Gimai Seikatsu - Days With My Step Sister

22nd of July (Wednesday)

A large cumulonimbus cloud filled the sky, as if it were trying to cover Shibuya's tallest buildings. Behind these white clouds was the blue sky, looking like a blue screen on a PC. Summer had fully begun, announcing the ending of Suisei High's first term. Today was the end-of-term ceremony. Even the sluggish atmosphere inside the classroom had gone elsewhere, replaced by excitement running through the air. It didn't even quiet down after the teacher's sharp rebuke.

"Alright, this concludes the class! Don't go too crazy during summer break, you hear me?"

WIth these words as the trigger, summer break stormed into the classroom. The teacher shook their head in disbelief, but nobody was even looking at them.

"I'll be leaving first." I told Maru and stood up.

"Oi now, why are you in such a rush?"

"Because I have my part-time job right after this."

"Right after? It ain't even the evening yet." Maru opened his eyes wide in surprise.

"I got a shift one hour earlier. A veteran Senpai happened to quit, so they asked if I could come in more."

"Sounds rough."

"That's why I decided to go home early, and get everything prepared."

"Ayo, you do you, diligent lad!" Maru didn't ask anything else, so I quickly left the classroom behind me.

It really is only one hour, so there might not be any real reason to rush like that, but whenever you do something for the first time, there's always unexpected things that are bound to happen. I really didn't want to come in late after asking to move the shift earlier. However, contrary to my worries, I made it to the bookstore perfectly on time. I changed into my uniform, walked inside the store, and realized something.

There were no customers. When I checked the time, I saw that I was here exactly an hour earlier than before. Does the atmosphere of the store change that much just from a small change in time? When I looked around inside the store, I could hardly even see any salarymen on the way home from work. Which makes sense, of course, since it wasn't that late in the day. They'd only start coming in later on.

"You're pretty early today, Junior-kun."

Turning around, I saw Yomiuri-senpai walking towards me with her hand in the air.

"Ah, Senpai. Yes, I have an earlier shift today. Also, I didn't expect to see you here."

"My department has summer break starting Monday~"

"That sounds like something a university would do."

"A friend of mine has lab all through summer break, though. The physics department has it rough."

"In other words, you have a lot of free time on your hands."

"That's why I'm here. By the way, are you working full-time during summer break, Junior-kun?"

"Well, for now."

After hearing my response, Yomiuri-senpai made a faint smile. I'll get the wrong idea if you keep smiling at me like that, so could you not?

"Well aren't you passionate about your work. Your Senpai is happy to spend more time with you, Junior-kun."

"Don't tease me, please."

"No no no. I'm not teasing you at all~ I'm just trying to show how happy I am to have a pure coworker pal who I can spend time sweating with. Well, you might be busy drenched in the sweat of youth with your cute little sis."

"So you're teasing me after all."

"You figured me out, huh?" She stuck out her tongue with a grin, which resembled one of those devilish teasing heroines in the works of fiction, but as soon as a Senpai of hers called her up to the register, she made a face more like an exhausted office lady.

Of course, I've never seen a tired office lady outside of fiction, so I can't say much. But now that Yomiuri-senpai mentioned it, this is the first long school break I'll be spending with Ayase-san. Since we're in different classes at school, we barely see each other. The only difference was our classes before the sports festival. However, both of us will be at home most of the time this summer break, so we might actually see each other more often.

No, I guess not, since I still have work. I filled my calendar with a lot of full-time days. Basically, I was the one who decreased any chances of us meeting, and I planned to spend less time at home. Of course, it's not that I want to spend time with her that much, okay? You understand, right?

I shook my head to rid myself of these thoughts and shifted into working mode. For starters, I have to take care of organizing the shelves and setting out the new releases.

After a few minutes passed, my back raised screams of agony. Working at a bookstore can really do a number on your hips and back, which only gets worse when you have to lift heavy books, carry them somewhere, or put them on shelves while crouching down.

I let out a long sigh, stretching both my arms. I heard cracks coming from my back as I did so. While I was stretching my shoulders a bit, I saw familiar-looking bright hair moving from the corner of my eye. I immediately directed my gaze over there, and I saw a girl wearing familiar clothes walk into the staff office. That is…

"Asamura-kun, if you're tired, you can take a break."

When I turned around, the store manager greeted me.

"Um… the person who just walked in there…"

The store manager followed my gaze and nodded.

"Yeah, she's got an interview for a part-time job here."

We were short on staff, after all, so this is pretty great news.

She's a highschool girl looking for a part-time job over summer break.

"Oh right, I think she attends the same school you do, Asamura-kun."

I faintly heard the store manager blabbering on and on.

"What's her name?"

But I immediately heard the answer to the question I had asked on reflex.

"She's called Ayase Saki."