Volume 2 - CH 3.5

Mikage Saeka Beyond Reach

Translated by 64990022

Chapter 3: Mikage Saeka Beyond Reach

Part 5

Without any progress, we disbanded for the day and I headed for Cafe Proof, part-time until dark.

Keihan-Zeze Station… Tokimeki Hill…

When I pushed open the door, a pale-faced Akito lunged at me.

“Ooh, Messiah! Hurry up and get ready! We’re falling apart…”

“I’m surprised a good-for-nothing manager like you could hold it together so long.”

“No! The staff’s down to me alone! Please help!”

Listening to him complain, I changed into work clothes in the kitchen. It was rare that there was no one else here.

I hurried to the counter, letting work of a bustling cafe chase away the burnt of the day.

Take orders, serve drinks, clean up empty seats. 

Guests today weren’t that much, actually, but it was a handful for two people working.

“Welcome!” The bell rang and I said the automatic response.

“Wha! Akashi-kun’s here!”

“Didn’t I say I work here?”

In their uniforms were Minato and a happy looking Fujimiya. They’re here again…

“Have a seat…” I guide them to the usual seat with my eyes. 

They seemed to get the signal and went to the table.

“Please call me when you’re ready.” I passed them the menu.

“Milk tea and cafe au lait, both iced, please,” Fujimiya answered immediately.

“Ahem… So what’s your business”

“Study. The exam’s close by. Minato here will guide me through these difficult times.”

“Sorry about Shiho. We’ll be staying for a while, is that fine with you?”

“Nah, fill up the table all you like, we’re understaffed today.”

This surely wasn’t good for sales, but who cares about that when there’s only two people working.

“Akashi-kun, you look good with an apron,” complimented Fujimiya.

“Huh? Err, isn’t this normal? Uhh…”

“Haha, you’re all flustered. You look good, be proud!”

Be proud?

“If you’d excuse me…” I slipped back to the counter.

After that, I went back to working quietly in the kitchen. It was just me and Yukito until the end of the day. Through the evening, Minato and Fujimiya were there.

When I scurry around in the cafe, Fujimiya would sometimes wave to me, but I would just nod in return. Can’t have reputation damage, that would be bad on Yukito…

“Hahh～ I want to have a chan with the two girls～～”

“I’ve wasted my consideration on you.”

“Hm?”

“Get to work, manager.”

Really, how could this cafe get so high a review on the internet with a manager like this. Probably the part-timers like me who made that happen.

◆　◆　◆

“We’ve survived!!” said Yukito to the counter, plopping down.

Today was tiring… if it had been a weekend, the customer would have…

By the way, Yuzuki and Fujimiya were still here. Yukito treated them as a special case, it seemed, the kind of favoritism normally seen in society.

“Io, you can go now. Go play with those two or whatever.”

“And the closing down?”

“They’re here for you, go. I’ll do it alone.”

“I’m working… Don’t act cool, you’re heaving.”

“Shut up, this is my cafe, and I won’t pay for your overtime.”

He shot upright and staggered to the cleaning equipment. Ah, there goes the manly pride. I don’t suppose he’d accept my help at this rate.

“Good work. You’re off?” Greeted Fujimiya.

I shrugged. “Yukito insisted he do it alone.”

Getting a seat for the first time in hours, a wave of exhaustion washed over me. Legs ached, and my whole body felt numb.

“I’m tired tooo…” complained Fujimiya.

“You weren’t even concentrating.” quipped Minato.

“Huuuh? MInato–, you’re looking at Akashi-kun’s apron—”

“Shhh! Shiho!!”

My apron? Well, if they still had the energy to bricker then they still have way to go.

“When are we going back?”

“Eh… uhh… A little more? Get this chapter done…”

“Roger. Ten more minutes wouldn’t hurt, right, Akashi-kun?”

“Yep, keep me company.” Yukito answered from the counter.

“Okay–. Thanks, sir.”

The two girls bowed at Yukito.

They’re getting familiar with this cafe…

“Oh, right, about Mikage-san’s boyfriend.”

“Ahh, that.”

Never expect to meet this topic here. A cursory glance showed an expressionless Minato.

