Little Kessoku

"Ritsu: 'I want a cola too.'"

Kotsumugi hesitated for a moment. "Same for me."

Eight pairs of eyes turned to Mio.

Akiyama Mio's face was slightly red, though she didn't know if it was from the heat or something else.

"I... mineral water is fine, thanks..."

Bai Qiu walked over to the vending machine.

Kotobuki Tsumugi watched from a distance, very curious. She wanted to go over and take a look at that big machine too.

Bai Qiu picked out the drinks everyone wanted, then bought a few extra bottles of mineral water in case they needed them later that afternoon.

What's more, Bai Qiu was pleasantly surprised to find that the drinks at this amusement park cost the same as they did at convenience stores.

Toyokawa Shoko had found it increasingly difficult to get decent part-time work in Shimokitazawa lately.

According to the owner of one shop where she'd worked,

Several female students had recently been coming to Shimokitazawa in groups to work part-time, taking on a lot of the available jobs.

Fortunately, this weekend,

she'd found a part-time job she was happy with.

She'd be wearing a mascot costume at the amusement park and helping attract visitors.

The work was tiring, but the hourly pay was much higher than most part-time jobs.

Under the shade of a tree, Toyokawa Shoko sat all alone.

Everyone nearby seemed to have someone with them.

Shoko held her fingers together and repeatedly fanned her cheeks.

But somehow, it only seemed to make her hotter.

The air from her hand was hot, and her arm was getting more and more sore from waving it around.

Still, she didn't stop.

Maybe fanning herself like this had some sort of psychological effect.

Suddenly, Toyokawa Shoko noticed the girls from the Light Music Club under the shade of a tree across from her.

They were so lively. They...

Shoko had seen several girls from the Light Music Club at school. They were always walking together with their instruments.

They must be in the same band.

Suddenly, Toyokawa Shoko felt as if she'd figured something out.

Those girls who'd started showing up to work in Shimokitazawa must be them!

The girl with golden hair caught Toyokawa Shoko's attention in particular.

Kotobuki Tsumugi, the only young lady of the Kotobuki Family.

Toyokawa Shoko knew her.

A long time ago, Shoko had met her at a party.

But Tsumugi probably didn't know who she was, so Toyokawa Shoko felt somewhat relieved.

She'd heard that the girl was very well protected by the Kotobuki Family.

She wasn't involved in any family affairs, and her family doted on her like a precious jewel in the palm of their hand.

As a result, she had a very innocent personality.

Why would she come to a place like this to work?

Toyokawa Shoko wondered.

Had she fallen on hard times too, like me?

From a distance, she watched Kotobuki Tsumugi chatting with her friends, her face alight with genuine, happy smiles.

Toyokawa Shoko understood even less.

It was so hot, and she was doing such exhausting work.

How could she be so happy?

Why couldn't I smile at all?

Suddenly, Toyokawa Shoko's pupils contracted, and her expression turned tense.

"I'm back!"

Bai Qiu returned to the girls with the drinks.

He'd already started drinking his own.

"Saved!" ×2

Yui and Ritsu were the quickest to grab theirs.

Kotsumugi came next, and Mio was last.

Suddenly, Bai Qiu glanced around and noticed something.

He said something to the girls, then walked in a certain direction as they watched him in confusion.

Toyokawa Shoko quickly lowered her head, her eyebrows trembling.

Seeing Bai Qiu here today was far more surprising than it was delightful.

If possible, she didn't want anyone she knew to see her working a part-time job.

For someone as proud as her, it felt like punishment.

The only thing that made Toyokawa Shoko feel a little better was that he was working part-time too.

But she really didn't want anyone to see her in her current state.

She'd sweated a lot while wearing the mascot costume earlier, and her back was still a little damp.

Toyokawa Shoko had no idea what she smelled like right now.

But she was sure it couldn't be pleasant.

Don't come any closer!

Just pretend you didn't see me, okay?

Toyokawa Shoko prayed silently over and over.

Right, the head!

If she just put it on and pretended to be working, he wouldn't recognize her.

Toyokawa Shoko brightened and immediately started moving.

"Toyokawa-san."

Shoko sighed inwardly.

Why did he always show up when I was at my most pathetic?

Bai Qiu-kun, you idiot! Couldn't you have picked a better time?

Of course, that was only what she thought to herself.

Toyokawa Shoko wasn't actually angry.

"Ah, Bai Qiu-kun. What a coincidence..."

Toyokawa Shoko managed to force a faint smile.

"Want a drink?"

Bai Qiu held out some water. "But I only have mineral water left."

"Ah, no... I'm fine."

Toyokawa Shoko tried to refuse, but she could already feel something cold against her hand.

Bai Qiu had already pressed the bottle into her hand.

"You wouldn't want me walking around with all these extra drinks, would you?"

Bai Qiu gestured at the drinks he still held. "My hands are getting sore."

"Fine... thanks."

Those familiar words made Toyokawa Shoko think of what had happened last night, and her fingers tightened slightly around the bottle.

"Oh, right!"

"How about we call this an apology for last night? Toyokawa-san, you can't bring that up again after this."

Bai Qiu suddenly said with a joking air.

"No need to make it up to me... Wait, no!"

Toyokawa Shoko turned her face away. "You're the one who made me fall and get hurt..."

He thought he could put the matter behind them with one bottle of water? No way.

"But you said last night that you didn't need me to make it up to you."

"Last night was last night. This is now."

Toyokawa Shoko argued.

Seeing Bai Qiu at a loss for words made Toyokawa Shoko a little happy.

Just then, a few girls from the Light Music Club waved and called to Bai Qiu. Their break was over, and it was time to get back to work.

So Bai Qiu had no choice but to say,

"Toyokawa-san, I'll head back first."

Toyokawa Shoko nodded.

When she looked at the Light Music Club members again, she couldn't help feeling a little conflicted.

Does he have... way too many girls over there?

Yui Hirasawa, who was a little spacey, immediately noticed Toyokawa Shoko looking their way.

Her smile grew even wider, and she waved her arm with even more enthusiasm.

If it hadn't been so hot, she might have run over to make friends with Shoko.

Toyokawa Shoko nodded awkwardly, unsure whether Yui Hirasawa could see her.

No one knew how much time passed.

The morning shift finally came to an end.

At noon, the amusement park provided boxed lunches. They tasted pretty good.

In the afternoon, they continued their exhausting work.

At dusk, their shift ended.

The sun clocked out too, and the weather cooled down with it.

At last, the free time at the amusement park that everyone had been looking forward to arrived.

However, everyone was already completely worn out.

In the end, after trying out a few attractions, Bai Qiu and the girls took a group photo on the Ferris Wheel with the camera Akiyama Mio had brought along.

And so the day came to an end.

It felt like the amusement park had somehow played them.

Little Closed Tomo

Another new week had begun.