Non-Artificial Sweetener (Happy Sugar Life Fanfiction) [REBOOT]

3rd Life: The Stars, the Sugar Girl, and the Sun

The new job Satou decided to take on was the Princess Imperial. It was quite a fancy-looking restaurant–inside and outside. The attire for all of the workers consisted of white dress shirts, black waist aprons, and blue ties for the boys and blue dresses and bows with white aprons and headpieces for the girls–the latter of which Satou was wearing in front of the assembled workers as the manager introduced the sugar girl to them all.

"I'm Satou Matsuzaka," Satou beamed. "I'll try to learn as quickly as I can, so I'll be in your care!"

Satou grinned widely, proud of herself that she started this new job.

"We're really lucky to have you, Matsuzaka-san," the manager chirped. Satou turned to face her. "We've been in a bind without enough hands on deck." The older woman gave Satou a closed-eye smile and leaned her face on her hand. "You've been working in the service industry for a while now, right? We're counting on you!"

"Yes," Satou nodded.

The rest of the waiters started to whisper amongst themselves, mostly about Satou's beauty. The manager then dismissed the employees for them to get back to work.

Satou grabbed an electronic notepad from the charging counter and went out to the floor. I got so lucky! I found this job so fast!

"Hey, Matsuzaka-san!" Satou was stopped by a boy with green eyes and bright blond hair. "I'm Taiyou Mitsuboshi. The manager asked me to show you how that device you're holding works."

"Actually, I'm fine," Satou replied. "This looks the same as the one from my other job. I can use it."

"Really?"

"Yes! Just let me know if I make a mistake–"

A bell suddenly started ringing. The door to the restaurant had been opened.

"Oh! Welcome!" Satou cheered.

Taiyou stared at Satou, awed by her optimism.

To Satou's surprise, the one who had entered the restaurant was Uchū. The empty girl looked equally surprised, despite the hair covering her face.

"Oh!" Satou exclaimed, trying to remain cordial. I need to work hard, Satou reminded herself. Even if I have to face her. "What a coincidence. I didn't know you were coming here. Are you investigating?"

Uchū nodded and then promptly hobbled past Satou to talk to Taiyou. He introduced himself to her and she did the same. Taiyou Mitsuboshi. Male. 17. Green eyes. Yellow hair. Kind. Hardworking.

"Have you ever seen or heard anything about Shio Koube?" Uchū asked.

"I've heard whispers about it, but nothing more," Taiyou replied.

"Where were you on the night of 4/25?"

"I was wrapping up my shift at work and heading home."

"Have you heard any strange noises near your workplace or place of residence?"

"No, sorry."

Uchū nodded and went to talk to the other employees. Around the time Uchū had four interviewees handled, the manager had approached her. Her dark purple eyes scrutinized the girls Uchū was currently interviewing, and while that made the girls slightly fearful, Uchū was mostly unfazed–she didn't have the best vision with her bangs.

"Girls, you need to get to work," the manager reminded the workers sternly. "We have customers. Why are you wasting time with this random teen?"