Chapter 87Training for New Employees
I think there are times when people just do nothing. For example, when we're with people we don't know, or when we're put into a group we don't like. Sometimes it's just "my group and not mine", like after a seat change in my classroom. Sometimes it takes a while to adjust before we can talk well with each other.
"..."
"..."
Is this like an out-of-town sauna? If I had a hot stone, I would pour water over it. But, I'm sure Ichinose-san has never been there.
"Why don't you two take a break?" said Gramps, as if he were the president of the company, and led us to the living room in the back. But it was hard to leave us alone when we had nothing to do, Gramps. I sat on one side of the table in the center and Ichinose-san sat on the other. My heart was broken, but I couldn't help but laugh.
The reason why I didn't do anything and neither did Ichinose-san was because Gramps told us to "Deepen your friendship". If we had tried to take out our smartphones, Gramps would have scolded us. I'm sure Ichinose-san also understands Gramps' character.
Ichinose-san is a book enthusiast. In that case, it would be good for us to talk about books, but she always puts a book cover on it... ...What if it's a sticky romance novel? It'll just make us awkward. Even if it's a romance novel, she doesn't seem like the type to talk about it openly, so it's probably something she can't talk about with other people like me...
Oh, but if Ichinose-san asks if there's anything she can do, reading books might be the right choice.
"Oh— Um, Ichinose-san..."
"...! Y-Yeah..."
"You can read books if you want, you know."
"B-But..."
"Don't worry about the Manager. I'll operate my smartphone too."
"Y-Yeah..."
Especially in this situation, I can say that I'm also a "bad talker". So I thought it would be better to do what we each liked instead of talking badly. You see, Ichinose-san hurriedly took out a novel from her pocket. She forgot to part her bangs, didn't she? She looks very happy.
Maybe I can play a game too... —Eh, there are some new messages.
[I might not be punished by you, but I also want to meet Ai-chan.]
[R-Really...?]
Eh, you guys...! ...You're doing your stuff alone again without me... ...Good, get on with it! Sajou will keep an eye on you! Seriously, this group is different. It's like I'm peeking through a hole.
[I'm going to finish my club activities this afternoon, but I think I'll be there after taking a shower!]
[Yeah! I was waiting for you!!!]
Look at that, guys... [Yeah! I'm waiting for you!] She said. That's one of those lines that boys want girls to say to them! You guys are really..., Seriously, you guys...! Ashida! Did you know what will happen if you make them wait!?
"—Gosh! Why are you two so busy with your world?!"
"Whoa!?"
"...!?"
Suddenly Gramps snapped at us and I fell backwards. When I looked up in surprise, I found Gramps staring at us with a frowning face. It seemed that he was unhappy that we hadn't deepened our friendship.
After all, that Manager...
"But, Manager. It's too much for you to ask us to have a friendly conversation all of a sudden, and then leave us alone. The two of us are in the process of understanding each other, and this is the result of the process we went through to find a comfortable position."
"Hmm..."
That's right! It was wrong to leave two people who barely spoke to each other alone together! ...The roar in my heart matched the words in my mouth. Even in arranged matchmaking, we need a matchmaker, right? And then Gramps said to us, "The rest I leave to you, young people...", right? Does anyone say that in real life?
"Well... ...we've taken a short break, and the break is over, let's do our best for the rest of the work."
"..."
I got up to change the topic of conversation. This was probably the first time I was in the same room with just Ichinose-san. Quickly, she put the strap between her bookmarks and put the book into her pocket again, and she also hurriedly got up. As I recall, the strap was called "spin", I also didn't know about it until I started this part-time job.
"I'll tell her what I know, so you can leave it to me."
"It's okay..., ...if you can do that..."
Reluctantly, Gramps agreed with my words. Not everyone is immediately suited to being close to each other. For me and Ichinose-san, it's a good balance of distance between us for now.
Ichinose-san rushed over to me as I left the living room first. Eh, how cute is she? She took a few steps away from me and looked surprised. I felt a bit disappointed. I couldn't be helped, you know...!? All boys in this world would want to be approached by a cute girl, right!?
I couldn't hide my wry smile at this prominent caution. Somehow I kind of understood Ichinose-san's judgment of me, so I didn't mind and tried to act as her senpai again.
"Honestly, I've already told you all our duties, so all you have to do now is get used to serving customers. Besides, there aren't many customers coming at the moment, so let's practice a little."
"Eh...?"
