Bab 111: Passion Project
A few weeks slipped by since Furuya's little escapade. He and Catherine found themselves more entwined than ever, their bond resilient against the tides of time. Yet, recently, the school hummed with a different kind of energy, whispers of a way to amass a small fortune in no time at all. Initially dismissed, the rumors soon ignited a blaze of curiosity and speculation.
"I'm thinking of trying it out," Furuya declared, his voice cutting through the usual chatter of their classroom. Yasushi's group lounged around, soaking in the brief respite between classes.
"No," came the unanimous reply. The synchronized response startled Furuya, most of all because Catherine's voice joined the chorus.
"W-why? There's a lot of proof already," he stammered, his hand gesturing to the empty classroom as if invisible evidence lingered in the air.
Yasushi exhaled, his eyes meeting Furuya's with a mixture of exasperation and concern. "It's a scam. Nothing more, nothing less. Jingliu and I looked into it. We asked Yinhaie. Xinyi dug up some info too. It's a scam, well-crafted but a scam."
Furuya slumped on his seat and sighed. "Then care to explain the scam, oh great one?" he asked tiredly.
Yasushi leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips as he addressed his friend. "There's this social media app called HypeZone," he began. "They've announced a contest specifically for teenagers. The deal is, teens create videos or photos based on the themes HypeZone provides, using products from their sponsors. The big draw? A promise of a grand prize for the 'most engaging' entry. This includes being featured prominently on the app and receiving a cash reward."
He paused, letting the information sink in, before continuing with a hint of irony in his voice. "But here's the catch. The whole thing is a sham. HypeZone doesn't necessarily choose the best entry. They can pick anyone they like. The real objective is to get teenagers to churn out free advertisements for them and their sponsors. It's a clever way for HypeZone to get massive promotion without spending a dime."
Yasushi's eyes narrowed as he went deeper into the mechanics of the deception. "Think about it. Teenagers are desperate for online recognition. The idea of being featured on a popular app is thrilling. Throw in the allure of a cash prize, and you've got them hooked. Once a few friends join in, others feel the pressure to follow, even if they sense something fishy."
He leaned forward, the smirk replaced by a more serious expression. "So, how do you avoid falling for this scam? Start by questioning contests with vague judging criteria and ambiguous rewards. Dig into HypeZone's past contests to see if the winners were chosen fairly. Create content for yourself and your audience, not to promote an app."
Yasushi's tone softened as he wrapped up his explanation. "This scam preys on teens' craving for online fame and their fear of missing out. It masquerades as a fun opportunity for recognition, but it's really just a ploy to get them to produce free ads," he said, his voice carrying a mix of concern and quiet resolve.
"W-well, if you put it like that... I guess it looks more like a scam," Furuya stammered, a wave of unease washing over him. He pulled out his phone, his fingers hesitating momentarily before navigating to the app. With a few swift taps, he deleted his account and then uninstalled the app entirely. He turned to Xinyi, his voice tinged with a mix of disbelief and curiosity. "Is that what you found out too?"
Xinyi nodded, her expression calm yet resolute. "We discovered it together, just as Yasushi explained. It was a collaborative effort between my family and Jingliu's."
Furuya exhaled deeply, his eyes sweeping over the rest of the group. Laura and Reina were also busy deleting their accounts and apps, their faces mirroring a mix of regret and determination. "You two fell for it too, huh?" he asked, a faint smile playing on his lips despite the situation.
Reina's cheeks flushed slightly. "My classmates told me to give it a shot, so I did. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about," she admitted, her voice tinged with embarrassment.
Laura sighed, shaking her head. "My parents were all for it, and our neighbors insisted it wasn't a scam. They convinced me to try it out. I was actually planning to ask you guys about it, but Furuya got there first," she explained, a note of disappointment in her tone. "So much for easy money."
Yasushi looked back at his friend and asked, "Do you want to earn money that badly? Why are you low on cash again?"
Both Furuya and Catherine blushed deeply. Furuya stammered, "W-well, I splurged a bit for Cathy and now... I'm low on funds."
Catherine added, "I-I said I would pay for things, but Furuya didn't let me and insisted on paying himself, so now we have a bit of a problem."
Yasushi sighed, shaking his head. "You're an idiot, Furuya. We don't live in the 18th or 19th century. Women can pay for themselves. Anyway, why don't we do something about it?" His words hung in the air, catching everyone's attention.
Jingliu, always thoughtful, looked at him with curious eyes. "What do you mean by that?"
