It had been a decent amount of time since I started living with the twin high school girls. It was late July, morning.

I was getting ready in the washroom. "……Ah, Sensei."

Nanako, the black-haired beauty and her older twin sister, entered the washroom.

She looked like she had just woken up, wearing a thin, cute set of pajamas. "Nanako. Good morning."

At my greeting, Nanako smiled with a soft, squishy expression, looking genuinely happy.

"……Good morning. It feels like... hehe, we're just like a newlywed couple." Nanako is seventeen. She's in high school.

I am in the position of acting as her guardian.

"You should save that kind of talk for guys you actually have feelings for."

The mood shifted instantly, and Nanako pouted, looking displeased. Then she mumbled quietly.

"……And yet, I keep saying it like this..."

"You don't have a guy in your class you're interested in...?" "There isn't!" "……I see."

"Nnngh," Nanako huffed loudly through her nose.

"Professor, I'm a hopeless case. There's no guy catching my eye. I haven't even been in a relationship."

"Is that so? Surprising for someone like you. You must get a lot of attention."

"...Well, to some extent. B-but I've turned them all down! Because the wonderful man who really catches my eye is r-right here by my side!"

Her face flushed crimson as she looked me straight in the eyes. ...Is she talking about me?

Even if so... I can't just accept this girl's affection and take myself at face value.

Nanako tends to hold onto her childhood ideals without letting them go.

It happens often enough that the trust one feels toward an older male in childhood gets mistaken for romantic interest.

But... it's like [measles].

It's a path everyone travels at some point... and something we outgrow as we mature as people.

To exploit that weakness would be dishonest, a despicable act that tramples on this girl's life. ...In short.

"I see. That's good. It's nice you have someone else you like."

I gave Nanako's head a pat and headed outside.

I chose to pretend not to notice what she was feeling.

In the end, I am merely in the position of a guardian, standing in for her parents. It is only in that capacity as her guardian that I treat her.

"...Sensei is kind."

Nanako smiled, despite him brushing off her feelings.

"......Akari said it to me. That Oka-san treats us from the standpoint of a guardian. And that it's because you care about us."

"...Damn her, she always spilling my guts."

My younger sister Akari is perceptive.

But I wish she'd hold her tongue about it with our sister.

"You should tell them when you get back from your shift."

"Ah, right. Akari... a part-time job?"

It seems my twin sister has been working part-time for quite a while now.

She had put it on hold during the chaos of us moving in together, but with summer arriving, she restarted it in earnest.

「Sensee, you've got work starting now, don't you?」

「Yeah. I'm meeting with Ms. Lucia at the cafe in front of the station at 13:00 for a business talk.» 「The cafe in front of the station...」 「? What's wrong?」

「Ah, no, it's nothing. I was strictly told by Akari not to tell anyone where I work part-time... uh, w-wait...」 Nana fumbles anxiously.

Come to think of it, I didn't know where Akari's part-time job was. She said it was a food and beverage place.

She wouldn't be working at the cafe I'm heading to for my meeting, would she?

「A-anyway, go get 'em!」 I stand by the entrance.

Nana smiles as she sees me off. 「Okay, I'll be going now」 I step outside.

The piercing sunlight seared my skin. Cicadas were buzzing loudly somewhere. 「Ugh... it's hot...」

Working on a day this hot felt incredibly depressing.

But... right now, it doesn't feel painful at all.

Of course, part of it is that I changed jobs... But... 「Have a good one at work, huh...」

Someone who would see me off like that, and then wait for me back at home.

Those women are the ones who give me my energy.

"I owe them a debt of gratitude… Well, let's get to it." ★

The place I arrived at was a café located in front of the station.

This is the coffee shop where Misae wrote the divorce papers.

...Well, that doesn't really matter now.

Sitting at the window seat was a girl who exuded an air of aristocratic refinement. She wore a red kimono and had pure white hair. She was beautiful like a Japanese doll. She was my assigned writer. Professor Kaidate Rushia. "Professor, sorry to keep you waiting."

"O-Okayada! T-that… g-good morning!"

Professor Rushia's snowy-white skin was redder than usual.

Her cheeks were dyed crimson, her eyes darting around nervously, flickering back and forth toward me.

"I am so terribly sorry for being late."

"N-now what do you mean! The appointment was for one o'clock, and it's only twelve thirty. We're the ones who got here half an hour early. You are right on time; there is absolutely nothing wrong with you."

"Even so, I have made you wait. I am truly sorry for that." I bowed my head and apologized.

Pfft, Teacher Rushia blushed, seemingly deep in thought. "...It really is lovely." "Huh?"

"N-None of your business! Yeah, I'm just saying none of that."

Teacher Rushia seemed to have already purchased her drinks.

"Would you like me to order some light snacks as well?"

"No, it's fine. I have a meeting soon... this is work, after all. I can't eat."

Gooooooooo... "..."

Sigh... Teacher Rushia blushed and hung her head in shame.

"I haven't eaten lunch either, so I'll buy two portions."

"I-I apologize... I was a bit in a rush this morning and didn't have time to eat either."

"Understood. Please wait a moment." I headed toward the register counter.

"We're ope- ...Ah, Oh-okaarin..." "Akari"

Standing there was my twin sister, Akari, the blonde gyaru. "W-Why are you here...?" "That's a line I should be using." "I-It's just that..."

