A Senpai's Secret Worry

Gradually getting used to the unfamiliar environment, Amane was able to manage certain parts of the job within a week's time. Fundamentally, his main role was to serve customers. He wasn't required to prepare the orders that those customers placed, which came as a relief for Amane, who was well aware of his own inexperience.

While he hadn't been given the chance to brew the coffee for customers just yet, other staff had been teaching him how to prepare it in the back of house when business was slow. This café was rather particular about the coffee they served, not allowing any form of compromise regarding its taste.

Amane had been told that the ideal temperature of the hot water and the time spent extracting the flavor varied depending on the type of coffee bean used, and how finely said beans were ground. The taste provided to customers had to be consistent, so he practiced until he could recreate it.

Once Amane got the extraction time down, learned how to use the equipment, and understood the ideal timing involved in stirring, he could produce coffee with a consistent taste each time. After receiving thorough instructions, Amane practiced until he got it right. This proved that even Amane, who had been given strict guidance, could pull it off with enough practice under his belt.

"Yeah. It's delicious," Miyamoto taught Amane the ropes while Souji and Oohashi handled the front of house, given that only a few customers were present and the number of orders had settled down.

His coffee, brewed using a siphon, looked the same as the ones served in the café. There didn't appear to be any issues with it.

"However, from watching you brew, I think you should stir the beans a bit more, and you could've been a little quicker with the extraction."

"I am using a timer, though…"

"I reckon you're being a little too conservative with the timing since you're not used to the equipment yet, and are being extra careful. That difference in timing is probably what gave it a slightly more astringent undertone."

"Sorry for that, I'll do my best to improve."

Miyamoto's advice was not harsh, but rather gentle and polite. Amane's lack of confidence in serving others was probably the biggest reason for the training process becoming so drawn out.

Since the flasks used with the siphon coffee maker were made of glass, there was the risk of bumping into them, causing them to drop and shatter… Such worries plagued him.

Miyamoto seemed to understand, and he showed Amane a light-hearted smile.

"I was afraid to handle them at first, too. Felt like they'd shatter easily," he said, reassuring him. "You'll be in the clear so long as you don't drop or handle them roughly. From what I see, you're one to take the cautious approach when handling things like that, Fujimiya-kun."

"I hope so, but…"

"That donkey… I mean, Rino, ended up shattering one on her first day, so I'd say you're on the careful side, Fujimiya-kun."

Amane noticed that dreadful slip of the tongue, but he feigned ignorance. "That said, everyone makes mistakes. You won't get told off if you break one, so don't fret about it," Miyamoto tried to put his mind at ease. "Well, even the owner would scold you with a troubled look if you end up breaking a few of them, though."

"Sounds like you're talking from experience," Amane noted.

"That's because Rino did it," he clarified before adding, "The owner's face was frozen stiff back then." His nostalgia was reflected in his demeanor, and Amane flashed an ambiguous smile at his story.

…Must've been total chaos.

Amane knew from starting the job that those siphons didn't come cheap, so they were few in number. Having several of them break at once must have hindered the café's sales.

The siphons at the café were manufactured by Fumika's favorite brand, and they were all carefully selected. Even the thought of having to replace multiple broken siphons was too costly to bear.

Let's be extra careful with this, Amane vowed to himself, taking a sip of the coffee he'd brewed with Miyamoto's supervision.

A distinct bitter tang permeated his tongue.

Going down smoothly, the coffee was easy to drink, and the bitterness didn't linger on his tongue for long. Instead it was gentle, maintaining a rich flavor full of depth.

Amane wasn't a fan of overly astringent coffee, but this one had a well- balanced mix of bitterness, acidity, and a faint sweetness from the beans themselves, making it very easy to drink. However, he did realize that there was room for improvement, as the bitterness and astringency were stronger than what Miyamoto had brewed earlier as a demonstration.

"Ooh! How looovely! Now that's what I call enticing!"

With a lack of orders being placed in the front of house, Oohashi took the opportunity to have a breather and entered the back. She held a tray with used dishes in her hand, likely from a customer who had just left.

"Fujimiya-chan, gimme a sip?" asked Oohashi, placing the dishes in the sink and approaching Amane. Just as he wondered what to do, Miyamoto grabbed Oohashi by the base of her neck and pulled her away from him.

