Aoba:

All right then Granny, Clear, I’m headed out!

Tae:

Take care.

Clear:

Ah, Aoba-san! What should I do about today’s bento…?

Aoba:

Ah, right…today…I’d like one.

Clear:

Ah–yes!

Aoba:

But I don’t need dinner. I’ll probably be home late.

Clear:

Oh…yes…

Aoba:

It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. Then, I’m off!

~interlude~

Clear:

Um…pardon the intrusion…

Mizuki:

Welcome! Oh…it’s Clear.

Clear:

Ah, Mizuki-san!

Mizuki:

What’re you doing here this early?

Clear:

I was just heading home from bringing Aoba-san his bento, but I wanted to ask after what we had discussed before.

Mizuki:

Before? Oh, you mean about working here?

Clear:

Yes. Um…perhaps, if it’s still acceptable…would you consider hiring me at your store, Mizuki-san?

Mizuki:

Yeah, of course. Better yet, I’d welcome it.

Clear:

I’m glad…! Thank you very much!

Mizuki:

You don’t have to be so serious about it, it’s fine if you’re easygoing.

Clear:

Thank you very much. However, I have my own issues…

Mizuki:

Oh? What do you mean?

Clear:

At present, Aoba-san’s allowed me to stay with him. Of course, I help out around the house with chores. However, I don’t believe that they should always take it easy on me. That’s why I thought that I’d like to find a job quickly.

Mizuki:

I see how it is.

Clear:

Aoba-san and Tae-san told me that it was acceptable if I looked for a job without feeling rushed, but somehow that felt rather inexcusable. I don’t really have many redeeming features. I’m always causing difficulties for Aoba-san and Tae-san. However, if I could properly find work for a year I think that I would be able to conduct myself just a little bit better.

Mizuki:

Hmm…

Clear:

What do you think of that?

Mizuki:

In other words, it’s because you want to become independent, right?

Clear:

Independent…I wonder if that’s it…

Mizuki:

Yeah. In your case I think you might be worrying over it too much, but it’s important to bear that sort of thing in mind. All that’s left is to break it down at a pace that works for you and go for it. If that’s how it is then we’re a perfect fit here. You don’t need to worry about doing everything perfectly. Just take it easy doing what you can.

Clear:

Yes! I really am very grateful!

Mizuki:

At first glance this might seem like a scary place, but everyone working here’s really great. If there’s anything you don’t get just ask away.

Clear:

Yes!

Mizuki:

Then, I’d like to go over the details of things like shifts and things like that, so can I have your contact info?

Clear:

Ah, um…well, I don’t have a coil.

Mizuki:

Eh?! Seriously? That’s crazy… isn’t it inconvenient?

Clear:

Just for the time being…

Mizuki:

Well, Midorijima’s got a lot of elderly people, so there’s still a lot of people who do things the old-fashioned way. But even if you don’t have one we’ll make due with what we’ve got.

Clear:

Yes.

Mizuki:

Then, let’s see…do you think you can come by the day after tomorrow? We can decide all the details then. I’ll take care of things on my end too.

Clear:

Yes, I’ll look forward to it!

Mizuki:

Yeah. Give Aoba my regards too.

Clear:

Yes!

~interlude~

Aoba:

I’m back!

Clear:

(comes running) Welcome home, Aoba-san!

Aoba:

Clear! What’s going on? You really rushed over.

Clear:

Aoba-san, I have something that I’d like to report to you!

Aoba:

Hm? Report?

Clear:

Yes! I’m going to be working at Mizuki-san’s store!

Aoba:

Ah, Mizuki’s place?

Clear:

Yes!

Aoba:

(nervous laughter) That’s pretty sudden, isn’t it? Did you run into Mizuki?

Clear:

Yes! When I was delivering medicine to Heibon a while ago I met him and when we spoke of how I couldn’t decide on a job he extended the kindness of inviting me to work at his store! Then today, when I was returning home from delivering your bento, Aoba-san, I stopped by Mizuki-san’s store and we settled the matter there!

Aoba:

Ah, is that right…Mizuki’s place…isn’t that great? If that’s it then I’m relieved.

Clear:

Yes! Mizuki-san is a very good person so I’m relieved. He told me to give you his regards.

Aoba:

All right. In that case you can take it easy. Do your best.

Clear:

Ah…yes…

Aoba:

(taking his coat off) All right, I’m gonna take a bath…

(he heads off)

Clear:

Ah…

~interlude~

Clear:

(enters Aoba’s room with a sigh and flops onto the bed)

Ren:

Clear, what’s wrong? Isn’t Aoba in the bath?

Clear:

Yes… (whining and grabbing Ren) Ren-saaan.

Ren:

Clear. That hurts. Please let me go.

Clear:

Aaah, I’m sorry. It’s just because Ren-san’s so fluffy, I wasn’t thinking…

Ren:

Did something happen?

