Orientation

“Wow! Everyone’s so cute!”

First day at the part-time job. Both my family and the Takanishi family gave their enthusiastic approval, and just like that, I was set to start working.

The café hasn’t officially opened yet, so today’s just about getting a basic rundown. But seeing Aisa, Manami, and Yuuki lined up in their uniforms, Yuuki’s mom, Akemi-san, can’t help but comment. Since we’re working together, calling her “Mom” felt weird, so we settled on Akemi-san.

By the way, Yuuki’s dad insisted—pretty strongly—that we call him “Master.”

He’s got his hair slicked back, totally leaning into the “Master” vibe, but his naturally intimidating face makes it hard to say if it’s a net positive. That slicked-back look suits him, for better or worse… but yeah.

If we’re talking about changes, though, my eyes keep getting drawn to something else…

“Yuuki-kun, you look great!”

“Really…?”

It’s not quite like that day, but Yuuki, who’s usually quieter at home with this group, responds with a bit more energy than usual.

There’s the shy, hesitant Yuuki from school who barely speaks, the Yuuki who opened up a bit when we all hung out that day, and the serious Yuuki from karaoke—each moment shows a slightly different side of her.

“Kouki… kun…”

Yuuki glances at me, then looks down, her confidence wavering.

“You said you’re okay wearing the uniform but feel uneasy about the job, right?”

Her group messages made it painfully clear just how anxious she is about this part-time gig.

“Yeah… I’ll definitely mess things up and bother the customers…”

Yuuki seems to shrink smaller and smaller.

I thought Akemi-san might swoop in, but she just smiles and looks my way.

Got it…

The tutoring thing ended up with me taking the lead, even though it often turns into a three-person effort. This job’s part of that deal too.

“I’ve never worked at a café either, so I’m nervous too. How about we practice together first?”

“Practice…?”

Yuuki stares at me with the wide-eyed look of a frightened small animal.

It almost feels like I’m doing something wrong… But she’s clutching the edge of my apron and not letting go, so it’s clear she’s not trying to run away.

This is Yuuki’s way of fighting her fears.

“Yeah, practice. No real customers are coming today, and it’s just me, so it’s fine if you mess up. We’ll keep at it until you get the hang of it.”

“Until I get it… but…”

“I’m worried too, you know—about whether I can pull this off. So if you stick with me until we both figure it out, I’d really appreciate it.”

“Oh…”

She was probably overthinking, worrying about being a burden or something.

But I’m in the same boat. Everyone here is doing this for the first time—no one’s better or worse than anyone else.

Yuuki’s lack of confidence makes her want to give up before even trying, but it’s not too late to think that way after giving it a shot.

“I’ll… try my best.”

Gripping the hem of my apron tightly, Yuuki declares her resolve.

“So cute! Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re ready to face customers in no time!”

Akemi-san dives in, ruffling Yuuki’s hair enthusiastically.

She must’ve been holding back until Yuuki made up her mind.

“Hehe! I’m gonna practice hard too!”

Manami bounds over to join Akemi-san’s excitement.

Left behind, my eyes meet Aisa’s…

“If you mess this up, Kouki, it’s gonna look pretty lame.”

“Ugh…”

Aisa teases me with a smirk.

“Guess I’ve gotta step up my game.”

Her laugh is so captivating I can’t help but stare.

She’s in the café uniform, complete with a cute frilly apron.

As I keep staring, her cheeks flush slightly, and she fidgets with her hair, looking at me with a mix of nervousness and embarrassment before saying,

“What?”

“It’s just… you look cute.”

“—! No sneak attacks!”

Her face turns bright red as she whips her head away.

In that direction are Manami and the others…

“Onee-chan, you’re so cute! Ugh, you look good in everything.”

“Yeah… I’m so jealous.”

Manami and Yuuki look amazing too.

The skirts aren’t super short, but they’re designed so even Manami’s energetic bouncing won’t flip them up. The sizes fit everyone perfectly.

“Hey, hey! What do you think, Kouki-nii?”

“Looks great.”

“Ehe! Yuuki-kun, come on, show him!”

“Wah…”

Yuuki’s forcibly turned to face me, no chance to resist.

Her usual bangs that cover her eyes are pinned up lightly today, giving her a totally different vibe.

With her hair up, Yuuki’s undeniably a striking beauty.

“Well? Well?”

It’s not me who answers Manami—it’s Aisa.

“You’re adorable, Yuuki.”

“Auu…”

Aisa says it with sparkly eyes, like she’s looking at a hamster or a bunny.

I totally get it.

“So why’s Kouki-nii in casual clothes?”

