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Sequel 10 - To That Girl’s Part-Time Job ─ Kyoko

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After 3pm.

The 60 minute time limit has passed, and Hiori and I leave Cat Cafe Nyakano. When we leave the cat room, the white cat and the brown tabby cat see us off near the entrance. Because of that, I feel a little lonely.

“I interacted with the cat-chan a lot this time as well.”

“That's true. Although I was mainly with the white cat, and Hiori was mainly with the brown tabby cat. We also gave them some treats, so it was a fun and soothing 60 minutes.”

“That's true. From now on too, let's go to cat cafes regularly.”

“Yeah, let's do that.”

“Going with just the two of us is nice, but going with Saaya-san, Kyoko-san, and the others might be fun as well.”

“That sounds interesting.”

Hazuki-san and Shimizu-san look like they can get along well with various cats.

As for Kazuo... I feel like several cats would really like him.

Himura-san seems like she’ll be having fun playing with a lively cat. Also, if there’s a cat that she really likes, it seems like she’ll run wild. Also, if she sees Hiori wearing a cat ear headband right in front of her eyes, she’s definitely going to run wild. It feels like she's going to pat her all over and bury her face in the cat... no, in Hiori.

* (T/N: I googled it. 猫吸い - ‘cat sucking’, you bury your face in your cat, and breath in. That’s what it’s talking about.)

Just imagining it is enough to put me in a good mood, so I will certainly enjoy it if we actually go.

“Well then, let's go to the tapioca drink shop where Himura-san works part-time.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll use a map app to find the way to the shop...”

“I know the way to the shop from here. Before, when I was returning from Kyoko-san’s house, Kyoko-san and Saaya-san walked with me until Takano Station. At that time, Kyoko-san sends me off near the tapioca drink shop.

“I see. Then, I’ll leave the directions to you.”

“Yes! Please leave it to me!”

Hiori cheerfully says as she gives me a bright smile. She gives off a reliable aura. It seems like she will become popular if she becomes a tour guide or bus guide.

Hiori and I start walking toward Jewel Takano, the tapioca drink shop where Himura-san works part-time. According to Hiori, we will arrive in about 15 minutes.

We go back to the road we took to get to Nyakano from Takano Kakui.

Then, once we’re back to Takano Kakui, we walk along the main street in front of Kakui, heading in the opposite direction from Takano Station. If we walk along this road, we can not only go to Jewel Takano but also to the closest station to Himura-san's house, New Takano Station of the Tohto Metro.

“This is the same question I asked when we went to Yuuzen Company but, has Hiori ever seen Himura-san working part-time?”

“Not even once.”

“I see.”

“That’s why, I’m looking forward to seeing Kyoko-san working part-time.”

“I'm looking forward to it too. She looks like she’ll serve customers cheerfully like Hazuki-san.”

“I believe so as well. Kyoko-san also shows a lot of wonderful smiles after all.”

“Yeah.”

Himura-san often smiles, especially when she's with Hiori or when talking about things related to Hiori. She loves Hiori too much, though sometimes she smiles in a way that feels obscene. It's hard to believe that there was a time when she kept glaring at Hiori, even though it was due to her fondness for her.

Also, when she talks with friends other than us during lunch breaks or breaks between classes, Himura-san has a bright and happy smile on her face. I'm sure she’s serving customers with her usual smile.

After a few minutes of walking from Kakui, the area became more residential with houses, apartments, and condominiums. Unlike the area around the station or in Kakui, the atmosphere feels calm.

“After walking for a few minutes, it became calm huh. This is a main street that connects two stations, and both stations are within walking distance from in between, so I thought there would be a lot of shops here.”

“That's true. The ones around here are... convenience stores and drug stores. And there are also a number of chain restaurants here.”

“A lot of them are shops that cater to people who live in this area I see.”

“That's true. Also, this area is within walking distance of both NR’s Takano Station and Tohto Metro’s New Takano Station. So this seems like a great place to live in.”

“I see.”

When I look around, I see several condominiums. I'm sure it's a very popular place to live in for the reason Hiori mentioned. Because even having just one station within walking distance is appealing, and yet, there are two stations in this area.

“...If I were to live together with Akito-san someday, I'd like to live somewhere close to the station.”

