"──That'll be 1,051 yen. Please pay at register one."
My after-school shift began, and I slipped into my work routine with practiced ease. From the register to stocking shelves and cleaning, I handle it all. Even someone like me, known as a delinquent at school, can work diligently here. The pay at this drugstore is great for a student, and I was surprised to find the job a good fit. I've stuck with it, never slacking off or thinking about quitting.
Since it's a retail job, dealing with difficult customers is part of the package, but the older ladies I work with always have my back, so it's never been too overwhelming.
"Thanks for the backup at the register, Nina-chan. Here, a little something for you."
"Oh, candy. Thanks a bunch."
I popped the blueberry throat lozenge—a small gift from a coworker who started around the same time I did—into my mouth, rolling it on my tongue as I got back to work.
At school, I'm content with my reputation as a 'gloomy' type, but here, I'm the youngest on staff and have practically become the store's idol. …Not that I'd ever brag about it. My fame is a little too localized, you know?
"It's almost six… The store's gonna get busier from now on, so I'd better finish up stocking the shelves quickly." I muttered to myself.
Our store might be called "Drugstore XX," but we also sell snacks, pre-packaged meals, and other groceries—everything except fresh produce. We even have a small alcohol section, which means we get a decent rush around dinner. Honestly, that's what brings most people in. Besides food, our bestsellers are daily necessities like dish soap and shampoo. In a way, we're more like a supermarket than a pharmacy.
Ah, is this a new makeup line? I should ask the manager later if there are any samples.
One of the perks of the job is getting to try out new products from different brands, which always gives me something to talk about at school. Not that becoming a cosmetics expert and having my female classmates come to me for advice does me any personal favors.
Sigh, I wonder if a fateful encounter is waiting for me out there somewhere…
I scanned the store, but of course, there wasn't a single seed of romance to be found. The entire staff, manager included, is female, and our customers are mostly elderly folks or salarymen grabbing booze on their way home. My classmates and other students usually hit up the stores downtown with better selections, so they rarely show up here. Which, in a way, is a relief.
…Wait, what am I even thinking? Right, just one more hour. Let's get to it.
Shaking off the distracting thoughts, I got back to work. After finishing the stocking, I started cleaning. My mind tends to wander when I'm idle, so I'm actually grateful for how busy this job keeps me.
"…Hmm?"
I was halfway through mopping, wondering how I'd kill time after my shift, when a young couple walked in and caught my eye.
That's the class rep and Asanagi, isn't it? No doubt about it.
I didn't recognize them at first, since they were both dressed casually in T-shirts and shorts, but it was a couple I knew very well: Maehara Maki, our class representative, and Asanagi Umi. They were my classmates last year, and I guess you could call us good 'friends'.
"It's been a while since I've been to a drugstore… This place has a different selection than I expected."
"Really? Most of them are like this these days. C'mon, never mind that, we've got a lot to buy today."
"Ah, o-okay."
With Asanagi firmly tugging his arm, Maehara was led toward the men's cosmetics aisle.
With summer just around the corner, they were probably stocking up on things like body wipes and deodorant. Our food section might be the main draw, but we have more than enough to cover a student's daily needs.
"What's wrong, Nina-chan? Whatcha hidin' for? Are you done cleaning?"
"Sorry, not yet… I just, uh, think I know those people who just came in."
"Oh yeah? We're not busy now, so why not go say hi? They're your friends, aren't they?"
"Well… we have been hanging out a lot lately."
We're on good terms, and I did want to talk to them now that they were here, but it's kind of embarrassing for people to see me at work. After all, I wasn't in my school uniform. I was wearing the standard-issue uniform: a light pink polo shirt with "Drugstore XX" embroidered on the chest, paired with drab, oversized, baggy pants.
Without my trademark scrunchie, they probably wouldn't even recognize me. That's how plain I looked.
…I'll just see what they're up to for now.
Honestly, I wanted to bolt for the back room, but since I still had a little work left, I decided to finish my cleaning while observing… or rather, watching over them from a distance.
They don't shy away from being lovey-dovey at school, but I wonder what they're like in private.
"──Whoa, there are so many men's cosmetics. Just for hair wax alone, there are a ton of different kinds."
"That's because everyone's hair is different. In your case, Maki… for example, something like this."
"For a natural-looking, messy hairstyle… huh. The model looks cool, but he's working with better material than I am."
"You can look cool too with a little effort, Maki. I know! Let's get this. I'll even style your hair for you. C'mon, it'll be fun, right?"
"Umm… Well, if you say so, Umi, I don't mind."
"Hehe, I win."
A girlfriend begging her boyfriend to buy cosmetics for himself is a rare sight, but it's also a very them thing to do. It just goes to show how much joy Asanagi finds in taking care of him. Her possessiveness can be a bit much sometimes, but personally, I find that part of her cute.
"New shampoo, face wash, men's toner, then body wipes, deodorant, that hair wax from before, and also… umm,"
"Oh, r-right. Yeah… We should probably get that too. You know, just in case."
They'd filled their basket with all sorts of things and were about to head for the checkout, but they both froze as if they'd just remembered something. They started looking around restlessly, and I could've sworn their faces were flushed… I could see Maehara getting flustered, but Asanagi too? That's unusual.
I can't imagine those two plotting anything mischievous, though.
Well, I might as well go talk to them.
…From behind, of course, just to startle them a little.
"──Boo!"
""...…!??""
Since we were in a store, I was careful with my voice, but the moment I touched their backs, they both jumped with enough force to nearly lift off the ground.
"Huh? Hey… you don't have to be that surprised."
"Ni-Nina…? What are you doing here?"
"What do you mean, what am I doing here? This is my part-time job. I told you guys about it, didn't I?"
"Now that you mention it, I feel like you might have… or maybe you didn't."
It seemed they'd both completely forgotten. That's a little shocking, but oh well. Since I was the one who surprised them, I'll call it even.
"So, what're you buying? Let me see."
"! N-No, you can't! Nina, you're our friend, but right now you're an employee here. Prying into a customer's private matters is forbidden!"
"Hmm… More importantly, are you sure you didn't forget anything? Look, on the bottom of that shelf over there──"
"N-No, we didn't forget anything like that! Come on, Maki, let's just ignore this girl and go pay. Oh, I know! Let's get some juice and snacks to take home too. We just ran out."
"Uhm… Y-Yeah. It's not like we have to buy it today──"
"Ma-ki-kun??"
"Y-Yes… I'm sorry."
Looking at the shelf right next to them, I had a pretty good idea of what was going on, but I decided to play dumb and enjoy their flustered reactions.
Watching these two is never boring. Looks like I'll be able to finish my shift today in a good mood after all.