One exercise I got during last spring break at my part-time job at a convenience store was the "role-playing" method. It's a training method for serving virtual customers while playing the role of a clerk. It would be too much if I asked her to do that all of a sudden, so I'll briefly explain it to her first.
"—It might be good to serve customers this way. If you don't know about it, you can say, "Please wait a moment, let me check and ask the Manager first." Can you do that?"
"Y-Yeah..."
"Then I'll play the role of a customer, so please stand there, okay?"
"Eh...?"
I went out to the front of the bookstore to make sure that no customers were approaching, and turned to face the bookstore once more. Thinking that I didn't need to be nervous since I only play the role of a customer, I stepped through the automatic doors and met Ichinose-san, who was playing the role of a clerk.
"Excuse me, are you selling 'Natsu no Arashi!' by 'Kawashima Reiji'?"
(TL Note: Natsu no Arashi! is a manga composed by Jin Kobayashi.)
"Oh, um, that..."
"..."
I would wait in silence. As I had expected, Ichinose-san couldn't give a proper answer and was very scared. But I had just taught her the standard sentences she should say in this kind of situation, so there was no reason for her not to be able to serve me. I hope I can narrow it down somehow...
"Um... ...that..."
"..."
Ichinose-san was agitated. She moved her eyes up and down, occasionally making eye contact with me and then lowering her head as if she flinched, and she just fidgeted in place for a long time. The words I taught her didn't come out.
Oh, eh? O-Oh, I feel like I'm doing something uncool, but I feel uncomfortable or seems like before... ...this feeling... ...what is it? (Stimulated)
"...Uh."
"B-Blurted out."
"Blurted out" My *ss. It's not the tone of a slip. Doesn't that make me uncomfortable? I'm experiencing a crush that I can't explain. Can you stop fidgeting anymore? My heart is pounding very loudly.
"Ichinose-san...? The one I told you about earlier...?"
"...F-Forgive me..."
C-Calm down, me...! I'll probably be fine, but I'm sure there will be customers who feel uncomfortable! I can't just let her get away with it...! Turn my demon-like heart... into an Asura! Yeah, I'm a God!
"Are you talking about 'Natsu no Arashi!' by... 'Kawashima Reiji', huh?"
"Oh, sure, that's right."
There was a slight pause, but let's leave it at that. I'll pretend to be a customer again and reply. Ichinose-san does tend to be moody more often, but I can tell that she's trying her best. Yeah, I hope the customer won't feel uncomfortable like this...
"F-Follow me..."
Ichinose-san turned around and started leading the way to me with her eyes glazed over. If this were a manga, there would be a description of the cold sweat dripping from the tip of her head. What's with this protective attitude...? I'm pretty sure that she has the most beautiful eyes in my life right now.
"Eh, um... ...um..., ...I-Is this what you're talking about?"
"You passed."
"Eh...!?"
That's bad. I passed her by reflexively. Ichinose-san's vibe, which is like a small animal was so strong, I accidentally stroked her. Think of it as a passing mark and let me explain the matter.
"I know that you've been working hard, so I'm sure the customers will be fine. It's just that, don't give them wrong directions, if you don't understand something, you can call the Manager here."
"Y-Yeah."
'Sh-She's been working hard', so I don't think it will affect the customers' mood. You see, when people see someone who is more agitated than they are, they will be calmer. They'll be more open-minded. Asura, forgive me.
"Ah?"
"..."
Just as I was thinking that the sound of a bell ringing came from the automatic door. This was a sign that a customer had come in.
"Let's go to the cashier, Ichinose-san."
"Y-Yeah."
It was a more reliable answer than I expected. Yeah, I'm also a part-time worker here, and probably great enough to keep her motivated and not running away. Most of the part-time jobs for high school students were dominated by easy jobs. Come to think of it, working part-time at a convenience store is probably the hardest.
At first, I asked her to stand in front of the cash register. Meanwhile, I sorted through the books under the shelves. I was about to leave Ichinose-san, but it was good to show her the layout of the buttons on the cash register now.
"Hu-Huh...?"
"...?"
As I was sorting through the wrapping papers under the shelf, I heard a very indistinct voice above my head. When I looked up, I found that there was a slim and slender man. He was wearing a plaid shirt tucked into jeans and he was also wearing square glasses.
As he placed two books on the counter, the lenses of his glasses shone brightly and he stared at Ichinose-san. Did he want to buy books?
"You can't be called an antique bookstore if you don't have books by 'Mishima Yukio'."
We're not an antique bookstore, by the way. Oh my, a man with a strong character has come!
Author's Note: It finally came.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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