Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You (スーパーの裏でヤニ吸うふたり)

Boss, I don't really need a raise.

I'm happy and grateful just getting to work here!

What? Nobody's that selfless!

Just take it.

I'll tutor you so you pass the salary increase test for sure.

I've even made problem sets for all the people in different departments taking it.

Let's get right to it.

Drill that one and that one into your head.

Mhm.

This one's easy to misunderstand.

Make sure your flow's clear and easy to grasp.

Mhm.

This one never comes up despite being marked important, so ignore it.

Mhm...

Wow, someone's quick on the uptake.

Mhm...

If there's anything you don't get, feel free to ask...

Wake up, Yamada!

24-Hour

Supermarket S

Cig 7 The End of Summer Behind the Supermarket with You

Summer Fair

Welcome.

I haven't seen Yamada-san around lately.

Here's your point card back.

Thank you.

Maybe it's just me showing up at the wrong times,

but I haven't seen her at the register for two weeks now.

Trouble

Trouble

Accident

Accident

Illness

Illness

Injury

Injury

Anxiety

Anxiety

Quit

Quit

I'm worried.

Sir?

Oh, I-I'm sorry!

But I'm just one customer. It's not my place to worry.

This is the kind of thing you call overstepping boundaries.

Her smile always lifts my spirits. As long as Yamada-san's doing well...

What's this about "as long as Yamada-san's doing well"?

Tayama-san?!

Wassup?

Uh, I can explain.

The thing is...

Well, whatever.

Tell me out back.

Let's smoke.

You'll have one, won't you?

Uh-huh.

So you haven't seen Yamada-san around, and you really, really, really miss her?

She didn't have to oversimplify it that way.

Don't worry. She's not sick or anything.

She's just studying.

Studying?

The boss told her to take the upcoming corporate test and get a raise.

So relax.

Aren't you glad she didn't quit? Does that make you happy?

I-I don't know about happy! I'm just relieved!

Heck, I'm sorry, Tayama-san.

For what?

You know, for getting information about Yamada-san out of you.

Same old Sa-slow-ki.

Huh? Did you say something?

Nothing.

Anyway, things will go back to normal pretty soon,

pass or fail.

Yamada-san's so impressive, though.

She's studying while working a job.

I hope everything works out for her.

Hey, Sasaki-san.

Y-Yes?

Write on this.

Huh? Write what?

Something encouraging.

Is this for a store event or something?

Less asking, more writing. Get to it.

Will this do?

Thanks, Sasaki-san.

Okay, I'll make sure Yamada-san gets this.

Hold it!

Time out! Don't do this, please!

What's the big deal?

It's a very big deal!

Yamada-san's not going to like it! I'm just a customer!

What if getting a message from an old dude makes her lose all motivation?!

Also, if I'd known it was for someone else, I would've put more effort into it!

If anything, it'll give her motivation.

I guarantee it.

Good Friends

If you say so. You're her colleague.

Here.

This is for you.

Look at it when your shitty boss gets on your nerves.

A-All right. Thank you.

Genki Trading

Sasaki-kun!

Yes, sir! I'm so sorry!

Why'd he get on your case this time?

He got into an argument with a client I brought in.

How is that your fault?!

Oh, Tayama-san gave me something for times like these,

when my boss...

License to beat

'em up

Tayama

Huh? What's the matter, Sasaki?

Nothing. That's so like her.

Wha?

24-Hour

Supermarket S

Hey.

Corporate got in touch.

You passed the test.

Piece of cake, boss.

Well done!

Keep Your Lockers Clean

Piece of cake, my foot. Your head wasn't in the game at all.

You weren't up for it at first, so what made you lock in?

Why the sudden change of heart?

I was just living up to expectations.

Besides...

my dense fan gave me a good-luck-charm, too.

Good luck. I'm rooting for you.

Sasaki

Genki Trading

Another day, another beatdown.

I'm done! Lunch time!

Open! Whoa, this looks great!

Time to dig in!

We sure got put through the wringer.

And that's putting it lightly.

Looks like it didn't take a big toll on you, though.

What? Really?

Well, once I started digging into Keiko-chan's cooking,

it stopped bothering me, too.

License to beat 'em up

Tayama

Hey, what's that you've got?

I don't know, a good-luck charm?

Hey, Sasaki-kun!

Sir!

Ack!

Don't "ack" at me!

Unglue yourself from that desk and go pound the pavement!

Yes, sir! I'm sorry!

I'm off!

I'll get to it after my meal.

License to beat 'em up

Tayama

Okay, it's not torn.

I can just do this...

and slip it into this case.

That should do the trick.

'Sup?

Yamada-san passed the test and got a raise.

Isn't that great?

Hey, I'm just an outsider.

You shouldn't be telling me that stuff.

Please, I know you're happy to hear it.

That good-luck charm you gave her must've done the trick.

You really gave her that?

I said I would.

And I asked him to write it for me.

Nah, she put in the work. She deserves all the credit.

I don't think that scrap of paper could've helped in any way.

Shoot, I dropped my case...

Lightning hands!

License to beat 'em up

Tayama

Oh?

Ooh?

Scraps of paper don't help, you say? Then why carry this around?

Is it helping, Sasaki-san?

It is. Very much so.

As a talisman.

Hang on. What exactly is a talisman?

Too long; not reading.

So basically a charm, right?

Old dudes and their old-dude speak.

License to beat 'em up

Tayama

It was all crumpled up, but he was still holding on to it dearly.

If he'd just asked, I would've written a new one anytime.

24-Hour

Supermarket S

Throw away in 3 days

Sightings?

Of what, Chief Maezawa?

Ghosty-ghost.