Chapter 1

I'll go to the Academy convenience store for some healing.

Text: Coffee is Kanu

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000. Who am I? "29-year-old convenience store owner"

A plain convenience store in the heart of Seoul. It has an area of 25 pyeong and is a typical franchise that can be found anywhere.

“Yeongjin.”

“Yes, boss.”

“Boss? I told you to call me hyung.”

“...Ha ha. Yes, hyung. What’s up?”

I’ve been working part-time there for three years. Seething with youthful passion, I ran over at the boss’s call.

“It’s not shift change time, what’s up?”

“Just for a moment, lock the door and come to the office inside.”

Following the order, I went to the office, and hyung looked up at me from his chair.

“I’ve locked the door, hyung.”

“Good. It’s awkward to talk with customers around... Anyway, how old are you, Yeongjin?”

“...I’m 29.”

“Kid, I can see you’re gritting your teeth, saying you’re not 30.”

“Why? I’m 29. It’s a troublesome age, so are you trying to make me feel worse?”

“Alright, I get it. Anyway, Yeongjin, are you going to complete three years next month?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve been here for a long time, huh.”

“Thanks to you, hyung.”

I’m what people commonly call an orphan.

After graduating from high school, I came to Seoul with five million won and found a studio apartment with a 200,000 won deposit and 300,000 won monthly rent. I took any job I could get.

I can confidently say I’ve done every job there is.

And at the age of 26, I herniated a disc, and after much wandering, I finally settled down at a convenience store.

The convenience store is my heart’s hometown, my oasis.

There’s no tyrannical team leader to make you work, no back-breaking loading and unloading, and no creepy customers trying to get you to drink with them.

Just wake up in the morning, clean, stock shelves, serve customers, and go home when your shift is over.

Isn’t this the epitome of a peaceful and contented life?

I worked hard, and the boss, who is only a few years older than me, felt like a neighborhood hyung, making me feel really comfortable.

“...Hmm.”

“What’s up?”

“Nothing.”

Hyung stared at me and then, as if making a difficult decision, spoke quietly.

“Yeongjin, do you have any dreams?”

“Dreams? The new spicy cod roe triangle snack that’s being scrapped today.”

“...No, not that. Ha.”

Hyung scratched his head. Why is he like this? Did he not wash his hair?

“You’ve never caused any problems in three years, you’re good with customers, you handle difficult situations well, you’ve never made mistakes with the POS system, you clean well, you stock shelves neatly, and you prepare orders from delivery apps immediately...”

“Ha, I’m the ace of our neighborhood convenience store. There’s no one like me.”

“You’ve never been late for work after drinking... Are you still playing that game?”

“D/Z SAGA? Yes, I’m still playing it like crazy. I’m trying to find a new route this time.”

“...So, you’re going to stick with that trashy game for life.”

“Hey, no bad words.”

“...”

Why are you looking at me like that?

That game isn’t that bad.

It is a bad game, but... Anyway, if someone has spent 10,000 hours on a game, shouldn’t that be recognized?

“Anyway, that’s why hyung is a bit worried.”

“About what?”

“Hyung is going to Australia this time.”

“...? You go there often.”

“No, it’s not that.”

I tilted my head. Australia? Why? Another trip to Melbourne for skiing?

If it’s just a trip, I can cover for you.

...No.

The atmosphere is strange.

Thinking about it, he wouldn’t have called me in like this for no reason.

“Um, you’re going...”

“Immigrating. Completely.”

“Oh, I see.”

I nodded. I’m fired. It’s an inevitable situation.

Part-time work changes with the boss’s circumstances... I’ve been here for three years, which is a long time.

“Hyung is trying to wrap things up before leaving... You’re the one who’s on my mind.”

“Why? I can take care of myself. I can keep playing that trashy game for a couple of months and then find another part-time job.”

“...No, that’s not it, Yeongjin.”

“Yes, hyung.”

“Do you want to take over this convenience store?”

“...What?”

I really didn’t expect that.

What is this, some kind of hidden camera show?

“There are customers who come here just to see your face, and the convenience store’s revenue is enough for you to live on, right?”

“...I know. Even if it’s not a gold mine, you can still make a profit with two part-time workers.”

“Right. That’s why I’m suggesting you take it over. Hyung will sell it to you at the lowest price possible.”

“...Why suddenly? Are you running away instead of immigrating?”

“F*ck off, brat.”

“Sorry, boss.”

We looked at each other and smiled slightly.

“...Hyung isn’t that poor. I won’t be back for at least twenty years when I go to Australia. So, while I’m sorting things out, you stood out the most.”

“Why do you single me out?”

“So you won’t take it?”

“Go ahead and step on me.”

“Brat, you’re always so stubborn. Anyway, hyung will do my best to set a fair price, so give it a try.”

“...Me, as the boss?”

“Why not? Are you scared? Are you not the legendary Seongbuk-dong convenience store master, Yeongjin?”

“...Ha, what do you see in me? Alright, I’ll do it. What. If you get bored with skiing in Melbourne, just order delivery. I’ll send it right away.”

“...Ha, brat.”

Hyung laughed, covering his face, and I joined in.

At first, it will be a debt, but the price hyung mentioned was ironically almost the same as the money I’ve saved so far.

It was an overwhelmingly low price, and it was probably out of consideration for me.

“...Ha. Yeongjin, from a convenience store worker to a boss.”

“There are no managers in convenience stores these days.”

“Ha, anyway. ...Ha ha.”

“Huh?”

“No, it’s nothing. Yeongjin, the burning passion in his heart, the tears that would flow...”

“...”

“I’ll be right back.”

“Go ahead.”

I wrote a preliminary contract and went outside with a heart full of excitement. I stretched my back, which I can’t bear without painkillers, and looked up at the sky.

I walked down the street, dancing to hip-hop to hide my flowing tears.

And then,

Squeal!

Bang!

“Gah!?”

My vision blurred. My body flew up, and indescribable pain and a floating sensation took over me.

Thud!

My body, falling headfirst, bounced once more and thumped to the ground.

As my vision blurred, I desperately tried to identify what had hit me.

And then.

“F*ck.”

Burning youth, 29-year-old Yeongjin

Met his ninth year and was run over by our convenience store’s delivery truck, dying.