CH 44

The next day.

Saegusa-san and I promised to go to the park together on next Saturday.

When we arrived at school in the morning, we were both conscious of this and things got a little awkward, but by the time we left, things were back to normal.

Saegusa-san’s test results were returned today, and as expected, she was ranked at the top of her class.

I, on the other hand, was ranked 7th.

Naturally, I couldn’t match Saegusa-san, but I was surprised that I was able to get a single digit ranking.

I was grateful that Saegusa-san had taught me how to study under the name of a study group, and I was once again in love with her talent and beauty.

By the way, Takayuki was ranked 15th and Shimizu-san was ranked 18th.

Just like me, they were both happy to have achieved a much higher ranking than they had expected.

And Saegusa, who smiled and said “Congratulations” to us who were happy to have achieved a good result, was a real angel.

That’s why today I’m working at a convenience store after school.

As I stared blankly at the empty store, my heart was filled with the joy of getting a good grade on my test and the promise of going to the park with Saegusa on Saturday.

PILORILENE

The melody of the store door opening was playing in the store.

I responded to the melody and said “Irasshaimase” (Welcome!) as I checked out the customer who had entered the store.

I saw Saegusa-san wearing a mask, thick-rimmed glasses, and a deep cassock, looking suspicious.

Looking at her again, I knew she was dressed suspiciously.

But no matter how she was dressed, the fact that the person I had been thinking about just now appeared in front of me made my heart jump.

Well, whatever the case may be, let’s get started today.

It’s time for the long awaited “Saegusa-san watching”.

Saegusa-san came into the store and headed for the magazine section for her first move today.

I remembered the last time I saw her on the café deck, so I started watching her every move.

I was not sure I would be able to hold back my laughter the next time I was taken by surprise like I was at the cafe deck.

This was a battle of sorts, so I concentrated on Saegusa-san’s every move.

As usual, Saegusa-san holds a magazine in her hands.

That magazine is a cooking magazine, I think.

I wondered if she was just browsing …… this time. I thought that I was going to have to be careful, but since I was dealing with Saegusa-san, I couldn’t be too careful.

However, Saegusa-san was reading the magazine normally for a while while rolling up the pages.

Was I thinking too much after all? As I wondered if I was overthinking it, she finished reading the magazine and reached for the next one.

When I saw the next magazine in her hand, I was convinced.

–It’s another cooking magazine.

From that point on, it was a battle between me and Saegusa-san.

I desperately tried to deduce the connection between the cooking magazine and the current Saegusa-san.

There is always one truth!

I checked Saegusa’s behavior carefully, thinking of such words, but I couldn’t get to the answer.

After she finished reading the magazine, she seemed to be satisfied and picked up her shopping cart and started to browse the store.

There was no way I could see her from the cash register, so I ended up not knowing what she had in her basket today.

After a while, Saegusa-san came to the cashier and put down her shopping basket, saying, “Here you go” and my time was up.

I made up my mind and began to count up the items in her basket with fear.

Green tea, yogurt, salad, and a small lunchbox …… No, I have no idea what the deck is for.

I was relieved to see that Saegusa-san was really normal today, and told her the amount.

“That will be 786 yen—“

“Yes!!”

Oops, that’s right. Before I could finish my sentence, Saegusa-san took out a thousand-yen bill from her wallet and held it out to me.

I took the bill and paid the bill and handed her the change.

As expected, she wrapped her hands around my hand and took the change, then put it in her purse and picked up her shopping bag.

“A-ano!!”

I was feeling a little out of sorts, thinking that nothing had really happened today, when suddenly Saegusa-san spoke to me.

“Y-yes, what is it?”

I replied, pretending not to notice that it was Saegusa-san, and pretending to be a normal sales clerk.

“Are you a …… bread person, shopkeeper? Or are you a rice person!”

Saegusa-san suddenly asked me such a question with a bold look.

Eh, what! I froze in my tracks, unable to comprehend such a mysterious question that was suddenly asked to me.

Saegusa-san, who suddenly asked the convenience store clerk if I was a bread or rice person, was acting suspiciously today.

“Eh well, let’s see… …… I’m a rice person.”

“Thank you very much!!”

I answered honestly and with hesitation that I was a rice person.

Then Saegusa replied cheerfully with a sniffle, as if she was happy to hear my answer, and walked out of the convenience store in a good mood.

As I watched the strange Saegusa-san walk away, I was a little taken aback, wondering what the hell was going on.

What’s the use of knowing whether I’m a bread person or a rice-person? …… Saegusa, who has been behaving suspiciously was too funny, and I, who was left behind, couldn’t help but burst out laughing.