Academy Convenience Store Chaos -2- The Evening of My Fateful Encounter with Ricardo
In the Misa-mo meeting room, Shuen sat alone that evening—the day of her fateful meeting with Ricardo—clenching her fists in deep thought.
-Are you okay?
-Huh...?
-That was close. You nearly ruined that pretty face of yours.
-Yeah...
-Watch where you're going next time.
Shuen stomped her feet and let out a frustrated scream as Ricardo's face kept replaying in her mind.
"Arrrghhh!!! This sucks!"
"Why didn't you just shove him away?!"
"Shuen, you idiot moron dumb dog."
Shuen vented her irritation, blaming her past self for not firmly refusing. It wouldn't matter with a stranger, but she'd accepted help from that guy, the one drowning in bad rumors.
"Ughhh...!"
She'd been annoyed.
That was him, right?
Red hair, fierce impression. The man rumored to devour people alive.
'Ricardo.'
She'd only heard rumors about him. The man the Misa-mo president cursed nonstop—the guy who tormented his juniors without any sense of justice, stirring up every incident at the academy like a storm.
Shuen trusted the rumors about Ricardo because a Misa-mo senior had said he'd gotten beaten in a back alley by him. He was surely a devil in human skin.
"That wasn't the work of a first-timer... A husky voice that stirs a girl's heart. Gestures that seem genuinely concerned... He's a dangerous man."
Shuen shuddered, guarding her pure heart.
"No wonder Hanna from the Histania family fell for him halfway. I don't know how he breached those iron walls, but it's clearly all part of a plan."
Unknowingly acknowledging Ricardo, Shuen spent time pondering him deeply.
Wolf-like eyes. Fierce jawline. A melting voice.
Yes, this man was...
'An incubus...!'
Shuen loved fantasy stories.
She knew nothing real about Ricardo. Just that Hanna liked him and the rumors from her seniors—that was all.
She'd missed seeing him at a party she could've met him at because she'd been stuck in the bathroom, so they had zero connection.
Shuen shuddered and nodded.
"Definitely a demon."
She didn't want to get involved with Ricardo. The man all of Misa-mo hated. And getting tangled with someone even the outstanding Mihail disliked could only lead to trouble. She didn't want to lose her life to curiosity.
"I'm such an idiot."
But still.
"I don't want to watch my friend fall apart."
Squeeze.
With no real friends, Shuen clenched her fist and vowed to rescue Hanna from the incubus's clutches. Protecting members was her duty as Misa-mo's vice president.
"Shuen, I won't forget today's embarrassment."
Clenching her fist tight, she thought about Ricardo.
'First, I need to tell the members. That he's back.'
Three days later.
At the [convenience store] that had just opened at the academy, I was manning the counter—drawing on my past-life experience—inside a space with impressive polish for such a sudden launch.
"Hmm... Hanna."
"Yes."
"No customers."
Hanna, in her blue uniform sorting inventory, flashed a bright smile at my listless voice.
"That's a good thing..."
"Huh?"
"Ah... nothing."
Hanna glanced at me shyly, smiling with a mutter of 'I hope it stays like this forever.'
I gave a small smile in return and stretched.
"Should've brought a book. Thought opening day would be slammed, not dead like this."
"Still, 30 people came. Let me massage your shoulders—hang in there!"
"Haha... thanks."
As Hanna approached, she murmured softly.
"Still weird, though. First time one of your shops has been this empty."
"Right? Even with me at the counter, word should've spread."
"Ah... no way."
Hanna bit her lip, her face turning cold.
"Those foxes' doing?"
"Foxes?"
"Yeah, you wouldn't know, but there's this group called Misa-mo."
"Oh... I know."
"Huh? How...?"
Before Hanna could finish, girls' chatter echoed from the hall.
-Kyaa...! So I said... Huh? What's this?
-Ya... let's go.
-Why? Looks like a new store. Let's check it.
-No, let's just go.
-Aww, come on~
-Ugh, no! Let's go. They say that demon's in there.
I gave a wry smile at the girls' talk.
"Ah... rumors already, huh."
Hanna rolled up her sleeves and headed for the door.
