Ch.31 Part-Time Job. They Adapted Quickly (The Store Clerks)

My arrival caused a commotion in the store, but I managed to get everyone to return to their original posts.

'Twas a bit of a hassle, though.

"Um, you really are Ouka-senpai, right?"

"That is right ja. You are Takahata, right? Second-year at Okinari high school? I am glad, it looks like you have advanced a grade safely. Back in March, you were saying things like, 'I'm failing... I'm failing!'"

"Wait, how do you know that?!"

"Well, that is because 'tis me. Or rather, who do you think was giving you advice noja?"

"Damn, I told Ouka-senpai thinking you'd be too lazy to tell me, but I never expected you to expose me...!"

"Haha. Well, you brought it upon yourself."

Those who overheard the exchange between me and my junior (we're actually the same age, but I've been working here longer) burst out laughing when they saw Takahata's reaction.

Well, judging solely by his appearance, he looks like someone who could study.

However, despite his cheerful and playful personality, he is actually quite dim-witted, which is the complete opposite of his appearance, and it seems that this was a fact he wanted to keep hidden ja.

However, anyone who works part-time here knows that he attends Okinari High School, and even before that, there are people who graduated from that same high school.

So why do you think you will not get caught?

Actually, there are a lot of people who know.

"...Is that really Ouka-kun?"

"Oh, Kuzui-senpai. 'Tis been roughly three weeks, has it not?"

"That's true, but... Your appearance has become quite unsettling. You look like a toddler now."

"Not a toddler. 'Tis elementary school student's size."

"Isn't it the same thing?"

I think they're completely different.

In my vocabulary, "toddler" means a child of kindergarten or preschool age.

Elementary school students are not toddlers, are they?

Now, the one who called me a toddler was a male college student named Kuzui-senpai ja.

He is a man with curly black hair and a quiet appearance. He is not exactly handsome, but the word "manly" perfectly describes his face.

He has a great personality, is generally kind to everyone, and is good at showing thoughtful consideration, so he is actually quite popular among the female staff at this store.

Also, there are female customers who come to the store just to see Kuzui-senpai.

Apparently, not being overly aggressive towards the opposite sex is also a plus point.

In reality, he is just shy and inexperienced though.

"Even so... I never imagined that Mahiro, with his androgynous features, would end up like this. What a strange disease!"

"Now, now, do not touch me like that, Tokino."

"Oh, sorry, sorry. I just got carried away because you're one of those rare people who have the condition."

"You say similar things to the girls at the academy, you know?"

"So, did they say the same thing at school?"

"Well, yeah... This appearance has caused some troublesome things."

Mainly, 'tis the graveyard event of life that is marriage.

"It's really tough, isn't it?"

"Well, you see, all I want is to live a lazy life, but I cannot help it in this state."

"I see~."

This girl is still as frivolous as ever.

Tokino is a female student who attends the same high school as Takahata ja.

We are roughly the same age and get along quite well.

Actually, she might be the person I get along with best at this part-time job.

I am not sure if she thinks that way, though.

Incidentally, Tokino does not seem to realize it much, but she is actually a fairly popular female employee at this workplace. She might even be considered the shop's poster girl.

Tokino is apparently half American and half Japanese.

Her full name is Tokino C. Aristia. When I asked "how the "C" part was pronounced noja?", I was told it was "Clock."

Her nickname is apparently Alice. (TL: it's アリス (Alice) from アリスティア (Aristia))

Well, I do not usually call people by their first names, so I just call her Tokino. After all, my only contact with her is through our part-time jobs. Tokino, on the other hand, is quite assertive, so she calls me by my first name.

As for Miho, it simply started happening naturally as we continued being around each other.

I remember there being a mysterious argument along the way, but well, it does not really matter.

Well, Tokino is quite a beautiful girl ja.

Being half-Japanese, she has blonde hair and blue eyes.

She has well-defined facial features and pale pink lips.

