Yanami stared blankly at the boy in front of her, like a nun in distress suddenly seeing a divine being.
This scene was truly evocative of many fantasies.
A pure and cute female high school student trapped in a shop because she couldn't pay her bill, and in her desperation, the shop staff suggesting with a tempting tone that she could work to pay off her debt... However, Yanami didn't suspect anything. Most family restaurant staff were students anyway, not some suspicious organization... probably.
Actually, the girl had considered part-time work these past two days because she spent too much on food and had already used up all the pocket money her parents gave her. But this was a simulation! Wasn't simulation supposed to be for enjoyment? Having to work for money even in a simulation would be too tragic!
The thought flashed through her mind. Yanami took a deep breath, and those sapphire eyes that always sparkled with cheerful light became determined.
"I'll do it!"
—Don't make it sound like you're about to do something strange!
Kiyono's smile remained unchanged. "Then please follow me."
He led the way while Yanami followed behind. After feeling the strange gazes on her disappear, she relaxed completely, her gaze falling on the young man's back as she silently made a resolution.
You're really such a gentle, good person! I'll definitely repay this kindness someday!
Kiyono pushed open the staff office door. Since this wasn't peak dining time, the manager lady happened to be free. He led Yanami to the older sister and briefly explained what had just happened.
The reason he had taken the liberty to suggest this was because the manager had recently complained to him about being "short-staffed, so short-staffed! If you meet any cute and obedient kids like yourself, you must definitely trick them into coming to work at our shop!" Otherwise, as just a small server, it would be difficult for him to speak from the shop's position.
He believed the manager wouldn't fail to see Yanami's enormous potential.
Sure enough, when she saw Yanami's beautiful appearance and cute, lively temperament, the manager's eyes immediately lit up.
"Student, don't worry about the money. How about seriously considering part-time work at our shop? Even just trying it out is fine. You'd definitely be adorable in our shop uniform! Just two hours would be enough to cover your bill!" The manager enthusiastically entered professional mode.
At first, Yanami was somewhat hesitant, but the more she listened, the more tempted she became—mainly because she really was short on money recently, and the work hours weren't long either, so it wouldn't affect her life.
By the end, Yanami lightly twirled a strand of her blue hair with her finger. She had already made up her mind internally, but for some reason, her gaze suddenly wandered and focused on Kiyono beside her, as if asking for his opinion.
—Why are you looking at me!
Kiyono mentally complained but nodded. "I have no objections."
Actually, he did have some objections. He didn't want to have close contact with the heroine, but there had been no choice in that situation earlier.
"Whew! Then it's decided!" With a crisp clap, the manager smiled broadly as she handed the contract and pen to Yanami.
And so, a beautiful girl corporate slave was born.
"I somehow feel strangely conflicted," Yanami muttered in distress, scratching her hair.
The manager was about to say something more when she heard calls from outside. She raised her voice slightly to respond, then showed the two a playful smile.
"I'll go work first. Since there aren't many customers today, during this time, I'll ask Kiyono-kun to guide her. You're a senpai now, you know."
The manager lightly patted his back and walked out the door.
The air suddenly became quiet.
The two blinked and slowly looked at each other.
"Sen... pai?"
A soft voice brushed past his earlobes like a feather.
After a long silence, the blue-haired girl turned around to face Kiyono directly, looking up at him slightly with pure and pitiable eyes, her lake-blue pupils shimmering with light.
The sweet fragrance unique to young girls drifted over.
Don't use such a gentle voice! For a moment I almost thought Sakura Ayane was calling me!
Looking at the girl before him who radiated a different aura, Kiyono coughed lightly, his expression somewhat strange. Was Yanami originally... such a soft and gentle personality?
—The moment this thought arose in his mind, the girl revealed her true form.
"...Senpai, you're younger than me, aren't you?"
Yanami suddenly moved closer to him, circling around him constantly while examining him like a detective, her pretty face wearing an innocent or perhaps foolish smile, as if the cute girl from earlier had been just an illusion.
"Your focus is actually on this..."
Regarding this simulated heroine, Kiyono had originally wanted to maintain some distance, but once he started speaking, his tone naturally relaxed. The girl's smile was too brilliant and too lively, like the noon sun—it would be a sin not to respond to her smile.
"Hehe, it feels kind of strange, calling a boy younger than me senpai... How about I just call you Little Senpai from now on?" Yanami's tone rose, and her attitude toward the boy was quite friendly.
"Anyone who can survive by their own hands is already an outstanding adult, so I'm already an adult. Please call me senpai." Kiyono puffed out his chest.
"It's like you suddenly said something amazing!"
Yanami smiled with squinted eyes, then took two steps back, straightened up, and bowed her head slightly to the young man in front of her.
"Anyway... thank you so much for what happened earlier! I'm Yanami Anna. Can you tell me your name, senpai?"
At the end, she lifted her face and looked directly into Kiyono's eyes.
"I didn't do it specifically for you. I just wanted to find more people to share the workload... Besides, I might have pulled you into a deep pit."
Kiyono snorted lightly and gave his name.
"Then, Kiyono-senpai, please take care of me from now on!"
Yanami extended her hand to him with a bright smile. The girl's fingers were slender and fair, her nails pink and lustrous, trimmed cleanly. Kiyono hesitated for a moment before lightly grasping her hand—it was as soft and warm as he had imagined.
[Your hands touched briefly and parted.]
[Next, you personally guided Yanami through the work content. Although you didn't plan to build up the girl's favorability, for the sake of that "senpai," you still taught her wholeheartedly, sharing all the experience you had gained during this period.]
[However, considering Yanami's amazing social skills, when introducing work colleagues, you didn't intervene but left it to Yanami herself, to avoid misunderstandings.]
[Things developed as you imagined. Yanami easily got close to her first colleague with her outstanding appearance and sunny personality.]
[But then, standing beside the girl, you suddenly noticed Yanami's hands behind her back as she smiled—those slender hands were trembling slightly.]
[You inexplicably realized something. Previously in your eyes, Yanami was a very cheerful and outgoing girl, and interpersonal communication seemed very simple for her. But seeing this scene, you remembered that no matter what, she was just a girl who had recently started high school. Suddenly coming to a completely unfamiliar environment and facing completely unfamiliar people, feeling nervous and uneasy was only natural. The only person she could call familiar here was you alone.]
[You fell silent for a moment, sighed, and quietly stood beside the girl, helping introduce each other and relieving the girl's pressure.]
[Yanami glanced at you sideways.]