Chapter 7
What the hell is a part-time job interview? Most of them start with sitting face-to-face. You gauge if the other person is a villain or not through the questions they ask and the answers they give, right?
But part-time interviews in this world were nothing like I'd imagined.
"A scan?"
"Yes. Just step inside this."
First, you had to stand in front of what looked like an X-ray machine. Stand still, and it goes click, like it's snapping a photo. Then the interviewers would crowd around the results screen the scan machine displayed.
"Ooh, plenty of stamina. You're hired. We've got an afternoon slot open at our convenience store—come whenever you can."
"Hmm, strength's a bit low. Sorry, you're out."
"Oh dear, not enough experience to work with us. Can't have you on the team."
Just like that, they'd decide pass or fail. What could I say? It felt like getting rejected in an eroge for low stats. Then again, maybe it made sense since the whole work system here was straight out of a game.
Still, better confirm. What if the evaluation was game-like but the actual work was realistic? That'd suck.
"Can I work any time?"
"Sure. Come whenever you're free. Daily pay."
In the end, the only place that hired me was the convenience store. The rest said I didn't meet the conditions.
How do you even meet those conditions? I had a feeling there was a way. I'd look into it when I had time.
For now, though, I needed cash.
"Huh? You want to start right now?"
"Yes! I do!"
I decided to jump straight into the convenience store gig. The manager—black short bob haircut, voluptuous figure that made even the uniform vest bulge—nodded.
"Alright. Here's the rundown. No deliveries in the afternoon, but lots of customers, so it'll be busy."
She briefed me briefly on precautions, POS system use, and such, then left. Now it was just me in the convenience store vest, manning the register.
……
There's a chair. Nobody's here—should be fine to sit for a sec.
I glanced around, then pulled over a chair and started to sit—right as the door chime rang. A customer.
"One pack of smokes."
"Sure thing."
I shot up, rang it up.
"Condoms."
"That'll be done."
"Chips."
"Card, please."
Customers trickled in steadily between lulls. I kept ringing them up. Up, down, up, down—watching for people got annoying.
Screw it. If no one's looking, just sit. Time to get shameless.
Right as I resolved to plant myself brazenly, the chime rang again. Another customer.
But this one's face was familiar.
"Huh? Hye-rim?"
"Eh? Ahh?!"
It was my neighbor from next door, Maeng Hye-rim. Our eyes met as she entered, and her face flushed beet red. She hesitated at the door, opening and closing it a few times, then dashed between the shelves.
("...I came to the convenience store to avoid running into you at the mart, so why are you at the register here?!")
She muttered from behind a shelf for a bit, then came up red-faced with a bottle of soju and slapped it on the counter.
Beep. I scanned it, she paid with card.
"All set."
She snatched the bottle and glanced around the empty store, then grilled me like an interrogator.
"Um, why are you at the convenience store?"
"Working part-time. Tried a bunch of interviews—only got this one."
"S-so you'll be here every day?"
"Nah, just when I can."
"Kgh…."
Hye-rim clenched her fist tight.
"A-about yesterday. That was a mistake…!"
"You told me that this morning."
"So forget it! Don't tell anyone!"
"Got it. I won't tell a soul about the guy you gave your virginity to, or how you clung to him till morning."
"K-keep it down! What if someone hears?!"
Squawk! Hye-rim shrieked, face crimson. She startled herself, whipping around to check the empty store.
Of course, I only said it because no one was there.
"A-anyway! Yesterday was a mistake! Don't tell anyone! Forget it!"
"Aww, losing those memories would be so sad. Nah, before I forget, I should yell it out for catharsis. Maeng Hye-rim yesterday…!"
"Don't say it!"
Suddenly, she vaulted a knee onto the counter, lunging to clamp my mouth shut.
"Mmph! Mmmph!"
"Eek!"
She kept her hand over my mumbling mouth. Then the chime rang—door opening. She jolted back again.
New customer. I quickly bowed to Hye-rim.
"Thanks for shopping."
"Eeeek!"
Hye-rim huffed, clutched her soju, and bolted out.
Teasing her is fun.
I grinned and turned to the new customer. Not usually my style, but I was in a good mood, so I called out loud.
"Looking for anything in particular, sir?"
After that, I handled the rush, restocked shelves, cleaned the store—and before I knew it, 6 PM. Afternoon shift over.
Five minutes to six, the chime rang. The Convenience Store Manager came in.
"Good work. First day—no big issues?"
"Nope. All good."
"Glad to hear. Night shift might've been trouble."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Here's your pay."
She tapped away expressionlessly on her phone. Mine buzzed—a message. Incoming: a whopping 80,000 won.
"80,000 won! Thank you!"
"Sure. See you next time."
"You bet! I'll come often!"
I left buzzing with good vibes.
"Daily shifts? Or take it easy?"
Normally no choice, but now options popped up—made me overthink.
"If only Hye-rim showed up every day."
Teasing her at the store had been prime fun. Perfect spice for boring cashier work.
But she won't come daily.
Not unless she liked getting teased. Right then—ding-dong. Doorbell.
Huh? No one's coming over. Yoo-jung unannounced?
I tilted my head and opened the door. Standing there:
"Hmph! Ahem!"
My neighbor. Hye-rim, arms crossed.
"Oh, Hye-rim. What's up?"
"W-well…."
She glanced at me, cleared her throat again.
"I-I came to apologize…!"
"Apologize?"
"For yelling and covering your mouth at the store…."
Guess it bugged her.
Hmm, though I started it.
"It's fine. I was teasing."
"Still, I gave you an opening while you were working quietly. My fault. So…."
She looked at me, fidgeting, gauging my reaction.
"Wanna come over? Drink and let me apologize properly…?"
"Hm?"
Caught off guard, I stared. She gazed up anxiously.
But I could feel it. Beneath that gaze, that look—heat flickering. Full of expectation.
But I wasn't innocent either. Seeing her like that stirred my prankster side.
"Hmm. Dunno. Maybe yesterday's booze soured me. Or post-shift fatigue. Not really craving drinks—what to do?"
"Huh?"
Her face fell in panic. She blurted:
"I-I prepared snacks!"
"Not about snacks when drinks don't appeal…."
"Th-then! Right, no stand here—but tablet with OTT streaming!"
"Can watch on my phone."
"Ramen? Got ramen!"
"Even if, treating me like I can't handle ramen is harsh…."
"Then! Then!"
A few bounces, and her face went scarlet. Half-expected her to yell "Fine, don't drink with me!" and storm off.
But she got stubborn. Or that desperate to drink together. She kept pushing.
Though she was hitting her limit.
"Fine, really then!"
"Then…?"
Her huffing ramped up. She fidgeted, twisting her body.
Oh boy, what's she gonna say? I waited.
Finally, she yelled:
"J-just come!"
She marched in, grabbed my wrist with force.
"W-we'll drink! And have sex! So just come!"
Oh, bold. Though her gripping hand trembled.
Better not tease more. I grinned, seized her wrist.
"Should've said that sooner."
Leaned to her ear, whispered:
"I'm gonna fuck you senseless."
"Eek! …Hiiing."
I grabbed her shoulders and headed next door.