“Ahh, that’s sudden… well, maybe not, it’s a known fact that she has someone she likes…”

“…”

“Why the face, Akashi-kun? Minato?”

Um, Minato, should we tell her now? I asked her with a glance

Well, maybe I could use her opinion on this.

[TN: What happened with the “respect Mikage’s privacy” thing]

◆　◆　◆

“Hmmmm… Minato, and now Mikage-san? You’re incredible, Akashi-kun.”

As the situation called, I told Fujimiya everything but Shida’s name. Only now did I feel glad I added the “I may reveal some information to collaborators”.

[TN: At this point, why don’t tell everything.]

Of course, I won’t abuse it.

[TN: You already had]

“Wow. This is like a professional detective scenario.”

“Only this and Minato’s that got this complicated. This isn’t the sort of once-in-a-lifetime experience I wished for, getting consulted by Kuze’s Top Three consecutively like this.”

“Then that’s how much you influence the Kuze High, I’m sure.”

…I don’t want that attention. I was fine being a sketchy urban legend. I only wanted to choose who to help.

I look at Minato.

“But you accomplished your goal? Mikage-san, she got off happy…”

“That’s all her doing. I wasn’t so much of a help.” Then I realized. “Ah, I should have told you earlier…”

“No, I don’t have the right to ask about her matters, do I? Mikage-san probably wouldn’t like for people to know about the consultation”

Um, in fact, the said Mikage wanted people to know about the consultation.

Besides, Shida’s problem this time was the only reason I told these guys… why does this sound like  a shabby justification…?

“So, what I wanted to ask is–” A glimpse told me that it would be a while before Yukito will be finished. “Why would Mikage go to such lengths to avoid the confession.”

“Hmm… let me think…”

“You girls got confessed often, right? Any guesses?”

“That’s Minato. I got one from time to time… sometimes? Once in a while? I’m most flattered.”

Why the formal expression…

“By the way, do you have a boyfriend, Fujimiya?”

Learn more

Pause

Unmute

“Huh? No, I’m lonely and single. My luck came short.”

Hoh, despite how popular she is? How high are her standards?

“And Minato… You don’t have to, if you don’t want to talk about it.”

Minato’s input might be the most valuable. Speaking of confessions, she might be the veteran…

Contrary to my concern, she answered coolly, “I’ve always been there to say no. I don’t understand why Mikage-san would do that either.”

“That sounds just like you…”

She shrugged. “It is hard to reject someone, and quite an exhausting affair too. Still, better than any alternatives”

On the contrary, Minato should be the one avoiding confessions, not Mikage. The guys who were rejected turned to antagonize her instead, Reiji had said.

Maybe that was what Mikage feared?

“Have you ever heard of people who hate Mikage because she rejected them?” Hiura or Reiji would know these things better, but for now, these two will do.

“Hm. I haven’t.”

“Me neither.”

“She had already established that she has someone she likes. So I don’t think it’s logical to hold a grudge against her.”

“I suppose…” So that was the difference between Minato and Mikage.

“Actually, why don’t you tell her directly?”

“Hm? Minato? Akashi-kun already had Hiura-san ask directly?”

“Yes, so this time tell, not ask.”

“Tell what?”

“Tell her to accept the confession. The purpose is not to know why she avoids him, but to make her show up for his confession, no? You go to her as the Angel and ask for favor, that might work.”

Ah, that was possible too. I shouldn’t expect less from someone who had blown up my identity.

“Wow! That’s my Minato!” Clapped Fujimiya.

Save for one obvious drawback it posed, it made sense.

“But I don’t think I can do it.”

“Why exactly?”

“If I told her to accept the confession, it’d mean I had confessed on behalf of the guy. Right now, to Mikage, the guy might have liked her, it isn’t a certainty to her yet.” I leaned against the chair, beaten back to square one. “I can’t afford that, it betrays the principal emotional aspect of a confession.”

In romance, there was nothing more malicious than tipping off someone else’s feelings. I would never do such a thing.

“Oh, sorry then.”

“No, it’s a good enough idea, thanks.”

[TN: Sorry, I can’t find a good place to end this part.]