New Life, New Mistakes

It didn't take long until the store's atmosphere flickered to life. Fluorescent light illuminated the cramped but somewhat comforting front room as shelves upon shelves of electronics, batteries, cables, and other accessories were brought to life around Miyami. A few older display phones sat on their stands, and the checkout counter was near the door, a large cash register and a computer on it.

Hinoka had given Miyami a quick, blunt, and simple tour of the building. It had a small bathroom and storage closet near the back, the shop room itself, and an office and break room on the second floor. It wasn't much, but it was clean, organized, and cozy.

However, despite the comfortable temperature of the store and its quaint appearance, it wasn't helping Miyami's anxiety right now.

*inhale*

Hinoka was standing next to her, watching her closely—very closely. After the fiasco at the entrance and her blood sacrifice to the linoleum gods, Miyami was trying to redeem herself by learning how to do a simple checkout.

That was easier said than done, however.

The technicalities of it were simple for her—near braindead really. All she needed to do was push the appropriate buttons for the item, put it in a bag, collect payment, then hand over some things. Simple and straightforward, right?

*exhale*

Wrong.

There was one tiny problem. One that made her palms sweaty and her throat dry. One that made the fluorescent light feel cold and harsh, highlighting the stark reality that stood between her and success.

"…Hey, weird lady. You heard me? After you finish the transaction, just give a polite bow and say, 'Thank you for your business.'"

Hinoka was crossing her arms and tapping her foot impatiently. Miyami swallowed hard, her eyes darting to the computer and then back to Hinoka upon processing the impossible expectation.

She began reaching for her phone again to convey her complaint, only to be stopped by Hinoka's sharp gaze. Her hand froze in midair as a drop of sweat trickled down her temple.

The message was clear: no more phones.

"I'm serious," Hinoka huffed, her eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. "Don't you dare start typing again, I swear. It's just a few words. Say them out loud, or I'm gonna make you do a lap around the store or something."

She clutched her hands close to her chest and desperately shook her head. No! Not exercise! Anything but exercise!

However, no matter just how hard she tried to force out the words to avoid that inhumane punishment, they wouldn't come. They lodged in her throat like a stone, and the world seemed to close in on her.

"Come on. 'Thank you for your business.' If you can't say something as simple as that, how in the hell are you going to be manning the front?"

Blink.

What did she just say?

She immediately began trembling again despite her ongoing attempt to stay calm, and Hinoka's eyes suddenly widened at the sight of the tears pooling in her own.

"Ahh—I'm sorry. That's not what I—" Hinoka started, looking like she'd just punted a kitten into the sea.

However, before the girl could apologize, Miyami did something she never thought she would.

"T-THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS!"

The words exploded from her mouth like a volcano of sound.

And then… a sea of silence.

*Thump-thump, thump-thump*

Hinoka's mouth was agape.

She was staring at her.

Nooooooo!!! She hadn't said anything about her voice earlier, but she'd definitely freak out now!

The comments. The criticism. The disgust. It was coming. She could feel it.

"…You sound like penguin."

"…"

"E-excuse me?" Miyami blurted out again, her voice wavering a bit from disbelief.

"You. Your voice," Hinoka continued, her face contorted in a strange, difficult-to-read expression—also was that some pink in her cheeks? "It's really… squawk-like and kind of high pitched. But it's got a nice tone. Like a bird's or a penguin's or something."

Miyami's heart thudded loudly in her ears, her own cheeks flushed crimson.

S-Squawky…?

This was the first time anyone had ever commented on her voice in such a manner. It was usually a mix of disgust or confusion. Never anything positive, nor ever a… penguin comparison?

…Actually, was that supposed to be positive?

Hinoka scratched the back of her head and looked away. "Erm, damn it. I don't think that came out right. Just… that was fine. Dial down the volume a bit and maybe try and lower the pitch some. But that was good."

"O-oh… thank you," she squeaked again, her cheeks reddening more. She wasn't sure what to think of the comment, but the follow-up compliment made her heart soar in an instant.

But lower her pitch? How would she even do that without immediately giving away her condition—

*ring-a-ling*

A sudden noise from the door startled her from her thoughts, and Miyami turned her attention to see an elderly man entering the store, a warm smile on his wrinkled face as he hobbled in with a cane.

"Oh, perfect. You can put those lessons to work, weird lady," Hinoka muttered to her. "I'm um, going to go to the storage room and get some more boxes. Don't make anyone angry while I'm gone."

She wordlessly reached out to her strangely adorable coworker, her mouth opening to say something, but no sound came out. Her fingers just barely grazed Hinoka's shoulder as she left, leaving Miyami to stand there and stare at the customer meandering through the store all by herself.

A sudden urge to just run into the bathroom and lock herself inside came to Miyami, but she took a deep breath, trying to steel her nerves as she fidgeted with her sleeve.

