“Alright, good job everyone! I’m leaving for today! Take care!”

After the clock had passed three in the afternoon and my shift was over, I changed into my regular clothes and bid farewell to my colleagues in the back area with a voice that wouldn’t disturb their work.

“Hey, great job!”

“Today must have been tough for you… To think you ended up dealing with the president…”

“You were right by Manager Mishima’s side when she collapsed, weren’t you? Take it easy today.”

The kind words from my now familiar coworkers and fellow part-timers really touched my heart.

Comparing this to my previous job in my past life where being scolded for leaving before the boss was a regular occurrence, it’s really like a different world in these white-collar companies.

As I thought about this, I stepped out from the back area into the main part of the cafe. There, behind the counter, I spotted Haruka working. I had finished my shift for the day since I had started early in the morning, but her shift had a couple more hours left due to the different timings.

As I caught her eye while she was busy making drinks, she waved at me with a smile that seemed to say, “Good job!”

Seeing her like that, the staff inside the counter exchanged knowing smiles. It was a bit embarrassing, but I waved back at Haruka with a smile.

Come on, new part-timers. Don’t start gossiping and whispering about me and Haruka.

“They really are like that…” and “So, those two are actually like that…” – I can hear those comments, you know!

(Sigh, guess it’s time to head home… Huh?)

Suddenly, as I looked around the cafe, I spotted two familiar figures sitting facing each other on a sofa.

One was Shijouin Tokimune, the company president. He seemed to have ditched his overly suspicious disguise – the hat, sunglasses, and trench coat – and was now casually dressed in a shirt.

Facing him was Manager Mishima, who had recovered from her shock about an hour ago. She was engaged in conversation with Tokimune-san.

It seemed that Tokimune-san was conducting an interview with Mishima about the business operations and issues.

(Manager Mishima is having a conversation with the president just after recovering from that incident… I hope she doesn’t get so nervous that she can’t drink alcohol anymore…)

After the incident where Mishima collapsed due to the whole “calling the president a suspicious person” situation, it had taken her about an hour to recover in the break room. Tokimune-san hadn’t shown any particular anger towards her; in fact, he had apologized for causing the misunderstanding with his weird appearance. He had also suggested that they postpone the interview with the manager to another day.

However, even though she had been forgiven, Mishima seemed to be haunted by a sense of guilt and insisted, “No, it’s not a problem at all! If it’s not too much trouble, please go ahead with the interview now…” And so, that’s why she was now participating in the interview.

“Well, for now, those were the points I wanted to ask about. I really did something wrong today. Once again, I apologize for my mistake.”

“Oh no, not at all! It’s nothing like that! I’m the one who made a huge misunderstanding and said something rude. I’m so sorry!”

“Well, I mean… you don’t have to apologize that profusely… Anyway, I think we’re done here. You can go back to your duties.”

“Y-Yes, of course! Thank you very much!”

Tokimune-san looked apologetic, and Mishima was tense as she quickly retreated from the table.

“Ugh… I seem to be really frightening everyone…”

As Tokimune-san sat alone and muttered to himself, I could sense a hint of loneliness in his words. However, given his tremendous authority as the head of a large company, it was only natural for Mishima to react like that. That’s what I thought, at least.

“…Huh? Niihama-kun.”

Suddenly, Tokimune-san noticed me and called out. It seemed like he wanted to talk.

“Oh, yes. I’ve been working since the morning, so my shift is over…”

Noticing my gaze, Tokimune-san addressed me.

Honestly, I felt a shiver down my spine, but it seemed that Haruka’s absence from the scene was calming him down considerably.

“Well… do you have some time for a chat? I have something I’d like to ask you. If you’re not in a hurry, I’ll treat you to a drink.”

“Huh!?”

Taken aback by this unexpected invitation, I involuntarily made a face reminiscent of a pressure-filled job interview.

Wait, is he planning to pressure me into not getting too close to Haruka!?

“Hey now, don’t make such an obviously displeased expression. I’m asking you this favor, so it’s only fair that I treat you. After all, I’m asking for your time to learn about Haruka’s situation from your perspective.”

“Well, I guess… That sounds reasonable.”

I couldn’t possibly say, “Well, actually, we already call each other ‘Shinichirou-kun’ and ‘Haruka’ in private,” so I ignored his comment and decided to accept his offer.

Well, here comes the pressure… but maybe he just wants to learn about Haruka’s performance at work rather than spy on us.

“Of course, I’d be happy to. After all, I’m always watching out for Haruka-san, even when we’re working.”

“…When you say ‘watching out for,’ it’s inevitable to feel uneasy as a father to hear his daughter referred to that way…”

“Well, ha-ha-ha… Well, there’s not much I can do about that. If I call you Shijouin-san, it’s unclear which ‘san’ I’m talking about.”

I couldn’t possibly say, “We’re already calling each other ‘Shinichirou-kun’ and ‘Haruka’,” so I brushed off the topic with a forced laugh.

Well, that’s how it was… Tokimune-san and I ended up discussing Haruka’s recent situation over a table.

