Self-proclaimed Tsundere girlfriend's tsun doesn't come ~This girl is too crazy about me~ - Chapter 11- First-name basis

Chapter 11- First-name basis

“thank you very much”

On the first day of my part-time job, I was working at the counter under Kurumizawa’s guidance. Right now, I was seeing off customers who had finished paying. Despite my clumsiness, I was able to finish my work without any mistakes. Kurumizawa, who was watching me, put his hands together, and let out a soft smile and a breath of admiration.

“It was perfect, Inomaru-kun. You have a good memory.”

“I see… Thank you. But it’s because Kurumizawa is also good at teaching.”

“That’s not true. Well then, let’s teach you how to serve customers next time.”

“Understood. Kurumizawa-senpai.”

“S-senpai… please don’t make fun of me. We’re the same age!”

Kurumizawa looked embarrassed and was panicking. She puffed out her cheeks slightly and glared at me with an upward gaze. I tilted my head to the side.

“We’re the same age, but Kurumizawa is a senior. So I thought it would be better to do that.”

“Well, if that’s the case… how about using a name… or something like that.”

“Name… ah, that’s right. But in front of the master, is the last name a bit confusing?”

“… Inomaru-kun, you have a good ear.”

Kurumizawa blushed and murmured. For some reason, she was dissatisfied. After clearing my throat, I calmed myself down and turned my body towards Kurumizawa. And with a lower voice than usual.

“… re-Rena……”

“Hya, hi”

When I called out her name, Kurumizawa’s cheeks were dyed vermilion. As if an electric current ran through my body, I was feeling fuzzy. I was feeling the slight embarrassment of calling a girl’s name and my body felt hot. There was a period of silence in which we said nothing to each other. Kurumizawa opened her mouth slightly while glancing at me.

“Hiroto-kun”

“Oh, oh”

“…”

“…”

What is this? Calling each other on a first-name basis was a difficult thing…Amidst the indescribably awkward atmosphere that was between us, we silently averted our gaze. It felt unbearable even though the silence was for less than ten seconds. A low, angry voice interrupted us.

“──You look like you’re having a lot of fun while you’re working, right? Inomaru-kun.”

“Well, Master…”

Master put his middle finger on the bridge of his glasses, and blood vessels on his forehead were also visible. Immediately, my heart twitched and I felt uncomfortable.

“I just decided employees should use their last name to refer to each other,”.

“……e?”

“What’s wrong, any complaints?”

“No, rather than complaining, Kurumizawa and Master have the same last name, so I thought it would be confusing…”

“Hmph, it’s not complicated.”

Master blows his nose deliberately. Then, Kurumizawa opened his mouth as if to interrupt the Master’s voice.

“… please don’t run your mouth.”

With dark, hollow eyes, he glared at Master as if he were peering down from below.

Even I, who wasn’t being stared at by her cold eyes felt chilly. Master became meek and started acting suspiciously despite his age.

“I-I’m not, Rena… I was thinking of Rena… so please don’t look at me like that…”

“Well, don’t the employees call each other by their last names? Ah, so from now on, I’ll call my father Master. Even at home.”

“At home!? Well, wait… Rena doesn’t have to worry about that. Just call me daddy like you used to…”

“Master, don’t waste your time and get your work done quickly.”

Kurumizawa let out a cheerful smile. Master stood there as if struck by lightning, and his mouth was open. While adjusting the position of the misaligned glasses, in a raised voice.

“T-I’m going to withdraw… I don’t care how you address each other… So, please go back to how it was, Rena…”

“I can’t help it. I understand.”

“Rena…”

“Please return to your post quickly, father.”

“Oh, yeah”

When the way we addressed each other returned to the original, the master’s expression brightened. However, the tears in his eyes were not short-lived, and after hearing Kurumizawa’s merciless words, he returned to the kitchen with unsteady steps. After Master was gone, Kurumizawa turned her attention toward me.

“I got permission from my father, so…”

Kurumizawa’s expression was completely different from the expression he had shown to the master until a while ago, and he had an expression that seemed to be embarrassed. While scratching my cheek with my finger, my cheek blushes. Her words gradually became feeble, and although they weren’t verbalized in the end, I could grasp their intentions. I smiled a little and turned my gaze around while hiding my embarrassment.

“Ah. From now on, I’ll call you Rena-senpai.”

“Even if there is no senior…”

“Then…Rena?”

“Ha, yes. H…Hiroto-kun.”

“—Excuse me, I would like to ask you to pay the bill.”

It was at that time a customer with a slip interrupted our conversation. The sweet and sour air dissipated, and I straightened my back.

“Yes. Right away.”

As soon as I arrived in front of the cash register, I responded while cooling my hot face.