It happened so quickly that Amane couldn't immediately understand what had just occurred.

"Hey, don't do that. Fujimiya has a girlfriend, you know. Don't cause misunderstandings," scolded Miyamoto.

"Oh, sorry! Now you mention it, I do remember something like that," Oohashi said, backing off obediently. "I have a lot of older brothers, so I'm used to this kind of thing."

Miyamoto must have put a stop to her shenanigans since Amane had briefly explained his situation to him as they were working.

Miyamoto couldn't hide his disbelief, but Oohashi just grinned. Amane had been wondering if he could ask the two about their seemingly close relationship, which had become increasingly more apparent over the past week.

"You two seem to get along well," remarked Amane.

"Well, we do go way back—we've known each since we were kids. Been by each other's side for over twenty years now," Oohashi explained.

"Saying we're stuck with each other wouldn't be far off the mark," added Miyamoto.

"Harsh much!?" Oohashi playfully chopped Miyamoto in the side, and he pinched her in response, making her yelp. They quickly exchanged playful blows, taking advantage of the fact that customers couldn't see them.

Their easygoing familiarity was clearly not developed overnight, and Amane found himself understanding why they seemed so close. Still, he couldn't help but feel that they were perhaps a bit too close for childhood friends of the opposite sex. He tilted his head, unsure if this was the norm for male-female childhood friends. He could understand the closeness between Ayaka and Souji since they were dating, but Miyamoto and Oohashi more or less had a similar vibe.

Amane didn't think he was close enough to them to point this out, and it would be rude to pry out of mere curiosity. So, putting that curiosity of his on hold, he simply watched the pair's light banter without further questioning.

"Oh, just wondering, but what's your sweetheart like, Fujimiya-chan?" asked Oohashi innocently, finally freeing herself from Miyamoto's grip.

Amane looked up, pondering. "What's she like, you ask…? Well, she's a lovely and tender-hearted girl."

It was difficult to describe Mahiru when asked what kind of girl she was. Anyone from their school would know without being told, but Oohashi was a college student with no connection to Amane's school, so she wouldn't know without an explanation. Still, telling someone from outside their school about a girl dubbed the Angel would probably result in either laughter or discomfort, so he couldn't explain it that way either.

Feeling that his bias as her boyfriend would lead to unintentionally bragging about her if he told his coworker his image of Mahiru, Amane had opted for more generic expressions. However, Oohashi seemed dissatisfied with his explanation, "Hmpf," pursing her lips and making a displeased noise.

"Hmm. Well, a quick glance over you tells me that your girlfriend must be a really upstanding girl, but just saying she's lovely doesn't give me the ins and outs, Fujimiya-chan. Get me?" she said.

"I agree, but it's true that she's a hardworking and good-natured person. Do you really want to know that much about someone else's girlfriend?"

"Of course! Hearing about other people's love stories is no different from gorging on honey, and girls, no matter their age, just love talking about love. And we're more than happy to hear you brag about your girl! Consider it the icing on our very sweet cake."

"Girls, huh…," interjected Miyamoto. "Daichi. Got a problem?"

"Oh, not in the slightest."

"A-Alright, alright…," Amane tried to calm the tense atmosphere between the two while sipping his cooling coffee, and Oohashi, perhaps due to Miyamoto's comment, approached him with a slightly tense impression.

"Moving along… You're the no-nonsense type, right? So I'm itchin' to know about this girlfriend you're smitten with, Fujimiya-chan."

"I get that you're curious, but still…" "Hey, aren't you gonna bring her here?"

"About that, I've asked her not to come. At least until I get familiar with the job, anyway. It's a pity."

"Awww…"

Oohashi let out a cute, dissatisfied voice, but Amane had no intention of yielding. To begin with, he didn't understand why she was so eager to bring his girlfriend to his workplace or have her visit. Being told this by both Itsuki and his coworkers was beyond his expectations.

"Well, let's just say that I'll get to see your sweetheart someday. Is she a cutie by any chance?" she asked.

"Objectively, or from my perspective?" "Both?"

"Objectively, I reckon she's incredibly cute," Amane began. "But for me, she's the cutest girl in the world."

