A week of turmoil has passed, and another week has gone by. The calendar has now reached May, and the Aotaka Festival is just around the corner.

Tachibana Iori had said that everything would be fine, but I still wonder if the Suzakura students will really show up. If they don’t, I feel like I’ll be bombarded by all the Aotaka students, and it makes my stomach hurt a bit.

As for Cyberia, the number of customers has finally started to settle down. Everyone had been spending money so freely, so maybe their wallets are starting to scream in protest. Because of this, I’ve started having more casual conversations with Tachibana Iori while we work.

“…Speaking of which…”

Tachibana Iori, while counting the money at the register, suddenly spoke up. The time was exactly 9:00 PM. There were few customers left, and it seemed like this would be the last task before we could leave.

“I don’t think I know your contact information, Yamabuki Natsuki.”

“My contact info?”

It’s true that I hadn’t exchanged contact information with Tachibana Iori. Typically, exchanging contact information makes it easier to swap shifts, and at Cyberia, it’s standard to exchange info with anyone working the same shifts. But due to the nature of our work relationship, we had been assigned to the same shifts, so I never thought to exchange contacts.

“I guess since you’ve graduated from being a beginner, starting in May we might have different shifts. It’s probably best to exchange contact info.”

Hearing that, Tachibana Iori looked up from the bundle of 1,000-yen bills she was holding.

“Shifts? Is that related to something?”

“Eh, aren’t we exchanging contact info to help with shift changes?”

At that, Tachibana Iori looked at me with a surprised expression, as if she hadn’t thought of that.

“…Could it be that it would be troublesome if I contacted you for reasons other than work?”

This time, I was the one who was surprised.

“No, that’s not it, but…”

I had more of the feeling that it was okay for her to contact me. Me, of all people?

Tachibana Iori let out a soft, small laugh at my response.

“Good. Then, after we get off work, could you give me your Rune account?”

“Uh, yeah. Sure…”

After that, Tachibana Iori returned to her work at the register, and I found myself with nothing to do. So, I wandered around the store.

…As I walked, I couldn’t help but think about Tachibana Iori’s attitude just now.

◆

“Hey, if it’s alright with you, how about meeting up at Cyberia today?”

The next day, during the fifth-period break, I received a message from an unexpected person—Tachibana Iori, who I had just exchanged contact information with yesterday. Thinking it might look suspicious if someone saw, I hurriedly stood up and stepped into the hallway.

“What’s this… meet at Cyberia…?”

Both Tachibana Iori and I had the day off, so this seemed like an invitation to just grab a meal together at Cyberia.

“…No way.”

A mixture of joy and confusion spread inside me. And also, the fear of what would happen if the Suzakura students saw us.

“Tachibana Iori… why would she invite me…?”

“Huh? What’s going on, Natsuki?”

“Ah, what!?”

Souta, who appeared to have just come back from the bathroom, called out to me, causing me to almost drop my phone.

“Why are you hiding your phone, Natsuki? Could it be… a girlfriend?”

“No, no, it’s just someone from my part-time job! Let’s get back to class.”

I quickly texted a reply saying, “Understood,” and stuffed my phone into my pocket.

◆

“Sorry for the sudden invite.”

I had thought maybe it was a joke, but Tachibana was really sitting at Table 4. Naturally, she was still in her Suzakura uniform.

“I’m sorry to have made you wait. I tried to come as quickly as I could.”

“It’s fine. It seems like Suzakura finishes a little earlier than Aotaka, doesn’t it?”

“Really? I didn’t know that.”

Now that she mentioned it, I recalled that when the Suzakura students first flooded into Cyberia, it had been the same. By the time Souta and I arrived, Cyberia was already packed.

I sat on the sofa opposite Tachibana Iori and absentmindedly glanced toward the kitchen. The store manager was grinning at us from across the room. He usually wasn’t there, so why today of all days?

“Yamabuki, are you hungry?”

Tachibana Iori asked, glancing at the order tablet.

“Hmm, I’m a little hungry, but I’ve got food at home.”

“Then how about some fries? While you were waiting, the manager came over and said he’d make them extra large for you as a service.”

“Oh, you talked to the manager?”

So, the manager already knew about this. I’m sure he’s enjoying this.

As Tachibana Iori put the tablet back in its holder, the manager came over with water.

“Here’s your water… Heh heh.”

“Hey, what are you laughing about? Your customer service isn’t up to standard.”

“No, no, sorry… Please, enjoy your meal.”

The manager left, still grinning. After confirming he was out of sight, I took a sip of the water and decided to ask the important question.

“So, Tachibana Iori, what’s the occasion today?”

Tachibana was still looking at me with that carefree expression. Even without doing anything, she seemed like a magazine page come to life.

“The occasion? Well, let’s just say…”

“…What if I told you I just wanted to talk to Yamabuki?”