No, she had already told herself. New life. New Miyami.

It'd be fine.

Miyami's chest swelled as she took a deep breath and exhaled, nearly sending a nearby paper receipt flying away from the counter.

She could absolutely do this, and she WOULD do this. For Hinoka, her uncle, and for herself.

Just keep quiet and smile.

***

She could not do this. It was not fine. Everything was terrible.

Miyami's lips quivered as she cursed her foolish arrogance.

The old man was taking forever to pick out a phone case, and Hinoka had been gone for a while, slowing building up the dread in Miyami's heart. She heard a landline ring somewhere in the building a few minutes ago and the sound of someone talking from the office upstairs.

She was definitely on her own now.

"Excuse me, miss?" the elderly man asked, causing Miyami's heart to nearly leap out of her chest. "Can you help me find a phone case for my granddaughter's phone?"

She clenched her jaw, feeling her pulse race as the man approached the counter.

Her first customer was talking to her.

"Miss?"

Her hands began to tremble, and she could feel her face growing warm from embarrassment. Her mouth tried opening to say something, anything, to acknowledge his presence—but no sound came out.

He was smiling warmly at her though.

"I'm looking for a phone case for her. I'd be much obliged if you'd help me. Do you have anything from this game called 'Fiery Emblem: Idols'? She's quite fond of that series." His wrinkled hand pulled out his own phone to show her a photo of a young girl with a big smile. "Her birthday is coming up next month, and I want to get her something special."

His eyes were filled with kindness, and Miyami's anxiety melted a little. It was hard to be scared when faced with such genuine affection—

Wait, did he just say, 'Fiery Emblem: Idols'?

An inferno suddenly began roaring in her chest as a switch flicked in her head.

"Of course, sir. Let me try and find something for you."

Her body went into autopilot as she began breathing even heavier. She knew that game. She LOVED that game. Sure, it was just a gacha spinoff of the main series, but it had amazing music and characters!

She shuffled across the floor, sending out little squeaks as she searched the displays.

More than just that though, it was her love for the series that had given her courage to start on hormones and transition. There was this cute character whose story had helped her realize a lot of things about herself. Her hair, her armor, her songs, and her voice were all so wonderful…

"Here, sir," Miyami hummed, her voice suddenly deepening in pitch as she happily tapped a display case with a phone cover featuring some licensed products. "This looks to be a limited-edition phone cover of Lady Rinkah, from that series. I'm quite certain your granddaughter will adore this judging by the shirt she was wearing. The Nohrcest Kingdom's cast of idols wasn't exactly my favorite group in the series, but they did have some great songs in their missions—"

"…" The old man blinked, his face going blank.

"Ah—!" Miyami's mouth instantly clamped shut as she realized her mistake, and her entire being quickly retreated behind the counter in shame. Her ears and cheeks were a bright red, and tears welled up in her eyes once more.

She had spoken. Again. And not only that, she'd gone on a ramble about a gacha game.

To an old man.

An old man that was now giving her a very strange look.

"H-here's your cover, s-sir!" she managed to stammer, her voice cracking slightly as she handed him the product in an octave higher than usual. "W-Will there be anything else?"

"No, no, that will be all," he replied, still seemingly baffled at what had just happened.

She swallowed and nodded, taking the phone cover from him and fumbling to scan it.

Crap. He was looking at her. She could feel his eyes boring into her skull. Oh, no. She was definitely getting fired. And then she'd have to live on the streets like a stray cat.

Or worse.

She'd have to cancel her Monthly Pass!

She sniffled, trying to hold back the tears as the transaction was completed. She handed him the phone cover and the receipt, taking the money from him and placing it in the register, all while avoiding eye contact at all costs.

"T-Thank you for your business," she murmured quietly, bowing slightly at the end of it.

There, that was the end of it. She finally did it! Now, she could just hide under the counter and hope nobody else—

"Young lady?"

Her heart sank as she glanced over to him by the door. Did he still need something?!

"Your voice," the old man continued, his kind face smiling at her.

"You really like to talk a lot, don't you?"

"…"

*ring-a-ling*

The door opened and closed as he walked away, the sound of his cane fading into the distance.

"…"

Miyami stood there, frozen in place. Her throat was shocked tight, and a few tears started rolling down her face.

"Hey, I got the boxes, and I'm done with the call. Weird lady, did you manage to handle the custo—"

Hinoka paused, standing in front of her with a concerned expression on her face.

"Uhhh, are you okay?" Hinoka asked, setting the boxes down and approaching cautiously. Her eyes scanned Miyami's teary face and quivering lips. "Did something happen?"

"…"

"Look, if the customer said anything to—"

Without thinking twice, Miyami leapt forward and wrapped her arms around Hinoka in a hug. She buried her face in the bewildered girl's shoulder, muffling her sobs as she squeezed tightly.

"The old man called me a blabbermouth!"