Volume 2, 5: Interviews are hard.

Volume 2, Chapter 5: Interviews are hard.

The next day, they began recruiting new employees: one waiter and one cook. There were two conditions: “can work long term,” and as there was no time to teach the rookie, “experienced only.”

They immediately put up flyers inside and outside the store and immediately received many applications. They asked for the applicants’ names and told them the interviews would be in three days, before the store opened.

Word spread, and even more people visited the next day to apply. Risa was very happy to hear that there were more than ten applicants within two days of recruiting.

Zeke and Helena weren’t hired via recruiting, after all. Zeke basically forced himself in, while Helena began working as atonement. Regardless of how they were hired, both of them were now indispensable comrades. Risa hoped that the new employees this round would also become a part of their team.

Her hopes couldn’t be farther from the truth. Perhaps she had placed her hopes too high.

The day of the interviews, Risa was taken aback by the crowd of applicants in front of the shop.

Although she knew this beforehand, most, if not all of the applicants were women. The café customer demographic also leaned towards the female side, so she had predicted it would be that way, and she was okay with that.

She was not okay with their appearance. All of the girls were incredibly fashionable.

Not that being fashionable was a bad thing.

However, they were so dressed up that Risa almost wanted to ask them, “are you going on a date?” She could not imagine that any of these girls thought seriously about becoming an employee at a restaurant.

Of course, not all of them were dressed so prettily, and perhaps it would be better not to judge a book by its cover. They all came for the interview, so Risa asked them all to enter the store and take a seat. She called their names one by one to the second floor.

The interview questions included their name, age, experience, and why they applied.

All the girls had a similar reason to why they applied. Risa didn’t really mind that, as she also had a similar reason when she interviewed for part-time and full-time jobs.

However, they all had a strong smell about them. All the girls had applied extremely fragrant perfume. When she observed each and every one of them, they all had polished, long nails that seemed fresh from a manicure. Although it was good that they were putting in the work to take care of their hands, it wasn’t suited for serving customers at a restaurant.

After she finished all of the interviews, Risa turned towards her two employees with mental exhaustion written all over her face.

“…What do you think?”

Risa asked, and Helena answered with a dejected expression.

“I believe I have the same opinion as you, Miss Risa.”

Zeke seemed ill from all the smells as he pinched the bridge of his nose, a dark cloud over his face.

“For now, let’s send the girls back and tell them no one is hired.”

“I agree, we still have to prepare for business.”

The three of them simultaneously sighed and went down the stairs to the first floor. Risa announced to the applicants:

“Thank you for coming here today. After some discussion, unfortunately we have decided not to hire anyone today. This was truly a painful decision to make. I hope I will still see you visit our café as customers.”

There were people who sighed with disappointment, people who immediately put their things together to leave, and people who for some reason looked towards her happily. Amidst the reactions, Risa could not see a single person who really wanted to work at the café.

Just then, one of the girls spoke timidly.

“Uhm~… Could I shake Mister Zeke’s hand before I go?”

She gazed expectantly at Zeke.

“Ah! Me too~”

“No fair! Mister Zeke, me too!”

Once one of them spoke up, all of them pushed each other to crowd around Zeke. Zeke quailed at the herd of women and backed away, but they were not to be deterred and clasped his hands.

…stab.

Risa’s chest suddenly stung with pain. Surprised, Risa pressed a hand on her chest.

It went as quickly as it came, but a dark fog began to spread through her chest.

Risa recognized this feeling—jealousy.

The girls eagerly talked to Zeke, who only replied with “yeah” or “no.” It was blatantly clear from their starstruck eyes that they all had crushes on him.

Regardless of how Zeke felt about the matter, right now there were girls at his side that weren’t Risa.

“All right, all right, excuse me, that’s enough!”

Helena clapped her hands briskly, bringing Risa out of her thoughts.

Saved by Helena, Zeke quickly removed himself from the crowd.

The girls raised their voices in disappointment and reluctantly left the café.

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The store was filled with the heavy smell of perfume even after all the girls left.

“I had anticipated this, but not to this extent.”

“Anticipated what?”

Risa asked Helena as she opened all the windows to air out the café.

“What type of applicants would come. The girls who came today probably thought of working here as some kind of social advantage. The uniform was designed by the famous Sheryl Merry, and the desserts have royal purveyor status. It can’t be helped for them to think so. Not only that, but Mister Zeke is quite popular. He has the experience as an ex-knight, and I mean… he looks like that. A lot of customers come just to see him, too. Even if they fail the interview, maybe they have a chance of getting closer to him… or so a lot of the girls were probably thinking?”

Helena chattered while she furiously polished the tables.

Almost all of the applicants today wished to fill the waiter position.

A restaurant waiter was no easy job.

Even if they smiled brightly while wearing a cute uniform, it was basically physical labor. A tray piled full with cakes and drinks had was by no means light. As they had to relay orders between the kitchen and the dining hall, waiters would be walking all day.

None of the girls who came to the interview seemed to have the determination to do work.

As the current sole waitress, Helena probably felt even more strongly about their lack of determination. Her frustration threw her past disappointment into pure wrath.

Leaving the efficient yet furious Helena behind, Risa went towards the kitchen.

… For Zeke, huh…

Zeke had already begun preparing for lunch as if the interviews were long forgotten. His profile as he broke apart leafy greens into a bowl, while blank, was very handsome.

Although she hadn’t noticed since they met every day, he was no doubt a handsome man. When the café was busy, he would also help out on the front. The girls he waited on would often stare into space after him.

… I never felt anything before, though…

Where in the world did that jealousy come from?

“Is something the matter, Miss Risa?”

Zeke stopped what he was doing and looked towards Risa, who stood stock still at the kitchen entrance.

“Sorry, sorry, I’ll go make the soup.”

Risa smiled at him, pretending everything was all right.