The Neighborhood High School Girl, Miss Isezaki, Is the Great Saintess Returned from Another World~ And I, Suddenly Awakened as Her Exclusive Mana Supply Uncle, Travel Between Earth and Another World with Time-Space Magic~ - 72. A Day in the Life of a Certain Freeter

72. A Day in the Life of a Certain Freeter

(Note:A “freeter” refers to a person in Japan who is employed in temporary or part-time jobs, typically without job security or benefits. This term is often used to describe young people who work in such positions, either by choice or due to difficulty finding full-time employment.)

“Thank you, come again!”

I call out to the customer leaving the store. With that, the store is now empty.

It’s just before nine in the evening. Today’s shift goes until morning, and my part-time job has only just begun. So tiresome, way too tiresome.

This convenience store isn’t bustling with customers, which makes it easy, but being too idle also makes you think. A part-time job with moderate challenges makes time fly by faster and, as a result, makes you feel less tired.

Ugh, should I just quit this job already? Oh yeah, Takashi mentioned he’s doing warehouse organizing. It sounds tough, but the pay is good. Maybe I should switch to that for real. A lukewarm job like this doesn’t suit me at all. It’s like my abilities aren’t being utilized.

While replenishing the plastic bags at the register, the automatic doors open.

“Welcome!”

The door opens, and I reflexively greet the customer. It’s something convenience store clerks sometimes do even when a customer enters the store.

The person who entered is an unremarkable middle-aged man. Well, calling him middle-aged, he doesn’t seem much older than me.

But then, I was surprised by the girl who entered the store right after. I mean, seriously, she’s an unbelievably beautiful girl.

There’s something about her that gives off an extraordinary aura, and that silver hair of hers really stands out, plus she’s busty. Doesn’t she have any weaknesses? Could she be an idol or something?

Wasn’t that blazer the uniform of the Saint Castle Academy? I’ve heard it’s one of the top schools in the area, covering both middle and high school.

The high school girl entered right after the middle-aged man, but are they perhaps acquainted?

…Nah, that’s probably not it. They just happened to enter at the same time. A middle-aged man and a beautiful high school girl, there’s absolutely no connection between them.

After a while, the high school girl comes to the register. She seems to be purchasing some snacks, chocolates, and cosmetics. Even though she doesn’t seem to be wearing much makeup.

As the items are placed into the convenience store bag and it’s time to pay… Oh! Out comes a black credit card.

She’s definitely a rich kid. But isn’t it interesting that even though she’s rich, she’s buying cosmetics at a convenience store? Well, it’s kind of nice to see her down-to-earth side, isn’t it? I can totally support that.

And the transaction is complete. As the high school girl leaves, she nods slightly and heads towards the entrance. At that moment, her silver hair sways, emitting a really nice fragrance. Ah… it feels so happy…

Come to think of it, remembering the silver hair, a few years ago when I was working at a game shop and quit shortly after, I saw several elementary school kids with beautiful silver hair. Could it be that one of those kids has grown up to be the high school girl now…? Nah, I feel like her face was more refined, but she was really skinny and gloomy back then. She wouldn’t have turned into the high school girl I just saw.

Anyway, I got to see something nice. Even though it’s a boring part-time job, I can do my best for today—wait, when did a customer appear in front of the register!? It’s the middle-aged man who came in with the high school girl!

Oh no, if he complains, it’ll be such a hassle. I hurriedly pick up the scanner and start scanning the items—wait, two baskets’ worth!? How much is he buying?

As I instinctively pause my hand, the middle-aged man lightly bows his head with an apologetic look. It seems he’s not angry about waiting at the register.

What a good guy. Yeah, it’s weird not to be captivated by such a beautiful girl! And this middle-aged man looks like he’s struggling too. One basket is groceries, and the other is packed with cola bottles.

He might be the advisor for some sports club or something. Sometimes customers come in for that kind of shopping.

But you know, I think it’d be cheaper to buy these things at a supermarket. Not that I, a convenience store clerk, should be saying that.

And with my dazzlingly quick register skills, the transaction is over in no time, and the middle-aged man leaves the store.

“Thank you, come again!”

I bid farewell to the middle-aged man and look around the store. Yeah, the shelves are quite empty.

Well then, let’s go fill them up right away. It’s a relief not to be bored. I wonder if that middle-aged man will come back every hour or so.

◇◇◇

While I was thinking about that, seriously, the middle-aged man came back to the store in just about an hour.

And somehow, the high school girl was accompanying him again. Huh? Could it be that these two know each other!?

Seriously, they seem really close. The high school girl is flashing a smile to the middle-aged man, a smile she didn’t show me. Damn, that smile is too dazzling. What’s the deal with those two, anyway?

There’s no way it’s a sugar daddy situation, right? With a beauty like her, she’d get scouted by modeling agencies just by walking around town, and she could earn much more. Plus, she’s got that black credit card.

…Ah, I see, got it. The teacher and student relationship. Yeah, that’s it, no doubt. My intuition is usually spot-on.

But you know, it’s already past ten, and it might not be good to take a student out at this hour. Let’s keep it moderate, okay?

This time, the high school girl just followed without buying anything, and the middle-aged man went on a spree, buying mainly hot snacks at the register.

Thanks to him, all the hot snacks, which were too much for me to fry as a time killer, were sold out. Thanks, mister.

And then, about thirty minutes later, the middle-aged man and the high school girl came for the third time. They bought all the cola that we had just brought out from the back yard.

And then—believe it or not, they came for the fourth time. Of course, the high school girl was with him.

Once again, the middle-aged man bought a ton of cola. No matter how much we restock, the cola keeps disappearing. And the middle-aged man looked a bit disappointed when he saw the empty hot snack shelf.

Sorry, but we usually refrain from frying hot snacks at night because they don’t sell well.

But thanks to the middle-aged man, tonight’s shift was really busy. It’s nice not to be bored anymore.

…Well, to be honest, maybe a little boredom wouldn’t be so bad? Other customers came in too, and I feel like I’ve worked enough for today.

◇◇◇

And perhaps my wish was granted because the middle-aged man and the high school girl suddenly stopped visiting the store.

Feeling relieved that the constant stream of work had come to an end, I announced, “Time for a break,” and headed to the back yard to rest my tired body. …Yeah, working when it’s slow is really the best part of the job.