Starting a Night Shift Part-time Job at a Convenience Store.

Bothiof usiwere confronting each other withia terrific expression oniour faces as if time hadibeen suspended.

Theisilence was suddenly shattered by a rattling sound emanating from near the front door. Footsteps rushing up theiiron staircase approached and gave the impression that they had halted in front of my room when the door was slammed powerfully.

“Hakamadaaa!? Heyyyy! What time do you think it is now!?”

Theilandlord from downstairs hurled an enraged yell at me.

“You’reimaking such a racket that I can’t sleep! The neighbors are being disturbed! If you want to scream, do it outside! Hey!?”

Theilandlord’s shout was so loud that even though we were far from the front door, it nevertheless resonated in my ears. I cried out “Excuse me” in response, propelled by the intensity of the yell.

Theilandlord reacted byireturning to the lower level and shouting, “For god’s sake!” as they stomped down the iron staircase.

Atithat point, the flickering lights reverted to their former state and the whole room brightened up. Even the TV and the fan, which hadibeen turned off, started operating simultaneously. Although everything seemed to be back to normal, the subject of my fear wasistill seated in front of me, looking as blood-soaked asiever.

“W-Well… forithe time being, calm down. Sonny…?”

Perhapsianticipating the arrival of the second wave, they lifted their hands up to their shoulders and smiled awkwardly, as if to appease me, who was all perturbed. It didn’t put me at rest, though, when they grinned due to the blood stains on their face. Moreover, Iicould see the kitchen that was supposed to be behind that figure, though only faintly.

Thaticould only imply one thing. This guy, they were a human…

Eveniif you told me to calm down, how could I remain calm? Having a figure like this in front of you, wouldn’t it be terrifying?

Damn, I couldn’t pull myself up. Translator: MadHatter

Withimy breathing erratic and my nose rasping like a cow, I fearfully looked at thatiguy’s face.

Iistruggled to jog my memory. Indeed… they looked familiar toime.

Bloodidripped from their mouths, under their eyes, and down their forehead, and they had a frightening appearance that made me feel as if I was about to scream even nowibut…

Thisioutfit and those tight slits in their eyes. This guy was yesterday’s… the bloody spiked bat man… Right…

Atitheichange in my facial expression, the guy brushed his bangs off to the back of his head appropriately and asked, “Have you remembered me?”

“A-A little…” Not shared on aggregator sites

B-Butiwhyiwas the man drenched in blood, here, and right in front of me?

Oh, right. I got it.

Thisiwas a dream.

Iishouldigo back to sleep, and if I sleep one more time, I might be able to wake up this time.

Thatimust be the case…

“―Wake up! Thisiis reality, all of it!!”

As I wasiabout to turn around and crawl back under the futon, I received a very well-timed shove.

“Sonny, please listen to me!”

Rightias I thought that, the bloodied man who was supposed to be behind me moved instantly in front of me. It was like he abruptly popped up right in frontiof me.

Heyyyyyyyy! If youidid that, I would have been startled, you know!!

“Who the hell are you! Stop it! Don’t youidare haunt me!”

“LikeiI said, calm down…! Look, I’m not trying to hurt you, okay!”

“Youiare! Enough! You’re standing on people’s bedsides! And you’reicausing bizarre phenomena!”

Iiwas in tears, and in desperation, I was losing my temper with the specter. In such a state, that guy scratched his head and gave me an ingratiating smile.

“Ohino, Iifigured I should put on a show for you.”

Whatia talkative specter. I mean…

“Whatido you mean by ‘put on a show’!? Does a specter even think about staging? Get out…! Immediately! I begiyou, disappear! Nothing good will evericome from you hauntingime!!”

Timidnessiwas no good, I had to push through with strength.

Whileirecalling Takenaka’s advice, I rushed to the kitchen, letting my agitation get the better of me. I opened the refrigerator roughly and microwaved the frozen rice I hadileft. 

Aipair of disposable chopsticks were inserted vertically into the top of the steaming white rice after I had dumped the rice into a bowl and heavily saltediit. The chopsticks were placed in the center of the tabletop vigorously.

“Um…Sonny? …This is…”

“Comeion, attain Buddhahood! Now! Immediately! Doiit right away―!!”

Orirather, pleaseirest in peace…!

Despiteimy lack of confidence in my ability to exorcise aispirit, Iiwas determined to somehow make that guy attain Buddhahood. Theioutcome was obvious, though.

“Hey… Sonny, Iiam troubled even if you suddenly serve me a heaping pile of rice.”

Theibloodiediman made no reaction to the steaming white riceion the table but looked at me again with a stunned expression on hisiface.

Iiknow, right?