Whoa... We really have a convenience store.
This isn't good, is it?
Of course it isn't good!
Definitely not good.
I-In any case... let's go a bit closer.
Are we going in?
No...
What?
Well, you know... I-It may be a fake one, so...
Fa-- What?! What do you mean by "fake one"?
Whoa...
This is a real convenience store!
"Opening Sale"
Hey... Coconuts...
Hm?
Why do you look like you're enjoying this?
What?!
Isn't having a convenience store bad news for you?
She's right.
O-Of course it is! This is a huge problem for our dagashi shop!
But it's not just me! To can't stop smirking, either!
"Smirk, smirk, smirk..."
O-Of course! It's a convenience store we're talking about!
This is big news in the boonies like this!
Hey, you kids!
Why are you loitering in front of the store?
You're in the way of other customers!
Or is it possible you don't know how an automatic door works?
I can't believe this. Come with me!
What's with him? He's scary.
More importantly, who's that?
The door opens and closes on its own, so be careful.
Whoa!
"Welcome"
--Welcome!
Wh-Whoa... It's a convenience store!
It's warm in here.
This place has tons of manga!
Wait... You said "Welcome" just now.
Looks like you noticed.
My name is Yutaka Beni.
"Yutaka Beni"
Convenience stores are a brilliant, perfected part of our culture!
I came all the way out here to spread that idea!
I'm the manager of this store, Towns Mart, Kashigahama Branch!
A pleasure to meet you!
He's weird...
Manager?
Indeed.
Nowadays, you can get anything at a convenience store, and yet,
there seem to be many anachronistic stores in this town.
For example, that dagashi shop.
Just as the weak in nature are eliminated through natural selection.
"Shikada Dagashi"
Just as a stagnant river turns rotten.
A world that does not change heads only towards death.
Therefore, I will bring it back to life.
I will change this town!
I-I don't get what he's saying at all, but he creeps me out.
Yeah, he may have a few screws loose.
That's not the point! He's saying he's gonna shut down the dagashi shop!
What...?
W-W-W-Wait, I can't have that!
Hm? And why might that be?
Well... My family runs that dagashi shop, so our life will be, you know...
I see.
Then I suggest that you take a good hard look at reality.
This is the publications section with a wide variety of manga and magazines.
"Adult Magazines"
C-Coconuts! They have lots of dirty--
We carry daily necessities, stationery, and food including condiments.
Tea, alcohol, juice and soda.
A whole variety of ready-to-eat foods and bento!
A photocopier, a fax machine, an ATM... and friendly employees!
In short, you can find anything and everything at our store!
It really is impressive...
Dirty magazines, too.
That's not all.
I strongly suggest you check out our pride and joy, the snack section.
These are made with the world's best ingredients by a first-class pastry chef!
This is Towns Mart Kashigahama's specially prepared section.
The Special Sweets corner... by Yutaka Beni!
Wow! This is amazing!
"Whole Cakes - 3,500 yen each (plus tax)"
They're cute!
Right?
Do you realize now how terribly old-fashioned dagashi shops are?
Coconuts...
What's the matter? Are you too stunned to say anything?
Yutaka...
Hm?
These won't sell... They're too expensive.
What? Too expensive, you say?
Well... I think that convenience store customers
\would probably prefer cheaper items instead.
Things that are simple and cheap... For example...
...things like this dagashi that you can buy for 10 yen or so.
"Orange Gum"
D-Dagashi?!
Yeah, I think that if you carry things like this,
not only children but also adult customers would readily buy them.
"BANG!"
I see...! He's right!
Do you know what you're doing?
What?
If they carry dagashi at their store...
Ah! Shoot...
It's true... She's absolutely right.
And yet, he said that without the slightest hint of fear.
What a virtuous boy!
From now on, I'll face him with respect as a rival!
Hm? Why are you crying?
I'm not crying.
I'm definitely not crying!
And so, and so...
A convenience store?! Did you check them out?
"...A convenience store?"
"Did you check them out?"
"them = dirty magazines"
More or less...
I see... Men are vulnerable to those things, so...
"I see... Men are"
"vulnerable to those things, so..."
"those things = dirty magazines"
Hm? Yeah...
Listen. Don't get too carried away, okay?
"Listen. Don't get too carried away, okay?"
"(dirty magazines-wise)"
What? What're you talking about?
They're attracting lots of people... while we're struggling.
"Opening Sale"
"Shikada Dagashi"
I'm home... Well, no one's--
You're late... dagashi shop boy!
Wh-What're you doing here?!
What...?
When a customer visits your shop, you should start by greeting them, right?!
What?! I-I'm sorry.
"Shikada Dagashi"
More importantly...
...to tell you the truth, there's an important matter that I wish to discuss with you.
Um, discuss what?
I'll get straight to the point.
Kokonotsu!
Would you like to work at our store?!
Wait, what?
What?
Convenience stores are great. I love convenience stores.
O-Okay...
The strange relief you feel when you stop by in the middle of the night...
The scare you feel from the noise of that glowing thing that zaps bugs...
The ashtrays on the corners where construction workers come seeking a place to smoke...
And, in a remote--
Wait, wait! Why are you only talking about the less savory parts?
Because I love those parts, too!
Of course, that's just the tip of the iceberg! What do you think?!
I'm not quite sure what to think.
Listen, I have to keep this dagashi shop open at any--
I'll pay you 850 yen an hour.
E-Eight hundred...!
That's an exceptionally good wage. I'm making a generous offer to you.
"The average hourly wage in this town is 750 yen."
Well, that isn't the issue. I'm just...
I see... So it's not the amount... Then...
...do you perhaps like pleasures of the dirty variety?
Convenience stores carry books and magazines that are somewhat dirty.
Of course, buying them with people around is very risky.
So? What're you getting at?
What if I were to say that if you join the crew,
you can buy them without being seen by anyone.
I can... buy them?
Of course, that's one of the perks of the job.
Go ahead, take them...
But know that once you do, you've agreed to join our crew.
Now, make your decision.
What... should I do?
Hotaru...
I won't find the dirty pleasures I seek in those magazines.
More importantly, I'll grab them with my own two hands!
Hm... I see...
Now that it's come to this, I'll have to use my last resort.
What? There's more?
This is a job magazine that has our store information.
The entire crew made it together so that everyone who sees it wants to come!
"A work environment where the smiles never stop!"
It makes you want to work with us, right?!
Whoa... They used the world's most superficial phrase...
There was one girl who was shy or something and wasn't feeling it,
but I'm sure with time she'll open up, right?
I can understand how she feels. I don't think she's going to open up to you.
"Shikada Dagashi"
Now, come and join our crew!
"Shikada Dagashi" "Convenience Store, Job Magazine, and..."
Err...
Sorry, it won't work...
"Next time: Hajime Owari, Chocoball, and..."
Next time. "Hajime Owari, Chocoball, and..."
Was hiring her really the right decision?