Perhaps 'tis because she has strong American blood, but she is fairly tall and has a great hourglass figure. Her breasts are quite large, almost as big as Mizuki's.

I do not know if that is the reason, but she is constantly being stared at.

Because of her easygoing nature, she is unaware of it. Or perhaps, even if she is aware, she does not pay much attention to it.

At that time, Tokino and I seemed to get along surprisingly well, and we maintained a fairly close distance.

That is what it means to be on good terms ja.

That is probably why, but for Valentine's Day, I received a heart-shaped chocolate with unnecessarily elaborate decorations. 'Twas just a courtesy gift, though. After all, she gave it to me with the same enthusiasm as always.

Also, there was some writing on it, but I could not tell what language it was.

"Hou, Hee, I see..."

"What's up, Tokino? Why are you moving in circles around me?"

"Hahaha. I mean, you've really become a girl. Because, you know, Mahiro-kun used to be like, ''Tis too much of a hassle. I do not want to do anything. I do not want to work degozaru.' right? Plus, your hair was a mess. You looked nothing like you're now."

"Well, I do think so myself... but should we not be getting back to work soon? We are keeping the customers waiting, you know?"

"Oh, that's right! Well, I'll be heading back now!"

"Well then, I guess I'll head back too."

"Let's get back to work."

And with my remarks as a starting point, almost everyone gathered here went back to work.

"Now, manager, I would like to have my uniform."

"Okay. For now, just put this on."

"Umu, you are a lifesaver... Wait, is this not a girl's uniform?"

"Of course. Because Mahiro, you're a girl now. Were you planning on wearing a waiter's uniform in that state?"

"That was my intention, but..."

The skirt is so flowy that 'tis a bit breezy.

'Tis not like I am embarrassed to have my underwear seen or anything like that, like some kind of virgin, but I do feel a little bit of resistance to it noja.

Some might say, "Isn't it a bit late now?" since school uniforms and everyday clothes include skirts, but that is that. This is this.

Personally, I prefer pants because they are easier to move around in noja.

Skirts have their own unique appeal, though.

Those are easy to take off.

That is all.

If you ask me if there are any other advantages, I would answer no.

The defense is quite low. Let us say you fall off your bicycle. Your legs are exposed, so you are almost guaranteed to get injured.

When I was a man, I usually wore pants, so I did not really pay much attention to it, but now I am a woman. That means all sorts of inconveniences arise.

"You can't."

"Why ja?"

"We want Mahiro to become our poster girl."

"...Manager, are you out of your mind?"

I gave the store manager, who suddenly started saying something incomprehensible, a suspicious look.

There are a lot of people around me that I do not understand.

"That's for sure! And I think you have a universally appealing cuteness!"

"No, cute little girls will not appeal to everyone. Especially those who like older women or mature women."

"That may be true. HOWEVER! I'm sure the you right now will work just fine!"

"Where does that confidence come from...?"

Manager, have you gone crazy because I turned into a little girl?

...No, he was always a strange existence to begin with.

"Heh, the charm of children always resonates with adults. Especially those working in black companies who think, 'I want to leave on time, but my crappy boss keeps me from going home and it's so frustrating... Sigh, I can finally go home, but I need something to soothe me... I wonder if there's a restaurant somewhere where a cute girl serves the customers?'"

The store manager pointed his finger decisively and spoke passionately to me with great enthusiasm.

"That is too nitpicky, there is no way anyone like that exists. Or rather, that way of thinking is totally like something out of the sex industry."

"Don't worry about it! Besides, being served by a cute girl with a smile is really appealing! Imagine it. A situation where your ideal woman is serving you."

"You talk about the ideal partner, but is my appearance the ideal partner in reality?"

"...Now that you mention it, that's right."

So, even if I were to imagine it, I would have to imagine it in my current form. And that would be... kind of awkward. Even if I imagined being served by my former self, my ideal image of the opposite sex is still my current appearance. So, thinking about it that way, it would mean being served by myself, which, frankly, is incredibly awkward.

