I arrived at the Anumate in front of the station, about a fifteen-minute walk from school. I’d come looking for a light novel I’d been wanting for ages—but things didn't go as planned.
"I’m terribly sorry. Due to its popularity, In Another World, I Sucked the Breasts of S-Rank Beauties and Sucked Up Their Cheat Skills Too is currently out of stock."
"...Haa."
I let out a heavy sigh at the clerk's words.
The web novel I loved, In Another World, I Sucked the Breasts of S-Rank Beauties and Sucked Up Their Cheat Skills Too, had finally been released in print. I'd come all this way specifically to buy it, only to find it sold out.
I guess that’s just the power of a popular isekai series. It had tens of thousands of followers online, so I suppose its popularity was a given.
I started heading back, my shoulders slumped.
(Anumate usually comes with exclusive store bonuses, so I really wanted to get it here if possible... Sigh.)
"I really am having no luck today."
The option for an e-book existed, but I’d heard that buying physical copies sometimes increased the chances of a series getting a sequel... So, what should I do?
(I want to read it during breaks at school, so I definitely want a physical copy.)
I pulled out my phone to search for nearby bookstores.
There’s a Tatsuya bookstore near Anumate... Maybe I’ll have a shot there.
But since even a specialty shop like Anumate was out of stock, there was a good chance Tatsuya would be too.
(I'll try calling to check their inventory, just in case.)
After leaving Anumate, I made the call while walking toward Tatsuya.
"He-llo! Tatsuya Station Store here!"
"Ah, excuse me. I’d like to check if you have a light novel called In Another World, I Sucked the Breasts of S-Rank Beauties and Sucked Up Their Cheat Skills Too in stock."
"Ah, a light novel? Gotcha!"
The female clerk had a strangely casual vibe.
And her voice sounded familiar for some reason... Was it just my imagination?
"Hmm, let’s see... It looks like we have four copies of that 'Boob' whatever-it's-called book left!"
"I see. Thank you very much for checking. I'm heading over now."
"Okaaay!"
The line went dead with a click.
Normally, you're supposed to wait for the customer to hang up first, right?
(She sounded young, so she's probably just a new part-timer.)
I've never worked a part-time job, so I didn't really know how hard it was. I decided not to judge her too harshly.
(In the first place, my high school forbids part-time jobs unless you have special permission, so I couldn't work even if I wanted to.)
"...Right, I'm here."
I walked straight into Tatsuya.
A clerk was busy with something at the register, so I headed over.
"Um, I'm the one who called just now... Hmm?"
"Ah! Welcome! We have In Another World, I Sucked the Breasts of S-Rank Beauties and Sucked Up Their Cheat Skills Too right her—"
The female clerk, wearing a navy apron over a white blouse, looked at my face and instantly looked like she’d just swallowed a bug.
She had light-colored hair styled in under-twintails, and a pair of large fruits were resting heavily on top of the stack of new books she held in both hands.
(Those breasts... There's no mistake.)
"Mi—Miyama?"
"Geh. The otaku who sits behind me..."
I had no idea why, but for some reason, Airi Miyama was working a shift at Tatsuya.
(Wait, wasn't she supposed to be on a date with her boyfriend right now?)