“I’m sorry, Kent. I’m so glad I could wear it to school, but it caused such a commotion.”
“That must have been rough. I’ve seen friends get surrounded like that, so I understand. It’s okay.”
Kent replied gently to Patty, who was apologizing.
It was lunchtime, and Kent headed to their usual spot behind the school building. Josette, Caro, and Rachel were already there.
“I’m sorry to say this since you came all this way, but I don’t have lunch prepared today.”
“Is that so? What a shame.”
Kent apologized to Josette. Josette looked genuinely disappointed. Caro and Rachel knew about the commotion that morning, so they were already aware that lunch wasn’t prepared today.
“Older brother, are we eating at the cafeteria today?”
“I suppose so.”
Rachel suggested going to the cafeteria. Kent had no other option, so he agreed.
“Indeed. It can’t be helped.”
“I’m happy anywhere as long as I’m with Kent.”
Both Josette and Caro agreed. The four of them immediately headed towards the building that housed the cafeteria.
“It’s so lively.”
“Yes, it is. I haven’t been here since then, but it’s doing well.”
“I haven’t been to the school cafeteria in a while, as I’ve been eating behind the school building a lot lately.”
“Older brother, are we going to the self-service or full-service section?”
Kent had expected the cafeteria to be deserted like it was the last time he visited, but it was incredibly crowded. This school’s cafeteria, though under the same management, had two sections: a self-service area and a full-service area where staff served the food. The self-service was primarily for commoners, while the full-service was used by aristocrats or wealthy commoners.
“Since Josette is here today, perhaps full-service?”
Kent said.
“Older brother, you should choose self-service here. You don’t understand at all.”
“What do you mean?”
Despite asking, Rachel was fully intent on going to the self-service section.
“What about you two, Josette and Caro?”
“We’ll leave it to you.”
“I don’t mind either way, as long as I’m with Kent.”
Josette and Caro seemed indifferent to which section they chose.
“Since there are no objections, it’s decided: self-service.”
Rachel made the decision arbitrarily. In self-service, you buy a meal ticket at the ticket vending machine, then present it at the counter to receive your order on a tray. You then take it to an empty table, eat, and return the dishes to the return counter when finished.
Kent and his companions lined up at the ticket vending machine. They each bought their meal tickets and presented them at the counter. After a short wait, their orders were ready, and they received them.
“Um, where are the empty seats…”
“Older brother, that one’s empty there.”
“That’s right! Josette, Caro, this way.”
There was an empty four-person table, so Kent, Josette, Caro, and Rachel decided to sit there.
“Weren’t those two the Duke’s daughter and a Baron’s daughter?”
“Why are the daughters of aristocrats here?”
Kent felt like people were staring at them blankly. He sensed the gazes from those around them.
“Older brother? Do you notice? We’re getting a lot of attention. Aristocratic ladies are noticed when they’re in places used only by commoners.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“It’s… ‘gap moe,’ maybe. Do you understand???”
Rachel said with satisfaction.
“‘Gap moe’?”
“Yes, ‘gap moe.’ When an aristocrat dines at a place only commoners use. Doesn’t it all just… ‘moe’?”
“Certainly, it’s nerve-wracking to use places like these, but I don’t quite understand what you mean.”
Josette seemed unable to comprehend.
“I’ve been living a life similar to that of commoners for quite some time now, so I don’t really feel that ‘gap’ anymore. I’ve even eaten with Kent several times, and I’m fine with any kind of shop now.”
Caro seemed to have already gotten used to it and was unbothered.
“Oh, right. Caro, I heard that your mansion is ready. Baron Frederick’s messenger will be coming to pick you up tomorrow. Should we arrange for a carriage from Kent’s house?”
Josette said to Caro. Caro, having heard this suddenly, was slightly flustered.
“Oh, is it already time? …Yes. That would be very helpful.”
“So, you’re leaving, huh. But we can still see each other at school like this, so even though I’ll be a little sad, it’ll be okay.”
“Caro’s leaving? I’ll miss you.”
Both Kent and Rachel expressed their disappointment.
“Well then, we’ve finished eating, so we should clear our dishes.”
“So, ‘self-service’ means we have to clean up our own dishes?”
“By not having to employ staff, labor costs are reduced, which in turn is reflected in the prices, making them affordable even for commoners.”
“I see. Business is truly profound.”
Kent’s explanation seemed to convince Josette. The four of them cleared their dishes and headed back to their respective classrooms as the afternoon classes were about to begin.
