Please Refrain from Lovers' Quarrels!

Winter break may have arrived, but that didn't mean Amane was free from work.

This was an incredibly relatable fact for anyone working in the food service industry, and since Amane had willingly put his name down for shifts himself, he wasn't about to complain. However, having to work the day after Christmas brought about a unique kind of exhaustion. He had decided not to work on Christmas Day, which was by far the busiest day of December, so he took more shifts the following days. Today, he started in the afternoon, and as he entered the locker room, he bumped into Miyamoto.

"How was Christmas?" Miyamoto casually asked while tightening his tie.

Amane thought that it was a difficult question to answer. His mind wandered back to the two days of Christmas.

"On Christmas Eve, I spent time with my friends after school, and on Christmas Day, I had a quiet and peaceful time with my girlfriend," Amane replied.

"What a dry life, man…" Miyamoto commented.

"Dry? Not really; it was something we both agreed on. I'd say we had a very fulfilling Christmas this year."

They hadn't gone out on a date or done any typical lover things one might imagine, mainly because Mahiru had preferred it that way. Though they had spent the night together, it had been perfectly wholesome, and they honestly just enjoyed each other's company in peace. For Mahiru, simply spending a quiet, relaxed time together was more than enough, so even on Christmas Day, they spent the day just being by each other's side like normal. Well, they didn't just sit around—they cooked together and played some games, but for the most part, it was life as usual for them.

"And what about you, Miyamoto-san? How was your Christmas?" Amane asked in return.

He'd memorized the shift schedule, so he knew Miyamoto had worked on Christmas Day. Knowing that, Amane couldn't help but wonder if Miyamoto should have taken today off, but when he glanced at his face, there was no sign of fatigue catching up to him. However, there did appear to be a hint of something troubling him. Unsure if it was okay to ask directly, Amane carefully probed with a vague question, to which Miyamoto's expression immediately soured in a way that made his feelings clear.

"…You really asking me that?" "I'm sorry."

"Oh, no, sorry—I didn't mean to be nasty… I worked my shift, and then when I got home, Rino barged in for a marathon whining sesh."

"Ah, I see…"

A "whining sesh" on Christmas made it easy to guess what had happened to Oohashi. She and Miyamoto had known each other since childhood, so it was no surprise they were comfortable enough for her to drop by his place without a second thought.

"As expected, really," Miyamoto added. "I see."

"…Oh, and alcohol's never a good idea."

"Wait, did you end up having a drinking party and getting wasted?" Amane asked, raising an eyebrow.

Using alcohol to forget unpleasant feelings was something adults often did, so having a drinking party in itself didn't seem all that strange.

However, something about Miyamoto's behavior felt off. From the moment they bumped into each other, Amane noticed he was acting slightly differently from usual. As they continued talking, Miyamoto's actions became less like someone trying to hide something and more like someone who was confused or caught off guard by something.

"Nah. I'm not, like, hungover or anything…but, uhhh…" "But what?"

"I'm never drinking again."

"Just what kind of blunder did you make…?"

Since Miyamoto was so adamant about quitting drinking, he must have done something he didn't want to talk about.

Amane's parents didn't drink much, and even when they did, they never got drunk as they knew how to control their intake. So, Amane never really had firsthand experience with alcohol's effects. But watching Miyamoto now, he was starting to understand just how frightening alcohol could be in dulling a person's mind. As this realization settled in, Miyamoto looked at him sourly, not amused by the situation.

"Fujimiya, it's probably something completely different from what you're imagining."

"Then what was it…?"

"For the sake of both mine and Rino's dignity, I'll keep my mouth shut," Miyamoto replied, leaving Amane even more curious.

"A-All right."

"…Seriously, don't worry about it. Like actually," Miyamoto insisted. "If you say so, Miyamoto-san."

