CH 34

“Don’t worry, Toma-kun,” said Mio. “You’re quite drunk, and it must have been tough to keep up good customer service in that state.”

“I-I wasn’t pushing myself too hard…”

“There’s no way that’s true,” said Miki.

Toma was trying to keep a level head despite being drunk, but he couldn’t shake the paleness from his face.

“…I may have lied a little. Ha ha…”

“That’s not just a little lie. That’s a big one,” said Miki, cutting him off twice in a row. Given Toma’s current condition and what the owner of the shop had said, there was no doubt about it.

“I’m sorry…”

“You can’t afford to be careless, Toma-chan. You don’t have to worry about me or Mi-chan even when you feel sick. If you care about us next time, I’ll ban you from working here for a month.”

“I-I understand…”

Miki looked at Toma with a worried expression, her hand on her hip. Although she was harsh with her words, her expression conveyed the feeling that “You didn’t have to push yourself so hard.”

It was because she was worried about Toma that she spoke this way.

“Since Mi-chan is with you, you can relax and go home safely. But if anything happens, call a taxi. I’ll pay for it.”

“Yes.”

“…”

Although Toma wanted to say “I’ll pay for the taxi fare!” his fear of being banned from work for a month was too strong. He kept his mouth shut.

On the other hand, he felt a little dizzy.

“Um, Toma-kun. It’s easier if you hold onto my shoulder, you know…?”

“I-I’m sorry, Mio-san. Thank you.”

“Uh, yeah…”

Toma didn’t deny her offer and instead placed his hand on Mio’s shoulder.

“Well, please take care of yourself, Mi-chan. Toma-chan, thank you for your work today.”

“T-Thank you very much. See you tomorrow.”

“Take care.”

Mio headed towards the entrance of Shine with Toma, who bowed his head. Suddenly, she turned her face towards Miki and moved her lips without making a sound.

“I’ll do my best.”

Miki read her lips perfectly and smiled back at her.

***

The silence was so profound that even the twinkling of stars could be heard. Walking through the city streets late at night, I slowly escorted Toma-kun home.

“Are you okay, Toma-kun?” I asked, looking at him from the corner of my eye.

I’m glad he didn’t drink any more than that… Maybe it’s because I’m a little drunk, but my heart is pounding more than usual.

He’s in a bad state, I know, but I’m a little happy to see a new side of Toma-kun when he’s weakened.

“I, I think I can make it home somehow. I usually try to control my drinking so this doesn’t happen… I’m sorry.”

“You need to take better care of yourself, Toma-kun… I don’t think it’s wrong to provide good customer service and make the other person happy, but if you’re pushing yourself too hard, it’s counterproductive.”

“That, that may be true…”

“It is true, not ‘may be true’.”

I imitated my conversation with Miki-san and warned Toma-kun. It’s not that I’m inconvenienced by escorting him home like this, I just don’t want him to push himself too hard.

(…But Toma-kun probably won’t listen to me. Toma-kun is a kinder person than anyone else… If his service is making the customers happy, he won’t stop…)

Honestly, I want to express my dissatisfaction to Toma-kun.

The service that I’m forcing myself to do can’t continue indefinitely. It’s impossible for my body to handle it…I want to make him realize and warn him.

Regarding this incident, Miki said it was Toma-kun’s responsibility, but I don’t think everything is entirely his fault…

(If it were me… If it were me, I wouldn’t become a customer who makes Toma-kun overwork…)

I got irritated at the regular customer who made Toma-kun drink so much.

“Thank you… Mio-san. But I’m okay.”

“Huh?”

I couldn’t grasp the situation when he suddenly thanked me, so I stared at Touma intently. I stopped in my tracks.

“This is all my fault…”

“Toma-kun…”

At that moment, I realized that Toma-kun had noticed the anger I was feeling. Even though I didn’t intend to show it on my face. Why is Toma-kun so sharp, yet he can’t sense my feelings?

“You’re the only person, other than my family, who gets angry for my sake. So, I’m happy…”

“…”

Dokun

I was about to be knocked out by Toma-kun’s smile, even though he looked like he was suffering from drinking too much.

My face is hot…my chest feels tight…I can’t bear to look at Toma-kun’s face anymore…

I turned my face away and walked with Toma-kun.

If I had looked at Toma-kun’s face for just a few more seconds, I wouldn’t have been able to control myself…I think I would have acted according to my own thoughts.

“Um, Toma-kun…it’s okay not only to support me with your shoulder, but also to lean on me while we walk.”

“Lean on you?”

“Yes…”

My thinking had dulled due to the effects of alcohol, and I hadn’t noticed.

At the moment I made that statement, I had lost my self-control…

“But be careful not to cling too much to Toma-chan when you send him off. Even though he’s Toma-chan, you never know what he might do when he’s had alcohol.”

I had disregarded Miki-san’s warning.

(But if it’s someone I love, it’s okay to do something like that…)

I understand the feeling of overflowing emotions…

“It’s okay…thanks to you, Mio-san, I’m feeling much better.”

“That’s what I want you yo do…I don’t want to make you push yourself too hard.”

“I won’t let you push herself too hard either, Mio-san…because I want to take care of you.”

“…!!”

“…That’s why, let’s keep going like this.”

“Uw..aa…..okay…”

Toma-kun’s way of speaking was similar to usual, but there was no doubt that he was drunk. He didn’t even seem to be questioning what he had just said.

Thanks to the power of alcohol, I was able to hear what he really thought, which he would usually hide.

So I can’t take it anymore…

“Toma-kun, let’s take a break at that park over there. I want to sit down for a bit.”

When he said something like “I want to cherish you,” I didn’t want to send Toma-kun home… I wanted this moment to continue forever. I wanted to be with Toma-kun forever…

“I’m sorry, I think I’m putting a burden on you with my weight…”

“No, that’s not it…”

“That’s… not it?”

“…Because I still don’t want to be separated from you,Toma-kun.”

I overlapped my hand with Toma-kun’s hand that was resting on my shoulder, and whispered softly…