Late-night Anime, Thin Book, andII

NOVEMBER 26, 2022/MAD HATTER

Hirais faceilookediincredibly joyous. Ohino, I have been completelyileft behind. Despite her carefree tone of voice, I could only bitterly smile at Hirai, who had evidently been triggered in some way. After a short while, Hirai snapped to reality and shyly placed her hand on the back of her head.

Sorry, I got carried away. Ohidear, Im not your friend today.

Perhaps the enthusiasm had subsided, she apologized to me, and fell silent. What a shock. Indeed, Aoyama was right. But my younger sisteriused a bunch of words that I couldnt comprehendithese days as well, and perhaps this was the norm for todays kids?

As always, no customers arrived. It wasiboring that there was nothing to do but to engage in idle conversation. Getting paid to engage in idle conversation wasianother rare job.

Do you have anyiother part-time jobs besides this one?

Hirai asked me this time.

I used to take on three jobs, includingitemporary ones, but this is the only job I have now. Imiconsidering findingia part-time job in the daytime when I get used toiworking late at night.

There are only fouriof us, so there is not much stability.

Yeah, thats true.

ButiHakamada, youre amazing! You hold your own for a newcomer! Everyone says so!

Eh, for real?eewgge

Aiweek hasipassed since I startedithis part-time job. According to theimanager, theiperiod during which new employees tended to quit the most wasiapproximately oneiweek. Since I was approaching the end of that period, it seemed that the other part-timers and workersiwere gossiping about me.

As of yet, I hadnt experienced anything soihorrific that would make me burst into tears, though certainly, some strange occurrences had arisen.

Just asiI predicted, I wouldnt resign in a week or so.

No, I am not particularly amazing.

No, no, youre amazing enough. As expected of theinewcomer the manageriwas talking about!

Oi, oi, manager please dont goiaround stirring things up without my knowledge.

By the way, whatiabout you, Hirai?

Yes?gtegge

Are you working on any other jobs?fewefw

Oh, I dont really, oh, but I do have a side job.fewfeefw

Side job? A steadyijob, huh? But there are a lot of low salaries even if you work hard.

Oh, thats not it. I earned quite a bit of money doing it.

Is that so?bhgbyei

Yeah, twice a year, in the summeriandiwinter, and mangas and novels are sold there.

A bazaar?

Its kind of likeia bazaar, except its limited to mangas, novels, that sort of thing. Oh, I make them myself.

By yourself? You make manga! Eh Wow, novels too!? Eh! You mean like a publication?!

Im not that well-known, but yeah.

So you are a writer I-Impressive.dwwdqw

Im not so much a writer but merely a thin book artisan.wdq

Thin book?dwqwqdf

A questionimarkipopped up in my head when she said it with a grin.

I felt like Id heard the word somewhere, or maybe not.

What was a thin book?

That thin book? You sell them twice a year.

Yes, it sells reasonably well these days with an influx of readers.

I see. Wow, its impressive that you can draw manga. What kind of things do you draw and sell?

At that time, I was still unaware of it. That Hirai was not simply a loli with big tits who liked anime.

You want me to tell you? Then Ill let you read it next time! Haha.

Are youisure?

Yeah! Hakamada, be my reader too!

The Hirai at that point appeared to be quite pleased for some reason.

Timeiflowedileisurelyiasiusual.

Hirai wasinot boisterous like a high school girl, rather mature, yetinever silent, and we spent all the time chatting except for the occasional customer.

To this point, it was the same asialways.

When it wasiabout three oclock and I decided to pack up the garbage and dispose of it in the dumpster in the back of the building, Hirai called me back with a smile and said, Ill do it, and promptly took the garbage outside.

I didntifind that particularly strange, however

Excuse me.

Its fine, its fine, dont worryiabout it. Besides

I saidiapologetically to the returning Hirai, who laughediand assured me not to be concerned.

It seems it is loiteringioutside the storeiright now. If anything, I would rather you dont leaveithe store, Hakamada.