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Sequel 12 - Unexpected

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Sunday, May 23rd.

Today too, it's been sunny since this morning. According to this morning's weather forecast, there will be thunderstorms in some areas in the evening and night, but that will be mainly in the northern Kanto region. Tokyo should be fine as there is only a chance of cloud cover.

Today I have a part-time job from 10am to 6pm. It's Sunday, and I also haven't had a part-time job lately because of midterm exams, so I put in a long shift.

Hiori is also planning to come in the afternoon, and more than half of my part-time work overlaps with Tsukushi-senpai’s. So I’m sure I can do an 8-hour part-time job.

Perhaps because it's Sunday and the weather is nice, I'm serving many customers right after I start my shift. It's tough, but time passes quickly, and I think this is a good thing. I wonder if I'm thinking this way because it's been more than a year since I started this part-time job and have gotten used to customer service work.

Just after noon, a clerk on the afternoon shift arrives at the counter. Therefore, I take my first break today with Tsukushi-senpai. Since it’s lunchtime, we take a long break while eating some catering.

“Your customer service today is really good, Kamitou-kun. You're doing your best. Also, your smile today is so good that I can call it your best one ever.”

Tsukushi-senpai tells me as I sit down and place my iced coffee and catering teriyaki chicken sandwich on the table.

“Was my smile that nice?”

“Yeah. There was even a female customer who was so smitten with you that she kept looking at you from her table.”

“Is that so? I was concentrating on serving customers, so I didn't notice. Also, ever since I started dating Hiori as her trial lover, when our shifts overlap, it has become a custom for you to comment on my smile, isn't it?”

“I said it before but, I think the power of a lover is amazing. What's more, she’s now your official lover. Besides, smiling is important for customer service work. Also, as a senior, watching over my junior is crucial.”

Tsukushi-senpai says with a refreshing smile, and sits down on a chair facing me.

“Well, I'm happy to be praised, so you can say it every time.”

“Haha, thank you. ...If I remember correctly, didn’t you have a date with Aoyama-san yesterday?”

“Yes. That was our first time having a movie date. After that, we went to Himura-san's part-time job and Hazuki-san's part-time job. It was a really fun day.”

“That's good to hear. You did say you were going to see a movie. I think it was [The Angel who Leapt Through the Sky], right?”

“Yes. I watched it without knowing the original content, but... it got me. It was a touching movie that lives up to its reputation of being a tear-jerker. I kept crying loudly from next to Hiori since the final scene. Seeing me like that, Hiori told me I was cute and I felt relieved.”'

“Haha, so that’s how it was. Hearing that makes me want to... see your crying face.”

Tsukushi-senpai says that while still having a refreshing smile. It seems that there are some people who’d feel their heart throb by those words just now.

Why is it that everyone I know wants to see me cry loudly? I wonder if their image of me is of someone who doesn't cry. When I take a sip of my iced coffee... it feels more bitter than usual.

“I also have the original manga. I remember being moved by the ending. I haven't read it for a while, but hearing Kamitou-kun's story makes me want to read it.”

“The original manga is also good, isn’t it? I bought all the volumes at the bookstore where Hazuki-san works part-time on the way home. I read it when I got home, but... it reminded me of the movie and I cried again.”

“Haha, I see. That must have been a work that tugged at your heartstrings, Kamitou-kun.”

‘I see I see...’ Tsukushi-senpai mutters, stuffing his mouth with his teriyaki chicken sandwich.

Yesterday I cried at the movie theater, and again in my room. Yesterday may have been the day I shed the most tears this year.

“Partly because the date with Hiori was fun, and that Hiori will also come over in the afternoon. Also, when I saw Hazuki-san and Himura-san working part-time... I thought I'd do my best at this part-time job too.”

“So you were inspired by your friends. As your senior at this part-time job, those are really good things I’ve heard. Then, let's eat lunch, take a little break, and then do our best with our afternoon duties.”

“Yes.”

I know that Tsukushi-senpai has also read the manga, so while talking with him about [The Angel who Leapt Through the Sky], I enjoy my catering chicken sandwich and iced coffee. Partly because of that, I feel more energetic than usual after the lunch break.

I stand next to Tsukushi-senpai at the counter and begin our afternoon's work. Customers come in quite often even in the afternoon. While taking short breaks in between, we continue our work.

