───● The Tsundere Office Worker Steps Back ●○●
“You want to go on a date…?” Seira asked, blinking in surprise.
“Yes… Is that… a no?” Masato asked tentatively.
“No, of course it’s not a no! That would be crazy, but…”
We were at our usual haunt, Festa.
Just as I was breathing a sigh of relief after hearing that Masato had officially broken things off with his ex-girlfriend, he hit me with this completely unexpected proposal, leaving me thoroughly bewildered.
An invitation to a date, straight from Masato.
Normally, the old me would have been jumping for joy, floating on cloud nine. But hearing the dead-serious tone in Masato’s voice completely killed any urge to celebrate.
“May I ask why?” I pressed gently.
“Well, remember how I said I’d give everyone my answer by March?” he explained. “Right now, there’s still so much I don’t understand about how I feel… So I want us to go on a date to figure out my own feelings once and for all.”
“I see…” I murmured.
It was such an earnest, typical Masato way of looking at things. From where I stood, I wanted to shake him and say, You don’t need to overcomplicate things this much—just date me already!
But then again, that honest side of him was precisely what I had fallen for in the first place, so I couldn’t really complain.
“Alright then. Let’s go on a date,” I agreed.
“Thank you so much! By the way, Seira-san, is there anywhere specific you’d like to go? If you have a place in mind, I’d love to take you there.”
“Somewhere I want to go…” I repeated softly.
I tilted my head back to ponder for a moment.
Above us, the lavish chandelier glittered as dazzlingly as ever.
Truth be told, there were countless places I wanted to visit with Masato. Honestly, as long as I was with him, anywhere would be a blast.
…Yet, if this turns out to be the last time…
“Actually, yes. There is one place I’d really like to go,” I said, meeting his eyes.
“Oh? Where to?” he asked, leaning in attentively.
Watching Masato flash his endearing, friendly smile, I couldn’t help but smile back as I suggested the destination.
The day before the date.
“…This is definitely weird, isn’t it?” I muttered to myself.
I was standing in front of the full-length mirror, wearing an outfit I had pulled from the back of my closet.
Plaid shorts, a long-sleeved black inner shirt, and a crisp white jacket…
These were all clothes I had bought together with my college friends back in the day.
I still clearly remembered balking at the time, arguing that the style was far too cute and completely out of character for me. But my friends had ganged up on me, insisting that having an outfit like this in reserve couldn’t hurt, and I ended up caving.
In the end, I had barely worn it since…
Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—it still fit. My figure hadn’t changed much since my college days, so I suppose that was only natural.
I took another long look at my reflection in the mirror.
It was undeniably a cute ensemble—one that could easily invite accusations of trying way too hard to play dress-up like a younger woman. Honestly, the thought of stepping outside in this was embarrassing.
But… I had a specific reason for suggesting the location I chose for tomorrow.
And if I was going to honor that reason, wearing a cute outfit like this was actually the proper choice.
“Well… it’s not like I’ll ever get another chance like this anyway,” I murmured softly.
With that quiet resolution, I committed to wearing the outfit.
Changing into my nightwear, I flopped onto the bed and closed my eyes.
A strange wave of emotions washed over me.
I’m looking forward to tomorrow. A date with Masato feels like a dream come true.
…And yet, if someone asked whether I truly wanted tomorrow to come…
For some reason, part of me wished it never would.
The date itself passed by like a fleeting dream.
Just as I had envisioned, hanging out with Masato at the Theme Park was an absolute blast.
I already knew he was the type to genuinely enjoy every single ride and attraction here, which allowed me to throw myself into it without holding back.
When you’re having that much fun, time flies at breakneck speed. Before I knew it, the sky had already begun to turn orange with the evening dusk.
“Phew… I can’t even remember the last time I let loose like this,” I sighed contentedly, wiping a bead of sweat from my brow.
“I’m just really glad to see you having such a good time, Seira-san!” Masato beamed.
He offered me a bright, cheerful grin. Ever since the day we first met, that adorable smile of his had never failed to heal my soul.
“…Do you mind if I step away to the restroom for a minute?” I asked.
“Sure! I’ll go grab a restroom break too,” he agreed readily.
As we walked toward the exit, I slipped into the restroom we had spotted along the way.
“Alright… let’s see,” I whispered to myself.
Standing before the vanity mirror, I gave my appearance a thorough check.
I already knew it, but this really is a desperate attempt at looking young.
If my college friends saw me dressed like this, they’d probably laugh their heads off.
“Just how old do you think you are?” they’d tease.
…And yet, despite all that.
I wanted to claim it back.
The things I never got to experience during my student days—a sparkling, fairytale-like youth date.
“You can just go with a boyfriend someday!”
“I’m sure you’ll find a nice guy eventually, Seira!”
Those words, repeated to me so many times in the past, replayed clearly in my head.