Amane couldn't help but think that admitting to messing up while drunk was already a bad sign. However, pressing further might put Miyamoto in an awkward spot, so he decided to stick to his usual motto of avoiding trouble. It was hard to tell which topics were safe to touch, and when in doubt, it was better not to ask anything at all.

"You know when to stop pushing. Smart move," remarked Miyamoto. "I have no business prying into other people's love lives or getting involved with something that'll come back to bite me later," Amane replied flatly.

*cough*

Miyamoto, perhaps trying to calm himself, had just sipped his water bottle when he suddenly sputtered, spraying water everywhere. Startled, Amane quickly reached into his still-open bag, pulled out a tissue, and handed it to him. Miyamoto, his eyes wide and round, looked up at him as a bit of water dripped from his mouth.

"…Wait, huh? Is that how things looked to you?"

"Did you really believe I hadn't caught on? To be honest, it was, um…pretty obvious," Amane replied, watching as Miyamoto accepted the tissue and wiped his mouth. After giving his genuine and honest answer, he noticed Miyamoto's cheeks gradually turning a faint shade of red.

"About this…" Miyamoto started cautiously.

"I don't think Oohashi-san herself has even the slightest idea, but Kayano, well…he was the one who brought it up to me, actually. Once I started paying more attention, it was kind of obvious," Amane admitted.

"I'll have a word with Kayano later."

"Sorry, Kayano, I didn't mean to sell you out…" Amane felt guilty for unintentionally dragging Souji into the situation, as he was already here for the morning shift. Amane hoped he'd just accept their shared fate.

Realizing that his junior had completely figured him out, Miyamoto's gaze sharpened, but there was nothing Amane could do about it now. He remained calm, waiting for Miyamoto's storm of emotions to pass. Finally, Miyamoto scratched his head roughly and let out a deep sigh, frustrated.

"…If Rino starts acting strange, please just give her some space." "U-Uh, okay…but what do you mean by 'strange'?"

"Dunno. But if she does, I'm really sorry. Just don't ask about it," Miyamoto pressed, unease written all over his face.

"Got it."

"You're a little too compliant, and it's kinda scaring me." "I just don't want to get caught in love drama."

"Now, listen here…"

"Ouch, Miyamoto-san, that hurts."

To put it nicely, Miyamoto drove his knuckles into Amane's temples.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

Amane stepped outside, still unsure of what Miyamoto had meant by Oohashi "acting strange." However, it didn't take long for him to understand what he'd been referring to.

Oohashi, who also had a shift today, was acting oddly skittish. Usually, she worked with even more enthusiasm and energy than Chitose, engaging with Amane cheerfully and showering regular customers with her charm. But today, she was rather listless. Her sluggish movements were far different from her usually lively attitude. Though her smile hadn't entirely disappeared, it was noticeably less bright. She worked with Amane and her other co-workers without issue, but she acted entirely differently toward Miyamoto. She treated him worse than if he'd been a total stranger. Usually, she'd tease or banter with him every chance she got, but today, she avoided him entirely. It was as if she were actively trying to escape him.

It didn't look like she hated Miyamoto—instead, it felt like she was determined to avoid eye contact or conversing with him at any cost. Amane couldn't help but look at Miyamoto suspiciously, wondering what on earth he could have done to make her treat him so coldly. Every time Oohashi blatantly avoided him, Miyamoto's face contorted like he'd just swallowed something bitter, and his expression grew darker with each passing moment. The mood was so uncomfortable that even Amane and the other staff began to feel awkward. It had gotten to the point where even a senior employee—someone Amane had just met today, with whom he usually didn't share shifts—exchanged uneasy glances with him.

"This can't be good," the senior muttered, making it clear how tense the atmosphere had become.

Amane could only reply with, "Yeah, definitely not."

Although Oohashi and Miyamoto didn't show this tension in front of customers, some of the regulars—who were friendly with the staff—began to pick up on the odd atmosphere. Quiet conversations started to spread, with whispers like, "Did something happen between Daichi-chan and Rino-chan?" and "I bet Miyamoto-kun said something insensitive to her," while others muttered, "I really hope that's not the case."

