Today, the hellish school day has finally ended.
Maybe because of yesterday’s extortion incident, it felt like the whispers from Sakaki and the others were at least 20% worse than usual, but I managed to endure it. Sadly, I can feel my tolerance for these whispers growing day by day as I go through school life.
If I weren’t me, I might have even ended up skipping school. But despite everything, I’m still managing to attend school every day.
While thinking about all this, today I confidently boarded the train heading towards home, as planned. Yesterday was just an anomaly; normally, it’s not every day that I get accosted by such thugs. It was simply a case of having terrible luck.
I put my wireless earphones in and, as usual, listened to music while the train swayed. Enjoying the passing scenery while listening to music is a big stress reliever for me, a time for relaxation.
Before I knew it, the train had arrived at my home station.
However, today I’m not getting off here. Today, I plan to get off three stations further.
________And then
“Welcome!”
Right now, I’m not at home but at the counter of the popular hamburger shop “Dokumanaldo,” taking orders from customers.
Yes. I’m working part-time.
Working at Dokumanaldo is a great way for me to unwind, or rather, it plays the role of a precious time that helps me relive a lost page of my youth.
At school, I’m unable to communicate with others and spend most of my time expressionless, but here, I work hard with a bright smile and a cheerful attitude, loosening up the stiff muscles of my face.
This job, where I can interact with people more than I ever do, is a valuable time that reminds me I’m living in society.
“Your smile is wonderful today too, handsome young man.”
And, just like every day, the regular old lady has come to the counter.
“Thank you. Would you like the usual set today as well?”
“Yeah, the usual. Ah, I’m so happy to see you again today, young man.”
“I’m happy too. Be careful with your health since the hot season is coming soon.”
Right now, I’m having a very human conversation.
And then, the next customer, who had been waiting behind, arrives at the counter.
“Welcome! What would you like to order?”
Again, I try to flash the biggest smile I can muster, showing the expression on my face.
“I’ll have the usual too!”
Next, two high school girls, probably about the same age as me, wearing different school uniforms.
They’re the type of high-energy gals.
“Also, can you give me your Line ID, brother?”
“Just the usual, huh? Haha, then please take this number tag and wait for your order.”
I don’t quite get the vibe, being the introverted loner that I am, but I’ve been doing this part-time job for a while. I just brush it off as best as I can.
“You’re such a cheapskate!”
Why would anyone need to get my Line ID?
It’s not like I’m handsome, and I’m not the kind of person who gets asked for their contact information.
I’ve never once been told I’m good-looking by anyone in my life.
So yeah, it’s just awkward. The gal’s vibe from earlier probably just asked everyone like that.
I’m nothing more than the loner who pretends to sleep on his desk at school…
And nothing beyond that.
Yeah. I’m just a loner at school…
While thinking about that, and feeling a bit down again, I quickly switch my mindset and focus on attending to the next customer.
As expected of a popular chain, the number of customers today is staggering.
Especially in the after-school hours, this area is crowded with high school and middle school students who must attend schools nearby.
It seems this store has a relatively higher number of female customers.
For statistical purposes, there’s a button at the register to record the gender of the customer served, and it turns out 70% of them are women.
But still, I can’t quite get used to this feeling of my forehead being all exposed.
Yes. Unlike at school, where I wear glasses, here at Dokumanaldo, I take them off and wear contact lenses. I try to push my bangs up and tuck them under my hat as much as possible.
For me, wearing glasses and letting my bangs fall near my eyes helps me concentrate and feel calm, but I was told during the interview that I had to do it this way.
So, after the usual questions during the interview, the woman who is now the store manager looked at me intently and said:
“If you change to contacts and either cut your bangs or tuck them under your hat while you’re working, I’ll hire you.”
After failing two other part-time job interviews, I followed her request. The result was, on my first day at work, the manager unexpectedly said “Good. Perfect” and patted my shoulder with a satisfied look.
Also, she somehow touched my abs and commented, “Your shoulders are impressive,” which I didn’t quite understand, but…
Well, regardless, I’m just grateful she hired me.
The store’s sales are doing great nationwide, and it seems the manager has been in a good mood these past few months, which I’m happy about.
For now, this middle school girl, who I see almost every day, has become such a familiar face. The number of regular customers is definitely a reason for the store’s good sales.
