What If You Spoil a High School Girl Who Looks Like a Landmine? - Volume 1 Chapter 0.1

Prologue

“Senpai, she’s back again…”

“..Having someone become a regular is a good thing, isn’t it? .”

On a Saturday afternoon, while tidying up around the cash register at the café where I work, I said so to my junior coworker’s whispered voice.

“Huh, your danger sensor must be broken. That girl looks like trouble, and she seems to be here for you. Look, she keeps staring this way.”

“What do you mean she’s here for me… More importantly, what are you saying about a customer? Isn’t it nice that she has conviction in her style? What’s it called again?”

“It’s called ‘jirai-kei’ (Landmine).”

(TN : The term “landmine type/style” (地雷系, jirai-kei) is slang primarily used in Japan to describe someone who might appear attractive or interesting at first glance but reveals problematic or “explosive” traits as you get to know them better.

Ah, that’s it.

There are a few customers in the store right now, but among them, the girl sitting by the window stands out with her unique appearance.

Her fashion, which features pink and black and is adorned with ribbons, frills, and lace, strikes a balance between cute and dark——it’s known as the ‘Landmine Type’ (Jirai-kei).

I don’t know why it has such a dangerous-sounding name, but I do get the sense that she looks somehow mysterious, and that’s probably part of its charm.

It’s probably the type of thing that people who like it really like.

“But it really suits her. Her face is incredibly attractive, and her face doesn’t lose out to her bold fashion choices. Even though her hair is black in half-twins with pink inner coloring… It’s over the top, but it seriously suits her.”

“Are you complimenting her?”

“…Please take this as advice from a woman. Nowadays, not everyone dressed like that is an actual ‘menhera,’ but it’s also true that there are some genuine cases among them.”

My junior coworker said this in a tone as if explaining something obvious.

Is that how it is?

“If she turns out to be a genuine case, it would be really bad, you know? If you get caught up with someone like that, Senpai, you could end up in a really messy situation.”

“First of all, don’t talk recklessly about someone you don’t even know. It’s disrespectful.”

“Ugh, argument featuring logic!”

She made a displeased noise and grimaced.

She’s an expressive one.

“…Well, thanks for your concern.”

“Hmm…”

“Now then, I’m leaving the register to you.”

Saying that, I left my junior coworker and stepped away.

In my field of vision, I briefly caught sight of a male and female customer couple who seemed to be giving off a ‘Won’t a server come over for our order?’ vibe.

“Would you like to place an order?”

“Ah, yes. I’ll have this café au lait… and what else was it?”

“I’ll have the cheesecake set—Ah!”

As the woman peered into the menu the man was holding, she accidentally knocked over her glass.

The contents splashed across the table.

“Ah! I’m so sorry!”

“No worries, I’ll wipe it up right away. Did it get on your clothes?”

“No, I’m fine!”

Well, that’s good.

I removed the knocked-over glass and fetched a clean cloth to wipe the table.

Then, I brought a replacement drink to the woman.

“Um, are you sure it’s okay?”

“Of course. So, one café au lait and one cheesecake set, is that correct? The set comes with a drink——”

While engaging in this conversation——

Wait, I’m being watched?

I felt a piercing gaze on my skin, and when I took a quick glance, the one staring was that girl dressed in jirai-kei fashion.

Her eyes, which looked eerily deep, seemed to be swallowing up every single move I made… or is this just me being overly self-conscious?

Noticing that I saw her, she quickly averted her gaze.

From that reaction, it didn’t seem like she wanted to place an order.

Hmm…

“Senpai~! Sorry to bother you! How do I do the electronic payment at the register?”

“…I’m coming.”

My junior coworker, who was at the register attending to a customer, called out to me loudly.

It’s nice that she calls me when she’s unsure, but I wish she would lower the volume and enthusiasm just a bit.

“What part are you up to? Hmm, just tap here on the register, then… right, that will bring up the payment options—”

I returned to the register at a brisk pace and instructed my junior coworker on the procedure.

She can be forgetful, but she’s quick to understand. So without any particular errors, the payment process was successfully completed.

“Thank you~… Phew, that was stressful. Sorry, Senpai.”

“It’s fine. The register has a lot to remember… But you startled the customers who are trying to relax, so please call me more quietly next time.”

“Yes, but honestly, you’re so reliable, Senpai. Even the store manager said it’s really bad when you’re not here~”

“…Tell him not to rely too much on a part-time high school student.”

The manager may be a monster when it comes to making coffee, but he’s too lax in just about every other aspect of running the business.

“I wish he’d take managing the shop a little more seriously.”

“True~. By the way, Senpai.”

“Hmm?”

“She’s still staring at you, that girl.”

” ….. “

‘Please take it seriously.’

My junior whispered to me.

——It’s not so far in the future that I would come to understand those words.

Had I taken her words more seriously then, would my life have not changed so dramatically?

***

TN: I haven’t even read half of it yet, so the tags and genre might still be wrong.

I’ll update them later, or if you’d like to add or remove any tags or genres, just leave a comment.

TL: Hiraeth