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Vol. 5 Chapter 8.2




Translated by SoundDestiny Edited by SoundDestiny
After thoroughly sobbing near Mako-san, I returned to the assigned room a little past six in the morning.
Once I finished taking a shower, I went to bed right away. It was in the afternoon when I was awakened by the maid named cockroach.
While having a meal, I told her, [I want to go to the shop by four o’clock today] She responded with a cold, [Feel free to do as you please].
“Takata-sama, starting today, please go to work on your own. Whether you slack off or decide to laze around, we won’t enforce anything, particularly from our side. If you have any requests, please ring this bell, and we will attend to you.”
Saying that, she placed a small bell on the table.
“Requests…can you listen to my request ……?”
“It depends on the content.”
I gathered my courage and made a daring request.
“I want to study. I would like something like a reference book. About customer service, and well…about 『gyaru』.”
When I conveyed this, she bent her waist deeply and said the following;
“Understood. By the time you return today, I will have selected a few for you.”
As I adjusted my appearance, it became four o’clock. I opened the entrance with my own hands and stepped into the locker room of the gals’ bar.
Today, it was a pastel pink swimsuit. I opened the locker room and took out a mini skirt, putting it on.
‘As I thought…it’s embarrassing. Why am I dressed like this…’
Even when I checked in the mirror, I still looked like nothing but a seductress. There’s no way not to feel embarrassed.
I sat down on a foldable pipe chair and waited for a while. With a creaking sound, the door opened and Mako-san’s face peeked in.
“Taka-chi, good morning!”
“Mako-san, it’s already evening though?”
Then, with a wry smile, she informed me that it’s okay to say 『good morning』 no matter the time for nighttime work. If 『good morning＝ it’s early, isn’t it?』 then it seemed to make sense in its own way.
Actually, after yesterday’s sobbing extensively, I ended up asking her to teach me about customer service.
It’s truly frustrating but there’s some truth in what that cockroach maid said. Criticising things I can’t do myself would only be a form of sour grapes.
Moreover, if it’s been said that I’m disrupting the order, I can’t just stay silent.
In the end, I came to understand this.
『It’s a different set of rules』 If my existing common sense and concepts were related to baseball, for example, the common sense here is soccer. To those playing soccer, I must have been angrily saying, 『Why aren’t you standing in the batter’s box!』
Thinking this, the absurdity became so clear that I felt embarrassed.
“Mako-san, please guide me.”
When I bowed my head like that, she hesitated for a moment, her expression looking a bit puzzled and she smiled wryly.
“It’s okay to just call me Mako, we’re friends.”
I was surprised. Friends. We.
And then, Mako-san proceeded to teach me about customer service step by step.
“First, when a customer comes in, greet them energetically. Just a simple 『welcome』 is good, I think.”
“But… everyone says things like『hello』 or 『cheers.』”
“You’ll get used to it. The kind of people who come to this place aren’t looking for formal customer service. They prefer easygoing conversations like with a female friend. But it’s still better to naturally say 『welcome』 than to force it and make it awkward.”
I see, it’s important to start with the basics.
“So, when a customer approaches, you take their drink order… Let’s see. You could try saying it like you would to a close guy friend or a boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend…?”
I recalled my usual interactions with Kobayashi-sensei.
“How would you like your drink……?”
“What kind of boyfriend are you dealing with!? Just say something like 『What are you gonna drink?』 or 『What’s your choice for a drink?』 That’s enough!”
From there, with Mako-san’s guidance, I practised repeatedly, simulating interactions where customers entered and I greeted them with 『welcome』 and when they came to the counter, I asked, 『What are you gonna drink?』 like a practice swing.
“Now, the most important thing at a gals’ bar is conversation. But even saying that, mostly it’s just about talking with people who want to talk. So, if you give them good nods and reactions, you’re good to go.”
“G-Good nods?”
“Like saying [Oke-maru].”
[TL:Okemaru is a youth word used to mean [Understood!] It is a slang and is used in casual communication between friends]
“Oke-maru?”
