Academy Convenience Store -3- Tetra Shuen: The Girl Who Loves Mihail
Tetra Shuen. The girl who loved Mihail. Adopted daughter of the magic tower master, a filial ingrate with two parents. She had an outrageous family tree and rock-solid backing, but she was also a tragic figure destined for a bittersweet future—confessing to Mihail only to be rejected.
"Ohoho..."
I'd always liked Shuen personally. Not in a romantic way, but as a reader drawn to this clumsy villainess who stood apart from the Young Lady. Her scatterbrained personality and that forced "ohoho" laugh. Her words could be a bit rough, but she never harmed others, making her easy to watch comfortably.
"Hey, Shuen, why do you disappear every lunch hour? Wanna eat with me?"
"Ohoho...! Thanks for the offer, Yuria sunbae, but I don't want to sit with commoners, so I go to the restaurant alone!"
"Oh... really?"
She was a milder flavor than the villainess who fell into a deep mire over unrequited love. Her only flaw was her intense fangirling over her first crush, but she was one of my favorite extras in the novel. And she had a decent role size, too.
I smiled and greeted the girl in purple drills who entered through the door.
"Welcome. This is the Happy Convenience Store SU."
"Ohoho...! Don't greet me, commoner."
"Is the spot where you fell okay?"
"Because you caught me...! Wait just a sec! Who said you could talk to me like we're friends?! I'm a noble! You're a commoner!"
"Glad you didn't get hurt."
"...Kuh!"
I watched Shuen blush and gave a satisfied smile as I began introducing the store. She must have come here because of Mihail.
"Mind if I give you a quick rundown? No customers right now, so I figured I'd do some sales."
"No need. I read the flyer and know the gist."
"Ah... You read the flyer?"
"Of course...! It's a vulgar shop selling all sorts of random junk."
"You nailed it."
I nodded at her jab with a smile. It was provocative, but not wrong at all. If anything, I was pleased she'd read it properly and come. Compared to that Misa fan who'd thrown eggs at me minutes ago, she was a goddess.
I approached Shuen cautiously and continued the store intro.
"SU Convenience sells everything except what's not there—nail clippers, combs, snacks, black tea, you name it."
"So messy."
"It is. But we sell keepsakes for certain customers, so I hope you'd think it's not so bad."
"Keepsakes?"
"Yeah, like a handkerchief Mihail used, or a drink bottle Ruin drank from and tossed..."
"Wh-what a vulgar...!!!"
Shuen stared at me, face red.
"Is it because you're a commoner?! How can you say such tasteless things?!"
"Haha... Guess I'll dispose of them. Just stuff I picked up by chance."
"Kuhhh...!"
"Sorry for the discomfort."
Shuen mumbled "Th-this isn't... what I meant...!" as I apologized politely, then she strode to the food aisle Mihail had visited, frowning.
"Hmmmmm..."
"..."
"Hmmmmmmmmm...!"
"Customer."
"Hmmmmmmmmmm!!"
"Customer?"
"Hngah!"
I lightly tapped Shuen's shoulder to get her attention. She jumped back in surprise and yelled at me.
"What are you doing?!"
"Looking for something? Like the mandrake candy Mihail ate?"
"..."
Shuen glared at me once, then spoke in a timid voice. How did you know?
"How'd you know? Don't tell me... mind-reading magic or stalking...?"
"You're overimagining things."
"..."
Shuen didn't drop her guard, reaching out like a rain-soaked kitten for the candy I held.
"Shall I ring it up?"
"Yes."
"How many?"
Shuen said with a serious face.
"A whole box."
"Pardon?"
"Give me all of them. You have stock, right?"
The bold customer offering to clear my worst inventory—the snack I thought would never sell at the academy. I let out a hollow laugh and shook my head.
"No, just surprised you want so many."
"If it's sweet, just give it to me, commoner."
"Got it, customer."
I fetched a box of mandrake candy from the storeroom, set it on the counter, and looked at Shuen.
"This the one?"
"Uh... the small box..."
