Are You Going to Fight Inside Our Shop...?
Are You Going to Fight Inside Our Shop...?
" My goodness, are you alright? "
" No. Why aren't you helping me up and only helping that thing up? "
" That's because Hamham-ssi is still fallen over? "
" ...His legs completely gave out, huh. Tsk. How weak. "
Tsk.
The brat clicked her tongue.
After flashing a slightly condescending smile like that—
" So, clerk oppa. "
Even though the lady had given her such looks, it was a title she had never attached before,
she smirked while even adding the word 'oppa'.
" Can I eat this? "
"Heeek! Hieeeeek!"
" Ahaha. Of course you can't. "
Heave-ho.
While helping the plush hamster Hamham-ssi up, I patted off the dust on his buttocks.
Being a doll, he sure is light.
Ah. Could it be that the door wasn't broken, but rather it was too heavy for the dolls to open?
" Why not? "
" Because he's a customer. "
" A customer? "
" Yes. Look closely. He's not a piñata. "
Hmph.
Snorting, the brat stared at the trembling Hamham-ssi.
Soon the corners of her lips curled up again, and—
" Yeah. I know when I look at him. "
"Aaaah!"
She opened her mouth wide and tried to swallow him up.
:: Oh dear. ::
That won't do.
My voice naturally raised.
:: You really don't listen, do you. ::
Playing pranks on me doesn't matter.
Since she's still a kid, her cheeky behavior even feels cute in a way.
But playing a prank on another customer who clearly expressed reluctance?
:: Our store does not tol erate fights between customers. ::
Because that's an action that violates the store's rules.
" Oh, clerk. Are you angry? "
Meeting my eyes, the brat flinched for a moment.
However, she soon shot back at me with eyes full of rebellion, as if refusing to lose.
" Wanna have a go? "
" Stop it. "
Clap.
The sound of a clap filled the small store.
Everyone's eyes gathered toward the direction of the sound.
" This is clerk oppa's domain, isn't it? You must respect the rules. "
Ooh. As expected.
I believed in you, ma'am.
" Listen to what I say, okay? "
" ...Tsk. "
The child clicks her tongue.
Her gaze was still filled with discontent.
Taking advantage of that moment, I hid our Hamham-ssi behind my back.
" Haha. That almost left bite marks. Right? "
"Heeek!"
The lady and the child exchanged tense glares.
Both of their expressions were smiling, but their eyes were not smiling at all.
Seeing that, the lady let out a deep, heavy sigh—
" You. If you keep disobeying, eonni is going to get mad, okay? "
—Wow.
She showed a stern attitude, completely wiping away even a trace of laughter.
This is quite scary.
Gulp—.
Hmm? Oh dear! Our toy customer even ended up fainting.
Let alone the child who received that voice head-on.
Looking at the scolding lady, the brat flinched and stepped back.
However, she soon puts on a cheeky expression again, as if she didn't want to admit it.
Of course, given that her eyes were cast down toward the floor, it was clear who the winner of the battle of nerves was.
" Che, fine. "
" Ohoho. Good choice. Good girl, good girl. "
" Don't pat my head. And are you happy beating a kid? "
" What does it matter? It's not like you're a real kid. "
" ...! How could you say that in front of the clerk! "
Great. Somehow it ended well.
Mother and daughter... No, seeing as she called her eonni earlier, are they sisters with the brat being the late-born child?
Just when I thought it was wrapping up heart-warmingly with the sisters squabbling like that—
" Hmph. Clerk oppa. "
This time, the lady tilted her head toward me.
" But is it really a no? "
" Pardon? What are you talking about? "
" Is it really impossible to eat him? "
With an alluring, captivating gaze matching a pose that subtly emphasized her features without being too blatant.
No, why is even the lady acting like this?
A grown woman who should know better.
While wondering about it—
Wink.
" ! "
I see.
I realized it after seeing her secretly flash a wink with one eye out of the child's sight.
" Of course not! "
" ...Pardon? "
What the brat said earlier.
I realized it from that.
" I repeat once more. Our store does not tolerate fights between customers. "
" R... Really? A customer? Are you serious right now? "
:: Do I look like I'm joking right now...? ::
Crossing my arms sternly, I got severely angry.
At this, the lady panicked—no, acted panicked.
:: Rules are rules. There are no exceptions. Please comply with our store's manual. ::
You know, when training a dog, since you can't directly hit it when emphasizing not to do something,
don't you bring a dog plushie and show vicariously what happens if it does something it shouldn't do?
The wink she sent must mean she wants me to use her as that dog plushie.
To fix the child's bad habit, she volunteered herself as teaching material, trying to show with her own body that even an adult gets scolded for doing wrong.
If that's her intention, I have no choice but to willingly go along.
" W-What...? But we're of the same species, aren't we? "
:: Are you discriminating against him right now just because he's a toy! ::
:: I didn't see you that way! YOU FUCKING RACIST!!! ::
" Wait wait wait. But clerk oppa chops it into pieces to take out the snacks inside— "
:: What I chop into pieces is a piñata!!! ::
:: IT IS NOT A LI-VING DOLLLLLL!!!! ::
Oh my. Startled by the sudden scream, the lady stumbled.
At this, the brat, forgetting that she was sulking until just now, supported the lady.
" Hey, hey! You clerk, isn't this going too far! "
" I-I'm fine. Eonni was just surprised for a second. "
The lady stood up while brushing off the dust on her buttocks.
That signature smile returned to her lips.
