"No, no, not at all…"
"Where, oh where…"
Caught between the two, Yanami's eyes swirled with dizziness. She felt as if she had become the heroine of an otome game—an intense love triangle unfolding before her. Her childhood friend and her senior, who had appeared out of nowhere, were constantly vying for her attention.
You… stop fighting over me!
The defeated girl slipped into her fantasy world.
"Speaking of which, why didn't you let me hide just now? They'll definitely misunderstand!"
After her childhood friend left, Yanami glanced at her mother busy in the kitchen, then stood behind the sofa and whispered into Kiyono's ear.
"Hmm? Being sneaky is exactly what makes it look like you have something to hide. The reason is simple."
Kiyono covered his ear and shifted to another spot. "Because your mother is a very good person, and unless absolutely necessary, I don't want to lie to her. And…"
"I also don't want you to lie to your mother because of me."
His voice was calm, but Yanami turned her face away, truly blushing.
Kiyono, this is exactly what makes you so…
Yanami's days moved steadily forward—classes, revision, classes, revision. Soon, the first exam arrived.
As for the results…
"It's over."
In the classroom, Yanami stared at the blood-red numbers on her test paper and couldn't help recalling the teacher's earnest advice in the office. Her eyes gradually dulled, and only an unconscious murmur slipped from her lips.
She had actually… actually passed only two subjects: Chinese and History!
No, no, that can't be right, no matter what. Although she hadn't studied much in the past two months—spending her free time either eating delicious food or working part-time—that's just human nature! She had to enjoy the mock exam properly!
Originally, she didn't care much about grades, but to be this bad… Just thinking of her mother's gentle expression made her body tremble slightly.
…What should I do?
The blue-haired girl slipped the test paper heavily into her backpack—avoidance was meaningless, since the teacher had already called her mother. It would be better to face it honestly.
She took a step and walked out of school.
She bought a drink from a vending machine and two meat buns from a convenience store.
She played with a cat.
Dawdling, dawdling.
Eventually, she went home. As expected, her mother was already waiting on the sofa, the TV not even on. The living room was silent, making her stomach clench with nerves.
"I-I'm home…"
She spoke softly.
"Anna."
The blue-haired beauty smiled faintly at her silly daughter, who was trying to fawn her way out. Her words—full of subtle meaning—startled Yanami.
"I've heard everything from your teacher. So, about your part-time job—should we temporarily stop it?"
In the dim room, the only light source was the curtain pulled open to a narrow slit.
Around the oak round table, several dark figures sat opposite one another like ancient knights.
The next moment, the figure at the head spoke. She deliberately lowered her voice, but the energetic, clear tone still betrayed her—obviously a woman.
"Let's begin today's agenda."
At this, a slender hand went up. "Before we begin, I have a question."
"Please speak."
"…Why did you specifically turn off the lights? And close the curtains?" the boy asked flatly.
"Because it creates atmosphere! Isn't that how high-school girls' heart-to-hearts usually go?!"
Amid the clamor, with a click, someone turned on the room light, revealing the scene: in the lounge, the familiar big sisters sat around the table. But once the lights came on, they quickly reverted to their usual laziness—some sitting, some sprawling—revealing large expanses of skin.
Kiyono, however, simply propped his cheek on one hand, his thoughts drifting… Today should be the day Yanami gets her grades. How did that idiot do?
"Question! What do you all think an ideal romance is like?"
The "empress" at the head of the table spoke—Yasuda from the senior group. Due to her overly straightforward nature and occasional wild remarks, she remained unmarried; only girls who weren't in love would be so invested in such a topic.
She eagerly continued:
"Me first, me first! My ideal partner would pick me up in a luxury car, then casually pull out a bank card and let me shop freely at the mall! That's proof of love!"
"You're looking for a sugar daddy," Ono-senpai said dryly, crossing her legs.
"What about you?"
"Me… me?"
Also unmarried, Ono's gaze wandered. She touched her ponytail and stammered, "The most important thing is to be considerate of the other person, right? Always pay attention to my feelings, comfort me when I'm sad—and have a nice voice! At least like Kiyono, to coax me to sleep every night. Even if he's not there, he should record it…"
"How troublesome—yours is even more impossible! And you must never go to a host club; you'll be completely swindled."
The voices in his ear suddenly fell away. Kiyono felt something odd, looked up—and met a pair of deep, meaningful eyes.
"Junior? We need a man's opinion for reference!" Yasuda had somehow moved to his side, hands making grabby motions in the air, as if she'd tickle him if he didn't give a satisfactory answer.
Kiyono had planned to brush it off, but after considering the consequences, he gave up resisting.
A figure flashed inexplicably through his mind, and he replied, "First… to be able to give the other person a better life, right?"
At these words, the lounge fell briefly silent.
