"Don't you dare cause chaos in my shop, you brats."
Seika Ijichi stood with arms crossed, her piercing, dead-serious glare making everyone instinctively straighten up.
This was no joke. If something went wrong, she could kiss her business goodbye.
"Didn't you all come here to work today? In that case, send that redhead girl to serve customers. She can earn the band's funds with her paycheck."
"Oh yeah! We're all working today!"
It finally clicked for Nijika, who had totally forgotten. Putting Kita on waitstaff duty made for the perfect "punishment", not too harsh, but enough to give her peace of mind.
As expected of Onee-chan—always reliable when it counts!
"One day's not enough. She should do my shift too—"
"Ryo, silence!"
Nijika instantly slapped a hand over Ryo's mouth and dragged the slacker away in a huff.
Trying to cause trouble again? Fine, she could be punished with the most labor-intensive job: cleaning duty!
"Is… is this really enough punishment? Shouldn't I do something more…?"
Ikuyo Kita still looked uneasy. It all felt too lenient.
Nijika sighed and tried to reassure her. "I told you, don't take what Ryo says seriously!"
Why did today feel so exhausting?
"If that's settled, how about giving me a shoulder massage? My neck and back are killing me from all this part-time work."
Kazami Haru rubbed his stiff shoulders with a pained expression. He had lugged a nearly 40-pound keyboard all the way here, and not even his "Endurance" skill could completely ease the strain. Being a keyboardist wasn't easy.
"Yes! I'd be glad to!"
Kita's eyes lit up, and with a gulp, she shuffled over, trembling fingers stretching toward Haru's shirt-clad shoulders.
I can't believe it… this kind of punishment…
Is this divine mercy upon a sinner like me?
Amen.
From now on, I'll offer five-yen coins at the local shrine every day. O merciful god, please make this punishment even more intense. Ravage me, O fate!
But just before her hand could make contact—
A pale, slender hand intercepted her from the side.
"Ikuyo, the manager wants you to change into your work uniform."
"…Huh?"
Kita's pupils trembled. Her face froze in visible shock.
"Wha—but Ryo-senpai, I haven't even—"
Ryo's tone sounded casual, but there was a chilling edge to it that left no room for defiance.
She stepped between Kita and Haru, physically pulling the redhead away.
Driven by sheer fear of Ryo Yamada, Kita didn't dare resist.
No matter how much she didn't want to… she could only watch as Haru's defenseless back slowly disappeared into the distance.
Her beautiful yellow-green eyes dimmed.
Now this… this is real punishment.
This is torture!!!
Only Bocchi, who had silently witnessed the whole scene, trembled in shock.
There was no way this was just a coincidence.
Ryo-senpai never cared enough to involve herself in small stuff like this. But this time, she had walked all the way over from the front just to drag Kita away—
She totally did that on purpose.
Did Ryo-senpai also have feelings for Haru?
But… when Nijika or I got close to him, Ryo didn't react at all.
Why is it only when it's Kita…?
Poke poke
Nijika had snuck up beside her and tapped her shoulder with a cheerful smile.
"Bocchi-chan? Don't space out~ You're on drink service duty at the front desk."
"Eh…"
"EHHH?!"
Bocchi's blank face twisted into raw panic.
She had just remembered, she was also here to work today.
She'd been so distracted by Kita that she completely forgot!
Nooo… not a part-time job…
Just imagining herself forcing out a stiff, awkward smile in front of customers, only to be met with discomforted and disapproving stares, made her feel like she was about to suffocate.
"Do your best, Bocchi-chan! This is a great chance to work on your social anxiety!"
Nijika grinned as she encouraged her. By getting used to customer interaction little by little through work, Bocchi might finally perform on stage without wearing that infamous "No. 5" Faust paper bag.
"As for you, Haru~ Onee-chan's already got the perfect job lined up for you as one of the 'war criminals.' You'll need to change clothes too."
Nijika raised her index finger and declared this with a solemn face.
"Change clothes?"
A bad feeling crept up Haru's spine.
…
"So this is… cosplay?"
Haru rolled his eyes, staring down at the black-and-white tailcoat he'd been forced into. It was eerily similar to the butler uniform he wore at Rabbit House during his old part-time job.
He could understand Seika having maid uniforms, but why did she also have tailored men's outfits?
And why did it fit so perfectly?!
"Oh! Not bad at all."
Seika Ijichi looked him up and down in surprise, clearly impressed.
With his black hair tied back, clean and elegant features, and a subtle air of refinement, Kazami Haru looked like he had walked straight out of an otome game.
If he'd just keep his mouth shut, his silent, cool-demeanor-boy aura would fully shine—girls would be falling all over themselves at first glance.
Snap snap snap!
Ryo Yamada silently pulled out her phone and began snapping photos, the camera flash forcing Haru to squint.
"…So what's my job?"
"Simple. Stand at the shop entrance and hand out all of these flyers."
Seika slapped a massive stack of STARRY flyers into his arms. If Hitori were given this job, she'd probably still be handing them out a year from now.
For someone like Haru, having to smile at strangers was basically a nightmare.
This was punishment in its purest form.