âOkay, Mom, me and Himekawa have a part-time job today, so weâll be leaving soon.â
We have a part-time job today.
If there is no mistake in my shift, Himekawa and I should be working at the same time today.
I have no problem doing light work even with these fingers. I havenât called the manager, but Iâm sure it wonât be a problem.
âWhat? Are you working part-time too, Anri-chan?â
âYes, I do. I work at the same place as Tsukasa-kun.â
âHmmm⦠What time do you get home?â
âOh, Iâll probably be home around 8:00. If nothing else.â
âDinner?â
âIâll eat at home.â
âI understand. Iâll make it and wait for you. Take care.â
After a brief conversation with Mom, we left the house.
It was quite strange that we were both going to the same part-time job.
Riding the train, we arrive in town.
âHmmm. Iâm so tired this morning!â
âAh. Iâm especially tired.â
âSorry. â¦â¦.â
âWell, never mind. Letâs not talk about it anymore.
I still have a little time before my part-time job.
As usual, I arrived a little early.
Looking at the district from a distance, I see a few people starting to decorate their leaf bamboos.
âLook, Himekawa, look over there. There are big leaf bamboos decorating the shopping district.â
âItâs a big one, isnât it? I see them every year, but it must be time for the Tanabata Festival this year too.â
Preparations for the annual Tanabata Festival have gradually begun.
Several large decorations that reach the ceiling of the district are displayed in the stores.
Each store makes its original version, and schools in the area create and display their creations, making it quite a big event.
âDo you want to take a look around a little bit on our way home from work?â
âYes.â
There are only a few decorations that have started to be displayed. More and more decorations will be added in time for the Tanabata Festival.
Eventually, the entire street from the entrance to the exit of the district will be decorated with Tanabata decorations.
â
ââGood morning!ââ
We go into the office of the coffee shop for our part-time job.
We take turns changing into our uniforms and grooming ourselves.
Come to think of it, this is the first time Iâm in here at the same time as Himekawa.
âHave you gotten used to it yet?â
âNah, to a certain extent. I can handle the hall and the cash register pretty well.â
âI see. Thatâs good to hear. I guess you learn quickly.â
While we were having this conversation, the manager came into the office.
âGood morning, you two. Have a good workday.â
âYes, please take care of me. Manager, I have an injured finger.â
âThe other staff will take care of the counter and food, so youâll be fine. Himekawa, you and Tendo will work the hall.â
âI understand.â
âTendo. I heard that the exam is pretty last minute. Study hard.â
The other day Himekawa asked the manager to adjust my shift, so people think my grades arenât very good.
Although Iâm one of the higher-ranked students in the class, here Iâm the kid whoâs not that good.
âYes.â
âHimekawa told me that both of you are off on the same day. Both of you are students in your own right. Study hard.â
âI understand. Then I will leave the hall.â
âIâll go with you.â
âWell, I look forward to working with you today!â
âThank you very much!â
We both leave the office and go out into the hall.
I canât go to the counter because of my injury. I will be in the hall with Himekawa.
I wonder how much Himekawa has improved.
âGood morning!â
âGood morning, good day to you!â
A senior who is as energetic as ever. This guy is always in good spirits.
âIâve injured my finger, so Iâll be working mainly in the hall for a while.â
âOkay, take it easy. Then, Hime-chan, you support Tendo-kun, too, okay?
âYes, Iâll take care of it. Iâll take care of him.â
Hime-chan is Himekawaâs nickname. When did she get a nickname?
Himekawa smiles at me. She just recently started her job, but I canât believe sheâs supporting me.
It seems you are learning your job well. I am very grateful.
âIâm sorry, but Iâm looking forward to working with you.â
âItâs all right. Iâll take care of it. Oh, Iâm going to the cash register.â
Himekawa runs to the cash register. Itâs a nice move.
Her smiling face makes us feel at home.
It seems only a matter of time before she becomes the signature girl of this coffee shop.
âThank you very much and please come again.â
Her smile is good, her voice is good, her gestures are good, and her uniform suits her very well.
Yes, her customer service attitude is passable. The bill is paid and Himekawa comes back.
âYouâve come a long way, havenât you?â
âRight? I can handle myself already!â
âHmmm⦠The other day you were in a panic because you operated the cash register incorrectly.â
âIâm not sure if thatâs because I havenât learned how to do the checkout yet.â
The coffee store a little before noon. It is still too early to be crowded, and the customers are beginning to slowly thin out inside the store.
In a few minutes, it will be lunchtime, and then it will be time for dessert in the evening.
I feel I have seen a new side of Himekawa for just a short time.
Himekawa is doing more and more things that I canât see.
I have to work harder myself.
âWelcome, for two people? Iâll show you the way.
I have to work hard to keep up with the newcomer Himekawa!
TLN: I picked up a new series titled When I Went Back to My Parentâs House, I Started Living a Pampered Life, I hope you can read it too.