13 The Manager Ponders his new Circumstances

It was a totally normal walk to work as Juuto was making his way to the store. However, after everything that happened yesterday. It felt far from normal for him. Because now he was walking to a place where he'd spend the majority of his time with a demon lord of all people.

Sure, he told her how of he viewed her, but was that really how he saw her? For the most part, yes. However, it wasn't as if he could just pretend that she was just some regular normal young girl. Especially when the truth was that she had enough power to completely destroy someone like him. No, more than just that. She had the ability to level the town he called home.

"Hello." The moment he stepped through the automated doors, even quicker than the ring. The manager was greeted by none other than his reliable employee. There Rame was, standing right behind the register as he told her to do. The smile on her face was just as normal, as if nothing wild had happened in months.

"Hello." He put on a brave face and tried to act as normal as he could. There was no way he would just freak out on her, but this was a new feeling he wasn't used to at all. For all the years he had spent at this job, which was four. Things had rarely changed.

Sure, people moved in, and some moved out. There were a few elderly that passed away due to their old age. Heck, he even got robbed once. But there was a status quo Juuto had stuck with all these years that he hoped to maintain even after becoming manager. Yet there she was, threatening to end all of that simply due to her existence.

"Good job keeping an eye on the register." He said once he got himself clocked in. "Anyone come in before I got here?"

"No, it's been pretty clear. But I think today we should be expecting Sunae and her son. Oh, and Morin's got a package to pick up too." She looked under their counter, producing a covered up box to show what she was referencing.

That was impressive to him that she already had their schedules down. As people on the night shift, it wasn't common for them to get people that randomly stop by like they might during the day. Instead, it was usually the people that lived around this neighborhood picking up what they usually need for dinner, or a fun night, or after getting off of work. So that meant they had gotten used to seeing certain individuals come and go.

"Good then, looks like you've gotten everything in order." He praised her, which caused the girl to giggle with glee.

"That's great." She said. "I hope I'll get employee of the month then."

"Probably won't." He broke the news to her. "They usually give that stuff to people working the day shift, since they work with more customers." If it was up to him, then he'd definitely give it to her, but that was because of how much time they spent together. So it was clearly biased.

"Aww…" She hung her head down in disappointment.

As fine as Juuto was with this conversation, he just couldn't shake that funny feeling. Here he was, talking with someone that's caused so much terror in another world. Yet here she was, getting sad about some silly little award. How was she acting so casual like this? It was as if she had never been a demon a moment in her life.

"I'll go check the back to see what needs to be stocked." He said, since there was little need for him to keep an eye on her work nowadays. "You got the register?" She nodded, and he left to go to the storage room. Judging from what he saw in the storeroom, it was the magazines that were nearly out of stock and should be handled first. Not a surprise, since there was a new release and people were pretty excited about it. Even he was, as he picked one out from the stock he was carrying. Good thing this job let him take one of these for free.

As he went out through the door to return, he heard the ring of the door that he had grown so accustomed to. Right on time, it was Sunae with her son in tow again. Instead of coming out to greet them as he normally would, Juuto decided to stay back and see how this conversation unfolded. Whenever Rame saw that woman, she was always with him. So how does she act when she doesn't realize he's there?

"Good evening." Rame put on her smile and welcomed them in. "Picking up the usual?"

"That's right." Sunae answered. It was a little funny to think that they had saw each other yesterday. But thanks to the spell that the devil put, the woman was none-the-wiser about what occurred. To her, it was just simply a nice calm lunch with her friends. "I'm guessing that Juuto's out back right now."

"Yep, he's checking our stock."

"His shift's barely started, and he's already on top of things. That sounds just like him." She laughed.

"Did you get your costumes for the festival?" Little Suzuta asked her. He was hardly tall enough to see over the counter to talk with the girl.

"You bet we did." She bragged about it, even though it was just a hot dog that she was going to be dressed as.

"Aw, I thought you were going to be a monster."

"Hehe, well I can be…" She put up her hands, chomping with them to pretend she was a ravenous beast. "...Roar!" She reached over the counter to give the boy a tickle, which even Juuto had to laugh at.

Too bad that doing so gave away his position as the other three turned their heads to look at him.

"Oh, um." Darn, he got caught peeking. "Just had some magazines to put up." He walked over to their aisle for that, using one of the books to hide his blush. That was quite an embarrassing blunder on his behalf.

"He's a real sweet boy." Sunae continued their conversation as she brought up the items she was purchasing. "I'm surprised he's been single the entire time I've known him, but he is really shy."

"Shy?" Rame responded with a confused look on her face. "He's pretty talkative whenever we're alone." That prompted the older lady to chuckle.

