Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330662545387095/episodes/16817330668059982359
My part-time job is located near the border between downtown Hokusei and the office district.
It is a restaurant where I had a temporary part-time job during the Christmas season last year.
It was supposed to be a temporary job, but in the spring, Himuro san and other workers quit and I was asked to work there because of my good performance last year.
Just when I thought I had been fired from Lyconess, a scout came to me from a restaurant.
It’s like the gods of the world are always there to pick up the pieces. Well, I will probably quit by the time I graduate from college.
The reason I started working at the restaurant was because Ryoko, who was working there before me, asked me to join her.
In other words, from this spring, we are also colleagues at the same part-time job.
It’s a strange kind of rotten relationship.
＊
The closing meeting is over, and the employees are leaving through the kitchen door in droves.
“I’m so tired.”
“Too many customers.”
The season of welcome parties is still in full swing. Today, as usual, corporate customers were renting out the restaurant and holding welcome parties. Thanks to this, we had to serve food and drinks incessantly during business hours, and my legs were exhausted.
“Hey, hey, Ryoko chan ! Wanna go out for a drink now?”
One of the male part-timers called out to Ryoko as she finished getting ready to leave for work. He had joined the store at the same time as Ryoko and had been showing signs of interest in her for some time.
“I’m sorry. I have a prior engagement.”
Ryoko politely declined his invitation and came running to me who was waiting at the kitchen door.
“Kingo, sorry to keep you waiting. Let’s go.”
Of course, she was talking about me. I glanced in his direction and saw him staring at me with his mouth in a grimace.
Don’t make that face. We’ll talk about it some other time.
We walked out the kitchen door and approached the main street and started walking side by side.
“So, you asked me to go out with you, but where are we going?”
I hadn’t told her where we were going. I had already figured it out, so there was no need to keep it a secret.
“Hotel.”
“Ha !?”
Ryoko suddenly screamed out of the blue. I was surprised by her loud voice.
I’m going to take you to a bar called [Harborside] on the middle floor of a slightly upscale hotel called Hokusei City Hotel. I had wanted to go there since it was introduced on a TV program.
“W-w-what kind of place are you inviting me to !?”
“Eh, you don’t like it?”
I was puzzled by the unexpected reaction. Ryoko likes to drink and the interior of the restaurant was chic and relaxed, so I thought she would like it.
“It’s not that I don’t like it or anything, it’s just that I’m always surprised when someone suddenly asks me out ! I’m not mentally prepared…..”
“It’s not the kind of place you should be so nervous about. I’ve been there before.”
“T-that’s true, but…..we went there together…….”
The other day, we went to a bar together. At that time, I was starting to feel like I was getting used to it.
But at those stores, each item is expensive. Is your wallet tight because it’s payday?
“Don’t worry, I’ll pay for it.”
“It’s not about the money !?”
Ryoko’s face was still red and she was still screaming. She was fidgeting, looking embarrassed.
I wonder what’s going on. Is she not satisfied with her friend buying her a drink? It’s Ryoko’s way of being reserved.
“And look, I’m dressed like this today. …..It’s embarrassing if what I’m wearing isn’t shapely, right? Besides, today’s underwear…..murmur.”
Such is the casual style that Ryoko wears to college. The spring coordinate is a pair of slim-fit jeans and an off-white cardigan.
Well, I heard that there is a dress code in the hotel bar, but they won’t be offended even if you dress extremely rough.
“Don’t worry. I’m fine as Ryoko is now.”
“Don’t try to enjoy my normal self !”
What do you mean? I just want to talk with Ryoko the way she is now.
“I-I see, I’m sorry. Then let’s change the place.”
“Please do so. As you can imagine, I have to prepare myself, and I’m going through the phase……”
“Phase?”
Hmmm. Ari san invited me twice, and this time I consulted with her, so I feel like the phase have been taken enough. As for Ryoko, I wonder if something is stuck.
Well, anyway, if you don’t want to go to a bar, you’ll have to find somewhere else.
“Well then, how about Kingo’s room? I think…..I can relax there too.”
I nodded at Ryoko’s suggestion as she blushed. Certainly, if it’s my room, I don’t have to pay for it, and we can talk calmly. Of course, we don’t have to worry about the dress code. No one will get mad if we stay up until morning.
But my house is a mess right now….. And it’s really far away.
“It’s frustrating to spend all that time moving around.”
“Can’t you put up with that much !?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t stand it. I’ve been suppressing my feelings (for the band) for a long time.”
“For a long time !? You wanted to do it for a long time !?”
If you ask me if I wanted to do it, I would say yes. I love music. I like rock bands.
I left Lyconess and for a while I was out of music. I even thought about quitting. But now that I’m going to start again in the spring, I can’t help but get excited. I even wish I had asked Ari san to join earlier. I couldn’t, though, because she was preparing for an entrance exam.
“O-okay. If you’re going to say that much, let’s do it nearby.”
Ryoko agreed.
Then, where should I choose?
A place that is easy to get into, quiet, and doesn’t cost a lot of money……
“Yes, let’s go to a park near here !”
There is a small park tucked away between buildings. It was a small park with only benches and bars.
I thought it was a good suggestion. This way, Ryoko would not feel shy or self-conscious.
However, contrary to my expectations, Ryoko was staring at me with her mouth hanging open. Why do you look like a judge at a human surprise contest?
“P-park is the worst place to be though !? There will be other people there !?”
“Don’t worry. It’s the middle of the night and people won’t come. But I’d be surprised if people suddenly appeared.”
“Don’t try to enjoy the extreme thrill ! Wouldn’t it be embarrassing if people saw !?”
Are you embarrassed to be seen just talking?
Well, it’s not surprising that two people, a man and a woman, sitting next to each other in a park at night, could be misunderstood because of how they are meeting. But it’s just like junior high school students to worry about such things. How cute.
“If you don’t want to be seen, why don’t we sneak behind a tree?”
“Don’t try to enjoy the extreme thrill of it ! Besides, what if they hear us?”
“Don’t worry. Just keep our voices down.”
“Are you a connoisseur ! Don’t try to test me ! I mean, I don’t want to be in a place like that for my first time !”
She was already saying that she didn’t like this and she didn’t like that. What is wrong with Ryoko today? At this rate, no matter how much time passes, we won’t be able to talk about the band.
“I’ve had enough of this. We’re not going to get anywhere with this. Let’s go to the hotel like I planned.”
Ah, that’s all right. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t care where we go as long as we can sit down and talk.
I had decided where to go and were about to walk out. But at that moment, Ryoko suddenly grabbed my hand. I was surprised to feel a thin, silky, and smooth woman’s hand on mine.
“Um……I don’t know anything about that, so you have to lead, okay?”
“Of course. Leave it to me !”
“…………Yeah, I’ll leave it to Kingo.”
I’m the one who knows where the Hokusei City Hotel is, so I’ll lead the way properly.
Her face is also red. Is she not feeling well?
“Ryoko, are you all right? Do you have a fever?”
“Don’t try to act like a gentleman now !”
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This was very funny