 Chapter 74
 Part-Time Job â˘
“Thatâs why I need your help.”
After finishing our meal and relaxing, Seiya came up to us, clasped his hands, puffed out his chest, and made the request in person.
Not exactly the posture of someone asking politely.
“Whatâs going on?”
“Weâre short on staff because of sick leaves, bereavement leave, and tardiness. I need you for about two hours. The manager will cover the cost of todayâs meal.”
Wait, the manager is paying? Moonlight and I exchanged glances and nodded.
It wasnât our first time working here. Both Moonlight and I had helped out two or three times before. âHelpingâ would be a more accurate word than âworking.â Iâd once covered for Seiya suddenly going to Mizusato-sanâs family home in mid-July.
But Moonlight and I had never worked together.
Well, if helping out a friend means free food, why not?
When we went to the staff room together, a woman from the hall was waiting.
“So, youâre here.”
“Ah, Mei-san, hello!”
“Kamigamiâs younger sister and⌠um⌔
“Yamada.”
“Yes, thatâs it! Youâll handle the hall, and you handle the dishes.”
She didnât even call out her name first.
Her name is Mei Kisaragi. Sheâs the part-time leader here and a university student. Sheâd taught me a lot when I came last time.
Her lilac-colored hair was dyed, and I think she mentioned she was a vocalist in a band.
“So, is your friend Kamigami still popular?”
“Well⌠maybe a little less than before, but people still like him.”
Mei ran her hands through her long lilac hair. Not quite as long as Moonlightâs, but it was a nice length.
She wore a confident expression.
“Iâve known him for over a year, but I am not in love with him. Yes, I am a woman who will not fall for him!”
Sheâs beautiful, but⌠sheâs also pretty eccentric. She was like this last time too.
Then Seiya entered the staff room.
“Mei, get out here, the customers are increasing.”
“Donât tell me what to do.”
Seiya said it himself: Mei is good at her job. Of course, sheâs the part-time leaderâŚ
But watching them, itâs clear they argue quite a bit. But as soon as the automatic door opens and customers come in:
“âWelcomeăźăź!â”
Both Seiya and Mei beamed at the customers. So much for the earlier bickeringâlooks like sibling rivalry.
“Taiyo-san!”
Moonlight, having finished changing, showed me her female hall uniform.
“What do you thinkâŚ?”
Male hall uniforms are primarily black, but the female ones are white aprons with skirtsâa pure, clean image.
Thereâs no questionâsheâs absolutely adorable. Could such a cute employee exist?
“I shouldâve brought a camera.”
“Ahaha⌔
Her chestnut hair tied back, Moonlight twirled once.
“Itâs my first time working with you, Taiyo-san, so Iâm looking forward to it.”
“Only for about two hours, but letâs do our best.”
I handled washing dishes and carrying tableware. The restaurant has a specific way of doing things, and Iâm not suited for customer service.
Moonlightâs memory made her perfect for the hall work. But she had one problemâŚ
“Hey, staff! Give me your contact!”
“When did you start working here!?”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
Moonlight couldnât really work here because sheâs too popular.
Any place would explode with customers seeing such a cute worker. When she helped last time, the customers surged, and everyone asked where that cute employee was.
Even Seiya struggled with female customers, but Moonlight would be even worse.
During our break in the staff room, smiling Seiya and Moonlight came in. As soon as they sat down, their expressions went blank.
This brother-sister duo is really good at fake smiles.
“Itâs a transformation worth recording on video.”
“Iâm tired⌠the work is fine, but being approached by customers is awful.”
“Sorry. Usually they go to Mei⌔
Mei is beautiful, but Moonlight is in another league. She gets approached, handed her contact, and even confessed to by strangers. Really tough.
We were supposed to work only two hours, but it was already around 9 PM, and Seiyaâs shift lasted until 10, so we continued until leaving together. Tomorrow is a day off, so no problem.
“Customer flow has slowed. The night shift can handle it. Thanks, both of you.”
Mei also came in to coordinate. At this stage, Moonlight and I didnât need to go out front anymore.
Even if we earned dinner money, it was tiring.
“If you want to work again, come by. Iâll recommend you to the manager.”
Maybe weâll ask if we canât find another part-time job. Either way, itâll be after graduation.
“Mei-san is amazing. She stays composed even when men approach her. I admire that.”
Moonlightâs sincere gaze made Mei blush and step back a little.
“I wasnât always used to it. Experience matters.”
“I wish I had a cool older sister like Mei-san.”
“Hey, I want a little sister like Kamigamiâs sister.”
I can understand that. I also wanted a sister like Moonlight.
“Then you should date Seiya. Then youâd have a little sister.”
“Hmph!”
Mei snorted.
“Too bad, Iâm not interested in Kamigami. Iâll never fall for him!”
“Idiot.”
Seiyaâs exasperated voice ended the conversation perfectly.
âââ
Moonlight, Seiya, and I walked home. Today, Seiya would leave midway.
“Itâs getting cold.”
Moonlight exhaled, warming her pale hands. Gloves werenât necessary yet, but nights were chilly.
Itâs already past 10 PM.
“December is almost here. Another year ends⌠and weâll be third-years soon.”
“Time flies. Half of high school is already over.”
Seiya and I felt nostalgic. In the third year, weâd need to study for college entrance exams and probably attend prep school.
Things couldnât continue like before.
At least helping out with part-time jobs like this would be impossible.
“Taiyo-san, you and Onii-chan⌠donât make that face.”
Moonlight grabbed our hands and stood between us.
Her hands were freezing, but holding hands warmed us.
“Donât just think about time passingâletâs enjoy Christmas, New Year, the winter trip⌠all of it together!”
Moonlightâs chestnut hair shone beautifully under the streetlights. Her face was gentle and mesmerizing.
Seiya walking beside us also looked kind. Right⌠thereâs still so much to enjoy. We need to fully savor our first and last high school years.
“Seiya, thereâs a Christmas party in December! Canât wait!”
“Yeah, thatâs right.”
The three of us walked home together, happily.
