She Said ‘Don’t Change’… Then Called Me ‘Darling

I didn’t stream any drawing today, and I’d only woken up not long ago, so I was much more clear-headed than usual.

At 11:30 PM, it was about time to head to work.

Yeah… I should probably think about quitting this job.

I took this late-night gig back then just to give myself a reason to go outside.

But things are different now. I have a girlfriend.

I can’t keep living with my days and nights reversed like this. Otherwise, I won’t have any time to spend with Kaori.

Working nights and dating her during the day… No, I’m not some humanoid Gundam. I couldn’t handle that.

I’d feel bad for the store manager, since he’s been so good to me, but Kaori is definitely more important.

Still, working at the convenience store is one of my main sources of income. Relying solely on illustration work is too unstable.

As a guy, I want to buy clothes for my girlfriend. Kaori is so beautiful… And I don’t want her to have to pay when we go out on dates.

It’s a matter of male pride. I never thought I’d have that issue.

That means I need to find a proper job, doesn’t it?

Maybe something like being an artist at a game company. With my current skill level, I should be qualified enough.

I really don’t want to draw those soulless, trend-chasing pieces, though… But between soul and money, of course I’d choose money.

I can make those practical decisions rationally.

The most important thing, though, is that I’d want a job without overtime. Otherwise, I’d be too busy working to spend time with Kaori.

Anyway, no matter what, I definitely need to say goodbye to my current lifestyle.

I can’t keep living like a lazy shut-in. I need to change.

Love makes people grow. I never thought that would actually be true…

I’d been thinking about these things the whole way to the convenience store.

I was serious.

This is my first love, my first girlfriend. I’m thinking with marriage in mind.

That means I have more responsibilities now. It’s no longer just about supporting myself. I need to work twice as hard to make Kaori happy too.

Besides, Kaori has probably lived a very good life up until now. After all, she’s a rich man’s daughter…

Ugh… Can I really make her happy?

Suddenly feeling the pressure…

I know I’m not some talented moneymaker. Maybe if Kaori stays with me, she’ll never return to that life of abundance. Is that really okay?

Hmm…

Before I knew it, I was already at the convenience store door. It’s not far.

I’ll think about it more later. Plan for the future.

Thinking this, I walked into the store.

And then my train of thought derailed. My brain crashed.

That head of snow-white silver hair came into view. She noticed me first. Her eyes sparkled, and she gave me a bright, beautiful smile.

The store manager, who had been explaining something to Kaori, stopped and turned around. When he saw me, he waved and said,

“Oh, A-Qi, you’re here! Starting today, you won’t have to man the store alone anymore. Haha.”

“Huh…”

No way…

Was Kaori also applying for this job?

The manager had mentioned wanting to hire another overnight employee, but… Huh?

And it seemed she was already hired. Kaori was wearing the convenience store uniform, complete with an apron.

She looked super cute in that too… No, no.

Her appearance had just invalidated all the plans I’d made on the way here.

My plan for change started with quitting this night job and returning to a normal sleep schedule.

But if Kaori was working here too, then I…

“A-Qi! You’re staring, kid. Come over here.”

“Ah, yeah…”

I walked over in a daze to stand beside the manager and Kaori. He introduced us.

“Let me introduce you. This is our new overnight employee, Shen Kaori… And here’s the other employee I mentioned, Ming Qi.”

Kaori smiled at me, gave a slight nod, and then said to the manager,

“Yes, we know each other.”

“Oh? That makes things easier. Anyway, just ask him if you have any questions. A-Qi is a reliable young man.”

“Yes, I’m well aware of that.”

The manager nodded.

“Alright, I’m going home to sleep. You two can figure out the rest.”

He started to leave. As he passed by me, he stopped and elbowed me. I turned to look at him.

He had the look of a father watching his son grow up, a satisfied smile on his face. He patted my shoulder.

“Good for you, kid… Kaori’s a nice girl. Hold on tight.”

Uh…

In a daze, I went to the staff locker room and changed. When I came back out and saw Kaori smiling at me, I still felt like I was dreaming.

I thought I was more clear-headed than usual today, but now I felt like I was sleepwalking again.

“…”

I didn’t know what to say.

Kaori applying for a job at the convenience store was beyond my expectations.

I’d imagined many scenarios of us meeting again, but this wasn’t one of them.

