Even though she had finally come to visit after such a long time and I wanted to catch up with Sasaki-san properly, I was honestly already completely preoccupied with Ichinose-san. Whether she was using her own confession as a springboard or not, she was currently overflowing with motivation—but I had no idea when her switch might suddenly flip back off.
I’d heard stories about people filling a hole in their broken heart with work, but that rarely seemed to lead in a positive direction. Of course, my knowledge of that was limited to dramas and manga.
No, wait.
"Sasaki-san is quite the reader, too. You two might actually get along, Ichinose-san."
"Oh? Is that so?"
I threw out a conversation starter as the two of them awkwardly introduced themselves. Ichinose-san was a bookworm herself, so despite the age gap, I hoped they might strike up a friendship. If she could find someone she felt comfortable around, it might not completely solve her brother issues, but it could at least ease her loneliness. Then again, I wondered if she really should be distancing herself from her brother...
"I... I do read books, but..."
"Really? I don't have many reading buddies around me, so it's been a little lonely. I'd love it if we could be friends."
"Eh, um... well..."
Oops. Sasaki-san had reverted to the version of herself I was familiar with. Was this her public face? If so, I suppose I could take it as a sign that the middle-schooler version of Sasaki-san had truly opened up to me. Still, a part of me really wanted her to keep that mature, "college student" aura! But then again, that version of her jumping up and down with joy was also... just... so much!!
"...U-Um... I'm actually in the middle of work right now..."
"Ah... right, of course."
"No, it's fine for now," I interjected. "Just switch back to work mode when a customer actually shows up."
"Eh...?"
It wasn't like we got many customers anyway. Sajou believed that as long as you did your job properly when it actually mattered, everything else was fair game. Sorry, Old man.
"Sasaki-san reads romance novels, right? Ichinose-san, what kind of stuff do you usually go for?"
"Um... I don't really have a specific preference... I just pick whatever titles catch my eye."
"Whoa, that’s amazing..."
"...!?"
Sasaki-san stared at Ichinose-san with sparkling eyes. Apparently, Ichinose-san's status as a pure reader was deeply impressive to her. It was a world I didn't understand at all, since I mostly stuck to manga. But it was true that having no preference for genres made it feel like she simply loved "books" as a concept. There were infinite books in the world, so she could just keep reading forever. Though, when I remembered that leaning against Kuma-san-senpai's back while reading was a key part of the experience for her, I started to feel a bit sad again.
Ichinose-san seemed a bit overwhelmed by the look of pure respect, but I decided to leave them to it for a while.
◆
"........"
Man, we really weren't getting any customers.
I had left Sasaki-san in Ichinose-san's care—or was it the other way around?—about thirty minutes ago. Since this was an easy part-time job, I’d finally run out of things to do. It wasn't the right time to update the in-store displays, and if I were my usual self, this was about the time I’d start standing around like a mannequin, thinking, Man, I wish this shift would end already.
Even so, the conversation was in full bloom between Ichinose-san and Sasaki-san over by the register. Most of what I heard was Sasaki-san asking questions, but Ichinose-san was answering her firmly with a soft—wait, soft? Maybe it was because she was talking to Sasaki-san, but Ichinose-san was holding her own in the conversation. Honestly, what was I even thinking about someone her age?
I was worried about Ichinose-san's mental state, but at this rate, this wasn't going to count as training. I’d be leaving soon, so I felt like we should make this time as meaningful as possible. Right, I’d ask Sasaki-san to help out.
"Sorry to interrupt the chat. Sasaki-san, do you have a moment?"
"Yes?"
The main hurdle for Ichinose-san was dealing with irregular situations—specifically, customer service. Anyone’s mind would go blank the first time a customer started finding fault with them. For someone as obviously timid as Ichinose-san, she’d be the perfect target for both logical, nitpicking pests and the more aggressive, boorish types.
I could teach her the tricks of the trade until I was blue in the face, but the reality was that without experience, all that theory would just fly out of her head the moment things got heated. In the end, it all came down to getting used to it.
And so, the role-play training began. I had Ichinose-san stand behind the register while I played the part of the "unwelcome" customer, coming in to cause trouble. I walked straight from the entrance, eyes locked onto Ichinose-san, approaching her with a sharp, intimidating glare. Ichinose-san... if you keep staring back like that, the customer is going to feel on edge...
I stood in front of the register and looked down at Ichinose-san, who was glaring back at me with a bit of a defensive edge.
"Hey, don't you guys have any magazines?"
"Ugh... w-we don't."
"Hah? Why the hell not?"
"W-Well, as for why..."