Afternoon classes began, and Kent paid serious attention to the lesson. Patty was dozing off next to him. Usually, he would get a visual treat from the tip of her chest peeking out from her uniform’s gap, but today she was wearing underwear, so he couldn’t. Everyone in the class knew that Kent was the one who had given her those undergarments. Male students sent him glares that bordered on murderous intent, as one of their enjoyments had been diminished.
(I feel bad for the other male students, but I can’t have her working at the shop dressed like that.)
After school, Patty approached him.
“Kent, you must be tired. Are you heading to your part-time job now?”
“That’s the plan.”
“In that case, we’re going in the same direction, so why don’t we go together?”
Before Kent could reply, Caro and Rachel arrived at the classroom.
“Kent, let’s go.”
“Older brother… no, Kent, let’s go home!”
Rachel, about to call him by his usual nickname, noticed Patty and hastily changed her address.
“Kent, shall we go? I don’t have any plans today, so I’ll go help out.”
Josette also seemed inclined to help today.
“In that case, let’s head back for now.”
“Yes!”
When Kent spoke, Caro, Josette, and Rachel responded, but Patty, still trying to grasp the situation, looked confused.
“Caro is Kent’s girlfriend, and Rachel works at the same shop, so they’re going the same way, but Josette…?”
Patty seemed to be sorting out her thoughts internally. What she was thinking was clearly audible. In the end, since they were all going in the same direction, she had no choice but to follow along, even though she didn’t feel like she belonged.
After arriving at the shop, Patty went upstairs to shower, just like last time. Kent had Emily bring him extra underwear and a T-shirt he had ordered. Caro, Josette, and Rachel had already taken their positions and started working. Patty, having finished changing, came downstairs and was astonished by the scene inside the shop.
“Josette, the Duke’s daughter, is working part-time at a bakery? And she’s moving far more skillfully than I am. And Caro, the Baron’s daughter who’s supposedly Kent’s girlfriend, is moving in an unbelievable manner.”
Caro’s work performance in the shop was extraordinary. She moved quickly and efficiently, precisely where she was needed, and completed her tasks reliably. To an observer, it looked like she was doing the work of about five people simultaneously. Caro was amazing, but Emily was even more impressive. Patty could only stare in amazement at the high caliber of the shop’s employees.
“Excuse me. May I take your order?”
“Yes, coming right away.”
An order came in from a customer, and Patty had no time to think about anything else. She worked hard until closing.
After closing, while Marie was busy calculating the day’s sales as usual, the remaining members, excluding Caro, started preparing a simple farewell party in the shop. Two tables in the dining space were joined together, with a cake placed in the center. Various foods were arranged on the tables, serving as dinner. On the shop’s whiteboard, Rachel had handwritten, “Thank you for your hard work, Caro.”
“I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting. The calculations are finally finished. Well then, first of all, thank you, Patty and Josette. Here is your pay for today.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s not necessary for me…”
Marie handed bags containing their wages to Patty and Josette.
“Alright, take one of these each.”
Rachel distributed crackers to everyone.
“What is this?”
Josette asked Rachel.
“These are things we use at parties. When I say ‘now,’ pull the string at the triangular tip. Also, don’t point this side at anyone.”
Rachel explained how to use them to everyone.
“Alright, here we go! Ready, everyone?”
“BANG!”
Everyone pulled the strings simultaneously, and a loud sound echoed through the shop.
“Eek!”
“That startled me!”
Everyone except Kent and Rachel was surprised by the unfamiliar sound.
“Caro, thank you for your work, even though it was for a short time.”
Kent and Rachel said in unison.
“Oh, thank you.”
Caro replied with a smile, though slightly startled.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t prepare anything more elaborate due to the suddenness. Thanks to you, Caro, this shop was a huge help. Thank you for everything until now.”
“Caro really worked very hard. Losing such a valuable asset is a loss for the shop, but we must celebrate our new beginnings together.”
Kent and Marie thanked Caro.
“I’ll miss working with you, Caro, but we can still see each other at school.”
“Josette, you must have had a valuable experience.”
“Caro, you can leave the rest to me.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Caro older sister. Thank you very much for everything.”
Rachel, Josette, Emily, and Catherine each said their piece.
“I’m sorry, I don’t quite understand the situation, but is Caro leaving us today?”
“I’m sorry, I was proceeding without properly explaining. Caro has to finish her work today due to family circumstances.”
“Is that so?”
Patty quietly asked Kent, and he answered.
“Ahem. Although we only worked together for one day, I intend to work hard enough to make up for Caro’s absence. Thank you for your hard work.”
Patty also said to Caro.
“Thank you, everyone. I’ll come to visit occasionally, so please continue to treat me the same as before.”
And so, a humble farewell party was held to express gratitude for Caro’s work.
