The Amusement Park, Central Plaza, in front of the fountain.
Hotaru and the girls from the Light Music Club were working here.
At first, everyone was full of fighting spirit.
But soon, they gradually felt like something wasn't quite right.
"Um…"
"I… feel like… it's getting hotter…"
"Hotaru-kun, how about you?"
Yui-chan, the most sensitive to temperature, spoke haltingly — she already wanted to take off her mascot head.
"Me too, a little."
"My face is covered in sweat."
Mio-chan and Ritsu-chan sighed in agreement.
This part-time job was even tougher than the one in Shimokitazawa a while back!
"Well, that's only natural. The mascot head is so thick, we're trapped inside, there's no way to breathe."
Hotaru explained, panting.
"And the sun keeps getting stronger."
Even though he had expected it, the heat was far worse than he imagined.
At that moment, Hotaru couldn't help but think — the part-time job at Starry was truly enjoyable.
A cool basement, free air conditioning, free drinks, and free live shows.
He remembered Nijika-chan saying that originally drinks were unlimited, since they cost almost nothing.
But because Ryo-san drank so much — sometimes even hauling huge bottles home — Seika-san had no choice but to set a limit.
Still, Nijika-chan had said it was fine to drink a little extra.
That rule was mostly aimed at Ryo-san.
But she also warned: don't drink too many sodas!
Nijika-chan, I miss you!
"I can't take it anymore!"
Ritsu-chan was the first to rip off her mascot head.
Yui-chan followed right after.
"Idiot, you'll get caught."
Mio-chan reminded her.
"They'll deduct our pay."
Hotaru added.
The mention of a pay cut made Ritsu-chan and Yui-chan quickly put their heads back on.
Yui-chan even managed to put hers on backward.
"By the way, Tsumugi-san hasn't said a word this whole time."
Hotaru suddenly pointed out.
At once, everyone turned toward Tsumugi-san.
"Did she pass out from the heat?"
Ritsu-chan guessed.
"Ahh, Tsumugi-san, don't die on us!"
Yui-chan cried.
"Don't say stupid things!"
Hotaru knocked Yui-chan on the head through the costume.
Mio-chan asked anxiously, "Tsumugi-san, are you okay?"
"…"
Tsumugi-san didn't move.
"D-don't scare me like that…"
Mio-chan's voice trembled.
Hotaru stepped forward and removed Tsumugi-san's mascot head.
Tsumugi-san blinked her big, innocent eyes.
"Wow!"
"Wow?"
Everyone looked at her in confusion.
"Tsumugi-san, you're fine?"
"Why weren't you saying anything?"
Tsumugi-san explained,
"I wanted to scare you all.
But it seems I failed."
"…"
Yui-chan muttered, "Tsumugi-san, aren't you hot?"
Tsumugi-san thought for a moment. "It's fine. It's dark inside, kind of interesting."
Everyone looked at her face — not a drop of sweat. They all felt envious.
Hotaru couldn't help but wonder: could the system exchange for a body that stayed warm in winter and cool in summer?
Finally, it was break time.
Everyone quickly removed their mascot heads.
The heat gathered at the top of their heads quickly dissipated, and they could barely feel a hint of coolness.
Except for Tsumugi-san, the girls were all drenched in fragrant sweat.
Everyone took out tissues and wiped the fine sweat from their foreheads.
"My head feels like it's going to smoke…"
"Yeah…"
Clearly, everyone was too exhausted to speak.
Hotaru spotted a vending machine, so he said,
"What do you want to drink? My treat."
Ritsu-chan's eyes lit up, "Hotaru-kun! I really didn't misjudge you."
Cough, cough — this made Hotaru feel a little embarrassed.
On one hand, they really needed cold drinks to cool down.
On the other, he figured treating everyone might also trigger system rewards.
Yui-chan: "Cola!"
Ritsu-chan: "Cola for me too."
Tsumugi-san hesitated, "Me too."
All eyes turned toward Mio-chan.
Her face flushed slightly — whether from the heat or something else, no one could tell.
"I… water's fine, thank you…"
"Okay!"
Hotaru walked over to the vending machine.
Tsumugi-san watched curiously from afar — she also wanted to take a look at that big machine.
Hotaru bought everyone's drinks one by one, then grabbed a few extra bottles of water just in case they needed them later.
To his pleasant surprise, the drinks at the amusement park were the same normal prices as in convenience stores.
Meanwhile, Sakiko-san was finding it harder and harder to land good part-time jobs in Shimokitazawa.
According to the owner of one job agency,
several schoolgirls had been coming in groups recently, taking on most of the jobs.
Fortunately, this weekend,
she found a satisfactory part-time job.
Wearing a mascot costume at the amusement park to attract customers.
It was tiring, but the hourly wage was much higher than ordinary jobs.
