A week later, on a cool Thursday evening, Rise was working her shift at Marukyu. She'd come straight from school and she barely had time to change into her work clothes and wrap that kerchief around her hair before the first customers began streaming in. Work had always been an interesting affair. Rise loved it when customers would pop into the store and light up whenever they saw that it was their favorite idol serving them that day.

Closing time was fast approaching and Rise was just about to pack up the leftover tofu when she heard footsteps shuffling into the store.

"Welcome to Marukyu!"

And she realized who it was.

Yuri cast a casual look around the store before resting his eyes on her and gave her that easy, polite smile.

"Hi! Um, senpai! Here to buy tofu?"

"Yeah. Uh, sorry, are you closing up already?"

Rise flushed, for some reason, and said hurriedly: "Oh no! I mean, we're closing up soon! But... That's fine! Which kind do you want?"

Maybe it was the way he wouldn't stop staring at her. The way he was smiling.

"Three blocks of silken. Thanks." Yuri walked over to the counter where Rise was standing and fished his wallet out of his jeans pocket. He looked at his watch and Rise glanced at the clock on the far wall.

It was nearly 8.50pm.

"What time do you close?"

"Around 9."

"Is it alright if I come at this time? Just before closing?"

"Oh yeah sure! It's no problem at all, senpai!" Rise smiled the cheeriest smile she could manage as she packed the three blocks of silken tofu for Yuri. She took his money, he smiled once more in response, and he left.

The following Thursday evening, right before 9pm, Yuri was at Marukyu again. And just as he did last week, his eyes never left Rise's and he gave her that polite smile again.

And just as she did last week, Rise flushed under his gaze and did all she could to return the smile as best as she could. "Hey senpai! Three blocks of silken?"

"Yep. Thanks." Yuri ran his right hand into his dark, chocolatey hair before resting it on the back of his neck and gave it a slight massage.

"So... How's school? Are you settling in nicely?" Rise laughed inwardly at how feeble she must sound in trying to make conversation. But Yuri's smile only widened as he replied, "Yeah it's fun. Souji and Chie are really great. Yukiko too. And Yosuke keeps trying to hook me up with a part-time job at Junes."

He chuckled softly as he took out his wallet to pay Rise. She gave him a smile of encouragement and handed him the tofu.

"Well... I'll see you in school then! And um, next Thursday too? For your tofu?"

Yuri's smile returned and he nodded before leaving.