What if Honma Himawari Had Quit the Audition That Day? - Late-Night Convenience Store and a Comedian Partner Who's Not Funny

"Welcome! Today's recommendation is our piping hot pork buns!" 　1 AM. Daily Port, a convenience store just three minutes on foot from Minase Station. Standing at the register, Honma Himawari cheerfully projected her voice toward the completely empty store. Her large, round brown eyes sparkled, and when she smiled, a dimple appeared only on her right cheek. Her fluffy brown bob, resting lightly on her shoulders, swayed softly with every movement. 　Of course, there were zero customers. "Customer waiting! Pork buns are now on sale and selling fast!" 　Swaying her petite, delicate frame slightly, she continued her solo customer service performance. Every so often, she'd brush her long bangs aside with an annoyed little gesture — it was oddly puppy-like and endearing. The blue polo shirt suited her perfectly. 　This was a habit of hers. During the dead hours at the late-night convenience store, when no one came in, she'd unconsciously start these one-woman comedy skits. Not for anyone to see — just talking to herself. But it was actually pretty funny. "Ah, sir, you look exhausted! How about warming up with one of these pork buns? Care to try one?" 　On the monitor in the back room, which displayed the security camera feed, Himawari could be seen bouncing up and down as she enthusiastically pushed the pork buns. "...She's really changed, hasn't she." 　The one who murmured that quietly was the store manager, Yamaguchi Takeshi. Forty-two years old. He always wore a blue Daily Port cap, as if to hide his slightly thinning hair. His gentle, droopy eyes looked sleepy — in fact, he often showed up to work with bedhead still intact. 　Mild-mannered and a little unreliable. But he cared deeply about his employees. "When she first came here, she had such a dark expression." 　Two years ago. The day Himawari came to this store for her interview, her eyes were dead. A hollow, shell-like face, as if she'd lost something. Yamaguchi hired her without prying. He didn't need to ask. She'd probably given up on some important dream, he figured. 　Ever since, he'd been watching over her. He knew all about how she'd started these solo skits late at night. But he deliberately never mentioned it. "That girl's perked up a bit lately." 　Yamaguchi smiled through the monitor. 　Himawari's current life, honestly, wasn't easy. Late-night part-time job at 1,150 yen an hour, five days a week. Monthly income around 115,000 yen. Room 205 at "Corpo Minami," a 28-year-old building. A 1K, six-tatami-mat apartment for 38,000 yen a month. Thin walls, and the only view was the wall of the neighboring building. In the corner of her room, the cardboard box she'd prepared two years ago for the Nijisanji audition still sat there, unopened. 　But at least now, she could smile like this. 　Though she didn't know it. "...Ah, a customer has arrived! Welcome!" 　Himawari bowed politely toward the still-empty entrance. 　2:15 AM. 　Suddenly, the automatic door slid open with a clatter. "[crying] I can't take it anymooooore!!!" 　A girl with a face messy with tears and sweat burst in, screaming. Bright red short hair. A tiny little bun perched just above her left ear. She dyed it herself, so the roots were just barely starting to show black. "[surprised] Wha—wha—what!?" 　Himawari was so startled she nearly dropped the pork buns she was holding in both hands. "[crying] No good, it's seriously no good... Maybe I'm just not cut out to be a comedian..." 　She slumped over the register and began crying her eyes out. Her round black eyes were a mess of tears. But even with that crying face, there was something funny and impossible to dislike about it. Those eyes — the kind that slant into a figure-eight when she laughs. "[gentle] U-um, are you okay? Should I bring you some water?" "[crying] Pork bun... please give me a pork bun... I'm so hungry... that'll calm me down a bit..." 　Himawari hurriedly warmed up a pork bun and handed it over with a wet towel. The girl blew on it, puffing, and bit into it. "...Yeah. Good. Warms you up." 　Her tears subsided a little. "[gentle] What happened?" "[sad] I bombed." "...Huh?" "[crying] At the comedy live show 'Gera Night,' I bombed! That makes 51 times! Fifty-one times!!" 　Himawari almost burst out laughing despite herself. (*She's bombed fifty-one times and still hasn't given up... That's amazing.*) "[excited] But more importantly! You! That solo skit just now!" 　Suddenly, the girl's eyes started sparkling. Even though the tears were still there. "[surprised] Huh!? Y-you heard that!?" 　Himawari's face flushed bright red. She poked at her dimple with her finger, looking down in deep embarrassment. "[excited] I heard it loud and clear! I could hear it from outside the store! And it was super funny!!" "[embarrassed] Wha... no way..." "[serious] I'm serious. You've got talent. You've definitely got the talent to entertain people." 　