Starting a Night Shift Part-time Job at a Convenience Store

“I canionly say that it’s appalling…”

“Right.”

Despite knowing itiwas someone else’s cigarette, she unashamedly released the puff of smoke onto the ceiling.

“I learned something I didn’t need to know… that people who commit suicide have faces like that.”

“You voluntarily stepped in to save a total stranger. You had it coming. Consider it a miracle you got away with such minor injuries because you wouldn’t even be here right now if you had taken a wrong step.”

“…Meaning?”

“You’re one of thoseiwho stick around.”

“Ugh.”

“Well, but if it had been a real crisis, Takenakaiwould have gone into action.”

Huh…?

“Oops, I letithat slip.”

“Takenaka?”

What did you mean by that?

“I knew you didn’t realize.”

“A-About what?”

“Takenakaisaid if you didn’t notice, that’s fine,” Ayame said, releasing another puff of smoke. “Since you left the convenience store, Takenaka couldn’t seem to relax. Oh, for your information, I didn’t mention anything, you know. But he’s a perceptive guy, so he figured something was up, and boldly removed the yagura from himself at one point and sent it after you. Then when that one time you were in real danger, he seriously tried to leave the convenience store. I haven’t seen Takenaka’s face that agitated in a long time. That’s a proof that he likes you.”

“Did he save my life again?”

I mustithank him again the next time I meet him.

“It’s fine, let’s just say he took the liberty of doing it this time. The newcomer did it on his own without talking to anyone or seeking help. Both of you are even, isn’t it?”

“That’s true, but…”

“It seems Takenaka doesn’t want to put you through any unnecessary trouble either.”

“Why… does Takenaka always help me out?”

“I wonder. Why don’t you ask him? Perhaps there’s a particular reason?”

This person definitely knew something about it… She probably wouldn’t share it with me even if I asked her, though.”

“Ayame.”Translator: MadHatter

“What?”

“Is there something more dreadful… in that sea of trees than what I’ve witnessed?”

“Huh?”Not shared on aggregator sites

“I’m a little curious.”

“I have no idea about that.”

She pressed the cigarette into the ashtray and looked at me with a chuckle.

“Don’t get carried away thinking you’re getting adjusted to this place, newcomer. You don’t even know half of the gravity of this job yet, so don’t get overly familiar with everything and anything.”

By doing so, on the contrary, you would be crushed―Ayame, squinting her eyes, thrust the nail of her index finger into my pit of the stomach. Her action sent a jolt through me, but I wrinkled my brow because I didn’t grasp the significance of Ayame’s words.

“You’re inherently obstinate, yet prone to interject yourself into things that don’t concern you. You’re clumsy, easily misinterpreted, well, in short, you’re the annoying softhearted type.”

“I’m not softhearted.”

“That’s not particularly important. Hah, that bothersome type of you, what’s the point of staying here if you just don’t want to run away with your tail between your legs?”

“…”

“For instance, you might be feeling bad about yourself, and you might be doing it for someone else’s sake, or for some other self-serving reason.”

Hah…

“That kind of thing.”

What was this person talking about…

“That kind of thing, of course, it doesn’t exist…”

Goosebumps broke out all over my body. I hastily retracted my agitation to the depths of my being.

“Am I wrong?”

“T-That doesn’t really matter, isn’t it? About why I am here.”

It didn’t really matter, but what this person said was by no means inconsequential.

She was so spot on that I was terrified.

“You’re a hundred years too young to conceal your agitation in front of me, amateur. Right. It doesn’t particularly matter, does it? You can stay here if you want to, or quit if you don’t like it. You’re free to do that.”

Nobody will stop you, and nobody will kick you out, that’s the unspoken rule here.

“But I don’t feel either of those things from you. You don’t want to stay, and you don’t want to quit. You’re always looking backward, instead of forward.”

“Why do you say that?”

“How do I know? I can even perceive such things in human beings. You must hold on to yourself more firmly. Otherwise, you will be entangled in a severe predicament. This place is too much for a person who is not mentally stable. If you’re going to carry that backward obstinacy with you from here on out… you might as well quit.”

“Does that mean I’ll be a burden?”

“No. I mean that it would be worse than being a burden.”

Being worse, what exactly―

As I was about to ask that, the sound of the automatic door opening spread throughout the store.

At this hour… how unusual.

“I’ll be right out.”

After saying that, I stretched out and walked out of the back room.

“Welcome―”

I bowed and greeted the guest near the doorway. Entering the store was a woman with long hair and small stature. Given that she was suit-clad, she was probably an OL on her way home from work.

Without so much as a glance at me, the woman pulled a shopping basket onto her arm. I double-checked the time on the clock. Being alone in a place like this at this time of night was unsafe. Not even a car was in sight, huh, this person, could she be… Surely she must have missed the last train and was returning home on foot.

No way…

In my recent habit, I have begun observing the occasional customer and analyzing their reasons for dropping by and the purpose of their purchase. Please don’t judge me as a lecher but I had so much time on my hands.

The woman with fatigue on her features paced around the store with a sluggish gait. She was still young, likely in her early twenties. Thank you for your hard work until this late.

The fact that she was stepping on the heels of the shoes she was wearing suggested that she must have been exceptionally worn out. She staggered to the confectionery section. In the basket on her arm, she tossed desserts and cups of pudding into it manfully that I wondered if she was going to purchase all of them at once.

After putting in the confectionery, she turned to the beverages. Cartons of strawberry milk, chocolate café au lait, green tea milk, and lemon tea were dropped into the basket somewhat roughly. From there, she headed to the bakery corner. Rather than choosing one, she grabbed one side at a time. Crème fraîche, melon bread, red bean buns, cinnamon rolls with condensed milk, twisted doughnuts, and banana steamed bread…

At the sight of the piles of products, I couldn’t help but feel queasy. My mouth seemed to be getting sweeter and sweeter naturally.

Did that person intend to consume all of that food by herself? If so, that was amazing, her sugar consumption would be excessive.

Many women apparently have a sweet tooth but I never imagined that anyone would buy that many.

I was half impressed and half pulled back.

The woman subsequently approached another display shelf, carrying her basket with a heavy demeanor.

At that moment, she cast a glance in my direction.

Oh, crap…

With that thought, I begin to restock the plastic bags with a nonchalant look on my face. Right, of course. Despite being the only customer in the store, she must have felt awkward being the subject of such intense attention. Excuse me.

I, likewise, was frantic, nevertheless. Unless I distractimyself by focusing on something with my eyes, myigaze would land on the woman inirags whoiwas standing with her handion the window pane and staring fromithe outside…

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