Chapter 83: The Drama of Yume’s Ring.
Noah was sitting in front of his desk, reviewing the conditions of his new job once again.
He had read the document several times since he got back home, but he still found it hard to believe that he had actually gotten the position.
He would start the next day.
For two weeks he would work on a trial period alongside Luna and, if no serious problem occurred, he would be able to keep the job.
Noah left the sheet on the desk.
’I just have to learn fast, avoid problems, and save money.’
It didn’t seem too complicated, but then he looked at the last rule written by hand.
[NO FEMALE CUSTOMER MAY ASK FOR THE PERSONAL NUMBER OF THE STAFF DURING WORKING HOURS.]
Noah fell silent.
’Maybe it is complicated after all.’
His phone started ringing on the bed, so Noah stood up, picked it up, and saw Yume’s name on the screen.
It was a call, so he answered right away.
"Hello."
"Hello, Noah."
Yume’s voice sounded cheerful.
"Were you busy?"
"Not really, I was just checking a few things."
"Homework?"
"Something like that."
Noah sat back down and left the document face down.
"How was your day?"
"Normal, after classes I helped my mom with some shopping and argued a little with Mirai."
"Again?"
"It wasn’t a serious argument."
"What happened?"
Yume stayed quiet for a few seconds.
"She asked about you."
Noah straightened up.
"Is she still interested in me?"
"Yes, and sometimes she’s pretty intense."
"What does she ask?"
"Normal things."
Noah waited, but Yume didn’t continue, so he asked.
"What kind of normal things?"
"Like where you study, what subjects you’re taking, what you like to eat, what you do on weekends, and if you still think she’s attractive."
"That last one doesn’t sound like a normal question."
"To her it does."
Noah brought a hand to his forehead.
"Is she still trying to convince you to share the relationship?"
"From time to time."
"That doesn’t reassure me."
"Don’t worry, since the last time she saw you she hasn’t been pressuring for mom to find out."
"That does reassure me a little."
"It’s only a little reassuring."
"Why?"
"Because she didn’t give up, she’s just waiting for a better opportunity."
Noah sighed.
Mirai was patient when it suited her, which could be far more dangerous than seeing her act directly.
"For now, as long as she doesn’t say anything to your mother, I think we can handle it."
"I hope so."
Yume changed her tone.
"And you? How was your day?"
"Fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Noah."
"What’s wrong?"
"I went to look for you in your classroom when classes ended."
Noah opened his eyes.
"You went to look for me?"
"I wanted us to go to the station together, but you weren’t there anymore."
"Ah..."
"Ren didn’t know where you’d gone either."
’I should have told her.’
Noah looked at the document he had left on the desk and Yume continued.
"I thought maybe something had happened, since after the kidnapping I don’t like it when you disappear without saying anything."
Noah felt a bit of guilt.
"You’re right, I should have texted you."
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, nothing bad happened."
"Then, where were you?"
Noah hesitated for a few seconds, but he didn’t want to lie to her and, besides, his job had no connection to the magical girls, the goddess, or his secret relationship with Luna.
It was just a job.
"I went to a job interview."
Yume fell silent.
"A job interview?"
"Yes."
"To work?"
"Yes, what else?"
"Don’t joke, I’m asking you seriously."
"I’m telling you seriously too."
"Why do you want to work?"
Noah leaned back in the chair.
"I want to buy a computer."
"A computer?"
"Yes, I thought about trying to make money doing streams, videos, or something like that, but I only have my phone, so I need a computer if I want to do something more serious."
"You could have told me."
"What for?"
"Maybe I could have helped you."
"I don’t need you to buy me a computer."
"I didn’t say I would buy the whole thing."
"Then what?"
"I could have paid for part of it."
"I won’t accept that."
"Why?"
"Because it’s something I want to get on my own."
Yume let out a small sigh.
"All right, I understand."
"Thanks."
"Besides, I can’t spend too much right now either."
Noah furrowed his brow.
"Are you saving up for something?"
Yume answered naturally.
"For the engagement ring."
Noah froze.
"...What?"
There was silence on the other end of the call, since Yume seemed to realize what she had just said.
"W-Where are you going to work!?"
The change of subject was immediate.
"You changed the subject."
"I’m not changing it."
"You just said you’re saving up for an engagement ring."
"You misheard!"
"You said it very clearly."
"M-Maybe the signal failed."
"The signal can’t invent a whole sentence."
"Where will you be working?"
Noah opened his mouth and then closed it, since Yume didn’t seem willing to go back to the topic.
’Is she really saving up for a ring?’
He didn’t know what to do with that information, since they hadn’t even talked seriously about marriage and Yume was already thinking about buying a ring.
Although, considering her personality, she had probably been planning it since before they started dating.
"I’ll be working at a café."
"A café?"
"Yes."
"As a waiter?"
"On a trial period."
"Where is it?"
Noah hesitated because if he told her the place, there was a chance she would go visit him, but hiding it would only make everything more suspicious and, besides, he didn’t see anything wrong with Yume knowing where he worked.
He gave her the name of the café and explained the location, to which Yume remained quiet for a few seconds.
"I think I know that place."
"It’s near the station."
"Yes, a classmate went once."
"I start tomorrow."
"What time?"
"After classes."
"Who got you the interview?"
Noah went still because that question was more complicated.
He could say he had seen the ad, but Yume would find out the truth sooner or later, so he decided to tell the truth.
"Luna recommended me."
The silence that followed was longer.
"Luna."
"Yes."
"Does she work there?"
"That’s what I found out yesterday."
"I see."
Yume’s voice continued being kind, but Noah knew how to recognize when she was trying to hide something.
"She only helped me because they needed staff."
"Of course."
"And because I needed a job."
"I understand."
"And during my trial period we’ll be working the same shift."
"...I understand."
Noah wasn’t sure she really understood.
"Yume?"
"I’m fine."
"Your voice changed a little."
"It didn’t change."
"I’d say it did."
"I’m just thinking."
"About what?"
"About the ring."
Noah fell silent.
Yume started talking about classes, her mother, an argument with Mirai over a missing piece of clothing, and the messages from the training group, but Noah decided not to bring up the job again.
They both kept talking for almost an hour before saying goodbye and, when the call ended, Noah left the phone on the desk.
He looked at the café document and then at the dark screen.
’Tomorrow is going to be a long day.’