Want to be human, but cube-like

All I need to do is help Alex with the business of the burger shop and teach her how to better integrate into this world. The conditions couldn't be simpler. Anyone else could probably do a better job.

And what Alex has to do? She has to solve the problem of the Witch's Kiss for herself, and she even greedily wants to learn more about the other world from her to satisfy her curiosity.

"Didn't you say you would..."

Will you help me run my burger shop well?

Alex spoke again, turning around to face Xiangzi, who had unconsciously lowered his head.

"Then why don't you just stay at the burger shop as an employee?"

Recalling that when she first took Xiangzi home, her first thought was to put her in a hamburger shop as a front desk employee, Alex, who had rekindled this idea, realized that now seemed like a good opportunity, and she looked at Xiangzi expectantly.

"I……"

With his lips pursed, Xiangzi hesitated and remained silent for a long time.

This is indeed a very good choice. After all, Xiangzi had tried to apply for a job at Alex's burger shop at the beginning, but he was scared away by Alex's strange behavior.

But now, facing Alex, who had helped him so much and would continue to help him in the future, Xiangzi found it hard to say what to say next.

"So, if I were to work as an employee at a hamburger shop... and what about accommodation..."

She lowered her head, her two blue ponytails hanging down beside her cheeks along with her sideburns. She spoke haltingly, as if she was embarrassed to say it.

"About the wages..."

A faint blush graced her cheeks, partially hidden by her soft hair, making her appear as delicate and beautiful as a newly blossoming flower bud.

"...What should we do?"

That's right, this is exactly the problem that Xiangzi is most conflicted about.

In her view, if she were to help Alex run the burger shop, then temporarily taking over the duties of the employees at certain times would certainly be a reasonable part of the deal, but in her mind, this should only be temporary.

Then you can look for suitable part-time jobs at other times.

But if I join the burger shop as a full-time employee, that overlaps with part of the transaction. In that case, how will my salary be calculated? And how should I present myself to Alex?

Most importantly, Xiangzi found it difficult to tell Alex that she needed a salary.

That sounds so shameless...

But this is also necessary. Even if she doesn't care about her own life, Xiangzi still has a scoundrel father who is addicted to alcohol and needs her to support him.

Even under these circumstances, she could not bring herself to abandon her father.

Rather, it's even less likely that they'll give up.

This means that Xiangzi needs to suppress his shame and ask Alex for a reasonable salary.

However, this wasn't the first time she had lost face in front of Alex. Although it sounded ominous to have to get used to this kind of thing, Xiangzi, who was now unable to seek help from ordinary people because of the witch's threat, really only had two paths left to take.

Go to Kyubey to make a wish, or perhaps, based on that transaction, forge another layer of a relationship with Alex, one of employee and boss.

Without a doubt, Xiangzi could only choose the latter.

"……Eh?"

But to Xiangzi's surprise, Alex suddenly froze for a moment.

She seemed to have never really thought about paying Xiangzi's salary.

Volume 1: Chapter 32 How annoying!

"I... will consider it and give you an answer tomorrow."

Beside the tram stop, Xiangzi faced Alex, his eyes lowered, and she spoke softly.

It was nearly midnight, and Xiangzi's home was just a short walk away.

She was hesitant to let Alex accompany her on this final journey.

It wasn't that she was afraid Alex would have other thoughts about her if she discovered how dire her current living conditions were; she also didn't think Alex would have such thoughts.

Instead, she was somewhat afraid of running into her father.

Compared to other things, her father's current situation is the thing she finds hardest to talk about with others.

She couldn't accept that her father, now in such a state of being like a cripple, was being seen by others, even by Alex.

Or rather, precisely because it is Alex.

"……besides."

Taking a deep breath and slightly raising his head, Xiangzi looked at the silver-haired girl in front of him, who was a head taller than him.

“You are not allowed to say things like ‘All the money you earn can be given to me as salary’ anymore.”

Her cheeks seemed a little red, but it wasn't clearly visible under the dim streetlights.

"It might...lead to misunderstandings...anyway!"

She pressed her lips tightly together, her slightly moist lips glistening with a luster. They were a delicate pink and pale red, more beautiful than cherries even without makeup, and so sweet that they were mouthwatering.

"Even if I agree to become your employee, I will only take the portion that I am entitled to. You will have many other places where you will need money, so don't waste it or give it away to others."

Her posture was very dignified, and her expression was very serious, like a responsible young female teacher educating students.

"But Xiangzi is no ordinary person."

But her students seemed to have a different opinion of her.

"Xiangzi is very important to me. You are the first person I can talk to after I came into this world."

Alex smiled brightly.

"You've helped me with so many things. You helped me discover the floating island world beneath my house, helped my burger shop officially open for business, and taught me a lot about this world. You'll help me even more in the future."

