<b>“Yes, the miso ramen and the tonkatsu set meal.”</b>
<b>Customers have been coming immediately since the store opened. Ten times as there usually is. It was non-stop moving.</b>
<b>It’s honestly a miracle that our store somehow was rejuvenated.</b>
<b>“Um, Can I add something to our order?”</b>
<b>“Yes, coming.” </b>
<b>In the busy bustle of work, I went to answer the woman’s voice.</b>
<b>“Um, Please add the ice cream dessert to our order.”</b>
<b>She pointed to the ice cream poster on the wall.</b>
<b>Ah, women really love their sweets.</b>
<b>That’s why it was my idea to put that dessert ice cream poster up there.</b>
<b>“Thank you very much. I’ll be right back with your order.”</b>
<b>It’s important not only for the store to make money, but also that the satisfaction is high.</b>
<b>Lunchtime today was crazy. We had to actually refuse people because we were at max capacity. That has never happened before.</b>
<b>“I’m sorry, we are full right now.”</b>
<b>I smiled and bowed to apologize to the young couple that came.</b>
<b>“Well, it can’t be helped. We’ll need to find another place.”</b>
<b>The couple who sort of look like newly weds muttered.</b>
<b>I then had to see them leave. It hurts seeing them leave without being served, but it can’t be helped.</b>
<b>At this point, open spots are becoming rarer. . .</b>
<b>Noon quickly passed by.</b>
<b>“Thank you. Please come again.”</b>
<b>I said as I saw them off and took their money at the cash register.</b>
<b>I looked towards the clock and it’s 3PM. And finally customers have started to stop coming.</b>
<b>“Well. . .”</b>
<b>I look out the windows.</b>
<b>Due to the temperature difference of the warm inside and cold outside, there was condensation on the window, but I could still see something glimmer as it fell outside.</b>
<b>“Huh. . .Snow?”</b>
<b>Although it wasn’t falling violently, it was just simply flickering.</b>
<b>“Weird. . .”</b>
<b>I tilted my head. Of course it’s not weird for it to snow, it’s snowy country. But the weather forecast said it should be clear for some time.</b>
<b>Speaking of that, those college students from yesterday. . .They were going to the mountain today. . .</b>
<b>It should have been clear. But now it’s starting to change.</b>
<b>We are at the foot of the mountain, and it’s snowing onto us already. But what does that mean higher up in the mountain. I hope they’ll be okay.</b>
<b>“Um, excuse me. We’re ready to order.”</b>
<b>I was snapped out of my train of thought by one of the customer’s voices.</b>
<b>“Ah, yes. Coming.”</b>
<b>I hurried over to the ordering customer. I am worried about them, but I’m a shopkeeper. I can’t afford to be distracted.</b>
<b>After working until evening the store was finally approaching closure, and most people are gone. The store door opened with it’s bell sound accompanying it.</b>
<b>“Yukiya-chan! Ojii-san, Hi.”</b>
<b>It was Natsumi-chan!</b>
<b>She was alone today. Wearing her jersey after returning from the soft tennis club.</b>
<b>“What can I do for you?”</b>
<b>“The usual Zenzai please!”</b>
<b>With that she sat at the closest seat by the cash register.</b>
<b>She was ordering the classic Zenzai.</b>
<b>It’s made with paste from the locally grown azuki beans, and with a large mochi in it and candied chestnut. It’s a secret recommendation.</b>
<b>It’s popular because it’s delicious, and a decent price.</b>
<b>Of course it is also Natsumi-chan’s favorite dish.</b>
<b>It’s late enough where all of the other customers are gone. So it’s just her and I.</b>
<b>“Yukiya-chan, are you looking forward to the opening ceremony?”</b>
<b>“Yeah, P-please treat me well.”</b>
<b>I can’t help but feel uneasy about this.</b>
