Kiyono stood in place, stunned for a full three seconds. Various thoughts flashed through his mind, finally becoming one sigh—
You're invincible.
He helplessly took the empty chip bag and threw it into the trash can behind him. He didn't pay too much attention to such small matters and sat down to rest a bit before preparing to start work.
Yanami also cleaned up the snack packages, went to the changing room to put on a new uniform, and took out her phone to take several photos from different angles. After taking them, she looked at her phone and giggled foolishly. Although Yanami was beautiful and especially good at eating, most of the time she was like an ordinary girl—liking cute clothes, liking to take photos and share them, and being a bit vain.
Kiyono glanced at her from the side, feeling like he had unexpectedly discovered yet another different side of Yanami.
Right around noon, the shop suddenly became lively. Parents bringing children on Saturday, couples meeting up, students simply solving lunch problems—the seats were almost more than half full.
Kiyono assisted the head chef, doing things according to his instructions, either cutting vegetables and plating, or helping with ingredient prep work. Occasionally he had to face the stove and guest-chef, highlighting his cost-effectiveness.
Yanami, on her first official day, served as a relatively relaxed floor server, responsible for carrying and serving dishes and cleaning tables—helping to share part of Kiyono's workload.
The girl glanced at the busy Kiyono, and admiration flowed in her eyes. Because she had the most contact with the boy, she could clearly feel his ability. He spoke gently, acted enthusiastically while understanding how to consider others' feelings. Though younger than her, he was deeply trusted by adults, just like the male protagonists in those girls' manga.
Moreover, his face carried a light smile—he truly loved this work!
"I need to work harder too!" Infected by Kiyono, she also became much more serious and careful.
At first, Kiyono had no time to look after Yanami too much, but as the peak period passed and he had some leisure, he worried about Yanami and helped beside the girl.
But what somewhat surprised him was that the girl not only completed her work properly but also competed to do more work. She could be said to be very diligent.
Your work is really skillful!
They made eye contact.
For a moment, both their favorability toward each other increased quite a bit.
The incident happened after the noon business ended.
Yanami was also preparing to leave to search for food, but then the manager sister suddenly called out to her.
"Little Anna, come with me for a moment."
In the kitchen, the manager sister stopped, turned around, and looked at the blue-haired girl with a confused expression in front of her. Her expression gradually became serious, while Kiyono nearby had just finished washing the last dish. He washed his hands and stood to the side with interest to watch the show.
"What's wrong, Shiho-neesan?" Yanami blinked.
"When the oven finished earlier, you didn't put on the proper gloves before rushing to take things out, right?" The older sister stared into her eyes. With her words falling one by one, a heavy pressure suddenly enveloped Kiyono and Yanami.
The immersion was strong—already starting to sweat profusely.
Kiyono wiped the sweat from his head.
"Y-yes... because it was very urgent, I thought I'd try to be as quick as possible. But I still properly followed the procedure that Kiyono-senpai taught me yesterday." Yanami nodded timidly like a student who had done something wrong, unconsciously gripping her skirt hem with both hands.
"No matter how busy it gets, your own safety comes first. Be sure to remember to wear gloves next time. Also, oven work normally shouldn't be assigned to newcomers. Until you're completely familiar with it, leave it to Kiyono-kun."
Seeing the girl's appearance, Shiho's expression and tone softened considerably.
"Yes! I understand!" The blue-haired girl fell silent for a moment, then raised a smile again and responded energetically.
"I might have spoken a bit harshly just now, don't mind it, Little Anna. But safety issues can never be too strict. If something happens, the shop has to take responsibility too."
The manager sister gently rubbed the girl's hair.
As for Kiyono on the other side, she didn't blame him for anything. After all, his busyness at noon was obvious to all. If anything, this was Yanami's unauthorized action—Kiyono definitely wouldn't have assigned this kind of work to her.
After giving all these instructions, the manager sister left with peace of mind.
Now, facing Yanami alone, Kiyono rubbed his chin, somewhat troubled. What should he say now? If he comforted her gently, wouldn't that raise the favorability progress bar? He didn't want that kind of thing!