Amane decided to answer this question honestly and as plainly as possible without it sounding like he was boasting. Mahiru's beauty was such that, regardless of personal preferences, anyone would consider her beautiful. He couldn't give up on that point.

As her boyfriend, he wanted to say that Mahiru's cuteness lay more in her behavior and the affectionate side of her that only he saw, rather than her outside appearance.

She's always so adorable without even trying to be…

Her pouting when jealous of other girls even though she knew he had no ill intentions, her tugging at the hem of his clothes when she was lonely, and her head-butting him to hide her embarrassment when her shyness reached its peak—Amane found all of these small gestures incredibly endearing. If she were intentionally acting this way, she would be considered cunningly cute, but Mahiru was genuinely like this, which sometimes made it hard for Amane's heart to keep up. In fact, it would be easier for him to deal with it if she were doing it on purpose, but since she was acting this way naturally and genuinely, his heart was always being shaken.

Though he could go on and on about her cuteness if he wanted to, he decided to keep it to himself and be concise in his words, lest he be met with either disdain or disbelief from his two seniors. However, Oohashi covered her mouth with a grin, saying, "My, oh my! Bragging now, are we?" trying to tease him.

"You were the one who said you were more than happy to listen…," Amane retorted.

"C'monn, you're working part-time for her sake, right? She must be a really nice girl, one you'd wanna do everything for, right?"

"It's not really for her sake; I'm doing it because I want to. It's a decision I made on my own."

Amane felt it necessary to clarify this point.

He started working part-time because he wanted to, not because he was trying to do something for Mahiru. He didn't intend to burden her with any responsibility.

Even if he knew that what he was doing would contribute to Mahiru's happiness, he didn't want to make her partly responsible by saying it was for 'her sake.' He was doing this for himself, and if it benefited Mahiru, that would be great, but he couldn't compromise on that point.

"I can't say it's for her sake. I'm doing this because I want to, and as a result, I'm making her feel lonely. That makes me a selfish person, you know," Amane cleared up.

He knew that Mahiru both accepted and respected his decision despite it resulting in them spending time apart, but he also knew he was making her lonely and increasing her burden. That's why he was always grateful and intended to work hard to achieve his goal as soon as possible.

So, Amane had firmly and bluntly declared that he didn't want to think of Mahiru as a reason or excuse for his struggles, to which Oohashi and Miyamoto blinked their eyes in admiration.

"You're such a serious fellow," she noted.

"A far cry from you, Rino, that's for sure," Miyamoto returned. "What're you roasting me for?"

"You jump ship too often. How many months did you last with your previous boyfriend?"

"Ugh, just drop it, Daichi. Who I date is none of your business. I'm not stealing anyone's boyfriend nor am I dating you, so don't go nitpicking at everything I do just 'cause we're childhood friends."

"...Yeah, whatever you say. Please accept my deepest apologies."

Miyamoto frowned slightly after being strongly rebuffed, looking somewhat hurt as his gaze wandered. Oohashi, oblivious to his pain, returned to the front of house with a slightly sour expression.

After looking at her back with a somewhat pleading gaze, Miyamoto shifted back to his usual gentle expression when he noticed Amane's gaze, acting as if nothing had happened.

"…Uh, Miyamoto-san…," Amane called out hesitantly. "Hmm?"

"I'm, uh, sorry for that."

Amane lowered his eyes, feeling that the situation was his fault, having said something that he shouldn't have, but Miyamoto waved his hand with a light, carefree laugh.

"Oh… Don't sweat it, Fujimiya. You're not to blame here. She's always acted like that, and I think it's a little too late for me to say anything about it now."

"N-No, that's not what I meant—" "Fujimiya."

"Yes?"

"People's hearts often don't sway the way you'd like them to. I know that all too well."

"...Right."

"It's nothing you need to be concerned about. It's fine, don't let it bother you."

Amane couldn't tell if he said that to dispel his worries or if Miyamoto had already resigned himself to the situation, giving up on her acting as she did. But one thing was for sure: Miyamoto, for a brief moment, had a pained expression in his eyes as he spoke.

He told Amane in his usual casual, emotionless tone, "I'm off to the front of house, so I'm counting on you to clean up," and left the kitchen. Amane was unsure of whether Miyamoto had picked up on his thoughts on the matter or not.

