The silence persisted. Her extreme reticence was palpable from her very silhouette, so I felt no particular need to question it. I surmised that any proactive maneuvering on my part would be a strategic blunder, so I remained perfectly stationary.
"……U-um…… Er……"
"Yes?"
"……I saw the…… recruitment notice at the entrance……"
"Oh, is that so—Wait, what?"
Wait, the part-time job recruitment? Huh? For real?
If she came in after seeing that, it must mean she wants to work here... Ichinose-san? This is technically a service industry position; I wonder if she will be all right.
"───I understand. I'll go fetch the Manager, so could you wait here for a moment?"
"……Yes."
I really hope she'll be okay...
◆
"Oh, so it’s Mina-chan!"
"Wait, you know her?"
"You always head home at noon, after all. She is a regular young lady who always stops by around snack time."
"Snack time..."
Like a three o'clock snack? That is a phrasing one rarely encounters these days; I wonder if it even registers with the youth of today? It might not even translate to people of my own generation...
In any case, so that was Ichinose-san's given name... Yes, it is quite fitting. Her voice possesses a certain charm, and it is a soft-sounding name that suits her perfectly. I suppose she decided to apply because the shop is operated by an acquaintance.
"Maji? It’s Mina-chan? I am a fortunate man indeed!"
"Ah, right."
The Old man reverted to a youthful vernacular the moment his excitement levels spiked. I hear him use "maji" quite frequently. He must be considerably elated; he was walking so briskly that one would never guess his lower back usually suffered from a slight stoop.
I followed after the Old man. To be honest, I was curious. Witnessing Ichinose-san engaged in actual conversation was a genuine rarity, so I wished to observe further. I wonder if she always converses with the Old man here? She does not appear to be the type to open her heart with such facility.
"You're hired!"
"Um, Manager?"
Is that not a trifle premature? Ichinose-san is just standing there, utterly bewildered. Did you two actually engage in a dialogue? It felt as though he simply blurted that out the instant they crossed paths. Hey, wait a minute, we discussed matters in much finer detail during my own hiring process.
"Manager. I'll keep an eye on the shop, so please, escort her to the back."
"Oh! You are quite the perceptive youth!"
"U-um..."
Though her eyes were obscured by her bangs, I felt as though I could decipher Ichinose-san's expression. She was undoubtedly ruminating, 'Really? Am I truly already hired?' Actually, it would not just be Ichinose-san; anyone would be plunged into bewilderment by this. Securing employment merely by submitting documents—is this some sort of black company?
"Now, to the back, Mina-chan!" The Old man, whose spirits were soaring, led the way while Ichinose-san managed to follow without falling behind. I could still read the confusion from the curve of her mouth. As she passed by, I felt as though our eyes met.
Whenever a girl of such petite stature hastens her pace, why do I feel as though I can hear the rhythmic bouncing of a caricature? To project such a sound effect onto a classmate... is that not a bit problematic?
"Excuse me—do you happen to have 'Monthly Mutant' here?"
"What even is that publication?"
Well, in any case, the addition of a new part-time worker to this Secondhand Bookstore is a positive development. The fact that it is Ichinose-san is startling, but the labor is not particularly taxing, and once summer vacation concludes, I shall be able to depart without a guilty conscience. The Old man will surely adjust the schedule properly for me...
Ah, customer, we do not stock magazines here.
◆
Now, while the Old man’s life expectancy had seemingly increased by approximately three years thanks to Ichinose-san’s arrival, it appeared that his doting, grandfatherly attitude prevented the negotiations from progressing at all, leading to the Wife tagging in for a substitution. While looking dejected, the Old man was nevertheless unable to conceal his joy as he proceeded with the task of labeling old books.
"Well, I'm heading out now."
"Oh, thank you for your assistance again today."
It was the customary exchange, yet the Old man’s cadence was different. I could hear a faint, wheezy humming... Was that a popular ballad? Why was the register unnecessarily high?
I removed the green apron, the functional necessity of which remains a mystery to me. As I moved toward the shelf where I stored my personal effects, I heard the Wife's voice emanating from the room that served as their living quarters.
"I am pleased that you have come to work here, but... can we not do something about those bangs? It is not quite appropriate for customer service, you see."