“Welcome!”
And once again, I smoothly greet the next customer… when
“….”
No way.
The feeling of my spine freezing—this is probably what they mean by that.
Impossible.
Yes. Right now, in front of me is a girl I recognize.
And she’s not even a regular customer at this store; in fact, it’s probably her first time here…
“Heh, fufufu, I’m surprised. This is amazing.”
That’s right. For some reason, in front of me, there’s a woman wearing a familiar school uniform, talking to me with an exaggerated smile and looking up at me in a deliberately cute way.
Naturally, I know her name.
This is the worst. I’ve been working here for about a year, but I’ve never run into a student from my school before. I specifically work at this store, far from school and three stations away from home, to avoid such encounters.
And yet, here she is. Why is she here…?
Yamamoto Sayaka.
Or rather, the little devil bitch.
“Huh, so, Mamiya-kun, you can smile like that. That’s great.”
As always, there she is, wearing her usual sweet voice and looking up at me with a smile, her amber-colored hair framing her beautiful face.
I can’t comprehend this situation and my mind is starting to spin, almost forgetting to make my usual smile. But then I remember, she’s a customer, so I pull myself together.
“What would you like to order?”
Yes. I quickly compose myself and go through the customer service procedures calmly, sticking to the manual.
“Hmm?”
Then, pretending to think, she places her slender finger on her lips, tilts her head, and makes that same deliberate gesture.
But still, I can’t understand what she’s doing…
Because for some reason, her gaze isn’t on the menu, but right at my face.
She’s staring directly into my eyes for some reason.
“Ha-have you decided on your order?”
I still don’t understand, but staying calm, I gently ask her what she wants, hoping to finish this exchange quickly.
“Yeah! I think I’ve decided.”
“Alright, what would you like?”
“Small fries. Fufufu, and I’d like your smile too, please.”
And before I knew it, she was smiling at me while making her order.
“Got it.”
Honestly, I thought she was just messing around, but this interaction meant I could finally finish taking her order, and I felt a little relieved.
“Huh? Hey, aren’t you going to give me a smile, Mr. Employee?”
As long as I’m standing here, I’m a professional. I numb my emotions and carefully form a smile on my face as I turn it toward her.
But for some reason, she responds with a satisfied smile, mirroring mine.
“Okay then, Mr. Employee. Now try calling me Sayaka.”
What is she doing?
“…”
This time, I’m just going to ignore her.
Yes, our store does offer smiles as a service, but there’s no service where we call women by their first names.
So now, she puffs up her cheeks and gives me a mischievous “You’re such a cheapskate.”
I ignore it.
“…”
Finally, I think she realized that there’s still a line of customers behind her. Whether she gave up or got bored, she quickly went over to the waiting area with her order, saying, “Well, I’ll see you at school.”
However, just before leaving the counter, she beckons me over with her small hand, leaning in close to my ear and whispering:
“I’ll be back. Fufufu, and I’ll keep this a secret from everyone for now.”
Her words, along with that sweet voice, are stuck in my mind, and I can’t shake them off.
It’s not like our school forbids part-time jobs if you get permission. So, she’s not doing anything wrong.
But still, if she’s going to keep it a secret, it would be helpful…
What does she mean by telling me that? Is she asking me to do something in return for keeping it a secret?
I don’t know.
I have no idea. It’s probably just a coincidence that she showed up here, but still, why would a classmate who’s never even looked at me suddenly start talking to me like this…?
What does she want from me?
Is it just a fleeting moment of amusement for someone like me, the lonely outcast? If that’s all it is, then I can live with it… but not knowing her true intentions is really freaking me out.
“Hey, Mamiya. That cute girl from earlier—who was she? Is she your friend from school? If so, seriously, introduce her to me!”
As I’m thinking about this, I hear the voice of a senior from another high school who works part-time with me.
“The girl from earlier, who was she?”
“Yeah, the one who asked for a smile.”
Smile… it must be Yamamoto.
“No, unfortunately, she’s not a friend of mine.”
I’m a loner, after all.
“Come on, stop lying.”
“No, it’s true…”
I won’t say it aloud, but I’m a loner.
I don’t have any friends at school.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Right. Because I’m a loner…
