Volume 2 - CH 3.2

As was the case last time, training apparently meant learning the menu and how to make it.

As Mise-san had predicted, the restaurant was noticeably empty, and I had nearly half of my time to kill.

I felt like I was getting something for my time, considering it was time that I was  getting paid for.

We took a 10-minute break. Mise-san and I sat down in folding chairs in the break room.

“You’ve learned a lot.”

“I don’t know if I can put it into practice, though.”

On a few sheets of notes, I wrote down what I had learned.

“Well, Mise-san, those are better than the glasses.”

“Ehh, why?”

“Because that’s a common pattern in mangas, isn’t it, Mise-san?”

“W-W-wha-what do you mean by that…?”

“Take off your glasses and one will see a beautiful girl, kinda thing.”

“Uheeeee”

Mise-san apparently has a habit of making strange noises when startled.

“N-not at all! N-not at all!N-not at all!N-not at all! That’s… rude… to say to senpai…”

“At least, I think you are better off now, though.”

If she doesn’t like it, I’m not going to force her to do it.

I don’t even know if I’m right.

“That’s… That’s,” Mise-san said, growing smaller and smaller in her chair.

“Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you in class. If there’s anything I can do, I’ll do it.”

“The worse parts of a baseball team with senior supremacy is leaking ~.”

I seemed to have embarrassed her even more than she already was.

“Uhmm, just, just don’t tell anyone that I work here.”

“Ahh. Sure.”

That’s why she is in disguise? Is she even wearing a disguise? I see. So the reason she’s a waiter and not a hall staff member is the same as mine.

“Roger,” I replied.

“Tonomura-kun, you don’t want to get involved in school with a gloomy, lonely  person, do you…?”

It was Mise-san who suddenly shot out a hard-edged negativity.

“Ehh, that’s not true.”

“Because compared to Hinagata-san and Sugiuchi-kun, who are always with you, I’m stumpy…”

Stumpy. I haven’t heard that expression in a while.

Mise-san fidgeted and poked at her cell phone on the table.

“Oh, is that it, the class caste thing?”

“Yes,” she nodded slowly.

“Tonomura-kun, you were the ace of the baseball team, even though you quit. Hinagata-san is also thin, tall, cool, beautiful, and works hard in club activities… in comparison to that…I…”

I don’t care what she said, but she didn’t mention Sugiuchi, who is the same level as her.

“I’m in the corner of the classroom, and when I don’t have a part-time job, I just go straight home, read manga and novels. …I mean, I’m already ranked differently as a human being…”

Mise-san gave off a shadowy atmosphere as if mushrooms were about to grow by her side.

“I don’t think there’s anything to be downplayed. The only difference is that I liked baseball and Hinagata liked basketball, and Mise-san, you like reading manga and novels.”

Mise-san’s hand stopped as she repeatedly locked and unlocked the screen of her cell phone.

“Is-is that so…”

“That’s right. I’m not trying to console you or anything. I can’t even read one novel a year. I can’t concentrate, so I can’t get through the pages at all. And I don’t have much comprehension ability. It’s just like you not being a good baseball player.”

When I said this in a self-deprecating manner, the shadowy atmosphere that she had been releasing gradually cleared up.

“If I were in a different class, I’d be isolated too. It happened a few times before. This year, I just happened to be in the right class, because Sugiuchi and Hinagata were there, so there were people I could talk to.”

My friends are pretty limited, so I can only count my friends on one hand.

“Is…Is that so?”

“That’s just the way it is. If you are alone, I think you should just be happy to be alone and be proud of it. There is no need to force yourself to make friends.”

When I said what I thought based on my experience, Mise-san’s face fell.

“Ehee, thank you, Tonomura-kun.”

“No, not at all. Pleasure is mine”

I didn’t know what she was thanking me for, but the phrase I was accustomed to saying versus seniors came out of my mouth.

After the break, I had a little over an hour left, and while I was chatting with the other senpais about random things, today’s workday was over.

I wondered if I was allowed to get paid for something like this.

I was about to call Mise-san  when the time was right, but she was already gone and I ran into her as I was leaving the kitchen, already dressed.

“Thank you for your hard work today.”

“Y-yeah, a-at school too… are… you gonna.. use honorifics for me…?”

“Yes.”

“Uwaa. Of course, you looked at me like I deserved it…”

She looked so annoyed.

“Casual talk between us is also fine, you know.”

“Um, I will try to do my best.

“Yeah… it would be great if you did. We’re classmates at school.”

“I understand.”

Well, unless something goes wrong, she won’t have to talk to me.

“See you at school.”

When I said that, Mise-san’s face broke into a smile.“Yes. See ya.”

With that, she opened the back door with light steps.

Mise-san was indeed my classmate.