Yasushi leaned in, a spark of inspiration in his gaze. "Let's use our individual skills to make some money. Listen to this—"
+-+
A few days passed, and the weekend arrived. Yasushi and his friends decided to open a stall to earn some extra money. Yasushi's idea was simple but effective: a food stand on a bustling street.
Despite Yasushi's modest claims about his popularity, he was a regular at various shops and stands in the city. The owners knew him well, as did the locals and patrolling police. Leveraging these connections, Yasushi secured a permit to set up their food stand.
The first few hours were a whirlwind. Yasushi's and Yinhaie's culinary skills attracted a steady stream of customers. The enticing aromas wafted through the air, drawing people in. Xinyi, Furuya, Laura, Reina, her two brothers, Layena, and Catherine helped attract more customers with their lively presence and cheerful banter. Jingliu managed the finances and cash register with precision, while Yasushi and Yinhaie focused on cooking.
The stand became a hive of activity. Laughter and chatter filled the air, blending with the sizzle of food on the grill. People lined up, some drawn by the tantalizing smells, others by the infectious energy of the group. The food stand was more than a success; it was a testament to their collective effort and Yasushi's knack for turning a simple idea into a thriving venture.
"I didn't think we'd get this many people," Yasushi remarked, flipping another piece of meat on the grill. The smell of sizzling food wafted through the air, mingling with the chatter of the growing crowd.
Yinhaie chuckled, a knowing smile on her face. "True, but I trust in my cooking, and yours is very good too, Yasushi. With how often you visit here, we had some customers guaranteed."
Yasushi wasn't entirely convinced but kept his thoughts to himself. He glanced over his shoulder, noting the increasing number of people gathered. Layena and Catherine had returned to help distribute food to the eager customers alongside Jingliu. The rest of his friends were scattered about, drawing in more people and engaging in lighthearted conversations.
"We'll be busy during weekends as long as we keep this up," he said, turning back to the grill.
Yinhaie nodded, her movements precise as she prepared more dishes. "Yes, but it's a good kind of busy," she replied, her tone light and content.
+-+
"It's over…finally. Can I have some food?" Furuya sighed, trudging over to their food stand.
Yasushi had just served the last customers and flipped their sign to "closed." He chuckled at Furuya's weary expression, handing him a greasy burger and a cold drink. "Good work out there. I set aside some food for everyone."
Furuya's face lit up as he took the burger, and soon the others who had been working to draw in customers gathered to claim their portions.
"How much did we make?" Xinyi asked, her eyes glinting with curiosity.
"It was our first day, and it was a big hit. We earned roughly two thousand four hundred dollars, or three hundred seventy-five thousand one hundred seventy-one yen. Tomorrow, being Sunday, we might see a bit less or maybe more, depending on the turnout," Yasushi explained, his tone matter-of-fact but with a hint of satisfaction.
"Xinyi, Jingliu, Yinhaie, Layena, Catherine, and I don't really need the money, so you guys can split it among yourselves," Yasushi told Reina, Furuya, Laura, and Reina's two younger brothers.
The four of them looked at Yasushi, eyes wide with surprise and excitement. "Really?" Reina asked, almost breathless.
Yasushi nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Really. You all worked hard today. Enjoy it."
The four of them quickly divided the money, ensuring Reina's younger brothers got a fair share. Once the task was done, they lingered by the stand, cleaning up and eating, their spirits lifted by the unexpected windfall.
"Tomorrow, same time?" Furuya asked, his eyes gleaming as he counted his share before tucking it safely away.
"Yeah, ideally. If you can't make it, let us know tonight or in the morning. We'll adjust if needed," Yasushi replied. The rest nodded in agreement.
Xinyi stretched, a loud yawn escaping her. "Great! See you guys tomorrow, then," she said, turning to leave with Laura and Reina, who were planning to carpool with her.
"Catherine and I are going on a small date. Miss Yinhaie, could you come with us to the bank to deposit this? I'm uneasy carrying so much cash around," Furuya asked, his voice tinged with nervousness.
Yinhaie smiled warmly. "Of course, Furuya. Let's go."
As they made their way towards the bank, Yasushi stayed behind, making sure everything was in order before locking up. The night had fallen, the streets quieter now, but the buzz of the day's success still hummed in the air.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Haruki_Murakami
Haruki_Murakami "El hábito no hace al monje" - Spanish proverb
"The habit does not make the monk."
Meaning: Outward appearances do not define a person's true character.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone