Dullard Buddy-kun: Heading Reluctantly to School Again Today - Episode 23

“Please come again!”

I’m glad.

I was so nervous this morning that I felt like I was going to throw up, but once I opened the lid, the usual time was still flowing here, and I felt so relieved.

Yeah. I’m Kento Mamiya, and I’m currently working part-time at Documald.

Since I have a shift starting at 7 PM today, I’m going home after school and heading to work a bit later. The outside scenery is already dark.

Today as well, I’m at the register serving customers with my senior, Sonoda-san, who I often work shifts with.

“Hey, Mamiya. Did you hear that influencer Tom got arrested around here recently?”

“I don’t know.”

I don’t know at all.

“I’ve thought that guy was shady for a long time.”

“Oh, I see.”

Seriously…? I panicked.

For now, judging by the expression of the senior sitting right next to me, it seems they are just sharing information they heard through rumors, and my past incident hasn’t been discovered, nor should there be any issues with the uniform at this part-time job.

It should be fine, but suddenly that topic is indeed bad for my heart. Too bad.

And of course, just when this happens, the customers stop coming, leaving me with nothing to do…

I racked my brain to come up with another topic.

“Oh, by the way, I came today.”

Fortunately, another topic comes up from over there.

Came? What on earth?

Maybe, the police…

“Sayaka-chan!”

Saya-chan… Is that you?

It is probably about Sayaka Yamamoto.

For now, it’s not reassuring, but it is reassuring.

“Just about an hour before you came. Plus, she was in casual clothes today. She was seriously too cute, it was crazy.”

What the… I thought you had calmed down, but now what’s your goal…?

Could it be…

“So, did something happen?”

“Yeah, especially. They just ordered normally and left. Man, they were so cute, I couldn’t even say anything when they were right in front of me. Damn, if only you were there next to me.”

I’m home…

I see. They said they were in casual clothes, so it seems like they just stopped by while doing something else. Well, if you think about it normally, that’s probably it.

Again, I overanalyzed things weirdly. I regret it.

Anyway, I’m just glad that I can continue working part-time here as usual.

Yes. That’s what makes me happiest of all.

“Welcome!”

As I was thinking about such things, the next customer finally entered the store.

“Have you decided on your order?”

Like…

“Well, for now, a strawberry shake. By the way, for a moment, I thought you were someone else.”

For now, right in front of me is a woman wearing the same school uniform as mine.

“What time does your shift end today?”

Shift… until what time?

Also, strawberry shake… This person drinks surprisingly cute beverages.

“Um, your order is a strawberry shake. Is that all right?”

“Um, so, what time does your shift end today?”

What does this mean?

Yeah. In front of me is the same cool beauty with strong-looking eyes.

The scene of Arisa Shibuya being there for some reason.

“The total is 120 yen.”

“Yeah. So, what time does your shift end today?”

In front of me, she straightforwardly completed the payment at the register but didn’t change the subject of her question at all.

“Hey, miss. Are you his friend? He’ll be here until 10 o’clock today.”

“Well then, maybe another day.”

And then, before I knew it, there she was, Shibuya Arisa, quietly walking away after picking up her ordered shake.

What the hell. What’s going on?

Later?

Could it be that the other day when I said I would treat you to a hamburger?

Well, of course, I intend to thank you…

It was a bit sudden, and I was surprised.

I see. You knew where I worked part-time because of the time I lost my wallet.

Even so, that was sudden…

“Hey, Mamiya! Who was that beautiful girl just now? Is she one of your school friends too?”

“No, that’s not right…”

Yeah. No matter how you think about it, I am too unworthy to even call myself a friend.

We might be acquaintances… I guess, but either way, I shake my head and deny senpai’s question once again.

Or rather, I feel like I had the exact same conversation with this person next to me the other day…

Well, whatever.

That’s right. That’s right…

Is this the nature of being human? Once one big worry disappears, I end up remembering the next big worry.

The main event is still a while away, but…

Tomorrow’s long homeroom.

I think the homeroom teacher mentioned that they would decide the groups for the school trip…

Yeah. The biggest trial in school life for a loner, the school trip…

This is the worst…