Irresponsible, empty words that offered zero actual comfort. Not a single one of them could possibly understand how I truly felt.
That was why I wanted to reclaim those lost days today. I wanted to taste the youth I had missed out on, side by side with Masato. The place I had always wanted to visit, the cute clothes I had always wanted to wear…
And it had been absolute perfection—more fun than I could have ever dreamed.
“…Allowing myself this much for the grand finale should be fine, right?” I whispered.
Pulling my makeup pouch from my bag, I touched up my face.
Thank goodness—my eyes weren’t red. When I woke up this morning with tears spilling over, I had panicked, but it looked like I had managed to cover it up nicely.
I had already decided on where we were going next—a destination chosen specifically at my own request.
“I can’t keep clinging to lingering regrets forever,” I reminded myself firmly.
Stowing the pouch back into my bag, I stepped out of the restroom.
I forced myself not to dwell on the fact that our time to part ways was drawing painfully near.
A dazzling neon sign blazed brightly against the dark night sky. It marked the entrance of a building I never would have dared to enter alone if I knew nothing about it.
“…I’m really sorry for asking this over and over, but… are you truly sure about this?” Masato asked hesitantly.
“Yes, of course I am,” I replied without a second thought.
Masato and I were standing directly in front of the illuminated sign that read Festa.
The place I had begged to go for the final stretch of our date… was none other than the boys’ bar where Masato worked, looking no different than usual.
Pushing open the door, I stepped inside the establishment alongside Masato.
“Welcome, Milady,” one of the staff greeted smoothly.
“Ah, um… I’m back,” Masato answered awkwardly.
“We have the booth in the back reserved for you.”
“Thank you,” Masato said with a quick nod.
Following the staff member’s guidance, we headed toward the rear booth. I had arranged with the management beforehand to keep a table open for us.
“Go ahead and change into your uniform, Masato. Oh, I’ll have a highball. Get whatever you like for yourself.”
“A-Ah, thank you…? Alright, please give me just a moment!” he called back.
Leaving me with those words, Masato hurried off toward the back room.
Setting my jacket and handbag down on the seat, I let out a long, slow breath.
The reason I chose this place as the grand finale of today’s date…..was simple.
To revert our relationship back to host and customer.
Because I knew that if I simply went home like this, I would never be able to move past today—or forget all the precious time we had drawn so close together.
“Sorry to keep you waiting!” Masato announced as he returned.
He approached carrying glasses and a bucket of ice, clad once more in his familiar host attire.
…And seeing him back in that outfit brought a strange sense of relief to my chest.
“Mhm, thanks. That outfit really does suit you best, doesn’t it?” I teased lightly.
“Thank you,” he chuckled softly.
That gentle, warm smile of his hadn’t changed one bit since the day I first met him and lost my heart to him.
Raising the glass he had just poured for me, I knocked it back in one giant gulp.
“Chugging it all at once is bad for you, Seira-san!” Masato cried out in alarm.
“Who caaares~! I’m drinking until I black out tonight!” I declared playfully.
“That’s how college kids drink, not responsible adults!” he scolded.
Watching Masato fluster and wave his hands in panic was irresistibly cute.
I stretched my arms wide over my head. Despite walking miles upon miles today, I strangely didn’t feel tired at all.
It was as if my body instinctively knew that, just for today, it had to stay strong and energetic no matter what.
“You better keep up with me, Masato~! I’m gonna be super mad if you drink less than I do~!”
“I didn’t know someone could challenge me to a drinking contest when I’m only having soft drinks…” he sighed weakly.
“It’s about the mood! The vibe!” I laughed, waving a hand dismissively.
Tonight, I was going to drink to my heart’s content and burn through as much money as it took.
And use all of it to wash everything away.
…After all, that was what I had resolved to do from the very beginning.
As the alcohol gradually kicked in, a pleasant buzz enveloped me. Whenever I got like this, I invariably ended up talking way too much.
“So anyway, I just couldn’t help bursting out laughing right then and there!” I giggled.
“How could anyone make a mistake like that?!” Masato laughed.
Whenever I left for home on normal nights, I would always beat myself up over talking his ear off about weird things. But Masato was such a great listener that I couldn’t help spilling everything every single time. I really never learn.
I took another sip from my glass to moisten my dry throat.
“…Seira-san, you’ve really changed, haven’t you?” Masato noted softly.
“? What’s that supposed to mean all of a sudden?” I asked, setting my glass back on the table.
Masato was looking at me with a warm, gentle smile.
“Well, back when we first met, most of what you talked about was venting about people around you or complaining about work,” he explained thoughtfully. “But lately… I noticed you talk about so many happy, positive things.”
…
I hadn’t even realized it myself until he pointed it out.
The stress from work and the harassment from my boss hadn’t magically vanished, of course, but nowadays I had co-workers and senior colleagues like Miki-san who were willing to listen to me.
