Even if the way we address each other changes, our relationship remains the same. A title is just a title; it doesn’t define the essence of our bond. Even if Tachibana-san started calling me “Yamabuki-san” from today, it wouldn’t suddenly create distance between us.

“Tachibana-san…?”

“…………”

Tachibana-san was sitting on a chair in the backroom, studying this week’s sales graph with a serious expression. She seemed so focused that she didn’t hear me call her.

“Tachibana-san?”

“…………Hmph.”

I take that back—she heard me loud and clear. Tachibana-san deliberately turned her face away from me. So the parting remark she made yesterday wasn’t a joke? I thought she would have cooled down by this morning.

“…………Tachibana-san?”

“Oh wow, I can’t hear anything. Nope, not a thing.”

Her exasperated voice echoed through the backroom. Kobayashi-san, who had been checking her appearance in the locker room mirror, peeked in to see what was going on. “Did you do something?” she asked, giving me a suspicious look. I hurriedly shook my head.

…Should I say it?

Right now?

Even with Kobayashi-san here?

It felt like an incredibly high hurdle. But if Tachibana-san was going to keep up this attitude, sooner or later, Kobayashi-san would figure it out anyway. Maybe it would be better to just get it over with now. Either way, calling Tachibana-san by name on a regular basis was going to drain my energy.

“…………I-Iori?”

“What is it, Natsuki?”

Tachibana-san turned around with a dazzling smile. In the corner of my vision, Kobayashi-san was staring at us in shock, her eyes practically bulging out. Yeah, I get it. That was surprising. I feel the same way.

“It’s nothing, really… But do I really have to call you by name…?”

“I don’t mind, but I might not respond otherwise. ‘Tachibana’ is hard to hear.”

“I don’t think that’s true at all…”

Tachibana-san seemed completely set on this. I had no choice but to accept it. Even if it drained my energy every time I said it, I’d have to endure it.

Tachibana-san spun back to her computer and clicked the mouse. I thought she was checking some data, but she was just aimlessly moving between screens. At some point, Kobayashi-san had moved right next to me, her gaze practically screaming, “Explain this.”

“…………Natsuki.”

“Hm?”

Since I had nothing else to do, I was staring at the back of Tachibana-san’s head when she muttered something while looking at the screen.

“The night before last—were you awake?”

The night before last.

That was the first night Tachibana-san and I talked on the phone. And also the night I had a ridiculous dream. Because of that night, I had been overly conscious of Tachibana-san ever since.

“Oh, sorry. I must have fallen asleep at some point. I don’t really remember much.”

I vaguely recalled talking about how tired I was from work, but I had no memory of any particularly important conversation.

…And Kobayashi-san, could you please stop trying to strangle me?

“You don’t remember anything we talked about?”

“…Honestly, no.”

I bowed my head in apology, but for some reason, Tachibana-san looked delighted.

…Why?

“Oh no, no, you don’t have to apologize, Natsuki. For once, let’s be grateful for your sleepiness.”

“…?”

I didn’t get it, but at least I was off the hook. Tachibana-san stood up and stretched. Her already tall frame stretched even higher, revealing a glimpse of bare skin between her skirt and thigh-high socks. Apparently, that was the main reason Aotaka High School students came to see her.

“Ahh, what a relief. Thanks to that, I can work hard today.”

Still confused by Tachibana-san’s odd attitude, Kobayashi-san and I exchanged glances. Just as I managed to free myself from Kobayashi-san’s grip, the morning meeting began.

◆

“Iori, do you have a minute?”

Every time I said her name, my mouth felt like it would float away. I had already said it many times today just to get through work, but I still wasn’t used to it.

“What’s up?”

Tachibana-san had been in a great mood all day. Even though it was already past nine, she still looked energetic.

“I was thinking of doing the cash register check soon. Can you watch over it with me?”

“Of course, that’s no problem at all.”

Tachibana-san moved next to me. That would’ve been fine, except… for some reason, she pressed up against me. Since we were both in maid uniforms, our upper arms were directly touching.

“…………Tachibana-san?”

“…………”

“…………Iori?”

“Something wrong?”

Tachibana-san smirked. I thought she might move away, but instead, she bumped her shoulder against mine.

“If you don’t move, I can’t do my work…”

“Oh, my bad. That was rude of me.”

She took a step back. That was fine, but she was acting way too cheerful—it was unsettling. Up until now, she’d never been this physically close while working.

What the hell happened the night before last?

“Hey, I might be overthinking this, but… did I say something weird that night?”

I asked hesitantly, and the response I got was shocking.

“You said you liked me—in your sleep.”