Winter break had started for us. And, with this one of my biggest problems came into play.


    I don''t have a whole lot to do. So, i started working at a restaurant that''s close by.


    My shifts aren''t that long, and they''re pretty flexible.


    Sure, i don''t get paid a whole lot... but it helps keeping me distracted.


    Today, it was one of such days. And i had a pleasant surprise while on my shift.


    I usually work from 8AM to 4PM, and i am practically done with my shit at 3:30PM, since we get 30 minutes of break, and i overlap it with the end of my shit to leave a bit early.


    I was doing exactly that before leaving, when  Yasuko-san, who''s one of my coworkers called out to me.


    —Someone on table 22 is calling for you. Can you go take care of that for me? —she asked out to me, despite me reporting my break.


    —Sure. I don''t think this will ever happen again, so its whatever. —i answered joking.


    Or at least it probably seemed like that to Yasuko-san, who had to hold her laughter in at my genuine thoughts...


    Even so, i had a slightly anxious feeling. Who would know me enough to call out to me in here?


    I hope it isnt some girls i''ve exchanged a few words with on my class, or some second year girls... it''d be a pain if it was.


    As i headed out, a smile formed in my face as i realized it was the one person i didn''t think it would be, but i wished it for.


    This girl waved out to me, and as i sat in front of her, she also greeted me with a smile that was probably just as wide as mine.


    She''s really cute.


    Wait. Keep that to yourself, Haruna.


    —It''s been a while since i''ve last seen you, so im glad you showed up here out of nowhere.


    —I actually come here to eat quite often. I don''t feel like cooking sometimes, and it''s really close to my house. I didn''t expect you out of all people to be working here though, Mizuno-senpai —Anri spoke, and i could practically see  the excitement coming out from her words and her eyes.


    Im quite happy, because she might have missed me, even if its not as much as i did.


    —You can probably guess why i started working here not so long ago, so take a shot at it, wont you? —i dared her to do so while smirking.


    —"I probably have nothing else to do, so i might aswell just work somewhere", right? —Anri pulled off a scarily accurate impression of me as she guessed completely spot on, in fact it was so accurate to what my thoughts were, i felt a bit insulted.


    —Correct. Way too correct. Also, you''re a bit too good at doing a impression of me.  —i complained.


    —You could practically call it my hidden talent. Im so good at acting like im bored and tired, that i suddenly channel Mizuno-senpai''s soul inside of me.


    —Hey. When did i mention any of those things? —i started to feel quite a bit insulted at this.


    —Are they the truth? —Anri answered back shortly, without letting me complain further.


    —Yes.


    —See? —she said as she smirked at me.


    —I hate you. —i blurted out while burying my face in the table.


    —Liar. —she answered instantly while chuckling.


    I looked away from her, slightly frustrated at how comfortable she''s gotten with calling me out on things like this.


    I don''t hate it... but am i not supposed to have some sort of respect here as the upperclassmen?!


    —That aside, when does your shift end? —Anri asked me while fidgeting a little bit.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    —Just about now. I work early in the morning, and i overlap my break with my time of exit, so i should be fine as long as i drop a word.


    Anri''s face lit up with a smile as i said this.


    —Then, i''ll wait for you outside. You''re coming with me today.


    My face was split between confusion and happiness as she spoke.


    —Eh... where exactly? And wait, shouldn''t you ask me first? —i asked her a bunch of nonsense in a panic.


    —Any complaints then? —Anri''s gaze turned sharper, and she fixated it on me, proning me to even try to say something. Knowing damn well i probably cant.


    Well, i usually can''t. Today is not usually.


    —Of course not. Better yet, i couldn''t wait to tell you that i was free?  —i answered as playfully as possible, as i picked her hand up playfully and held it tightly.


    Anri''s face instantly lit up with embarassment, and she tried her hardest to look away from me after i said that.


    Ooh, that worked a lot better than i thought it would. I want more.


    —What''s wrong, Anri? —i continued to push her with the same playful tone. I might have sounded more flirty than usual now.


    I do like her, after all.


    Except this time, she didn''t say anything. Instead, she let go of my hand forcefully, and stood up, turning her back to me as quick as possible.


    —I''ll wait.  —She mumbled out, as i could barely make out what she was saying.


    I can''t really explain how fast i walked back to change, and to leave as quick as possible.


    After all, i missed her a lot. It''s been more than a week since we last saw each other, since we have a longer autumn break than most schools, and we had exams before that.


    Could i have simply asked to see her through message?


    Of course. Did i?


    Of course not.


    After all, i don''t really know if she has plans with Yuuko, or not. I can''t really ask her either because it''d be awkward.


    This is about the only chance i''ll get, and it was up to nothing but sheer luck.


    As i walked outside, Anri was waiting patiently there, staring at the sky.


    I could have spent quite some time just looking at her from here, but im pretty sure anyone that''s walking by would report me for being a weirdo. So i won''t do that, i think.


    —Anri, over here! —i called out to her and waved.


    She saw me, and she started walking in my direction.


