Customer Service Training

In the afternoon, I decided to conduct customer service training for the shop.

It would be nonsense if the people working there didn’t understand the basic system of the store, so I decided to drill that into them thoroughly.

“When customers enter, they take a tray and tongs placed at the entrance, select the bread on display and put it on the tray, and finally settle the bill at the register. We did this yesterday, so you’re okay with it, right?”

“I’m okay.”

“I’m okay, too.”

“Probably… okay.”

“I’m okay, Master.”

There was one person who gave a less-than-confident reply, but since Marie-san will mainly be working in the back, I don’t think she’ll be serving customers very often. I decided to teach her again when I have more time.

“Next is the case for products other than the bread on the shelves. Customers can bring these directly to the register, but if they’re buying a lot of items, have them put them in the shopping baskets placed on the side and bring those to the register. Please collect the baskets and place them behind the register; once a certain amount have accumulated, return them to their original location. For packaging, basically use the same plastic or paper bags as for the bread. It’s expected that they might bring them along with bread, so in that case, please package them separately.”

“Now, regarding the product display…”

I gave one explanation after another, and once everyone understood, I moved on to the next stage of instructions.

“Next, we’ll move on to the explanation for the dining space side.”

The five of us moved to the dining area.

“Here, customers can eat the bread they’ve purchased, and we’ll also provide food and drinks upon order. For payment, we’ll give them an order sheet along with their food and drinks, and the system will be for the customer to take that to the register and pay. If it seems like there are many people leaving without paying, we’ll have to change to a pre-payment system, but for the time being, we’ll see how it goes with this.”

I explained the flow in the dining space. Originally, I used part of what was a spacious public cafeteria to make the dining space, so there aren’t many seats. It’s just five tables that seat four people each. I figured it would be difficult for people to dine and dash with everyone watching. As another countermeasure, security cameras are installed in the store. Since it’s just “just in case” equipment, I hoped there would be no need for them to be used.

“Well then, the explanation is over, so shall we take a break?”

Just as I said that, as if timed perfectly, customers arrived.

“Big brother, I’m here!”

“I’ve come to eat this thing called ‘ice cream’!”

Rachel and Josette entered the shop together on friendly terms.

“Big brother, ice cream! Ice cream!”

“I have been looking forward to this so much since yesterday that I could hardly sleep last night.”

The two of them seemed to be really looking forward to it.

“I guess I have no choice. I was just thinking of taking a break, so I’ll prepare some for everyone too.”

With that, I went into the kitchen.

“I’ll help too.”

Caro followed me into the kitchen as well.

“Well then, Caro-san, could you get enough plates for everyone from that shelf over there?”

“Yes, these, right? Since it’s for everyone, that’s seven plates.”

Caro lined up the seven small plates she had retrieved on the counter. I took a box of ice cream out of the freezer and, using an ice cream disher—a tool like a ladle used for taking out ice cream—I dished it out onto each plate. Then, I added metal spoons to complete it. This time, I went with a slightly pink-colored strawberry ice cream.

“The color is different from the ice cream before,”

Caro said, looking at the finished ice cream.

“Last time was vanilla, but this time I tried strawberry.”

“It has a different taste again. I’m looking forward to it.”

Caro and I each put the plates on trays and returned to the dining space.

“Wow, strawberry ice cream!”

Rachel said happily, her eyes sparkling.

“Is this the thing called ‘ice cream’?”

Josette looked at the ice cream served on the small plate with curiosity. Marie and Catherine also looked on with anticipation to see what it tasted like.

“Um, by any chance, is there a portion for me too?”

Emily asked timidly.

“Of course, there’s one for you too, Emily. Well then, once you’re seated, it’s time for a tasting.”

Divided between two tables, strawberry ice cream was placed in front of each person. Then, everyone scooped up the ice cream with their spoons and put it into their mouths.

“This is it! This is the taste! To think I’d be able to taste this in a place like this. Thank you, big brother!”

Rachel looked very happy to encounter a nostalgic flavor.

“This is wonderful. The moderate sweetness and acidity harmonize and melt in your mouth. I never knew such a food existed until now.”

Josette also seemed deeply moved.

“It’s delicious. So this is what we’ll have customers eat. I’m really looking forward to their reactions.”

Emily also seemed happy as she thought about the future.

Caro, Marie, and Catherine, who had already eaten vanilla ice cream, also seemed satisfied with the new flavor.

“I’ve decided! I’m going to work here. It’s okay, right? Big brother.”

Rachel suddenly spoke up.

“As for me, it would be a help if Rachel-chan, who’s already a ready-to-go worker, came here, but I believe you were working at another bakery, right?”

Marie asked Rachel.

“My part-time job is renewed weekly. I decide on a workplace every week.”

Rachel said. In the game, if you choose a part-time job, you automatically work there for a week and can’t choose other options during that time. Since you can choose your workplace each time, I thought that’s what she was referring to.

“As long as the other bakery isn’t troubled… I understand. Then, you’re hired. Please start from Monday.”

“Thank you, Marie-san!”

Rachel will be working here starting next week.

“By the way, I was curious—Kent-san, you were an only child, weren’t you?”

Marie asked me.

“Well, that’s supposed to be the case, but…?”

I answered.

“Rachel-chan calls you ‘big brother,’ so what does that mean? It seems Caro-chan and Josette-san aren’t bothered by it, either.”

Marie asked me.

I explained my relationship with Rachel to Marie.