Those words made Himawari's chest tighten. (*Talent... I have...? Me...?*) "[whispers] I... a long time ago... gave up on a dream too." 　Before she knew it, her mouth was moving. "[curious] ...A dream?" "[sad] Two years ago... the final audition for a VTuber agency called Nijisanji. I got so nervous, my mind went completely blank... I told myself I couldn't do it, and I ran away. I gave up before I even tried." 　Tears welled up in Himawari's eyes. "[sad] I always thought I had no talent... so I was scared to even try..." "..." "[gentle] And now, here I am, working part-time at a convenience store." 　Her brown eyes glistened as she gave a small smile. But that smile was a little sad — the kind that reminded you of the "dark expression" Yamaguchi had mentioned. "[angry] You idiot!!" 　A sudden shout. "[surprised] Huh!?" "[excited] That solo skit you did just now — anyone would find it funny! No doubt about it! I guarantee it!" 　She leaned forward and grabbed Himawari firmly by both shoulders. Her bright red hair swayed with a whoosh. "[serious] I've been on stage nearly a hundred times now. But I've only gotten laughs a handful of times. The rest were all bombs." 　Her eyes locked straight onto Himawari's. "[serious] Even so, I don't want to give up. Because the first time I did a skit at the high school culture festival and got laughs — it felt *so* good. I can't forget that feeling, so I'm still doing it." "..." "[excited] Your reactions, your quick wit with comments — it'll definitely land! I guarantee it!" 　Something stirred inside Himawari's heart. (*This is the first time. The first time anyone's ever said something like that to me.*) 　A gentle warmth spread through the center of her chest. "[whispers] ...Thank you." "[excited] That's it! Let's do a stream on YouTube right now! You and me!" "[panicked] Wha—whaaat!? No way, no way, no way! Someone like me, streaming!?" "[excited] It'll be fine! It'll definitely be fun! Here, let's exchange contact info!" 　She whipped out her phone with incredible momentum. Swept along by her energy, Himawari took out her own phone too. "[gentle] U-um, your name is..." "[excited] Oh, I didn't say my name! I'm Tsukino Akari! Nice to meet you!" 　With that, she — Tsukino Akari — beamed brightly beneath her bright red hair. Eyes that slanted into a figure-eight when she smiled. Red short hair with roots just barely turning black. Her little bun bobbed adorably. "[gentle] I'm Honma Himawari." "[excited] Himawari! What a great name! You're definitely gonna make it big!" 　*Ping*, went her phone. 　The name "Tsukino Akari" was added to her LINE contacts. 　Just then, Manager Yamaguchi shuffled out from the back room. In his hand, he held a wet towel he'd prepared at some point. "[gentle] Here, use this if you'd like." 　He offered the towel to Akari. Then, in a voice only she could hear, he murmured quietly. "[whispers] That girl's perked up a bit lately. Did you say something to her?" "...No, not yet. But!" 　Akari looked up at the manager's face. Yamaguchi's gentle, droopy eyes were gazing at Himawari's back. "[excited] I'll figure something out!" "[gentle] No, it's not about you figuring something out. Just give her a push — so she can figure it out herself." 　The manager said that quietly, then returned to the back room. 　Watching his retreating figure, Akari felt the weight of his words. (*He's been watching over her all this time. Himawari.*) 　3 AM. "[excited] Alright then, I'll message you tomorrow! Definitely! The stream!!" 　With those parting words, Akari disappeared into the night streets. Bouncing along as if she'd gotten her energy back. 　Standing at the register, Himawari stared at her phone. 　On the screen, her LINE chat with Akari. A blank screen — nothing sent yet. "[whispers] Streaming... is it really okay for me to do that?" 　Her quiet murmur was a mix of hope and anxiety. 　Through the monitor in the back room, Manager Yamaguchi watched. "[whispers] So someone's finally shown up. Someone to pull her out into the world." 　He murmured to himself. 　That expression — the first he'd seen on her since she started working here. A face that showed she'd been acknowledged by someone, that she'd gained just a little confidence. And yet, still scared, still hesitating. 　It was the face of something she'd given up on two years ago, beginning to stir once more. 　Outside the window, the stars sparkled. 　Late-night Minase City was quiet — just the distant sound of a train. 　Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Himawari looked at her phone one more time. "...Alright." 　That was the moment her small resolve was born — unknown to anyone, in a convenience store late at night.

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Episode 1

Name: What if Honma Himawari Had Quit the Audition That Day?
Author: Novelia

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