Part 8: The Braun Tube Workshop gets a new employee

Rukako is getting nervous. Right after I think about how unreliable he is, chills suddenly run down my spine.



"Ugh, an evil spirit... has possessed... me..."

While violently shaking, I grab my own wrist.



"No, no way...! Okabe, please get a hold of yourself!"

"I am not Okabe!"

"I apologize, Kyouma! Aah, but what should I do...?"

"The exorcism... hurry...! Do it the same way... that I taught you!"

"Y-Yes!"



His posture and expression give off a powerful atmosphere.

"Um... I... err..."

The embarrassment is making him panic... kuh, damn this novice!



"Uuh..."

Rukako starts crying. Looks like he's really worrying.

I am completely aware that he's a guy, but his actions and appearance make me feel guilt as if I just made a frail girl cry. However, as his eyes fill with tears, it looks like he finally built up the resolve.

"E... Evil spirit...!"

He raises the Shide wand high above his head, then swings it left and right.

"Please leave Okabe... no, Kyouma's body...!"

"That's good, now hit my arm with the tufty stuff!"

"Eii!"



In manga and such, this would be the cue for some dramatic shockwave, but nothing like that happened. The only thing I hear are the cries of cicadas.

"H, How... was it?"

I deeply sigh. The shaking of my hand has stopped.



After a sigh of relief, Rukako blushes.

"I'm happy to be of service..."

That bashful appearance makes him look too feminine...





Daru and Mayuri already went home, so bringing this TV alone through a steep, narrow stairway is back-breaking work. Opening the door with a hit of my hips, I enter the workshop.



That's a 42" CRT TV. With LCD TVs becoming the standard, I doubt someone would want to come to this shop and buy a CRT.



(Text on the apron reads "Braun Tube Moe".)

In front of the huge CRT sits a middle-aged muscular delinquent. This man is the owner of the building and the shopkeeper of this establishment, Tennouji Yuugo (Mister Braun). I call him "Mister Braun" because he's a weirdo who loves Braun tubes.

"Don't you give me a 'what's up?'. Your damn TV broke on me."

"You brat, did you treat my CRT violently?"



"These need to be handled with love, you know. LOVE."

"I request that you fix it and prioritize it over all your other works."

"As usual, you're talking in a stupid way..."







Anyway, the shop is filled with CRTs.



There are remnants of the Showa era, flat types, and even HD CRTs which came out just before LCD TVs became popular.

"Today you're open 'till late, huh? Normally, you close up just before 7 PM."

"A guest is coming over today."

"Guest? The usual little beast?"



After glaring at me, the shopkeeper takes out a single photo from his breast pocket and gazes at it with affection. On the photo, there's a grade school girl doing a peace sign.

People who don't know the details might think that this muscleheaded middle-aged man is a perverted lolicon, but the girl in the photo is his real daughter. I think she's in the 6th grade now. She's the second thing that this old man loves. I forgot her name, though.

"If you touch Nae, I'm going to kill you."

Nae, that was it.

"But have there really been any guests here besides your daughter?"

"A 'guest', or a client, or how should I put it..."

Putting back the photo and giving me an unclear answer, he returns to checking out the TV.



"Really? Then please, do so."

"Wait. I didn't give you the price yet."

"Wha-?! You're charging money?"

"Obviously. Did you think you wouldn't have to pay?"

"You're the one who gave us this TV!"

"So what? I never told you that you'd get free after-sales service."

"Damn you... Saying that after giving me a half-broken product...!"

"Oh, shut up. If you don't want it, then I'll take it. I think I can get some money for it from recycling."



"Huh? Who are you talkin' bout?"

"Myself, of course!"

"You sure have some guts, saying that to ME, who's letting you live on the 2nd floor here..."

"Uh, I'll pay the repair fees, Mr. Braun."

At the end of the day, I am no match for him as I am right now. At that moment, I hear the sound of the door opening.



It's a woman with long, slender limbs which make her look like an athlete.

"O-haaaa!"



"...Huh?"

This greeting had tremendous amounts of popularity when some male idol was using it when I was a kid. Personally, I believe that the originator of this was some veteran voice actor from some morning program, but it's still very old...

Is this woman the 'guest' that was supposed to come? Maybe she's just an acquaintance of his.

"Umm... I'm Amane, the one who called you earlier."

And so, time begins to move again.



"Part-time job interview?! This young lady?! You're telling me that the depressing, unfashionable and unprofitable CCRT Workshop owned by a filthy old man actually has a chance of having a part-time worker?"

"Brat, do you want to pay 1000 extra yen starting next month?"

"I had no idea that this shop takes part-time applications, and with all the free time they'd get, I honestly don't see the need for them, either..."

"Actually, I'm the one who asked for this job over the phone. He refused at first, but after some pleading, he let me."

Now that is truly surprising.

Looks like we have some weird youth nowadays. Well, sit down on that chair, young lady.

"Oh, thank you."



The woman has a stiff facial expression. Looks like she's nervous. Just because of an interview? She isn't showing much passion.

"So, your name is?

"Amane Suzuha."

"Age?"

"18."

"Student?"

"No."

"Why do you want to work here?"

"Because I love CRTs."