Kagami, who had seemed to be deep in thought about how to take my question, finally opened her mouth.
“Um, I want to go.”
“I knew it.”
“Do you perhaps dislike the idea of me going to university?”
I pondered for a moment.
Dislike it?
Honestly, I thought it was a little scary. After all, I had come to regard Kagami as my mom.
Since Kagami had always been a bit protective, I wondered how I would feel if she went to university just to follow me.
But then again, maybe she really just wants to go.
Besides, she hadn’t even mentioned which university or department she wanted to attend.
I was overthinking it simply based on the idea that Kagami might want to go to university.
I felt a bit of self-loathing.
If it had been my much older parents instead of Kagami, would I have thought differently? Would I have just cheered them on as they chased their dreams?
In the end, isn’t the main point just that Kagami might attend the same university as me?
“No.”
Having organized my thoughts in my head, I answered.
“If you’re not going to the same university…”
Kagami, sensing my response, shifted the conversation slightly. I shook my head.
“That’s not it. I don’t care which university or department you go to.”
“…Really?”
Kagami tilted her head, and I nodded in agreement.
“Somehow, hearing your answer cleared my head. Yeah, you should go wherever you want. Trying is not a bad thing, right?”
Isn’t it a good experience for Kagami to hear the term senior from someone else?
The age difference is quite significant… After all, she’s practically my daughter, but if Shii ends up at the same university, wouldn’t she end up being referred to as a senior by Shii?
I wonder if Kagami will be able to handle that without getting embarrassed.
Until I heard Kagami’s response, I felt a bit uneasy, but now that I have, I feel a sense of clarity.
Yeah, if she wants to chase her dream, who am I to say anything? I have no right to do that. Even if we end up at the same university, it’s fine as long as we just hang out together.
And when I think about it, Kagami attending the same university as me doesn’t seem like it would seriously infringe on my freedom.
Well, if she ends up with a boyfriend, I might be completely shocked, but… I have no intention of getting a boyfriend myself anyway.
“Koto Ne…”
Kagami said with a somewhat touched tone,
“Whoa!?”
“Wow!”
Suddenly, she hugged me and Koko tightly.
In the humid and hot weather under the blazing sun, it suddenly felt unbearably suffocating. I would’ve been fine if it were winter!
“Really, our daughters are too nice for their own good!”
But it seemed like Kagami had no intention of letting go easily, squeezing us tightly while rubbing her cheek against ours.
Thank goodness Kagami rarely wears makeup; otherwise, it would have smeared all over our faces and made it even more uncomfortable.
I guess I should have just talked at home?
Feeling a bit of regret, I was wrapped up in the warmth of Kagami for a while.
*
All the third-year friends were exam takers. We had to study like crazy to get into university since there were no special-case students among us.
Despite that, for some reason, following the tradition of the literature club that started last year, all third-year students went to the summer retreat, and we’d written pieces for the literature club anthology.
Moreover, we were all scheduled to participate in the cultural festival.
Oh, and by the way, two more students joined the literature club.
A first-year who had gotten close to Shii and another classmate of Tsugumi. Both initially belonged to the non-club activities club, but they joined to hang out with their close friends after school.
Fortunately, it was just a few weeks before summer vacation, so everyone could participate in the retreat together.
Now, I guess the literature club will run smoothly even without us.
Thinking that way gave me a sense of relief but also a bit of sadness.
Well, this year is our last. Although I’ll still be a student at this school at the beginning of next year, I’ll be busy with my own things then.
And, by the end of summer vacation—
“…Well, I guess we won’t be able to see each other for a while.”
Right, I also quit my part-time job.
It felt a bit bittersweet to leave a place where I had been indebted for about two and a half years. Honestly, during the first few months after coming to this world, I wouldn’t have survived without it.
“I’ll come back after I become a university student.”
“Yeah, yeah. It seems that there are customers coming to see you these days, so of course!”
