The Delinquent Shimizu-san Sitting Next to Me Has Dyed Her Hair Black - Volume 3 Chapter 2.1

Shimizu-san and Part-Time Work

 

“Welcome. How many people… will it be?”

 

Shimizu-san’s voice echoes throughout the cafe as the door opens and customers enter.

 

“Two of us.”

“Two guests, I see. In that case, come here… no, this way to your table.”

 

Though I can’t see from the kitchen, it seems Shimizu-san is guiding the customers to an available table.

On a certain Saturday, Shimizu-san and I were working part-time at the privately owned cafe called Eito Cafe.

I was anxious about whether I’d be hired during the interview, but both Shimizu-san and I were quickly employed.

I later heard that they were short-staffed during the weekend lunch hours, which was perfect for me since I wanted to work mainly on holidays.

 

“Hondō, one omelet rice and one sandwich.”

“Understood.”

 

Shimizu-san, clad in the cafe’s uniform, comes to the kitchen to relay the order.

Perhaps because I usually cook,  I was mainly in charge of the kitchen, while Shimizu-san, whose knife-handling skills were deemed dangerous by the manager, was assigned to serve the customer.

It has been about three weeks since we started the job, so I was gradually getting used to my work.

The lunchtime rush on holidays was busy with orders, but it didn’t feel too overwhelming since the manager or other staff members would help out.

 

“Shimizu-san, the omelet rice and sandwich are ready, please”

“Got it.”

 

Shimizu-san takes the finished dishes and leaves the kitchen.

 

“Thank you for waiting. Here are your omelet rice and sandwich…”

 

I can hear Shimizu-san’s voice from the kitchen.

It seems like Shimizu-san is struggling with the unfamiliar task of serving customers. The need for a different manner of speaking is apparently a challenge for her.

When the flow of orders had slowed down around two hours later, the manager appeared in the kitchen.

 

“Hondō-kun, things have calmed down so you can take a break now.”

“Okay, understood.”

“I’ll be counting on you again later then.”

 

Leaving the kitchen for the break room, I find Shimizu-san there, clearly showing signs of fatigue.

 

“Shimizu-san, are you okay?”

“…Yeah.”

 

There’s no energy in her voice.

Whenever I see Shimizu-san in the break room, she always seems a bit down.

I think she’s trying really hard at serving, but it isn’t easy for her. I try to help out when I can, but I’m mostly in the kitchen, so there’s not much support I can offer.

 

“Kei-chan, you’re working hard today too.”

 

I turn towards the voice at the entrance of the break room.

 

“Kaho-san.”

 

Standing there is a tall woman with an impressive wolf cut, Sakurai Kaho-san.

 

“…You shouldn’t be on shift yet.”

“I was free, so I came a bit early to see the faces of my cute kouhai-kun.”

“I don’t remember becoming your kouhai.”

“Now-now, Kei-chan and Daiki-kun are both members of the Astronomy Club, right? Since I was the president of the Astronomy Enthusiast Club until last year, that makes both of you my adorable kouhai.”

 

Kaho-san is our senior by two years.

She’s the Senpai that Ai-san mentioned before, who works part-time at Eito Cafe.

Kaho-san started working here after becoming a university student this spring.

Kaho-san is mainly in charge of serving the customers, and when we work the same shifts, she always supports Shimizu-san.

Perhaps because she’s Ai-san’s younger sister, she dotes on Shimizu-san quite a bit, which seems to make Shimizu-san a little uncomfortable with the attention.

 

“So, what do you need from me and Hondō?”

“Don’t look so wary of me. It’s a shame for your cute face.”

“I’m not happy to hear that from you.”

“Your guard is strong, huh? Ai always seemed happy when I called her cute.”

“That’s just because Ai is easy to please.”

“Is that so? Well, that aside, it doesn’t seem like you’re going to listen to me at this rate.”

“I have no reason to listen to you.”

“A reason? Wait a moment then.”

 

With that, Kaho-san left somewhere.

Standing around felt awkward, so I took a seat on a chair across from Shimizu-san.

 

“Good work today, Shimizu-san.”

“…Yeah.”