"You must be pretty naive yourself. But please, don't just ignore his feelings." With that, she called her son over so that they could make their way back home. "He's really kind, and I'd hate to see him get hurt." With that, the two of them left the store. Leaving our two heroes on their own once more.

"Speaking of festivals." Juuto spoke up as he placed the last of the magazines. "Is your friend coming?

"Mifufu never wants to have fun." Rame answered, using it as a moment to vent a little. "She's been telling me not to go because it's too dangerous." Of course, that was a reasonable thing to consider. With that man still loose, they had no idea when he would strike them again. If anything, them going to a public event might give him the ammo to do what he did last time.

"She's not wrong." He beckoned her to allow him the register while she went to the hot dog stand for her usual break. "Maybe we shouldn't go either."

"What? But what about your friends?" Sure, everyone had been pushing him to go with her for fun. But things were going to be different this year. For quite a fair bit of reasons.

"Exactly, everyone I care about is going to be there. I don't want to endanger them." Though as he thought about it, there were going to be a lot of people he knew there. Even if it was dangerous, they should still go anyway? People would have a lot of questions if they didn't go. Not to mention that the person knew who he was. What if he decided to go after them instead? At least he'd be able to protect them if he was there. "But, if you want. We can still go."

"…" Rame contemplated what she was about to offer him. After all, they both knew the truth. It wasn't him or anyone that he knew that the man was after. It was her, and because of the reason that she was the demon lord. "Then you should go without me."

"What? But you've been pretty excited to go since I told you about it." That was the case all right. In fact, she wouldn't even shut up about it whenever they were working. Juuto had gotten tired of it, and it had only been a night's work of it. Not to mention how much fun she had on her face when they were shopping for costumes. That girl was really looking forward to being a hot dog next to his soda drink.

"We both know that I'm going to bring trouble wherever I go." She told him. "If I go, then everyone there could be in serious trouble. So it's no big deal." She said to him, trying to put on her best smile. But as the master of fake smiles, he knew just how painful this was to her. "It's okay, I don't care about you human's silly festivals anyway…"

"Rame…" That was all he could say to her. Then she stopped him from continuing this conversation.

"If you don't mind, could I eat this outside?" She asked him. "I need a bit of fresh air."

"Go ahead." He wasn't about to stop her. That was the end of this conversation, as she walked out of the store. Now Juuto was left alone to run the place for a little bit. Even if what they both said was true. It didn't make the idea of going alone to the festival sadder.

But why was he so upset about it? He could see why she was feeling the way she was, but why him? Every year, for as long as he actually went. The man always came by himself. No date, no friends. Just going there to see the sights, maybe play a few games. Even run into a few of the customers there enjoying themselves. This would be just like every other year, but that wasn't what he wanted now.

As Rame walked out the doors, another person came in. It was Morin heading inside to pick up her normal package.

"Ah, good evening." He greeted her, pulling out the bag filled with the things she needed.

"It's nice to see you again." She replied. "I hope you're excited for the festival. I hear that this year you're bringing a date." The old lady teased him a bit, but he wasn't really in the mood. Not this time.

"Rame's not my date. And… She's not going to be going with me either."

"Oh my, did something happen? Did you get into a fight?"

"Nothing between us." He clarify. "Just that something's come up, that's all." He couldn't tell her exactly why, because there was no way that would ever be told to anyone. They simply wouldn't believe it, but that also meant they'd pester him on this fact if he didn't give an excuse.

"Oh? And what would that be?"

"It's complicated. Don't worry about it, you'll still see me there. She just can't make it."

"That sounds like a convenient excuse." That was easy for her to say. Given that there was potential for danger on everyone's lives if that girl went. "Or are the two of you so worried about your relationship?"

"It's not that." He was getting tired of hearing that so much lately. "She's got something important happening right now. And it's not really something I should get involved in."

"I suppose it's fair if it's her personal business." The old lady relented. "But, she should try and enjoy her youth. Is there anything wrong with holding something off just for one day? I tell you all the time that you're young. Try and enjoy that."

"Is it because you miss your youth?"

"It's because I appreciated the time I had then, but I also enjoy old age as well. You're a bright young man, I'm sure you'll get what I mean." She smiled from her answer. "Have a good night." With that, she picked up her package and left.

All by himself, Juuto only had his thoughts to keep him occupied. That woman was right. Rame shouldn't have to live her life in fear about the things that happen because of her status. And she shouldn't have to get worried over his sake either.

Even though he didn't want to have to change his life so drastically. Especially when it had to do with otherworldly affairs. The man steeled his resolve to get through this.

He was going to fully accept his new circumstances. Which happened just in time, as Rame returned from her break.