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When I unlocked the door and opened it, Ellis greeted me with her usual beaming smile.
“Welcome home, Rintaro.”
It’s a sight I’m completely used to by now, but how on earth does she know I’m coming home…? She’s probably listening for the sound of the key turning in the lock, but even so, her reaction is way too fast. This has to be some kind of superpower.
“Rintaro, how did your part-time job interview go?”
“They hired me. I never expected to get the job on the spot—”
That’s right—today was the day of my very first part-time job interview.
I was pretty nervous, and I’d thought through my strengths, weaknesses, and reasons for applying before heading in.
[When can you start?]
[How many hours can you work per month?]
That’s all they asked. Really, that’s all.
It actually left my mind completely blank, so when I asked, “Aren’t you going to ask why I want the job?” they just laughed at me. They even told me, “Part-time job interviews are just like this—you can relax.”
“Wow, that’s so Rintaro. Does that mean they see you as an immediate asset?”
“I think they’re just short-staffed.”
Elis is beaming with joy, her blue eyes sparkling. I’m happy, but I don’t think it’s anything that dramatic.
“Well then, let’s celebrate today! I’ll do my best to cook a special meal for Rintaro.”
“I just got hired for a part-time job. It’s no big deal.”
“It is a big deal! After all, it’s the day Rintaro is starting something new!”
With that, Ellis turned her back on me and skipped back to the living room.
“Heh…”
Seeing her incredibly innocent back, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
More than getting hired for the part-time job, the fact that Elis was so happy for me like this made me much happier.
★ ☆ ★
One day, some time after I’d started the part-time job.
“Alright, I’m off to work.”
“Okay. Rintaro, have a good day.”
Elis, who had come to see me off at the front door, waved cheerfully.
“What time do you get off today?”
“10 p.m. I’ll be eating the staff meal there, so you should go ahead and eat dinner on your own.”
“──Okay. Be careful on your way home.”
With Elis, who seemed somehow happy, seeing me off, I left the house.
Today was my fifth day on the job. To learn the ropes, I’d decided to take on a few extra shifts at first.
I ended up working at a slightly upscale family restaurant near my local station. Since the prices are a bit on the high side, there aren’t many students among the customers; I get the impression there are mostly families and older people.
At first, there was so much to learn that my head felt like it was going to explode, but I’ve been picking up the basics little by little—how to take orders, how to serve food, and how to ring up sales at the register.
It was busy, but the manager and my senior coworkers were all nice people, so I thought, “I think I can manage this…”
“Ozaki, after you take the order at Table 7, clear the plates at Table 3! Then, once you’re done with that, bring the food to Table 11!”
“…Got it!”
I take that back. Maybe this is impossible after all.
My first weekend shift was on a whole different level. Even after 9:00 PM, the restaurant was like a battlefield. Customers kept pouring in one after another, leaving me no time to catch my breath…!
If I tried to go over the steps in my head to figure out what to do next, there’s no way I’d keep up. It’s more mentally exhausting than I expected…!
Anyway, I just kept hanging on, trying not to hold anyone back, when another group of customers walked in.
“Ozaki, please show that new customer to their table!”
“Got it!”
It’s busy over here, but that’s my problem. It has nothing to do with the customers, so I have to keep smiling at all times.
Remembering what I’d been taught on my first day, I headed over to the customer.
“Welcome…?”
The situation was so completely unexpected that my brain completely froze.
Why? How come?
Why is Ellis here?????
Seeing my face frozen in shock, Ellis smirked slightly.
“Hey there, Rintaro. I just had to come by♡”
“‘Just had to come by’… really? And that outfit—”
For some reason, Ellis was all dressed up.
It wasn’t her usual loungewear, nor was it the clothes she wore to college.
A light white top paired with pale-colored pants that made her waist look unnaturally high. Her long, slender legs were impossible to miss—a simple yet strangely alluring, mature look.
Even though the whole outfit looked put-together, it didn’t feel like she was “trying too hard” at all; if anything, she exuded a sense of confidence, as if to say, “This is just the norm.”
But wait—this isn’t the time to be thinking about that! I’m on the clock right now!
“Is this a table for one?”
“Yes! But there’ll be two of us on the way out!”
Does that mean they’re going to wait until my shift ends…?
What on earth is this customer talking about?
“…Please have a seat over here.”
I managed to muster a professional tone and guided them to an empty two-seater table.
As we walked, I noticed that Ellis had a large tote bag slung over her shoulder.
It seemed a little too big for her outfit—maybe she’d been out shopping today?
…But this isn’t the time to be thinking about that.
“Is this seat okay?”
“Yeah. Thanks, Rintaro.”
“When you’re ready to order, please ring that bell.”
“Okay~♪”
I’m on the job. I have to stick strictly to the manual.
I repeat this to myself as if to convince myself, then immediately head back to the floor.
“Ozaki-kun… is that girl… your girlfriend?”
“No, she’s just a childhood friend who came by to mess around.”
“Huh… she’s really pretty. Is she a celebrity or something?”
“No, she’s not.”
