"Welcome... ah, Yuuki-kun. Good morning." "Good morning, Senpai." Café 'Amaryllis'. This is where I work part-time. The one who greeted me with a smile is Ayane Sasazuka-san, my senpai here. She's a college student about to turn twenty. Her light brown hair is characteristically tied in a ponytail. She's incredibly kind, and many patrons come to the café just to see her. "I'll get changed right away." "There's no need to rush. We have few customers at the moment." "That's right, it's quite slow today...hahaha." "If the master says things like that, it makes even me, a part-timer, a bit nervous." The man who is casually laughing is the café's owner, the master of Amaryllis. His hair is swept back, peppered with white, and he wears sophisticated glasses. He strikes one as a quintessential British butler. Yet, his name remains unknown to me. We all refer to him as "Master". He seems to have always desired the title, asking us to call him that. He may be a tad eccentric, but Master is indeed a wonderful person. Without firing me for my continuous mistakes at my first part-time job, he kindly and patiently taught me everything. Thanks to him, I've become fully competent. I'm nothing but grateful. "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." After changing into the store's uniform in the changing room, I returned to the floor. As they said, there weren't many customers. Neighborhood housewives, regulars, and also... "♪" *clears throat* Miyanoshita was already here. Sure, I told her about where I work. But to think she'd arrive before me, how eagerly must she have been waiting? "Yuuki, what's the matter?" "No, nothing at all..." "Really? Then, please take this menu to table number five." "Understood." I pick up a parfait and orange juice set, and head to table number five. "I came!♪" I nearly crumbled to my knees, but somehow I kept myself together. "Why do you look so surprised? I told you I'd come, didn't I?" "Sure... I'm just surprised you got here before me... And how you seem so at home here." "Elementary school students finish their classes earlier than high school students. Plus, that's the power of love." "Aren't you trying to explain everything away with that?" "In all honesty, I just really wanted to see you at work as soon as possible."

"..." "Huh? Are you blushing? Hehe. Can I keep praising you? You're so cool, Yuuki-san." "Please stop..." "You look really tired." "Do you realize that you're entirely the cause of my exhaustion, Miyanoshita?" "Sorry, I just really wanted to see you working. I'm not sorry at all, actually♪" She bestows upon me a smile so sweet and genuine it's overwhelming. She's definitely not repenting. "Here's your parfait and orange juice, as ordered." "Huh? Something's missing." "What?" "Your warm hug, staff member♪" It's a sincere request, which makes it all the more troubling. "Look... that's just not possible, okay?" "Couldn't it be a special part of the service?" "No, it couldn't." "Cheapskate. But when you show me that aloof side, it just ignites my determination to win you over. Alright, I'll do my best!" Please don’t get too fired up. "You might find it impolite to say, but Miyanoshita, you have a lot of guts, right?" "Is that so?" "Yeah. Most people would probably give up." "…You know how they say first love never comes true, right? But Yuuki-san, you're my first love. So I can’t just give up, can I? I want to take on the challenge, you know?" Miyanoshita said it with a very nice smile. "I really hate losing♪" It's a troublesome trait. But I find that aspect of Miyanoshita to be endearing. Straightforward and earnest. Passionate, giving her all to what she wants to accomplish. I even felt envious, as I lack such fervor myself. Of course, when I say 'endearing', I mean it in the sense of admiration for a person. Definitely not in a romantic way. "Well then, enjoy your time." "Huh? You're leaving already?" "I'm in the middle of work." "That's a shame. Then I'll just keep my gaze fixed on you, Yuuki-san." "Try to keep it to a reasonable level, please." I decided to leave her be, knowing that she won't stop even if I try to intervene. With a wry smile, I step away from the table. "Hey, hey." As I made my way back to the center of the floor, my senpai softly called out to me. For some reason, her voice was barely audible. "About that customer just now..." "Oh, yes. What about them?" "Do they have feelings for you, Yuuki-kun?"