Hiori’s smile as she says that is slightly red.

Perhaps because we have started officially dating and have greeted each other's families, the word [live together] feels realistic. Partly because of that, the words Hiori said just now makes my heart pound. My cheeks are getting hot, so I'm sure my body is turning red like Hiori’s is.

“Living close to the station is appealing. Someday, I want to live with Hiori in a place where we can live comfortably, including that part.”

“That’s true.”

As she answers happily, Hiori lets go of my hand and wraps her arms around mine. The way she does it is so cute.

Also, during the contact when her arm wraps around mine, I feel something soft through my clothes. That makes my heart pound even more. I can feel the heat that I've been feeling mostly on my face until just now starting to spread throughout my entire body.

I wonder when I will start living together with Hiori. While still students? Or maybe when we’ve become a working adult? In order to broaden our options for where to live, I guess I should start saving some of my part-time job money now as a fund for the future.

While I’m talking with Hiori, I start seeing things like large commercial facilities, office buildings, and business hotels. There is a lot of bustle like the area around Takano Station and Kakui. I wonder if we will reach New Takano Station and Jewel Takano soon.

“Are we near Jewel Takano?”

“Yes, that's right. Look, that's the north exit of New Takano Station.”

“...Ah, it's true.”

What Hiori is pointing at is the north exit of Tohto Metro’s New Takano Station. I visited this place a few days ago when we had a study session at Himura-san's house, so this place suddenly feels familiar.

“Want to secretly watch Himura-san serving customers like we did with Hazuki-san?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

An instant reply. Also, somehow, she looks excited. I guess she likes watching secretly.

Soon after that, Jewel Takano comes into view. Since it’s just past noon on a Saturday, there are some people walking into the shop, and others coming out with cups filled with tapioca drinks.

We approach right up to the side of the entrance of the shop. The glass part next to the entrance has a list of drinks and posters of new products, so we can sneak a peek inside the store while hiding our face and body there.

There sure are a lot of people lined up at the counter. There are a large percentage of women, and some are couples like us. Also, I see a group of women in uniforms, probably returning from club activities. On the other side of those customers... I see Himura-san at the counter, wearing what appears to be her uniform, a collared black blouse and a black cap.

“Himura-san, she’s at the counter.”

“Yes. She’s serving customers with a bright and wonderful smile on her face.”

Saying that, Hiori shows a very gentle smile on her face.

When I look inside the store again... I see Himura-san serving customers with a bright smile on her face, just as Hiori said. She hands a tapioca drink to a customer and bows her head with a smile on her face. Then she starts serving the next customer in line.

“She’s serving customers calmly. It seems Kyoko-san has been working part-time at this shop since her first year as well.”

“I see.”

So that’s why she can serve customers like that. Seeing Himura-san and Hazuki-san working part-time, I think again that I will also do my best in my part-time job at Zosol.

“Then, let's go into the shop too.”

“Yes.”

We enter Jewel Takano. At that moment, I hear the voice of a woman from the counter saying, [Welcome~].

Looking at the counter... it seems like each counter has a line. The counter that Himura-san is in charge of is on the far left opposite of us. So, we line up at the end of Himura-san's line. The people lining up in front of me are shorter than me, so I can clearly see Himura-san as she serves customers. She hasn't noticed us yet.

When I look at the counter seats and table seats... all the table seats are occupied, and there is only one counter seat available. I think I'll ask Himura-san to tell me where I can drink outside later.

“Thank you very much!”

Oh, I hear Himura-san's cheerful voice.

When I look at the counter again, my eyes meet Himura-san’s as she stands at the counter. And I guess she also noticed Hiori who is next to me. Himura-san waves at us with a very happy expression on her face. Hiori and I give her a small wave.

“Kyoko-san, she noticed us I see.”

“Yeah. Her smile when she noticed us, it was cute.”

“That's right. By the way, what are you going to drink, Akito-san?”

“I think I'll go with tapioca cafe au lait. I like coffee-based foods. Also, I've been walking for about 15 minutes, so I'm craving some sugar.”

“I see. I think I'll have tapioca milk tea.”

“That’s a classic tapioca drink. If Hiori is fine with it, want to exchange sips later?”

