I simulated what would happen if I told my part-time job colleagues, 'I have 530 followers on note'

2:00 AM.

I was in bed, thinking about something terrifying.

"What would happen if I told the people at my part-time job about my note?"

Just imagining it makes me want to go to the bathroom. But I'm too curious to sleep.

That's it. Let's simulate it.

Scenario 1: In the break room of the family restaurant 'Cocoperry'

Takahashi-san (Kitchen Manager): "Mihiro-san, you're always looking at your phone, are you playing games?"

Me: "Oh, um... actually, I'm doing this thing called note."

Takahashi-san: "Note? Like a notebook app?"

Me: "No, it's a platform for writing. I have 530 followers!"

Takahashi-san: "That's amazing! What do you write about?"

Me: "Um... things like 'The time I became an Ameritalian Fusion Human'..."

Takahashi-san: "???"

(Silence)

Takahashi-san: "...The pasta takes 8 minutes to boil, so please take care of that."

Ughhhhh. I want to die just imagining it.

Scenario 2: In the locker room at a burger shop

My coworker Yukari-chan (a college student): "Mihiro-san, you're surprisingly good with your smartphone, aren't you?"

Me: "Do you think so? Actually, I write articles on note."

Yukari-chan: "Whoa! That's amazing! How many readers do you have?"

Me: "530!"

Yukari-chan: "Oh wow! You're like a YouTuber!"

Me: "Ah, but the earnings are... maybe about 300 yen a month."

Yukari-chan: "...If you convert that to an hourly wage..."

Me: "Stop it."

This is also hell.

Scenario 3: During family dinner

Husband: "You've been typing away on your computer a lot lately, what are you doing?"

Me: "Actually... I'm writing on note."

Son: "What's note?"

Me: "It's an app where you write essays and have people read them. Mom has 530 followers, you know."

Son: "My YouTube channel only has 20 subscribers... Mom, that's awesome!"

Husband: "So, how much are you making?"

Me: "...300 yen"

Husband: "That's about the price of one beer."

Me: "At least say it's the price of three yakitori skewers."

Daughter: "Mom, is it really okay to make money on the internet? Are you sure you won't get scammed by weird people?"

Me: "...It's fine (probably)."

Ah, this is so embarrassing too.

Scenario 4: The worst-case scenario

Burger shop manager: "Mihiro-san, I'd love to read what you're writing!"

Me: "N-no, no way! I couldn't!"

Manager: "Will it come up if I search for 'Mihiro'?"

Me: "...Yes (I want to run away)."

The next day

Manager: "I read it! I laughed so hard at the article 'Between Burgers and Pasta'."

Me: "Th-thank you... (I want to crawl into a hole)."

Manager: "You're talking about me when you say 'Japanese Italian Godfather', right?"

Takahashi-san: "I read it too! You wrote 'Santa Maria' about me!"

Me: "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!"

Takahashi-san: "But it was funny. Next time, write about me in a cooler way."

Me: "...Yes (I'm happy, but also embarrassed)."

Escapism: The best-case scenario

Everyone at work: "I read your article, Mihiro-san!"

Me: "Oh! That's embarrassing!"

Manager: "530 followers is amazing!"

Takahashi-san: "I used to blog back in the day. Want to collaborate sometime?"

Yukari-chan: "I want to start a note too! Please teach me!"

Husband: "Even 300 yen is a respectable income. I'm rooting for you."

Son: "I'm a fan of yours, Mom!"

Daughter: "Mom, if you become famous, write about me."

Conclusion: Reality is cruel.

Simulation complete.

Result: I can never tell people in real life.

I mean, just think about it.

No way, no way, no way, no way.

And above all, 300 yen in earnings from 530 followers is...

"I make money from my writing!"

"How much?"

"...Enough for three Garigari-kun popsicles."

That is also way too embarrassing.

But, maybe...

But, maybe, everyone would actually be surprisingly warm and accepting.

Takahashi-san would definitely say, 'That's interesting! Keep writing!'

The manager would likely support me, saying, 'It's admirable that you're working hard on a side hustle.'

Yukari-chan would probably be interested, saying, 'I want to try writing something too!'

But, I still can't say it.

Because, if by any chance they read my articles and find out I wrote things like 'Takahashi-san is picky about pasta boiling times'...

Just imagining it makes me feel like I'll have insomnia again tonight.

Can you talk about your note to people in real life?

I think I'll stay a 'secret side-hustle housewife' who keeps writing secretly under the covers for now.

But, I hope to be able to say it with pride someday.

Like, 'I write articles on note. I have 530 followers!'

(And I hope by then, my earnings will be around 5,000 yen too)

Mihiro (Secret side-hustle housewife)

Postscript: I turned this story into a manga!

I'm also distributing a tool for drawing manga!