“I see… siblings from a previous life. I don’t really understand it, but you certainly seem close in a way that feels more like family than romantic feelings, so I feel like I kind of get it.”

After finishing the ice cream, we continued with the customer service training. Rachel, who was to start working next week, joined in, and for some reason, Josette joined in as well, and we performed preparations for the full-scale opening.

“Good work today, everyone. Tomorrow, I’ll give a lecture on how to cook the food and drinks we’ll serve at the shop. Of course, after we make them, we’ll have a tasting so you can guide the customers.”

After finishing today’s training, I spoke about tomorrow’s schedule.

“Then, I shall impose upon you again tomorrow. Good day to you all.”

With that, Josette boarded the carriage waiting in front of the shop and returned to her mansion.

“Well then, let’s head home too. See you tomorrow, Emily-san.”

Caro greeted Emily.

“Good work. Well then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Emily watched us go, looking a little lonely.

“Big brother, can I stay over today?”

Rachel asked me.

“I don’t mind, but what about the overnight permit for the dorm?”

Rachel lives in the school dorm. To stay overnight, prior permission is required.

“Actually, since I was planning to stay, I’ve already gotten the permit.”

She was a sister who didn’t miss a beat.

Returning to my house, the five of us had dinner together. Today was a Japanese-style meal consisting of rice, miso soup, and side dishes.

“Rice after such a long time is the best!”

Only Rachel, having not eaten rice in a while, was strangely high-spirited. After the meal, it was bath time.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a bath, too.”

Rachel said.

“Isn’t there a bath in the dorm?”

I asked Rachel, feeling doubtful.

“There isn’t. People of the commoner class don’t take baths. We just put hot water in a bucket, wet a cloth, and wipe our bodies. And it’s not every day, but once every few days, so our bodies start to smell. Since we’ll be in summer uniforms starting next week, I’m definitely worried about the smell.”

Rachel answered. Since my house had a bath from the start, I thought even commoners took baths, but it seems that wasn’t the case.

“Um, Marie-san, how have you been handling baths until now?”

I asked Marie.

“There isn’t a bath in my house either. Just as Rachel-chan says, it’s just wiping our bodies. I occasionally go to the public bathhouse with Catherine, so it’s a similar feeling. Your parents built the bath as a hobby, so we used to borrow it, but after you were left alone, Kent-san, we couldn’t do that anymore. I’m very grateful to be allowed to use such a wonderful bath now.”

Marie answered.

“So that bath was something built as a hobby. Since it was in the house from the beginning, I thought every house had one.”

I learned about my parents’ obsession with baths.

“By the way, what was it like at your house, Caro-san?”

I was curious how the noble class handled it, so I asked Caro.

“My house? We had one normally, you know? It was much larger than this one, and personal maids would wash my body for me.”

As expected of someone who had been in a different world, she had been living a good life.

“But equipment-wise, this place is better. There are body soaps, shampoos, and conditioners that let you really feel your body getting clean, and there’s a shower too.”

Caro seemed satisfied with the current bath environment.

“Well then, I’ll go prepare the bath.”

With that, Caro went to the bathroom.

“Akane, what are you doing for a change of clothes?”

I asked Rachel.

“I brought some with me, for now.”

“I see, that’s good then. Now then, where should everyone sleep?”

The places where people could sleep were one single bed in my room and one in Caro’s room. And there was one sofa bed in the living room. It was decided that Marie and I would sleep in my room today, and Caro and Catherine would sleep in Caro’s room. By process of elimination, Rachel would sleep on the sofa bed in the living room.

“The place you can sleep will be the sofa bed here, is that okay?”

“I don’t mind. I’m the one who pushed my way in, after all.”

Rachel said.

A little time passed, and it seemed the bath was ready. Marie and Catherine went in first.

“Big brother, there’s one thing I want to ask?”

Rachel spoke up after confirming that Marie and Catherine had entered the bath.

“What is it?”

“What is the relationship between you and Marie-san? You seem to be living together here normally?”

I was careless. We had all returned home together as usual. I regretted that we should have spent the day separately.

“Um…”

I was at a loss for an answer.

“Marie-san and Catherine-chan are like family. Since we’ve taken out a large loan from Josette-sama to renovate the store, living together also saves money.”

“Hmm—there’s something about it that doesn’t quite sit right, but I’ll leave it at that.”

I managed to get through the predicament with Caro’s help. However, I would end up having to talk about it honestly the next morning.

“Akane, you know how to use the bath without me explaining, right?”

“Well, yeah. Then, I’m going in.”

Rachel went into the bath as Marie and Catherine came out.

Perhaps because it had been a while since her last bath, she was in there for quite a long time.

“The bath after such a long time felt good! There was body soap and such, too, and I feel like I’ve become clean.”

Rachel emerged from the bath looking satisfied.

“Well then, shall we go, Kent-san?”

“Yeah.”

When the two of us tried to go to the bath, Rachel stopped us.

“Could it be you two go in together? I know you’re dating, but I didn’t realize your relationship had progressed that far. You’re doing pretty well for yourself, big brother.”

Rachel said while giving me a light elbow nudge. While being cheered on by my sister, Caro and I headed to the bathroom.

“Well then, allow me to wash your back.”

With that, as usual, Caro applied body soap to her own body and rubbed it against my back. I also pulled Caro close and began washing her in various places.

Then, after washing each other, we soaked in the tub and left the bathroom.

After that, we relaxed for a bit in the living room before going to our respective beds to sleep.