After hearing these whispers, Amane and Souji couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, realizing how bad the situation had become.

Thankfully, the lunchtime rush soon overshadowed the awkward tension, so things didn't get too out of hand. But as the flow of customers slowed down and the number of empty seats began to pile up, the real battle of nerves for Amane and the others started.

Though Miyamoto and Oohashi weren't exactly hostile or aggressive, which was a slight relief, the prickly atmosphere was impossible for the rest of the staff to ignore, leaving everyone restless and on edge.

"Perhaps we should send them on break…? It's hard to work like this." "Yeah, good call."

Even the usually calm and composed Souji looked like he wasn't handling the situation well, which was a rare sight to see. Amane hesitated, wondering if he was the right person to step in, but eventually made up his mind. Determined to mediate, he headed toward his two clashing co-workers while keeping an eye on their behavior to figure out how best to approach the situation.

"Owner, we don't have many customers right now, and we have enough staff. I think it might be a good idea to let those two take a brief break," Amane suggested, hoping to defuse the tension.

There wasn't much Amane and his other coworkers could do for the two of them, nor was it their place to intervene in the first place. Ultimately, only Miyamoto and Oohashi could solve the situation—nobody else. The most Amane could do was create the opportunity for them to talk things out in private.

Upon hearing Amane's suggestion, Itomaki's observant gaze remained unchanged. She responded with a gentle smile and a nod of approval.

"That should be all right. You've got the hang of things around here, and this will be the perfect chance to show that you can manage even without some of the older staff."

"Indeed. I'm not as skilled as those two, but I have learned the ins and outs of the role."

"And with me and Minase-senpai here, I think we'll manage just fine," Souji added.

Although Amane thought it might be a little risky if it were just him and Souji, the fact that Itomaki, the owner, was present, along with a senior employee, even if they hadn't spoken much, put his mind at ease. With their support, he felt they could handle things smoothly enough.

They were more than capable of managing the shift, so in order to clear the blatant awkward atmosphere and, more importantly, to give Miyamoto and Oohashi a chance to sort things out, Amane hoped the two of them would go to the back and have a proper talk.

"So yeah, that's how it is. Get those legs moving and take your break already," Amane urged.

"Hey, aren't you getting a little too casual with your seniors!?" Miyamoto exclaimed.

"You were pretty rough with me earlier, so consider this payback." Amane knew Miyamoto wasn't actually mad at him—if anything,

Miyamoto had been looking for an excuse to talk things out with Oohashi himself. A little push in the right direction, even if forceful, was just what he needed. As Amane physically nudged Miyamoto's back, he plastered his recently perfected customer service smile across his face, giving it all the enthusiasm he could muster.

"If even you start acting weird, it throws everyone else off," Amane clarified. "Miyamoto-san, if you've had a fight, it'd be better just to get everything out and make things right."

"I-It's less of a fight and more… Argh! All right, I get it. Owner, I'll gratefully take that break!"

"Go ahead," Itomaki responded with a calm nod. "Rino!" Miyamoto called out, grabbing Oohashi's hand.

"W-Wait, hey! What's going o—" she stammered, clearly caught off guard.

Thanks to the push from Amane, Miyamoto found his resolve. With a firm grip on the confused Oohashi's hand, he half-forced her toward the break room to finally have that talk.

That room was soundproof, so even if they argued a bit, they wouldn't be heard outside. Amane trusted that they wouldn't get violent or hurl harsh words at each other this time, so all that was left was to wait and hope that they would reach a peaceful understanding.

"Fujimiya-kun, I didn't know you could be so forceful." As Amane watched the pair disappear, Itomaki smiled at him with a mix of curiosity and amusement in her expression. However, not wanting to get teased, Amane simply returned a calm, gentle smile of his own.

