The next day, Hinata arrives at Kojo's cafe. Upon seeing her, Kojo says, "I was right! We go to the same school, and you are in the second grade."
Hinata: "Is it true? I'm happy to know we go to the same school. But please forgive me, I didn't recognize you."
Kojo: "No worries. Let's start the interview. Why do you want this part-time job?"
Hinata: "Because I am capable of doing this part-time job."
Kojo: "Any other reason?"
Hinata: "I know how to do all the cafe work very well."
Kojo: "Anything else?"
Hinata: "You tell me—what is it that you want to hear?"
Kojo (laughing): "Just that you need this work."
Hinata: "And don't you need me?"
Kojo (confused): "Umm... excuse me?"
Hinata: "What I mean is, you must surely need a staff member because your cafe is quite large. A lot of customers must come here, and you probably have trouble managing it all alone."
Kojo: "Well, you're right about that. Let's start working from today." (He thinks to himself: She knows very well how to manipulate a situation to her advantage.) "Let me introduce myself properly. I am Sasaki Kojo, but you can just call me Kojo."
Hinata: "Hito Hinata."
Hinata and Kojo clean the cafe together and open for business. After a while, customers begin to arrive. One of Kojo's classmates, Yumi, enters the cafe with three of her friends to see him.
Yumi: "I came to return the notes you lent me. Here they are—and thanks for the help."
Kojo: "You're welcome, but you could have just given them to me at school. You didn't need to come all the way here."
Yumi: "I was already planning to come to your cafe for coffee with my friends anyway, so I thought I'd bring your notes along."
Kojo: "I see. Have a seat over there, and I'll bring coffee for you and your friends."
As Yumi and her friends sit down, Yumi notices a girl working alongside Kojo. When Kojo returns with their coffee, she speaks up.
Yumi: "So, you finally hired a staff member?"
Kojo: "Yes, I did. She's actually a junior at our school."
Yumi: "I couldn't get a good look at her. Won't you introduce us?"
Kojo: "Hold on, I'll call her over. Hinata! Can you come here for a minute?"
Hinata: "Yes, what is it?"
Kojo: "This is my classmate, Yumi. She wanted to meet you. And Yumi, this is—"
Yumi (shocked): "Hinata?!"
Kojo: "Wait, do you know her?"
Yumi: "Kojo, can I speak with you alone for a moment?"
Hinata: "You two go ahead and talk; I'll go tend to the customers."
Kojo: "Alright, what's on your mind?"
Yumi: "Why on earth did you hire Hinata?"