Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/2912051604232886910
Shunta spotted a flyer advertising a part-time job at a café, called them that very day, and set up an interview.
The next day.
He took a deep breath and pushed open the glass door. The bell chimed.
“Welcome!”
The rich aroma of coffee filled the air inside the café.
(……I’m getting nervous.)
His throat instinctively made a sound.
“Excuse me. I’m Kikuchi, and I have an interview scheduled.”
“Oh, please wait a moment!”
The employee hurriedly ran to the back of the shop.
He was led to a small break room for staff.
A few minutes later.
A kind-looking man opened the door.
“You’re Kikuchi, the one who called yesterday, right?”
“Yes. I’m Shunta Kikuchi. Nice to meet you.”
Shunta handed over his resume.
The manager glanced over it with a calm expression, then slowly looked up.
“Well then, let’s have a little chat.”
“Yes.”
Reasons for applying.
Customer service experience.
Days available to work.
The interview proceeded in a calm atmosphere from start to finish.
Shunta answered each question honestly, one by one.
There was no reason to lie.
The manager listened, nodding occasionally, then lowered his gaze back to the resume.
“……”
His expression clouded ever so slightly.
His gaze had fixed on a single spot on the resume.
(……I wonder if something’s wrong.)
Shunta tilted his head slightly.
But he couldn’t tell exactly what the manager was looking at.
Eventually, the manager quietly closed the resume and let out a small sigh.
(……Just as I thought.)
(With a background like this, it’s going to be tough.)
Just then.
“Manager—”
The door to the break room swung open.
“I have an order—”
The high school girl who walked in lost her words the moment she saw Shunta.
Pink hair.
A sloppily worn school uniform.
Flashy makeup.
A “gal” who would catch anyone’s eye.
“……”
Shunta’s eyes widened involuntarily.
(Kana Kawaguchi?)
(If I’m not mistaken, she’s that popular gal at school…)
They’d barely ever spoken.
However.
The moment Kana saw Shunta, she frowned blatantly.
It was as if she were looking at something filthy.
The store manager looked back and forth between the two of them.
“Kana-chan, do you know him?”
“……We go to the same school.”
After a brief pause, Kana continued.
“He’s famous at school.”
“Famous?”
“……In a bad way.”
Having said only that, Kana fell silent.
“Huh?”
At that tone, Shunta couldn’t help but furrow his brow.
“What?’”
Kana glared back at him, not to be outdone.
“You shouldn’t talk to me like that.”
The atmosphere in the break room grew heavy all at once.
“Now, now. You two, calm down.”
The store manager stepped between them.
Then, he turned his gaze back to Shunta.
“Kikuchi-kun.”
“Yes.”
“Looking at your resume alone, I do have some concerns.”
Hayata nodded quietly.
“…Yes.”
“But—”
The store manager smiled gently.
“You never made a single excuse, did you?”
“…Huh?”
“Usually, people try to make themselves look as good as possible. But you answered every question honestly.”
The manager tapped his resume lightly with his fingertip.
“You know, when it comes to customer service, being sincere is more important than being a smooth talker.”
“Besides, we just had someone quit.”
(……So that’s the real reason.)
Shunta’s eyes widened in surprise.
“So, why don’t you give it a try for just one week?”
“…Huh?”
It took him a moment to grasp the meaning of those words.
“Oh, thank you so much!”
Shunta wasn’t the only one surprised.
“Huh!?”
Kana let out a startled gasp.
“Manager, are you serious?”
“Yeah.”
“But, given his attitude just now…”
“I’ll make my final decision in a week. That’s fine, right?”
Kana glared at Shunta, clearly unconvinced.
Seeing her like that, the store manager smiled gently.
“Kana-chan, I’m counting on you to train him.”
(…Of all people.)
(God. If you’re watching, please redo the selection.)
“No way.”
Her answer was immediate.
“Absolutely not.”
“Come on.”
“If I say I don’t want to, I don’t want to.”
“Just for one week.”
“…………”
A long silence.
Kana let out a deep sigh.
“…If the manager insists that much…”
She brusquely brushed her hair back.
“It’s just for one week, mind you.”
“Thank you.”
The manager nodded with satisfaction.
“Alright then, Kikuchi. I’ll be counting on you starting after school tomorrow.”
“I’ll do my best!”
“You two, get along well.”
With that, the manager left the break room.
The door closed.
Silence.
Kana slowly approached Shunta.
Up close, her eyes held a clear look of disgust that she made no attempt to hide.
“…What are you doing here?”
Her voice was low.
“Are you actually going to work here?”
Without waiting for a reply, she continued.
“Don’t mess with me.”
“No way.”
“Just quit already.”
Shunta lowered his gaze and let out a small sigh.
(I’d rather not have anything to do with this, if possible.)
(But I have to earn a living to get by.)
(This isn’t the time to be stubborn.)
“……I’m sorry.”
“Huh?”
“I’m sorry about earlier.”
Kana’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
(……Did he apologize?)
(That Kikuchi?)
“To be honest, I think I’m going to be a burden.”
Hayata quietly bowed his head.
“But this is the one job I can’t quit.”
“I have my reasons—I need the money.”
“So, just one week is all I need.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Kana was at a loss for words.
The Shunta Kikuchi of yesterday wouldn’t have bowed his head like that.
He wouldn’t have said anything so considerate.
And there’s no way he would have apologized on his own.
Shunta bowed his head one more time.
“I know I’ll be a bother, but I’d appreciate your help.”
With those words, he quietly left the break room.
The door closed.
Kana stood frozen, staring at the door.
The Shunta Kikuchi she’d seen at school until yesterday.
The Shunta Kikuchi standing right in front of her today.
The same face.
The same name.
And yet—he was like a completely different person.
He apologized.
He bowed his head.
He even politely thanked the store manager.
(……This isn’t right.)
(This isn’t the guy I used to see at school.)
Kana stared at the door through which Shunta had disappeared.
(Who on earth are you……?)
That sense of unease alone refused to fade from the depths of her heart.
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