more important."

Shit. I was speaking in flattery, and she saw right through it. I didn't even mean to. It's like my brain acted on its own. Think, Tatsurou. Deep breaths.

"Senjuuin-san, we appreciate your interest in Salon Biwa. However- the one thing we can't do is sell the salon to you, or anyone. My father bought this property so that our family could live as well as work here. But we're deeply in debt, and if we can't pay it back by next week, we'll be evicted. All of us want to save our home. So does President Suzuran. Please, let us keep the salon. Please."

I'm prepared to get down on the floor and prostrate if I need to.

Mom, white as a sheet, whispers, "Takkun..."

Senjuuin looks down, with her hand on her chin, deep in thought. For a few minutes, no one speaks. Then, she mutters, "Suzuran-san informed me about your circumstances. I'm sorry. I really am sympathetic to you, but I have to do 51% or more. When it comes to investing millions, there has to be a high likelihood of measurable return to make it feasible. Leaving Salon Biwa in your hands would be too risky. This is business, not charity. I hope you understand."

No way. All this, and the deal is going to fall apart. Forty million yen is evaporating, right in front of my eyes.

The president steps next to the investor and leans into her ear, whispering something. Senjuuin nods.

After a second, she speaks. "How about this? I get 90% ownership of Salon Biwa, the legal entity. As well as that, I gain the rights to the Salon Biwa name for franchise purposes. However...you will retain a minority stake in the company. You own the real estate for the salon- I can't do anything about that. So hopefully, this will be a good compromise."

Well…we don’t own the house and the shop. The gangsters do.

"90%?! But that's still too much-"

Senjuuin cuts me off. "This contract will include the formation of a subsidiary company which owns Salon Biwa in Shakuji. Aikawa-san, you will have majority ownership of this company. While it will still be part of my corporate umbrella, it will function as essentially an independent business. You will have exclusive rights to use the Salon Biwa name in Nerima Ward, as well as a special provision that you can never be stripped of your franchise agreement. I will personally see to it that it is in the contract."

Mom's eyes grow wide as saucers again. "So you're saying that-"

"You'll be able to run your salon for as long as you want to. I’ll handle the business and corporate side of things, including franchising the name out to other stores around the city. All you need to do is keep doing what you love. You were having trouble with your bookkeeping, correct? You don’t need to focus on that anymore. I’m sure this will be beneficial to both of us.”

"How much will this be?"

"Fifty million yen."

It takes all my willpower to not faint. That's over three-fourths of our debt. Gone, just like that.

I don't understand business and contracts. Neither does my mom. I have no idea if this is just an excuse to take advantage of us. I don't know if Senjuuin will say this to us, but the contract will say another thing.

But we're desperate. We can't lose our home. We have to fight.

Across from each other, my mother and I share a glance. Without even saying a word, I know we're thinking the same thing.

We have to take this deal. We have to have faith in Senjuuin-san.

"Senjuuin-san..." My mother hesitantly speaks for the first time in what seems like ages. "Is it possible to do 85%?"

The businesswoman grimaces. "87.5% is the lowest I can go with all those conditions I mentioned."

"We'll take it."

Senjuuin nods. "Thank you very much, Aikawa-san...it was a pleasure doing business with you. You will receive a phone call from my lawyer about the contract very soon. Since I'm aware of your circumstances, we'll make sure to get the purchase finalized before September 24th."

It's like a wave of relief washes over my body. Fifty million yen, with less than nine days to go. We might actually do the impossible.

Reika Suzuran, the irresponsible, meddlesome glory-hound, did something amazing.

"Congrats, Aikawa-kun." Her voice fills my ears. She's standing right beside me, smiling. This time, it's not a smirk that says she's plotting something. There's genuine happiness on her face. "I told you I would come through."

I can't help but return her smile. I'd thought of her as a gossip-hound who likes to stick her nose in my business, but now...she actually kept her word. She did something for me that I thought wasn't possible.

