Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/2912051604232886910
First day on the job.
In the locker room, Shunta slipped his arms into his new uniform.
The fabric, still a little stiff, made him realize that his new life was starting today.
Just as he was adjusting the collar of his uniform, it happened.
A knock echoed: “Knock, knock.”
“Coming in.”
The door opened, and Kana appeared.
“Nice to meet you. I’m afraid I might cause you some trouble.”
Shunta hurriedly bowed his head.
(She’s my senior here, after all.)
But Kana didn’t reply.
She just gave him a cold stare.
Then, she spat out the words under her breath.
“…I’m surprised you actually showed up here.”
Shunta tilted his head, not understanding what she meant.
“Huh…?”
Kana snorted derisively.
“Whatever.”
“I’ll teach you because it’s part of my job.”
“Don’t get the wrong idea.”
That single, cold remark was enough.
(……What’s up with this girl?)
Even so, Shunta didn’t argue back.
“…If I caused you any trouble, I’m sorry.”
Kana’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
(Creepy. What’s he up to?)
(If it were him, he’d definitely snap back.)
A slight sense of unease welled up deep inside her chest.
Just then, the changing room door opened.
“Oh, Kikuchi-kun. You’re here.”
It was the manager.
“Nice to meet you. I’ll show you around the kitchen.”
“Yes!”
Shunta gave Kana another slight bow, then followed the manager.
◆
Upon entering the kitchen, the manager addressed the staff.
“This is Shunta Kikuchi, who’ll be working with us starting today.”
Hayata stepped forward.
“Nice to meet you all. I’m Shunta Kikuchi. I know I might cause some trouble at times, but I look forward to working with you.”
“Nice to meet you too!”
“Good luck!”
He received warm responses.
The manager nodded with a smile.
“So, Kana, you’ll be his trainer.”
“……Yes.”
Her reply sounded somewhat reluctant.
Shunta gave a wry smile and followed Kana.
“First up, the register.”
“Yes.”
“If you run out of receipts, use this drawer.”
“I see……”
Shunta immediately pulled out his notepad.
“Spare receipts: under the register”
He scribbled it down quickly.
Kana was a little surprised.
“Next, the dining area.”
“Yes.”
“Paper napkins are here.”
“Thank you.”
“Paper napkins: next to the counter”
He jotted that down as well.
“When serving coffee, be careful about how you hold the cup.”
“Yes.”
Shunta held the cup and mimicked the motion of placing it at the customer’s table.
“…That’s wrong.”
Kana quietly pointed it out.
“The handle should be on the customer’s right side.”
“Oh… I’m sorry.”
Hayata immediately corrected his grip.
“Thank you.”
He opened his notepad again.
‘Cup orientation: Right’
He didn’t make any excuses.
When corrected, he simply corrected himself.
Kana found herself staring at Shunta without meaning to.
(……He apologized again.)
(He’s taking this way too seriously for it to be an act.)
After that, she continued teaching him how to clear tables and handle orders. Hayata listened intently, his expression serious, as if determined not to miss a single detail. Whenever he didn’t understand something, he always asked a question right then and there.
“If it gets busy, what should I prioritize?”
“Food first.”
“I see.”
He immediately jotted it down.
Kana didn’t say anything.
But her gaze lingered on Shunta longer than it had just a moment ago.
◆
“Kana.”
“Yes?”
“Table 6, please.”
“Yes.”
Kana placed the drinks on her tray and hurried toward the dining area.
That was when it happened.
The tip of her foot lightly brushed against the table leg.
“Ah…”
She lost her balance.
The iced coffee on the tray swayed violently.
The next instant.
Shunta reflexively reached out.
He steadied the glass that was about to tip over and caught the tray with his other hand.
The ice clinked.
Only a few drops spilled.
“Are you okay?”
Shunta said only that, then handed the tray back to Kana.
“…Thank you—”
Kana swallowed the words that had slipped out before she could stop them.
“…It’s nothing.”
She corrected herself brusquely and took the tray.
Hayata gave a slight smile.
“Glad I made it in time.”
With that, he returned to his station.
Kana watched his back as he walked away.
(Did he help her before he even had time to think…?)
If it had been that guy she’d seen at school,
he would’ve definitely turned a blind eye.
He wouldn’t have helped at all.
And yet—
There wasn’t even a hint of hesitation in his actions just now.
◆
The first day consisted entirely of simple tasks.
Even so, Shunta never slacked off once and worked earnestly until the very end.
And then, closing time.
“You really saved the day today.”
The manager smiled with satisfaction.
“It’s rare to see a new hire who can handle this much on their first day.”
Shunta scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed.
“Thank you.”
The manager turned his gaze toward Kana.
“Kana, could you just show him how to clock out before he leaves?”
“…Sure.”
The manager headed back to the office.
They were left alone.
“Here’s the shift schedule.”
“Okay.”
“Also, there’s a LINE group for the part-timers, so I’ll add you.”
Kana took out her smartphone.
Shunta took out his smartphone as well.
“…Well, good luck.”
For just a moment, Shunta’s eyes widened in surprise.
“…Thanks.”
He gave a slight bow and left the store.
The doorbell rang.
Kana, left alone, stood motionless, staring at the closed door.
(…What’s going on?)
She couldn’t get the image of Shunta—the guy she’d worked with all day—out of her head.
That awful guy she’d seen at school.
The boy who’d been right in front of her today.
They were just too different.
(Is that really the same Kikuchi?)
The sense of unease that had taken root deep in her chest had grown so strong she could no longer ignore it.
◆
A little while before that day—.
Back when Shunta was out working his part-time job.
Creak—.
Someone stepped into Shunta’s room.
They quietly scanned the room.
Eventually, gaze settled on the desk.
A notebook.
“…What’s this?”
She gently picked it up.
Hesitating slightly, she paused her fingertips—then slowly opened the cover.
The first page.
The moment she read the words written there.
her shoulders twitched.
her eyes widened.
“…Huh?”
With trembling fingertips, she checked the words once more.
“…What does this mean?”
she turned the page.
The next page.
And the one after that.
Her expression changed with every page she read.
And finally, she gasped softly.
“…………”
Her gaze never strayed from the diary.
[Month Day]
[I had the same dream again.]
[Even after waking up, I remember yesterday’s dream clearly.]
[I’m writing this down so I won’t forget.]
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