"Wow, what a truly manly perspective. But, Junior-kun, I have to correct you on one point: if a girl truly likes you, she won't care about your material conditions! She'll struggle alongside you!" Yasuda-senpai, ever slightly off-kilter, said with surprising earnestness.
To this, Kiyono was noncommittal.
He had his own principles—love included. If he couldn't make a girl's life better, he would rather step back, work on himself, and let her find happiness—even if he missed out, even if she held someone else's hand. He believed that was the most perfectly correct approach. It might be self-centered, but he couldn't change it.
Therefore, he wouldn't fall in love now.
The next day, before sunset, Yanami gently pushed open the lounge door. A breeze stirred the curtains, and the setting sun drenched the room in orange-red, like a movie filter.
Kiyono, sitting in the corner, heard the movement. He smiled and greeted her as usual:
"Yo—how many from the bottom did you rank this time?"
"I really did badly…"
Yanami gave him a sidelong glance, opened her locker, and seemed to tidy her things.
…Something was off.
Kiyono frowned. After spending so much time with Yanami, he easily noticed her unusual behavior—she wasn't as lively as usual, and her eyelids drooped.
The room grew quiet.
The air was so still it felt unfamiliar.
"I'm sorry, Kiyono." The blue-haired girl turned to face him, hands clasped tightly in front of her, gripping her skirt hem.
Now it seemed as if…
Kiyono took a slow breath, gradually understanding the situation.
"My family won't let me continue working here."
Yanami's lips curved faintly, and she looked straight at him—bittersweet and helpless at once.
So that's how it is… It was natural. She was still a student; studies should come first. If he were in Yanami's or her parents' position, he would do the same.
Kiyono felt an inexplicable thirst, picked up his cup, and took a sip of water.
But… that meant today would be the last time they worked together here, right?
He suddenly realized that almost all of their contact points were in this restaurant and this small lounge. If she no longer worked part-time, there'd be no reason to meet again.
He didn't have a phone now, so he naturally didn't have Yanami's contact information. Even if he knew her home address, he couldn't just go to her house every day.
Their relationship would inevitably grow distant—until it faded. That's how human connections often go.
What was this feeling of loss…
Kiyono took another sip, using the cup to hide his expression.
He recalled yesterday's conversation about love with the seniors. He probably did have some affection for Yanami. After all, he was a normal man; how could he not harbor subtle reveries when spending time with a beautiful girl every day? He just knew how to stay calm and had no wish to turn those reveries into action.
And they hadn't reached that point anyway.
His emotions were complex and hard to express, ultimately thinning into a faint tease. "Looks like you won't have money for snacks anymore."
"Yes, I'll have to cut down to three-quarters," Yanami said with a touch of gloom.
…That's not a reduction at all!
Truly, even at the end, she was still her irrepressible self.
"Remember to study hard from now on." After a moment, he added, "When you have free time, go for runs and exercise. Let Lemon help you make a plan, otherwise, with your appetite…"
"Nag, nag, nag! Saying such things to a girl is very rude!"
Yanami gave him a small glare—which actually lightened the farewell mood.
She was very quiet today, and her movements very gentle, as if she were reminiscing.
Kiyono didn't say many sentimental words either—he simply offered a careful goodbye after the girl left with her backpack.
Yanami gave a small wave.
Click.
The door shut.
The room fell silent again, and the sun gradually set.
Is it over…? Kiyono sighed. For a moment, every scene of his time with the girl flooded his mind. Thinking about it, this place really did hold most of their memories.
But… that's how it is.
He thought quietly.
Until the next day—he pushed open the door, and the sunset spilled in. He stood in that light, stunned. In front of him, the familiar blue-haired girl sat at the table, head down, doing her homework.
Bathed in the crimson glow, her figure looked unusually gentle and bright, as if illuminating the entire space.
Kiyono blinked.
"…Didn't you quit?"
Noticing his gaze, Yanami looked up, tucked a stray lock behind her ear, and—backlit by sunset—showed the same cheerful, bright, charming smile as always.
"I promised my mother I'd definitely pass the next exam and return to my previous grades, and she agreed to let me keep my part-time job! As long as I sacrifice a little of my weekend time for eating and shop-exploring, my grades will easily catch up!"
Her smile curled into a triumphant smirk.
"After all, I'm still very smart, right? This way I'll have money to keep buying snacks!"
Kiyono was speechless for a moment—but seeing the familiar scene, he scratched his head, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help lifting.
Ah, this is pretty good too…
And so, they resumed their usual routine.
The exhaust fan in the kitchen wheezed like an asthmatic. Komari Chika was chopping onions; despite the tears in her eyes, the corner of her gaze still tracked Kiyono in front—he was stirring the cream soup with a stainless-steel ladle, fingertips reddened by steam, yet he patiently persisted.