"Ahem, well, since everyone's here, let's head out."
Tobe Kakeru spoke with forced cheer, clapping his hands together before turning to lead the way. The small group fell into step behind him, their casual weekend attire a stark contrast to the usual structured uniforms of Soubu High. The afternoon sun was gentle, casting long, lazy shadows on the pavement as they navigated the familiar streets toward the commercial district.
Tamura Sweet Shop was, as the name suggested, a dessert specialty store. For any business relying on foot traffic and impulse purchases, location was paramount. It occupied a storefront on a moderately busy shopping street, nestled between a stationery shop and a boutique, directly across from a quaint, independently-owned coffee shop. The area was alive with the weekend bustle—families with strollers, groups of teenagers, and couples window-shopping created a steady stream of passersby.
As the group arrived at their destination, the scene before them was one of industrious preparation. The shop's front was slightly cluttered with a stack of cardboard boxes, evidently a fresh delivery from a courier service. Beside them, a familiar girl with neat, short hair and practical glasses stood holding a clipboard, her expression one of focused concentration as she checked off items. She wore a simple, plain apron over her casual clothes.
Next to her, a boy with spiky brown hair—Kosaka Kyosuke—leaned against the doorframe, suppressing a yawn and looking profoundly unenthused by the manual labor.
"Yo, Tamura Manami! We've arrived!" Tobe called out, waving a hand as he approached.
The girl with glasses—Tamura Manami—looked up, a polite smile gracing her features. "Oh, Tobe-kun. Welcome." Her gaze swept over the group behind him. "These are your classmates, I presume? Oh my…"
Her eyes widened slightly behind her lenses as they landed on a particular figure. "Isn't this Hozuki Nozomi-san? Are you here to help as well?" Her tone held genuine surprise.
Nozomi offered a warm, easygoing smile. "That's right, Tamura-san. What a pleasant coincidence. I was just in the mood to earn a little extra pocket money, so I agreed to lend a hand."
"Huh?!" Tobe Kakeru's head swiveled between them, his own surprise evident. "Tamura Manami, you know Hozuki Nozomi?" A flicker of alarm crossed his mind. Could it be… has my cousin also fallen under his unnatural charm?
"Yes, we've met once before," Tamura Manami replied succinctly, her eyes unconsciously darting toward Kosaka Kyosuke beside her. A subtle, almost imperceptible hope flickered within her. What expression will Kyosuke make, seeing that I'm acquainted with such a handsome upperclassman? Will he feel… even a little jealous?
However, Kyosuke merely blinked at Hozuki Nozomi, recognition dawning after a moment's pause, before his expression settled back into its usual, slightly weary neutrality. Tamura Manami's shoulders drooped a fraction, a silent sigh escaping her. Of course. Kyosuke being Kyosuke…
Internally, Kosaka Kyosuke was more surprised than he let on. Wait, isn't this the first-year my dad wouldn't stop praising? The one Kirino had to entertain that one time… He recalled the unusual event with vivid, slightly traumatic clarity. She even took him to her room. His covert gaze then slid to the two strikingly beautiful girls flanking Nozomi—Shiina Mahiru and Miura Yumiko. A faint heat rushed to his cheeks, and he immediately snapped his eyes forward, staring fixedly at a point above Nozomi's shoulder. This guy… not only is he some kind of genius, but he also travels with a retinue of incredibly pretty girls? The world is unjust.
Noticing Kyosuke's fleeting glances, Tamura Manami gave a tiny, imperceptible pout before refocusing on the task at hand.
Tobe, brushing aside his brief moment of confusion, seized the opportunity for introductions with his characteristic energy. "Well, if you already know Nozomi-senpai, that makes things smoother! Tamura Manami, this is my good friend, Hayama Hayato. And these lovely ladies are Shiina Mahiru-san, Miura Yumiko-san, Ebina Hina-san, Ogiwara Sayu-san, and Yui Yuigahama-san. They're all here to help! See? Plenty of manpower now, right?"
"Of course. Thank you all very much for your assistance," Tamura Manami said, bowing slightly. Her demeanor shifted into one of gentle efficiency. "We will provide compensation for your time. Now, let's not waste any more of it. We have much to do before the promotional period begins."
She quickly assigned tasks, her voice clear and organized. "Boys, please help with moving these boxes inside and then assist with hanging the opening sale banner. Girls, would you mind helping with distributing promotional flyers to pedestrians? It's good social practice. Afterwards, please join me inside to help prepare the desserts we'll be sampling and selling."
Shiina Mahiru and the others nodded in agreement. For Shiina, this was a novel experience. As a young lady from a distinguished family, she had never engaged in such part-time work. Yet, with her innate grace and that angelically serene smile, she took to it effortlessly. Passersby, disarmed by her presence, readily accepted the flyers from her hand, some even stopping to ask about the shop.
