The days when fortune tellers stood at tourist attractions, pointing the way like immortals, have mostly faded with the rise of intellectuals like Jack Young and Susan Morrow. Now, you rarely see these so-called masters anywhere except on TV. Times are tough for them—business is slow, and life is hard.
But every business needs a market and a forward-looking strategy. Jack Young had heard of fortune tellers who predict exam results, lottery numbers, or promotions, but many end up getting beaten when their tricks are exposed. This young guy, though, is boldly tapping into the 'marriage of convenience' market—he's got vision that leaves the competition in the dust!
He looks nothing like your typical fortune teller—good-looking, stylish, and could easily play either the cute uke or the cool tomboy. Plus, that youthful voice? In anime, it's usually done by a female voice actor. Clearly, he's in the right place!
Impressive. If nothing else, his market positioning is spot on." Jack Young couldn't help but give a thumbs-up. "No wonder some fortune tellers starve while others thrive—keeping up with the times is key!"
The young fortune teller was already surrounded by fans like a superstar. Two girls squeezed to the front: "Master, master, can you read our fortune? We're..."
"No need to talk. Let me read your fortune." Instead of the usual finger-counting, the young man struck a pose like a thinker, tapping his forehead with two fingers. Just that move made the crowd blush and their hearts race. Then, with a snap of his fingers, he looked up and said, in English: "GET!"
"Oh!" The crowd responded in unison, clearly understanding what was happening. The two girls asked nervously, "Master, have you already figured it out?"
"Yes. Your parents have been pushing you hard lately, always nagging you to go on blind dates. Between the two of you, you've gone on fifteen dates this month. To keep up appearances, you can't just end them quickly, so you have to come up with excuses to turn down guys—it's exhausting. So, you want to know if you should come out or go for a marriage of convenience, right?" The young man looked completely self-assured, eyes sparkling as he spoke.
"Yes, yes, that's exactly right!" The two girls were thrilled, and their excitement spread to the whole crowd. "Master, what should we do?"
"I can't make the decision for you. Only you can decide your fate, but I can point you in the right direction." If he had a whisk, this would be the perfect moment for a dramatic flourish. The young man beckoned: "Secrets aren't for outsiders—come here, one by one, and I'll whisper it to you."