Chapter 73: I Came First

"You mean to say that Kawasaki works late every day at a place called [Angel Ladder] on the top floor of the Royal Okura Hotel? And she even hid her age!?"

Yuigahama Yui widened her eyes in surprise. 

"How did you find out, Yukinon?"

"I had someone look into it." 

Yukinoshita Yukino lightly brushed her hair back, clearly not wanting to go deeper into the topic. 

It must have been someone from the technical school, right?

Yukinoshita, being the kind of person who wouldn't rely on her authority, didn't seem likely to have done the investigation herself. Hikigaya guessed it must have been Hayashizaki's idea, but he didn't mind. At least it saved him the trouble of doing the research.

He pulled out his phone and searched for the name of the place. 

"Angel Ladder... Seems like quite an impressive place. You need to meet a dress code just to get in."

"Anyway, we'll meet there at 9 p.m. tonight," 

Yukinoshita Yukino decided, putting her foot down.

After school, Hikigaya Hachiman dug out a white suit his father had, while Yuigahama Yui needed to borrow Yukinoshita's dress, so she went with Yukinoshita to her house.

That evening, Hikigaya Hachiman arrived early at the Royal Okura Hotel, wearing his dad's white suit and with his hair styled to look more grown-up. This adult appearance made him look much more mature, but his fish-like eyes kind of ruined the sophisticated look, making him seem out of place.

Ten minutes before the agreed time, Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui arrived, both dressed in elegant outfits.

Yuigahama Yui wore a red dress with a fitted waist that emphasized her large chest. Even though she was dressed more maturely, her youthful and vibrant aura was still hard to hide, and the contrast only made her more attractive.

Yukinoshita Yukino, on the other hand, wore a black off-shoulder dress. Lace embroidery adorned both her chest and the hem of the skirt, making her already fair skin even more striking, like the endless white snow of Lapland in December, shining alongside the stars that never dimmed. Her long black hair was gathered and pinned in front of her chest, giving her an air of elegance, like that of a noblewoman.

"Everyone's here, let's go." 

Yukinoshita Yukino said calmly, ignoring the amazed glances of passersby.

The three entered the hotel elevator and headed to the twenty-fourth floor. As the elevator's floor display ticked upward, Hikigaya Hachiman and Yuigahama Yui, who had never been to such a high-end place, started to feel a bit nervous.

Ding! 

The elevator reached the twenty-fourth floor, and the doors slowly opened.

 Immediately, the sound of a piano filled the air, playing the first movement of *Moonlight Sonata*. The soft piano notes seemed to transport the listeners to Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, where a small boat drifted across the moonlit, calm waters.

The elegant décor immediately caught the attention of Hikigaya and Yuigahama, the latter feeling a bit out of place and even considering backing out.

"Stop looking around. Straighten up, and keep your chin up." 

Yukinoshita Yukino corrected the posture of the fish-eyed boy, trying to make him look less embarrassed.

"Oh... okay!" 

Hikigaya Hachiman quickly adjusted himself as she instructed.

"Ah, the bartender over there is Kawasaki, right?" 

Yuigahama Yui scanned the room and quickly spotted Kawasaki Saki, dressed in a butler uniform.

"Kawasaki Saki."

While wiping a glass, Kawasaki Saki suddenly heard someone call her name. She instinctively looked up and froze when she saw Yukinoshita Yukino and the others in front of her.

"Yukinoshita Yukino, Yuigahama, and another person I don't know... Are you here to see me?"

Kawasaki Saki looked at the three of them, confused. She didn't think she had much to do with them. Why were they suddenly looking for her?

"Well... do you want something to drink?"

Unable to figure out why they were here to see her, she pushed the drink menu toward them.

Since all three were minors and couldn't drink alcohol, they just ordered the cheapest lemonade.

"You've been coming home late every day lately because of this job, right?"

After they had placed their orders, Yukinoshita Yukino said.

"That's none of your business, is it?"

Kawasaki Saki said indifferently while continuing her work, preparing three cups of lemonade for them.

"Doesn't it matter that it's causing conflicts with your family?"

Yukinoshita Yukino kept her usual cold expression. A quick glance would make it seem like they had some similarities. "Your brother, Kawasaki Taishi, is very worried about you."

"Taishi, always doing unnecessary things..."

Hearing her brother's name, Kawasaki Saki frowned.

After sighing helplessly, she continued, "I don't know what Taishi told you, but don't need to worry about it. Don't come here to disturb me again."

"Aren't you going to give up?" Yukinoshita Yukino asked.

"Of course not," Kawasaki Saki replied bluntly.

"I mean, even when I'm short on money, I do part-time work, but I don't hide my age," Yuigahama Yui added, trying to persuade her.

"It's not a big deal, I just need the money," Kawasaki Saki said, wiping the glasses, clearly not willing to change her mind.

"By working to earn money, you're delaying your studies and making your family worry. Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?" Yukinoshita Yukino looked at her stubborn expression, starting to get angry. "You're being irresponsible with your life."

"I'm not working to spend money on partying and wasteful things, don't compare me to those idiots," Kawasaki Saki's words picked up speed. "You guys talk so much about principles, but can you give me money? My parents can't give me what I need, so are you going to take responsibility?"

[Isn't it fine like this?] Hayashizaki suddenly spoke in Yukinoshita Yukino's mind.

[What's fine about it? Working in the wrong direction will only lead to the wrong results in the end.] Yukinoshita Yukino retorted.

[The wrong direction? Who defines what's right or wrong? You?] Hayashizaki asked back.

[By sacrificing your normal sleep schedule to work late, you lose focus in class, and your health suffers. I don't know the exact reason she's working so hard to make money, but if this continues, it'll only affect her family and future.] Yukinoshita Yukino calmly analyzed.

[Do you think this is the right thing to do?]

[You can already see someone's future just by a decision to work part-time?]

 Hayashizaki couldn't help but laugh. 

[Life isn't that simple, don't impose your idea of right and wrong onto others. That's just arrogance.]

[Since Kawasaki is determined to continue despite your advice, it shows she has her own reasons and has already made her decision.]

[I have to admit, I actually like this little girl] he said sincerely.

From what Kawasaki Taishi said, it was clear that the Kawasaki family wasn't wealthy, and with younger siblings to take care of, it wasn't hard to guess that Kawasaki Saki was working here to support them, even if it meant hiding her real age.

Who wouldn't like a girl who works hard and takes care of her family?

For a high school student, it's clearly not easy to find a job that pays this well. Kawasaki Saki must have worked hard to get this position.

This is a chance and a job she earned through her effort, so it shouldn't be messed up carelessly.

The mental exchange didn't take long, and to everyone else, it just seemed like Yukinoshita Yukino spaced out for a few seconds.

Just as Kawasaki Saki was talking about Yukinoshita Yukino's family background, the dark-haired girl suddenly shuddered, and the lemonade beside her was accidentally knocked over by her movement, surprising everyone.

Yuigahama Yui thought Kawasaki had triggered Yukinoshita Yukino's anger and immediately spoke up to defend her friend.

However, Yukinoshita Yukino didn't care at all about what Kawasaki Saki said. Her mind kept repeating the words Hayashizaki had just said.

'I actually like this little girl.'

"I like this little girl..."

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