By the way, the two Chocolate Raspberry Pumpkin Frappuccinos placed on the table were bought by Tokimune-san himself at the counter. (TLN: Being honest that drink sounds gross)

I said, “Oh, I can handle ordering for us,” but he responded with, “What are you saying? I’m asking you for your time, so it’s only natural for me to buy you a drink as a thank you.” And he quickly bought them.

This man really knows his manners…

“Well, I might not be very reliable, but… Haruka-san has become stronger. She’s learned to stand up for herself with her opinions and actions.”

“I see… I was honestly surprised. Even though it’s a cafe, the food and beverage industry is all about speed. To think that Haruka could manage this well…”

In the midst of the bustling noise of the chattering customers, Tokimune-san and I peacefully talked about Haruka’s performance without any major disagreements.

By the way, the Chocolate Raspberry Pumpkin Frappuccinos on the table were purchased by Tokimune-san himself at the counter.

“Okay, so that’s roughly what I can tell you.”

“Alright, I understand. You seem to be observing Haruka more closely than I anticipated… Well, I can finally rest easy.”

It seemed that he had heard everything he wanted to know, so Tokimune-san let out a sigh and took a sip of the Chocolate Raspberry Pumpkin Frappuccino. He seemed to be enjoying it, considering how much he had already drunk.

“Well, I understand your concern, but I don’t think you need to worry too much about this place. The staff here are all very sensible, and the customers are mostly people who just want to read a book and have tea. The atmosphere is really nice.”

“I see… Well, it’s a bit of a shift, but I have something else I’d like to ask you.”

“Well, it’s something like… what do you think of this cafe?”

“Uh?”

“The concept of a book cafe is not yet fully generalized, and there are differing opinions within the company regarding its direction. Whether this will become the new standard for bookstores in the future or not is uncertain.”

It seemed that Tokimune was confident I could understand the content of our conversation, and he spoke openly from a business perspective.

“I heard from Haruka that you’re also a book enthusiast. And you have some experience working here… So, from your perspective, how do you see this book cafe? I’d like to hear your thoughts, even if it’s just casual conversation.”

Tokimune had completely switched to his president mode and was genuinely seeking my opinion.

Although I wasn’t exactly a typical youth, I decided to give an honest answer.

“Okay, I’ll do my best to answer, although my thoughts might sound like typical teenage ramblings.”

“Oh, that’s more than welcome. Your candid opinion is refreshing. Please tell me whatever comes to your mind.”

Nodding in agreement, Tokimune encouraged me to continue.

“First of all, I genuinely think this book cafe concept is wonderful. It’s a great deal to be able to read many books for the price of a cup of coffee. Especially for a student like me who doesn’t have much money but has a lot of free time. And the design is stylish, which makes it really cozy.”

“Hmm, are you saying that even as a young man, you’re concerned about the interior design of the shop?”

“Yes, actually. Stylish places like this resonate more with ordinary people. When you’re drinking a fashionable drink in a trendy place like this with its pop design, it almost feels like you’re becoming stylish and having an elegant time.”

Moreover, unlike cafes that are filled with sparkling women, this place is a bookstore. Whether you’re introverted or a plain middle-aged man, you’re allowed to come in and soak up the stylish atmosphere.

“Also, this is more from my perspective as an employee rather than a customer, but I think it’s definitely better to have this cafe integrated than just running a regular bookstore.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Well, it’s simply about expanding the customer base.”

Tokimune asked me to elaborate, so I continued.

“This format caters to three types of people: those seeking a bookstore, those seeking a cafe, and those who want to drink tea in a cafe while reading books. Moreover, the fact that you can read all the books in the shop increases the enjoyment of exploring a bookstore. By simply attaching a cafe to a bookstore, it gives people more reasons to come here. So, I think we should increase this format as much as possible.”

It seemed that Tokimune was interested in my opinion and was quite amused by my perspective, which was different from typical teenage responses.

However, I inadvertently let my guard down and went a bit too far, expressing my thoughts that might have sounded too adult-like and professional.

“Ha-ha… Wow, that was quite a straightforward opinion for a high school student. I asked for something simple like whether you find it fun or inconvenient, whether the food is good or not.”

Tokimune laughed, seemingly finding my reaction entertaining.

“But, well… Your apology aside, why don’t you continue? From your demeanor earlier, I can tell there’s more to say. You seem to understand why bookstores are in trouble, and you probably have some opinions on it.”

“Well, you see…”

While I certainly wasn’t devoid of opinions as someone who had been part of the workforce, I hadn’t anticipated that this casual conversation would turn into a presentation to the CEO of a major bookstore chain.

Tokimune, with an expression like an mischievous child, was quite eager to hear my perspective. It felt like the atmosphere had suddenly shifted, and I found myself in a situation that was far beyond what I had anticipated or prepared for.

(TLN) I am back from hiatus, for now. Some things happened that really suck but I will deal with them. For the time being, I’m back to translating. I refilled the queue for my other two series last night and will be working on this series tonight. If you want to read ahead, check ko-fi.

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