After sensing the heavy atmosphere, Kiyono's expression turned serious. Something was off. Had someone passed away and they were preparing for a collective memorial service? Judging by their faces, it had to be at least a consul- or store manager–level figure, right?
The next second, he realized he was overthinking.
"Our junior even brought us cold drinks—how wonderful!" The Big Sisters eagerly split up the plastic bag in his hand, and cheerful laughter burst out.
"Sigh, Kiyono's moved on to a new life. I want to pursue a happier job too!"
Ono-senpai popped the tab on a can; bubbles rose in a steady stream.
"What is the meaning of work…?"
"Money," someone answered immediately.
For once, everyone agreed.
Kiyono picked up the last bottle and handed it to Komari in the gap, then sat down to chat.
From work to life, from life to society, from society to "how to spend a hundred million you've earned"—humans are such creatures, always branching off into tangents!
Komari listened in secret.
Kiyono glanced toward the cabinet.
The Big Sisters headed to their shift, leaving only the two of them in the break room to wait.
With a soft rustle, Kiyono turned a page of his book.
He pondered for a moment, then finally said, half to himself, "From now on… it'll be hard for us to work together like we used to."
"Uh… mm." Komari clutched her phone and gave a faint response.
"Speaking of which—Ono-senpai asked why we work, right? I've always wanted to know something, Komari. Why did you choose to work here?"
Kiyono traced a finger along the page, curious.
"Of course, for money!" Komari answered without hesitation.
"Besides money, there must be other reasons, right?"
"Also… I wanted to train my courage to talk to people."
She paused; a flicker of hesitation crossed her pretty face. She had never told anyone her true thoughts—not even the club president. But maybe because this felt like "the last time with Kiyono," or because she momentarily saw Kiyono as Fuyutsuki-sensei, her long-closed heart quietly softened.
"Because…"
"I don't like who I am right now." She buried her face in her knees, her voice muffled.
Gloomy, mean, with a terrible personality; always an outsider; always quick to assume the worst about others; good at lying, with not a single presentable trait… She hated her current self.
Silence pressed in. Outside, the clouds stayed dark and heavy.
Kiyono was stunned. Her words reminded him—unaccountably—of a certain reader. Could it be…?
At first, his impression of Komari had been as stereotypical as most people's, with the extra label of "loser." But over time he'd come to understand another side of this gloomy girl—
She had a mind more delicate and gentle than most. She was sensitive to the people and things around her, secretly helped from the shadows, and even went out of her way to keep others from discovering it was her.
After a few seconds, Kiyono spoke.
"Is that so? But I think Komari is a very brave, very gentle girl." It was also what he wanted to say to that reader—being willing to face your weaknesses and actively change is already impressive.
Eh?
Komari poked her head out from the gap.
The boy in her line of sight was as enthusiastic and straightforward as ever, his gaze clear.
Those bright eyes seemed to see straight through her, peeling back layer after layer.
"Sure, talking to people might be hard for you—that's introversion, not a bad personality. On the contrary, I think Komari is very gentle."
"Because last time, didn't you secretly buy me my favorite snacks?"
And not just that once—countless little details revealed her gentleness: a gentleness that put others first and herself in the dust.
He flashed a bright smile.
"I think the current Komari is already really good."
Like sunlight slipping from behind the clouds.
A world long coated in dust suddenly brightened under that beam.
Thump. Thump-thump. The girl's heart took a hit.
Aside from the club president, this was the first time a boy had praised her—affirmed her. And even the club president only praised trivial things. Only Kiyono touched the deepest part of her heart.
Are you an idiot? There's no benefit to flattering me like this… Her face flushed, and she instantly retreated into the gap.
"And courage—that's a stat you can train later!"
His voice rose with energy.
"Alright, it's decided! Consider this my last help before we part ways. Come with me!"
A chair scraped back, and Kiyono appeared before her, pulling her out. Komari was different from the other two "losers"; with her, he had to be firm—ideally, catch her off-guard.
"L-Let go of me…" Komari offered symbolic resistance.
Outside the door, Yanami leaned against the wall, quietly listening to them. Hands clasped behind her back, a smile slowly formed—somewhere between complaint and relief.
"Honestly, Kiyono is so hopeless in this area…"
"But Komari's situation is special. It makes me a little worried. I'll let it slide this time."
