Some time had passed since Arisa started her part-time job…
It was early October.
“How is it, Arisa?”
“Yes… I managed to withdraw it properly.”
Holding an envelope, Arisa smiled happily.
That’s right—today was payday for both Yuzuru and Arisa.
“By the way… including what you’ve earned so far, what have you been using it for? Saving it?”
Yuzuru asked.
Money didn’t mean much if you never used it.
Of course, saving was an option…
But the amount a high schooler could earn from a part-time job wasn’t exactly significant.
Considering you could earn far more as an adult, Yuzuru thought it was better to spend it rather than save it.
“Hm? Ah… no, not really anything in particular right now…”
Arisa replied hesitantly.
To Yuzuru, it sounded like she was lying.
(…Could it be?)
A thought crossed his mind about what she might be spending her money on.
That said, if he was right, pointing it out would be rather tactless.
“…You should buy something you like. Or treat yourself to something nice to eat.”
“Y-yes! I will!”
Arisa nodded eagerly—
And looked somewhat relieved.
Seeing that reaction, Yuzuru grew more certain.
About a week later, in mid-October.
That day was Yuzuru’s birthday.
“Yuzuru-san, you’re free after school today… right?”
On their way home, Arisa asked.
Yuzuru nodded.
“Of course. I kept it open.”
Originally, Arisa had asked him, “I want to go on a date for your birthday, so please keep your schedule free if you can.”
There was no one Yuzuru would prioritise over her, so he had done exactly that.
“It’s fair to assume you’ve planned the date, right, Arisa?”
Yuzuru himself hadn’t planned anything in particular.
He wasn’t at an age where he’d get especially excited about birthdays, and thinking about how he wanted to be celebrated felt a bit odd to him.
So when Arisa said she wanted to go on a date, he naturally assumed she had something in mind.
“Yes, of course. For now, here…”
Arisa pulled a single ticket from her pocket.
It was for a film that had recently been making the rounds online—for all sorts of reasons.
“I see, starting with a film.”
A classic date plan.
However—
(Of all things… a shark film? …Not that I mind, but still.)
As Yuzuru chuckled inwardly, Arisa shook her head.
“Ah, no—that’s not it.”
“…Huh?”
“Please use that to pass the time.”
“…Sorry?”
“Go to the cinema by yourself. While you’re there… I’ll be preparing things. May I borrow your kitchen?”
“I-I see…”
Apparently, the actual “date” would take place at his room.
She was probably planning to cook and bake a cake to treat him.
“Then I’ll head to your place first, Yuzuru-san. You watch the film and come back afterwards. Oh, and don’t eat any popcorn, alright?”
“A-alright… got it.”
Once she saw him nod, Arisa hurried off ahead.
“…Do I really have to watch this?”
Left alone, Yuzuru muttered to himself as he looked at the ticket.
“…That wasn’t as bad as I expected.”
After finishing a film about aliens riding zombie sharks invading Earth, Yuzuru left the cinema with that impression.
He couldn’t exactly call it good—
But it wasn’t boring either.
Though he definitely didn’t feel like watching it a second time.
“Right, time to head back. Still… what is Arisa preparing?”
Yuzuru tilted his head.
If she was just making food and a cake to welcome him, there’d be no need to go as far as getting a cinema ticket just to send him away.
(I figured she started working part-time to buy me a present… at least.)
Yuzuru had given Arisa various gifts before, all bought with money he’d earned himself.
So it wasn’t hard to imagine that Arisa, given her personality, would think she should do the same—buy something with money she’d earned.
That alone would already be a surprise, and more than enough to make him happy…
But was she planning something on top of that?
What could it be?
Lost in thought, Yuzuru eventually arrived at his front door.
“Right, she said to message before going in, didn’t she?”
He took out his phone and typed a short message—I’m at the door now.
It was read immediately, and a reply came back—You can come in.
“…I’m home.”
Yuzuru slowly opened the door.
And what greeted his eyes was—
A beautiful girl with flaxen hair, dressed in a monochrome apron dress.
She lightly lifted the hem of her slightly short skirt and gave a graceful bow—
“Welcome home, Master.”
Arisa, clad in what was unmistakably a maid outfit, said so to Yuzuru.