Well, she's taking orders at the register. She must be working a shift here. "Sorry for disrupting your work."
"Wha...?"

"It'd probably be annoying if an acquaintance came to your workplace, but there are already customers seated. Mind if I bother you for a bit?"

Akari blinked in confusion.
But she quickly flashed a smile.

"I knew it! Karin, you're always so kind. Yeah, I love you."

Akari looked straight at me and laughed.

"Welcome! Have you decided on your order?"

Akari immediately switched into work mode.

I tried to keep my conversation to a minimum so as not to interfere with her work.

"That's all for your order? If you could please wait at the counter next door." I paid and moved aside.

I watched her serve customers at the counter from a distance.
"Welcome!"

...With her bright smile and personality, she seemed to be well-liked by both her coworkers and the customers.

She has always been good with people, after all.

I once tutored him during my time working as a cram school instructor.

Ever since then, I’d been getting along well with the guys at the cram school. "Sorry to keep you waiting—!"

Akari approaches me, tray in hand, carrying the items I had ordered.

As I take the tray, she leans in close to my ear.

"…Go get ’em today, Okarin."

Pulling back from my face, she gives a small wave. "You too, do your best."

With a bright smile, she returns to the counter.

When I walk back with my tray… "Sensei Rusia?" "…………" A huff of displeasure.

For some reason, Sensei Rusia is frowning, looking quite sour. "Is something wrong?"

"…You seem to be getting along very well with that cute clerk over there."

Looking a bit irritated, she taps the table with her finger—tap, tap, tap. "Ah… yeah…"

I’ll just leave out the fact that we’re living together. It’s not worth the hassle.

"She's a friend of mine from back home."

Knowing her since my days as a cram school tutor (ten years ago) and having been one of his students, the statement was technically true.

"I-I see... I see... Good, that's good."

"Hoo~..." Why did she let out a sigh? But she immediately shook her head and said,

"Sorry, I got emotional." Emotional? Was that it...?

Well, for a girl who was usually so well-behaved, it wasn't common to see her looking irritable or visibly shaken.

"No, let's eat first and then have our meeting?" "That sounds good. I'll take some."

We nibbled on sandwiches while exchanging light chitchat.

"It's summer break starting today, right? Is it already break at your school, sensei?"

This Sensei Lucia is actually a current high school student. She is eighteen years old.
She attends an all-girls' school in the capital.

"Ah yes. We're on summer break now. I'm just bored stiff every day."

"Is that so? Being eighteen, I assumed you'd be busy with entrance exams or something."

"The school you attend operates on an escalator system all the way through university. There's no particular need for entrance exam preparation."

Mr. Rushia takes an elegant bite of his sandwich.

He must be from a wealthy family; his manners are truly refined.

"Oh, by the way, what do your parents do for work?" "Gehock…!"

Kough, kough—Mr. Rushia coughs violently. "A-are you okay?!"

He seemed to have choked, his face flushing red. I pat him on the back.

Then, I place an iced coffee in front of him.

He hurriedly downs it... and lets out a "phew."

"I'm sorry, for startling you."

"N-no... don't worry about it, Okaya-san. It's my issue, yes..."

Phuu... phuu... Mr. Rushia takes a deep breath. I sit down in my seat.

"I apologize for asking such an awkward question. It's just that since I had never asked before, out of mere curiosity."

“Ah, n-no... um. My p-parents are... uh...”

Miss Rushia closed her eyes, tilted her head to the side, and after a moment... “I’m... a self-employed individual... I guess?”

“Oh, I see. So you run a shop or something?”

“A, s-shop... u-um. Yes! Um, yeah, I do have a shop.” “‘Do’?”

Miss Rushia was holding her head in her hands, writhing in distress. But she soon looked up and said:

“S-Should we talk about work? That’s right! I came here for work today, didn’t I!” “...? I suppose so.” However... damn it.

Touching on the topic of family with a girl in her puberty had been quite lacking in tact on my part. I needed to reflect on that.

“...Whew. Okay. I managed to brush that off. Phew... Hm?”

Miss Rushia picked up her own glass and suddenly realized something.

“A, e... a... my, my g-glass...” “Huh?”

Miss Rushia’s iced coffee was completely full.

On the other hand, my glass was empty.

"Ah, that thing...? T-then... the one I just drank... surely it wasn't..."

"Ah... sorry. It must have looked like my coffee. It was a moment of panic, so I made a mistake." "AAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"

Ka— Teacher Torshiya's face... or rather, the redness spread all the way up to her neck.

"T-this is... k, ka-ka, canse... indirect..." "Eh?"

"M-my mistake! Ah, new coffee! I'll go buy some! Right away!"

"Ah, yes. Of course. I'll be right back."

I left my seat and headed toward the counter.

Akari was standing at the reception desk.

"Sorry, could I get an iced coffee?" "..."

Akari pursed her lips and stared at me. "Akari?"

"...Seems like you're having quite a fun time working, Okarin."

She gazed at me with eyes that held a certain reproach.

She seemed to have been watching us from where she was.

"Don't look around during work, you."

"I wasn't asking for that!" "Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Exactly! Come on, Akarin, get a grip and act like a lady for once! Ugh!"

I had no idea what she was going on about, but Akari said it with a distinctly unhappy expression.