NOVEL NEXT Chapter 50
“──Oh, by the way, my part-time shift is going to change a bit.”
A few days had passed since I had a discussion with Kondo-san at the family restaurant. Watching Chiaki-san do her usual house chores at my place, I figured it was time to update her on my schedule.
“Hm? Does that mean you’re taking some time off?”
“No, not that. My shift is changing. Pretty significantly.”
“…Huh?”
For some reason, Chiaki-san suddenly looked devastated and dropped the laundry she was holding. Huh…?
“You… you’re joking, right? Like a funny little joke or something…?”
“Nope.”
“How much is it changing…?”
“Well, the new shift schedule is…”
I rummaged through my bag and pulled it out. Yep, there it is. I made some adjustments, but mostly, the schedule aligns with Kondo-san’s availability.
Luckily, I had already earned most of my credits in my first and second year, so my university schedule was pretty open. Plus, I was making some side income from illustration work. With that in mind, I talked to my manager and cut back my work hours. It’s not a bad opportunity, considering taxes and family support issues that come up for university students.
By the way, regarding Kondo-san’s part-time job issue, I heard she got really mad and worried, but in the end, she managed to convince them. I didn’t think she could, but apparently, she found a way to negotiate. I wasn’t involved at all, though.
“So, for now, it’s going to be like this.”
“S-so much…? That means we’ll have less time to see each other…”
“No, actually, my shifts have been cut, so we might see each other more often?”
“No, we won’t! I’ve been planning my whole schedule around your current shifts! I can’t change my classes, so I’ve been adjusting band practice and everything around your part-time job! At least for this month, it’s going to be less!”
“Oh, I see.”
“Can you not be so nonchalant about this!?”
Well, it’s not like I’m particularly inconvenienced by not seeing her. I’ve given her a spare key, so she can come and go as she pleases.
The only reason I’m telling her about my shift change is to avoid the confusion of her showing up and being like, “Wait, where is he?”
“So, why did your shift change all of a sudden? You’re usually the type to stick to the same schedule unless you’ve got something special going on. And don’t shifts usually change starting from next month?”
“Yeah, about that, it’s kind of a long story…”
I briefly explained the circumstances behind the shift change.
“──That’s insane! Stalkers are super dangerous!”
“There are no mirrors here.”
“Are you telling me to look in a mirror!?”
Yup.
“I know I’m not one to talk, but that’s not the point! Why are you getting dragged into this? It’s not even part of your job!”
“Yeah, I know. But turning it down would’ve meant dealing with some scary part-timers…”
“That’s still not a good reason! What if you got caught up in something dangerous?”
“Mirror.”
“Stop making light of this!”
“A-Alright.”
She was getting more serious than I expected, so I decided to shift my mindset a bit.
Chiaki-san might have a bit of a shady past, but it seems she’s genuinely worried about me. I guess I should take her concerns more seriously, even if it’s a bit embarrassing.
“Well, like how you’re worried about me, I also worry about Kondo-san.”
“…Honestly, I don’t have a good impression of that girl. From what I’ve heard, she sounds like trouble. Wouldn’t it be better to keep your distance?”
“Yeah, maybe. If we were talking about a college student, you’d be right. But Kondo-san is still in high school. I feel like it’s normal at that age.”
“No, no. Even high schoolers can reflect on their actions. Involving a part-time coworker in something dangerous is not normal.”
“Well, we’re talking about a stalker here. How much reflection can you expect?”
“Ugh…”
I agreed that Kondo-san was definitely “trouble.” But coming from Chiaki-san, who’s done some pretty questionable things herself, her argument lacked a bit of weight.
“Honestly, since I met you, my threshold for cutting ties with people has definitely risen.”
“I’m the cause!? …But I can’t deny it!”
I mean, you did stalk me, break into my house, and now make your presence known through household chores. And there you are, sitting in front of me.
Compared to that, a high school girl who’s a bit clueless and self-centered but ultimately doesn’t mean harm seems kind of… harmless. As long as she doesn’t have bad intentions, I think it’s within my tolerance.
Besides, factoring in her age and the fact that she’s still a student, I think this behavior is kind of expected. The difference in maturity between a middle schooler, a high schooler, and a college student feels vast, even if it’s just a couple of years.
“Also, Kondo-san’s really cute, you know?”
“What?”
“Your voice got cold all of a sudden.”
“That’s basically a declaration of war.”
“Scary…”
I had never seen Chiaki-san look so dead serious before.
“Well, that’s just how guys are, right? If a cute girl with a good personality relies on you, you’re bound to soften up a little.”
“Oh, really?”
“I’m just saying. You’re the same, you know? If you weren’t cute, I would’ve called the cops on you the first time we met.”
“…Oh?”
“Your cheek is twitching.”
“Shut up! You know, you’re pretty sneaky! First you bring me down, then you call me cute to lift me up again! I’m supposed to be mad at you! But being called cute makes me happy!”
“You’re so easy.”
“Hey!”
The fact that she quickly brightened up just from a little compliment shows how simple and charming Chiaki-san really is. Even though the content of our conversation was pretty harsh.
“Grrr…! Well, whatever. I knew you’d be sweet on a cute girl, but I didn’t think you’d admit it so openly.”
“Yep, yep.”
“Still, as your devoted housewife, I don’t want my dear husband getting involved in anything dangerous!”
“Okay, let’s pause for a second.”
You’re not my “housewife.” For the hundredth time, you’re just a housekeeper, and I’m your employer. If you’re going to give yourself a title, at least go for “girlfriend.” Pretending to be my wife is just over the top.
“What’s with the sudden intensity?”
“Because you got confessed to, right? So I’ve got to show that I’m ahead!”
“She didn’t confess. She barely made a move.”
“Same difference!”
No, it’s really not.
“…Wait, are you being so harsh on Kondo-san because of that?”
“No, my opinion of her is based solely on her actions.”
“That’s even worse…”
If her strict judgment wasn’t fueled by jealousy, but just her honest opinion, that made it even harsher.
“Still, I don’t want you getting caught up in something dangerous. Even if you say you’ve got self-defense skills.”
“…Self-defense? You mean, are you good at fighting?”
“I did judo in high school. Plus, I’ve learned secret street-fighting techniques from manga!”
“None of that is reassuring! Are you serious!? Relying on P.E. classes and manga for self-defense!?”
“By my second year, I was on par with the regular members of the national-level judo team, so I should be fine!”
“Wait, that’s actually impressive…! Are you seriously strong?”
“When I was a junior, the judo coach even tried to recruit me, saying, ‘You could win nationals if you joined the team.’”
“Wow… I don’t even care about the original topic anymore…”
I might not be great at communication, but I’m pretty high-spec otherwise.