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Main Story 29 - Pilgrimage to Sacred Places

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Tuesday, May 4th.

Today is the 4th day of the consecutive holidays, and I have a part-time job from 9am to 5pm. I thoroughly enjoyed the Hagikubo date with Hiori yesterday, and tomorrow I have plans to hang out with Hiori and the others at the amusement park. Let's look forward to them and do my best. Himura-san and Hazuki-san also seem to have part-time jobs anyway.

By the way, Tsukushi-senpai doesn’t have a shift today. Starting today, he’s going on a one-night, two-day pilgrimage trip to the sacred sites of his favorite anime with his friends from university. It seems he will also buy me souvenirs. Before, I'd be anxious if Senpai wasn't here, but now I'm okay.

Around 11am.

Another senior clerk starts her shift and comes to the counter. So, I go to the break room and take my first break of the day. I make an iced coffee, sit down, and turn on my smartphone.

“Oh.”

Once I turn it on, I see notifications telling me that I have received messages and photos from Hiori and Nanami-chan on LIME.

Let's take a look at Hiori’s first. When I look at the chat screen, I see that the message arrived at around 9:10.

[Good morning. Are you about to go to your part-time job? Or have you already started your part-time job? It'll be a long day, but please do your best.]

[By the way, we are on our way to a relative's house right now. Since it's a memorial service, both Nanami and I are wearing uniforms.]

Along with these two messages, I received a selfie of Hiori in her Kasagaya High School uniform and Nanami-chan in her middle school uniform. Hiori is smiling, Nanami-chan is smiling brightly, and both of them are making peace signs.

“They're both so cute...”

My voice came out naturally. Perhaps she heard that voice, the female employee in charge of cooking who is in the middle of taking a break let out a giggle. It’s a little embarrassing.

Hiori and Nanami-chan... aren't they the most beautiful and cutest sisters in this world? I think about this once again as I look at the selfie. Also, Nanami-chan also looks cute in her uniform. I save the photo of the two of them on my smartphone.

And from Nanami-chan,

[I heard from Onee-chan. Do your best with your part-time job!]

I received that message.

Just by looking at the messages and photos from Hiori and Nanami-chan, the fatigue from my nearly two-hour part-time job is blown away. The power of the person you love and her sister is amazing.

[Sorry for the late reply. I start my part-time job at 9am, and I'm now taking my first break. Thank you for your message and photos. Thanks to that, my fatigue disappeared. In fact, I feel more energetic than when I started. I'll do my best at my part-time job.]

I send this reply to Hiori. I also send a similar reply to Nanami-chan.

I look at the chat screen with Hiori, but... my replies haven’t been marked as [read]. It's past 11am now, so they might be in the middle of the memorial service.

“Let’s do my best.”

I drink the rest of the iced coffee in my cup and once again head to the counter.

After that, I continue my part-time job, taking breaks from time to time.

At our shop, there are sometimes customers who swear at the staff. But, problems between customers are rare.

“Ah-!”

──Ka-ching.

A female customer of about high school age who ordered at the counter next to me dropped her change on the floor. Judging from the sound just now, she must have dropped quite a few coins. The woman begins to pick up her coins in a panic.

“Dear customer, are you okay?”

That's what the senior female clerk in charge of the counter next to me asks. Then, the female customer gives a bitter smile and replies, “I-I’m okay. I'll pick it up.”

However, seeing this woman, a man in his 30s wearing a suit standing in line behind her says,

“What the hell are you doing...”

He grumbles in displeasure and clicks his tongue “Tch.”

I'm sure she heard it. The woman starts to look apologetic and tears begin to form in her eyes.

Fortunately, the counter I'm in charge of is empty. Let's call that man in a suit over here.

“Dear customer in a suit waiting in line over there. We’ll receive your order at this counter.”

“...Thank you.”

The man in a suit comes to this counter.

Also, the woman who dropped her change is looking at me.

“Those are important money. Please take your time and pick it up.”

“There's no need to hurry.”

When the senior clerk and I each speak, the woman turns up the corner of her mouth a little and gives me a small nod. This should be okay for now.

“Welcome.”

“...I'm unlucky today. I was suddenly called to work on my day off. When I came to buy coffee after I stopped a bit, the customer in front of me dropped her change...”

The man in a suit says in a loud voice. I guess he wants to take advantage of the fact the girl dropped her change and take out all of his frustrations on her. Jeez. how unsightly.

“Are you working on your day off? Thank you for your hard work. There are days when we’re unlucky aren’t they? I too have days when I think, “I'm really unlucky today.” I'm happy that you stopped by our shop to try our coffee on such a day.”

When I say that, the displeased expression disappears from the face of the man in the suit. I am relieved to see that.