My senior colleague looked thoroughly intrigued, glancing over at Ellis every now and then.
I get it. I totally get it.
But if possible, I’d rather he didn’t do that right now. It’s making my stomach churn.
“Wait, what do you mean, ‘just messing around’?”
“…I think she came to see me at work.”
“Ehh~, what’s that all about! That’s cute. Well then, Oozaki-kun, you’d better do your best and show her what you’re made of.”
“Well, I’ll do my best, but—”
Even as I said that, I didn’t have the luxury of standing around chatting.
The restaurant was as busy as ever; even while I was standing there, new orders kept coming in, and the pile of empty plates kept growing.
“Ozaki-kun, table 11, please!”
“Got it!”
For just this moment, I was actually grateful for the hustle and bustle as I grabbed the food and headed back to the floor.
Serving dishes, clearing tables, taking orders—
“—I just can’t… concentrate…”
The reason was Ellis. She’d been watching me run around busily ever since I started. Every time I passed the table where she was sitting, she’d wave at me, and whenever I stumbled while taking an order, she’d mouth “Go for it” to tease me.
Maybe I should sue her for interfering with my work.
At the very least, I’m definitely going to give her a lecture later.
When I finished taking the order and returned, the senior employee from earlier approached me with a smirk.
“Hey, that girl is definitely after you, Oozaki-kun.”
“I told you, it’s just a prank.”
“Would she dress up like that just for a prank?”
“She would, that girl.”
“Oh, really?”
The suspicious stares from the women are killing me. This is just the kind of story people will talk about.
All I wanted was to work my part-time job in peace…
“She’s not your girlfriend, is she?”
“No, she’s my childhood friend.”
I feel like I’ve had this same conversation back in college.
No matter how many times I explain it, why doesn’t the phrase “childhood friend” get taken the way I intend it to be?
“Ozaki-kun, Table 3 is open—could you clear it off?”
“Got it!”
I head over to clear the plates, as if fleeing from their questioning.
As soon as her food arrived, Ellis started eating quietly and properly.
She took a bite of her meal and narrowed her eyes happily. Just watching her like that, she looked like a beautiful customer simply enjoying her meal.
However, whenever I walked by, she would always follow me with her eyes.
And seeing Ellis and me like that, the seniors in the back were buzzing with gossip. Um, could you guys please stop slacking off?
The humiliation continued until Ellis finished her meal.
After paying the bill, Ellis made a point of coming over to where I was standing before leaving the restaurant.
“Rintaro.”
“…Is there something I can help you with, ma’am?”
“Your shift’s almost over, right?”
I glanced at my watch—it was past 10 p.m.
Before I knew it, my shift had already ended.
“Well, I guess it’s about time.”
“Then I’ll wait for you outside♪”
With that, Ellis left the restaurant with a satisfied look on her face.
A piercing gaze stabbed into my back as I was left behind.
Well then…………
“──Do I happen to be able to work overtime today?”
“‘Get out of here already!’”
Jeers flew over from the kitchen as well.
With this kind of teamwork, maybe I’ve landed a good part-time job……
★ ☆ ★
Feeling rushed, I finished changing and left the restaurant.
Once outside, I saw Ellis waiting a short distance away.
“Rintaro, good job today.”
Ellis, sensing my presence, looked up suddenly.
“You really did work hard. All because of a certain someone.”
“Hehe, it was fun, and the food was delicious.”
“You don’t usually hear someone say ‘fun’ about a family restaurant.”
I had a mountain of complaints I wanted to voice, but I was too exhausted to say anything else. Thanks to Ellis barging in on me, I was mentally drained.
“……I think I kind of get why people want to drink beer after work. Not that I’ve ever had any.”
“You want to drink beer?”
“No, I won’t. I’m underage.”
“Then, do you want to clear your head?”
“Well… I guess that’s true.”
As if she’d been waiting for this moment, Ellis gripped the handles of her tote bag more firmly.
“Then let’s make a detour.”
“A detour?”
“Yeah. A ‘good job’ party for Rintaro’s part-time job.”
Even as she said that, there was absolutely no sign of concern for me in Ellis’s expression.
If anything, it was as if she were seizing the opportunity to prey on a weakened victim—
I had a bad feeling about this.
“……Where are you planning to go?”
“To a sauna. There’s a nice one nearby ♡”
It wasn’t as bad a suggestion as I’d thought.
Iwami and the others had invited me to a sauna once before, and that feeling of “refreshment” was definitely addictive. So, I’d actually been thinking about going again soon.
“Come to think of it, are saunas famous in Germany too?”
“Yeah, I used to go with my family sometimes. I’ve been wanting to go again for a while, so I asked Rintaro to come with me.”
After my shift, working up another sweat here, then drinking ice-cold coffee milk after feeling refreshed. Gulp. My mouth is watering uncontrollably.
Oh well. I guess I’ll go along with Eris’s suggestion.
“Okay, then let’s stop by the sauna on the way home.”
“Yay♪”
So, where did Ellis end up taking me—
“Rintaro, it’s here.”
“……………………”
She got me.
This place is a private sauna parlor!!!!!!!!!
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