Chapter 2: Lift-Chan and Slug-Kun

Tuesday. On my way to get the car for work. Again.

Once more, it’s raining.

Of course, I don’t have an umbrella. Why would I? What’s the point? Whatever.

As I approach the parking lot, a memory drifts into my mind.

The girl from the elevator. I still don’t know her name. But I remember her style, how could I forget? She was breathtaking. Not someone who would ever notice me, obviously.

But she did smile at me before she left.

Nonsense. Either I imagined it, or she was just the kind of person who was nice to everyone.

Yes, that was probably it. A girl like her was likely popular, used to smiling at strangers without a second thought, seeing them as nothing more than ants. Or worse—slugs.

If she was Lift-Chan, then I was definitely Slug-Kun.

Would I see her again? It was around the same time as yesterday...

Whatever. I sighed to myself. It didn’t matter.

My mind shifted to the long list of tasks waiting for me at work. The pressure weighed on me, as always, but I was used to it. I hadn’t eaten dinner the night before, nor had I bothered with breakfast that morning (as usual). My stomach felt hollow, making my mood even worse.

I pressed the elevator button. As always, it was painfully slow.

I waited.

And waited.

And waited...

At last, the doors creaked open. People stepped out, as they always did. It was the ground floor, after all.

Then, I stepped in.

And there she was.

Lift-Chan. The name I had given her in my thoughts.

I looked at her, just for a second, then quickly lowered my gaze. I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. After all, to her, I was just Slug-Kun.

She was dressed in the same black leather jacket, but today she wore an even shorter blue leather skirt. Her hair, no longer tied in a ponytail, cascaded freely over her shoulders, golden and chestnut strands blending together like sunlight filtering through autumn leaves.

I pressed the button for level -3.

Oh? I noticed. Unlike yesterday, the button for level 1 wasn’t lit. Instead, level -2 was.

Without thinking, I spoke. “Not going up today?” I asked, still not looking at her.

“No, no,” she replied. “Going down today.”

“Ah. Okay.” I stole a quick glance at her and, for some reason, smiled.

Wait. Did I just smile? Why?

Panic set in. Did I make a weird face? I was terrible at smiling. I never showed my teeth, I was too self-conscious for that. She must have thought I was some kind of creep. Damn it.

The elevator descended.

And descended.

And descended… (so slow.)

At last, we reached level -2.

“Have a good one,” she said, turning as she stepped out. And once again, she smiled at me before the doors closed.

“Bye,” I replied.

Idiot, I thought. Tell her to have a good day or something. “See you” would have been an acceptable response too. Stupid.

Now I was going to spend all day thinking about Lift-Chan.

Her graceful silhouette, the effortless way she moved, the color of her hair. Her mini skirt and leather jacket. The faint floral scent that lingered after her.

Wait. Her scent?

No. Don’t be weird.

Remember, you’re just Slug-Kun.

Whatever.

Level -3.

I got in my car.

Time for work.