The Damn Family Is Back Again

349. Family (19)

It was just a few seconds ago.

I was harboring this dual feeling of wanting this peaceful time of vacation to last longer, but also wanting this cold time to pass faster.

But now, there’s no need to be entangled in such dual worries.

There was no need to worry about whether time was lengthening or shortening, or to harbor any regrets.

“I heard you’re looking for a part-timer.”

With that one sentence, all my complaints vanished.

‘Just now… you said you’re looking for a part-timer, right?’

As soon as I heard it, I knew exactly why I had come.

I wasn’t originally the type to come to a place like this, but for the sake of a part-time job. That’s why I came here.

A sense of anticipation began to swell in one corner of my chest.

So, that means… that kid is also going to work here.

I thought I wouldn’t be able to see them during the vacation… but if we meet here?

Working together, seeing each other every day, getting closer?

The corners of my mouth twitch involuntarily.

I can’t help but smile.

I hope so.

Working together, eating together, commuting to and from the part-time job together.

And maybe… we could get even closer?

Happy imaginings were unfolding in my mind.

“Oh. You came because you saw the job posting?”

“To be precise, the flyer over there.”

“Flyer?”

“It was stuck on the utility pole, wasn’t it?”

“Ah. Not a letter, but a flyer? Hmm.”

Hearing that, the boss tilted his head for a moment, then recalled the memory as the appearance of the flyer was described.

“Although the work has been reduced, having someone to do it for me is much better from my perspective. So, where are the documents you brought?”

“Here they are.”

“You’re well-prepared. Alright, let’s see… Hmm. Hmm.”

The boss calmly took the resume and read it.

However, after reading the resume and glancing at the kid a few times, he showed a troubled expression.

‘No way… Is he going to reject me?’

The kid, who caught the boss’s bitter expression with sharp eyes, immediately asked the boss.

“Please explain.”

“Huh, what?”

“Why are you trying to reject me?”

As the kid hit the nail on the head, the boss had no choice but to reveal his true feelings.

“There are various issues. It seems difficult to accept you in our store.”

“Is it because the part-time pay has been lowered due to the reduction in work? Then you can just assign me the original tasks.”

“No, that’s not the problem. As I said earlier, if you do more work, it’s all good for me.”

The boss firmly denied the assumption of work reduction.

“There are quite a few problems. Compared to other places, our store’s work is quite tough. Of course, that’s why the pay is set that way, and we actually try to pay that much… But the problem is that everyone couldn’t endure and left.”

The boss smacked his lips with a clicking sound.

“Even if we try to overpay, they couldn’t last long. The work is that hard. But… what if we assign such tough work to a kid with a frail body and an accident happens?”

The image of the store plummeted right there.

They might have to close the business for overburdening a teenager with excessive work.

In short, it’s a matter of physique.

On the surface, it means that it’s impossible to entrust this job to your body, which is tall and lanky but frail.

“And besides the physique, the fact that you’re not a student at a nearby high school. That also bothers me a bit.”

“What’s the problem with not being a student at a nearby high school?”

“Well… there have been so many incidents recently that we can’t just accept high school students. Runaway teenagers come and secretly steal money, claim they’re from some crew and cause trouble, or some bad guy comes in, messes things up, and leaves after taking a day’s pay.”

The owner sighed deeply, reminiscing about past incidents.

“After looking into it, they were all kids from other regions. Because of them, even the kids who originally worked here suffered… It’s tough. If I try to solve it by going to other regions, it drains me. Even if they’re students, if they don’t live around here, it affects the store’s operation, so it’s inevitably troublesome.”

The second issue is that you’re not a resident of this area.

Hiring a student part-timer might cause minor troubles, but if they come from another region, the store suffers in many ways.

If they’re residents of this area, at least it can be resolved quickly, but if someone from a distant region causes trouble or creates problems and then disappears, it’s hard to catch them. That’s why there’s a condition that high school students must be residents of this area.

“Also, soon this store will be relocated to another branch. If any trouble arises during that time, it would be difficult, so I want to maintain this situation as much as possible until we move.”

The owner explained the store’s circumstances, citing a few more reasons.

Sorry, but because of these reasons, I can’t hire you.

It’s not suitable to hire a high school part-timer.

That’s how he persuaded.

‘…No.’

All the happy imaginations shattered.

At this rate… that kid might give up on working here.

So… we won’t be able to see each other again. During the vacation.

No. That can’t happen. Absolutely not.

I can’t just stand by and watch.

“Excuse me, boss!”

“Huh?”

“Just a moment. I have something to tell you privately.”

“Oh. Oh, okay.”

They moved to a different spot. Far enough that the person in question couldn’t hear. This should be far enough.

I spoke my mind confidently.

“That kid, he’s a good kid, boss. You can trust him. He’s completely different from the others we’ve seen so far. I can guarantee it.”

