Chapter 62Part-Time Job
I spent my summer vacation holed up and playing games non-stop — It was my dream, but there were things I needed to do to enrich my life in the future.
That's right, ¥ (yen) of course. It's kind of cool to say it like this because I feel like I spent tens of thousands of yen. What I'm trying to hide is that I'm using this long vacation to gain social experience (★Super Tatemae*). This is already my first-day working part-time.
(TL Note: Tatemae refers in contrast to the attitude and behavior shown in public.)
"Is this okay? I don't think you'll get paid much, you know."
"No, it's enough. I don't want extra pocket money."
After looking around and searching for it, I found a quiet second-hand bookstore with very minimal wages. If I had to say why, it would be because it was close to a noisy train and car line. The store is privately owned and is entirely the owner grandpa's hobby. The selling point is that it's a very easy job with a decent hourly wage. Most importantly, people like rude customers won't come to this second-hand bookstore.
"I'll be rechecking, pasting price tags, and organizing stock, can you help me with the bookkeeping and customer service?"
"Is that all I have to do?"
"Since you're already serving customers for me, you're like a god."
You use the word "God" in a very youthful way, Grandpa. Well, you have a lot of light novels here, right...? Just leave the book arrangement business to me, my book arrangement skills are on fire! I can't help but be excited...,
I had already had many experiences, one of which was working part-time at a convenience store during spring break before school. What's more, it was my Dark Age, and even Big Sis didn't know about it. I remember it was quite a heavy and difficult job. I would never do that again, mainly because I was too lazy to teach Japanese to my foreign co-workers like Reg-san. Why did they hire him, anyway...?
In comparison, this is a second-hand bookstore. As long as the books are handled with good care, the customers here are the type who don't want to talk much. It's not a fantasy genre where Yankee guys and Gyaru girls like to read second-hand books anyway, so it's serious.
"Ah? You don't sell cigarettes here?"
"Ah, sorry, it's just a used bookstore."
Ah, I didn't expect this to happen either. When I take a break later, I should put a sign that says 'We don't sell cigarettes' at the entrance. ...Second-hand bookstore? I wonder if it would be better if I wrote it in Mincho font or something. ...I'll use a brush pen on the yellowed paper.
During working hours, I was always organizing books, so the cash register was almost always empty. Empty... ...My brain rots when I'm free. On the other hand, it's hard to be lazy when I'm in work mode.
"Manager, I've finished sorting the books!"
"S-Seriously...? Wow, that's true..., it was the right decision to hire you."
"Ah, are there any other applicants?"
"A blonde with piercings all over her face..."
"Oh, okay, it's fine, don't worry, I'll do a good job."
"I'm sorry..."
He was easy to get along with. The Grandpa here was easy to get along with, he was very different from the old man at the dojo yesterday. He doesn't have shinai either. I feel like I've escaped from the Showa Era. Welcome to the Heisei Era — Isn't it already past? I need to get out of this era as soon as possible. Can't you keep up with me, Grandpa...?
"I didn't expect that just one person could make so much difference like that. I guess it's because of your skills."
"I used to work part-time at a convenience store. With this kind of workload, it's hard not to do something."
"No, no, no, no. You can go home now. I don't like taking up young people's time."
"Uh, but I've only been here for three hours, right...?"
"Don't worry, I'll give you five hours. You've already completed 80% of my usual work."
What kind of great place is this? Are you okay with me leaving you alone here? I only applied here to have fun in this simple store and I've become very attached to this shop. Gosh, I wanted to write in Mincho font, Grandpa.
♦
"It's only 11 am...?"
Under the monorail line, the sound of running cars could be heard. Here I am, a high school student with a meat bun in my mouth. It's still early in the morning. I can't believe it's the end of the first day of my part-time job. If I'm not mistaken, this is probably the time when the shop signboard changes to "OPEN". Is that right? Are you sure that I'm not getting paid for anything? It's not a punishment for me, right?
"Don't be silly, d*mn it!"
What, I feel like I'm being punished for real? Seriously, Grandpa, you don't like Mincho's font, do you? I wonder if this is because I've been caught by the little ink stain on the table. ...That was probably my punishment for doing that.
No, I'm not joking, but something seems wrong. What should I do? It's a quiet place, and there seems to be a high school girl involved. I was so close to her that I didn't notice her and she probably saw my back as I walked home.
"...Is that?"
It was a small, little kid. There seemed to be middle school boys bullying an elementary school boy on their way to the club activities. Come to think of it, this area is safe because there is a business district next to it. Now, it seems, I'm the only high school student in this area. I know, this is a little disappointing.
If that's the case — Yeah, that's fine.
"Hey, stop that, spoiled brats."
"—Oh no, high school boy!?"
I didn't understand myself, but I found myself approaching that group of middle school students without a second thought. I didn't think about anything, but what I was going to do... Surprisingly, I had a mysterious confidence. Is it because they're only junior high school students? ...I feel like I'm back in junior high school and being arrogant?