“…Really?”
“Yeah, there are some guys who only come on the days you work.”
That’s a bit… well…
No, it’s not that I don’t understand. I, too, wouldn’t pass up a chance to go to a PC cafe with a pretty part-timer.
Unfortunately, aside from growing about 2cm during my high school years, my body hasn’t changed at all. To be honest, I even questioned whether that 2cm growth was biological.
So, if there is someone who likes me…
“Hey, don’t make that face. You’ve become a bit more mature, though.”
I shrugged at the boss’s words.
Well, some of the regular customers might be around my age.
Among them is Sota. He usually comes to see his younger sister.
“Still, I hope we have a farewell party~”
Miki said this with a sense of regret, but I shook my head.
“I’ll be back next year.”
“Miki, you need to study too. Didn’t you say you want to go to university?”
“I’m studying hard~”
Since the boss is there to teach her diligently, she might actually end up in a pretty good place.
“Then let’s all become university students next year.”
“Yeah!”
At my words, Miki seemed to cheer up, nodding with a wide smile.
With that, we said our final goodbyes for the year and stepped outside with Shii.
“Something feels… odd.”
As we walked out together, Shii said with an awkward smile.
“It feels a bit lonely thinking there won’t be a senior around starting next week.”
“But we’ll see each other often at school, right?”
I said, smiling, but Shii’s expression didn’t brighten immediately.
Well, Shii had started working here because of me.
Although it wasn’t every day, we did spend quite a few of those days together. So, considering the duration, it had been quite long. Around two and a half years.
Thinking about those times made my heart ache a bit.
Even if I say I’ll come back next year… I won’t be able to work at this job indefinitely. We’ll all eventually have to quit. After all, it’s a maid cafe, right? No one is going to continue this well into their 40s or 50s.
The boss could keep working here… well, aside from being a ‘maid’, but it won’t be continued in the way we remember.
Will we end up sinking into memories?
“….”
We walked in silence for a while.
Although it was the end of summer, the night was still hot and muggy.
“Let’s go eat ramen.”
I suggested.
Honestly, there was no need to say it. Every time Shii and I met alone like this, I had been getting ramen.
Somehow, I feel like even if we quit, that ramen shop will still be there 20 years down the line. I might still visit it after becoming an office worker.
“Okay.”
At my words, Shii’s mood lightened a bit, and she smiled in response.
On the way to the ramen shop, various conversations flowed between us.
The stories were a bit different from usual. But they were still stories that didn’t stray from the everyday life. Topics that felt a little awkward unless it was just the two of us.
Like the relationship between Sota and Nanami. For your information, their relationship seems to be progressing, albeit very, very slowly.
The problem is that it’s slower than a snail’s pace, but I guess they’ll figure it out. I wonder if the term “real charge” was even used back in those days.
No, perhaps it was even used more due to the era.
“You won’t quit next year, will you?”
“I plan to come back soon, just like you did.”
“You do seem to like it there.”
I said while picking up a piece of ramen with chopsticks.
Even though it was hot food on a hot day, it was honestly delicious. The pork bone stock was rich and salty, and with noodles added, it was bound to be good.
Despite eating such high-calorie food regularly, I wonder if Shii’s body isn’t growing because she doesn’t drink the broth.
“Yeah, I do like it. Ever since I started working there, it’s just been fun.”
“Is that so…”
There were tough times, but there were also so many enjoyable ones.
Truly, I had enjoyed a ‘light novel-like school life’.
I guess only about a year of suffering out of three isn’t so bad?
“Back then, I’ll wait for you.”
“Uh, so you’ll say, ‘Welcome, young lady’ then?”
Look at her.
Now she can even make jokes like that.
I smiled and said, “Should I? I would if you want. You can always come back as a customer, right?”
We both giggled, then slurped up some noodles with a refreshing sound.
The return, huh?
It was pleasing to know that this isn’t the end.
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