“It means 『okay』 And for reactions, if you have 『that’s right』, 『I see』 and 『wow』 those three, you can pretty much keep the conversation going. Once you get used to it, if you slip in some gal language casually, the customers will appreciate it.”
“Okay, I understand.”
I mostly understood.
『Sore Na』 expresses agreement, 『AーNe』 shows understanding,and 『Yabai』 indicates surprise.
“Then, look at the person and have a casual chat with them.”
“That sounds… somewhat challenging.”
“Alright then, I’ll be the customer, so let’s practise! Ready!”
And so, we practised for about twenty minutes.
For some reason, Mako-san had a face that resembled a member of an expedition team who had discovered an incredibly rare creature.
×××
Returning to the 『room』 Kurosawa-san and I started discussing strategies for conquering the talent agency with Lili in the dining room.
On the table was a photocopy of the treatment that Kurosawa-san had received from the president in case of her transfer.
According to Kurosawa-san, [Well, it’s tempting. If they offer conditions like this].
“So, Lili, are you really going to do that?”
When I asked that, Lili nodded as if it were obvious.
Honestly, I’m not very enthusiastic about it. But Lili is brimming with confidence.
“This time, it’s not brainwashing, it’s condemnation, Devi. We’re going to take what we can, confess their sins and socially destroy them. The goal is to execute them.”
“Uwa… sounds intense, how are you going to do it?”
When Kurosawa-san asked with great interest, Lili proudly puffed up her chest even more.
“FuFunn! Get ready to be surprised! This time, it’s the trending Death Game,Devi!”
As Lili exclaimed loudly, a rather awkward atmosphere settled over the room.
With a bewildered expression, Kurosawa-san finally spoke up.
“’I think Death Game is……out of season.”
“No, no, that can’t be, Devi. There are many death game manga released every month, Devi.”
“Those are just riding on inertia. Apparently, they don’t sell that well even if they’re released, right? There aren’t that many patterns, in reality.”
“Wha!? That’s a statement that would seriously antagonise a part of the publishing industry, Devi!”
To Lili, who huffed and waved her arms, Kurosawa-san asked with a wry smile.
“Well…fine, but, how are you going to do it specifically?”
“First, selecting participants, Devi. That’s already taken care of, Devi.”
“Kurosawa-san and I are confirmed. Are there a few others?”
“Devi Devi. People with a certain level of acting skill are needed for the roles, Devi. From FumiFumi’s harem, we’ve chosen relatively sensible and adept individuals, Devi.”
At the mention of [sensible individuals] I instinctively tilted my head.
Honestly, I can’t think of any faces that come to mind. It feels like I don’t know anyone like that.
“First, FumiFumi and Kurosawa-chan are obvious choices, Devi.”
“Since we’re like parties involved”
“Plus, the AV girl,Devi.”
“Oh, Kanaya-san, she’s not playing the mastermind role, is she?”
“Just the fact that the AV girl is participating is enough to make that president and others nervous,Devi.”
I see. If there’s someone who was supposed to be deceived and sold overseas, just their presence can be incredibly intimidating.
“So, next is the role of the survivor from the previous death game. We’ll assign 『Buaiso』 to a character who speaks mysteriously for now,Devi.”
[TL:Unsociable]
“Ah…that kind of character. Well, Shiratori-san definitely fits the bill”
“Then, there’s the role of a cheerful black person like in Hollywood movies,『Nande ya nen』,Devi.”
“Shima-san, right?”
“And then, for someone who seems harmless but is actually a serial killer… Oppai-chan,Devi!”
“Masaki-chan!?”
This… feels kind of dangerous.
Rather than being a mismatch, it’s more like a surprisingly perfect fit…
“So, does that mean Masaki-chan is the mastermind?”
In response to Kurosawa-san’s question, Lili vigorously shook her head.
“Not quite, Devi. It’s just the role of a serial killer who happened to get lost, Devi.”
一What kind of scenario is that?
“And then, the role of being killed two minutes into the start goes to Ryoko,Devi.”
“「「That’s such a harsh treatment!」」”
Kurosawa-san and I inadvertently harmonised.
As always, Ryoko remains underappreciated. I genuinely thought that she might be born under an unlucky star.
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