My Stepsister is My Ex-Girlfriend - Volume 6 - Chapter 5.09

11:55 A.M.: My Friends Are Different When They Work

Isana Higashira

Though I hadn’t planned on doing so, I went to visit Yume-san and Mizuto-kun’s class during their shift. Their class, 1-7, was the talk of the school with their Taisho Roman café, but still...

“It is...quite popular.”

It was almost like a line to Mister Donuts during a special promotion. Then again, this didn’t affect me, since I lacked the courage to enter any establishment—much less a café—by myself. Still, I was very taken aback by their class’s popularity. I pushed my way towards one of the large classroom windows to join others who were curious about what everyone was waiting for and peeked into their class.

“Oh...” I immediately discovered Mizuto-kun and Yume-san.

Though I’d seen Mizuto-kun in his costume prior to arriving, I hadn’t seen Yume-san. She was a perfect match for her outfit. I couldn’t help but sigh. Those two truly dated in middle school, huh? Oh no, my heart is racing.

They seemed different as they served the customers. When he’d come to my classroom, it was like seeing him in a costume, but at work, he looked like the real deal. It was as if a real-life student from the Taisho era was working in the café...not that a real student would have worked in a café.

“Will that complete your order?” Mizuto-kun asked a table.

“Y-Yes!”

“Yep! Yes! Thank you!”

“Enjoy.”

But also...he seems much softer than usual, or perhaps kinder? What is going on? Why is he smiling so much?! What happened to the Mizuto-kun who wouldn’t react even a little bit no matter how much I clung to him, and continued to treat me coldly?! Why was that face of kindness something only his customers were allowed to see? This isn’t fair!

Perhaps I could have simply requested that he perform such niceties to me as well, but I sincerely doubted he’d agree. I lacked both the courage to enter their café and the money to pay for anything. My only recourse was to bitterly stare through this window. Look at me. Look at how Mizuto-kun’s alleged girlfriend is behaving.

“Hm? Higashira-san?”

“Gah!”

Minami-san appeared out of nowhere, startling me. She was wearing hakama just like Yume-san, and her hair was tied into a ponytail with a large Japanese-styled ribbon. Wow, just a change in ribbon gives her a completely different aura.

“Whatcha doin’ out here? Not comin’ inside?”

“O-Oh, I do not possess the courage to do so. The line is extraordinarily long too...”

“I get it. It’s hard for you to come in, so you’re just stealing looks at Irido-kun from the window, huh? Well, what do ya think?”

“It’s almost as if he’s become a different person. Watching him makes my heart pound.”

“Very good! There’s still a bit of girl in you yet, Higashira-san!”

“Of course there is! Every day, my emotional levels are at the max while trying to remain his friend!”

“How is that different from being his girlfriend?” Minami-san asked with wary eyes. Mizuto-kun will never feel the same way about me. That’s how. “Anyway, wanna come in? I’ll let you right in, since we’re friends.”

“O-Oh no, it’s quite okay! I’d feel bad for the people waiting!”

“Okay. Hm... Oh, I know. Are you busy?”

“Huh? Oh, no. I’m waiting for Mizuto-kun to complete his shift.”

“Perfect! My shift’s just about over, so I’m gonna take a break, so come with me! There’s somethin’ I want your help with.”

“Okay, I suppose...”

What help could she possibly need from someone who didn’t even contribute to their own class’s exhibition?

“’Kay, I’m gonna change and be right back. Don’t go anywhere!” Minami-san let out a suspicious laugh as she departed.

I saw her walk up to Yume-san and say that she was borrowing something.

“Huh? O-Oh, that. Okay, thanks.” Yume-san looked at me with a similarly suspicious smile on her face.

Uh... What is going on? What are they planning? As I attempted to figure out what they were doing, I heard whispers from around me.

“Did she say Higashira?”

“Isn’t that Irido-kun’s...”

“Oh, it’s that girl!”

Though I’d decided to not let others bother me, their comments left me feeling strange. I didn’t want to stand out any further, or else I risked death. I moved a little distance from their classroom while going back to my original thoughts regarding Minami-san’s plan. I am genuinely beginning to grow worried!