Perhaps that meant I no longer had to dump all my negative emotions onto Masato every time I came here.
“…It’s all thanks to you,” I confessed softly.
“Huh?”
There was only ever one reason why I had changed.
Because I met Masato.
When I was drowning in despair over the monotonous, dreary days of my life, you pulled me out. Knowing you were there made me feel like I could keep pushing forward and living just a little while longer.
Even if those feelings eventually ended up spiraling a bit too far out of control……meeting Masato made my life genuinely fun again.
“So, thank you. I’m truly glad I got to meet you,” I said from the bottom of my heart.
“Y-You’re welcome…? Gosh, hearing you say that makes me really embarrassed,” Masato mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck as his cheeks flushed red.
“Feel free to be as embarrassed as you want. I love that bashful face of yours, too.”
“Wha—Stop it, that’s so embarrassing!” he whined, covering his face.
After thoroughly savoring the sight of a flustered Masato, I glanced down at my wristwatch.
The hands on the clock signaled that it was almost time for me to head home.
“Hey, Masato,” I called out softly.
“Yes?!” he snapped to attention like a loyal puppy waiting for instructions.
Shaking off his embarrassment, he immediately straightened up to listen to whatever I had to say. Even that gesture of his was agonizingly cute.
I took a moment to carefully choose my words.
Alcohol possessed a wondrous power—things that would be far too embarrassing to say sober flowed out effortlessly with a buzz.
“No matter what conclusion you reach… will you still meet with me again?” I asked.
“That’s… Of course I will,” he answered firmly.
The main reason I wanted to come here as our final stop was because I wanted to keep seeing Masato in the future. If our relationship ceased to be just “customer and host,” then starting in April, we might never be able to see each other again.
But as long as we maintained this dynamic, we could still spend time together for a little while longer.
This was my own tiny, quiet act of resistance.
It was funny, really. There was a time when I had been so desperate to break free from this exact customer-host relationship.
“Promise me you won’t suddenly quit working at the bar, okay?” I urged.
“Of course I won’t! If I don’t work here, I won’t even be able to pay my bills,” he chuckled.
“Well, then I’ll just take care of you and support your living expenses,” I teased playfully.
“That phrasing sounds super dangerous, Seira-san!?” he protested in alarm.
My goodness, and here I was completely serious…
Settling the bill, I walked to the bar’s exit with Masato escorting me to the door.
“Well then, see you later,” I said with a gentle smile.
“Yes, see you soon!” he replied warm-heartedly.
My heart was screaming in agony at the realization that today was coming to an end.
But I couldn’t let him see even a glimpse of that anguish.
Taking a quiet, deep breath, I turned back to face Masato one last time.
“You better keep your promise, alright?”
“I promise,” he said with an earnest nod.
“And don’t think you can escape from me just by quitting the bar, got it?” I warned, narrowing my eyes.
“Why did you suddenly turn so terrifyingly dark?!” he yelped.
“Just kidding~ See you later, then,” I giggled, waving goodbye.
“Yes! I had so much fun today. Thank you so much!” he called out cheerfully.
He really didn’t need to be so formally polite with his thanks.
Leaving behind Masato and his radiant expression, I stepped out into the night.
Even outside, I knew Masato would be watching me go as he always did… but I didn’t look back.
I couldn’t bring myself to look back.
“…Ugh. Pathetic,” I choked out, a faint trembling in my voice.
The moment the bar faded from sight, my vision blurred with tears.
It’s okay. We’ll see each other again.
I kept whispering those words to reassure myself—
“—You’re Mochizuki Seira-san, right?” a voice called out.
“…?!”
The sudden voice made my shoulders jump in surprise.
I hurriedly pulled out a handkerchief to dab my eyes before looking toward the speaker.
“You are—”
Standing before me was a person I least expected to see.
[ The Case of Mochizuki Seira ]
<Seira
23:15 | Masato: Seira-san, thank you so much for today!
23:15 | Masato: I had so much fun!
0:11 | Seira: Good work today. Thank you for indulging my selfishness today.
0:11 | Seira: I had fun too.
0:23 | Masato: Selfish? Not at all!
0:23 | Masato: I was really glad that I got to see a side of you that’s a bit different from usual, Seira-san!
0:31 | Seira: …You really are so kind.
0:31 | Seira: Thank you for making my dream come true.
0:45 | Masato: I really didn’t do anything that grand!
0:46 | Masato: But if it made you happy, then I’m glad.
0:51 | Seira: To me, it was a very big deal.
1:35 | Seira: …I wonder if you’ve already fallen asleep.
1:35 | Seira: I love you, Masato.
1:35 | Seira: Make sure you still come to work at the shop from April, okay?
1:41 | Seira: Well then, see you at the shop.