If a customer like this actually showed up, I’d want to grab the store mic and scream in a death-metal growl while giving a thumbs down, "Go check the sign out front and don't come back!" But in a professional capacity, that kind of retaliation just invited more trouble. Usually, if you just bowed sincerely and said, "I'm sorry, we don't carry those," they'd leave with nothing more than a click of the tongue. If the clerk was left with a grudge after that, it was society's fault. I really wished there was a law that allowed us to install a trapdoor in front of the register to drop people into a pool of lotion with a single button press.
Putting my trashy thoughts aside... Ichinose-san should have known the standard responses, but she seemed to have forgotten that she wasn't supposed to try and get the upper hand on a customer.
"I-I'll go ask the Manager!"
With that, Ichinose-san scampered off to the back. Well, I suppose that was one way to handle it. But customers asked about products all the time; if the staff couldn't handle basic inquiries, it would just become a burden for the Old man. I wanted her to be able to handle it herself eventually, once she got the hang of things.
I’d have to talk to Ichinose-san later—wait, Ichinose-san? How far are you going!? You really don't have to go all the way to the Old man!!
◆
I dove into the back room like I was jumping into a fire and slid in just in time to explain things to the Old man, who looked like he was about to turn into a terrifying gargoyle while Ichinose-san bowed frantically to him. He gave me a wry smile once he realized it was just a practice drill. "She's doing quite well, isn't she?" he said, patting Ichinose-san on the head like she was his own granddaughter. She looked a bit embarrassed, but a small smile played on her lips. For the record, she was not doing well. And Old man, aren't you the one who usually starts shouting immediately?
"Well, I guess that might be the right answer in some other stores," I said.
"Y-Yes..."
I led Ichinose-san back out to the front to continue the exercise. Since it was her first time, I didn't scold her and simply taught her a few safe, standard responses. She placed a notepad on the register counter and began writing them down with great care. Oh, Ichinose-san had surprisingly round, bubbly handwriting... Considering how much she read, that was a bit of a surprise.
"S-So this is what a part-time job is like...!"
Sasaki-san had been watching us from the side of the counter with sparkling eyes. I started to wonder if she’d ever had a job before, then remembered her real age a second later. It was no use; the "college student" impression was just too powerful. Or maybe it was just because that’s what I wanted her to be... "College student"... that really was a power word. The final evolution of titles.
Sasaki-san’s pure smile and gaze were currently threatening to melt me into a puddle. Honestly, isn't "melting to death" the most brutal way to go?
"Alright, Sasaki-san, you're next. I want to try a few different patterns, so could you play the role of a difficult customer?"
"Hueh...!? A-A difficult customer...?"
"Cut—yeah, a difficult customer."
Damn, she let a glimpse of her actual age slip through because she was flustered... She was good. Aside from Natsukawa, she was the first person who’d managed to completely scramble the controls of my overflowing Emotional Expression Radar. Dammit... if she really were a college student, I could have at least acted a bit more spoiled with her!! Dammit...
"Ah, well... if it's too hard—"
"N-No! I'll do it! This is all part of my social study!"
"......? Is that right?"
I didn't think I needed to force her, but she seemed unexpectedly fired up. Looking at the way Sasaki-san clenched her small fists in front of her chest, I could practically hear her saying, "Big sister is going to do her best!" Do your best, big sister...! (My eyes were wide open now).
Sasaki-san gave a determined huff and ran out of the shop. Wow, seeing her run really made me feel that middle-schooler energy. Youth sure was nimble. I was glad I was only seeing her from behind; if I’d seen her from the front, my eyes would have been glued to the things being tossed around by that violent potential energy. I truly, sincerely hoped Sasaki-san went to an all-girls school.
".........Must be nice..........."
"........."
I thought I heard a faint whisper from Ichinose-san behind the counter. I almost whipped around to look at her, but I stopped myself. I knew that voice; it was the sound of someone's subconscious leaking out.
I moved to the corner of the register area, trying not to look directly at her. When I finally risked a glance, Ichinose-san was beet red all the way to the tips of her ears, covering her mouth with both hands and trembling. Not yet... you can still do this, Ichinose-san! I'm counting on you!!
"H-Here I go!"
Sasaki-san called out from near the entrance. I told her to go ahead. At that cue, Ichinose-san straightened her posture and looked forward, though her ears were still bright red. With a mix of complicated emotions swirling around her, Sasaki-san began to walk toward the register with a slow, deliberate swagger.
"Oi, oi, oi—listen here, you jerk—!"
Hold on a second, young lady.
"Kurenaaaaai daaaa—!"