working in a scary shop

bab 8 (bab 6 part 2)

　Again.... It was the same before.

　Unconsciously, I look at the glass-enclosed side. It's pitch black and empty, there's no one there. Be attracted. I feel it somehow. It's like someone is watching you...

　Or rather, it would be more expressive to say that I was being glared at. For some reason, I feel a strong gaze. feel like.

　Every time I feel it, the corner of my head hurts. No, what is this? It wasn't long after the day and night were reversed, and before I knew it, my body was raising its roots. When I was thinking about such a thing, the automatic door opened.

　Ah... someone came. Instinctively, she felt it.

　The door opened on its own like that time, and there was nothing that looked like a human being there.

"Welcome--"

　This is Pavlov's dog. I was astonished at myself when I spilled out of my mouth the routine lines that had become firmly ingrained in my habit.

　But--.

　Strangely, even though no one should have entered, I felt a faint presence at that time.

　Something other than me exists in the store, something other than me moves, and that's exactly what it is.

　It's like it's standing right in front of me.

　It's like you're really close. Such a sign――

"Uh-oh--, ah"

　Standing in front of the counter, I stiffened.

　My neck is... it hurts.

　It's hard to breathe.

　Suddenly I can't breathe...

"Nah... Ah"

　I can't breathe well.

　I know it's not something you want to do.

　But it hurts.

　It was as if my throat was being squeezed with all my might.

　like it's locked up.

　what……. What is this…….

　Even if I cough violently, I can't escape from the pain.

　Sweat drips from my head.

　I don't understand, I don't understand, I can't breathe, I can't breathe, so I can't even think... There's only one thing I know.

　My body was trembling to the point that it was unnatural, and it was just awful... It's dangerous...!

"Ah, ah..."

　A hoarse voice leaked out of my mouth, and I couldn't get enough oxygen, and my head felt dizzy. When I thought so.

　The automatic door opened again with a mediocre melody, most out of place for this situation.

　came in.

　girl.

　I have big eyes and long hair. She's short and has a young face. but.

　I'm smoking...

"T-gu--"

　Customer……. that's right.

　I can't speak in this state. I can't even move my body. They think I'm a strange salesclerk...!

　I panicked and tried to force my voice out, but the girl with a rather innocent face walked briskly to the front of the counter, held a cigarette in her mouth between her fingers, and spewed out a large amount of smoke at me.

　and.

"You're in the way... over there. Get lost quickly."

　As soon as I glared up at my neck and said that in a bad mood. The feeling of oppression that had been tormenting me disappeared, and the stiffness in my body dissolved as if something had broken.

　With that beat, I put my hand on the counter and took a deep breath over and over again as if I was sprinting.

　Oxygen comes in firmly, the head starts to move clearly.

　What is it now?

　I'm confused and don't know what's going on anymore, what's wrong with me...

　While I was catching my breath and panicking, thinking about how I should be able to convince myself of the strange events I just experienced, a stern baby-faced woman who I thought was a customer entered inside the counter.

"Huh!?"

　I noticed it there for the first time.

　No way this person.

"Mr. Hirai..."

　Instead of responding, she narrowed her eyes and said to me with a sullen look.

"Claw marks..."

"Huh...?"

"It's on my neck."

　Claw marks....

　For some reason I was horrified when he said that.

　I involuntarily hold my neck, which was so painful that I couldn't help it.

"noob"

"Yes?!"

"Over there, don't look straight at me."

　Puffing out cigarette smoke again, Mr. Hirai and the stranger pointed their chins at the glass wall.

“A woman with bloodshot eyes is always looking this way.

　After saying that, he went into the back room without waiting for a reply.

"..."

　I say

　I was getting more and more confused.

　A woman with bloodshot eyes is watching from over there...?

　Did you come inside the store?

　No, I can't keep up.

　What does it mean.

　But what I felt just now was the presence of something moving with will and a chill welling up.

　It wasn't just anything...

"What the hell is this..."

　I wiped the sweat from my forehead and nose.

　Even though my body stopped shivering, the chills returned when I remembered what happened.

　Hmm... Hirai-san. Mr. Hirai...

　You're a Yankee...!

　Even though you have a baby face, you looked like a lady! Even though I was late, I smoked a cigarette proudly!

　……scared. I'm scared!

　I feel like I'm going to get kicked in the butt.

　After my neck, the chill spread to my buttocks.

　Exactly then. The door of the back room opened and Mr. Hirai, a baby-faced Yankee, reappeared.

　I didn't see it much earlier, but--um...a big chest! ?

　The uniform is sticking out!

　Lolita face and big breasts is such a nice setting, hey...!

"a"

　I just looked straight into it.

　Yabe, can you say something? The moment I met Hirai's eyes, I stretched her back and made her face stronger.

　But.

　Hirai-san, who met my eyes, neither got angry nor glared at me. laugh heartily.

"Sorry, I'm late. Tehepero☆"

　I stuck my tongue out of my mouth and lightly hit my head with my fist.

"..."

　Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah! ?

　Actually, this was the official first contact between me and Mr. Hirai. I learned that a little later.