Her eyes remained as gentle, clear, and pure as ever, without any ulterior motives, so innocent that they evoked pity in people.

"But anyone could do these things, if..."

Xiangzi was stunned. She bit her lower lip and subconsciously took half a step forward.

"If the person I saved last night was someone who wasn't Xiangzi, and the person standing in front of me now is also someone who isn't Xiangzi, perhaps that person would do the same things, things that anyone could do."

She interrupted Xiangzi and began to speak softly.

"Then, will that person, like now, stand before me and say: 'Could anyone do these things?'"

With a slight blink, Alex used the lamplight to clearly see Xiangzi's cheeks, which were red from the cold night.

"There are no ifs, no possibilities. I would say that Xiangzi is no one else. Xiangzi is very important to me simply because it was Xiangzi who did all of this."

Taking two steps forward, Alex approached Xiangzi and raised her hands to gently cup her flushed face.

“We are all ordinary people, but Xiangzi is more special than other ordinary strangers because of your communication with me. It is because of your communication that I am no longer anxious, lonely and afraid because I have left my mother.”

The small hands that held her cheeks were soft and warm, completely unlike the ones that had just picked up weapons and sliced ​​monsters into pieces with a few strokes.

"..."

Xiangzi remained silent for a long time, but her cheeks grew increasingly red.

It felt as if Alex had warmed it with her hands, and the temperature rose along with it.

"Alright, it's so cold outside, your face is all red from the cold."

Letting go, Alex took a few steps back.

"I'll walk around here a few times to see if any familiars appear. Don't worry, I've already learned how to ride the tram. I'll take the tram home by myself later. You should go home now."

She cut out the nameless knife "Puppet" and made a gesture as if she was about to turn and leave.

"Um... Be careful, safety..."

She seemed genuinely chilled, her speech even a little incoherent. Alex glanced at her worriedly, and although she wanted to give her her coat, she remembered being rejected that morning and decided against it, simply watching Xiangzi walk further and further away until she was out of sight.

……

"I'm back……"

In the quiet, cold rented room.

Xiangzi pushed open the door and spoke softly.

"..."

There was no sound from inside, but she seemed to have long been used to no response.

Carefully avoiding the aluminum cans on the ground, Xiangzi opened the lattice door and glanced inside.

No one is empty.

"Ugh……"

She sighed softly and said nothing.

She carefully placed the clothes that Alex had lent her earlier that day, which she had worn, in the bag in her hand, in the spot where she usually slept.

As he sat down, Xiangzi looked up and saw a closet piled with various boxes and bedding right in front of him.

On it, a beautifully crafted doll, clearly worth a fortune, sat quietly, her blonde hair flowing over her shoulders and her bright red dress spotless, exuding a noble and elegant air.

The area facing the doll was the only place in the entire rented room where there were no empty cans or dirt.

"Mother……"

Hugging his knees, Xiangzi huddled in the only clean area, like a white lotus flower surrounded by filth yet still pure and beautiful in the mud.

After a long while, her eyes gradually cleared, and she began to sort out her chaotic thoughts.

Tomorrow, am I really going to move into Alex's burger shop?

The blue-haired girl lowered her eyes in thought.

She's already had enough trouble these past two days.

Moreover, he always seemed unable to be assertive in front of her, and his inner defenses were always easily broken down with just a few words.

Thus, the original firm bottom line of not wanting to seek help from outsiders was lowered time and time again because of Alex.

"Goooo..."

Recalling that moment, the feeling of having her face held in the other person's hands.

Xiangzi blushed again and let out a cute little wail.

What happened to me?

My mind was filled with the image of Alex gazing at me tenderly under the light, her soft fingertips touching my cheek—it all seemed to be deeply etched into my memory.

We've only known each other for less than two days, right?

How come they suddenly act like they have a very good relationship with me?

irritating……

Xiangzi lay on his side on the ground, biting his lower lip.

That guy really has absolutely no sense of boundaries.

I hate it so much...

…………

PS: I just dislike it, I didn't say I hate it.

What happened? I didn't expect things to progress so quickly, but after writing the beginning, I couldn't control myself anymore. Who was holding my hand down as I wrote all this?

Alex wasn't thinking too much; she was simply expressing her feelings directly, literally. After all, she wasn't very good at expressing herself, and the guide who introduced her to the ways of this world was definitely important.

Volume 1: Chapter 33 Could it be that it came from a game?

In the quiet night, the blue-haired girl was alone in the house, lying on the floor, rolling around for a long time before gradually calming down the restlessness in her heart.

She lay flat on her back, looking up at the ceiling.

The dilapidated rental room was already starting to get moldy on the walls and ceiling, and the dim yellow light seemed about to fall off.