I flipped open my jacket as if showing off, revealing the staff uniform underneath with great pride. Yuihama neither laughed nor mocked me, merely nodding in response.
That reaction was even more embarrassing than an awkward silence... I decided to return the favor with a tactful compliment.
"...But it suits you better than it does me."
"Really?"
I nodded affirmatively, and Yuihama happily looked down at her uniform.
"This uniform looks nice, doesn't it? Maybe I should actually work at this place."
"Sounds good."
From what I had experienced helping out for a day, the working environment here seemed pretty good. The manager was easygoing, there were people she knew here, her friends lived nearby, and the customers did not seem bad either. All things considered, it was an ideal workplace for Yuihama.
I casually agreed, and Yuihama made an unexpected suggestion.
"Then let's work here together. You, me, and Yukino."
"The three of us?"
Wasn't someone missing? Had she forgotten about her? I asked indirectly, and Yuihama silently looked away.
"Iroha didn't really do anything today, so..."
"That's a pretty strict screening standard..."
We were only discussing a hypothetical situation, yet the standards were awfully high... Feeling a little intimidated, I watched as Yuihama continued delving into that hypothetical scenario, clutching her head as she thought hard.
"Ahh, but having Yukino come in as a customer would be nice too... She could sit by the window and read, and if she happened to notice me looking at her now and then, then waved at me... that'd be the best..."
"That's the kind of thing a dream girl would think..."
"But Yukino should still be the manager. I'll work the floor, and the loner guy can make the food and drinks."
"Isn't my workload a little too heavy?"
"I think