The Story Where I, the Strongest Mercenary, Was Reincarnated as a Bullied Introverted High School Student ~ When I Was Freely Enjoying My School Life, for Some Reason the Girls Around Me Started Glancing at Me~ - Chapter 22: High-Spec Domination

“…”

When I talked back to Saida, the place fell silent. The high school girls held their breath, and Saida’s veins bulged on his forehead.

“…Hey, what the hell did you just say?”

“Bald, fat, ugly.”

“Pfft!”

Several of the high school girls burst out laughing at my words.

“Don’t casually add another insult! I’ll fucking kill you, you worthless trash Fushimi!”

Saida flew into an obvious rage and came swinging at me. I easily dodged Saida’s fist.

“What’s this? You seem energetic. Guess you don’t need that massage, after all.”

“Die, you bastard!”

After that, Saida kept swinging at me multiple times, so I kept dodging. They were all wild telegraph punches, and on top of that, his movements were sluggish from lack of exercise.

“Do your best, do your best! You might be able to lose some weight.”

“Hehe, ahahaha!”

Every time I provoked him, the high school girls couldn’t help but burst into laughter. As I thought, this bald manager was hated. He’d made sexual harassment comments to the high school part-timers even in front of Fushimi. And that was probably one of the reasons Fushimi was disliked by the high school girls. Even though he was the only male employee, Fushimi was too pathetic to protect them. Well, it was also a matter of protecting yourself.

“Hah… hah… damn it! Stop dodging!”

“Ah, fine fine, I get it. I won’t move, so go ahead.”

“Go to hell!”

Clang!

As told, I didn’t dodge and caught Saida’s fist. With a stainless steel tray I had at hand.

“Gyaaaah! My fist!”

“Ah geez, so noisy.”

I covered my ears while speaking to Saida, who was crouched on the floor.

“It’s already past opening time, you know? This isn’t the time to be playing around.”

“Damn it, it hurts! I might have broken a finger bone!”

“Who cares? You’re the one who said it. ‘Whether you cut your finger with a knife or break bones getting your hand caught in the dishwasher, you’ll work until you die!’ Take responsibility for your own words.”

While I was exasperated, Kanai said to me worriedly.

“H-hey, Fushimi. This is bad. If you make him angry, Dojima will…”

“Heh, you understand well! If I tell him, Dojima will come give you a beating. You know that but you’re still being cheeky with me, right!”

Saida’s attitude completely changed as he showed a disgusting smile. Completely a fox borrowing the tiger’s authority… no, in this guy’s case, a pig.

“You’re squealing too loudly. I don’t know what ‘beating’ or ‘bleating’ is, but I’m not scared.”

I ignored Saida, went outside the store, put up the sign, and opened the shop. Then I smiled at the middle-aged man and woman who had been waiting for opening. Following Oscar, who was strict about manners, I bowed politely.

“We’re terribly sorry to have kept you waiting. Please allow me to show you in.”

“Ah, good. I thought you weren’t opening today.”

“We had some delays in preparation. We’re very sorry.”

“Well, well, how polite of you.”

I opened the door and let the two into the store. Once customers entered, even Saida would probably calm down. He was just a hired manager after all.

(Still, these customers… well, whatever.)

“Come on, Kanai. Please show them in.”

“Eh!? Ah, okay! This way please!”

When Kanai handled the customers, the other high school staff members also energetically called out “Welcome!” Saida raised his voice at me as I returned to the kitchen.

“You bastard, I’m firing you! There are plenty of people to replace a useless piece of shit like you! You garbage!”

“Ah~ yeah yeah. I’ll listen to you talk after today’s business is over.”

Saida’s loud bellowing could apparently be heard by the customers who had just entered, and the two customers grimaced. Kanai noticed this and bowed her head in apology. This pig really only caused trouble. He didn’t even realize ‘who’ those customers were.

(Now… it’s 10:20. The international exhibition’s opening ceremony should have started already. There’s only one group now, but in another hour, lots of foreign customers will probably come.)

I beckoned Kanai over again after she finished showing the customers in. Kanai walked over with an anxious expression.

“Good girl, good girl. Shake.”

She came when called and ate when given food. Kanai was starting to look like a cute dog to me, so I unconsciously said that and held out my hand. Kanai glared at me with half-closed eyes.

“I worried for nothing.”

“Even though you usually make fun of me for being pathetic.”

“…Fushimi. What are you planning to do? At this rate, Dojima will–”

“Never mind that, come into the kitchen. I’ll teach you how to cook.”

Kanai should have had experience working in the kitchen before. I could probably trust her with it.

“Are you planning to hand things over?”

“No, I’m having you do it starting now. I’ve finished all the prep work, so you just need to add a little more and they’re ready to serve.”

I rolled up my sleeves and opened the refrigerator.

“I’ll probably end up doing customer service.”