And then, just past 2:30 p.m.

“Good afternoon. Akito-san, thank you for your hard work. Tsukushi-san as well, thank you for your hard work.”

Hiori came to the shop. She is dressed in a long skirt and a V-neck short-sleeve rib-knit shirt. She has the same tote bag she had on her date yesterday slung over her shoulder.

“Welcome, Hiori. And thank you.”

“Thank you , Aoyama-san.”

“I'm happy you came. Your clothes look good on you today as well.”

“Thank you very much. Of course I came to check on Akito-san, but I also wanted to study for the English vocabulary test I'll be taking during Communication English class and read the novel that I've read half-way.”

“I see. ...The counter seats are empty.”

“I’m glad.”

After that, Hiori orders an M size iced coffee. With one piece of gum syrup.

After receiving the payment from Hiori, I prepare an M size iced coffee and gum syrup.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting. Here is the iced coffee and gum syrup.”

“Thank you very much. Do your best with your part-time job, Akito-san.”

“Thank you. Hiori too, do your best in your studies for your English vocabulary test.”

“Thank you very much. Well then.”

Hiori gives me a small wave, bows slightly to Tsukushi-senpai, and heads towards the counter seat. Among the empty counter seats, Hiori sits down in a seat that is easily visible from the counter.

There aren’t many customers in front of the counter right now, so I look at Hiori... and see her putting gum syrup in her iced coffee and drinking it through a straw. When I see her like that, it reminds me of yesterday when she drank her tapioca drink.

After drinking the coffee, Hiori pulls out books, a pencil case, and loose leaf from her tote bag. I wonder if she’s going to study for the English vocabulary test. Hiori opens the book and starts moving her mechanical pencil. Since she's wearing casual clothes, Hiori looks like a fashionable college student.

After that, I continue to work at the counter while occasionally looking at Hiori studying or reading. This continues until around 5pm, when Hiori leaves.

Thanks to Hiori staying at the shop for about two and a half hours, the time until my shift ends at 6pm passes in the blink of an eye.

“It’s over...”

Although I did take breaks in between, I guess it was because I worked part-time for 8 hours. As soon as it’s over, I feel tired.

When I leave through the employee entrance, perhaps because it’s evening, it feels a bit chilly.

Also, at this time of year, there are still a few dozen minutes until sunset, but somehow, it feels kind of dark. When I look up at the sky... I see clouds spread in the sky. Come to think of it, didn’t this morning's weather forecast say that clouds might spread over Tokyo from evening to night?

“Is it chilly because of these clouds?”

Well, it's near the end of spring after all, and if I walk around, I’m sure my body will warm up quickly. With that in mind, I start walking towards my house.

“Now that I think about it, Hiori was studying for the English vocabulary test, wasn’t she?”

English vocabulary tests are conducted regularly in Communication English class. Of course, it also affects our grades. The next class will probably be about returning our midterm exam answers, but I guess I’ll also start studying for the English vocabulary test in advance. It happened when I was thinking about that.

──Pitter.

Hm? Something cold hit my face.

──Pitter-patter.

Not only my face, it also hits my shoulders and feet.

“Is it raining?”

──Vssshh

As soon as I realize that it’s raining, the rain suddenly becomes stronger! A guerrilla downpour, huh!

“I thought it wouldn’t rain around this time!”

I’ve walked quite a bit from Zosol. So instead of going back to the shop, it should be better to go home.

I run as fast as I can towards home. In the meanwhile, the rain only gets stronger. It’s dark and the visibility is getting pretty bad.

After running as fast as I can for a few minutes, I manage to make it home.

“I... I’m home. Haa... haa...”

Because I ran as fast as I could after working part-time for 8 hours, I suddenly feel really tired. My hair and clothes are soaking wet and my whole body feels cold. I'm shivering.

“Welcome back... oh, you're drenched.”

“I got caught in a guerilla downpour halfway through. So I ran back.”

“I see. I'll bring you a bath towel.”

“Thank you.”

After that, I wipe my hair and face with the bath towel Dad has brought me and go straight to the bathroom.

I haven’t turned on the bath yet. So, I take a shower while the bathtub is being filled with hot water. In the midst of that chilly air, I got hit by a heavy rain, so my body is having a hard time warming up.

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