Uh-oh. She is being unexpectedly rigorous. Based on what I had gathered, I assumed the Wife would have taken a liking to Ichinose-san as well. Well, it is an objective fact that she does not seem suited for service work in her current state.
"I do not wish for the customers to form a negative impression, so how about I trim them for you?"
"Ah..."
"Wait, stop. Stop right there, ma'am."
I could not help but interject.
The Wife has navigated the same era as that Old man. While she likely defers to men, she gives the strong impression of being demanding with fellow women, possessed by a powerful meddling streak. However, unleashing that upon a modern high school girl is a trifle hazardous. I suspect modern girls are approximately fifty times more temperamental than those of the past. Specifically, in the eyes of labor laws.
Wait, ma'am? Why did you produce a sewing kit? Does that not only contain thread nippers or dressmaking shears?
"Oh, Sajou-san. Good work today."
"Ah, hello."
"This is Mina Ichinose-san. I was just explaining the parameters of the part-time job to her."
"I see. Um..."
Going with "Nice to meet you, Ichinose-san!" would be a tactical error. From Ichinose-san’s perspective, seeing someone who was just acting as a clerk suddenly switch into classmate mode would cause her to wither. In that case, I must...
"───Nice to meet you. I'm Sajou."
"Eh..."
For the time being, I had no choice but to feign a first encounter. If I approached her as a classmate, then from Ichinose-san’s perspective, I would be "the male classmate who witnesses her perpetual solitude." That specific nuance would be a major shrinkage point. For the Old man's sake, I could not allow Ichinose-san to flee from this position.
"Ichinose-san, was it? I heard from the Manager that you are quite the bibliophile?"
"Y-yes..."
"Bangs can be quite obstructive when one is immersed in a book, can they not? How do you usually manage them?"
"Ah...!"
Since the Old man took such a liking to her, the Wife likely has no intention of letting Ichinose-san escape either. But it would be a different matter entirely if Ichinose-san declared her intention to resign, so I had to propose an optimal compromise. If I remained a silent observer, Ichinose-san looked as though she were about to have her bangs forcibly truncated.
"U-usually...!"
Ichinose-san rummaged through her gray shoulder pouch. She extracted two hairpins and, while inclining her head slightly, parted her long bangs at approximately a 60/40 ratio and pinned them back so her eyes were visible. When she lifted her gaze, I beheld Ichinose-san's face for the first time.
"L-like this...!"
"Oh, that certainly makes a difference."
Large, somewhat drooping eyes were revealed. She likely maintained those long bangs due to some sort of complex, yet I perceived nothing amiss. If I were pressed to comment, was it that her forehead was somewhat broad? Or perhaps she possessed an "anime face"... her features appeared quite juvenile for a high school student. Um...
"If you observe the female news anchors on the morning news, I believe those with long hair maintain them at roughly this length. It is what they call a trend."
"Oh, is that so?"
Well, I simply fabricated that on the spot. I possess zero knowledge regarding the current state of news anchor hairstyles. But if I did not provide such a justification, she likely would not have been convinced. What shall I do if she begins scrutinizing the bangs of news anchors from this day forward...?
"Let us proceed with that hairstyle, Ichinose-san. It will pose no issue whatsoever for your duties here."
"Y-yes."
It might be prudent to withhold any commentary regarding her facial features. Honestly, there is no telling what innocuous remark might inadvertently cause her distress. It is fine; based on my cumulative part-time job experience, I am well-acquainted with the nature of professional relationships. Or so I would like to believe.
"It will depend on the final schedule adjustment, but I look forward to working with you. Well then, I shall be taking my leave."
"Oh, Sajou-san, wait a moment. We have some grapes; do take some home with you."
"Wait, really?"
I am forced to acknowledge the Wife's generosity. Before I realized it, I was dangling a bag containing two bunches of ice-cold grapes in one hand. I had no temporal margin to decide whether to accept or decline...
"Yes, yes, and speaking of which, that man is being insufferable again! It was just the other day, you see...?"
"Ah, right."
Wait, hold on, what? A remarkably dense conversation has commenced... Huh? I was ostensibly heading home now... I wish to consume these grapes post-haste... My bag is already becoming saturated with condensation. Ichinose-san has been completely abandoned.
"……Um……"
What should I do? Should I resign?
Should I be the one to resign?