Chapter 21 New Determination after Being Reunited with a Friend

New Determination after Being Reunited with a Friend

The liquor store was busy on Fridays and weekends, and my university classes were only in the morning, so I started working part-time every afternoon.

On Fridays, the delivery destinations are mainly bars and pubs near the train station. Each delivery has a large quantity, and I work from 15:00 to 21:00, with a short dinner break in between.

Today was a Friday, and I went alone to deliver to a regular pub. After I unloaded the cases of beer and carried them into the store with a handcart, I ran into Mari.

I hadn’t seen Mari since the beginning of college, and we hadn’t been in touch since the incident with Taichi.

In fact, I hadn’t answered any of her messages.

“Eh? It’s Chika! Eh? What happened? Do you work in a liquor store?”

“Un, well. Long time no see, you look good.”

“I see. I’ve been working here part-time since last week too.”

Mari’s plan after graduation was to get a job.

I think it was in a manufacturing company that made clothes.

“Really? How’s your job?”

“Ah, I quit. It was pretty hard, you know. Oh, since Chika also works at a liquor store, does that mean you quit college?”

“No, I work part-time while I study.”

“Oh, I see. Hey, don’t you look a little shabby? You used to be so stylish and cute. Oh yeah, weren’t you supposed to go to the same university as Sakamoto, but you got dumped?”

“Hey! Newbie! Don’t slack off and get to work!”

“Yeah, sir. Ah so, see you later!”

“Un.”

In high school, we were together almost every day, both at school and after school, but when we met again after a long time, I didn’t feel nostalgic, but rather a disappointing feeling like, “Is Mari really like this?”

She probably thought I had quit college just because she had quit her job.

Since that was completely wrong, maybe she was trying to put me down with a sarcastic remark.

Maybe she didn’t think much of me at all, since I had chosen my university early on by recommendation.

Come to think of it, Mari had always been like that.

She was lazy, went with the flow, and often made fun of or looked down on others.

And I, who was always with her, behaved the same way.

At first, I frowned at Mari’s attitude and behavior, but before I knew it, I was doing the same thing.

Maybe people saw me the same way.

No wonder people thought I was a stupid, lazy girl.

That’s why, even though I had a boyfriend, boys would talk to me and ask me out.

So I got carried away and messed up, even cheated, which meant I was just as stupid a girl as Mari.

But while Mari was still the same, I didn’t want to be like that anymore.

I don’t have any goals for after graduation yet, but I don’t want to have any regrets.

I don’t want to worry my parents, and most importantly, I don’t want to do anything that would make me unable to face Taichi again.

After finishing the delivery, I returned to the store, unloaded the empty bottles, and immediately started loading the next delivery.

Even though it was fall, I was sweating profusely, and I continued to work, not caring about the sweat running down my forehead.

I wore minimal makeup.

My hair had been cut short since Golden Week.

I was wearing jeans, a T-shirt, and the store apron.

I had a towel around my neck and gloves on my hands.

If I was still in high school, I would never have dressed like this.

But I don’t care if it’s unfashionable.

I have nothing to be ashamed of in this outfit right now.

If people want to laugh, let them laugh.

I am not dropping out of college.

Okay.

I’m going to study harder in college, not just with my part-time job.

And I’m definitely going to graduate in four years.

It’s small, but it’s my new determination.