Chastity Reversed: Part-Time Life by the All-Girls High School - Chapter 65: Encounter

With my long hair grown out messily and a face that looked like a forgettable NPC from a video game, I didn’t stand out much. 

Though I invested in expensive glasses, they somehow only made me look more ridiculous.

The reflection of myself on the glassy surface of the water screamed “introvert”. It was a bit depressing.

“I can’t drink anymore… (collapsing onto the table)”

“I thought so, so I canceled your latest order.”

Pathetically down for the count. If my parents back home saw me being taken care of by a younger guy, they’d probably come at me swinging.

They’d say they didn’t raise me to be like this. They wanted me to grow up sophisticated… but that was just not happening!

“Can you walk?”

“Somehow…”

“Should we take a taxi home? I called one with the app, and it should be here soon.”

It’d been a few years since I became the manager.

While we had a few young male staff apply, most didn’t last more than a month with the neighborhood’s reputation and being near an all-girls high school. Actually, most didn’t even last a week.

But there was one who’d stayed the whole time.

His name was Sora Sato.

Since joining last year, he’d become the star employee of our convenience store, working strong and steady, while I felt like I’d blow away in the wind.

I remembered when he used to mumble softly, [I’m skipping school…]

Those fragile whispers seemed almost nostalgic now.

“Oh, the taxi’s here. Can you stand, Manager?”

“Yeah…”

With my vision blurry, I leaned on him for support as we made our way into the car.

“Where to?”

“I’ll guide you. Head toward the pharmacy first, then take a right at the next light.”

“Understood.”

“Sorry, Sato-kun…”

“No worries. Just relax, Manager.”

“Oops, sorry…”

I nodded off, accidentally resting my head on his shoulder.

Hastily, I apologized.

“Haha, it’s fine. You can sleep on my shoulder. It’s nothing special.”

“R-Really? Thank you—”

It was so embarrassing.

Gratefully accepting his kindness, I closed my eyes.

[Um, should I call you Manager?]

As I remembered that distant memory— 

☆ ☆

The summer break, which adults like me didn’t have, came to an end.

It was September, and the humidity started to rise.

“Hey, Manager. I’m coming in.”

“Thanks, Hokuto-san. No classes today?”

“Yeah. Otherwise, I couldn’t work full-time.”

“I’d have to stop you if you were skipping.”

“I don’t run wild like I used to.”

“Really?”

“Totally.”

After graduating from Aimei Girls’ High School, I graduated from a safety-net university. (T/N: A “safety net” refers to a university you apply to as a backup in case your first-choice admission fails.)

I kind of wanted to work locally, so I built experience as an assistant manager at another convenience store and eventually came here as the manager. The previous manager moved to another job, so I had no choice.

Though familiar with the rough area, working here is quite tough. Still, I’ve managed to hang on to this point.

“Not many customers today, huh?”

“Yeah. We’re lucky to be near a girls’ high school.”

“Rumor has it a new convenience store is opening on the other side.”

“Is it really? Then we might be in trouble here.”

“Yep. We don’t have a star employee like before.”

“Our last staff quit after just one day…”

I casually chatted with one of the staff. Even if the area was rough, it was basically peaceful.

Strange customers could be mentally exhausting, but we only encountered one or two a day.

“I’ll make a pop for the new products~”

“Thanks! I’ll watch the store, so just work on it in the back.”

“Got it.”

It was 9 a.m.

The commuter and school rush had passed, making it a slower time.

Hokuto-san was an art student, and she helped boost the store’s sales with her creativity.

Meanwhile, I prepared the shelves for the lunchtime crowd.

—Jingle jingle jingle

“! Welcome!”

And when a customer occasionally entered— 

“Excuse me!”

“!? Y-Yes?”

“Ever since I bought bread here yesterday, I’ve had a stomachache.”

“What?”

“Compensate me!”

A customer approached aggressively while I was restocking the juice shelf.

She looked like a woman in her early thirties.

—Jingle jingle jingle

—Jingle jingle jingle

And of course, that was the moment when more customers arrived.

Several of them.

“Oh. Uh…”

“Don’t ignore me!”

“S-Sorry!”

Hokuto-san emerged from the back.

With a glance, I signaled her to handle the regular customers.

Customers like her were my responsibility.

“Let’s see. May I know your symptoms, the date and time of purchase, and if you have the receipt…”

“What? I don’t have that!”

“Did anyone else eat the bread with you?”

“What!? Why would I share bread!?”

“S-Sorry.”

I was following the manual, but it still felt unreasonable.

“It tasted weird, so it must have been bad bread!”

“Uh… do you have the wrapper?”

“I ate it, so no!”

“Could you at least bring the wrapper?”

“I don’t have that!”

“Have you been to a doctor?”

“No.”

It was giving me a headache.

Endless complaints were tough to deal with.

When they were this hostile, I should be able to firmly respond.

…But I couldn’t.

All I could do was stick to the manual.

Wearing down mentally as I handled them step by step.

“Do you still have symptoms?”

“If I did, could I even come here—”

“—Hey.”

But then.

A “boy’s” voice cut through, coming from behind the complainer.

He wasn’t in the uniform of a local school.

And boys didn’t go to Aimei Girls’ School.

So he must be from a nearby co-ed high school? No, that wasn’t it.

Where could—

“If it tasted weird, why did you eat it all?”

“H-Huh!? This doesn’t concern you!”

“A lot doesn’t add up. If something goes wrong, isn’t it normal to keep the wrapper, receipt, and product?”

“…”

His eyes were ringed with fatigue.

His weary gaze and frail frame prompted concern.

Yet—his voice carried strength.

“You’re not even specifying dates or symptoms. At least get your story straight.”

“Y-You—just because you’re a ‘boy’, you think you can say anything…!”

“Try hitting me.”

“Ugh…!”

As the complainer pressed forward, he pushed back even harder.

For a second, I thought he might be a girl disguised as a boy.

“Go ahead. Do it. If you can in ‘this world’—”

“D-Damn it!”

And then, the complainer fled.

Watching her dash through the automatic doors was almost comical.

“Uh…”

“Oh, did I overstep? Sorry about that.”

“No, not at all!”

“It looks crowded at the register. You should go help.”

“Oh!”

Looking over, Hokuto-san was handling a large number of customers on her own.

Moving with such efficiency, it was as if there were afterimages of her.

I needed to help!

“Later. I’m heading out.”

“Y-Yeah.”

And he, too, turned away and left.

He was thoughtful and considerate!

“Even though he’s a boy, he’s amazing…”

I couldn’t help but mutter.

Unlike me, he was so cool…

“Manager, help.” Zoom zoom zoom

“Oh no, I’m sorry! Right this way—!!”

I needed to go help!!

Hokuto-san’s afterimages were calling!