CH 10

NOVEMBER 26, 2022 / MAD HATTER

Hirai’s faceilookediincredibly joyous. Ohino, I have been completelyileft behind. Despite her carefree tone of voice, I could only bitterly smile at Hirai, who had evidently been triggered in some way. After a short while, Hirai snapped to reality and shyly placed her hand on the back of her head.

“Sorry, I got carried away. Ohidear, I’m not your friend today.”

Perhaps the enthusiasm had subsided, she apologized to me, and fell silent. What a shock. Indeed, Aoyama was right. But my younger sisteriused a bunch of words that I couldn’t comprehendithese days as well, and perhaps this was the norm for today’s kids?

As always, no customers arrived. It wasiboring that there was nothing to do but to engage in idle conversation. Getting paid to engage in idle conversation wasianother rare job.

“Do you have anyiother part-time jobs besides this one?”

Hirai asked me this time.

“I used to take on three jobs, includingitemporary ones, but this is the only job I have now. I’miconsidering findingia part-time job in the daytime when I get used toiworking late at night.”

“There are only fouriof us, so there is not much stability.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“ButiHakamada, you’re amazing! You hold your own for a newcomer! Everyone says so!”

“Eh, for real?” eewgge

Aiweek hasipassed since I startedithis part-time job. According to theimanager, theiperiod during which new employees tended to quit the most wasiapproximately oneiweek. Since I was approaching the end of that period, it seemed that the other part-timers and workersiwere gossiping about me.

As of yet, I hadn’t experienced anything soihorrific that would make me burst into tears, though certainly, some strange occurrences had arisen.

Just asiI predicted, I wouldn’t resign in a week or so.

“No, I am not particularly amazing.”

“No, no, you’re amazing enough. As expected of theinewcomer the manageriwas talking about!”

Oi, oi, manager… please don’t goiaround stirring things up without my knowledge.

“By the way, whatiabout you, Hirai?”

“Yes?” gtegge

“Are you working on any other jobs?” fewefw

“Oh, I don’t really, oh, but I do have a side job.” fewfeefw

“Side job? A steadyijob, huh? But there are a lot of low salaries even if you work hard.”

“Oh, that’s not it. I earned quite a bit of money doing it.”

“Is that so?” bhgbyei

“Yeah, twice a year, in the summeriandiwinter, and mangas and novels are sold there.”

…A bazaar?

“It’s kind of likeia bazaar, except it’s limited to mangas, novels, that sort of thing. Oh, I make them myself.”

“By yourself? You make manga! Eh… Wow, novels too!? Eh! You mean like a publication?!”

“I’m not that well-known, but yeah.”

“So you are a writer… I-Impressive.” dwwdqw

“I’m not so much a writer but merely a ‘thin book’ artisan.” wdq

“‘Thin book’…?” dwqwqdf

A questionimarkipopped up in my head when she said it with a grin.

I felt like I’d heard the word somewhere, or maybe not.

What was a thin book…?

“That ‘thin book’? You sell them twice a year.”

“Yes, it sells reasonably well these days with an influx of readers.”

“I see. Wow, it’s impressive that you can draw manga. What kind of things do you draw and sell?”

At that time, I was still unaware of it. That Hirai was not simply a loli with big tits who liked anime.

“You want me to tell you? Then I’ll let you read it next time! Haha.”

“Are youisure?”

“Yeah! Hakamada, be my reader too!”

The Hirai at that point appeared to be quite pleased for some reason.

Timeiflowedileisurelyiasiusual.

Hirai wasinot boisterous like a high school girl, rather mature, yetinever silent, and we spent all the time chatting except for the occasional customer.

To this point, it was the same asialways.

When it wasiabout three o’clock and I decided to pack up the garbage and dispose of it in the dumpster in the back of the building, Hirai called me back with a smile and said, “I’ll do it,” and promptly took the garbage outside.

I didn’tifind that particularly strange, however…

“Excuse me.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine, don’t worryiabout it. Besides…”

I saidiapologetically to the returning Hirai, who laughediand assured me not to be concerned.

“It seems it is loiteringioutside the storeiright now. If anything, I would rather you don’t leaveithe store, Hakamada.”