Under the shade of a tree, Sakiko-san sat alone.
The people nearby all seemed to have companions.
She pressed her fingers together, fanning her face with her hands.
But the more she fanned, the hotter it felt.
The air was hot, and her arms grew sore.
Still, she didn't stop — perhaps the act itself was psychologically comforting.
Suddenly, Sakiko-san noticed the Light Music Club girls under the tree opposite.
They were lively as always…
She had seen them at school before, always walking together with their instruments.
They must be in the same band.
Suddenly, Sakiko-san realized.
The girls taking part-time jobs in Shimokitazawa were probably them!
Her eyes lingered on the blonde girl — Tsumugi-san, the young lady of the Kotobuki family.
Sakiko-san knew her.
She had once seen her at a banquet long ago.
But Tsumugi-san likely didn't know her, so Sakiko-san felt at ease.
She had heard Tsumugi-san was carefully protected by her family,
never involved in family affairs, deeply cherished like a jewel.
Because of that, her personality was pure and innocent.
But why would she be working in a place like this?
Was she… as down and out as Sakiko-san herself?
Looking from afar at Tsumugi-san chatting happily with her friends,
Sakiko-san grew even more puzzled.
Even in this terrible heat, doing exhausting work,
how could she still smile so brightly?
Why couldn't Sakiko-san smile like that?
Suddenly, her pupils contracted, her expression tense.
"I'm back!"
Hotaru returned with the drinks, already sipping his own.
"Saved!!" x2
Yui-chan and Ritsu-chan immediately grabbed theirs.
Next was Tsumugi-san, and finally Mio-chan.
Then Hotaru suddenly noticed something.
He said a few words to the girls, and under their puzzled gazes, walked in a certain direction.
Sakiko-san quickly lowered her head, her eyebrows trembling.
Seeing Hotaru here today, she felt more shock than joy.
If possible, she didn't want anyone she knew to see her working part-time.
With her pride, this felt like punishment.
The only relief was that he was also working part-time.
But still, she really didn't want to see anyone she knew in this state.
She had sweated so much earlier, her back was still damp.
She wasn't sure what smell she carried now,
but she was sure it wasn't pleasant.
Please! I beg you! Don't come closer, Hotaru-kun. Just pretend you didn't see me…
Then she thought of the mascot head.
If she just put it on and pretended to be working, she wouldn't be recognized.
Her eyes lit up, and she immediately moved to do it.
"Fengchuan-san."
Ah!
Sakiko-san sighed in her heart.
Why do you always appear when I'm a mess? Idiot Hotaru-kun, can't you pick a better time?
Of course, this was only her inner thought.
She wasn't actually angry.
"Ah, Hotaru-kun, what a coincidence…"
She forced a faint smile.
"Have some water."
Hotaru handed her a bottle. "Sorry, only mineral water left."
"Ah… no, it's okay—"
But the cold bottle was already in her hand.
He had pressed it on her anyway.
"You don't want me carrying all these, do you?"
Hotaru gestured at the extra drinks. "My arms are sore."
"…Alright. Thank you."
The familiar words made Sakiko-san recall last night, and her grip tightened slightly.
"Oh right! How about we call this an apology for last night? You can't bring that up again, Fengchuan-san."
Hotaru joked.
"No need to compensate… No, wait, that's not right! No!"
Sakiko-san turned away. "You made me fall and get hurt…"
Did he think one bottle of water cleared things up? No way.
"But you said last night no compensation was needed."
"Last night was last night. Now is now."
She retorted.
"Eh…"
Seeing Hotaru at a loss, Sakiko-san secretly felt pleased.
At that moment, the Light Music Club girls called out to Hotaru-kun — break time was over.
So he said,
"Fengchuan-san, I'll go back."
"Mm, okay."
Sakiko-san nodded.
This time, when she looked at the Light Music Club again, her feelings were complicated.
On his side… weren't there a few too many girls?
Yui-chan, still a bit dazed, quickly noticed her gaze.
Her smile grew wider, her wave more energetic.
If it weren't so hot, Yui-chan might have run straight over to make friends.
Sakiko-san nodded awkwardly in response, not sure if Yui-chan saw it.
After an unknown amount of time,
the morning part-time job finally ended.
At noon, the amusement park provided lunch boxes, which tasted decent.
In the afternoon, they continued their exhausting shifts.
By evening, work was done.
The sun set, and the weather cooled down.
Finally came the eagerly awaited free play session.
But everyone was already so tired.
After trying only a few rides, Hotaru and the girls rode the Ferris wheel together, taking a group photo with Mio-chan's portable camera.
And just like that, the day ended.
It felt as if they'd been tricked by the amusement park.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/DaoistRoeoNQ
If you guys wanna check it out.