"I look forward to working with you!"
"And I with you. If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me anytime."
Todo-san's Grandfather looked like a kind, gentle soul at a single glance.
Working here was going to be a relief.
And so, my part-time job officially started today. It was only a short shift—two hours a day—but it was a start.
When I had come by for my interview—or rather, to give my greetings—a few days ago, it had caused a bit of a stir.
"To think Marina-chan would finally bring a boyfriend home. This shop might actually have a successor in the future..."
"G-Grandfather, Takanashi-kun isn't my boyfriend! He already has a wonderful partner who's way out of my league!"
Todo-san denied it frantically, but...
While it went without saying that Sara-san was the best in my eyes, I didn't think Todo-san needed to put herself down that much.
She was plenty cute herself, and seeing how she cared for Mio-chan, she was clearly a kind person. Her being a healing type was a major point in her favor, too.
In fact, even the highly sought-after Hayato had fallen for her instantly. I didn't want to phrase it this way, but her "specs" were actually quite high; she just happened to be standing next to a very difficult comparison.
"No, Todo-san is also plenty—"
"Takanashi-kun? You aren't going to say anything unnecessary, are you?"
"Y-Yes, ma'am."
The smile Todo-san gave me while exerting that pressure was quite something. It wasn't quite on Sara-san's level, but it was formidable.
"Wait, Marina-chan's boyfriend?!"
"That's great, Manager! Even if your son was a bust, it looks like you've got a successor after all."
Since we were talking inside the shop, some of the neighborhood customers who happened to be there joined in on the conversation.
"I’m telling you, you’re all wrong!"
"Um, it’s really not like that... Todo-san and I are just friends. I have a girlfriend of my own."
I felt bad for the desperate Todo-san, so I stepped in to help. Eventually, we managed to get them to understand the situation...
Pulling myself back to the present, I got straight to work.
My main tasks involved preparing items for the next day's deliveries and loading the van with whatever was on the manifest.
The work itself wasn't complicated, which was a help, but in exchange... it was heavy. There were a lot of high-weight items like beer crates and kegs. Even for a short shift, it was pretty strenuous. The handles dug into my palms, making my hands ache... but I’d get used to it. Probably.
Besides, if I imagined Sara-san's happy face, this was nothing.
I worked away silently until the loading and preparations were finished. As I was tidying up the floor, the Manager arrived.
Time had flown by while I was focused.
"Good work today. That was tough, wasn't it?"
"It was a bit heavier than I expected, but I'm fine. I'll give it my all."
"I see, I see. Well then, I'll be counting on you for a while."
The Manager (he’d told me that 'Manager' was fine) brought me a juice to show his appreciation.
I was just thinking about heading home after a quick break when Todo-san appeared.
"Takanashi-kun, good work! I came to see how you were doing... how was it?"
"I'm okay. Thanks for checking in, Todo-san."
I’d expected it to take forever to find a job that fit my criteria, so this was a massive help. I had nothing but gratitude for her.
On top of that, she’d gone out of her way to see how I was holding up. She really was a good girl.
"Don't mention it! Let's work hard so we can make Satsukawa-senpai happy!"
"Yeah, I will!"
With that, my first day at my first-ever job came to an end. By the time I got home, took a bath, and finished my chores, I ended up going to bed later than usual.
"Kazunari-san... please wake up."
I heard Sara-san's gentle voice trying to coax me out of sleep. That meant it was already time to start the day.
I'd stayed up late before, of course, and compared to those times, I should have had a decent amount of rest... but feeling this genuinely drowsy was a rare experience for me.
Still, if I stayed in bed like this, she'd get suspicious. I put more effort than usual into forcing myself up.
"......Good morning."
"Yes, good morning. But you mustn't bolt upright like that; it isn't good for your health."
Lately, whenever I woke up, Sara-san was always right there by my bed. Today was no different.
Because I had sat up with such momentum, she hurriedly reached out to support me.