After thinking, he walked to Yanami's side and coughed lightly. "Leave the oven work to me, this senpai, from now on!"
—If this were a galge, this option obviously wasn't the correct choice for entering a route, but that was exactly the effect he wanted!
Besides, this wasn't even a big deal—it didn't even count as a scolding. During his first days on the job, he experienced such reminders every day and was long used to it.
Yanami made a face at him.
Kiyono quickly put this small episode behind him. However, what happened next was beyond his expectations.
The time came to 2:20 PM.
Kiyono sat in the corner of the staff break room, thinking hard in front of the shop's laptop computer. This was one of his employee benefits—during free time, he could use the shop's office computer to write. So after morning work ended, he generally stayed at the shop. He could save on internet fees, while the shop got an employee who could help for free during idle time. It could be said to be win-win!
But Kiyono, who was immersed in his own world, suddenly looked up alertly. He heard light sounds of opening and closing doors, followed by faint sobbing.
What's happening?
Kiyono looked up in a daze. In front, that always incredibly lively and spirited blue-haired girl slowly sat down on the ground without speaking. Suddenly, two lines of tears flowed out without warning, forming shallow tear tracks.
Eh? Eh eh eh? Ehhh!
Yanami... was crying? Just because of that little thing? She shouldn't have such a fragile personality, right?
Looking at the tearful girl in front of him, Kiyono was somewhat at a loss, only instinctively crouching down to hide himself—wait, why did I instinctively hide!
...No matter what, when someone is crying, they always don't want others to see, especially unfamiliar people. Let's hide here and wait for her to finish crying and leave.
Fortunately, the break room was cluttered enough, and he had deliberately moved the computer desk to a corner, so the girl hadn't noticed him for the moment.
Kiyono thought silently.
"Maybe... this isn't a small matter for her."
Yanami actually didn't understand why she was crying either.
She knew the manager sister was concerned about her. She didn't dislike the older sister because of this—she was even grateful for her reminder. It's just... it's just...
She just felt disappointed.
That disappointment wasn't toward other people, but toward herself. She had been so serious, she had worked so hard, yet she couldn't even do this little thing well... She felt very disappointed in herself like this.
When she realized this, inexplicable sourness welled up in her eyes...
Fortunately, there was no one here to see her. In others' eyes, Yanami Anna wasn't the type of girl to act like this.
But just then, the two people in the break room suddenly heard several footsteps from outside the door, approaching from far to near.
"Yasui, where are you going to eat soon?"
"Mmm, let's have sushi today. I was too tired this morning and don't have much appetite..."
The voices were already right at their ears.
Yanami hurriedly wiped her tears carelessly, trying hard to put on a smile, not wanting others to see her current state. But sitting by the door, she had already heard the subtle sound of the handle turning.
"Ahem, cough cough cough... Ono-senpai! Yasui-senpai! Could you please wait a moment before coming in? I'm currently handling something urgent..."
Under Yanami's ghostly stare, Kiyono helplessly stood up and shouted out.
—No choice. Rather than letting a group of people see the girl's embarrassing state, it was better to expose himself.
"Ugh!"
The turning of the door handle stopped.
An adolescent boy, alone in a room, facing a computer, handling urgent business...
"Oh, I see... so you were doing that kind of thing. That makes sense, Kiyono-kun is a boy after all. Well, we won't disturb you then. Let us know when you're finished. But... please exercise some restraint and take care of your health, okay?"
The teasing voice made Kiyono freeze, then his mouth twitched a few times as his face turned red—what on earth are you older women thinking about!
How could he possibly do such things in a public place!
With several ambiguous laughing sounds, the footsteps gradually moved away. Kiyono slumped in his chair, eyes vacant. To protect the girl's dignity, he had truly lost something very important...
In a daze, he stood up, preparing to leave and let the girl cry to her heart's content alone.
The next second, he locked eyes with the blue-haired girl.
At some point, Yanami had stopped crying. Only a few faint tear tracks remained on her pretty face, which didn't diminish her essential beauty—quite pitiful and endearing.
She looked at Kiyono.
Eyes wide.
Utterly curious.
Then said:
"—Are you really doing that?!"
"???"