Jobless Chapter 17 A week after Returning, Cui and I went to my Part-time Job
One week since returning to Japan. I work part-time to earn money and spend my days offering meat to Cui.
『The man found in the abandoned building was Hiroya Karataki. Karataki was crippled, and the building was heavily damaged, so the police wondered if there was some kind of incident』
The TV shows a news report of an unemployed old man found in an abandoned building. Why was he even in that place?
『Karataki-san behaved violently at his boss in his previous workspace』
『My, that’s scary. Looks can be deceiving, can’t they?』
『Not at all. He may seem docile at first glance, and so the change was sudden』
Woah. The old man who was just found beaten up was used as a toy on the variety shows as soon as possible. Poor dude.
I changed the channel. Then, a commercial for a new car was just on
『The joy of running through it all! Come on, let’s go on a weekend adventure!』
「Oh, a new car from six-star Pleiades. Their touring wagons are strong」
Thinking about it, I don’t have to drive the company car to work anymore. I’d love to drive a foreign coupe or something.
「But I don’t have money」
『You’ve been monologuing for a while now』
After finishing the meat, Cui flaps his wings and perches on my head. Well, he’s not pulling his plumes at all.
『It’s been seven days since you returned to Japan. Are you still going to stay?』
「Yeah. As I mentioned before, I’m going to leave at least 10 days open. Still, Cui. You still don’t know what the requirements are or what objects we can bring back?」
So far, we only made two round trips. At any rate, I haven’t tried to bring back any clothes from the other side.
『Hmm, I’ve gathered information, but there’s a lot of uncertainty. After all, this is the first time I have freely traveled between the two worlds』
「Really?」
『Yes. I mentioned it before. Once you leave the Heroic True world, the conditions under which you can return are set. Usually, you spend all your time in the world you’ve traveled to』
Oh yeah, he did mention it. Cui can’t return to the Heroic True world unless his contracted hero dies, or accumulates a certain number of Hero points.
「You’re a migratory bird」
『A perfectly fitting phrase』
「Anyway, I’m heading to part-time work today. Cui, what do you usually do when I’m out?」
Although we often go out together, I have a part-time job so I have it stay home.
I thought that Cui must be bored since it can’t even touch a phone in that state.
『I’m watching TV, going out, and gather information』
「Huh? you go out?」
『Indeed』
「How?」
『Through the window』
No, how? Well, there have been times recently when the windows have been left unlocked. So it was Cui’s work.
『If my powers have been at full strength, I could grasp a rough idea of what’s going on with just a little bit of flying around. I couldn’t do that now, so I’m taking it slow and enjoying the sight』
「Is that so?」
Well, I’m glad that Cui-san’s satisfied, I guess…
『That aside… I want steak. Touya, get some thick steak. Then, a nice gravy dripping down the side…』
「We don’t have that kind of money! I always buy you some meat, don’t I?」
How much pork and chicken do you think I can buy with the money for steak?
By the way, Cui cares not about the same family, he would eat anything meat, even chicken.
「Geez. You should help me make money too…」
How about I capture a video of it doing some tricks?
No, I heard that the hurdle to getting monetized is hard these days. If you ask me if I’m willing to risk my identity and face being discovered. I’m not ready to go that far yet.
「Anyway, I’m off to my part-time job. Think of something we could bring to the other side」
『Very well』
When I go over there, I’ll probably start selling clothes again.
While I was absentminded, Cui spoke up.
『Wait』
「Huh?」
『I changed my mind. I’ll accompany you to your part-time job today』
「Huh?」
■
「Good Morning」
「Oh, Kougo. I’m counting on you today, woah? you really brought it!」
Although the decision to bring Cui was short, the bar Master, Morimura-san, graciously agreed. He wanted to check what kind of bird I had.
「A bird’s really perching on your head! What a clever one」
「Y-Yeah. Cui. I’m going to work now, stay still」
『I know』
Cui can make it so others can hear it, but it can also make it so I, the contractor, am the only one who can hear it speak. Currently, nobody can hear Cui.
I change into my work clothes and go to the counter, ready for the opening. Then, Kurumi comes in.
「Good Morning」
「Yeah」
「Good Morning」
『Muu. Minezaki Kurumi, 150cm, B Cup. Her sexual experience…zero. Inexperienced Kisser. Virgin. But, her experience in masturbating is moderate』
I know it’s trivial, but why is it that in customer service-related part-time jobs, they say “Good Morning” regardless of the time of the day. Is it a regional thing?
Wait no, I just got some amazing information in my ears.
Huh, what, Cui-san? You can now see some sex status?
Tell me the details later! I was thinking that, but for now I should greet Kurumi. She wasn’t as energetic as before.
I finished getting dressed and greeted Kurumi as she came to the counter.
「What’s up, Kurumi. You don’t sound cheerful today」
「Huh…」
「No, your greetings don’t seem lively I just thought」
This isn’t power harassment, right?
I didn’t say: “Hey, be louder when greeting.”
「N-Not really. Does it have to do anything with my voice greeting my senior?」
「Huh…」
Cold! I was worried you know!
I know you’ve been masturbating behind my back a lot while you’ve been putting on that smug face you know!
「That aside. That bird?」
「Oh, that one’s my bird from home. It’s name is Cui」
「Haa…」
I knew it, she lacked energy. Normally, she would get excited and show a reaction to Cui.
Morimura-san is also concerned about Kurumi’s condition so he pulled my arm and whispered.
「Well, be gentle with her」
「Huh?」
「Women have their tough days you know」
No, if that’s the case, then take a break
Well, Kurumi went out of her way to choose a part-time job where she works until morning so I guess she has her reasons.
So began my part-time job with Kurumi, who was less excited than usual.
■
The day was moderately lively. That’s because of Cui.
「What a smart bird」
「My. It even perched on my fingers」
「Here’s your reward, walnuts」
『Hmph. Tastes like chemicals』
What kind of flavor is that? Anyway, Cui attracted attention as a smart bird and did what people said.
We usually don’t have a lot of customers, no, we didn’t have customers who had a good time with Cui before.
Cui seems to have learned that if it perches on people’s fingers and shoulders, they’ll feed it. And so it’s well-behaved.
(I think that’s the last client of today)
It’s about time. Let’s start cleaning.
While I was thinking, Morimura-san who just finished a phone call someplace else, spoke up.
「Kougo, Minezaki. I’m leaving for a while, look after the bar」
「Huh?」
Morimura-san told us to watch the bar.
「Where are you going?」
「Just the convenience store」
「If you need something then I can go instead」
「It’s a lot. I’ll close the bar once I get back. You can start cleaning」
Saying that Morimura-san left the bar. Oh yeah, it’s been a long time, but I used to leave the store to go shopping.
I don’t know why it’s gloomy, but Kurumi and I began to clean the store. Normally, if left alone, Kurumi would talk to me, but…
「Hey, Kuru–」
When I tried to talk to Kurumi. The door opened.
I wondered if Morimura-san returned, but as I thought of that, two men I didn’t recognize at all were standing at the entrance of the restaurant.
I have to tell them that we’re near closing hours already.
「Dear Customer…」
「Ooh? Kurumi’s here for real!」
「I told you! She’s been working here for a while now」
「Huh?」
The two men turned their ferocious smiles toward Kurumi.