Chapter 89The Girl Chooses
"You see, you shouldn't just cry all the time, right? There are times when a woman needs to be strong."
"Um, Ma'am."
"Oh, Sajou-san. Just now, I tell Mina-san how she should prepare for her part-time job."
"Haha, it seems she has stopped crying for now. Thank you so much for bothering to help us."
"Here, Here! Mina-san is cute! You're even cuter when you smile!"
"Okay, just let me take care of the rest."
"Eh...? ...But I still want to talk to her a little more."
"Look, you're still sorting a lot of books, aren't you? I think it's important for you to do it too."
"...Alright, if you insist."
Gramps' wife still seems interested in talking to Ichinose-san. I don't know how much she loves Ichinose-san compared to Gramps, but it seems that she has no choice but to leave Ichinose-san to me at the moment. However, the fact that she's willing to listen to my words is some kind of hope or trust. Whatever it is, right now it's hard for me because I feel a certain pressure without consent.
Ichinose-san had stopped crying but she remained silent and bowed her head. Her eyes were looking down. I don't know if she will listen to every word that comes out of my mouth. Even so, I'll be in trouble if she won't listen to me.
"I just need to step back, so will you listen to me even if I only give you a few words?"
"..."
I sat right in front of her. I'm sure for the shy Ichinose-san, she doesn't like having other people in front of her, let alone a boy. I knew that, but I didn't feel guilty doing this. It was because I no longer had any desire to be liked by Ichinose-san.
"That customer from earlier was strange, wasn't he? Just so you know, that kind of person comes to the shop once every three days. As expected, he's not that crazy."
"..."
While looking down, Ichinose-san swung her gaze from right to left and nodded without making a sound. It seemed that she was listening to me.
"Of course, you still can't serve customers because you're still new and you're still unfamiliar with the atmosphere. It can't be helped, and if you feel scared, it's only natural that you cry."
Her face in front of me lifted slowly as if she was scared. As her eyes met mine, she turned away with a startled gasp and I turned my gaze to where I saw nothing. I guess she won't cry like this anymore.
Yeah, I'm sorry, okay?
"Look, with customers who talk very fast and seem very logical like that, it's effective if you speak in a stupid and silly tone as I did. I guess it's partly because he's a man, but if you make them think that you don't understand with difficult little words, they'll shut up."
"Oh..."
"If it's you, Ichinose-san, if... I looked you directly in the eye and acted like a gyaru, you might get scared. It might be difficult for some people."
This was the experience I had while working part-time at a convenience store. If the customers thought I was a rather flirtatious guy, they would willingly treat me as if I were a bad guy. I did feel like I was doing something at first glance, but I didn't get into trouble with troublesome customers. This is because I think it would be more troublesome for the customers to get involved with me. Even so, if they were as flirtatious as me, I'd have no choice but to interrupt them for what they were.
On the other hand, a boy who is honest and serious, the moment they make a small mistake, and his rudeness comes out, he will be severely scolded.
"After all, serving customers is hard. Even if it's not a troublesome customer, it's quite difficult to be the usual me. If I don't cover my true colors, they'll quickly lose their temper and get mad at me."
Although it may seem easy, this part-time job is not that easy. This was partly because of the low hourly wage, but even so, this part-time job was so easy for me that I felt no burden in serving customers. That's why I don't consider this part-time job troublesome. However, I will never work in customer service in the future.
"—So, that's the story. Ichinose-san, can you do that too someday?"
"Eh...?"
"As I said earlier, we need to put on a good face for the customers, even if you have to cover your true colors. Even if you're not good at speaking clearly, you should show that you're a good person."
In the customer service business, this is a minimum skill, even for part-time workers. First of all, most part-time jobs in the world are in customer service. If you want to work part-time, you need to have that skill first. You can get used to it even if you are inexperienced, but if you are too shy in speaking in your personal life, it is not good.
"—Can you do that too?"
"...A-Ah..."
Not knowing how she could answer me, Ichinose-san's gaze turned left and right and her mouth began to open and close. Sometimes she looked at me as if she was clinging to me, probably because she expected me to say nice words from time to time.
