"I'm sorry for making you work on Christmas Eve."
After closing time, in the cafe's break room, Manager Maki said that and placed a plate with cake in front of Yuki. A coffee cup was already on the table.
"No, I didn’t have any plans anyway..."
Yuki answered in a casual tone, carrying a hint of post-work sluggishness.
"Besides, I get to enjoy delicious cake like this."
"It's just leftover stock, you know?"
"But it was specially made by you, right? A perk of the job."
After saying that, Yuki took a bite of the cake.
"How does it taste?"
"There’s no way anything the manager makes is bad, whether it's the coffee or the cake."
Maki, hearing Yuki’s compliments, half-listened while saying, "You sure know how to flatter."
"Now then, how about a modest gift exchange, in the spirit of Christmas?"
Saying this, Maki picked up the package that was sitting in the corner of the room.
"...I was wondering what that was. Could it be...?"
"It’s a gift for you. Remember that coat I mentioned before? I think it’ll suit you well."
"...Manager."
Upon seeing the coat that was taken out, Yuki spoke with a hint of reproach.
"Please don’t give something this expensive to a student part-timer. It’s too precious to use every day."
Even as he said that, Yuki put the jacket on. Maki watched him, looking pleased.
"It can’t be helped. Out of everything I searched for, that was the one that suited you best. The price didn't matter."
"You’re too extravagant... but thank you. I’ll take good care of it."
When Yuki bowed, Maki waved her hand dismissively.
"Don’t worry about it. In the end, it’s cheap for adults. ...So, Yuki, where's my gift?"
"...I didn’t hear anything about a 'gift exchange' beforehand."
Maki asked, "Did you not bring one?" in response to Yuki’s disgruntled tone. Yuki sighed.
"...I brought it. I went through a lot of trouble picking it out. You're mean, Manager. You asked about my preferences but won’t tell me yours."
Yuki grumbled as he took out the gift from his bag. Maki laughed.
"Sorry. I have a tendency to be mean to guys I like."
"Yeah, yeah," Yuki said, handing the small package to Maki.
"So, if it doesn't suit your taste, it's because Manager is being mean, right?"
When Maki opened the small box, it contained a silver bracelet. There was engraving, but overall, it had a simple design.
"How is it?" Yuki asked, clearly a bit nervous
Maki shot Yuki a stern look, as if reprimanding him.
"...Yuki. What do you think you’re doing, giving such an expensive gift to your employer? You’re practically giving back the money you earned."
"Well, it’s... true it’s not cheap, but I didn’t think it was that bad... Sorry, it was pretty expensive for a student."
"Right?"
Maki said it with a sigh, and Yuki nervously asked.
"Uh... could you possibly accept it?"
"Idiot. Of course, I’ll accept it. You clearly put a lot of thought into choosing it for me. it suits my taste perfectly. I’ll cherish it."
Maki rubbed her cheek against the accessory lovingly. It looked like she really liked it.
"...Um, Manager?"
However, Yuki felt a little awkward. Was it right to bring this up in front of Maki, who was so happy? He had meant to tell her by the end of the year, but he had procrastinated and ended up delaying it until today.
"There’s something I need to tell you."
"...What’s going on? Why the sudden seriousness?"
Maki asked, her expression maintaining its usual calm, yet there was a faint hint of expectation in her demeanor.
Of course, Yuki, who was nervous, was unable to pick up on this.
"It seems I’ll have to quit this job next year."
Maki’s expression shifted, clearly startled by Yuki’s words.
"Quit... this store? What’s going on? Is there something wrong with the store or with me? Did you get involved with some troublesome female customer when I wasn’t looking?"
"Why just female customers? ...No, that’s not it. I need to begin job hunting soon."
Maki seemed to relax a little after hearing the reason, though she still looked at Yuki suspiciously.
"Job hunting? Isn’t that too early? Next year you’ll still be in your third year. Aren’t you risking neglecting your studies by trying to balance both?"
