Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093083511177921/episodes/16818093085518131409
Day 1 of the festival.
We decided to take food safety into consideration by re-arranging all the café menu items that we had bought, which was a problem, and came up with the idea of decorating the drinks a little to give them an original café feel.
I was struggling to serve the customers in my tuxedo while a different hustle and bustle echoed through the school.
The café, which I prepared together with Hina and my classmates, was more popular than I had expected, with customers coming in incessantly.
With the customer service I learnt at Ryuki’s hotel, I say, ‘Welcome, Let me show you to your seat’, with a business smile on my face, while I was busy taking orders and clearing tables.
Unusually, I feel a little proud, as if I were a real hotel staff member.
I was calmly going about my business, remembering the customer service skills that Hina had taught me, while watching my classmates and visitors cheer lightly at the sight of the tuxedo-clad student beside me.
But then it was time.
“Hello, it’s been a while.”
A familiar voice from behind me made my body freeze for a moment.
I turned around, thinking that there was no way – no, there was no way, it was Arimura Yui who was there.
“Yui …….”
When I mentioned her name, she smiled and bowed lightly.
The gesture is the same as it used to be, and a slight pain runs through my chest.
Yui is my ex-girlfriend and we used to be able to talk about anything.
I’m sure I told her more during the sports festival, but… ‥.
“I heard rumours about the festival. I dropped by and was surprised. I didn’t expect to see Hikaru serving customers in a tuxedo.”
Yui says happily as she stares at me.
Her eyes are as beautiful as ever and she looks as if she can see through everything.
I’m almost speechless at the sight of her, which I haven’t seen in a long time, but I’m at work here.
I try to hide my agitation and respond as calmly as possible.
“Welcome. Arimura-san. Let me show you to your seat.”
I smile naturally and call out, remembering the professional customer service Hina taught me.
However, behind this expression, memories of the past come back to me one after another.
But for now, I have to concentrate on serving customers at the festival.
“Thank you. But it’s a little strange that you serve customers like that.”
Yui narrows her eyes and smiles as she takes her seat. I don’t know how to respond to that look, as if it’s teasing me.
“I guess that means I’ve grown up a bit too.”
“I guess so. But I never thought I’d see you serving customers, so it’s a bit new.”
At Yui’s words, I felt my chest tighten for a moment.
I didn’t know whether it was residual feelings from the past or just nostalgia.
But the fact that we are meeting again in this way itself feels a little strange.
I decided that since I had told her at the gymnasium, there should be no more of that feeling, and asked, ‘Are you ready to order?’ Yui nodded her head lightly and said, ‘Yes. I’ll take your recommendation.’
“Well, how about some cheesecake?”
“That’s it then.”
“Okay. Wait here for a minute.”
I reply and head for the kitchen.
I calm myself down in my mind and prepare my order.
In the kitchen, I could see that Hina was concerned about my condition.
She might have sensed something when she saw me talking to Yui.
‘Hikaru-kun, are you alright?’ Hina calls out to me. I felt a little bit saved by her kind eyes.
“I’m fine. Just a little.”
I forced a smile and replied, but Hina’s eyebrows remained slightly furrowed. Hina’s intuition is keen.
I feel like I can’t hide anything from her.
When I returned to my seat after preparing my order, Yui continued to stare at me during that time.
“Hikaru, you haven’t changed a bit since I last saw you. But I feel like you’re a little more mature now.”
She said abruptly, and I was puzzled again. Not knowing what to reply, I replied vaguely, ‘Maybe so’, and just tried to concentrate on my work.
At that moment, I heard the voice again.
“Hey, Hikaru ……, if you could do it all over again, what would you do?”
Yui said quietly, but seriously, looking at me. The words almost made my heart stop for a moment.
“What do you mean by that, ……?”
When I asked back, Yui began to laugh quietly.
“No, no, no. It’s nothing, it’s just a joke. I’m not that feminine.”
As it was, she lightly waved her hand, said, ‘I’ll be back,’ and left the shop.
After she left, something heavy remained in my heart.
“Hikaru-kun …… are you alright?”
And once again, Hina gently puts her hand on my shoulder and calls out to me.
With that kindness, my heart finally eased a little.
“`Thank you, Hina. I was just a little surprised,” I thanked her and decided to go back to serving customers.
I didn’t notice that Hina was looking at me quietly but with a slightly stern look on her face, but from then on I continued serving customers without incident.
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