Chapter 20: Chapter 7
22nd of July (Wednesday)
A large cumulonimbus cloud filled the sky, as if it were trying to cover Shibuya's tallest buildings. Behind these white clouds was the blue sky, looking like a blue screen on a PC. Sumr had fully begun, announcing the ending of Suisei High's first term. Today was the end-of-term ceremony. Even the sluggish atmosphere inside the classroom had gone elsewhere, replaced by excitent running through the air. It didn't even quiet down after the teacher's sharp rebuke.
"Alright, this concludes the class! Don't go too crazy during sumr break, you hear ?"
WIth these words as the trigger, sumr break stord into the classroom. The teacher shook their head in disbelief, but nobody was even looking at them.
"I'll be leaving first." I told Maru and stood up.
"Oi now, why are you in such a rush?"
"Because I have my part-ti job right after this."
"Right after? It ain't even the evening yet." Maru opened his eyes wide in surprise.
"I got a shift one hour earlier. A veteran Senpai happened to quit, so they asked if I could co in more."
"Sounds rough."
"That's why I decided to go ho early, and get everything prepared."
"Ayo, you do you, diligent lad!" Maru didn't ask anything else, so I quickly left the classroom behind .
It really is only one hour, so there might not be any real reason to rush like that, but whenever you do sothing for the first ti, there's always unexpected things that are bound to happen. I really didn't want to co in late after asking to move the shift earlier. However, contrary to my worries, I made it to the bookstore perfectly on ti. I changed into my uniform, walked inside the store, and realized sothing.
There were no custors. When I checked the ti, I saw that I was here exactly an hour earlier than before. Does the atmosphere of the store change that much just from a small change in ti? When I looked around inside the store, I could hardly even see any salaryn on the way ho from work. Which makes sense, of course, since it wasn't that late in the day. They'd only start coming in later on.
"You're pretty early today, Junior-kun."
Turning around, I saw Yomiuri-senpai walking towards with her hand in the air.
"Ah, Senpai. Yes, I have an earlier shift today. Also, I didn't expect to see you here."
"My departnt has sumr break starting Monday~"
"That sounds like sothing a university would do."
"A friend of mine has lab all through sumr break, though. The physics departnt has it rough."
"In other words, you have a lot of free ti on your hands."
"That's why I'm here. By the way, are you working full-ti during sumr break, Junior-kun?"
"Well, for now."
After hearing my response, Yomiuri-senpai made a faint smile. I'll get the wrong idea if you keep smiling at like that, so could you not?
"Well aren't you passionate about your work. Your Senpai is happy to spend more ti with you, Junior-kun."
"Don't tease , please."
"No no no. I'm not teasing you at all~ I'm just trying to show how happy I am to have a pure coworker pal who I can spend ti sweating with. Well, you might be busy drenched in the sweat of youth with your cute little sis."
"So you're teasing after all."
"You figured out, huh?" She stuck out her tongue with a grin, which resembled one of those devilish teasing heroines in the works of fiction, but as soon as a Senpai of hers called her up to the register, she made a face more like an exhausted office lady.
Of course, I've never seen a tired office lady outside of fiction, so I can't say much. But now that Yomiuri-senpai ntioned it, this is the first long school break I'll be spending with Ayase-san. Since we're in different classes at school, we barely see each other. The only difference was our classes before the sports festival. However, both of us will be at ho most of the ti this sumr break, so we might actually see each other more often.
No, I guess not, since I still have work. I filled my calendar with a lot of full-ti days. Basically, I was the one who decreased any chances of us eting, and I planned to spend less ti at ho. Of course, it's not that I want to spend ti with her that much, okay? You understand, right?
I shook my head to rid myself of these thoughts and shifted into working mode. For starters, I have to take care of organizing the shelves and setting out the new releases.
After a few minutes passed, my back raised screams of agony. Working at a bookstore can really do a number on your hips and back, which only gets worse when you have to lift heavy books, carry them sowhere, or put them on shelves while crouching down.
I let out a long sigh, stretching both my arms. I heard cracks coming from my back as I did so. While I was stretching my shoulders a bit, I saw familiar-looking bright hair moving from the corner of my eye. I imdiately directed my gaze over there, and I saw a girl wearing familiar clothes walk into the staff office. That is…
"Asamura-kun, if you're tired, you can take a break."
When I turned around, the store manager greeted .
"Um… the person who just walked in there…"
The store manager followed my gaze and nodded.
"Yeah, she's got an interview for a part-ti job here."
We were short on staff, after all, so this is pretty great news.
She's a highschool girl looking for a part-ti job over sumr break.
"Oh right, I think she attends the sa school you do, Asamura-kun."
I faintly heard the store manager blabbering on and on.
"What's her na?"
But I imdiately heard the answer to the question I had asked on reflex.
"She's called Ayase Saki."
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