The part-time job was going smoothly.

I didn’t mind dealing with kids, and most importantly, Miroku-senpai was by my side to support me.

“Well then, I’m off to lunch.”

“Okay!”

About three hours after encountering Tou Raku-kun and the others, I was given my lunch break.

Miroku-senpai had already finished her break and returned.

I was about to take my break in exchange, but I was told to speak to the person in the costume.

It seemed another student hired for the part-time job was in a costume, waiting on standby.

“Uh, so the staff-only door is here.”

Still in the costume, I opened the door for personnel.

It was a bit dim inside.

The person who would be taking my place… oh, there they are.

I approached the person in the costume who was sitting down around the corner of the hallway.

Why are they standing by a place that looks like it only has cleaning supplies?

There’s a break room right in front…

“Um… no, wait.”

At that moment, it struck me.

A beautiful girl is not just about appearance.

Her voice also must have that quality.

If that’s the case, then in this state where I’m not showing my face, I could be perceived as a beautiful girl through my voice.

After all, since this is just a one-day part-time job with someone I won’t meet again, why not let them think a beautiful girl is inside!?

“—It’s time for the switch.”

“Wha!? …Oh, who are you?”

The person in front of me jumped as they were startled by my beautiful girl voice.

And this voice… are you a beautiful girl too!?

It’s a voice with a refreshing quality that’s so different from the background characters; you must be a famous beautiful girl!

In that case, I should respond with my full effort as a beautiful girl.

“Aren’t you overreacting? I just called out to you.”

As I gestured dramatically, the girl in the costume let out a big sigh of relief.

Huh, what happened?

“…Hah, don’t scare me like that.”

The girl in the costume looked visibly exhausted.

Her movements lacked energy.

And then there was her earlier shocked reaction.

I understood immediately.

Aha, this person must also be on their first day of the job, right?

Besides, she was tempted by the good pay but seems to be the type like Toa-chan who is not good at being in front of people.

She must be nervous as her turn approaches.

…Alright, I’ll give her a little encouragement.

I mean, I’m a pro at cross-dressing on stream!

I can at least push her along a bit!

“It’s scary, isn’t it?”

“Ugh.”

“I understand that feeling.”

“You… could it be…”

I nodded.

“Yes. I felt that way at first too.”

Whether I could become a beautiful girl or not.

There were moments I struggled with that thought.

Even now, I still pursue what it truly means to be a beautiful girl.

Yet, I won’t stop moving forward.

“…Then, you understand. It’s too late. Right now, I want to run away from everything.”

“And would that save you?”

You won’t get paid for your part-time job.

This place pays in cash.

Not through a bank transfer.

“Save me? After I’ve deceived everyone so many times!? There’s no way for someone like me to be saved!”

Whoa, why so intense all of a sudden…?

Are you the type who can’t talk to the person inside a costume at an amusement park?

Or are you trying to be this character instead of the costume?

Are you serious? Like, really serious?

“If you’re the same as me, then why are you here!? In the end, you were too scared to come here, weren’t you!?”

“…I came here because that’s my role.”

The girl in the costume stood up and approached me, so I held up my hand to calm her down.

Calm down.

And give me some time to think.

What is this presumed beautiful girl?

Hey, Star Reader’s Staff-kun, what do you think?

‘■■■?’

You wouldn’t know, right?

Her voice was muffled, making it hard to identify her, but the only thing I could tell was that she’s a beautiful girl.

Also, it seems she thinks that being in a costume means deceiving kids—she’s really into it.

How intense. What is up with this student?

Is she really an ordinary beautiful girl student?

“Are you feeling a little calmer now?”

“…I’m sorry. I know being upset at you won’t solve anything.”

“True. I can’t solve it for you. It’s up to you to decide.”

In the end, it’s about how to come to terms with your own feelings.

If you’re going to struggle like that, then you shouldn’t even take this part-time job.

With such a cute voice, you could earn money streaming.

There was a school that specialized in making explorers into entertainers, right?

“What I decide…”

“Exactly.”

If it’s that hard, why not quit?

I’ve been eating nothing but bean sprouts lately, so I can manage skipping lunch now.

I could totally work without breaks from here on out.

“Do what you want to do, not what you think you should do. Maybe just follow what you believe in?”

“…Is it really that simple?”

Oh, is she deciding to quit?

That’s totally fine!

If she quits and turns out to be a beautiful girl, I’ll back her up wholeheartedly.

If it’s a guy, I’ll drag him back even if I have to die. Don’t take work lightly.

“It’s fine. Look, all you have to do now is follow your heart.”

I took the hand of the girl in the costume and pointed toward the door.

“It’s okay. The world is much kinder and more beautiful than you imagine.”

In a few years, it’ll just be a funny story about how she quit her part-time job.

But if it’s a guy, no way. The one who was left behind will never forget that grudge.

“…Thank you. I think I might have figured out a little bit of what I want to do.”

“Really? That’s great.”

The girl in the costume turned toward the door.

And as she stood in front of it, she turned back to me.

“Can I ask your name?”

No way, of course not. I’m pretending to be someone else.

“…Sorry. I know, right? Yeah, I’ll do my best!”

She seemed to have come to a conclusion on her own.

Well, that’s fine.

“Yes. Please do your best.”

The girl in the costume placed her hand on the door and bowed to me as she left.

…Huh? Did she just run away without taking off her costume!?

Or did she bring it with her?

Well, whatever, since it’s come to this, I’ll head back to Miroku-senpai without a break.

But first, maybe I should hydrate a bit.

I opened the door just before the corner where the girl in the costume had been.

Water, water.

“Oh, are you on break?”

“Huh?”

As I entered, I saw a male student who was just about to put on a costume.

Huh?

“Well then, I’ll go in for the switch. The place is in front of the fountain at Block D, right?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Alright, off I go.”

“…Please?”

I waved goodbye to the student in the costume.

Huh?

Is that person the one switching?

Then what was that earlier?

Was it an illusion caused by my unconscious fatigue?

‘■■■■■■■■’

Right? She was there, wasn’t she!?

What on earth was that…?

“……I’ll eat my lunch now.”

Today’s bento is the bean sprout lunch made by Toa-chan (thoughts abandoned).

I’m looking forward to it!