<b>“You’ll be fine. Our class has no bullies, you’ll be fine.”</b>
<b>Her smile was there trying to get rid of any doubt. But I am Yukiya. . .The one she has always known.</b>
<b>“Have you prepared your uniform yet?”</b>
<b>“Yeah, my mom and dad prepared it.”</b>
<b>“Is that so. . ? Don’t you think it’s primitive? It’s weird to have a sailor uniform in this day and age.”</b>
<b>“I-I don’t know about that.”</b>
<b>I shook my head. If I’m honest, I think the outfit is pretty cute. Of course it doesn’t mean I wanted to wear it, I didn’t think I had to.</b>
<b>“Are you nervous? About going to an unknown school?”</b>
<b>“U-Uh, Yeah. . .”</b>
<b>I’m actually transferring to a school I already know well, but my anxiety is about going to school as a girl.</b>
<b>“I’ve never transferred to another school. But I’d be pretty stressed not knowing anybody.”</b>
<b>She is really worried. I’m so sorry about deceiving you.</b>
<b>“Don’t worry though. Because I’ll guide you.”</b>
<b>“Thank you Natsumi-chan.”</b>
<b>After that I brought over her order.</b>
<b>“Itadakimasu.”</b>
<b>She broke her chopsticks and dug into her food.</b>
<b>“Mhh. . . As always, It’s the best Zenzai.”</b>
<b>Her worried expression turned into a bright smile.</b>
<b>Seeing that makes my heart soften. Expressions changing like that makes working here worthwhile.</b>
<b>She suddenly stopped eating, and pointed at my hand.</b>
<b>“Ah, It’s the same! Yukiya-chan does it too- – -”</b>
<b>“Hmm?”</b>
<b>I don’t know what she means so I simply tilted my head.</b>
<b>“It’s the same. The same habit that Yukiya(</b><b>♂)</b><b> has. He often folded his arms while standing and waiting for customers. Always having his fist closed but his pinky out.”</b>
<b>I looked down and yeah, that was true. </b>
<b>. . .Wait. Was Natsumi-chan always looking at me!?</b>
<b>I never even knew that!?</b>
<b>She was staring at me. I could only stand frozen with anticipation.</b>
<b>“You guys really are cousins.”</b>
<b>She then laughed in a carefree tone, but I could feel a cold sweat drip down my forehead.</b>
<b>“T-That’s right. People often say Yukiya(</b><b>♂)</b><b> and I are very similar.”</b>
<b>“Is that so? I agree. You are very similar.”</b>
<b>She does have a good intuition.</b>
<b>After happily eating she stood up.</b>
<b>“Well, I should probably get home. Oh here.”</b>
<b>After that she handed me a 1,000-yen bill.</b>
<b>I took it and gave her, her change.</b>
<b>At that moment, she grabbed my hand and shook it.</b>
<b>“Because I’m going to pick you up for school! Can you do me a favor, and tell Yukiya(</b><b>♂)</b><b> to contact me.” </b>
<b>(</b><b>TN: this may be her also telling Yukiya to tell the male Yukiya to give her her best regards. My translation might be wrong, so take it with a grain of salt.</b><b>)</b>
<b>She then asked me for a favor.</b>
<b>“Yeah, will do.”</b>
<b>Natsumi-chan used to be pretty harsh and sarcastic towards me when I was a boy, but she is very kind to me when now that I’m a girl. </b>
<b>From the girls point of view, she looks pretty dependable. . . To the extent, she also seems really perceptive and has a good intuition.</b>
<b>Can I really keep up this lie?</b>
<b>I contemplated that as I walked Natsumi-chan’s back, as she walked out of the store.</b>
<b>Whether or not I like it. The first day of school is fast approaching.</b>
<b>New chapter, and it’s here now. We are getting cool interaction between friends. I really enjoy these types of interactions. I hope we see more of these. And her discovering the truths. I feel like she is already suspicious.</b>
<b>Anyways next chapter in 3-5 days.</b>
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