Chapter 2: The Omen of a Storm

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A week after the takoyaki party. On my Sunday shift, I was working with Itogawa-san for the first time in a while.

“Oh, long time no see, Sagara-kun. I’m back to work, so let’s do our best again.”

Itogawa Kazuha-san is a fourth-year student, two years my senior. She had been on a break from work due to job hunting but had recently returned after receiving a job offer. The last time I saw her, her hair was dyed black, but now it was a bright brown.

“Congratulations on securing a job.”

“Thank you. Now I just need to graduate safely. You too, Sagara-kun, work hard for the next two years!”

Hearing Itogawa-san’s words felt like swallowing a small stone, making me feel gloomy.

The job hunting process in two years will surely be tough and grueling. With no special skills and poor communication abilities, I’m sure I’ll struggle. Just thinking about it makes me feel heavy-hearted.

Finding a job, graduating from university, and entering the working world. Although it’s only a few years away, it feels like a distant future, lacking any sense of reality.

Where and what will I be doing after graduating from university?

I don’t have any clear goals or things I want to do. I’ve just been living day by day, never really thinking seriously about the future. Can I really get a job? Talking with Itogawa-san, a sudden wave of anxiety hit me.

“…Um, Itogawa-san. Are there any qualifications I should get now?”

“Whoa, you’re just a second-year. If you rush too early, you’ll burn out.”

“That might be true, but…”

“Do you have any specific fields you’re interested in, Sagara-kun?”

Being asked that made me feel troubled. I only had a vague idea that I would get a job somewhere, without any concrete plans.

“…Not really.”

When I said that, Itogawa-san didn’t show any signs of disappointment; instead, she laughed warmly, “Well, that’s how it is.”

“I’ll bring some reference books and practice exams for qualification tests next time. They’re from last year, but I don’t think the questions have changed much. You can buy new ones if you’re concerned.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s good that you’re trying hard, Sagara-kun. I’m rooting for you. But don’t push yourself too hard.”

“…Okay.”

Itogawa-san is truly a capable person. When I become a senior, will I be able to be so kind to my juniors?

…I wonder if Nanase is thinking about her future.

Knowing Nanase, she might enter fields related to makeup, beauty, or fashion. I envy her for having something she’s passionate about. Comparing her to my empty self makes me feel pathetic.

Just then, the automatic door of the store opened, and I instinctively said, “Welcome.” Nanase walked in hesitantly. Since I had just been thinking about her, I was surprised. She was wearing a casual T-shirt and skirt, probably on her way back from work.

“…N-Nanase. What brings you here?”

Out of habit, I called her by her last name and then remembered we had started calling each other by our first names. But it felt too embarrassing to correct it now, especially with Itogawa-san present.

“S-Sorry. I saw you were here, so I just came in…”

Nanase also called me by my last name. Switching to first names smoothly is quite difficult.

“Sorry for dropping by suddenly. Am I in the way?”

“Oh, no. It’s fine.”

I answered while glancing at Itogawa-san, who was watching us with a grin. Having a conversation with my girlfriend in front of someone else felt strangely embarrassing.

“…Hello.”

Noticing Itogawa-san, Nanase bowed her head slightly. Itogawa-san smiled warmly as she greeted her.

“Hello, I’m Itogawa. We met at the Gion Festival, right? I don’t think I caught your name then.”

“I’m Nanase Haruko.”

“Nanase-chan, huh. You’re really cute.”

After saying that, Itogawa-san turned to me with a teasing tone.

“I’ve been curious for a while… what’s the relationship between you and Nanase-chan, Sagara-kun?”

I hesitated, unable to answer immediately.

I wasn’t deliberately hiding my relationship with Nanase from everyone. But I also wasn’t openly announcing it. So I had never introduced Nanase as my girlfriend to anyone.

The words “She’s my girlfriend” got stuck in my throat, unable to come out. Even though it was clear that Nanase and I were dating, the feeling of not being good enough for her gnawed at me.

While I was hesitating, Nanase spoke up.

“…We’re dating.”

“Wow, I knew it! Sagara-kun, you’ve got yourself a really cute girlfriend, huh!”

Itogawa-san said jokingly, nudging me with her elbow. Nanase looked down apologetically and said, “Sorry for disturbing your work.”

It wasn’t that Nanase was a disturbance, but it was indeed embarrassing. As I stood there speechless, Nanase weakly smiled and said,

“I’ll head home. …I’ll make dinner and wait for you.”

She whispered the last part softly, almost like a secret, before leaving the convenience store. All I could do was silently watch her lonely figure as she walked away.