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Episode 162

In a tale that could easily be titled "How to Fund Your Dermatologist and Run from Drama: The Mai Watanabe Story," 26-year-old Mai Watanabe managed to finesse three men in their 50s out of a cool ¥155 million (about $1 million). Armed with nothing but her charm, some well-placed sob stories, and a few existential crises of her own, she made it rain yen in what has to be one of the most impressive cash grabs since Monopoly.

So, how did she do it? Well, Mai didn't just ask for the money—she earned it. She spun tales of woe so detailed, even a Hallmark movie would be jealous. First up: the classic “I need to escape my overbearing parents” sob story. Nothing tugs at the heartstrings (and purse strings) like the tragic tale of a girl trying to make her way in the world while under the oppressive thumb of her parents who, of course, don’t understand her dreams of freedom and Prada bags.

Next, Mai introduced the drama of her “chronic skin problem.” According to her, the medical bills were stacking up, and only the best (read: expensive) treatments would help her glow like the goddess these men clearly thought she was. Suddenly, her requests for cash became "necessary medical aid," and the poor guys—who probably thought they were helping their damsel in distress—were writing checks faster than they could Google "dermatology."

But it didn’t stop there. Mai added a cherry on top with the most thrilling of her woes: a stalker ex-boyfriend. This one had all the makings of a crime drama. According to her, the ex was lurking around every corner, forcing her to move, hire security, and possibly purchase a few designer disguises to stay hidden. The men, likely imagining themselves as her knight in shining armor, opened their wallets wider, trying to protect their fragile flower from her dangerous past.

As the yen piled up, so did the lies—until, inevitably, the police got involved. Despite pulling off the emotional equivalent of Ocean’s Eleven, Mai’s luck ran out when the truth finally unraveled. In court, she tried one last sob story—this time aimed at the judge—hoping for a bit of leniency. And it worked! The judge shaved six months off her 9-year sentence, reducing it to 8.5 years, proving that even when she’s down, Mai Watanabe is still kind of winning.

And the three men? Well, aside from some serious financial damage, they’re left reflecting on the time they paid for a dermatologist, a private security force, and—probably—Mai’s luxury handbag collection. At least now they can tell a cautionary tale to others: if she’s asking for money to escape her stalker ex and fix her "skin condition," it might be time to run—not to the ATM.

Music:
Devon Cole - Sugar Baby
Nerf Herder - Easy Mark

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