“You sure say some nice things. I usually only buy S or M size at shops like this, but today I'll order a L size iced coffee. I'll take it home.”

“Thank you very much. Would you like syrup and milk to go with it?”

“Can you give me two syrups? I'm tired from work.”

“Two syrups, is it? Very well.”

After receiving the payment from the man, I prepare the L size iced coffee he ordered.

“Here are the L size iced coffees and 2 gum syrup. Please do your best with your work.”

“Thank you. You should do your best too.”

“Thank you very much.”

He clicked his tongue at the girl and was grumpy, but after telling him to do his best, his likability goes up a little.

After handing him his iced coffee, the man in a suit leaves the shop in a good mood. I guess that settles it. There are no customers at the counter too, so I let out a long breath “Fuu-.”

“Nicely done, Kamitou-kun.”

“I remembered how Tsukushi-senpai dealt with it. After the customer left the store like just now, he would tell me, [That’s how you do it.].”

“I see. Kamitou-kun, you've become more reliable.”

“Thank you very much.”

“U-umm.”

Before I know it, the female customer who dropped her change earlier is standing in front of me. The girl is holding a cup of iced tea. When I look at her up close like this, I can see that she has a bright atmosphere. Her large and bright eyes are cute. Her medium black wavy hair suits her well.

When the woman meets my eyes, she smiles sweetly.

“Thank you very much for earlier. Thanks to Clerk-san guiding that man and calling out to him, I was able to keep my spirits up. Honestly, I was about to get depressed. My friends are waiting for me too.”

“I see. It's great to be of service to you, dear customer. I hope you have a good time with your friends.”

“Yes! Please excuse me.”

After bowing deeply to me, the woman hurriedly leaves the shop. If I was able to make her smile, then my response earlier must have been the right one.

From then on, I continue to work mainly at the counter. There aren't that many customers coming to the shop, so time passes more leisurely compared to before. There are no particular problems or troubles occuring, so it's really relaxing. Peace is wonderful.

When there are about 30 minutes left until the end of my shift,

“Good job, Kamitou.”

“Oh!”

Himura-san comes here alone. She is dressed coolly in her knee-length skirt and short-sleeved blouse. I didn't expect her to come because she also has a part-time job. That's why I ended up letting out a high-pitched voice. Himura-san chuckles at that.

“Are you surprised that I came?”

“Yeah. You did say you had a part-time job today.”

“My shift today was from morning until early afternoon. So, after I finished my part-time job, I went to some of the shops that Hiori and Kamitou went to during your Hagikubo date yesterday. I guess it's the so-called pilgrimage to sacred places, you know?”

Fufu, Himura-san happily laughs.

Last night, Himura-san asked me a lot of questions about yesterday's date. That probably made her want to go to the shops that Hiori went to as well. In that sense, it may be called a pilgrimage to sacred places. I can see the depth of her love for Hiori.

“Also, Hiori can’t come here because of her memorial service, so I thought Kamitou might be feeling lonely. So I came here to give you some encouragement. Also, she said that she came here during her date.”

“I see. Himura-san is the first of my high school friends to come here today. I'm happy. I'm feeling better already.”

“Is that so? Then, that’s great.”

Himura-san looks a little smug. I’m being thankful, you know.

“So, how was your pilgrimage?”

“I went to the cat cafe. It was the best! I've always been a dog person who also likes cats, but starting today I'm a cat person.”

“I think Hiori will be happy to hear that.”

“I'd be happy if that's the case. ...By the way, what about you?”

“Me? I'm happy too. I'm a cat person after all.”

“...I see.”

Himura-san looks into my eyes and shows me a happy smile. This may be the first time she has given me such a cute smile. I guess that's how much closer we've become compared to when we first started talking.

“I also went to the apparel shop where she bought the one piece dress.”

“I see. She doesn't have a shift today, but my sister is working part-time there.”

“Heeh, is that right? They had some nice clothes this time too. As expected from G and L. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of one piece dress Hiori will wear tomorrow!”

“You said that yesterday too.”

Based on Himura-san's personality, she should want to ask what kind of dress Hiori bought. She might want to look forward to tomorrow even more.

Himura-san orders an S size tapioca strawberry latte for takeout. She really likes tapioca drinks. She is a mirror of tapioca drink shop staff.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting. Here is the S size tapioca strawberry latte.”

“Thank you. Do your best with the rest of your part-time job.”

“Thank you. See you tomorrow.”

“Yes. See you tomorrow.”

Himura-san smiles, waves at me, and leaves the shop.

I never expected Himura-san to come to this store by herself and show me so many smiles. I thought it was a dream, but this is reality, right? ...It's reality. I just lightly bit my tongue and it hurt properly.

Thanks in part to Himura-san's visit, the rest of my part-time job pass by quickly.

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