Does This Love Suit Your Taste? - Volume 1 Chapter 7.3

Fever 3

After crying his heart out, Toui was laid down by Rira and fell asleep as if he was finally at ease.

Rira watched his sleeping face for a long time.

She found his appearance, with his usually pinned-up bangs let down, felt fresh.

As she ran her fingers through his hair and stroked his forehead, his eyebrows twitched as if tickled. His fever seemed to be slowly subsiding.

『I want you to stay by my side…』

Toui’s words lingered in Rira’s mind.

Toui’s feelings for his shop were not a selfish desire to inherit it but a determined will to do so. And the one getting in the way was none other than the circumstances of those around him, including Rira.

Rira realized from his tears that he must have gone through much more pain than anyone could imagine, not being accepted by any adult.

Then, as the sound of the doorbell from the store below reached her ears, and Rira let go of Toui’s hand.

She remembered what Toui had been saying.

“…There’s the shop to take care of.”

Moving carefully not to wake Toui, Rira went down to the shop.

She could hear the sound of water coming from the kitchen area.

Peeking into the kitchen, it seemed to be the chef of the store, starting preparations before opening.

“…Excuse me. Are you the chef?”

“…Hmm? Yes, I am… Oh, you’re Toui’s fiancee. What’s wrong? Did I interrupt something fun between you two?”

Rira grimaced at the chef’s slightly s*xually harassing joke, but knowing this wasn’t the time for such talk, she shook her head.

“No, it’s just that… Toui-kun is down with a fever right now…”

“What!? Seriously… Today is the day we have an exclusive booking for a large group.”

“An exclusive booking…?”

“Yeah… I heard it’s a high school reunion or something, so it’s going to be a pretty big crowd. Maybe thirty or forty people…”

“That many!?”

As Rira exchanged information with the chef, the doorbell rang again.

Could they have arrived already…?”

“No, it’s still too early for that.”

Rira hastily peeked into the floor. But just as the chef had said, it wasn’t a customer.

The person who pulled the door with a somewhat downcast face was someone Rira knew.

“…Kaburagi-san!”

“Ugh… S-Hime… why are you here…?”

Ichigo looked bewildered by the sudden visit.

It seems she’s not very welcomed. It’s no wonder, probably because she was seen as someone trying to take Toui away from Maison. Rira thought sadly to herself

Feeling a bit intimidated by the unwelcoming atmosphere, Rira explained the situation.=

“Toui has a fever? I thought it was just his usual skipping…”

“Y-yeah, that’s the case…”

“I can handle the cooking by myself since I always do, but Ichigo, can you manage the hall alone?”

“E-even if you say that… I don’t know if I can do that…”

Seeing the helpless expressions of the two, it becomes painfully clear how essential Toui’s presence is to this establishment.

Having recently been touched by Toui’s feelings, Rira was unable to bear the weight of her conscience.

“Um, can’t I help out somehow…?”

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As she buttons her shirt from the top, Rira’s translucent skin gets covered, and the tension rises.

Dressed in a uniform, she is about to serve guests at a restaurant for the first time in her life.

She was filled with anxiety.

“How’s the size?”

Ichigo calls out from outside the changing area, concerned about Rira.

“It seems fine!”

After tying on her apron, Rira finished changing and stepped outside.

There, Ichigo is waiting, seemingly appraising Rira in her uniform.

“…As expected of Shirahime-san. Everything suits you!”

“T-That’s good then. Thank you…”

Relieved that there’s no issue with how the clothes are worn, Rira breathes a sigh of relief.

“Sorry for making you help us, and really, thank you! I’ll make sure to tell Toui to thank you later too. For now, let’s get through today, just the two of us!”

After Rira nods, Ichigo says, ‘Okay, I’ll explain the job!’ and turns on her heel to head to the floor, with Rira following behind.

“First, go to the entrance and say, ‘Welcome! (irasshaimase)’ when a guest comes in. Let’s try it.”

“Mm-mhm…”

“Shirahime-san?”

“Huh?”

“Say it! Shirahime-san?”

“W-welcome!”

“Okay!”

Ichigo made a snappy OK sign beside her face.

Rira’s heart races with anxiety at Ichigo’s sudden antics. Despite appearances, Rira was quite a worrier.

“It’s a private booking today, so we won’t be taking orders. We’ll serve and distribute the food at each table, and the guests will pick up whatever they like buffet-style.”

“I see.”

“So our job is to replenish any dishes that run out. We need to tell Mabuchi-san about any dishes that are about to run out and then restock them on the tables. Please also help with restocking the dishes. As for the drinks, the guests will order them at the counter, and the waiters will prepare them, but I’ll handle that. Shirahime-san, please focus on serving them!”

“Mabuchi-san… is that the chef from earlier?”

Before Ichigo could answer, Mabuchi himself, who had already started cooking, replied,

“That’s right~, I’m counting on you today, fiancee-chan~.”

“Ah! Yes! I’m Shirahime Rira! I-I’m looking forward to working with you today!”

After exchanging greetings, Rira’s eyes meet Ichigo’s, and they both inadvertently break into a smile.

“Alright, that should be good enough for now. If there’s anything else you don’t understand, feel free to ask me anything. Don’t worry. Even an idiot like me can do this job!”

Seeing Rira overwhelmed with grasping the job, Ichigo’s tone softened.

“Shirahime-san, are you nervous?”

“Y-yes… I’ve never done a job like customer service before…”

“Nervous, huh? That’s surprising. I had the impression that Shirahime-san was capable of doing anything.”

“N-not at all! Sorry, I might really rely on you a lot.”

“Of course, you’re my first kouhai after all! Oh, you can just call me Ichigo!”

“Got it. Then you can call me Rira.”

“Nice to meet you! Rira-chan!”

“Likewise! Ichigo-chan!”

The two exchanged handshakes.

“Rira-chan, I thought you were cute, but you’re even cuter than I imagined… No wonder Toui likes you… We barely spoke in the same class, but I should have gotten to know you better.”

“…?”

At the moment Rira tilted her head in response to Ichigo’s murmur, the doorbell rang.

“Excuse me~, I’m the organizer for today~…”

Rira and Ichigo exchange looks and then hurry towards the guest with smiles on their faces.

“Welcome!”

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