    —Mind explaining me where are we going now, miss? —i went back to teasing her as soon as i could.


    —To my house. —she answered nonchalantly.


    And my face froze stiff when she said that. If i remember correctly, Anri lives alone too. I don''t like where this might end up, but i do like where im going.


    —I live alone too, so you''re going to be a good uperclassmen to me and keep me company, right? —Anri stopped me by holding my hand, and she took a few steps too close while gazing at me.


    I nodded to try to break this situation as quick as possible, and before she turned away, she flashed me a cheeky smile that pretty much shouted "i win".


    And with that, it was nothing but sheer embarassment on the way to her house. I couldn''t shake it off, since it was getting worse at the thought of being alone with her.


    I was also getting anxious about Yuuko knowing about this and making a scene, but... i haven''t heard a single word from her in a while.


    At this point, whatever she wants to think isn''t my problem. I love her and she''s been the only person i could rely on for a while... but there''s a limit to what im going to allow someone to do. And she''s not going to control whatever i want to do.


    There''s a line that i will never cross with Anri so long as she''s dating her, but that doesn''t mean im going to be a pushover and break my relationship with her apart because of it.


    Im the one that''s most hurt over it to begin with. If she wants to be unfair, then i''ll be unfair back.


    —Mizuno-senpai, can you walk up ahead to my apartment? I have to buy a few things and it''d be pointless for both of us to walk back. —Anri exclaimed, while taking out a key from her bag.


    I was a bit confused, but i nodded regardless and walked up ahead. I do know where she lives, after all...


    And i thought it was fine, up until i remembered exactly why i know where she lives, through the worst way possible.


    —You''re sure having fun with her recently, aren''t you? —I could hear a hoarse voice behind my back. It was the last person i wanted to see, yet i knew there was a quite high chance i would.


    Of course she''d be here. She''s never going to stop being a pain in the ass as long as Anri is involved.


    Im quite honestly tired of Yuuko at this point.


    —Am i supposed not to talk to her at all, or what? —i answered back, a bit frustrated.


    —I don''t care anymore. You''re a bitch anyways. —Yuuko made a disgusted expression and she turned her back to me.


    I ran up to her, grabbed her by her shirt and pushed her into a wall out of anger.


    —Can you stop being a pain in the ass about nothing?! I''ve tried my hardest to make your life easier and here you are treating me like shit over it.


    Yuuko''s face widened in shock, and then it turned into something resembling regret.


    —I didn''t ask you to do that anyways. It doesn''t even matter anymore. I told you, do whatever the fuck you want.


    Something about her voice made me lose my head even more than usual.


    —I don''t want to do whatever the fuck i want, i was trying to look out for you, Yuuko. Im the one that''s felt the worst about this, i feel like shit for liking her, and i feel like im a piece of shit to you for doing so. Can you at least do the bare minimum and treat me normally?


    —You don''t have to look out for shit now, Haruna. We broke up. You''re free to do as you like. This is probably what you wanted anyways, so leave me alone and don''t fucking talk to me, you bitch. It''s all your fault to begin with.


    Yuuko slapped me, and she pushed me away forcefully.


    I could have snapped at her right here, but  i was too stunned by what she told me to do so.


    They broke up?


    Anri didn''t look like she was down about it...


    Wait, but Anri did look really sour about a month ago, every time she was together with Yuuko.


    If that was the case, her grim expression would have something to do with Yuuko, so if they did break up, and Yuuko lost her shit over it... then  she''s probably the one at fault too.


    What could she possibly do? Anri isn''t really hotheaded or moody to begin with, so i don''t see her...


    —Mizuno-senpai, what happened? —Anri ran up to me, with a concerned look in her face.


    She probably saw what happened to begin with, so she''s just asking out of concern because of the slap.


    —You were there, so you know what went down, probably. Im fine. A single slap isn''t going to cost me my life, Anri. —I tried to speak calmly, because i didn''t want to make her worry.


    And because i also have to ask what went down now.


    —Let''s head up then. —Anri avoided the details completely, and she walked in front of me, taking the key from my hands.


    We both entered her apartment shortly, and as she put on some music, and we sat down in her room, i took a deep breath and blurted it out directly.


    —Anri, why did you break up with Yuuko? —i practically glared at her.


    I need answers now. Im probably doing something wrong by being this pushy, but...


    I think i''ve held out for long enough. The one that treated me like shit might already be out of the picture entirely, so i want to know at least what the fuck went down.


    Anri didn''t turn back to face me, and she seemed to be visibly nervous about it.


    Even so... she took a deep breath, she crouched down in front of me, as i was sitting on the bed.


    And i could see how her eyes were filled with strength... and i felt just as dragged in as i always do when it''s about this girl.


    —I''ll tell you. I always knew she wasn''t going to give you a single word... so i''ll do it by myself. You deserve to know, Mizuno-senpai. So could you please, listen closely?


    —I will. Thank you for telling me, Anri. —i smiled at her, and this seemed to shake a bit of her nerves off.


    That''s when she sat down next to me... and when things would probably change for the better.