PLEASE WAIT FOR ME
Mafuyu!
Please go out with me!
What is this?
My talk app account.
If you wouldn't mind...
What? Talk app?
My mom hasn't given me a phone yet,
so I don't know what that is.
Bye-bye!
Come again!
I'LL TEACH YOU
Mafuyu...
Th-That was a major rejection.
Of course. I'd never go for a guy like that.
Because he's a customer?
Not only that.
If you're seriously declaring your love for someone,
you give them your cell number and mail address, not a talk app.
Ah, that's the reason?
But he was really tall, huh?
He was out of the frame.
It would've been funny to see him standing next to Mafuyu!
Don't get your kicks from my physical attributes.
There's nothing wrong with that!
A height gap couple is super moe!
When they hold hands...
Leave me out of your imaginings.
Did someone ask Hoshikawa out?
That's right! Mafuyu is popular!
I guess pigs go for the little sister lolita type!
But standing next to Hoshikawa,
MAFUYU HOSHIKAWA
HEIGHT:
an average guy would look like her father or older brother.
AVERAGE MALE 20 YEARS+
I don't think she has to worry about that.
But with a major height difference, wouldn't there be inconveniences?
Some things would be difficult to do.
For example, se—
Just leave it at that.
It's nothing!
- Se— - Shut up!
SHUT UP!!
In the first place, he only knows me from here,
so confessing his love is a mistake.
I'm sure he's just into lolis.
Yep, yep!
I don't think that's the case.
Okay, he sees me at work,
but would he want to go out with me if he saw the real me?
You're supposed to say yes.
Well, there is a significant gap.
You're too hard on yourself, Mafuyu!
No, I'm not. I'm just putting the cards on the table.
Mafuyu, i-if there's love, then a height difference shouldn't...
You know, I'm not especially looking.
All right! Let's have another fun day at work!
Exactly!
Even with a height difference, if you tried going out, it might work out!
For now,
why not try a simulation with the shop's tallest member, the manager?
Me?
Rejected.
What's rejected?
And that's where we're at.
I see.
Well, leave it to me.
Being tall is a gentleman's status symbol.
I'll make Mafuyu understand that.
What kind of gentleman doesn't take a knee
and look into a lady's eyes?
Sorry.
Manager, to make a girl swoon, get her between your body and a wall!
All right!
I'll show you my true ability!
Sorry.
That's the saddest attempt at a romantic move I've ever seen.
HOSHIKAWA
Sister, will you ever get a boyfriend?
Huh? Why?
Well, all you do is work at that job and help out at home.
I don't especially want a boyfriend.
He'd only rob me of my free time.
Free time?
By going out on dates or whatever...
I wouldn't be able to watch kids' anime in real-time anymore.
Oh.
I have some time before my shift starts.
Everyone's making a big fuss over something.
Hey!
WHOAAAAA
Yay!
You attracted a gallery again at the arcade.
The idea was just to blow off a little steam, but then I got into it.
Y-You...
have stress?
Whoa! Mafuyu, that's not a nice thing to say!
I'm kidding.
But it's not like you.
Did something happen?
Actually...
I failed a test at school, so I have to take a make-up.
What'd you do that for, Mafuyu?
If that's your situation,
you've got no business playing video games!
I-I know, but Mafuyu, that was mean.
What was mean?
I-I have a reason for playing the game.
A reason?
When I told my mom that I had to take a make-up...
SECOND YEAR MATH TEST
For crying out loud! You...
Listen!
If you don't get at least an average score on the make-up test,
you're banned from playing video games!
So...
I wanted to play as much as possible now while I still have the chance!
I'm going to hit you with one more chop.
All you have to do is study until the make-up test.
What's the subject?
Math!
I know I have to study, but I don't know how to do it!
Fine.
I'll teach you.
Really?
You'll really teach me?
Yes, but...
if you get one answer wrong... You know?
I'm kidding.
We're going to study here?
We can't study at either of our houses, so this is all that's left.
Do you often come to cafés like this, Mafuyu?
Yeah. I like the atmosphere, and the coffee's good.
And you drink black coffee!
How mature!
I like it simple.
But...
it's annoying being thought of as a child when I make an order.
Maybe you'd prefer a sweet drink?
I feel you.
MATH 1
This is difficult!
You should be able to solve these problems with first-year math skills.
Being at a fancy café like this makes me want to crack open a laptop.
Do you have a laptop?
No. I have a desktop.
I carry a tablet around.
It's light and convenient!
This should be all you need.
What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?
You've got a tablet, and you turned it into a game console.
Th-That's not true! I also use it to search for stuff.
Yeah, searching for game strategy sites, right?
Bingo, huh?
B-But these games are apps!
They're login games, where you can only play half for free!
So I can only complete half of each game!
It seems you require a hard education.
What's wrong?
You seem kind of down.
Recently, Mafuyu has been tutoring me,
but she's so strict that it makes me frazzled.
You can't even read it?
Kaho...
You shouldn't say it makes you frazzled.
Mafuyu asked me if she could change her shift.
I'm sure it was so she could tutor you.
When she goes that far,
it's like she's your big sister!
Huh?
Isn't that black?
Yeah. I was curious about the taste of what you always drink.
I could've just given you a sip.
That's okay!
Don't complain if you can't finish it.
It'll be fine!