Perhaps the fact that I am currently a woman is one of the reasons I think that way.

...Wait. Let us think about it the other way around. I should think about it from Miho and Mizuki's perspective noja!

………………No, it's just like usual, is it not?

Getting fed like that is not any different from usual, is it? 'Tis essentially customer service, right?

Well, if you ask me whether I am happy or not, I would say I am happy.

"But even so, I still want Mahiro to be our poster girl!"

"This is merely my own ideal, and if you ask me if 'tis an idealization of someone else's, I would say no."

"Everyone has an ideal. So, of course, everyone can be considered cute! You know how they say, 'A beautiful girl who makes 1,000 people turn their heads'?"

"That is way too much of an exaggeration."

A beautiful girl who can make a thousand people turn their heads—what kind of perfect looks does one needs to have?

I would like to see it from a different angle.

"Anyway! Just try serving customers in that getup once and you'll see! It'll be a hit! I guarantee it!"

"Even if the manager guarantees it... Well, I guess this is part of the job, after all. Besides, if I do not get to work quickly, my finishing time will be delayed."

"Hmm? Do you have any plans?"

"Well, you see, I have plans to eat here after 9pm."

"...Eating alone?"

"Do not look at me with such pity! my wives, 'tis with my wives! There are two of them, but they are both my wives!"

"Hahahaha! Oh, with your wives! Well, I guess there's no helping it!"

"Right? Hahahahahaha!"

"Hahahahahahaha!"

"...Huh?! Y-your wives?!"

A dozen seconds later, the store manager looked at me with eyes that seemed to say it was something otherworldly, and at the same time let out a bewildered cry.

"…Ah."

Oh no! I said it impulsively!

I was not planning on saying that, what a mess!

W-what kind of reaction...

"Hahahaha! Mahiro, you're good at telling jokes!"

"...Th-that is right! I-I am just kidding! I have an appointment with an acquaintance! That is the reason!"

Luckily, he seemed to take it as a joke, and I gladly accepted.

"I knew it! I never thought Mahiro would ever get married!"

...This guy is saying some pretty rude things.

I actually have wives! Even though they are perverts!!

Also, I do not think that is something you should say in such a cheerful tone, manager.

"Because you're seriously so dense!"

"...You know, my friends often tell me this, but am I really that insensitive?"

Kengo, Yuya, and Miho all told me the same thing.

"Extremely insensitive."

"...Seriously?"

"Seriously. Because you, uh—"

"Oh, what is it ja?"

He started to say something but stopped. I wonder what he was going to say?

"...No, I'll stop. It sounds kind of fun! Besides, only a loose-lipped idiot would comment on someone else's feelings! I won't do it!"

"Hold on a second. What does that mean? Is there someone in this shop who likes me?"

"Well, I wonder about that?"

Ugh, the way you said that is so annoying!

He has this smug, malicious grin on his face, and his voice goes up at the end of his sentences, which is really annoying. This store manager is just so over-the-top in every way.

"...Haaaaaaaaaaah."

"Oh? What's going on? Why are you letting out such a huge sigh?"

"...Well, I am starting to feel a bit depressed. Things might get chaotic after 9pm."

"A chaotic scene? What did you do, this guy~."

"Stop poking me like some annoying friend! That is enough, I am getting off to work!"

"Oh, that's right! Here, this is the new uniform."

I took the clothes that were tossed to me, and my eyebrows furrowed in anger.

"...A waitress's uniform, huh?"

"Of course. That'll do until the day after tomorrow."

"The day after tomorrow? Is something happening the day after tomorrow?"

"Probably. Well, I'm counting on you☆"

"...Okay, okay, got it. Honestly, I thought it had been a while since I had been here, but 'tis turned out to be a hassle..."

Muttering complaints to myself, I went into the changing room.

I hope it does not turn into a chaotic situation...

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