Horror webnovel: I started working the night shift at a convenience store (Ch.2 pt1)

I started working the night shift at a convenience store (Ch.2 pt1)

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Chapter 2: Aoyama, Hirai, and Takenaka. (pt.1)

"Hey, wake up! It's already noon!"

"Hnnng... tone it down!"

I groaned, wrapping the futon around me, tossing and turning.

"I said wake up, big bro!"

God she's so loud... and what's with the shaking? Stop it.

I was in a bliss and fast asleep only moments ago, but my little sister's annoying laugh, some clicking sound that wouldn't stop, and the deafening sound of a cicada that had somehow found its way to the balcony had snapped me wide awake.

I had decided to sleep until 4PM. The thought of waking up did cross my mind, but I decided against it. I won't let this much change my plans.

"Hey! Come on!"

"Just cook yourself noodles if you're hungry and leave me alone."

"Huh?"

"Don't you 'huh?' me. Let me sleep some more, I need it."

"Tsh, I swear you're lazy even by shut-in standards. Truly society's trash."

"...the hell did you just say?!"

I got up in my futon, I couldn't just brush this last bit off. This last line had any sleepiness left in me vanish into thin air.

"You don't get to talk to me like that! I'm your older brother, I'll have you know! And what was that about being a shut-in? I may not be a go-getter, but I do work! I do some odd jobs here and there!"

"Being a shut-in or just doing odd jobs left and right, there isn't much difference between the two!"

What an idiot! This is the kind of sentence that'd have any job hopper go bananas!

"These are very different things! There are differences!"

Don't compare me to some basement dweller doing nothing but keep their eyes glued to a screen while sponging off their parents!

At least WE go from job to job to make ends meet!

"I don't care about that, find yourself a stable job and go get this bread."

I swear, this little...

She sure got quite the attitude for someone in junior highschool. 

And you're one to talk! You just barged in my room at 10AM, made your way to the fan, claimed the spot in front of it to be yours, laughing like a witch while you watched videos on MY computer just next to my futon while I was sleeping.

After working night shift the last thing I need is to hear your earth shattering laugh.

You even went as far as using my email address to create your account, and throughout this summer break you've been barging in my room whenever you pleased and hanging around all day long. 

As if that wasn't enough, you'd do nothing but watch videos all day long, even relying on me to cook for the both of us every time. The cherry on top of the cake being that you'd even eat all the icecream and every sweet treat you could get your hands on, completely emptying the fridge!

So to be called a shut-in by my own sister out of all people, when you yourself have been living such an ungodly lifestyle sure stings.

"I don't remember my place to be a cybercafé. Don't come here only to be hypnotized by a screen and do nothing else. You could go for a walk outside you know? 

And like, surely you've been given homeworks, right? Did you even actually do them?

"I just came here 'cause the pool's close today. Also I've finished my homeworks back in July, unlike you."

"I—"

"ALSO, Mom asked me to come and check how you're doing when I have some free time on my hands."

"..."

She told you to check how I 'm doing, not how my computer is.

She was wearing a layered frill dress, her white thighs peeking out from the shorts underneath.

She was rocking a short bob and had  dyed her hair out of thrill for the summer vacation.

She had big round eyes and thick eyelashes that looked like a doll's.

Even though I was her brother, I knew she didn't look bad. Well, I'd even go as far as say that she looked cute.

She was still in junior high school, but she had surely been getting involved with lots of boys and girls. Mom often told me about this kind of stuff.

If she walked around Shibuya dressed like that, she'd have men hitting on her in no time.

Dubious men from all around would zero in on her.

Well... not that I worry that much about it.

I mean... when she's at my parents' she just stays inside all day, and when she comes over here she just lazes around watching videos on a certain major streaming website, cooling herself off with popsicles.

As long as she stays in front of a computer just clapping her hands away, there's no risk of overly zealous dudes flirting with her.

"Hey..." I said, pulling two custard pudding parfaits from my fridge —I had taken them for myself rather than throw them away— as she scared herself by watching some horror game let's play video on her end.

"What is it this time? This video is getting interesting so get straight to the point."

Don't turn your butt towards me with this dull look on your face!

Man... this is my place and we can't even hold a normal conversation as siblings...

"I started working a new part-time job. Wanna hear the deets?"

I put one parfait next to her. She removed her headphones and raised her head to look at me. Was she actually interested in what I had to say?

"Where'd you get these?"

"I decided to keep them for myself, rather than throw them away."

One of the perks of this job is to be able to buy food that's about to go bad to a much lower price than you normally would.

It sure comes in handy when you live alone.

"Throw them away? Ohh... So, a convenience store?"

"Wait, why're you giving me this look?"

"I mean, convenience store wages are crazy low!"

"You don't get it! I don't work during the day, I work night shifts!"

"Night shift? Where at?"

- - - 

"PFfffft!"

"Pfft?"

She bursted into laughter, pointing her finger at me.

 

"Wow, kudos to you for working there! Serves you right!"

"Serves me ri— what's that mean?"

"That place seems to be reaaally bad news, if I were you I'd quit ASAP."

"And why is that?"

"Hmm? You don't know? That place is like a magnet for ghosts."

"A magnet?"

"Yeah. One of my friends, Misuzu, has a gift so she can see ghosts and all that jazz. 

She said that people who went in the woods to end their life, and those who died in an accident nearby are all grieving and looking for help. So they just head to that store."

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Hi everyone!

New chapter this time around! This one'll be in three parts, two of which -this one included, obviously- I've already translated. I need to check the next one before uploading it too, but it shouldn't take too long.

See you next time, take care!

Source: https://kakuyomu.jp/works/1177354054880681711

Original author: 天野　アタル  (Ataru Amano)