Chapter 478: Chapter 470: The End is Another Beginning
Although the income is as tiny as a mosquito’s leg, even the smallest mosquito is still meat. Shirakawa Sawahei isn’t like Miss Kaori, who comes from a financial conglomerate, nor like those whiny landlords. Being frugal is necessary. Therefore, when there’s a chance to take a leave and avoid absence, Shirakawa Sawahei would never give the little capitalist Hinata Rion an excuse to deduct his wages.
However, today, Shirakawa Sawahei’s purpose for taking leave was clearly different from usual.
"Is Manager Hiyama here?"
"Uh... she’s inside... but Shirakawa Leader... are you here to ask for leave again?"
Shirakawa Sawahei nodded awkwardly. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he explained, "I have exams this month, and after that, I’ll be on holiday so I can work a few more days."
"After this month, I might have to resign."
"Eh?"
"Why so sudden? Did something happen?"
He gently shook his head, not saying anything. At this moment, Hinata Rion came out from inside, greeted Shirakawa Sawahei, and said, "Mr. Shirakawa, you’re here, come in."
Shirakawa Sawahei responded and followed Hinata Rion to a secluded corner. Only then did the Minotaur Artist turn around, face full of gloom, and said, "I never thought even you were going to resign... Mr. Shirakawa, you’re not really being poached by that lily artist Dubian Ichiro, are you?"
"Is that guy serious about courting me?"
What the heck, I got poached by a lily-loving Minotaur Artist!
Shirakawa Sawahei’s face turned black, and he denied it, "No, I just want to resign because of study and time issues."
"Tsk, say it nicely, but Jin said you’re a super scholar. How could it be because of this?" The Minotaur Artist said with disdain, "We’re all friends, can’t you be a bit more honest?"
"Your Maid Cafe is already on the right track. My role as leader is now dispensable, and I’ve been taking frequent leaves recently... I might as well let you save the wages for Miss Koyama. She does more work than me and fulfills the duties of a leader."
In short, it’s about stepping down after achieving success.
This is not difficult to understand. Initially, Enheikou recommended him to help because Hinata Rion’s Maid Cafe was just starting. He was worried she’d give up after meeting any setbacks, so he asked Shirakawa Sawahei to work part-time. On one hand, it could improve his treatment; on the other hand, he hoped he could help her persist.
However, Enheikou obviously underestimated an old fan’s love for a Maid Cafe. Not only did Hinata Rion not give up, but she also progressed step by step amidst the competition from the lily-loving Minotaur Artist.
Now that the objectives have been achieved and the cafe’s operations have stabilized, Shirakawa Sawahei could not possibly continue taking this easy salary without leaving. Being frugal is one thing, being conscientious is another. He is not the store’s most popular maid nor does he know how to hand-brew... coffee, so he naturally needs to bow out early.
To be honest, Shirakawa Sawahei also felt a worry in his heart: his ordinary daily life seemed unable to continue in the same way anymore... working a part-time job with the lazing girl, taking a detour to buy oden on the way home at night—just like summer, those days will remain in memory and gradually fade with time...
Hinata Rion frowned, seemingly trying to find a reason to argue, but after a while, she finally said helplessly, "Alright then. Since you put it that way, I can’t forcefully keep you here like a ruthless boss... You’re leaving after this month?"
"Yeah."
"What a pity, I was hoping to ride on the coattails of your new status as a piano master... Why didn’t I take your advice to put a piano in the store back then..."
"It’s not too late now; I can play a few days this month."
"Too late, we already have a pianist in the store. She’s a part-time high school girl."
Shirakawa Sawahei was stunned and instinctively looked towards the corner. Sure enough, there was a piano and a petite girl wearing a uniform from a nearby school. Her back was skinny and tense, and her face was average from the side, a plain ordinary girl.
She was playing the theme song from ’No Game No Life,’ which seemed very fitting in this anime-style cafe. Because she was a bit nervous, there were a few notes that weren’t played well. Shirakawa Sawahei listened for a while and suddenly smiled lightly.
If they had persuaded Hinata Rion to move a piano into the store earlier, perhaps he too would be playing anime OPs and various otaku tunes in front of everyone like that ordinary girl.
Thinking back to the time when he had just met the lazing girl and the Minotaur Artist Hinata Rion at the beginning of the school year, and to the feeling when he first reported for work at the Maid Cafe, Shirakawa Sawahei suddenly felt that he seemed to have changed a lot compared to back then.
It’s not just the relationships with the girls, even his thoughts and goals have gradually developed new directions with the changes in circumstances.
Initially, his goal was very clear: study hard, aim high, get into a good university, and reach the pinnacle of life. Now, academic concerns seem largely addressed, but the flag of not falling in love is constantly at risk of being broken...
It’s uncertain whether these changes are good or bad, but the one thing he can be sure of is that he cannot resist this change.
Change is the normal state of life. Perhaps those always constant things are precious precisely because of this contrast.
Just let it be; things aren’t as bad as they seem.
Shirakawa Sawahei sighed quietly, and Hinata Rion, seeing this, curiously asked, "Are you regretting it? If you want to come back, Mr. Shirakawa..."
"No need, let her continue part-time. I just remembered something."
"I see... So, Mr. Shirakawa, you’ll still come over to play with Jin in the future, right?"
"Of course."
"That’s great~ Would you like to come over with Jin for our store’s Christmas party?"
Shirakawa Sawahei hesitated for a moment. Although Hinata Rion’s expression was sincerely inviting, he always felt she seemed to have some kind of ulterior motive.
Do I even have any plans for Christmas? No?
Could it really be reserved for two manga artists? Their Christmas party wouldn’t be an R18 doujinshi review meeting, right...
Thinking of this, Shirakawa Sawahei decided to tactfully refuse Hinata Rion.
"Actually... On Christmas, Ise Yu told me..."
The Minotaur Artist seemed to suddenly remember something, slapped his head, nodding continuously, "Oh, oh, oh~ I got it. Sorry to interrupt, you guys have a good Christmas... be safe..."
"..."
Is your ’be safe’ even serious?
To avoid being continuously stared at by the Minotaur Artist with weird eyes, Shirakawa Sawahei chose to make a quick exit after requesting his leave.
Don’t ask, just know that she’s not normal.
Back at home, on the sofa scene, a lazing creature and a whiny creature were already refreshed. Seeing Shirakawa Sawahei appear, it was as if a red exclamation mark flashed over their heads, and they quickly sat up, put on slippers, and came running over with a patter of feet.