I found out where Senpai works part-time.
That's because Senpai stubbornly refused to tell me where he worked.
"Welcome!"
The girl at the front register called out as soon as I entered the store. The part-time job in question was at a convenience store a ten-minute walk from Senpai's apartment.
Senpai was standing at the back register, but he was serving a customer and didn't even notice me, let alone look my way. I guess he wouldn't recognize me even if he did, since I had tied my hair back and was wearing a deep mask for my infiltration.
"Going on break!"
After waiting for a while, the customers in the store left, and the girl at the register said that and disappeared into the back. Alright, now's my chance.
"Senpai~!"
I placed a caramel latte on the counter and said that, meeting Senpai's startled eyes. Seeing that expression, which I rarely saw, I almost burst out laughing.
"Eh, what are you doing here?"
"Shopping?"
"No, by no stretch of the imagination is this within your usual range of activity..."
Senpai said that and let out a big sigh.
This store, which I finally found out about by asking Nene-san to pry it out of Tetsuya-san. It certainly wasn't within my usual range of activity, and it was a place I wouldn't visit unless I had some business there. Still, the fact that it wasn't the closest convenience store to his apartment was really typical of Senpai.
"It was just by chance, by chance. And it's not 'you,' it's 'customer.'"
"Oh, here we go, a potential monster customer in training..."
Senpai said, exasperated, but at least my initial objective was achieved.
My goal today was to find out where Senpai worked and to see him working. Because, you know, I like seeing Senpai work. I want him to work forever. Senpai would absolutely hate that, though.
"Pay for your stuff and go home. Oh, welcome!"
While we were talking, another customer came in.
It was a shame, but it couldn't be helped. I had accomplished my goal, so I'd retreat for today. I'd ask him more about it when I went to make dinner again.
"Well then, keep up the good work!"
"Alright."
I paid, but Senpai never treated me as a customer until the very end. Well, that special feeling was nice too. I'm so positive!
"Um."
As I left the store, feeling completely good, someone suddenly called out to me. Turning around, I saw a woman in a convenience store uniform. It was the girl who had been at the register earlier.
"You're Isshiki-san, right?"
"Eh... Yes, that's right."
I was surprised to be called by name so suddenly.
Um, who was she...? I don't think I've met her before.
"I'm from the same university... I'm Amane Sakura, a first-year."
"Ah, yes, hello... I'm Isshiki Iroha."
We exchanged small bows. I understood why she knew my name, but we shouldn't have met before.
Her long hair, reaching her shoulder blades, was bleached to a surprisingly light color, yet it was strangely lustrous. She had sharp eyes and gyaru-like makeup. Plus, her chest was as big as Yui-senpai's, and her face was so perfectly sculpted that she looked like a magazine model. I probably wouldn't forget someone so distinctive if I met her.
"I have something I want to ask you."
"Oh..."
Seeing me make a puzzled sound, Amane Sakura took a breath before speaking.
"Isshiki-san, are you Senpai's girlfriend?"
I was speechless at such an abrupt question from someone I had just met.
However, it was only for a moment. I met her gaze, which was looking straight at me, with an equally direct stare.
"A potential girlfriend, yes."
"Hmm, then I guess I'm the same."
"Huh...?"
My temple twitched involuntarily. That meant—
"I'm aiming for Senpai too. We're rivals, Iroha...-chan."
What has this girl been saying? And she calls him Senpai, just like me. And she's suddenly so familiar.
"Amane-san,"
"Oh, just call me Sakura."
"...Sakura-chan... why are you interested in Senpai?"
I called her "Sakura-chan" as if to return the favor of her calling me by my first name, but Sakura-chan didn't seem to mind at all. Instead, she said with sparkling eyes, like a dreaming girl.
"Because Senpai always helps me when I get tangled up with weird customers. And he's super serious even though he says he doesn't want to work."
Does that person say that even at his part-time job...? Well, I also like how he works diligently even while saying that.
"And also, his slightly dark-looking eyes, aren't they good? I like people who have a sense of darkness~"
"Huh..."
I don't really... understand?
I don't care about the dark attribute or Sakura-chan's preferences.
"And listen to this. The other day, he took a stray cat that was hit by a car and injured to the hospital with his own money. Wouldn't you fall for him if you saw that?"
"I get it."
No, really, Senpai is so unfair in those ways. That single episode alone is enough to make me fall in love all over again.
...But this isn't the time to understand, me.
"So, Iroha-chan, why you?"
"Why," undoubtedly meant why was I attracted to him.
However, even if the other person disclosed information, there was no need for me to speak so frankly.
"Is it... feelings that have accumulated since high school?"
"Hmm, you went to the same high school. By the way, why don't you stop using formal language? We're the same age, aren't we?"
"No, this is normal for me."
Even though she said that, I had no intention of accepting her suggestion.
It was like a habit ingrained in my body, or a skill I had acquired to solidify my character. I guess it was like armor I had forgotten how to take off.
"Well, whatever. ...Anyway, I'm almost done with my break."
"Oh, okay."
Sakura-chan said that, then turned her back to me and went back inside the store.
...Or so I thought, but she turned around and smiled.
"Let's be friends, Iroha-chan."
The moment I heard that, a shiver ran through my entire body.
Sakura-chan said that unilaterally, then waved her hand and disappeared.
"...No way."
There was no one to hear my murmured voice.
With an unknown sensation in my chest, I was struck by an unspeakable sense of crisis—
—---------
That evening, when I visited Senpai's house, I was extremely irritated.
Even while cooking as usual, that feeling didn't subside. Because there had never been anyone who declared me a rival like that and confronted me head-on.
I was probably shaken by the appearance of someone who genuinely, truly liked the same person as me and was willing to fight over him. Every time I became aware of such facts, my irritation grew.
"Alright, it's ready."
"Oh, thanks."
And the cause of that irritation was undoubtedly Senpai.
After we said "itadakimasu" and started eating, Senpai took a bite of bread and then said,
"Hey. You seemed to be talking to Sakura outside when you came to the store today, what were you talking about?"
...Huh? Calling her by her first name without honorifics?
Even I haven't been called by my first name by him.
"Calling her by her first name without honorifics? You two must be quite close, aren't you?"
"Don't answer a question with a question. The reason I call her by her first name is because Sakura says she won't answer unless she's called by her first name, and it makes work impossible."
Senpai said that, defending himself.
I even thought Sakura-chan's tactic was quite clever.
Oh, come on.
—Seriously, come on!
"That's exactly what I mean, Senpai."
"Huh...?"
He looked confused, but I really think that's what's wrong with him. He's a typical unconscious charmer.
"You have too many openings, Senpai."
"No, I don't mean to, mumble."
While complaining, I forced a piece of bread dipped in ajillo oil into Senpai's mouth.
Well, it's thanks to those openings that I've been able to get this far, though.
"If you're going to call her by her first name just for that, then call me by my first name too!"
"Wait a sec, gulp, hot! Hey, do you know this is ajillo?"
"I know~. I'll keep doing it until Senpai calls me by my first name!"
"Ack! It's hot!"
In the end, while we were having that exchange, Senpai finished his meal before calling me by my first name.
Well, that's fine. When we start dating, I'll definitely make him call me by my first name.
"No cheating, Senpai."
"What are you talking about, seriously..."
Those were words of warning I had said before.
I pouted at Senpai's exasperated expression.
================
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