Volume 5 Chapter 24 Rindou Talks
"Here is your hot Earl Grey and Taisho cookie."
"Tsk."
"..."
Thanks to Matsuda's advertisement or perhaps due to Hakama's efforts? Our "Taisho Literary Cafe" has been doing well... so well, in fact, that there is a long line outside the shop.
No, this is strange. This is just a cafe, and the main attraction is literary magazines written by amateurs. There's no way we could have this many customers.
"Yamamoto, the next order is for table three!"
"Yes!"
There's no point in thinking about that. I take the cake set I was given and head towards table three, where two college students are sitting.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Here's your cake set."
"Tsk."
"Tsk."
"...Enjoy your meal."
I suppress my cheek twitching with all my might.
Calm down, smiling is the basic rule of customer service. No matter what kind of customer it is, you have to respond with a smile.
I go to the table where new customers are sitting and smile at them. Smile, smile.
"Have you decided what to order?"
"Tsk, hot coffee."
"Tsk, the same thing."
Smile, smile. Hehehe.
"Excuse me, waiter?"
"Yes, what can I do for you?"
When I'm called over by the two boys from earlier, they point to an empty paper cup.
"Can we have a refill of ice water?"
"And can you ask that blonde girl over there for us?"
Smi...
"Also, is there a photo service or something? What was it called? The one with the instant camera."
"That girl with the purple hair is cute too. Can you call her over?"
Sm...
"Can you tell us their contact information?"
S...
"Let's play rock-paper-scissors to decide who asks. Let's do it!"
"Oh, let's go then!"
"Hey, this isn't a maid cafe or a cabaret club, you know."
I unintentionally raise my voice.
What's with the smile? Don't get carried away, customers aren't gods.
"Eek."
"W-What?"
The two boys step back.
There's no need for Lisha and Kanami to serve these guys. I'll kick them out of the shop right now.
As I try to step forward, a soft hand pushes me aside with tremendous force.
The girl in Hakama who barged in bows her head immediately.
"I'm sorry, customers. This idiot here was just rejected by a cute girl and he's a little upset."
"T-that's..."
"We don't offer photography services, but we'll give you cookies as an apology. One of the two will deliver them to you later."
"I-I see."
"Well then."
The two boys nodded as if acknowledging their agreement with the situation.
Why are we doing this? We don't owe these guys anything to go this far.
I was about to argue back, but the girl who had barged in physically covered my mouth and forcefully led me to the back waiting area.
"What are you suddenly doing?"
"It's not 'what are you doing,' it's more like, what are you even thinking? Are you an idiot!?"
In a hushed tone, the girl who was getting angry was Rindou Katari.
She's a well-known and spirited girl in our literary club, a classmate of mine whose personality somewhat overlaps with Hinata's.
"But you know, those guys mistook us for a maid café or something."
"Well, most of the customers do. Besides, when you're marketing like this, you should have expected that kind of clientele."
Katari sighed while holding her hakama.
"Either way, if we don't get customers, our club's magazine won't sell. Those people, you can just deal with them casually."
"Casually, you say..."
"Just look at them, both Lisha-chan and Kanami-san are doing a hundred times better than you."
Huh, really?
When I peered out from the back and observed the store, I couldn't see any problems with Lisha and Kanami. They had such a strong presence that it might be hard for people to approach them, but even so, they were called five times more than I was.
I guess I was too busy to notice.
Lisha eliminates ulterior motives with her innocent smile, while Kanami smoothly handles the men.
"Could it be that they're better at customer service than me...?"
"Without a doubt, no matter how you look at it."
"Oh really?"
Why is that?
"If you understand, then start working already. You are the shadow, immerse yourself in killing your emotions and become a machine that keeps moving no matter what is said."
"But even new employees in a black company don't get told so blatantly..."
It reminded me of my days as a rookie, and I felt like crying. Then, Rindou exhaled and looked into the distance.
"Anyway, you're still in a better position than me."
"Oh, is that so? I've been clicked at more than thirty times already."
"That's because you're a man. As for me, every time I go to a table, I get a visibly disappointed face saying, 'Not her, huh?'"
"I-I see..."
It's just... because she's standing on the same stage as women, she's being compared so blatantly. huh?
Just imagining it is exhausting.
Actually, I've experienced it too. There were a lot of handsome guys like Asteris who said comparing is useless, so I quickly gave up. But it's tough, you know?
"Don't cry, Rindou. If you want to talk, I'll always listen."
"No, I don't need that. It's creepy. And it's creepy."
"Why did you say it twice?"
"It's important."
"Do you have to be so certain with insults?"
That kind of treatment only pleases Matsuda.
It feels like she's extra harsh towards me compared to the other members. Maybe it's because I'm the root of all evil for bringing Lisha and the others, sorry.
"Come on, let's go already."
"Got it..."
Pushed forward and carrying an unsatisfied feeling, I returned to customer service.
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