Want me to get some sugar and milk?
Yep.
- You're starting to get these right. - Yep!
You're strict but good at teaching!
Really? It makes me happy to hear that.
My plan is to be an elementary school or nursery school teacher.
That's the first I've heard! Really?
You're going to be a teacher, huh?
MAFUYU
Let's play together!
S-So cute...
You're imagining something rude, aren't you?
Good morning!
Are you tired, Kaho?
I was preparing for my makeup test and didn't get enough sleep.
Um, you've got bags under your eyes.
What? No way!
Yikes! You're right!
What should I do?
It's admirable that you've been studying every day like I told you,
but you can't serve customers with bags under your eyes.
I'll cover them up with makeup, so come with me.
Okay, that'll do.
Wow! The bags are gone!
She cleverly concealed them!
You really are an adult, Mafuyu!
All I can do is put on foundation and mascara, and fix my eyebrows.
You're a high school student, so that's plenty.
Oh, I've got it!
Mafuyu! Make my face look even cooler with makeup!
M-Make me look even cooler, too!
What's this "even cooler" thing?
I gave it a shot, but you two already have natural good looks,
so the makeup doesn't add much.
Really?
Now my eyelashes are nice and firm!
Keeping it simple would make an even bigger difference.
I don't think that would work for me.
Hey!
You're not gonna go in?
Simple raw materials...
I wouldn't go in there if I were you.
They'll probably treat you like a plaything.
Plaything?
What the hell? Are you playing a video game or something?
Wh-Wha...
Welcome.
I'm itching to get started.
What the hell? What do you have in mind?
Why are you so excited?
Rest in peace.
F-Finished!
W-Wow!
One makeover and it's like a different person!
It's kind of like, what...
What is makeup again?
Me? Is this me?
This must be special effects makeup.
I-I don't mean to brag, but...
I'm a gorgeous girl!
You could even work as a waitress with us!
In that case, what would his character be?
I don't know.
Maybe genderswap?
His body hasn't changed, so genderswap wouldn't work.
And anyway...
taken as a whole, he's just creepy.
That's a bad balance!
You guys sound lively today—
Who is this mismatched girl?
What kind of label is that?
Does that voice belong to Akizuki?
What in the world is going on here?
Quit taking photos!
Jeez!
Manager, are you okay?
Yes, more or less. Huh?
Maika, you seem different today.
Mafuyu did my makeup!
This is my chance to make a favorable impression!
I'll give her a heart-melting compliment!
Y-You already had good looks, so the makeup makes you even prettier!
Your eyelashes are finely curved!
Like...
Like a camel!
Camel?
Bad word choice!
The words don't flow when I'm nervous!
Maika might hate me now!
You...
You compared me to a cute animal like that?
Jeez. Playing with a guy's face...
Akizuki...
Well? Did the makeup come off?
Yeah, after some scrubbing.
She gave me a makeover, too.
Yeah, I could tell.
That's a weak response!
I mean, how can I put this?
After I saw my own face, the impact for other people is lessened.
I wasn't looking to make an impact!
To be honest,
it doesn't really make you look any cuter.
Th-That's terrible!
I don't mean that in a bad sense!
In other words...
No, never mind.
What? What? Tell me!
It's nothing! You look cute, okay? You look cute!
Liar! Tell me what you were gonna say! It's creepy if you don't! Tell me! Tell me!
Look... it's...
Come on!
- Come on, already! - Look, dammit!
You were plenty cute already without all that makeup!
Don't wring lines like that outta me!
Wha...
What was that, jackass? You tsundere...
What kind of feeling is that?
My makeup was perfect today,
so I got a lot of compliments from the customers which made me happy!
If you liked it, you want me to teach you?
Nah.
I'll save the makeup for when I'm a little more mature.
For now, I guess I'll go with the usual.
Good call.
Instead of forcing makeup on yourself, you should take care of your skin—
What's wrong?
Don't suddenly scream out. You startled me.
A-After all, there's a big caterpillar on my clothes!
Kaho, this isn't a caterpillar.
It's one of the false eyelashes I put on you.
Oh...
I'm definitely done with makeup for a while.
Yes.
Right now, instead of makeup,
we need to prep for that makeup test!
Mafuyu!
Look, Mafuyu!
MATH MAKEUP TEST
81%!
I passed!
You got a higher score than I expected.
You can do it when you put your mind to it.
Thank you, Mafuyu!
Okay, okay. Good for you.
Making a fuss like this is interrupting the other customers.
Now that the makeup test is over,
I guess I won't be meeting Mafuyu here again.
Mafuyu...
Um...
Listen...
The next time we're both free,
wanna get a drink at that café again?
Oh. Sure.
Really?
Yes.
All right! Yay! Yay!
But...
you've got to study hard so you don't fail another test.
You mean we're gonna study again?
I'd rather chill out and play video games there!
Good morning!
Morning!
Huh?
Kaho, you drink black coffee?
Once in a while these days!
You've got adult tastes, Kaho!
As if! In fact, I'm pretty much forcing it down.
Is it really bitter?
Very.
But I guess there's another flavor in there, too.
Another flavor?
The flavor
of an adult big sister.
GOOD AT TSUNDERE, BAD AT ROMANTIC MOVES
Next time, "Good at Tsundere, Bad at Romantic Moves."