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Just like any "normal highschooler", (Y/N) (L/N) has only one goal: to finally graduate to live his life in solitary. Having lived up until now away from the spotlight, (Y/N) wants nothing more than to spend his time alone. However, after a fatef...
As Marina sits down at the table for two, I hesitate. "Is it really okay?", I ask, looking around the cafe.
"It's alright. The cafe isn't even open yet."
"O-okay," I say as I sit down. Looking around where I'm sitting, I see a front counter with a cash register. On the counter are an assortment of menus for various food and drink items.
Spaghetti, Acai Bowl, Macaron Tower, Fruit Tart, Chocolate Carnet. Hm, strange.
"This is the...cafe?", I ask, looking around me.
"It is! I know the menu might look strange, but we have mostly 5-star reviews from online!" She shows me her phone. "It's really popular with our customers here!"
"Oh." I notice the empty counter. "Is the cafe closed today? There's no one-"
"Heeeey, (Y/N)-kun~! Glad you could make it."
Turning around I see Aiko cheerfully walking up the stairs to the cafe. Her hair is in the same ponytail as it was the other day, but her apron is purple instead of green. Marina waves happily.
"Aiko-chan! You're not late, I see."
"Hey! It was only that one time~!", she whines, pouting dramatically.
"Oh. (L/N)-kun, this is Aiko, one of the staff members working here. She was one of the first people to start working here."
"Yeah! Me and Marina go way back. Ever since highschool!"
That's why they seem so close. Looking at Aiko's purple apron I look back at the cafe counter. "Aiko-san, are you working at the cafe today?"
"Oh, yeah! The staff here usually rotate our shifts, and it's my shift this week," she answers. "By the way, that's Aiko-senpai to you!"
"Aiko-senpai, then." I answer. Grinning widely, she smacks me on the back.
Looking at the time Aiko tells us that her shift is starting soon as she leaves to enter the building. Exiting the cafe, me and Marina follow her into the CiRCLE main building.
~CiRCLE- Main Building~
Walking into the building I see that there are already people inside of it. Another staff member greets us from the counter, introducing themselves to me. A group of highschoolers chat as they sit on one of the tables as another group heads into a practice room.
As we approach the front desk, a group of three greet me and Marina.
"Marina-san! Over heeere!"
"Oh, Hina-chan! You didn't tell me you guys were going to be this early!"
"Hehe, sorry about that!" the blue-haired girl answers. "We came here early so we thought that it was okay."
"Hina-chan. What did I say about causing trouble for Marina-san?" says the blond-haired girl, glaring at the blue-haired. Turning to face us, her faces quickly changes into a polite smile. "Sorry about that. If you need us to leave, we can come back at the designated time."
"Oh, give me a second," Marina answers. Moving behind the counter, she takes out a large-looking notebook. After flipping through it, her finger lands on a fairly empty page.
"Looking at the times here.... It's fine! Since it's the weekend a lot of our rooms are full. You girls are welcome to start early if you'd like."
"See? I told you guys it would be fine!" the blue-haired girl responds.
"Hina-san... Even if it is fine, we're still not supposed to be here this early," the other, brown-haired girl says.
"Well, Marina-san said it was fine, so let's go!" she says as she grabs the brown-haired girl's hand.
As the two girls walk out of the main lobby into one of the hallways the blonde-haired girl sighs exasperatingly. Turning to Marina she bows slightly.
"As I said, please forgive us. I can pay you for the extra time," she says as she reaches into her handbag.
Marina puts her hand up. "It's okay, you don't have to. Just have fun, okay?"
Sighing once again, she puts her wallet back into her bag. As she goes to turn around she notices me, changing her expression into a polite but still slightly exasperated smile.
Marina introduces me. "Oh, this is our newest member of the CiRCLE staff. He'll be working part-time on equipment maintenance."
"Nice to meet you. (Y/N) (L/N)."
"I'm Chisato Shirasagi. Nice to meet you. Those other two were Maya-chan and Hina-chan."
Those other two. Since she called the blue-haired girl Hina, then the other girl has to be Maya.
"By the way, (L/N)-san," she asks. "You said that you're going to be working on maintaining the equipment?"
I tilt my head, slightly confused.
Without answering, I see her look up and down at me, almost studying me. After a second she brings her hand up to her mouth, a small smile forming on her face.
"Fufu. How interesting."
...?
"Well, it was nice meeting you, (L/N). I look forward to working with you."
"Me too," I answer, bowing.
After saying goodbye to both of us, Chisato walks off to join the other two. Sighing contently, Marina takes out a clipbook from behind the counter.
"Well then, (L/N)-kun. You ready to start your first day of work?"
I perk up as my heart skips a beat. "Y-yeah."
Marina smiles. "Well then. Here's a list of equipment that needs a checkup. You should be able to get this done before the day ends, so let's do our best!"
"Okay!"
As I grab the clipboard and look over the contents, my mind begins to wander to the interaction before.
Why was Chisato looking at me like that? What did she mean by "interesting"? What's in store for me on my first day?
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