"It might affect my studies, but it can’t be helped. In the end, that’s just how things are. I think most of my classmates are in the same situation."
Maki gave a half-hearted nod at Yuki’s words.
"But you’re not saying you’ll be gone for the entire two years starting next year, right? Once you have a job, you can come back here."
"Oh, no. Even if I get a job offer, I’ll have to write my thesis afterward. It’ll be difficult to come here then."
At Yuki’s words, Maki looked displeased. However, she didn’t actually blame Yuki.
"But money’s needed for everything, right? Are you sure you’ll manage over the next two years?"
"I’m still a student, so I get money from my parents... and I’ve saved up a bit from working here."
"You saved that much? For a student?"
Maki looked at Yuki with disbelief, though she was slightly displeased.
"...I don’t have any friends who like to go out and spend money on flashy things. The gift I gave you earlier might be the most expensive purchase I’ve ever made."
"You really went all out for the Christmas at your part-time job, huh?"
Maki said that and then fell silent.
"...Um, Manager, what do you think about that?"
When Yuki asked, Maki let out a sigh.
"I can’t force someone who says they’re quitting to keep working, but... I see, you’re quitting, huh..."
Saying this, Maki seemed to think for a moment before eventually saying...
"Hey, Yuki, want to go for a drive with me?"
"Uh, you mean right now?"
Maki drove to work and should have parked nearby today. Yuki had seen the car before, but never ridden in it.
In response to Yuki’s question, Maki nodded as if it were natural.
"Yeah. I want to make memories with you. It wouldn’t hurt to spend some time together, right?"
"...Okay. I’ll come along."
There was no particular reason to refuse. Yuki and Maki finished the remaining cake on the table and headed outside.
"Manager, I’ve been grateful to you since my first year—"
"Stop it. It's not like you're quitting today or anything."
As Yuki was about to express his gratitude, Maki interrupted him with those words.
●●●
"For such a big road... it’s pretty dark."
"This area was made by clearing the mountains for logistics, so there aren’t any houses or apartment buildings."
Maki said casually,
"There’s probably a ramen shop for truck drivers around here... Want to eat? I’ll pay."
"No, I’m not really hungry."
"I see. Then maybe we’ll stop by on the way back. You’ll be hungry by then."
"Did you have a destination in mind? I thought you were just driving aimlessly."
"I’d be fine with that, but if you’re leaving soon, I can’t afford to just waste time."
Without offering any further explanation to the confused Yuki, Maki drove the car down the night road.
Eventually...
"...Is this the place?"
Maki, as if she had spotted something, suddenly turned onto a narrow road.
"Manager, what could be here in a place like this?"
"...Didn’t you see the sign?"
"Yeah, I kind of overlooked it."
"I see. But you should recognize that building when you see it, right?"
Indeed, in the direction the car was heading, there was a single building, brightly illuminated by dazzling lights. But...
"No, well... I don’t really understand. What is that? Sorry for saying this, but it looks like a love hotel..."
In reply to Yuki’s words, Maki nodded nonchalantly.
"That’s right. It’s exactly a love hotel. ‘Tsuchikomi-yado’ is quite an old-fashioned way of saying it. As expected from someone in the Literature Department."
With that, Maki immediately parked the car in the building’s parking lot without hesitation.
"...Manager."
"I’ll say this upfront... Unless you come in with me, I’m not planning to drive out of here."
Maki said this with determination, her tone showing a slight childlike stubbornness. Seeing her act this way, Yuki couldn’t help but feel confused and hesitant.
"But there's no need to trick me here like this..."
"It’s your fault. You gave me that suggestive gift, get my hopes up, and then out of nowhere say you're quitting. You don’t think about how that affects me."
Maki said this and moved closer to Yuki in the passenger seat.
"I’ll allow you to quit your part-time job. But that’ll only happen after we become closer—so close that we can never break part."
Seeing the flame of obsession in Maki’s eyes, Yuki realized that continuing to resist was pointless.
Chapter length 3937 characters.
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