"Yuu, are you sure it's okay to just leave Kyo like that?"
Oga, having been sent off by Sakiko, now stood at the register, chatting with Kikukawa Yuu.
"Hmm? What's up with my dear little sister now?" Yuu popped open a can of soda. It was originally meant for Kyo, but since she'd bought so many, sneaking one for herself wouldn't hurt.
"Kyo's energy seems a little off today—kind of subdued." Oga rested her chin on her fingers, recalling the past hour. As she worked around the bookstore, every time she passed that corner, she had glanced over out of concern. Kyo barely moved at all. The only noticeable change was the growing pile of empty bottles and cartons beside her.
"She probably drank something weird while out messing around yesterday and is still caught up in the aftertaste," Yuu waved a hand dismissively. She knew this pattern all too well. Whenever Kyo drank too much water or indulged in something overly 'rich,' she would fall into an excited state.
Not that excited necessarily meant lively or energetic. It was more like a process of "drainage"—a way for Kyo to purge excess emotions.
For her, excitement could manifest as overwhelming sadness, leading to uncontrollable sobbing and complete immobility. Or, if she was in a good mood, it could result in reckless, unrestrained behavior, entirely dictated by her whims.
"She'll be fine once she gets it out of her system. It's just a matter of how long it takes. No need to worry too much, Oga. If anything really seems off, just ask her directly. Kyo isn't the type to bottle up her problems—it makes things a lot easier."
"...I see." Oga finally relaxed, unclasping her hands from where they had been pressed together in concern.
THUMP—
A loud noise suddenly echoed from the other side of the bookstore, like something heavy had slammed into the cushions.
"Wait, hold on—Yuu, that wasn't Kyo falling, was it?" Oga panicked and immediately moved to check, only for Yuu to casually grab her sleeve.
"Relax, relax. You worry way too much." Yuu chuckled, shaking her head. "You've worked with Sakiko for a few days now, haven't you? You should know by now that she's pretty reliable."
"Yeah... Honestly, she's much younger than me, but she feels way more like an adult."
Yuu gave Oga a hearty pat on the back, signaling for her to stop overthinking.
"You're one of our model employees, Oga—don't go saying things like that. Oh, and by the way," Yuu suddenly lowered her voice, glancing toward the lounge area to make sure neither Sakiko nor Kyo was approaching before continuing in a conspiratorial tone,
"To be honest, I still can't figure out what's going on between Kyo and Sakiko. You probably know a little about my sister's... quirks. Even she doesn't fully understand her own feelings toward Sakiko. But Sakiko, on the other hand..."
She trailed off before shaking her head.
"I won't jump to conclusions and say it's romantic or anything, but Sakiko definitely relies on Kyo in some way."
"Relies on her?" Oga was surprised. It was hard to imagine that someone as composed and self-sufficient as Sakiko would need anyone.
"Sakiko has some difficulties in life," Yuu admitted. She had heard bits and pieces about Sakiko's situation when Kyo first asked if she could work at the bookstore. "But despite her financial struggles, she insists on maintaining a strong sense of independence. She doesn't want anyone to look down on her because of money—her pride won't allow it."
"But financial hardship is stressful, and Sakiko's way of dealing with stress is to push through it alone, refusing help from others."
Yuu still remembered how she had once casually offered Sakiko part of her lunch, thinking it was a harmless gesture. Instead, she had unknowingly hit a nerve.
"In that kind of environment—where she's under constant external pressure and also pressuring herself internally—Kyo swooping in at just the right moment... you could call it taking advantage of the situation. I don't know how she did it, but she somehow got Sakiko to accept a kind of debt—something that, to Sakiko, is probably huge."
Yuu let out a low chuckle.
"And you know, debt is a heavy thing to carry. That's why I'm not in any rush to frame this as love just yet. Right now, Sakiko's feelings toward Kyo aren't simple. With her pride and the weight of what she owes, you could almost say Kyo tricked her into a trap."
Oga could barely keep up at this point. Her simple countryside upbringing didn't prepare her for these kinds of tangled emotional dynamics—it all sounded way more complicated than anything she was used to.
"So yeah, it's best if we don't interfere," Yuu concluded. "I trust Kyo to handle things. But hey, who knows? Maybe it will turn into love in the end."
She clicked her tongue and shook her head, her smirk filled with amusement.
"And if that happens? Damn, that's gonna be intense. Love, when it starts from something this heavy, is a whole different beast. If Kyo screws up..."
Yuu's face practically glowed with anticipation, her sharp features twisting into a mischievous grin.
"Heh. Sakiko's no pushover either. There's a chance Kyo might end up being trapped instead—completely tied down by Sakiko."
"...Why do I feel like you want your sister to crash and burn?"
At that, Yuu suddenly recalled something.
The last time she had stood with Kyo in front of the archive wall, she had taken a closer look at the photos Kyo had placed at the center.
Each of those people—every single one of them—had something in common.
They all had an effect on Kyo that she couldn't handle.
They carried emotions that stirred a sense of curiosity in her, emotions she couldn't quite grasp.
In the past, Kyo had never surrounded herself with people like that. But now, she was actively seeking them out.
Maybe, pushing Kyo into situations she couldn't easily navigate was the key to getting her to truly understand emotions.
Yuu smiled to herself, her expression full of anticipation.
Of course, seeing her usually composed little sister utterly fail would also be hilarious.