My Awkward Senpai (不器用な先輩。)

In light of Racing Girls running a maid costume event,

we're thinking of doing a collaboration with a maid café.

Special costumes will be ordered for the occasion.

For this collaboration, the café interior will be decorated like the game's world map.

We're looking into three possible locations.

Now, regarding the pricing quotes for each location, please turn to the next page.

We'll set up a dedicated social media account for the café. We're aiming for June to...

The last collab café was a big hit with the customers.

We're very grateful for that.

Their social media went viral and brought in new fans, too.

I'm so glad to hear that.

We look forward to working with you again.

I'll have you participate in this project, too.

Review and brush up on the collab café proposal.

Y-Yes, ma'am!

Use the plans I made in the past as a reference to fill in the details.

Ask me if you have any questions.

Yes, ma'am! Thank you very much.

- All right! - An important part of being a mentor

is creating an atmosphere where the senpai can feel comfortable lending an ear.

To do that, I need to open up to Kamegawa more...

Today's the day I invite Kamegawa to lunch!

MY AWKWARD SENPAI

"I Wanna Invite My Junior to Lunch!"

Stare...

Racing Girls!

So you actually play the games you're in charge of, Senpai.

The clients usually provide the materials,

but I can understand the customers better if I play them firsthand.

I also like games in general.

Before finalizing your proposal, do a little test run.

Yes, ma'am!

Ready... go!

Whoa. This is kinda difficult.

I'll demonstrate. Give it here.

Yes, please. Thank you.

To think my gaming skills would come in handy during his training...

On top of being a loner from gaming too much,

I worked part-time as a tester during college.

Even now, I just play games instead of hanging out with others.

Here you go.

Now's the time to show off my skills!

Ready... go!

Huh? It's harder to play than usual!

Oh! It's because I usually play with a controller! So the controls are a bit...

No, that's no excuse.

Since I told him I'd show him,

I need to stay on course!

As his mentor!

Ow! Huh?!

A-Are you all right?

One more time.

Oh, then... would you like to practice together?

It has a VS mode, too.

M'kay...

We ended up just sluggishly racing on a beginner-friendly track together...

The graphics are nice.

Yeah.

This item would be nice to include in the collab café.

Yeah.

Man, I'm hungry.

Wanna go eat?

Let's go!

Oh, I can't.

Okay.

It's about time I invite Kamegawa to lunch.

M-Maybe it's not the right timing.

Looks like Kamegawa is focused on something right now.

Excuse me, Kannawa-san?

It's about the app that Kanzaki-san was in charge of...

Oh, yes.

Excuse me, Senpai...

No problems here. Now you just need to confirm with the other party—

Kannawa-san. Can I bother you for a bit?

Yes.

- Will you be okay? - Yes! Thank you so much.

Sorry to bother you when you're busy.

- Wanna eat lunch together, Kamegawa-kun? - There's something I'd like you to do.

N-No way!

The newbie I'm training is having his first lunch with...

- About that one sunscreen's PR... - No, it's good that he's interacting with the others.

- Can I put you in charge of it after all? - It's wrong of me to be worried.

- Things got a little out of hand, you see. - It's wrong of me to be worried.

- Our model can't fit us in anymore. - There's this great cheap Italian place nearby.

There's also family restaurants and ramen.

- We're looking for someone else, but timing's tight. - There's also family restaurants and ramen.

- We're looking for someone else, but timing's tight. - I'm sorry. I actually brought my lunch today.

Aw, what bad timing!

We'll invite you some other time.

So, can I entrust this to you, Kannawa-san?

Yes, I understand.

Thanks! Sorry again!

Since it's been bothering me so much...

I need to finally invite him to lunch.

Wait! Since he brought his own, I can't invite him now, either!

Do I need to invite him in advance?

No. If his mentor says, "We're having lunch together tomorrow,"

wouldn't that put unnecessary pressure on him?

What should I do?

BONE BROTH - GOMTANG SOUP

Instant noodles again?!

I-I'm sorry! I'm on a budget...

I'll start saving next month, I promise!

I... I'll treat you!

Huh?

- Let's go. - I-I can't!

This is my own responsibility and...

What if you show up late to work due to poor health?

As your mentor, the fault lies with me!

Understand? Now shut up and follow me!

Y-Yes, ma'am!

I did it! I finally invited him to lunch!

When I was a newbie, Kanzaki-senpai often invited me out...

The younger person's supposed to hand out wet towels and napkins.

Stubborn people will pay strict attention to that.

Got it!

She told me the ins and outs of how to be a newbie.

But... even though she'd point those things out to me,

when we had lunch on our own...

Senpai! That's my job!

Don't worry about it.

You don't need to do those things for me.

Just like Kanzaki-senpai, I, too, want to be strict when needed,

but not have my junior worry about me.

A smart senpai, just like her...

Here you go, Senpai.

But I wanted to do that for him!

Huh? I-Is something the matter?

Are you ready to order?

I'd like this, please.

Um, and you, Senpai?

Oh, um...

Let's eat—

I told you I'd pay, so you should eat some meat! Meat!

But I'd feel bad ordering the expensive—

Even so! Who orders just a salad?

Eat meat!

Have! Some!

Meat!

Th-Thank you...

Let's eat!

Let's eat.

I was only thinking about how to invite him for lunch.

Now that we're here, things ain't right.

Yum!

It's delicious. Thank you.

Sure.

It's been a while since I ate a decent meal.