From VTuber♂ to VTuber♀ - Chapter 10

January 10th) I Got a Part-Time Job

“Rejected here, rejected there, and here too…”

Checking my endlessly buzzing messages, they were all filled with the same content: “Unfortunately, it’s not possible.”
Well, I figured as much.

Even though I had plenty of part-time experience, they probably thought the ID photo I sent was a joke.
But it’s not a joke. That’s really my face.
…This appearance really isn’t helping at all. Seriously.

“The only job I could realistically do was something like a convenience store part-time gig, and even that’s not working out…”

If I had known it would come to this, I should’ve just tried working at a regular company.
If I had any corporate experience, maybe it would’ve been easier to find something now.
Sure, the job market is tough, but it had to be better than trying to get a part-time job in this body.

If someone at least offered an interview, I could prove that the ID photo was legit. But I wasn’t even getting that chance.
I mean, who would believe I’m an adult?

[You got a message~]

“Another rejection, huh—oh?”

I was about to put my phone down after a quick glance, but the message said something completely unexpected.

Wait, so… they want me to come in for an interview?

Was I hallucinating? I rubbed my eyes and looked at the screen again, but the text was still there.

“Come in for an interview.”

No matter how I read it, that’s what it said.

“Hopefully they’re not a weirdo or something…”

No, this is good news. Right?

I gave my cheeks a light slap and took a deep breath.

Not sure if I can call it “experience,” but I had worked part-time at a convenience store before, so as long as nothing went wrong, I might actually get the job.

A blessing in the middle of misfortune. If this turned out to be the start of some good luck, I’d be so happy.

They added a note saying I could come in any time after 8 p.m., and I nodded.

Alright, I’ll go today.

The longer I stayed home, the stronger my desire to work became.
Finally, I was graduating from being unemployed. Seriously…

—

“So… okay, coat’s ready.”

One nice thing about nighttime over daytime was that I didn’t need to wear sunscreen.
As for clothes, I’d quickly bought a few outfits using a next-day delivery app, so I wasn’t freezing anymore.
The issue was that I had to buy children’s clothes because nothing in adult sizes fit…

Honestly, aren’t kids’ clothes too expensive? They use way less fabric, so why do they cost more?

I grumbled inwardly, but I was still pleased to finally wear decent clothing again.
Just wearing a T-shirt alone was way too cold in this weather, after all.

“Huaa… I’m heading out.”

I left the lights on.
Some might say it’s a waste of electricity, but I was willing to pay extra to come home to a place that didn’t feel lonely.

“Ugh, it’s way colder now that it’s night.”

I breathed into my hands to warm them, then shoved them into my pockets once I couldn’t stand the cold anymore.
There wasn’t any ice, so walking with hands in my pockets should be fine, right…?

…Right?

There was that one time I slipped on ice doing just that.
Eh, forget it. I’ll just take my hands out.

“So this is the place…”

It was a perfectly ordinary convenience store, but just walking in made me incredibly nervous.
What if they’re disappointed when they see me?

Maybe they expected a mature-looking adult with a babyface, but I walk in looking like this tiny little girl… that could be awkward.

Honestly, the idea of me working here might be a burden.
I’m too short to reach high shelves, too weak to move heavy stuff, and my stamina’s so bad I probably couldn’t clean properly…

Maybe I should just turn around.

My self-esteem tanked in an instant and I started to slowly back away, when—**ding!**—the door chime rang.

“You comin’ in or what? You’re here for the interview, ain’tcha?”

“Ah, uh… y-yes, ma’am…”

“Come on in. It’s cold out.”

An older woman held the door open as I awkwardly stepped into the store.
She looked a little intimidating, but it was super kind of her to hold the door for me.

Without a word, she headed to the counter, and I followed.

Aren’t interviews usually held in the back or something?

Tilting my head, I looked up at her. She motioned me over with a wave.
…She probably wants me to come closer, right?

“You’re really an adult?”

“…Yes. Um, is it because I’m too short…?”

“You’re here to work, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Then go stock some snacks over there.”

I followed her casual hand wave and saw a cardboard box on the floor.
Looking inside, the snacks were low enough for even me to reach.

Though, I did wonder—shouldn’t popular items be placed higher?

I sighed as I restocked the shelves one by one.
Just squatting and standing repeatedly was tiring, but it felt really fulfilling to be doing something that resembled work again.

“You’re good at this. Small as a bean but tough as nails.”

“Th-thank you…”

I bowed and thanked her.
Wait a second… if she asked if I came to work, that means I got the job, right?
So… I can keep working here now? Right?

As I awkwardly stood there, watching her, she motioned me over again.

“If you’re done, come sit inside. No need to stay on your feet.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Thankfully, the chair behind the counter wasn’t too tall.

With a determined little “heeyah,” I climbed up by pushing off the floor and grabbing the armrest. Pretty stable landing.

Seriously, if I’d just been a little taller, that would’ve helped a lot. What a useless body…

I sighed again, full of self-pity about my physical state.

“So… your hair dyed? And what about them eyes—contacts or somethin’?”

“No, it’s, um… it’s just my natural hair and eye color.”

I wasn’t sure if I could really call it “natural,” but I hadn’t dyed my hair or anything. So technically, yes.

Feeling embarrassed under her gaze, I let out a nervous laugh and averted my eyes.
Having people stare at me like that… still makes me super shy.

But at least there was no hate or disgust in her gaze. That alone was a huge relief.

“You’ve been through a lot, haven’t ya.”

“I mean, not really… haha…”

“You’ve been through a lot.”

“I-it’s really not that… I’m okay, really…”

The moment she reached out to pat my head, tears welled up.

To be honest, I’d never thought of my life as being especially difficult.
Being an orphan, living a different kind of life—I never labeled those things as “hardships.”

People’s fates are decided the moment they’re born.
And struggling within that fate—that’s what we call “destiny.”

“I was okay… I really was okay…”

But even within that fate, I’d found something I wanted to do. Something I wanted to achieve.
I had a goal, and I ran toward it. And I kept running.

I’d come so far that I couldn’t even see the starting line behind me anymore—and the destination ahead had become hazy.

But now, I couldn’t see anything at all.

It was like I’d gone blind. My eyes were open, but everything had vanished.

Everything I’d done up to now meant nothing.
The fun I’d had, the passion I’d felt—they were now just painful memories.

“Tsk, such a tiny little thing…”

“S-sorry… I’m sorry…”

“What are you sorry for? Kids cry. It happens.”

She pulled some tissues from the counter and gently wiped the tears from my cheeks.
Then gave a few soft pats on my head.

She really was treating me like a child, and my face got hot from the embarrassment—but honestly, after crying like that, I couldn’t exactly argue.

…Well, from her perspective, whether I was a young man or a tiny girl, I probably looked like a kid either way. So I guess it didn’t matter much.

“What kinda parents let their kid end up this beat up, huh. Tsk tsk…”

“….”

I couldn’t bring myself to say I had no parents.

She already looked so concerned—if I added that on top of it…

I just couldn’t bear to see that kind of pity in her eyes.

It’s not like I ever tried to hide being an orphan, but…
When people pity me for it, I get this weird, uncomfortable feeling in my chest.

And besides, hearing it can’t be easy for the other person either.

Sometimes it’s better not to know.