“They put off making the guys’ uniforms. Look, Master’s in casual clothes too.”

Akemi-san laughs and points to Master, who’s in a dress shirt, jeans, and an apron.

I’m in something similar, just wearing the apron for now.

It’s not like we’re serving customers today—it’s more of an orientation—so it’s fine.

“Alright, I’ll go over the basics of the café, but since it’s my first time too, I might wing it a bit.”

“Got it…”

“So I’ll teach you the ropes, but more than that, I’m counting on you to help my girl get comfortable speaking in front of people, okay, sensei?”

Akemi-san winks at me.

Beside her, Yuuki bows slightly and says,

“Please… do your best with me!”

Guess I’ve gotta give it my all.

◇

“W-Welcome!”

“Your voice is getting louder, but closing your eyes kinda ruins it…”

“Uuu…”

“It’s okay, you’re getting better!”

After Akemi-san’s rundown, we moved on to practicing customer service, taking turns playing the customer.

Once Yuuki set her mind to it, her effort was impressive, but… some things are just tough for her.

“Yuuki-kun! Wanna try this with me?”

Manami’s suggestion for a break was…

“Isn’t that something only you can pull off…?”

Manami’s balancing stacks of plates in both hands, dishes piled up her arms, and—get this—a glass on her head.

“That’s less ‘waitress’ and more ‘circus act’…”

“But it could totally be our signature move, right?”

“Hehe! Come on, Yuuki-kun, give it a try!”

Akemi-san’s comment only eggs Manami on more.

Manami’s not the type to drop stuff even when she’s showing off, so it’s fine, but…

“I… wanna try!”

For some reason, Yuuki’s fired up and wobbles over to join her.

“Alright!”

Guess I’ll leave it to Manami for a bit…

After playing the customer for Yuuki nonstop, I take a moment to reset and catch my breath.

“Good work.”

“Oh, thanks…”

“Looks like Master read the room.”

Aisa hands me a milkshake as she says it.

The sweet scent helps my mind unwind.

I thank Master, who flashes a big grin and a thumbs-up. His face is scary, but it’s a great smile.

“Yuuki’s really giving it her all, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“What about… um… how was I?”

Aisa looks away as she adds,

“I mean… don’t just focus on Yuuki. I want you to… look at me too…”

Too cute.

“You were adorable.”

“…Ugh.”

It was the answer she wanted, and I meant it, but Aisa’s face goes beet red as she looks down.

“That’s not fair…”

I’m the one who wants to say that, as I watch Yuuki messing around with Manami.

◇

Practice wraps up, and we head to Yuuki’s room for more “tutoring,” or so we’re calling it.

“Whoa…!”

The second we step into the room, Manami lets out a gasp.

I’m a little shocked too.

“You bought all this?”

“I… ordered it after.”

“Nice.”

Yuuki’s once-plain room is now unmistakably a music production space.

Besides the equipment we bought together, there’s a mic stand attached to the desk, a pop filter in front of the mic, and probably twice as much gear as before.

She’s clearly all in.

Plus…

“You’ve already started recording songs, right?”

“Yeah…!”

I thought she’d start with a simple phone app for posting, but with all this equipment, Yuuki seems more comfortable making polished tracks.

“Wow! I wanna hear!”

“But… I’m stuck on the mixing part…”

“Mixing…?”

“The recorded vocals need editing, but…”

Yuuki pulls out a thick book.

It’s a guide on recording, equipment, and detailed steps for editing audio.

“You can’t figure it out just from reading this?”

“Um… here.”

With practiced ease, Yuuki operates her computer, and a waveform appears on the screen as the audio plays.

And then…

“Whoa… that’s good…”

“Amazing! That’s really you, Yuuki-kun?!”

It’s no surprise they’re shocked.

I’d heard it before, but even I’m stunned.

Compared to karaoke, the adjusted track is undeniably cleaner and just… better.

“So, how was it?”

“It was incredible!”

“Wow, that’s seriously amazing.”

The two shower her with praise, but Yuuki, as usual, doesn’t get flustered and seems lost in thought.

“Something on your mind?”

When I ask, Yuuki fiddles with the laptop again and says,

“I was thinking it might be better to tweak it like this…”

The same prelude starts playing again…

“That’s slick!”

“So clean!”

Their reactions are pretty much the same as before, but…

“It feels like it’s a bit easier to listen to compared to earlier…”

The moment I mumble that,

“Which one was better!?”

Yuuki practically leaps in front of me, grabbing my hands.

Whoa, that caught me off guard… Yuuki’s athleticism hasn’t changed a bit since back then, huh?

