working in a scary shop

bab 10 Late Night Anime and Thin Books part 2

Mr. Hirai looks really happy.

　No, I'm completely left out.

　I could only smile wryly at Mr. Hirai, who had a relaxed tone, but apparently something had switched on.

　After a while, Mr. Hirai suddenly came to his senses and shyly placed his hands behind his head.

"I'm sorry, I'm so hot, I don't want to be friends with you today."

　After apologizing to me, she calmed down.

　surprised.

　It was exactly as Aoyama-san said.

　But recently my little sister uses nothing but incomprehensible words, is this unexpectedly normal for children these days?

　Customers still don't come.

　It's boring to have nothing to do but have a proper conversation.

　It's not easy to get paid just for casual conversations.

“Does Hakamada-kun have a part-time job outside of this place?”

　This time Mr. Hirai brought up the topic.

“Before, I used to work three jobs, including dispatch, but now it’s just this. Late nights are tough if you don’t get used to them, so I’m thinking about looking for a daytime part-time job once I get used to it. hey"

"There are four of us, so it's a little tight, but if a few more people come in, things will stabilize."

"That's right."

“But Hakamada-kun is amazing.

"Eh, seriously?"

　It's been almost a week since I started this part-time job.

　According to the store manager, the easiest period for newcomers to quit is around one week.

　I'm about to break through that period soon, so it seems that other part-timers and part-timers have been talking about it.

　So far, I haven't had a terrible experience that made me cry, and there were certainly strange things.

　As I expected, I won't quit in a week.

"I don't think it's that great."

"No, no, it's amazing enough, as expected of the newcomer that the store manager said!"

　Hey, hey, store manager... I beg you, please don't go around touching this and that in places I don't know.

"Speaking of which, what about Mr. Hirai?"

"yes?"

"Is Hirai-san doing something else?"

"Ah, especially for me, ah, but for side jobs."

"A side job? It's like doing it steadily, but there are many people who are cheap even if they work hard."

"Ah, no. It's quite profitable."

"Is that so?"

“Yeah, there are two times a year, in summer and winter, and we publish manga and novels there.”

　....... Is it a bazaar?

"It's similar to the bazaar, but it's limited to manga and novels. Ah, you make it yourself."

"On your own? Do you draw manga? Eh... Amazing, novels too! Eh! Like publishing?!"

"I'm not that famous, but well."

“Is Mr. Hirai a writer?

"If you're a writer, you're just a 'thin book' craftsman."

""Thin book"……?"

　A question mark floated above my head at the words that were said with a smile.

　Words that sound like something I've heard somewhere before.

　What is a thin book...?

"Those thin books? Twice a year they sell them."

“Yes, recently the number of readers has increased and it sells quite well.”

"That's right. Huh, it's amazing that you can draw manga. What kind of things do you draw and sell?"

　I didn't realize it then.

　Hirai-san wasn't just an anime-loving big-breasted loli.

“Would you like me to tell you?

"okay?"

“Yeah! Hakamada-kun, you should be my reader too!”

　At that time, Mr. Hirai seemed very happy for some reason.

　◆◆◆

　Time flows slowly as usual.

　Hirai-san didn't make a fuss like a high school girl, but she was quiet, but she never shut up.

　As always until here.

　At around 3:00 pm, the garbage was collected once, and the outside garbage was also collected and it was decided to go to the back dumping area, so when I took the initiative to go outside, Mr. Hirai smiled. He called me back and quickly took the garbage I had gathered outside when I said I would go.

　I didn't think it was weird there.

"Sorry"

"Okay, okay, don't worry about it. And..."

　When I said apologetically to Mr. Hirai who had returned, Mr. Hirai laughed and told me not to worry about it.

“It looks like he’s hanging around in front of the store right now.