Yui Yuigahama, though slightly more flustered, matched her efforts with earnest enthusiasm. Her slightly shy but genuine demeanor was similarly effective.
Ebina Hina, a social butterfly in her own right and the de facto leader of her friend group, handled the task with practiced ease, even engaging a few people in brief, friendly conversation.
Miura Yumiko, however, approached the task with a queenly detachment. She held out the flyers with an air of bestowing a favor, her expression clearly stating, 'It's your privilege to take this.' Whether people accepted them or awkwardly sidestepped her seemed of little concern to her.
Hozuki Nozomi, who was heaving a box of supplies with Kosaka Kyosuke and Tobe, caught sight of her method and couldn't help but shake his head with a wry, internal chuckle. Yumiko, with that attitude in the real working world, you'd be shown the door before lunch. Distributing flyers is a test of humility as much as anything.
Indeed, it was a task that truly challenged one's spirit. The experience of being utterly ignored by a stranger, of one's friendly gesture met with blank avoidance, could be quietly demoralizing. In her own way, by distancing herself from the outcome, Miura was insulating her own feelings. Soon, the ever-kind Shiina Mahiru and the helpful Yui Yuigahama quietly began covering for her, taking portions of her remaining stack to ensure the job was done.
Meanwhile, the boys finished unloading and turned to the large, colorful banner announcing the shop's grand opening. As they wrestled with poles and hooks, Tobe Kakeru soon slumped onto a nearby step, breathing heavily. His long hair was damp with sweat, clinging to his forehead, and he looked thoroughly spent.
"Tobe," Nozomi called out, not even slightly winded as he secured the last hook. "You really can't go on like this. Your stamina is lacking; you need to train properly."
"I'm… I'm not that weak!" Tobe protested between gulps of air, pointing an accusatory finger. "You're just… outrageous! You moved twice as many boxes! Why aren't you even sweating?!"
Hayama Hayato and Kosaka Kyosuke, who were also catching their breath, turned their attention to Nozomi. He did seem remarkably fresh for the amount of work he'd done.
With a casual shrug, Hozuki Nozomi peeled off his light jacket. The simple t-shirt underneath clung to a torso that was neither bulky nor slender, but distinctly well-defined—the clean lines of shoulder muscles, the clear suggestion of a toned chest and arms, all spoke of disciplined, underlying strength.
Tobe Kakeru's jaw went slack. "No way! Since when do you have a build like that?! You're always so lazy at school! Do you work out in secret or something?"
A hint of smugness touched Nozomi's smile as he flexed an arm lightly. "Of course. A man's got to take care of himself. After all," he said, his tone dropping to a mock-conspiratorial whisper, "without a good body, how can you hope to keep up with your girlfriend on a long shopping trip later? Carrying all those bags requires endurance, you know. You should take a page from my book, Tobe. Do some training in private."
Tobe looked from Nozomi's capable physique to his own rather scrawny arms, a profound sense of defeat washing over him. A new, fiery resolve sparked in his eyes. He wouldn't be outdone in this, too!
"I… I will!" he declared, clenching a fist with renewed, if exhausted, determination.
Inside the shop, the girls had gathered in the compact kitchen area. Tamura Manami was expertly guiding them through the tools and ingredients, her movements precise and confident. She patiently demonstrated how to mix batter, pipe cream, and decorate small cakes and tarts.
When her instruction reached Yui Yuigahama, however, Tamura Manami's usually placid expression faltered. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she watched. She had given the same clear instructions, demonstrated the same steps. Yet, Yuigahama-san's egg tarts consistently emerged from the oven as charcoal-black discs of despair. Her cake batter seemed to possess a will of its own, defying all laws of baking.
Yui herself was turning a brighter shade of crimson with each failed attempt, her hands fluttering in distress. "I-I'm so sorry! I don't know what's happening!"
"It's… it's quite alright," Tamura Manami reassured her, her kindness overriding her bewilderment. "Not everyone is a natural from the start. Even master chefs begin as clumsy apprentices. With more practice, you'll certainly improve."
She gently steered Yuigahama toward a less hazardous role: serving as a runner and helper for the others. The last thing they needed was to incinerate their entire inventory of expensive ingredients.
Still, Tamura Manami thought privately, watching Yui cheerfully but clumsily fetch a whisk for Shiina, if Yuigahama-san were to open her own shop with her current skills… it would likely face immediate closure. We might even be liable for customers' medical bills. She shuddered at the thought, choosing to focus instead on Shiina Mahiru's perfectly whipped cream and Ebina Hina's neatly aligned pastries. The shop's survival, it seemed, would depend on the more capable hands today.