No, hahaha..., my bad.
What if you can't do it, so you have to do what you can? I don't think that's wrong, but the world isn't so sweet that anything can be taken for granted. Whether it's done reluctantly or unwillingly, if you're in good shape and have a healthy logic, you should do what you have to do even if you can't do it, as long as the people around you can do it with a straight face.
"—If you can't do it, then you're not suitable for this part-time job. You should stick to the allowance you get from your mom and dad."
"..."
I said so in a very low voice. Did that upset you? It upset you, didn't it? That's right, I want to see the look on your face. I want you to see me with a look of emotion on your face. Come on, make your voice a little louder.
"First of all, you don't need to work part-time as a high school student, so why don't you just quit? It's better that way, isn't it?"
"..."
Ichinose-san's eyes trembled. I could tell that she was upset. I was in a bad mood, and the desire to make her depressed was growing inside me. Outside the living room, in front of the cash register, I remembered the look on Gramps' face as he relied on me.
Calm down, that's not it, that's not what I meant. Don't just keep quiet. Even though I'm stupid, I'm your senpai. Even though you're not good at it, you're my kouhai.
"..."
"..."
A feeling of emptiness had taken hold of me. I couldn't help it anymore, and inevitably, she naturally looked at me. The immature "feelings of guilt", slightly subsided. The "frustration" that I had accepted and admitted, was still there. I managed to regain my composure and turned my attention toward Ichinose-san again.
"..."
"...!"
...Hmm.
She showed a dissatisfied face. She seemed to have digested my words thrown at her because she was silent for a moment. I wonder, how it feels to be told so unilaterally without being able to reply, of course, it's not good. So, you just need to reply to me and feel satisfied, right? But I'm sorry, I'm sure you can't take it in stride.
"...Th-That's a false accusation... ...This isn't an antique bookstore, so I think he should correct it by saying that it's a second-hand bookstore."
"You shouldn't offend customers."
"Hiih...?!"
Even though I understood, my head felt cold when I said that. I thought to myself that my voice sounded cold. I think my intimidating attitude was a mistake. What I should have done was to let Ichinose-san "choose". Instead of letting her make my own choice. I understand that, but...
"...It's not the right position for Ichinose-san, who is inexperienced, to worry about that. At this point, let's put aside whether you can do it or not."
She looked away and spoke. The boy in front of her was a boy who had harsh words. Making eye contact would only make Ichinose-san's mind go blank. I should let Ichinose-san think about whether or not to quit this part-time job.
"You also don't need to think about overcoming this. Are you willing or not to serve customers from now on? Just shake your head... ...I wonder if you'll answer me."
"Oh..."
8 or 9 out of 10, I won't get the answer I was expecting. Honestly, I think it would be better for Ichinose-san, Gramps, and his wife if she quit. I think it's appropriate for Gramps to talk to Ichinose-san who originally came here as a regular customer. That's why you're just a regular customer, right? Your parents probably bought second-used books for you, so why do you feel uncomfortable now?
"...—No."
"...Eh?"
"—No..., I don't want to quit!"
"Huh?"
That resentful gaze with teary eyes was directed at me. I had never seen such strong emotions before.
Eh? Why? Weren't you frustrated from the start? How could you say "I don't want to quit!"? When you could barely reply to me after I blasted you so much? It seems that I wouldn't feel so disgusting if you didn't say that while crying and screaming. What do you mean...?
"S-So I'll try to do my best...! Please don't make me quit!"
While trembling, Ichinose-san, who had stepped back with her petite body as if holding back her tears, straightened her body and screamed at a moderate volume, pressing her forehead against the tatami mat.
She prostrated herself. Let me repeat that once again, she prostrated herself.
"—Wait!?"
Eh!? Hey, um—Eh...!!? What is this girl doing!? How did she suddenly become like this!?
I'm sorry, I'm just a fellow part-timer!!?
Author's Note: I feel like I'm in the wrong ace.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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