Part 9: Episode 9: The Job Hunter-Gatherer

There’s just nothing else to do during the day…
Maybe I should apply for a part-time job, since I have the chance?

I think I saw a flier at the station hiring high school students over the summer…
It was the café, right?




Oh, my!

If you could come back at noo--
Oh! Sorry! I was here to ask about the job.

The proprietor of the café is an extremely elegant parakeet.
A true gentlebird, without a doubt. This must be what people mean when they refer to a “mature attractiveness”!
All the students at school are young and hyper, and the most dignified birds there are the teachers!

Oh, is that right? Forgive me.

I’m Lourde Goon.
Welcome, Miss Goon. I hadn’t expected a human…
Um, are you going to interview me…?
I do not see any need to test such a wonderful young lady’s desire to work here.

I’ll be glad to!

After all, I am an 800-vitality girl!

I shall be relying on you for this summer, then, Miss Goon.
It is perhaps a little sudden, but could you start tomorrow?
Of course!
I am glad. I shall be waiting for you here in my cage.





The music stops.
I was so excited that it was hard to fall asleep, but I woke up still full of energy.





Good morning, sir!
Let me start by showing you where everything is.
I’m sure you’ll be able to remember everything soon, so please ask if you can’t find something.

He shows me around the café, explaining everything inside.
The shop is small and he keeps everything very tidy, so I’ll be able to remember it all.

Well, then. What did you think?
It’s very nice! I almost want to move in!
Come, now, it’s far too plain for a young lady such as yourself!
Actually, compared to my hou--
Excuse me…!

Ryouta!?
Goon? Wh-what are you doing here?
A friend of yours, Miss Goon?
Oh, yes. This is Ryouta.
You came for the job, too, Ryouta?

Umm… Mr. Urushihara, could you use two people…?
Hmm… Sadly, my cage is too small to have that much work to do.

Um… I’m sorry, Ryouta, but I really want to do this.
Don’t worry about it, Goon. I’ve got a couple more places to check.
Perhaps some other time. I will be here, if you are looking for something later on.
I’ll keep that in mind, sir. Have fun, Goon!

Even as he encouraged me and left, I couldn’t help but feel a little bad for Ryouta.


After walking around the store to check inventory and getting a little more help from Mr. Urushihara, it was almost noon.
Almost opening time. I’m kind of nervous, but I’m not about to mess up after taking the job from Ryouta!
I wonder who the first customer of my life will be…

A budgerigar steps into the door.
The first customer of my life… A young man who doesn’t quite suit the atmosphere of the café.
I was hoping for somebirdie who’d raise a few more flags! Maybe a white peacock.

Welcome!
Would you like a bath? Or a meal? Or maybe you’d like Mr. Urushihara?
I’ll take Kenzaburou… Hey, wait just a minute, now!

Yes! A perfect delayed reaction!
Oh, hello, Rabu.

I’m something of an important figure here. See this card? 206 stamps.

Amazing. Is he a café-addict?

Hey, what was with that when I came in?
I’ve wanted to provoke that reaction out of someone with a Kansai accent since I was a little girl!
Thank you, Mr. Rabu! Thanks to you, my dream has come true and I can die happy!
Y’all lost me on the roadside, there.
Well, that’s how it is.
Goon, right? That seat there is my private property. Y’all remember that, now.

I shall make some coffee to celebrate.
Please, sit down, both of you.

And so the three of us enjoyed an early afternoon pot of coffee.
Wait, aren’t I supposed to be working?
Oh well, this isn’t a bad way to start off. I should enjoy this kind of thing while I can.