Blue Archive: Do I look like a student to you?

Lina arrived at her part-time job, the small bell above the shop door chiming softly as she stepped inside. The cozy little cafe was filled with shelves lined with various trinkets, books, and other oddities that seemed to attract a steady flow of curious customers.

The shop's owner, a humanoid rabbit with soft gray fur and a pair of spectacles perched on his twitching nose, greeted her warmly. "Good morning, Miss Astra," he said, his deep yet gentle voice carrying across the room.

"Good morning, boss," Lina replied, her tone polite as she walked past him toward the back counter.

Once there, Lina grabbed the attendance book and flipped it open to the day's page. Picking up the pen, she wrote her name neatly and signed it, marking her presence for the day. It had become a part of her routine, just like the rest of the job she had been doing for the past two months.

As she put the book away, Lina glanced around the shop. When she first started working here, she never thought she'd end up in a place like this—much less working for a humanoid rabbit. In this strange new world, even animals could talk, and her boss was living proof of that.

Grabbing a broom from the corner, Lina began to sweep the floor, carefully collecting the dust that had settled overnight. The rhythmic sound of the broom brushing against the wooden floor filled the quiet shop, and her boss nodded in approval before retreating to his usual spot behind the counter.

After a few minutes, the rabbit's voice broke the silence. "Astra, have you eaten breakfast yet?"

Lina paused her sweeping and looked up at him. "No, not yet. Maybe I'll eat later after work... combine it with lunch, so brunch?"

The rabbit hummed thoughtfully, adjusting his spectacles. "Then I'll get you some bread. Do you prefer tea or coffee?"

Lina blinked, caught off guard by his offer, but she gave a small smile. "I... coffee, please. Thank you."

The rabbit gave her a kind nod, already heading to the small kitchen in the back to prepare her drink. Lina returned to her sweeping, feeling a faint warmth in her chest from the small act of kindness. It wasn't much, but it made her day just a little bit easier to start.

"Here's your breakfast," the owner said, placing a small plate with bread and a steaming cup of coffee on the table near the counter.

Lina set the broom aside and walked over, glancing at the simple yet comforting meal her boss had prepared. She sat down in the chair, muttered a quick "Thank you," and took a sip of the coffee. The warmth spread through her, easing some of the morning chill. She then picked up the bread and took a bite, savoring the soft texture and light sweetness.

The rabbit owner watched her from behind the counter, his long ears twitching slightly. Adjusting his spectacles, he spoke in a gentle yet firm tone. "You know, Miss Astra, you really should go back to school. A girl your age should be more mindful of her future instead of spending her days working here."

Lina's chewing slowed for a moment, but she didn't look up. She'd heard this lecture countless times ever since her boss had learned that she'd been skipping school.

Instead of replying, she simply swallowed her bite of bread, took another sip of coffee, and stared at the table. The rabbit's words passed straight through her—entering her left ear and exiting her right. She wasn't interested in entertaining the idea, and she certainly didn't want to explain her reasons.

The owner sighed, shaking his head slightly. He wasn't oblivious to Lina's indifference, but that didn't stop him from trying. "You can't keep running forever, Miss Astra. Sooner or later, you'll have to face your problem."

Lina didn't respond, focusing instead on finishing her breakfast. The comforting bitterness of the coffee paired with the bread was enough to distract her from the conversation. She didn't want to think about school, her situation, or anything else right now.

Lina finished the last sip of her coffee and stood up, brushing the crumbs from her hands. "So, boss, is there a task I could do today?" she asked, clearly trying to steer the conversation away from the owner's earlier nagging.

The rabbit owner tilted his head slightly, his whiskers twitching as he thought for a moment. His gaze shifted toward the shelf near the counter, where a jar of coffee beans sat, nearly empty. "Hmm… could you help me pick up some coffee beans? There's a shop about two blocks away from here that supplies us."

Lina nodded quickly. "Alright." She paused for a moment, then added, "Boss, could you send me the location?"

With a small hum of acknowledgment, the owner picked up his tablet and tapped away at it. "I'll send it to your Momotalk . It's not far—you should be able to find it easily."

A notification buzzed on Lina's phone a moment later. She glanced at the screen to see the location marked on the map. "Got it," she said, already heading toward the door.

"Be careful on your way," the rabbit called after her.

Lina waved a hand dismissively without turning around. "I'll be fine," she said as she pushed the door open, stepping out into the busy street.

Following the map displayed on her phone, Lina navigated through the streets with a steady pace. The small marker on the screen guided her closer to her destination.

Out of habit, Lina opened her Momotalk while walking. Her eyes raise slightly when she saw the glaring "99+ unread messages" notification. She tapped on it, and, as expected, all the unread messages were from Yuuka.

Lina sighed, scrolling briefly through the endless stream of texts. Most of them seemed to be Yuuka trying to remind her—again and again—to show up at the student council office. But Lina didn't feel the least bit guilty. After all, she only said "okay" during their phone call yesterday. She never actually promised she'd come.

"Not my fault," Lina muttered under her breath, tucking her phone back into her pocket.

Her yellow eyes darted around as she walked, scanning the street for any signs of other Millennium Science School students. The last thing she wanted was to bump into someone she knew. Seeing no familiar faces, Lina sighed in relief.

After a few more minutes, she stopped in front of the shop her boss had mentioned. It was a cozy little store tucked between larger buildings, with a simple sign hanging above the entrance.

Lina adjusted her jacket and stepped inside, a small bell ringing as she opened the door.

Inside the shop, Lina spotted the sack of coffee beans neatly placed near the counter. Approaching it, she tilted her head slightly, calculating how she would carry something so large. Before she could pick it up, the shop owner—an android with a sleek metallic body and glowing blue eyes—walked over.

"Ah, you must be here for the coffee beans," the robot said, its voice smooth and mechanical. As Lina nodded, it added, "Please send my greetings to your boss."

"Got it," Lina replied, gripping the sack and hoisting it up with surprising ease. The sheer size of the sack dwarfed her small frame.

The android, however, hesitated. Its digital eyes blinked and scanned her. "Is your boss… employing children to do heavy labor?" it asked, concern laced in its tone.

Lina stopped in her tracks, peering out from behind the large sack with a sharp glare. " I'm already adult!" she declared loudly before turning away, leaving no room for further questioning.

The robot owner paused, clearly unconvinced. Watching this petite girl carry a sack of coffee beans that seemed larger than her body made it doubt its own logic circuits. Yet, her words seemed firm enough.

Lina shifted the sack slightly and peeked back from behind it. "I'll tell the boss you sent your greetings," she said flatly, her tone neutral but polite.

With that, she pushed open the door and walked outside, the bell jingling faintly.

The robot stood there for a moment, watching her leave. "Take care…" it murmured.

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(A/n: a)