" Oh my, I'm sorry. I inadvertently committed a rudeness. "
" Eonni, honestly. What are you doing? Telling me not to break the rules one moment and then being greedy yourself. "
" Indeed. Ohoho. "
Great. This time it seems things really wrapped up well.
Seeing common sense coming out of the brat's mouth, I suppose the discipline was somewhat successful.
" So, what would you like to order? "
" Hmm. As always, hard candy for me please. Today I'd like to try cooked ones after a long time. "
" Clerk bastard! You're bringing umai taffy, right! "
...Maybe not.
I happen to have a new piñata I brought just now.
As I turned around to grab it, Hamham-ssi was trembling violently.
"P-Please don't eat meee...."
" I'm not eating you, I'm not. "
"Pyaaahhhk!"
Oh dear. He was so cute that I accidentally did it.
I casually patted his head a bit, and he just screamed outright.
" By the way, didn't you say you had urgent business and had to go? "
"Ah, th-that is...."
Thwack— I chop the piñata's neck and take out the ingredients for the taffy.
Smacking her lips in anticipation of the tasty taffy, the brat looked on.
Her gaze seemed strangely crooked, as if she were looking at Hamham-ssi, but it was probably just my imagination.
Coincidentally, at that moment, Hamham-ssi also looked toward the direction where the brat was, and—
"M-My legs gave out.... May I rest here just for a bit before leaving?"
He asked while trembling like a leaf.
" Ah, yes. Of course. Stay as long as you like before going. "
" Is that so? Does that statement about staying as long as we like apply to us as well? "
"Heeek!"
" No. We have other things to do today. "
The brat was trying to play a prank that crossed the line even further, but was soon stopped by the lady.
Nice assist.
I handed over the thoroughly boiled hard candy and the well-made taffy,
" Thank you as always. Well then, I'll enjoy it. "
" I'll come again next time, clerk. And hamster, you too. "
"Piiyaahk!"
Tink.
And so, holding hands amicably, the lady and the brat left the store.
"E-Excuse me."
" Yes. Go ahead. "
"Could you check if those two just now really left?"
" Haha. Understood. "
Looks like he got thoroughly terrified.
Our brat might be a bit cheeky, but she's a really good-hearted kid.
However, it would be better to at least pretend for his peace of mind here.
Tink.
I opened the store door.
The clear bell sound chimed cheerfully.
Naturally, outside there was no one—.
" ...What are you doing there? "
" Ah. "
—My eyes met with the child who was crouching low so as not to be seen through the window glass.
From inside the store, a thin and long squeaking sound could be heard.
" Are you seriously trying to take revenge for getting bumped into once the customer leaves...! ::
" Th-That's not it... Eonni! Eonni, say something. "
...Eonni?
I looked behind her where the brat's gaze was directed,
" Oh my. We meet again. "
Behind the door. Likewise in a position not easily visible from inside the store, perfect for pouncing on someone who comes out.
My eyes met with the lady who was awkwardly curling up the corners of her mouth.
" ...Ma'am? What are you doing there? "
" Ohoho. I have to stop this child, of course. "
" ...From there? " " What...? "
My voice and the brat's overlapped.
Coincidentally, I got the impression that the emotion contained in our voices matched as well.
" Well, Hamster-ssi is cute, isn't he? He looks fluffy and squishy. His tender-looking skin is just like that of a newborn baby, so under the excuse of protecting him from my child, I thought I'd stealthily hug him, and I just.... "
Ehem—.
I understand. Because Hamham-ssi is so very cute.
I too involuntarily patted Hamham-ssi earlier, after all.
" Eonni, it's outside the store anyway. It's two against one, so let's just use force— "
" Confessing a desire unbecoming of my age makes my face burn. Ohoho. "
The lady covered the mouth of the brat, who seemed to be about to say something impolite.
Seeing how remarkably adept her movement was in closing the distance and gagging her mouth, this clearly wasn't her first or second time doing it.
:: The brat must have committed rudeness that many times. ::
Yeah. It makes sense for that kid.
Seeing how she was even preparing to pounce just over getting bumped into a little, it's plain as day.
When on earth will she mature?
" Ohoho. Well then, we'll be on our way now. "
And before I could say anything more—
Trot-trot-trot.
Taking the gagged brat with her, she quickly scurried away down the alley.
" Mmm. "
Scratching my head awkwardly, I turned back inside, and—
"......."
Even if soaked in bleach, it wouldn't be like this.
I faced Hamham-ssi, who was bleached so stark white that I thought he couldn't possibly get any whiter.
" Haha, don't worry. There was no one there. "
:: He must have heard everything. You spoke with the door wide open. ::
Ah, that's right.
At Tinkerbell's sharp point, I quietly lowered the thumb I had raised.
The silence that continued for a while was awkward. Should I have not lied if I knew it would be like this?
And during that awkward time, Hamham-ssi closed and opened his eyes tightly several times.
He looks like he has something to say.
"E-Excuse me...."
Oh. Looks like he finally gathered his courage.
Is it okay to do this?
No, no, it's a place that catches things like that so it should be fine, etc.
After muttering something to himself, Hamham-ssi finally opened his mouth.
"I really know I shouldn't ask for a favor like this...."
Strangely, it also sounded like he was talking to himself.
Without interrupting, I calmly nodded.
At this, our Hamham-ssi, wearing an expression somewhat resigned—
"Could you escort me to my home—that is, the address where I requested the delivery...?"
Could I take him to Hamham-ssi's current workplace, the place where I used to work part-time in the past?
That was what he was asking.
:: Hmm.... ::
:: Does this mean Hamham-ssi invited you...? ::