Souji returned, as if replacing his position, coming back with a tray piled full of dishes. He smiled bitterly once he saw Amane's expression.

"...There's no point in talking to Miyamoto-san about it. He's made up his mind about that person, on a whole different level and approach than you have, Fujimiya."

Souji laughed and shook his head slightly. He must have been stationed by the counter, as he seemed to have some idea of the situation. Putting away the used dishes, Souji had spoken in a way that showed his own concern for their circumstances, and appeared to have guessed their conversation.

"It doesn't feel right to pry too much into people's personal affairs, but am I imagining things correctly?" asked Amane.

"I'm not you, so I can't see inside your head, but probably."

"…This is tricky. I haven't met anyone like this before, so I don't know what to make of it."

If this conjecture was true, Amane could easily tell that Miyamoto must've had a hard time. He liked someone who was involved with other men, and she kept changing partners. She never looked his way, and it must have been especially painful to be close to her as a childhood friend. Amane thought it would be rude to assume Miyamoto's feelings, but just imagining it made his heart ache.

"Let me make it clear, though: Oohashi-san's not a bad person or anything.

She just falls in love easily, but falls out of it just as easily," Souji clarified. "Many times?"

"I've been working here since we were first-years, and Oohashi-san was here even before that. As far as I know, she's had five or six boyfriends so far. While she hasn't had multiple relationships at once, her partners keep changing."

"Wow... she must be really popular," Amane commented.

"She looks like a gentle beauty, but some see her as an easy target. On the inside, though, she can be quite frank or harsh."

She had a slender, tall, and model-like figure, but her facial features were sweet and gave off a soft impression, making her seem like a prim and proper woman until she spoke. When she did, she came off as rather high-spirited and was fast to make dirty jokes without hesitation, creating a large contrast between her appearance and personality.

She's a bright and bubbly person, but you'd never guess her personality based on her looks alone…, Amane couldn't help but wonder if that was a factor in her being quick to change partners.

"…So, Miyamoto-san has been seeing her get boyfriends all this time?" Amane asked. "While not giving a single word of complaint?"

"Sure has."

"Consider me amazed…"

"Well, it's not something we have any say in. Something might actually work out at this rate, don't you think? In the end, Miyamoto-san is the only one who can understand and take care of Oohashi-san. I bet things will settle down eventually. Oohashi-san might even come crying to him."

Souji, who seemed to have no intention of breaking their positions as workplace seniors and juniors, gave a very casual evaluation. Perhaps due to having witnessed their interactions many times before, Amane reevaluated the situation, realizing that it wasn't his place to interfere since he wasn't that close to Miyamoto.

It would be better to watch over their choices and future rather than worrying and meddling unnecessarily. While giving someone a well-needed push can be important at times, it could also cause their relationship to collapse. Amane didn't have a deep enough friendship with Miyamoto to take on that responsibility.

"Well, Miyamoto-san and Oohashi-san should be fine. Uh, what was the phrase for this again…? A broken pot with a patched lid, was it?"

"Kayano, that's pretty rude in itself..."

"Oi, who're you calling a patched lid?" "Geh, Miyamoto-san."

Miyamoto, overhearing something he probably shouldn't have, looked at Souji with a carefree yet intense smile. Or rather, he straight-up glared at him.

"Kayano, you go wash the siphon. And the filter, too," Miyamoto demanded.

"...On it."

"Fujimiya, you too?" "O-Okay."

Wouldn't do good to go against him here… Amane complied with a strained smile.

Oohashi's cheerful voice then rang out clearly as she returned from the front of house to check up on them, "Ah, Daichi's bullying the new guy—gonna snitch on you to Itomaki-chan!"

"I'm not bullying him!" Miyamoto exclaimed. "Outsiders, please don't interfere!"

"Rich coming from you, you bully! You're the worst!"

Although it wasn't actually bullying but rather a consequence of their actions, Oohashi, who didn't know the circumstances, playfully poked at Miyamoto as if teasing him. As a result, Miyamoto's attitude naturally stiffened.

"You know, Miyamoto-san gets all stubborn precisely because Oohashi-san acts like that…"

"...You got that right."

Conversing in such a way that they wouldn't be overheard, Amane and Souji sighed in unison at the muffled sound of quarreling behind them—all while they cleaned the dishes and utensils they'd been ordered to do.