“Let’s have a welcome party for Ririmu!”

With that single statement from Tachibana Iori, we found ourselves gathered at Cyberia after school. “We” referred, of course, to me, Tachibana Iori, and Kobayashi Ririmu.

“Boo! Why is Yamabuki-senpai here too? I thought it would just be the two of us, Iori-sama!”

Kobayashi Ririmu, who had firmly secured the seat next to Tachibana Iori, puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction as she glared at me from across the table.

“Sorry, sorry. I just wanted to properly welcome you too, Ririmu.”

Kobayashi Ririmu was the type to show equal hostility to anyone who got close to Tachibana Iori (though I felt like I received an especially high dose of it).

Still, she was actually well-liked by both the other staff and the customers. Though she tended to have tunnel vision when it came to Tachibana Iori, her natural diligence and cheerfulness made her an energetic worker, and she was adored like a little sister. She was practically Cyberia’s mascot.

Of course, I didn’t dislike Kobayashi Ririmu either. Even if she hated me, I couldn’t help but step in when she was in trouble.

“Is that really how you feel, Ririmu? The other day, when it was just the two of us on shift, didn’t you nearly start crying, saying, ‘Without Yamabuki-senpai here, I feel so anxious…’?”

“Gyah?! Th-that was only because Iori-sama is so popular with the customers that I was left all alone! There was no weird meaning behind it at all!”

Ririmu stiffened like a startled cat, then grabbed onto Tachibana Iori’s uniform in protest.

At first, Ririmu had been like a timid kitten around Tachibana Iori, but now they were more like a friendly senior and junior pair.

…This was just my personal theory, but I always felt that working together made people grow closer much faster than simply sharing a class. I figured it was because of the shared goal of keeping the shop running smoothly.

But if that were true, then what exactly was the deal with me and Ririmu, who still weren’t on good terms?

“I think Natsuki would like to get along with Ririmu too. It’s tough being disliked by a coworker, after all.”

Hearing my name from Tachibana Iori’s mouth pulled me from my thoughts.

“Yeah, that’s true. I wouldn’t force it, but I’d like for us to get along little by little.”

Not that it was a problem as things were. She did her job well—she just glared at me whenever we made eye contact.

“I’d be happy if you two got along too.”

“Ughhh…”

With that, Ririmu slumped over the table. After a long groan, she suddenly shot back up.

“…I still dislike you, Senpai. But I’ll at least treat you normally while we’re working!”

Her face flushed as she made her declaration.

“Thanks. That makes me happy.”

At that, her face grew even redder. Watching us, Tachibana Iori smiled in satisfaction.

◆

“…So that’s how Ririmu became a fan of Tachibana Iori?”

Ririmu, her cheeks tinged red, began to recount the story of how she first met Tachibana Iori.

When she had just entered Suzakura High School, she participated in the school’s infamous lunchtime event, the so-called “Bread War.” However, the overwhelming rush of people was far beyond what she had expected, and she was quickly swallowed by the crowd, unable to move.

Just as she felt her feet leave the ground and a terrifying sense of weightlessness take hold—suddenly, like the parting of the seas, the crowd split in two, and Ririmu collapsed onto the floor.

Dazed, she looked up, only to see Tachibana Iori strolling leisurely toward her through the open path.

“────Are you hurt?”

Tachibana Iori knelt beside her and gently took her hand.

At that moment, Ririmu felt like she had become Cinderella.

“That’s right! From then on, I joined Iori-sama’s fan club and have been secretly watching over her ever since.”

“You’re not very secretive about it, though, Ririmu.”

Tachibana Iori quipped. And honestly, she was right—how many fans would go so far as to apply for the same part-time job just to be closer to someone?

“T-that’s because of Yamabuki-senpai! After seeing the two of you together at the Aotaka Festival, I just couldn’t sit still anymore!”

Ririmu huffed indignantly.

“But it turned out to be fine. It seems like the rumors were just rumors after all.”

She was probably referring to the gossip about me and Tachibana Iori. Anyone thinking rationally would realize it was impossible, but working at Cyberia had taught me firsthand that love makes people blind.

“If the rumors were true, I would’ve pounced on you right then and there, Yamabuki-senpai!”

Ririmu spread her hands like a lion about to strike—but she looked more like a kitten.

“────You never know.”

Tachibana Iori stood up. Ririmu looked up at her, surprised.

Then, sliding into the seat next to me, Tachibana Iori suddenly leaned in, pressing her body against mine.

I froze at the unexpected closeness.

“What if I was actually a girl all along—what would you do?”

“Eh…?”

Ririmu’s face went blank with disbelief.

I turned to look at Tachibana Iori, who was smirking mischievously.

…Ah.

She was messing with Ririmu. I had fallen for this once before when we first met at Cyberia. This was one of Tachibana Iori’s bad habits.

“U…uuuu… Iori-sama, you idiotttttttttt!”

Tears welled up in Ririmu’s eyes, and she ran off, leaving only the two of us behind.

“…Tachibana Iori, don’t tease her too much. It’s not nice.”

I couldn’t claim to understand what it was like to be in Tachibana Iori’s position, but toying with someone who admired her so much felt a little cruel.

“────I’m not.”

“Huh?”

Tachibana Iori stood up and grabbed her bag from the chair across from us.

Her smirk was gone.

“I wasn’t lying—I really am a girl.”