Dong Hazuki Is Poor

The weekend is a rare time to rest, for most people—

But not for me.

[Welcome.]

It is still that deliberately put-on smile, bright and sunny, as I face the customer pushing the door open.

Right now, I am a convenience store cashier.

That acting skill of mine unexpectedly suits this job.

Every customer, the moment they see me, shows a fairly warm smile.

Maybe it is the enthusiasm I display.

Or maybe it is this face of mine that easily earns most people’s goodwill.

In any case, more people tend to choose my register to pay, needlessly increasing my workload.

Of course, this kind of thing is nothing worth caring about.

Rather, there is really nothing much to say about this job.

As for why I would waste a precious weekend—one that could be spent rotting in bed—by coming to a place like this.

If I had to say—

It is not only for that small amount of pleasure.

More importantly, it is for survival.

After all, I am not like Ichijou Rikou, who was specially admitted by the school.

Not only are his tuition fees fully waived, he also receives a scholarship sufficient for daily living.

I am very poor.

To be precise, after paying the tuition, I entered a stage of extreme frugality.

That is only because I usually do not eat much—otherwise, life would already be unbearable.

I do not feel much about this situation.

Or rather, I have long since grown accustomed to it.

Because this was exactly how things were not long ago.

Only back then, I was not as polished and presentable as now.

Instead, I was clearly someone already rotten beyond saving.

Well, though there is not really any difference.

For some reason, I suddenly want to laugh.

Even if the body has changed, as long as the heart inside has not, life will simply return to its original track.

You really have been dragged down, haven’t you.

Dong Hazuki, who should have been flawless.

Even so, there is no genuine apology in my heart.

Because to me, everything is actually meaningless.

The only thing I care about—

Is getting home as soon as possible.

[Clatter—]

I was lost in thought for just a moment, yet it consumed what little break time I had.

The bell at the entrance rang, sending out crisp sounds.

A faint breeze slipped in through the opened door, carrying with it a small hint of spring from outside, accompanied by the sound of the door opening.

[Wel—come.]

I called out out of habit, but stumbled on the last word.

Or rather, surprise caused my words to falter.

Of course, I was not the only one surprised.

The person opposite me was equally surprised.

Ichijou Rikou was wearing a set of white casual home clothes.

Perhaps because he was going out, he had carefully tidied himself up.

He even looked a bit more handsome than he did at school.

Though to me, there was not much difference.

[Dongha classmate—]

[What a coincidence, Ichijou classmate.]

I showed him a gentle smile.

The same attitude I have always shown him.

Maintaining the image I hold in his heart.

After all, I still need to rely on him to get home.

Though he belongs to the category of “tool person,” it is not as if I would mistreat him.

At least until our agreement is fulfilled, I will not treat him with malice.

Well, I rarely show malice toward others anyway.

[Oh my, is this Little Yue’s friend?]

Working with me is an auntie in her thirties.

Women around this age generally have a habit of eavesdropping on gossip—especially when it involves someone they know.

Although we have not known each other long, she became familiar enough to call me by name the moment we met.

Her naturally sociable personality, combined with my fabricated enthusiasm, allowed us to quickly become friends who talk about everything.

In reality, I am mostly just responding to gossip she picked up from who-knows-where.

In short, I treat her as a radio accidentally obtained during boring hours.

And now, this radio has begun faithfully recording information.

Specifically, collecting information about me.

[My name is Ichijou Rikou. May I—]

Galgame protagonists seem to have a habit of introducing themselves whenever spoken to.

Especially in front of women.

Well, that is just a rule I made up.

Still, in this situation, it is impossible to completely ignore her.

Especially for someone as polite as Ichijou Rikou.

That is exactly why it is troublesome.

Sensing that something annoying might happen, a trace of irritation rose within me.

I even found myself thinking why Ichijou Rikou did not just leave.

Thoughts that clearly do not align with my current state of mind.

[Alright, alright, Ichijou Rikou, is it? My, the more I look, the more handsome you seem.]

[My name is Hanazono Youko. I’m not bothering you, am I?]

Hanazono Youko smiled until her eyes narrowed, glinting with a light eager to capture information.

[Not at all. Um, Sister Youko.]

[Oh my, Rikou, you’re so warm.]

Just a few lines, and they were already on a first-name basis.

Exactly like when I first met Hanazono Youko.

The worst thing still happened.

Even I could not stop it.

This is trouble—trouble that will affect the plan.

Hanazono Youko’s mouth is like a white hole endlessly spewing information.

And she processes it too, turning something trivial into a world-shaking secret.

In her mind, our relationship has probably already entered the wedding hall.

If that were all, it would not be this bad.

The problem is if her words spread and reach certain people.

For example—

Uetsuki Tsuki.

If Ichijou Rikou can appear here, it means Uetsuki Tsuki is also active within this area.

If she were to find out—

That would be extremely troublesome.

But what has happened cannot be undone.

[From what Little Yue said just now, you’re also a student at Sakurano High School, right?]

[Haha, Sister Youko, you figured it out.]

[Ufufu, Rikou, you look very close to Little Yue.]

