[A3!] Another Universe _ Story Mode

❀ EP 04

EPISODE FOUR _ Stuck in Yesterday

"Ayaka-neesan," The silver haired boy tried to grasp her attention when he caught her eyeing on the filled aisle for more than five minutes. Kita Kosuke, her younger step-brother silently approaches her with an empty box. Once he stops by her, he finds her box is empty as well which is a good sign that she is not neglecting her work. "Do you need anything?"

Ayaka shakes her head to return back to reality. However, Kosuke takes it as a sign for him to leave, seeing that she does not need his presence. Sometimes she wishes for him to be able to read the room better and talk to her more. To distract her from this strange guilt for going against her troupe's trust. She should not be taking any part-time work after all.

As cute as eighteen years old is, he is very swift in dismissing her at work and at home. Sure, she hardly goes to her family's humble abode since she moved to live with the girls but does the distance really make the heart grow fonder? Her family does not look like it. In fact, no one stays long enough to show any signs of care.

That is just how awfully quiet her life is. And it has always been since way before her father passed away. The accident drew her mom closer to their old store in Hyogo until she married the man who is now her step-father. She supposed living within her proximity made her less curious regarding her whereabouts. Well, her moving away did not bother her as she hoped for.

Ayaka lets her keys dangle on the knob to her shared apartment. She feels drained lately and mostly it was emotional. Physically, she is doing fine but it does leave a bit of impact to her brain. Even with the work ban, she feels immensely tired. Or as per usual, it can be worse. And the part-time job was not even hard. She can probably do it with her eyes closed, literally.

"Hmm?" The girl's eyes zone on the pairs of shoes at the entrance. It does not look like Erika's or Nami's. Maybe the latter bought new ones after knowing how rich the kid is. She denied it every time but her habit proves otherwise all the time. But...

"That's not fair! You've been throwin' that shell for the last few laps!" Ayaka caught the back of Erika's high ponytail peers above the couch. Looking at the TV, she finds four split screens of a famous racing game. Oh wow, suddenly she misses those.

"Welcome home, Aya-san!" Nami hollered from her spot which is also in the circle of gamers on the couch and the obvious non-gamers are sprawled on the floor. The coffee table was pushed forward to the entertainment unit to place a gaming console. Ayaka can easily guess who possesses them.

"What are you guys doing here?" She finally enters the house after kicking her shoes off to the side and finds the entire spring troupe members all over the living room. This is the first time she ever found them at their apartment yet the way Itaru and Citron are going on with game, it seems like they own the place. "You too, Chikage-san?"

"In my defence, I got dragged here." The glasses man backed up with a roll of the eyes and it is followed by a scoff from his junior colleague.

"It was your idea to come here as soon as we clock out, senpai." Itaru screams joyously when his character crosses the finish line. While he is celebrating his win, Erika does not appear so happy.

"Rurikawa doesn't call you two elite swindler and foreign swindler for nothing." She is annoyed and said whatever on her mind instantly, "I would like a rematch but since she's home, you do what you want."

"I'll head in to my room too then. Have a good talk!" Nami happily skips out of the room and their words registers in Ayaka's brain slowly. Once she puts away her sling bag by the coffee table, she turns on her feet to look at the guys one by one.