"Pardon?"
"...Ohoho! Of course! What else would a box mean? You didn't think I meant a palm-sized one, did you? Who do you take me for...!"
I hid a smile at Shuen's strong pride turning sucker-like and clenched my fist. Hooked one.
"By the way, customer."
"Why do you keep talking to me, commoner."
"Sorry. I just want to chat more with elegant nobles."
"Ohoho!!! Then I permit it."
"Thank you."
I poked at Shuen's sore spot as she covered her laughing mouth. Couldn't let a hooked fish slip away.
"About this candy."
"Yes."
"Buying so many to share with friends?"
"..."
Shuen flinched at the question while digging for her money pouch and glared.
"...Pardon?"
"Mandrake candy's good at ten a day max. More than that, and it turns bitter in your mouth... Just wondering if you're buying to eat alone."
"..."
"Ahaha... you're not, right?"
Face red, Shuen shook her head and yelled.
"Of course not! I'm not a pig!"
"Pfft...!"
"Why laugh?! Hurry up and ring it like a proper clerk!"
"Ah... pfft. Got it."
I opened the register and teased her playfully.
"Come again next time. You'll need more for your friends."
"Th-that's...!"
"Next time, I'll throw in an extra small box."
"Ugh...! Typical commoner with the freebie... Fine. I have tons of friends anyway. See you tomorrow."
"Pfft... Understood."
Shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter, I wiped tears from my eyes and said to Shuen.
"See you soon."
"Yeah. Commoner."
Shuen bowed slightly, picked up the candy box, and tried to move.
"Nngh..."
The box didn't budge. Panicking, Shuen stared at it with trembling eyes full of confusion—why won't it move?
"Need help carrying?"
"...No need!"
Shuen huffed, lifted the box.
"Haaah..."
And plopped down. I chuckled, hung an "[Away]" sign on the door, and picked up the box.
"Uh..."
Shuen blushed, looking at her rolled-up sleeve and bare arms.
"To the dorm?"
"Y... yeah. I mean, sure. Commoner."
"Got it."
And that evening.
"Ptoo! Why does Mihail sunbae eat this gross candy...!"
Like Hansel and Gretel, Shuen tossed candy out her dorm window, sighing with a lonely expression.
"Sigh... what now."
She'd bought it out of love and curiosity for what Mihail ate, but fell for the sales pitch and got too much.
"The Misa fans already bought the rest."
Using her family allowance, Shuen sighed at her empty wallet.
"But I promised that guy..."
Shuen thought: Ricardo, that man. Definitely a devil.
*
*Ding.*
The next day, Shuen visited the store again.
"Ohoho! Commoner, here for more candy!"
The day after.
"Ohoho... Commoner. Candy today too."
And the day after that, Shuen stopped by for candy. To figure out the man named Ricardo—and to annoy him as revenge for Mihail.
"Ohoho! So vulgar today too, commoner."
Hanna sighed, watching Shuen.
"Why does she keep coming?"
"Hmm... who knows?"
"Yesterday, today! She's not a candy ghost!"
I grinned at Hanna.
"Maybe she wants to be friends with me."
"Butler."
Hanna gave a cold look, glaring at Shuen browsing the shelves.
"Boobs aren't always the answer."
"Puhaha! Not that."
"Still...!"
Hanna pouted, clenching her fists. Even mad like her brother’s little sister, sorting stock made me smile.
"I'm worried the opposite way."
"Huh?"
"Never mind."
Today too, Shuen lingered where Mihail had picked items. Smiling girlishly at snacks he'd touched, sighing in relief at the last stock. The picture of a girl in love.
I smiled bitterly, thinking: She won't last long.
Having watched a woman fail in love, I knew the sorrow of unrequited feelings better than anyone. That empty chest. The endless tears. The pain of impossible love pulled at my heart more. Because I knew how hers would end.
"I've... liked you for so long...!"
"You called me here just to say that?"
"It's not a light feeling. Really..."
"All for love... You're just like that woman, Shuen."
I couldn't help but worry.