“Please!”

The way she says that with a smile as she bows her head slightly is so cute.

The line moves forward periodically, and it’s finally my and Hiori’s turn to be served by Himura-san.

“Welcome~!”

Himura-san greets us in the most adorable voice ever. Judging by the smile on her face, I can tell that she’s really happy that we came to this shop.

“Thank you for your hard work on your part-time job, Himura-san.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Kyoko-san.”

“Thank you, both of you! I'm really happy that you two came. My part-time job today is until six, and you’ve given me the energy to work hard until then.”

“Fufu, that's good. Just now, Akito-san and I watched you serving customers from the glass area next to the entrance. Kyoko-san was serving customers with a bright and wonderful smile that is typical of Kyoko-san. Right? Akito-san.”

“Yeah. You’ve been working part-time since your first year, that’s why you were doing a good job of serving customers, that’s what I thought.”

“Thank you!”

Himura-san smiles, showing her white teeth. I think that smile is wonderful too. Also, I know well that when someone you like comes over, it gives you more energy for the rest of your part-time job.

“The uniform is wonderful too. It suits you well.”

“It's nice that it has a different atmosphere than the school’s, isn’t it.”

“Thank you. I’m so happy.”

‘Ehehe’, Himura-san lets out that cute voice and shows a soft smile.

“Come to think of it, how was the movie? They said it was a tear-jerker.”

“It was very good. I’d read the original work many times and it still made me cry.”

“I watched it without being spoiled by the original work, and I cried loudly. I bought the whole set of the original manga at the bookstore where Hazuki-san works part-time.”

“It was quite good, huh. Of course I wanted to see Hiori shedding tears, but I also wanted to see Kamitou crying loudly.”

Himura-san is looking at me with a smirk on her face.

To think that not only Hazuki-san, but also Himura-san who wanted to see me cry. I guess they’re interested because they’ve never seen me shed tears before.

“Also, you went to the bookstore where Saaya works part-time, huh.”

“Yes. Saaya-san was also doing well at her part-time job. After that, we went to a cat cafe.”

“I see. Someday, I want all of us to go to a cat cafe. ...Let’s stop our idle chat here and let me start serving you. Would you like to eat inside? Or would you like to take it home?”

“I guess I'll take it home. There aren't any seats inside the shop after all. I want to relax and drink near the shop though... How about Hiori?”

“I don't mind that. It's sunny today anyway.”

Hiori says so with a refreshing smile.

“Got it. Then, we’ll take it home.”

“A take-out, is it? Also, if you walk a little to the left after leaving the shop, there is a plaza. There are quite a few benches, so you can relax and drink there.”

“I see. Thank you for telling us.”

I’m glad there’s a place to relax nearby. It's sunny and warm today, so it's probably the perfect weather to drink a cold tapioca drink.

“I’m ready to take your order.”

“Hiori first, please.”

“Thank you very much. I’d like one regular size tapioca milk tea, please.”

“Also, one regular size tapioca cafe au lait. That's all.”

“Very well. One regular size tapioca milk tea and one regular size tapioca cafe au lait, is it. The total price is 600 yen.”

That means... each drink is 300 yen, I guess. Looking at the menu, all regular size drinks are 300 yen.

Hiori and I take out our wallets and we each put 300 yen onto the tray.

“I have received exactly 600 yen. We will give you the receipt. Please wait a moment.”

After handing the receipt to Hiori, Himura-san prepares the tapioca drinks that we ordered.

As she has been working part-time since she was a first year student, she’s preparing the drinks calmly. Hiori is staring intently at such Himura-san's back.

Shortly thereafter, Himura-san returns to the counter with a tapioca cafe au lait in her right hand and a tapioca milk tea in her left.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting. Here are the tapioca milk tea and tapioca cafe au lait.”

“Thank you very much.”

“Thank you.”

We receive the tapioca drinks from Himura-san. Because it is given to me by my friend who works part-time, it looks more delicious than any tapioca drink I've had before.

“Himura-san, do your best at your part-time job.”

“Please do your best.”

“Yes! Thank you very much! Please come again!”

Himura-san waves us off with a smile. We wave at Himura-san and leave Jewel Takano, heading towards the plaza that Himura-san told us about.

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