"I'll drag some in."
"Haha... hold back."
"But they badmouthed you!"
"It's fine. Wasn't anything I didn't expect. Better to hear it early."
Hanna clicked her tongue and resumed massaging my shoulders.
"Not mad?"
"About what?"
"Weird rumors about you."
I chuckled and shook my head.
"They're not made up."
"I know they're all lies! They just think whatever suits them..."
"No. You don't know, but back when I was at the academy, I was a bad guy."
"Liar again."
"Haha..."
I laughed at Hanna's words, letting her knead my shoulders. Even with poor sales, this routine wasn't bad.
"Thanks, Hanna."
"No problem."
'Misa-mo, huh...'
In the novel, they'd been portrayed as an amusing group. Occasionally providing comic relief with their quirky antics, helping Mihail out of jams by banding together—a decent club overall.
'But experiencing it firsthand... it's a bit much.'
I gave a hollow laugh and shook my head.
"No opening-day luck, I guess."
I'd hoped early crowds would quash bad buzz, but with rumors spreading already, easy mode was off the table.
"Hmm..."
-Ding dong dang.
"Time to go."
"Fine. Professors don't care if I skip one."
"Makes me feel bad."
"Ugh... can't I stay?"
"No."
I shooed Hanna away—eyes like a drenched kitten—and restocked from the storeroom.
At least a few had come.
"Toothpaste here."
"Cosmetics there."
"Drinks over here."
I chuckled wryly at unsold items.
"Triangle kimbap didn't sell."
The triangle kimbap I'd pegged as a top seller while planning sat untouched, defying expectations. Portable and tasty convenience food—should've been profitable. Bitter smile, I sighed at the flop.
"Can't fill up on the first sip."
No need to rush. Plenty of time.
Inventory done, I sat zoning out.
Wanted to bring the Young Lady to man the counter, but academy rules said no.
-Hey... this is expired.
-Eek!
I'll eat it, pick something else!
-No kimbap same price.
-Grrr! Take anything!
'...'
Even without academy rules, Young Lady at the counter seemed risky.
Bored, I sighed away the time.
-Jingle.
The bell rang; I beamed at the entering customer.
"Welcome! SU here."
"Ah.."
"Huh?"
I gave an awkward smile to the familiar face.
'Didn't expect you.'
I knew him. He knew me.
To his wide eyes, I smiled awkwardly.
"Long time no see, Mihail."
Mihail stared, eyes trembling.
"Why are you here...?"
"Ah..."
I showed my name tag and smiled faintly.
Like that.
"I'll be working here for a while."
"Working...?"
Mihail glanced around, asking.
"What's this place?"
"Ah... well, it's..."
"Ah..."
Listening, Mihail nodded, avoiding my eyes. Still uncomfortable, he paced the store restlessly.
"Looking for something?"
I stood by the awkward-faced Mihail, hand on a shelf of chocolate and snacks, smiling kindly.
Mihail stared at me for a long moment, frozen.
"..."
"Mihail?"
"Uh... huh?"
"This is pretty good. Want to try? Snack from Forest Friends—bitter-sweet, helps focus when studying."
"Candy..?"
"Yeah, jelly too. Free, wanna try?"
"Just giving it?"
"Yep."
I beamed at his flustered face.
No one hates freebies. Plus, a way to counter Misa-mo.
Mihail took the candy, eyes trembling on me.
"Why...?"
"Just wanted to. Midterms soon, right? Sugar for the brain—call it a bribe. Advertise a bit too."
"..."
"Ah... don't like from me? I'll send someone—your dorm number?"
"No...! It's fine. I'll take it."
Mihail stared at the candy in his hand forever, ambiguous—hates mandrake flavor?
I smiled awkwardly.
"Come often, I'll sneak you some on the sly."
"Uh... thanks."
"And please advertise."
I grabbed his hand, pleading earnestly. Needed his help against Misa-mo, despite the awkwardness.
I squeezed his hand with complex feelings.
An hour later?
-Jingle.
"Welcome...? Huh."
"Ohoho..."
Purple drill curls pushed open the convenience store door.