The atmosphere was so awkward. Say something, me.

“Did I surprise you?”

“Huh? Ah, yeah, a little… I never thought you’d apply here…”

“This is the only thing I know about you right now.”

“Oh…”

Hearing her say that, I understood.

So this was why she agreed to be my girlfriend. Because of what I said.

Start getting to know each other after becoming a couple. She was really putting it into action.

The anxious feeling disappeared. Knowing she didn’t actually like me yet somehow made it easier to be natural with her.

“But you didn’t have to apply here. This late-night job…”

Don’t women care about this kind of thing?

Early to bed, early to bed good for the skin, prevents hormonal imbalances, sleeping more helps with beauty, and so on.

“Actually, I was thinking of quitting…”

“Quitting? Why?”

Seeing her innocent gaze, I felt a bit embarrassed.

“Well…” I scratched my cheek, looking away. “You did agree to my confession, didn’t you? So I can’t keep working nights and sleeping all day. If I do that, when would I have time to…”

Before I could finish, Kaori reached out and took my hands.

I turned back to look at her. She looked very serious.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry about me. I don’t have anything I want to do during the day anyway.”

“The person I want to get to know is the current Ming Qi.”

“So, Ming Qi, you don’t need to change.”

She was being so serious.

It was almost like she was confessing to me… Actually, this was a confession, wasn’t it?

Her whole being radiated the message, “Stay as you are.” But… was that really okay?

Objectively speaking, even I thought I was pretty pathetic right now…

But seeing how serious she was, I couldn’t bring myself to say no. So I just nodded.

I’d agree for now. We could figure things out later.

Right now, Kaori and I didn’t know each other well enough. Even though we’d become boyfriend and girlfriend by chance, there weren’t any real feelings yet.

“Ah, I also need to thank you. Thank you…”

“Don’t mention it. I didn’t expect such a coincidence either… But seriously, Kaori, didn’t it cross your mind that the idiot and I might be working together to trick you?”

“Idiot?”

“Li Enhe. I call him Idiot. That’s his nickname.”

Kaori thought for a moment, rubbing her chin.

“I see. A nickname… That’s a sign of how close you and Li Enhe are, isn’t it?”

No, seriously, that’s what you’re focusing on? Wasn’t she suspicious of the idiot and me at all?

If I were Kaori, looking back, I’d find it all too suspicious.

Yesterday, a strange man confessed to her at a convenience store. Then the next day, the rich second-generation she was set up on a blind date with just happened to be that man’s friend, and he was willing to help her…

It was more dramatic than a third-rate youth romance novel.

But Kaori wasn’t suspicious at all. She wasn’t even thinking about what I’d said. She was fixated on the nickname.

She looked up at me.

“I want to have a nickname too.”

“Huh?”

I was stunned. I pointed at her, then at myself.

“Do you mean… a nickname for you? Or for me?”

“Preferably both… Oh, the manager called you ‘A-Qi’ just now.”

“Yeah, the manager and I are pretty close. You can call me that too.”

A-Qi was a pretty common nickname. My online handle was actually ‘Qi-le-wu-qiong,’ so people in my stream usually called me ‘A-Qi’ or ‘Old Qi.’

By the way, my stream was called ‘Ming Qi’s Wonderful House.’ Most people probably didn’t realize I was using my real name.

“No. I want a nickname that’s unique to me.”

But Kaori rejected that one. I was a little sad.

“What does Li Enhe usually call you?”

“He calls me ‘bro.’ He doesn’t usually use my name…”

“Bro… I see. So that’s an option too.”

Kaori nodded and closed her eyes, thinking.

Then, for some reason, her cheeks flushed. When she opened her eyes, she wasn’t looking at me. She was looking at the floor.

“Um…”

“Yeah?”

Kaori gathered her courage and looked up. Her face was even redder now. She pressed her hands together, her thumbs circling nervously. It was clear how tense and anxious she was.

“Can I call you… ‘Darling’?”

“Absolutely!”

I answered instantly.

On the surface, I acted very calm, raising one finger and smiling at Kaori.

“Could you try calling me that once?”

“Okay… D-Darling…”

“…”

“Um… Darling?”

Ah, I’m dead.

I was so moved I could cry…

Having a girlfriend is just… the best!

Long live!!!