[We’re in the same club.]

[Wow, you’re even in the same club?!]

Are you planning to provide even more information, Ichijou classmate?

My already withered heart stirred—

But it was not a pleasant feeling.

[Hey, hey, Rikou, do you think—]

Hanazono Youko lowered her voice, but it did not escape my ears.

[What do you think of Little Yue? Do you feel anything?]

[Eh? Sister Youko, what do you mean by that?]

[Isn’t it obvious? Same club, awkward when meeting—anyone can tell at a glance.]

[You must be mutually in love—]

Well, I really cannot listen to this anymore.

[Sister Youko.]

My voice grew a little louder, interrupting their whispering.

[Ichijou classmate still has things to do.]

[Oh my, is Little Yue angry? Alright, alright, Rikou, hurry up and buy what you need.]

Hanazono Youko wore a strange smile as she looked at us.

I really need to think of a way to shut her mouth.

However—

Even after finishing his purchase, Ichijou Rikou did not leave.

He lingered near the entrance, as if waiting for me.

What is he trying to do?

[Little Yue, it looks like Rikou has something he wants to talk to you about.]

Hanazono Youko naturally did not miss this opportunity, teasing from the side.

[Yes, Ichijou classmate.]

I looked at Ichijou Rikou sitting on the seat outside the door and let out a soft sigh.

[Little Yue, what’s wrong? Want to talk to Rikou?]

With a chuckle, Hanazono Youko wiggled her eyebrows.

And I—

[—Yes, I want to talk to Ichijou classmate.]

This radio instantly grew excited, as if it had gained fresh gossip.

[But—]

My voice suddenly fell.

[Ichijou classmate already has a girlfriend.]

[Eh? Eh—]

To avoid uncontrollable risks, I can only sacrifice you, Ichijou classmate.

[He already has a girlfriend?]

[Then why would he come looking for Little Yue—could it be—]

She shot a hostile look toward Ichijou Rikou outside.

[That kind of man who wants to juggle two relationships?!]

Even if I cannot shut her mouth, I can at least create false rumors to muddy the waters.

That way, even if Uetsuki Tsuki hears it, she will instinctively doubt the truth of the information.

This is the best method I can think of.

Noon arrived quietly.

[Strange, why does Sister Youko suddenly seem to hate me now?]

Because in her eyes, you have become a bad man—

One who has a girlfriend yet still invites other girls to lunch.

Even so, compared to me, you are already the kind of man worth giving everything to.

But I have no intention of defending him.

Nor do I feel more than a pitiful amount of guilt.

Well, being able to make someone as rotten as me feel even a little guilt is quite rare.

You’re impressive, Ichijou classmate.

[Did Ichijou classmate come to see me for something?]

[Ahem, I just happened to run into you, so I thought I’d ask you to have lunch together.]

[—If Ichijou classmate isn’t used to lying, you don’t need to force yourself.]

[Why would Dongha classmate say that?]

[Because we already eat lunch together every day. Why choose today specifically?]

[Eh, it really was just a spur-of-the-moment idea to have lunch together.]

Has this guy already gotten used to eating with me?

Even on weekends, when he should be resting?

[But, I do have something I want to discuss with you.]

[Looks like I guessed right.]

[Ahem, this was also a spur-of-the-moment thought.]

Ichijou Rikou scratched his head.

[These past few days, after interacting with Kiyono, I realized I really can’t chat with her.]

He showed a bit of distress.

[Is that so? Kiyono’s affection for you has actually been rising steadily.]

In the days after joining the Classical Literature Club, Ichijou Rikou went to talk to Nishimura Kiyono every day.

After just a few lines, the conversation would always fall into endless silence.

No matter how eloquent someone is, they will end up speechless in front of Nishimura Kiyono.

Ichijou Rikou is no exception.

Even so, the comfortable sensation of rising affection has never disappeared.

It is steadily moving toward the result I desire.

[Is that so? But—come to think of it, Dongha classmate, you’ve played this game, so you should know how to communicate with Kiyono, right?]

He seemed to think of something.

[Yes, but I can’t tell you.]

[I have an idea.]

Ichijou Rikou offered a suggestion.

[Didn’t the club president say we’ll have an outdoor reading session in a few days? We’ll definitely be split into groups.]

[When that happens, I’ll be in the same group as Kiyono. You can secretly tell me how to respond during conversations.]

[We just need to buy two miniature earphones and two miniature microphones. Connect them, and Dongha classmate can answer for me from a distance.]

It does sound like a good plan.

But—

[There’s one problem—]

Ichijou Rikou looked a bit embarrassed.

[I don’t have enough money to buy them. I’m still short a little.]

He looked at me.

In the end, it is not just his problem.

[I’ll ask the store manager to advance this month’s wages.]

There probably won’t be any other places to spend money, right?

As expected—

Still very poor.

So poor I can barely afford food.

But at the very least, today’s energy replenishment cannot be skipped.

[Ugh—]

That unpleasant feeling again.

I want to throw up—

[If you can’t eat, don’t force yourself, Dongha classmate.]