Tsukumodo:Volume 1 Present

My wage is calculated on an hourly basis and paid to me every day—in cash.

That is because Towako-san can't be bothered—and would forget—to make a payment to my account at the end of every month.

At days when she's away for her purchases, Saki is in charge of paying me.

Since I live in an apartment on my own, I have to use my wage with care. While my parents do send me money, my payment still covers a significant part of my daily expenses.

I don't line up for bargain sales, but at the very least, I try my best not to waste any money. I even lay aside some of it.

If it's really okay for a high schooler to act so much like a housewife is anyone's guess.

Well, because of that, I'm not so stupid as to use up my entire wage the day I get it like other students that have started a part-time job out of greed.

I'm not suited for a lifestyle that involves spending one's earnings before the night is out.

Always use your money wisely. That's my motto.

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"Here, this a present."

I hardly believed my ears when Tokiya said so out of the blue.

I, Saki Maino, stood stone-still for twenty-two seconds with a shopping bag in my hands.

During that time, Tokiya said something, but because I mind had gone blank, all went in one ear and out the other.

"...So, got it?"

"Eh? Ah, yes. Sure."

I nodded instinctively, although I had no idea what he had been talking about.

"Anyway, that's all there is to it, hear me?" he said and left, perhaps embarrassed.

Left behind alone, I was at a loss of what to do with the present—according to him—he had given me and kept standing on the spot.

(People—chiefly Tokiya—often say that I have no feelings, but that's not true. I merely have trouble showing them, but naturally I do have feelings, and my heart is as sensitive as everyone else's.

To a degree that I get a little flustered when I suddenly receive a present.

There is a need to recall what happened.

Tokiya and I were working together until closing time like we always did.

Towako-san was away to acquire some Relics again, and there were next to no customers like every day, so there was pretty much nothing to do.

We really have few customers.

I'm convinced that we ought to make the interior and exterior brighter and make it easier for customers to enter. I also think that it would be best if we included Asian merchandise and fancy stuff into our range of goods instead of sticking to fakes of Relics.

When I once made this suggestion to Towako-san, she told me there was no need to do that. Apparently, she didn't have any plans of making her shop flourish. Despite caring about the sales figures.

Perhaps I should lend her the book "Becoming a Famous Shop Manager made easy!" I've been reading until yesterday?

Oh no. I ran off the tracks.

Anyways, we worked until closing time and then Tokiya left.

However, for some reason he came back.

At first, I thought he had forgotten something, but then he suddenly handed a shopping bag over to me and told me it were a present.

A present? Why would he give me a present?

I also wondered if today was my birthday, but that isn't the case.

Labor Thanksgiving Day? Not really. To begin with, there's nothing he should thank me for.

Mother's Day? I'm not his mother. Father's Day... goes without saying.

Today's no special day, nor is it a holiday.

Another possibility would be that it's an apology for something he did.

I tried searching my memories, but nothing came to mind that would require an apology.

H-He cheated on me...?

No, we're not in that kind of relationship, so infidelity doesn't apply here.)

......I came to my senses again and felt a little ashamed of having such dull thoughts.

I returned with the bag into the house.

Since Towako-san was absent, I was alone today.

Upon arriving at the living room, I put the bag on the table.

I turned on the TV for starters.

A variety show that wasn't particularly interesting was on. Because the TV failed to draw my attention, my gaze went back and forth between the TV and the shopping bag on the table.

I tried touching the bag.

It gave off a rustling sound.

I quickly pulled away my hands.

Then I went back to the TV and changed the channel.

A baseball match of which I didn't know the rules was on. Because the TV failed to draw my attention, my gaze went back and forth between the TV and the shopping bag on the table.

I tried sneaking a peek into the bag.

There was something pink inside.

I quickly pulled my head back.

(Boy, what am I doing...?

To begin with, how dare Tokiya do something confusing like that all of a sudden!)

My disturbance started to settle down and was replaced by anger.

(Is he watching me and having a good laugh...?

Ah! That's it! That must be it!

And I was so silly as to act like this right in front of his eyes...)

"How careless of me."

I shot a gaze around the room, searching for a sign of Tokiya.

...I didn't find anything.

Just in case I also took a look at the shop, but with its lights turned off, there was absolute silence there. I peeked out of the window, but of course did not find anyone. I also checked the kitchen and the restroom, but remained unsuccessful.

(What else is this supposed to mean, then?

Is it by any chance really a present?)

"........."

With a deep breath I made up my mind and opened the bag.

Wrapped in it was a dress. A sleeveless dress with lots of frills. Its color was... not my favorite color, black, but pink.

(After knowing me for so long, he still doesn't understand what I like. And anyway, choosing that color comes close to harassing me. No, he is trying to harass me.)

At that point, I recalled a certain thing and fetched a book from my room.

There was a magazine I had bought with the hope that it might help me improve my customer service. It was a magazine aimed specifically at high schoolers, but that was no problem. After all, I was a teenager as well. Tokiya had given me an awkward glance, though, when I read it back then.

I flicked through the magazine. There was supposed to be a featured article on presents. Making a present to someone can be related to suggesting articles to a customer. That's why I bought it.

I found the caption of the article, "What do I do with such a present?!".

"If a boy gives you a present you don't like, don't get angry! It's a sign that he wants you to share his likes! Go, jump at the chance!"

I closed the magazine.

I was quite impressed by what I had just read.

(Yes, the dress on the table doesn't match my preference.

But does that mean that he has a preference for such things?

Tokiya likes this kind of dress? Does he want me to wear it?)

As a test, I repeat, as a test. No really, as a little test—believe me. I held the dress in front of me and stood before a mirror.

In the mirror was my body, which was always clad in black, shrouded by pink.

Honestly speaking, it didn't suit me.

A pinkish frilled dress just didn't fit my sour face.

Still, I didn't put the dress away.

It was a present from Tokiya.

The first one ever.

There had been nothing like this in the past.

I hadn't even dreamed of it.

People—chiefly Tokiya—often say that I have no feelings, but that's not true. I merely have trouble showing them, but naturally I do have feelings, and my heart is as sensitive as everyone else's.

To a degree that I get a little excited when I suddenly receive a present.

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