Today was a complete disaster.

Just seeing Tachibana-san in my line of sight made my heart race, my breathing unsteady, and my body feel like it wasn’t even mine. My ingrained work experience somehow managed to keep me going and finish my shift, but even the new hire, Kobayashi-san, shot me a deadpan look and said, “Senpai, you’re actually not struggling today.” Without a doubt, I had inconvenienced everyone.

When my shift ended, I headed to the backroom with Kobayashi-san. It seemed like Tachibana-san would finish up after handling the register. For today, at least, I was grateful for that small difference in timing.

“Phew, I’m exhausted,” Kobayashi-san said in a weary tone.

“Senpai, what was up with you today? I actually respect you when you’re working, but today you were a total mess.”

“Sorry… I just wasn’t feeling it today.”

Wearing her suit, Kobayashi-san muttered, “Seriously, what a hassle,” as she pressed the clock-out button. For some reason, her small back looked oddly imposing.

“Just don’t cause trouble for Lady Iori, okay? I don’t mind if you cause as much trouble for me as you want, though.”

Kobayashi-san had really become reliable. Of course, she still made mistakes, but her motivation and drive more than made up for it, helping Cyberia out in so many ways. I never thought the day would come when I’d be the one relying on her.

“No, I don’t want to cause trouble for you either. I’ll get back to normal as soon as I can.”

“Well, as long as you do.”

With that, Kobayashi-san quickly slipped into the changing room, and a moment later, I heard the soft rustling of fabric. Lately, she had been gaining quite a bit of attention from Aotaka High School students who came to see Tachibana-san in a maid outfit. Maybe they had a thing for cute girls in boyish attire.

I stepped into the adjacent changing room and swiftly switched out of my maid uniform and back into my school uniform. Today, I really didn’t want to face Tachibana-san. I felt bad, but I decided to just leave without seeing her.

Kobayashi-san left first, and silence filled the now-empty backroom. That quietness was oddly comforting. Without the presence of the sun that was Tachibana-san, the world was lit instead by the moon. Right now, that gentle glow was all I could handle.

◆

“Senpai, let’s walk home together.”

When I stepped outside, I found Kobayashi-san waiting for me, straddling her bicycle. The flickering streetlights illuminated her figure, and unlike at work, she was now wearing a normal school uniform skirt. Her raised leg, resting on the pedal, was at an angle that nearly exposed what lay underneath, making me quickly shift my gaze upward.

“Kobayashi-san, what are you doing here?”

I tried to sound calm, but honestly, I was pretty surprised. We had never walked home together before, and I always assumed she was the type to head straight home on her own.

“The real question is, what’s up with you, Senpai? If you need to talk, I’m here to listen.”

She hopped off the saddle and started pushing her bike toward me. Somehow, in her school uniform, she seemed a size smaller than when she wore her work suit. At work, she had become more reliable, but right now, she felt more like a lively little animal.

“Thanks, but it’s not really a big deal.”

“Yeah, yeah, sure. Let’s go, Senpai.”

She instantly saw through my excuse. The soft rattling of her bike chain blended into the night air as I hurried to catch up to her.

“This is the first time we’re walking home together,” she mused.

Now that she mentioned it, it really was. Technically, it was a scenario where a high school boy and girl were alone together on the way home, but Kobayashi-san didn’t seem the least bit nervous. Well, considering how devoted she was to Tachibana-san, it made sense. I doubt she saw me that way at all.

“So, where do you live, Kobayashi-san?”

“I live around here. I bike to Suzakura High School.”

“Oh, really? I thought you took the train.”

She always disappeared in the direction of the station after work, so I assumed she commuted by train.

“You take the train, right, Senpai? I’m jealous.”

“Why?”

“Because you can go home with your friends.”

“…Huh. I never really thought about it that way.”

Her words were an eye-opener. It had never crossed my mind before.

“Wait… are you saying you don’t have friends?”

“It’s not like that. It’s just that I come to Cyberia almost every day after school, so I don’t really get the chance.”

Now it was her turn to go silent.

“When you put it that way… does working part-time mean giving up on youth?”

“I don’t think so. Working at Cyberia is fun, and I got to meet Tachibana-san and you.”

If I hadn’t started working here, I wouldn’t be walking home with a girl my age like this. Thinking about it that way, I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything. If anything, this was probably the most youthful my high school life had ever been.

“Well, that’s true. I’m glad I got to know you too, Senpai.”

“Oh? I thought you hated me.”

“I wouldn’t walk home with someone I hated. Didn’t you realize that?”

“Now that you mention it… I guess that makes sense.”

But she always glares at me whenever I talk to Tachibana-san. I mean, no one looks at someone like that unless they really hate them, right? I was convinced she despised me.

“Well, you’re a bit dense, so I’ll let it slide. But back to the main topic—Senpai, what happened today?”

Kobayashi-san cut straight to the point. If she really didn’t hate me, then she must have been genuinely worried. That’s why she waited for me.

And with that thought in mind, I realized—I couldn’t lie to her.

“…Actually, I had a bit of a situation with Tachibana-san.”