“How can you guarantee that…?”

“Because I go to the same high school, no, the same class as him!”

I’ve been working here for quite a while now.

At least among the remaining part-timers, I was quite senior.

So, it’s okay to speak up for him, right?

“The same high school, the same class… Hmm.”

Good. The boss started stroking his chin.

“You said earlier, boss, that the problem was with high school students from other regions causing trouble. But I’ve seen this kid, and I know for sure he’s not like that. He’s even among the top students in the school!”

“…He seems quite diligent?”

“Of course! We even split the group project work perfectly between the two of us.”

“If what you’re saying is true, then it seems like those things from before wouldn’t have happened…”

The boss turned his head and scanned the boy’s body from top to bottom.

Again, his eyes returned to this side.

His gaze hadn’t changed.

But isn’t that physique a bit problematic?

How can he work with that physique when he needs to exert a lot of strength?

And what if he’s just like the others who left, lacking perseverance?

This isn’t about grades; if it gets tough, they’ll just leave, making things harder for us.

You know that well, don’t you?

The boss’s eyes seemed to say that.

Of course, I knew. I almost died from the exhaustion of filling in for the vacant positions. That reason can be dispelled.

“He looks skinny, but he’s not that weak. He learned kendo.”

“Kendo?”

“Yes. He joined the kendo club and made quite a name for himself. He never lost as a main player in the national competition. Plus, he even knocked down the bullies who harassed him. Isn’t that kind of perseverance enough?”

“Hmm…”

After hurriedly explaining, the boss’s gaze changed significantly.

His diligence was already proven.

Even if it’s not in this area, a current student from the same high school, and the longest-known part-timer, vouched for him.

And his physique isn’t as bad as it looks.

Isn’t that good enough?

Such thoughts were reflected in his eyes.

“…Come in for now. We need to have an interview.”

The manager, who had been deeply contemplating, agreed and let the boy into the store.

It was done.

It seemed like they were moving on to the next step of the interview, but in reality, it was almost nothing. It was merely about having him try out a few tasks directly.

Given that he was originally a very quick learner, there was no way he couldn’t do it.

He would probably finish those tasks in no time.

If it was that boy who learned things incredibly fast, he could do it as much as he wanted.

He might even do it perfectly and surprise everyone.

In fact, it was as good as being accepted.

The tension eased.

Along with a sense of relief, joy surged.

In his heart, he wanted to jump like a rabbit right there.

But, it was his heart that was actually jumping.

‘What should I do? M-my heart is beating too fast…’

From now on, he would be working part-time with that boy, right?

Even during the vacation, they would keep meeting here, right?

No. Even after the vacation ended and school was over, they would keep meeting, right?

The swelling anticipation didn’t subside.

It still felt like just yesterday when he had shared that umbrella.

It feels like just yesterday that I was wistfully watching from afar as you worked part-time at the convenience store.

It feels like it was just a minute ago, not even an hour, that my side was cold.

Now, winter didn’t feel so cold anymore.

Even the snow falling from the sky became something I liked.

“Could you please ring this up?”

“Yes-!”

I was so happy that my tension skyrocketed.

*

-Ding!

▶The hidden memorial has ended.◀

Everyone’s appearance was completely obscured, making it impossible to know who anyone was.

Even their voices were altered so that it was impossible to tell whose voice it was.

I couldn’t remember what event had occurred there or what memories were left.

The information I could gather was extremely limited, as all my senses were blocked.

So, I thought this was just a useless part of my memory.

But this time, I couldn’t ignore it.

Memorials are meant to hold memories.

They show me past memories and recreate the events of that time.

But this time?

…This isn’t from my perspective.

That part-time job was a high-paying one I found after quitting my convenience store job and wandering around.

To fill in the lack of money, even a little. To pay off all the debts to my family and leave, I had to somehow gather more money, so I went looking after seeing the flyer.

However, due to various factors, I had to give up that job.

Because of the boss’s position, the store’s position, and the vigilance due to other students causing problems, I had to find another job.

Nevertheless, I was able to start that job. The boss’s attitude and will, which had been difficult to accept me as a part-timer until just recently, changed as if flipping a palm.

I couldn’t understand why a job that should have been impossible was arranged. But… the scene I just saw gives me the answer.

This point is where the conversation with the boss took place.

Someone’s will to persuade the boss was evident.

It was the point of view of the person who briefly called the boss during my conversation.

“This point of view… there’s only one person.”

Jieun.

The only friend I have.

It doesn’t make sense unless it’s Jieun’s point of view.

“But… why? Why is Jieun’s point of view coming out?”

In response, the status window answered with an alarm sound.

-Ding!

▶The time stop effect of the Memorial will soon disappear.◀

▶Find the remaining Memorials in the tomb of Rossel Bagland.◀

[ Currently found hidden Memorials 2/4 ]

As if there are still some left.