“It was busy at lunch today, wasn’t it?”

“…That’s right.”

 

The conversation didn’t continue.

I’ve been spending more time with Shimizu-san since our first year, and I personally feel that we’ve become closer.

Lately, however, there have been times when I can’t talk to Shimizu-san as easily as before when it’s just the two of us.

I wonder why that is.

 

As the break room was enveloped in silence, Kaho-san appeared again.

 

“Kei-chan, I’ve brought something good.”

“What is it… huh?”

 

Shimizu-san’s eyes changed.

Kaho-san brought a pancake, but it wasn’t just any pancake. It was a special pancake decorated with whipped cream and vanilla ice cream.

 

“I got permission from the manager to make it. Kei-chan, you like pancakes, right? I heard it from Ai.”

 

At Eito Cafe, employees are allowed to make and eat their own meals during breaks with the manager’s permission.

 

“You’re trying to lure me with food!”

“That’s right. Can you resist the temptation of this delicious-looking pancake?”

 

Kaho-san smiled playfully as she brought the pancake closer to Shimizu-san.

 

“You…”

“Come on, hurry up before the ice cream melts.”

“…”

 

Shimizu-san’s gaze was fixed on the pancake.

 

“I’ll give you this pancake if you promise to answer my question. How about it?”

 

It was an effective strategy against Shimizu-san, who loved pancakes.

After staring down the pancake for about ten seconds, Shimizu-san let out a big sigh.

 

“…The pancake is not to blame. So I guess I have no choice but to go along and listen.”

“Then it’s a deal.”

 

Kaho-san handed the pancake to Shimizu-san.

Shimizu-san murmured a small ‘itadakimasu’ before cutting a small piece of pancake with a fork and bringing it to her mouth.

 

 

At that moment, Shimizu-san’s eyes seemed to sparkle.

 

“I’m glad you like it. I’ll ask my question after you finish eating, so take your time.”

 

Shimizu-san then continued to eat the pancake in silence until it was gone.

 

“Now, as promised, I need both of you to answer my question.”

 

After clearing away the plate that had held pancakes, Kaho-san returned to her seat and immediately began speaking.

Somehow, I had also become part of this.

 

“What do you want to ask us?”

“What I want to know about is Ai and Yousuke-kun. How have things been between the two of them lately?”

“You haven’t heard about that from Ai herself?”

“Of course, I’ve heard from Ai as well. But the impression one gets from the person themselves and from those around them can be quite different, you know.”

 

Shimizu-san let out a heavy sigh before responding.

 

“It hasn’t changed. Ai goes on a rampage, and Yousuke always ends up going along with it.”

“That’s certainly no different from when I was part of the club.”

 

Kaho-san moved her hand to cover her mouth and let out a smile.

 

“Was there even a point in asking?”

“For me, there was. But it seems I might have been mistaken in thinking that there might be some development soon.”

“What kind of developments are you talking about?”

 

I asked Kaho-san out of pure curiosity. She looked momentarily puzzled but quickly smiled again.

 

“That is, of course…”

“Hey, you better not go any further…”

“…I thought maybe one of them had gotten impatient and confessed.”

 

Confessed?

Was she talking about that confession, where one reveals their feelings to the person they like?

Looking over at Shimizu-san, I saw her glaring sharply at Kaho-san.

 

“You went and said it.”

“Sorry, I didn’t think he didn’t know.”

 

Kaho-san clasped her hands in front of her face.

 

“Don’t lie. Didn’t you realized it when Hondō asked just now?”

“I really didn’t realize. Believe me.”

“How can I believe that!? Seriously. Just make sure you apologize to Ai later.”

“Okayy. Sorry for surprising you too, Hondō-kun.”

“No, it’s okay.”

 

I knew that Ai-san and Yousuke-san liked each other.

But whether it was as childhood friends or as members of the opposite sex, I couldn’t tell.

From Shimizu-san’s reaction just now, it seemed she was aware.

 

“…This guy is so dense he can’t notice other people’s feelings of love.”

“It seems that way, huh.”

 

Their gazes both settled on me.

Since it was the truth, I had nothing to say.