As we exchanged greetings, she caught sight of my eyes. She peered into them for a long moment, her expression shifting into one of slight puzzlement.
"...? Kazunari-san, did you stay up late for some reason?"
"Eh?"
"I wouldn't go so far as to call them dark circles, but... are you a little sleep-deprived?"
Sharp.
As expected of Sara-san...
"Sorry. I just went to bed a little later than usual last night, so I shouldn't be that tired. Is it noticeable?"
"No, I only noticed because I was looking closely. As long as you feel okay, there's no problem. Now, please go wash your face."
I needed to get to the sink and wake myself up.
As for my body, the labor wasn't back-breaking, so I’d surely adjust soon enough.
"Kazunari, sorry to keep you waiting."
Once school let out, Hayato came to my classroom.
He visited often regardless of whether we had plans, but today he was early because I'd messaged him on RAIN. He must have come straight over the moment Homeroom ended.
"Yeah. Well then, shall we go pick up Todo-san?"
"Got it."
Hayato followed obediently behind me. That group of students staring at us with intense, burning gazes as we left was the same as always.
We headed to Todo-san's classroom just as she was coming out. Noticing us, she approached with a smile, giving a small wave.
"Sorry, did I keep you waiting?"
"No, we just got here. Shall we go?"
"Yeah, let's."
After a quick word with me, she fell into step behind me, which naturally put her side-by-side with Hayato.
"Hello, Yokokawa-kun."
"Ah, hello, Todo-san."
With the two of them exchanging greetings behind me, I led the way to our usual shopping mall.
By the way, Sara-san was being kept busy by Natsumi-senpai, so the coast was clear.
"So, about Sara-san's birthday present..."
"Ultimately, Kazunari, you should be the one to decide, so take this as a suggestion... If you want a physical gift for a lover, the standards are accessories or something she can display in her room. But if you want it to be a real memory, you might want to be more specific. Something that shows it's exclusive to the two of you—like something with your names or photos."
I see... something exclusive to us...
"That makes sense. If I want it to be a memory, something unique that you can recognize at a glance would be perfect. As expected of Yokokawa-kun!"
"N-No, it’s nothing that impressive..."
Todo-san's natural smile and praise were a critical hit for Hayato.
It was a rare sight to see the usually cool Hayato looking so flustered.
But thanks to his advice, I had a vague idea of what to look for.
I decided we should go check it out. Since this was the first present I’d be giving Sara-san since we became a couple, I wanted to put my heart into it and find something special.
"Do you have something in mind now?"
Hayato had been watching me, and he asked the question with a pleased nod.
"Yeah, I've got a rough idea, so I'm going to go have a look. What about you, Todo-san?"
"Hmm, I want to check out the general goods store while I'm here, so I'll probably look for a present around that area."
Perfect. Everything was moving according to plan.
"In that case, take Hayato with you as a bodyguard. I want to take my time and think by myself, so let's meet up later."
"Eh? But wouldn't that be a bother for Yokokawa-kun...?"
Todo-san seemed a bit hesitant, so I gave Hayato a look, signaling him to step up.
Hayato caught my drift, nodded, and turned to Todo-san with a smile.
"I don't mind at all. Besides, despite the advice I just gave, I've never actually given a present to a friend either. If you don't mind, I'd like to look together."
"Oh, really? I see. Then let's go together. Takanashi-kun probably wants to take his time thinking anyway."
With Hayato’s follow-up, Todo-san agreed to the arrangement.
It wasn't long, but I’d managed to create an opportunity for the two of them to spend time alone. The rest was up to Hayato’s own efforts.
While we were talking, we reached the shopping mall. We decided on a meeting place and immediately split up.
Good luck, Hayato...
I sent a silent cheer to my best friend as I watched their retreating backs, then began my own search for the store I had in mind.
I didn't trust buying something online where I couldn't see the actual product, so I really wanted to settle on something here today.