Chapter 80: Regrets and True Feelings.

JULY 23, 2021 2 COMMENTS

“Haa.”

　I sighed for the second time today as I stood at the cash register counter.

　To be honest, it was hard for me to do my part-time job while thinking that I’ve somehow lost touch with Shi-chan today.

　I really wanted to explain it in Lime right away, but I couldn’t play with Lime while I was working, which was frustrating.

　I remembered what had happened today objectively and thought, “That’s right.”

　From Shi-chan’s point of view, it would be weird if she wasn’t bothered to see me and Mikitani-san talking happily.

　Because we’re already dating.

　It would be natural for her to feel uneasy about her boyfriend getting along with other girls.

　But I couldn’t find the right words to say, and I was making Shi-chan feel uneasy again, so I really couldn’t help it.

“Haa~.”

　I don’t know what’s wrong with me.
…… Anyway…I’ve been wondering what I should say to Shi-chan while I’m working.

　And speaking of what’s going on, so is the presence of Niijima-kun.

　I can tell that Niijima-kun is definitely interested in Shi-chan.

　I’ve been keeping my relationship with Shi-chan a secret from everyone, so I know it’s wrong for me to complain about this situation.

Even so, it would be a lie if I said that I didn’t feel bothered by the fact that I left Shi-chan behind with Niijima-kun while I was separated from Shi-chan like this.

　Niijima-kun is handsome and has a good personality, making him an impeccable classmate.

　I believe in her, of course, but even so, I can’t help but feel uneasy about her, and I guess that’s what love is all about.

“Haa~.”

　At any rate, I sighed deeply again, wishing I could just check to see if she had returned home properly.

Pirorirorīn

　The door of the convenience store opened, and the usual melody flowed through the store.

　I greeted the customers with “Irasshaimase” (Welcome!) in time with the melody.

　When I looked at the customer, I saw a woman wearing a mask, thick-rimmed glasses, and a deep cassock.

　It was, of course, Shi-chan.

　I was very shocked at the sudden appearance of Shi-chan, the person I had just been puzzling over, even though she looked suspicious.

　But I was also a little relieved to see that she had come to the convenience store after having gone home.

　As soon as my eyes met Shi-chan’s, she hurriedly moved towards the magazine section, hiding her face with her cassock.

　I couldn’t take my eyes off her, but she picked up a magazine and started flipping through the pages.

　However, upon closer inspection, Shi-chan did not seem to be reading the magazine at all.

　She was flipping through the pages, but her eyes were looking at me through her glasses.

　I feel like I’ve seen this before.

　Normally, I would just smile and not worry about it, but now I feel a little awkward and move to a position where I can’t be seen from the magazine corner.

　Then Shi-chan noticed me moving, and I saw her hurriedly put the magazine back for a moment.

“Haa~”

　What should I do……

　At any rate, I’m sure Shi-chan is wearing a disguise today, thinking that she hasn’t been found out.
Wondering what to do next, I bent down to finish arranging the equipment and stood up, resigned to what would happen next.

“P-please!”

　But as I stood up, Shi-chan was already at the cash register with a single cup of tea in her shopping basket.

　Eh? Isn’t that too fast? I couldn’t help but be surprised.

　She looked a little out of breath, bobbing her shoulders up and down, indicating that she had been in a hurry to get to the cashier.

　I was a little frightened by her suspicious behavior, but I had to do my job, so I took the tea out of the basket and scanned the barcode.

“Well, it’s 128 yen.
The bag–“

“I don’t need it!”

　Shi-chan interrupted my words of confirmation and held out a 1,000 yen bill.

　I took the bill and handed her the change, thinking that even in a situation like this, she would still use a 1,000 yen bill.

　Then, as usual, Shi-chan held out her hands to receive the change, but her hands suddenly stopped.

　I was surprised by her unusual movement, but she accepted the change with both hands with slightly trembling hands.

“U-uhm…….”

“Y-yes, what is it ……?”

“Do you have….
someone you like……?”

　Suddenly, my girlfriend asks me if I like someone.

　But this is not the time to be talking about the situation or suspicious behavior, so I quickly answer clearly.

“Yes, I do.”

“!!…… O-Oh, really? What does the clerk think about that person……”

　Shi-chan’s hand trembled more.

　I guess she still suspects that I’m with Mikitani-san.

　It was all because of my half-hearted response.

　It’s true that I have a responsibility and a promise to keep our relationship a secret.

　Even so, if I’m making Shi-chan feel uneasy like this, then the whole thing is a complete waste of time.

　So I smiled and replied in my own words, in order to properly convey my feelings to Shi-chan.

“Yes, she’s the prettiest girl in the world and I love her the most.
I have no interest in any other woman but my girlfriend.”

　I think I’ve said everything…….

　I’m not interested in any woman other than Shi-chan.

　When she heard my reply, her face turned bright red.

　She then took the change from my hand and hurriedly put it in her wallet and left the convenience store in a hurry.

　As I watched Shi-chan walk away, I made up my mind to tell her how I felt again when I got home.