Under the fading glow of the sunset, Serika's lonely expression and slouched silhouette gave me a strange illusion.
It felt less like she had just enjoyed swinging with someone she liked, and more like she had been bullied by a clique.
Before I went to bed after my evening exercise, I subtly asked Hoshino and Shiroko sitting beside me whether there had been any intentional mischief. Hoshino, however, gave me an innocent look and said pitifully that it had truly just been coincidence.
But then the pink-haired girl revealed her true intent:
"If you don't believe us, Sensei, why don't you punish us properly instead of Serika-chan?"
Shiroko, who had just been about to speak, shivered like a wolf and immediately nodded in agreement, admitting that they had indeed been intentionally teasing Serika. It was as if all their scheming was aimed right at me.
All I could do was scold the two of them fiercely while also marveling at the precious camaraderie in Abydos.
That said, even though I knew that working part-time to save money had long ceased being a grudging necessity for Serika and had become a personal hobby, I hadn't realized she would push herself so hard, so much so that she'd collapse right in front of me.
Over the next few days, no matter what, the black-haired girl had to put aside her work and rest properly, both body and mind.
The Foreclosure Task Force members would keep a close watch on her.
But without Serika's guidance, the task of selecting a dungeon suitable for Yuzu's current level, one challenging enough to gain enough EXP, now fell solely to me.
I didn't know whether I was asking too much, or if Serika's past jobs were too demanding, or if the world of part-time work in Kivotos was simply too harsh, but at least compared to the jobs I had completed with Serika, none seemed suitable for introducing to Yuzu.
When I initially agreed to help, I thought it would be quick, but finding a suitable option ended up taking far longer than expected. I couldn't afford to delay further; it was truly a tricky situation.
Worried, I returned from Abydos to Schale and, as usual, stopped by Angel 24 to buy a bento. Unexpectedly, a mundane scene gave me inspiration.
When I arrived at the convenience store, poorly located and struggling with business, there was already another customer.
It was a student I didn't know. White hair, pink eyes, cat ears and a tail. She was buying some everyday-use bullet explosives common in Kivotos, probably just passing by for supplies.
Sora, from her behavior, clearly didn't recognize this student either, and naturally, she displayed the shy, hesitant demeanor I hadn't seen from her in a long time.
Apart from the forehead, Yuzu and Sora shared a commonality in personality.
Had I been overthinking before, worrying too much about making Yuzu uncomfortable, and complicated things unnecessarily?
Angel 24, a convenience store chain with excellent corporate culture, treated both customers and staff with kindness and patience. It provided stable employment and pay, making it an ideal place for beginners like Yuzu who hadn't fully overcome social anxiety.
At that moment, the student who had finished checking out seemed to recognize me.
"You're… Sensei from Schale?" The refined white-haired girl glanced at me, her cat tail swaying, eyes narrowed slightly, a polite smile on her face. "I've heard so much about you."
I realized I still lacked a bit of the awareness one should have as a well-known figure. But, after all, this was Schale's first floor, it wasn't surprising to be recognized.
After a brief chat with this polite and graceful student, who didn't leave her name and left quickly, I hurried to ask Sora whether Angel 24 was hiring part-time students.
"Ah, here? Probably not recently… but I can ask the other branches…"
As she spoke, Sora started typing on her phone and soon got a response.
Indeed, one branch was short-staffed, with shifts conveniently after school. It was accessible from Millennium and not too crowded.
I asked Sora to introduce us and discussed Yuzu's special situation with the branch manager. The reply satisfied me.
Thinking I shouldn't delay any further, I sent Yuzu a message on Momotalk, finalizing the arrangement.
Time flew, and soon it was afternoon.
I picked Yuzu up at Millennium's school gate, took the train and walked a few minutes, arriving at the location where she would work today.
"Sensei… do we need to buy anything?" Yuzu peeked nervously from behind me. "Something needed for the work later?"
"This is where you'll be working today."
"…Eh?"
The red-haired girl's face instantly changed. "T-tasks like… moving goods?"
I nodded, shattering her last shred of hope: "Nope, you'll be working as a store clerk serving customers."
Yuzu's face went pale, and she nearly wanted to turn back.
I had deliberately kept this a surprise, a little shock treatment. Looking at her reaction, I definitely succeeded.
The branch manager, a kind and friendly robot citizen, greeted Yuzu briefly and then fetched her a store uniform apron with the Angel 24 logo.
Seizing the moment alone with me, Yuzu whispered anxiously, "N-no…! Even though I said it would be fine, I didn't expect it to be this kind of work…! I trusted you, Sensei… I really did…!"
"Ah, that shows there's still a little reservation in your trust," I said, shaking my head with a smile. I silently hoped the cards would give me a little help, at least to make Yuzu feel reassured.
"Yuzu," I said earnestly, "Do you think I'm teasing you? I've spent the past few days carefully choosing a part-time job for you."
"I-I didn't mean it that way… but this is just… being around so many strangers… it's…"
"I considered that too," I reassured her. "I'll be with you the entire time. You can relax."
At these words, Yuzu visibly stopped trembling.
She looked at me cautiously: "R-really?"
I gave her a warm smile. "Of course it's true."
This reassurance came thanks to Sora's inspiration.
Surely, having someone you can trust by your side would calm Yuzu's fears.
Yuzu finally exhaled slightly: "Th-then maybe… I can try my best…"
That is the power of love.
Credit Card, do you understand?
Anyway, once the branch manager returned, Yuzu's first part-time job officially began with me by her side.