Clear:

Um…Ren-san, I have something that I’d like to ask you.

Ren:

What is it?

Clear:

I was wondering what Aoba-san thinks of me?

Ren:

That’s a sudden question.

Clear:

I’m sorry. Somehow there are many things that are on my mind. I think that I shouldn’t mind it, but somehow I can’t help but worry over it…

Ren:

Specifically what matters are of concern for you?

Clear:

Uum, lately he’s suddenly getting home late, he’s not eating dinner at all, there’s times that he says he doesn’t need a bento for lunch, and earlier when I reported that I would be working at Mizuki-san’s store he didn’t seem very pleased…

Ren:

Clear.

Clear:

Ah, no, it’s not that I’m saying that I’d hope to inspire a joyous reaction in Aoba-san…it’s just that Aoba-san’s appearance has been a matter of concern recently…so I wondered what Aoba-san thinks of me…I don’t know at all.

Ren:

And you don’t wish to raise those doubts to Aoba directly?

Clear:

Weeh…I’m too scared to ask. What if he calls me obstinate or annoying…I’d die!

Ren:

I do not believe he would say that.

Clear:

But I’m certain that Aoba-san has his reasons. I’ve done my best not to pry, but…(sighs) Ren-san, what should I do now…mmnhh! (he whines and squeezes Ren again)

Ren:

C-Clear. I do not mind if you hold me, but please could you loosen your grip a little?

Clear:

Ah! I’m sorry!

Ren:

(sighs) I am not Aoba. Therefore I cannot give an exact answer.

Clear:

Yes.

Ren:

I do not believe that Aoba hates you, Clear. However, regarding Aoba’s condition as of late, it’s just as you said before, Clear, Aoba has his own reasons.

Clear:

Yes.

Ren:

I am aware of the details regarding Aoba’s recent activities, but I cannot speak of such things now.

Clear:

Why is that?

Ren:

Aoba forbade me to speak of it.

Clear:

I…see…

Ren:

However, Clear, please believe in Aoba.

Clear:

Ren-san…

Ren:

Aoba would not do anything to make you sad. I can declare that alone.

Clear:

He’ll certainly tell me the answer some day…

Ren:

Yes.

Clear:

I understand. I will trust Aoba-san. I’ll trust in him and wait until he tells me the answer.

Ren:

Right.

Clear:

Ren-san, thank you very much. I’m really am sorry for going on about such strange things.

Ren:

I don’t mind. In exchange, or rather, is it all right if I ask you something?

Clear:

It’s all right. What is it?

Ren:

Previously you had asked me why I don’t call Aoba “Master,” Clear.

Clear:

Yes. That was quite a while ago, wasn’t it? It’s like something that happened long ago.

Ren:

How do you feel regarding that question now?

Clear:

Right now…? Let’s see…right now I don’t quite understand why I asked Ren-san something like that. The fact that Aoba-san is my Master hasn’t changed even now, but now because Aoba-san is Aoba-san he is my Master. That’s what I think.

Ren:

If perhaps Aoba was not your Master, what would become of it?

Clear:

That…I can’t even think of it. I can’t even derive an answer. Because to me Aoba-san is my one and only Master.

Ren:

I see.

Clear:

Yes… Ren-san, why did you ask me that all of a sudden?

Ren:

It’s nothing…

(Aoba enters)

Aoba:

Aah, I’m refreshed. Eh–Clear. You were in my room?

Clear:

Yes. I was speaking with Ren-san.

Ren:

Yes.

Aoba:

Huh, with Ren? (he flops onto his bed) What were you talking about?

Clear:

That’s a secret.

Aoba:

Eh? What’s with that? I wanna know. Ren, what did you talk about?

Ren:

A secret.

Aoba:

Geh?! Even Ren’s saying that?! What’s going on! Something you can’t tell me?

Clear:

We were talking about our mutual master, in other words, about our goshujin-sama.*

Ren:

Yes, that’s right. We were talking about our goshujin-sama.*

Aoba:

…Goshujin-sama…

Clear:

Yes, goshujin-sama.

Aoba:

Saying it that way…that kind of makes me a little embarrassed…

Clear:

Hehe, is that right, goshujin-sama~?

Ren:

Goshujin-sama.

Aoba:

Aaguh stop it, stop! That word’s forbidden!

Clear:

(laughs) It’s already gotten late, if we stay up any later you’ll be tired tomorrow, won’t you? Let’s head to bed.

Aoba:

Yeah. Let’s go.

Clear:

Then, I’ll lay out a futon for myse–

(he collapses)

Aoba:

Ah–Clear!

Clear:

(makes a pained sound)

Aoba:

Are you all right? Hey!

Clear:

I’m…all right….I’m…sorry…

Aoba:

I’m going to get Granny, Ren, look after Clear!

Ren:

Understood.

(Clear makes pained sounds as Aoba runs off)