Chapter 28 Interview
#22MotoKanoInterview
The only sound that echoed for a while was the ticking of the clock. Sitting formally on the tatami mat, I waited for Takayama-san, the interviewer, to speak.
“Let me finish this rice cracker first. Just wait a bit.”
The person in front of me seemed more interested in eating than hiring a part-timer. I wasn’t about to get pulled into her pace, but dealing with someone so self-indulgent—something I had never experienced—made me anxious about the future.
“Thanks for the food.”
Looking satisfied, Takayama-san spoke.
“Alright, let’s get started… Saito-kun.”
“Yes.”
“You’re pretty calm. That suits Mirei perfectly. …So, why did you apply here?”
“I’ve always wanted to work at a bookstore. Just when I was thinking about it, Tachibana-san told me about this place, and I thought it would be great to have a chance to talk.”
“Hmm. That’s a pretty standard answer.”
Takayama-san chuckled as she looked over the resume I had handed in earlier.
Well, I did just give a stock answer, so I didn’t mind if she didn’t take it seriously. Saying, “I’m not interested, but I need extra cash,” would have left a much worse impression.
Even if it wasn’t how I truly felt, adapting my words to the situation was important. That’s something I firmly believe.
“When did you first meet Mirei?”
“A little after starting high school.”
There was no need to mention the time when Tachibana-san was harassed on the train.
For a while, we continued our conversation, which, while technically an interview, felt more like small talk. Mostly, she would ask questions, and I would answer.
As we talked, I gradually realized that when Tachibana-san introduced me to this shop owner, she deliberately left out the fact that I had amnesia.
I figured it out after going through several exchanges where key details seemed oddly missing.
Well, while it occasionally made explanations difficult, I didn’t think it was necessary to burden this person with such troublesome details. In that sense, I was grateful for Tachibana-san’s discretion.
To be honest, after observing how things were handled here, I wasn’t feeling very inclined to work at this bookstore.
Watching the shopkeeper’s seemingly careless attitude, I kept wondering: Is this place even making a profit? If I start working here, will I actually get paid properly? These concerns kept nagging at me.
So, if after hearing more, I felt this job wasn’t worth it, I planned to decline. The only other thing on my mind was how I would explain this to Tachibana-san afterward.
“Alright, I’ve asked most of what I wanted to know.”
Looking satisfied, Takayama-san clapped her hands and continued.
“Now it’s your turn. Do you have any questions?”
“Does this bookstore actually make a profit?”
It was a blunt question, but one of the most important ones for me. Like I said, I had a reason for needing to save money. The last thing I wanted was unpaid wages.
“We’re not in the red.”
“…Excuse me, but it doesn’t seem like you get many customers?”
“Ah, not many come to the shop itself. Plus, with the rise of paperless reading, the whole bookstore industry is struggling. It’s true that this field is only going to decline.”
Contrary to the laid-back impression she had given earlier, she actually seemed quite aware of market trends, which impressed me a little.
Still, my doubts remained.
“Then how do you keep the business running?”
“Online sales.”
Takayama-san answered in just two words. The concise and straightforward explanation reminded me of a certain someone who happened to be her cousin.
The bag of rice crackers and the laptop sitting on the low table.
Only now did I realize what that laptop had been used for.
Online sales.
It made sense. Just as the rise of paperless media was hurting bookstores, the spread of the internet had become an undeniable part of modern life.
Decades ago, people lined up for software releases, but those scenes had long since become history.
This was all thanks to the spread of the internet and the improvements in our everyday lives that came with it.
Online shopping was one of the prime examples of this progress.
“It’s way easier to just press a button and order online than to visit a physical store.”
“I see. That makes sense.”
Solving one mystery brought a relieved smile to my face.
“…But are you sure a bookstore owner should be saying that?”
“It’s fine. We still have regular customers who come to the store.”
“Really? That’s good to hear.”
“Yeah. Guess who?”
“I have no idea. This is my first time coming here.”
“Ehh, but I think you know them.”
Grinning, Takayama-san continued.
“Lately, this person has been coming almost every day. Always asking, ‘Did he come today?’ even though I keep telling them this isn’t some kind of meeting spot.”
That reference was lost on me, having grown up in the countryside.
“Next time, make sure to tell that girl in advance when you’re coming for an interview.”
At this point, it was obvious who she was talking about.
I see.
That makes sense.
…So Tachibana-san had been dropping by every day to check on me, hoping I’d fit in at the bookstore she recommended.
Tachibana-san really is considerate…
“She’ll probably be here soon today, too.”
Just as she said that, the sound of the shop’s door opening echoed.
“Hey, I came to buy a prep book.”
That was a voice I recognized.
Takayama-san, still grinning, slowly got up with a sigh.
“That’s the third day in a row she’s said that.”
She whispered those words in my ear.
I see.
That makes sense.
…Tachibana-san really is dedicated to her studies…