"Y-You… what did you want me to do…?"
Dragged to the front entrance, Komari covered her face in fright, like a vampire who might die in sunlight.
Kiyono stuck up his thumb, his smile sparkling.
"Greet customers with me! Just smile and say, 'Welcome!' Simple, right?"
A beat passed.
Then Komari bolted like a rabbit, hid back in the gap, and plunked a cardboard box over her head.
"N-No, no, no! I absolutely can't do that—I'd rather die!"
"…Too timid, Komari. What level of training can you handle now?" Kiyono scolded lightly from the doorway.
"Smiling."
"Alright—then we start with smiling!"
Whether she could greet guests didn't matter. What mattered was building the most basic self-confidence.
Komari lifted off the cardboard box and peeked out, feeling something was a little off.
And so, the "loser group's" special training began.
Two days later—
"I'm smiling." The girl grinned at the mirror.
"That's a creepy, ghost-house smile. Again! The guests need to feel your enthusiasm," Kiyono said.
"I'm smiling." She tried again.
"That's a dopey meme smile," Kiyono critiqued mercilessly.
Komari covered half her face chuunibyou-style and sneered, intoning grandly, "Y-You fiend—be devoured by the flames of darkness!"
"Are you chuunibyou?!"
"Y-You're so annoying…"
She grumbled, thought for a moment, then suddenly turned to him. With two pale fingers, she lifted the corners of her cherry-pink lips, dimples faintly appearing.
Seeing that classic look, Kiyono froze.
On closer inspection, she really was very cute…
He coughed, suppressing the urge to snap a commemorative photo, and turned away. "Practice on your own now. Don't overdo it or stiffen up; just a normal smile is fine."
"I-I was going to practice alone anyway. You're the one who kept nitpicking…"
The gloomy girl snorted. How could a smile be natural with someone staring?!
And yet… this was the first time she'd chatted and joked around with someone so naturally.
Not even with the club president—she always got unbearably nervous around the person she liked.
"Sink your hips five more degrees," Kiyono said, turning drill instructor.
"Yes, Teacher!"
"Good. Now for a live exercise." Kiyono cleared his throat, straightened his back, and deepened his voice. "Imagine I'm a single father with a child."
"W-Welcome…"
Komari froze like a rusty robot—arms stiff, back taut. Kiyono couldn't bear to watch. He was about to step in, give her shoulders a firm pat, and demonstrate the posture when the door suddenly slid open.
The blue-haired girl burst in, practically glowing.
"I heard you two were in trouble?"
"B-Ba—Yanami?"
Komari straightened, flustered. She wasn't used to acting like this in front of Yanami.
Yanami leaned against the doorframe, all confidence in tone and posture.
"Although that man over there is an all-rounder, when it comes to fixing a smile and making customers feel a spring breeze the moment they step in, I'm the pro. So, Komari—let me teach you!"
"No objections here," Kiyono said, relieved to take it easy.
"…O-Okay," Komari murmured, shyly fussing with her bangs.
Teacher Yanami personally adjusted Komari's posture and smile until—
A breeze lifted the curtains; the setting sun's crimson poured into the break room, stretching three shadows long across the wall.
Two stood.
One bowed.
"Welcome!" A steady voice. A perfect smile.
Kiyono and Yanami applauded in unison.
"With this, you've learned all the Kiyono family's ultimate mysteries," Yanami said with a smile.
"Go forth," Kiyono encouraged gently.
"V-Very…"
"Thank you, Masters, for your guidance! I'm off!"
Under their gentle gazes, Komari felt her eyes grow warm. Scenes from the past few days of special training flashed in her mind. It was as if boundless strength surged through her.
Yes. Yes.
Now I can do anything.
This power was called bond—and bonds brought infinite courage.
Komari Chika—rise up!
She strode toward the battlefield, head held high—wait, why did this scene feel so familiar? She even laughed at herself.
Kiyono casually took his place opposite her.
But once she stood there for real, stray thoughts vanished. She clenched her hands; her knuckles went white. Normally, she could say "Welcome!" and smile perfectly, but the earlier failure at the restaurant had left too big a shadow, and her nerves spiked.
At that moment, she heard the boy's voice—like a flowing stream.