"Hey, you want to die, huh, d*mmit!"
"Oh, okay, let's just hit me, here. Gosh, you're okay, right...?"
"Wh-What the heck are you...?"
"Are you injured? Just pushed? Good, thank goodness. Can you stand up, please?"
It's not too scary even if you're scared by the sound of someone in the middle of a voice change.
I stood next to the elementary school boy who was crying and saw if he was injured. When I asked him if he was hurt, he nodded his head. The backpack that was thrown nearby didn't have the slightest scratch. If it had been a school backpack or something like that, it would have been easier to determine if it was just mere bullying. The elementary school students should already be on summer vacation.
While I was taking care of the elementary school boy and ignoring the middle schoolers who were saying something, they picked up their backpacks and left the place grumbling. I could hear the bad words from a distance. D*mn you, spoiled brats.
I calmed him down and asked him in as calm as – Well, how do I say this, yeah - As mature tone as possible.
"Can't you tell me what your name is?"
"Sa-Sasaki-"
Impossible.
"Sasaki Kouta."
Ah, he was wearing a name tag - "Sasaki Kouta", huh? I don't know, I feel very relieved. If only I had a name tag like that, maybe I would handle things in a slightly different way in the future. That Yuki-chan... ...I wonder what her personality would be like if she had a little brother. I don't know, but I have a feeling that he would mature early.
"Ah, I see. Do you have anything for me to contact your family with?"
"Yeah..."
Sasaki Kouta was holding a name tag in his left breast pocket. When I turned Kouta-kun's name tag over, there was a piece of paper with an emergency contact number written on it. Ah, I see, so that's why he's still wearing it even though it's summer vacation. On the contrary, I think it's dangerous. ....Well, it's more dangerous to carry it in a situation like this, under the monorail line, which is the worst situation, so let's call his family right away.
"Ah, is this Sasaki-san's family? Actually..."
♦
I bought some "Pocket Wet*" at the convenience store and as I was wiping down the backpack in a square where a group of old men were basking in the sun, then a girl, looking very confused, rushed towards me.
(TL Note: Pocket Wet = Brand of wet wipes.)
The first thing that caught my eye was the long skirt fluttering in the wind. I was happy to see her innocent appearance, which reminded me of a college student. Someone very similar to the Onee-chan–typed girl has appeared. It's like a pattern of catching freshwater fish with shrimps — Oops no, no, okay then...
After looking around, I found Kouta-kun, who was standing next to me, running towards her, calling her name. Kouta-kun also shouted, "Onee-chan!" and immediately hugged her.
"Kou-kun,...! Thankfully... ...you're not injured, right?"
"Yes, I'm fine, Onee-chan!"
This is the kind of picture that could appear in an elementary school Morals textbook. This is the type of scene that could be dramatized on educational television programs or something... ...When you see a conventional reunion scene like that in its original form, you'll say, "Wow...". I wish I could see that as a stranger, ...but the scene in front of me is so beautiful that I can't feel it, ...Am I involved in this?
It's suspicious to leave here immediately, so sorry, let me explain. I wonder if I can pretend to be calm...
"Um, I'm sorry, Miss. I'm the one who called you earlier."
"! Ah, yes, so it was you, huh...?"
That's me — Ah, no, no, I'm not kidding.
From the front, she looked like a super Onee-chan. Her whole body is filled with soft vibes. College students are different from high school students, aren't they? Natsukawa is natural, but will Ashida and the others evolve too? I don't want to be embarrassed by Ashida when she mutates.
"From there, under the monorail line — I was on my way home when I left that place and met the middle schoolers who were bullying him and doing something to him, so I called out to him."
"Well, that's, thank you very much...!"
"Oh, no, there's no need to worry. Also, I haven't heard the details from Kouta-kun yet. I suggest asking him after he calms down, but first, check his school backpack for scratches or if he has any excessive scars when you go home. We don't know if this is the first time this has happened."
"Y-Yeah! I'll check at home..."
I told her that I hadn't seen any beating or kicking and that I was sorry about the situation. It's not every day that someone listens to me sincerely, so I focused on the follow-up. I was glad that I was wearing a polo shirt. Look, there's a mature vibe when you wear a polo shirt.
Even so, the Onee-chan looked hot in front of me. She was wearing a flowing dress with sleeves, but perhaps because she was running around under the summer sky, the dress clung to her body a little... Ah damn, my bad side will come out if I keep coming into contact with her like this. I don't want this beautiful girl to look at me with strange eyes, I'd better get out of here.
"Then, I'll see you later-."
"Oh, um, I'm sorry... ...Is there a number for me to contact you...?"
That's right - ...I'll tell her my name, I'll tell her. It would only be suspicious if I refused this kind of thing...
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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