working in a scary shop

bab 7 (6 part 1)

　According to my sister. It's still fine to come by or pass by, but it seems that fairly strong or dangerous spirits can haunt customers and clerks, haunt them, and have a bad effect.

　It seems that even a person with inspiration can stay in that environment with a strong negative aura for a long time, and if it were a normal person, it would be outrageous...

"What do you mean by outrageous things?"

"Come on"

　After eating the caramel pudding, my sister turned to the computer and continued.

"I don't know what will happen to me. Also, for some reason, there are many accidents every year near the sea of ​​trees, and the other day there was an accident where a motorcycle jumped over a guardrail and fell into a cliff. Terushi"

"That has nothing to do with convenience stores."

"It's said that the area around there is dangerous."

"That's just an accident, let's do a psychic program."

"Mmm... Onii-chan still doesn't believe in that kind of thing, does he?"

"Oh, don't believe me, what's the point in believing? Whoever says that just wants to scare other people."

　It's a standard pattern to make a fuss when your beliefs become stronger.

“Misuzu-chan really has a sense of spirit!”

"Well, how about it, there's no way to prove that you can see it."

"Tch, it's no good, I need to do something about it soon... Misuzu-chan said. If you interfere too much with that kind of thing, people who can't see will be able to see."

"I'm not going to be able to see. Ah, that's right, hey, I have a night shift today, so I'll sleep again, so don't wake me up."

　Even before I said that, my younger sister had put on her headphones and was jumping back into the world of video sites.

　I thought I was going to sleep, but I'm hungry.

　Boil somen.

　Take somen out of the cupboard and boil water in a small pot.

"..."

　As I watched the air rise, I remembered the security camera monitor I saw two days ago during a break.

　At that time, a strange thing was reflected on the monitor, a strange but clear, grayish little shadow.

　What the hell was that?

　A grayish shadow was moving back and forth near the automatic door in the store.

　I was so surprised by the sight that it was so bizarre that I threw out a can of coffee.

"A little boy is playing at the door."

　Could it be that that mysterious shadow is the boy?

　I've never seen anything like that before.

　And then... at that time, I felt like I was slipping through the side of my leg. I still remember it clearly. That lukewarm wind and the goosebumps that spread.

　Actually, I didn't tell Aoyama about it.

　Because he's scared even though he talks.

　Didn't you say kyah kyah alone that day when you first came to work?

　I was pretty scared even though I was older and had a career. I was so scared, so I asked him why he didn't go to another place.

"It's scary, but if you're going to save up little by little, you'd better be patient...!"

　replied.

　He, no, she (?) seems to have a considerable passion for the rush construction of the lower body.

　When I was dazed, the pot was boiling over, and I hurriedly turned off the stove.

"..."

　That shadow...

　....... Disagreeable.

　I must have been half asleep and made a mistake.

　There are no customers at that time, and I often get sleepy because I'm too busy.

　It's not a ghost.

　First, I can't see anything like that. I can't believe I can see it.

　After all, ghosts don't exist.

　Convincing myself, I put the boiled somen in a colander.

　Come to think of it, the person I was working with today on the night shift was the rumored Takenaka-san...

　◆◆◆

"Good work"

"Ya, it's time for the baton pass."

　Enter the store before 22:00 and take turns with the evening shift.

　It's a different time zone, so it's not really related, but I repeat greetings like this and start talking a little just before the shift, and the people on the evening shift call out to me from time to time.

　I take off my uniform from the hanger in the back room and look around the store while changing.

　At this time, there are still many customers coming and going.

"How is it? Are you used to the night shift?"

　The person who talked to me was Mr. Nagase, who was already preparing to go to work in the evening shift. A college student who has a long wolf set with wax and a crying bokuro under his left eye.

　Overall, he has the image of being a good match for a band.

“How is it… I’ve only been here a few times so far.”

“I see, I hear that night shifts are a lot of free time, but I feel like I’m going to get sleepy.”

"Oh, yes, it's too free. But lately, day and night have been reversed, so I don't feel sleepy that much."

I asked Aoyama-san the other day, and it seems like it happened.”

"Huh?"

"Did you open the door? Over there."

"Ah……"

　I glance at the automatic door with a sideways glance.

　A door that opens regularly by ringing a chime every time a customer enters or exits. Other than that, of course, I didn't open it.

"Weren't you scared?"

“Apart from that, I thought it was strange.”

"Haha, you've got your guts down. This person who started the night shift made a huge fuss and quit in three days."

"Hey, is that so?"

"The store manager seems to check it occasionally, but it doesn't seem like it's broken, it's strange."

"Isn't it full of garbage as well?"

　When I said that, Nagase-san laughed.

"Hahaha! That's what it's like, after all, night shift workers have to be like that, I'm sure."

"You know, if you make a fuss about ghosts like that, there's no end."

　I get caught and laugh back.

　After that, we chatted a bit, Nagase-san got ready to leave, and I went to the counter.

　Even so, Takenaka-san is late...

　It's almost time to go to work, but he hasn't come yet.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you."

　Before leaving the convenience store, Mr. Nagase stopped as if remembering.

“Today, Mr. Hirai joined in place of Mr. Takenaka.

　Does that mean Mr. Hirai will be with you today?

“I wonder if he’ll be here soon.

　After saying that, Mr. Nagase rode a large motorcycle and went home.

　After seeing Mr. Nagase off from the store, I dealt with the remaining three customers one after another.

　For a fried chicken stick, for a bite, and for an old man with three beer cans.

　A young brother who brought potato chips and a plastic bottle on top of a naughty magazine.

　Sweet buns and milk in packs. …and. Daily necessities for women only.

　The OL woman who brought it to the cash register gave me a disgusting look.

　Ah, yes yes, I don't want to show this to a man.

　I know

　With a calm face, I put them separately in the opaque bags under the cash register, then put them in the bags containing other products and handed them over.

"Thank you"

　After sending off three customers with the same words, the shop became quiet in an instant.

　Looking at the clock, it's past 22:00.

　The night shift starts at 22:00.

　Mr. Hirai... Are you late...?

　Even if I'm late, I'm on the night shift, and I don't think I'll be so busy that I can't handle it, so I don't really care...

　That's what I thought a few minutes ago.

　Even though I stood alone at the counter and tried to be absent-minded, it was too quiet and I couldn't calm down.

　Being alone is just too boring.

　Hirai-san, what happened? I haven't met him yet, so I can't email or call him to try to contact him.

　Rather than that.

　I move my gaze diagonally from the clock.

　I looked at the glass wall behind the shelves lined with magazines and comics.