"It's just a little payback to Miyamoto-san. Though, I'm not sure if he'll see it as a favor," Amane admitted. "What if he gets mad at you later?"

"…If that happens, please back me up."

"Heh, I suppose I have no choice," Itomaki chuckled.

With a light bow of thanks to the amused owner, Amane turned and headed toward the hall, ready to respond to the bell that had just rung from one of the tables.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

"…I'm back." About thirty minutes later, Miyamoto returned.

"Welcome back. Did you manage to talk…things ov…? Miyamoto-san, I suggest working in the kitchen for the rest of the day and, uh, maybe get some ice for that cheek," Amane suggested, noticing a patch of redness on one side of Miyamoto's face.

Amane was visibly flustered. He hadn't expected the discussion to get heated enough for Miyamoto to return with a swollen cheek. Still, aside from the new bruise on his face, Miyamoto's expression was back to normal, and it didn't seem like their talk had completely fallen apart.

Oohashi appeared from behind Miyamoto, her face bright red, though she didn't seem angry. Without a word, she quickly returned to her duties, avoiding eye contact as she hurriedly returned to work.

"…Did you make her mad?" Amane asked cautiously.

"I already did yesterday," Miyamoto admitted with a sigh. "What were you thinking…?"

"It's all my fault—I was drunk. Not that being drunk is a good excuse."

"I won't ask what you did, but it must've been quite bad if it warranted a slap on the face."

Since Miyamoto didn't argue, he accepted the truth and genuinely reflected on his actions.

"So, did the talk not go well?"

"No… Yeah no, it's not that it didn't go well… Just, uhhh…"

From his tone, it didn't seem like their relationship had fractured, so Amane felt somewhat relieved.

"If you don't want to talk about it, then I won't ask, but please at least tell me if it'll have repercussions on your work interactions going forward."

"…I think it'll be fine. Rino probably won't try to avoid me anymore." "I'm glad to hear that," Amane said, relieved.

If the two senior coworkers he was close with had cut ties, it would have been heartbreaking for Amane as he respected both of them greatly. Not to mention, it would have made future shifts incredibly awkward.

After Miyamoto and Oohashi had disappeared into the back, Amane and Souji had quietly discussed contingency plans in case the worst happened. Thankfully, all their worries were unfounded, and Amane was nothing short of thankful now that things had smoothed over, at least for the time being.

Meanwhile, Miyamoto wore the same awkward expression Amane and Souji had earlier. He looked away, clearly still feeling uneasy. "…My bad."

"What are you apologizing to me for?" Amane asked, slightly confused. "For, well, causing trouble and worrying you," Miyamoto replied, sounding genuinely regretful.

"I've received a lot of help from you, Miyamoto-san. Plus, it's tough watching you two be at odds with each other."

"At odds… It's more that I caused the problem, but…yeah. Thanks. I owe you one."

Amane still didn't know exactly what happened between them, but if Miyamoto was admitting fault and had already made peace with Oohashi, then that was that. He trusted that the two had worked things out, and it wasn't his place to criticize their actions.

Oohashi glanced in their direction—well, at Miyamoto—before quickly turning away in a huff. Her face was flushed, not with anger but with another, different emotion. Amane had a good idea of what that emotion might be but kept his suspicions to himself. He silently glanced at Itomaki standing nearby and let out a quiet sigh.

Souji also noticed. He quietly approached and leaned in close to Miyamoto, whispering. "Umm, Miyamoto-san…"

"What's up, Kayano?"

"The owner looks a bit rattled, so…you may want to brace yourself."

"…Right…" Miyamoto sighed, resigned to his fate.

It was only natural, but after a workplace dispute—no matter how minor—there would inevitably be a follow-up, likely a conversation or two with management. It was inevitable that rather than just scolding, Miyamoto would have a different kind of questioning awaiting him.

Amane, feeling it wasn't his problem anymore, nonchalantly said, "Good luck with that," before turning away to gather the dishes left at the nearby tables.