But more importantly…

“Uh… that’s tough. The first one felt crisper, but the second one’s clearer…”

“Manami, did you catch the difference?”

“Hmm… now that you mention it, kinda?”

Manami’s face screams she has no clue.

“Since the intro needs to be clear, I’ll go with this one.”

Yuuki immediately turns back to the laptop, diving into adjustments.

Watching her work while glancing at the manual, it’s clear she’s already mastered this stuff.

“Kouki, how’d you even notice the difference?”

“I dunno… just a gut feeling, I guess.”

“Kouki-nii’s got some sharp ears, huh?”

“Is that… how it works?”

“Done! How’s this?”

Seeing Yuuki so absorbed pulls us into her focus too.

“Whoa… hearing it in full, this part’s definitely better now.”

“Yeah! Thanks!”

Yuuki’s face lights up with a radiant smile.

Maybe it’s the lingering glow from being out at the shop earlier, but her big eyes are sparkling brightly.

“So cute…”

Aisa can’t help but murmur, completely charmed.

“Eep…”

As Yuuki shrinks back from the compliment, Manami hugs her and says,

“So, is it done!? Are we posting it!?”

Manami’s all in, practically bouncing.

“Not yet… I haven’t made an account…”

“Let’s make one! Got a name in mind?”

“Not really… maybe something like Yuki?”

Makes sense, playing off her name.

“That’s cool, that’s cool!”

We glance at the monitor as she navigates to the video site’s registration page.

“Won’t something too short overlap with someone else?”

“Yeah, Yuki’s probably taken.”

“How about Snow?”

“That’s still likely to be taken.”

“Why not add your last name? Like Takanishi Yuki!”

“Why are you making it sound like she’s my kid…”

Aisa sighs, but seeing Manami cling to Yuuki, it kinda feels fitting.

“How about Yuki Usagi? Since Yuuki seems to love bunnies.”

Aisa suggests.

True, her stickers are always bunny-themed.

“That’s cute… let’s go with it!”

Yuuki seems sold and starts typing the name in.

Still, though…

“You’re incredible, Yuuki.”

“Huh?”

Yuuki jumps a little and looks at me.

I feel a bit guilty for startling her, but…

“I mean, watching you do all this on your own, it’s clear you’re really passionate about it.”

“Well…”

“I’m glad we get to do this together. You really could become a singer, Yuuki.”

“Eep…”

Yuuki ducks away, focusing on the screen like she’s hiding.

(…It’s because you said it, Kouki-kun.)

Hearing Yuuki squeak that out reminds me—she’s always been a great singer. I vaguely recall saying something like this back then, and seeing her grow into it just proves she’s the real deal.

◆【Yuuki’s Perspective】

“C’mon, over here!”

“Hah… hah… you’re so fast, Yuuki…”

I think it was when Kouki-kun and I were climbing some mountain-like playground equipment in the park.

Back then, I’d often race ahead, leaving Kouki-kun behind, and wait for him a bit further up.

While waiting, I’d hum the theme song from the morning’s anime without thinking…

“Whoa! That’s the song from this morning!”

“It’s… good?”

“Yeah! You’re an awesome singer, Yuuki!”

Kouki-kun slapped my back with a huge grin.

“I’m… good?”

“Totally! You’re gonna be a singer someday!”

“A singer? Me?”

“Yeah, and you’ll perform on New Year’s Eve at the Red and White Song Battle!”

That silly, childish banter stuck with me all this time.

“A singer, huh…”

We moved away soon after that.

Or rather, the time we spent together was so short to begin with.

“Phew…”

After that, my life of constant moving and new schools got a bit tough.

I was more athletic than the boys, always playing with them, but it didn’t take long for me to feel left behind as everyone else grew up.

Soon, I had no one to hang out with, and even when I tried to act more girly, it just didn’t work…

In the end, the memories with those three became my only happy ones.

I thought they’d forgotten all about me…

(But they remembered… didn’t they?)

I hug my bunny plushie tightly while thinking.

(They accepted me as their childhood friend again.)

That alone makes me so happy…

(Since they’re doing this with me… I’ve gotta try hard.)

I love singing.

Ever since then, it’s been my anchor.

But more than that…

(I want to work hard… with everyone.)

Kouki-kun said I could be a singer.

He might not remember saying it, but even if it was just flattery, he said I was better than some pros out there.

Whether it’s flattery or not doesn’t matter anymore.

If I can make it happen, Kouki-kun’s words will come true.

Manami-chan said she wants to hang out together again.

Aisa-chan’s watching over me, just like before.

(I want to give it my all.)

I’ve spent so long running from everything, but this time, I want to go all out and make it happen.