Maybe she is a superhero.

I want to say so many different things, but all I can do is gulp and reply, "Thanks, President. Thank you so much."

"Anything for my kouhai."

I didn't notice it, because I found her annoying. But she's actually pretty cute. She has a nice figure and her shirt is tight enough and her skirt short enough that you can...see a lot more than most girls. And her face is cute, too, despite the makeup. Or maybe because of the makeup. Even the traffic-cone hair doesn't look half bad today. With the artificial light of the hair salon running through it, it looks more like fire.

But...I’m in love with Ayappi. There's no girl that'll ever replace her. Even though I know I don't have a chance with her.

"Hey, President."

"What is it, Aikawa-kun?"

"Who's Lara?"

"You don't know who Lara is?" The president cocks her head. "Geez. You're out of the loop."

I pull out my phone, fuming, and quickly type "Lara" into the Googol search bar. Within an instant, a YooToob page pops up, followed by an Inst*gr*m.

A musician? Wait a minute...487k subscribers? Her latest video has 2 million views? For just lyrics? How have I never heard of her before?

The Inst*gr*m is full of pictures of food, her upper torso, announcements for merchandise releases...oh, she dyes her hair. She never shows her face, but she's got about 750k followers there, too.

The third page is a Tw*tter...

No way.

Pinned Tw**t- Sep 08

Today I got my hair done at this cute little place in Nerima called Salon Biwa. Sayuri-san the stylist is really talented and a super nice person...but they can't pay their bills so they'll go out of business in three weeks. 😔

Laramaniacs, please help Salon Biwa! You're the best fans in the world, so I know you can do it!

Below is a black-and-white picture of long hair...and the link to the GoGiveMe that the president made.

I'm stunned. All I can do is breathe out, my eyes wide.

"Oh. You saw it." The president's voice comes from behind me.

"President...how-" I can only sputter out a couple words.

"Senjuuin is the ace up my sleeve...but Lara is the joker." She smiles.

"But...how did you get this person to..."

"Can I tell you something?" She leans toward me, close enough that I can feel her breath on the back of my neck. It's warm. "I've never told this to anyone else. If you breathe a word of it to anyone other than me- it won't end well for you."

"I believe you." I know better than to mess with Reika Suzuran.

"Remember when I told your sister I was an idol? I kinda...wasn't lying."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm Lara-"

The hairs on my neck shoot up.

"-'s manager."

"Oh." I fall silent for a second. "That's incredible."

On top of being the most popular student council president in Shinchou history, going out of her way to help underclassmen out for no benefit to her, and beating entire gangs into paste, she's also a popular musician’s manager, without even being old enough to drink. And she still gets great grades.

Maybe everyone else is right. Maybe she is a superhero.

"I don't want to tell anyone else at school because Lara is super popular, and as soon as I mention it everyone will want to use me to get to her. So I'm keeping it secret."

"Makes sense."

"I convinced her to come here, though. I asked her to do me a favor and then told her about how you guys were in trouble. She loved it here."

A popular musician dropped by the salon, and I didn't even realize it. Maybe she just blended in with the line.

"She wants to help you out, too. Her fans are incredibly loyal. Did you see how many customers you had today? Most of them are here because of her. And thanks to them, the GoGiveMe is now at five million yen. Between that and Senjuuin-san's investment, along with the one-and-a-half million you've made in profits over the past two weeks- we're now at fifty-six-and-a-half. The target is sixty-three. We have nine days. The goal is in sight."

"We could...actually do it." I'm so shocked, I don't even know what to say. I should sound happier, but I can barely even form words.

"It's gonna be close." The president furrows her brows, a look of determination on her face. "It'll all come down to Sunday, the 25th. The last day. We'll win."

"I hope we'll win, too."

"I know we'll win, Aikawa-kun. Have some pride in yourself. We've made it this far."

"Yeah. I know we'll win."

"That's more like it," she smiles. "I have something special planned for Sunday. Just wait and see."