Convenience Store Manager: Ran entered at the Start

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Teitan High School.

"Ran."

"What the hell are you up to?"

Sonoko Suzuki had already noticed that something was off with Ran over the past couple of

days.

Especially this morning!

This girl was acting all suspicious, even when going to the restroom. And today, she deliberately

waited until the school bell rang before dashing out.

So...

Detective Sonoko decided to tail her.

And sure enough!

She saw it with her own eyes—Ran sneaking around inside the restroom, fiddling with something in

secret.

"S-Sonoko!"

"W-What are you doing here?"

Ran suddenly tensed up, quickly hiding both hands behind her back.

"Hand it over."

"What exactly are you hiding back there?"

Ran was already acting sketchy, but now that she was panicking, Sonoko was even more convinced

that something was up.

She was definitely hiding something!

"N-Nothing!"

At that moment…

Ran's heart was racing, and she could feel her face heating up.

The rising panic made her instinctively tighten her grip on whatever she was holding.

"Ran."

"What's going on with you?"

"Aren't we best friends?"

"If something's wrong, just tell me. You know I'd do anything to help you!"

Joking around was one thing, but their friendship was no laughing matter.

Sonoko might love gossip, but when she saw the look of fear in Ran's eyes, she was more

concerned than curious.

"Sigh…"

Ran let out a deep sigh.

After a silent battle in her mind, she finally gave in.

"Sonoko."

"I'll tell you."

"But you have to promise me—this stays between us. Not a single soul can find out."

Sonoko's face turned serious. "You have my word. I swear I won't tell anyone, or may I be cursed

with the worst fate imaginable."

She might love spreading gossip...

But Ran's reaction told her this was serious.

She didn't know what it was yet, but if she betrayed Ran's trust, she'd lose her best friend.

"Here."

As she spoke, Ran slowly revealed her right hand.

"Gasp—!"

"Ran… is that—?"

Sonoko's eyes widened in shock at what was in Ran's palm.

She checked again.

No mistake.

It was a pregnancy test.

"Yeah."

"That question I asked yesterday… it was for myself."

Good news: She wasn't pregnant.

Bad news: Sonoko caught her red-handed.

Then again…

Maybe it wasn't such bad news.

She had been carrying this stress alone for days. Having someone to talk to might not be the worst

thing.

And Sonoko, being the gossip-lover she was, would definitely be willing to sit down and listen.

"Ran."

"Who was it with…?"

Sonoko asked the million-dollar question.

She was dying to know!

Ran had always been the more reserved, well-behaved one between them.

Who would've thought…

She had secretly slept with someone.

Even though the test was negative, it was proof enough that things had gotten wild.

"Phew…" Ran let out another deep sigh. "It was… Akira."

No point hiding it anymore.

"WHAT?!"

Sonoko's voice shot up several octaves, echoing through the hallway.

Ran reacted instantly!

She lunged forward, clamping a hand over Sonoko's mouth.

Locking eyes with her, Ran waited until Sonoko nodded, promising to stay quiet, before cautiously

removing her hand.

"WHAT?!" Sonoko hissed in a lower voice. "You're telling me it was Akira?"

"The manager of the CLOVER convenience store?!"

Sonoko was stunned.

Just last night, she had been fantasizing about having a romantic relationship with Akira.

And now…

Ran had already beaten her to it.

"Yeah…"

Ran's confirmation shattered the last bit of hope Sonoko had.

"YOU IDIOT, RAN!"

"You're so gorgeous, why did you have to compete with me?!"

Sonoko couldn't hold back her frustration and grabbed Ran by the shoulders, shaking her.

Her perfect love story…

It was over before it even began.

"Cut it out."

Did Sonoko really think she wanted this?

Akira had tricked her into it!

"So…"

"Did you want to keep the baby or not?"

Sonoko still couldn't wrap her head around it, staring at the pregnancy test in Ran's hand.

She never would've imagined…

If it weren't for her detective instincts, she would've never uncovered Ran's secret.

"Of course not!"

"Sonoko!"

"You promised to keep this a secret. No one else can know, understand?"

Sonoko knew how serious this was. She nodded firmly. "I got it. I won't say a word."

"By the way…"

"Which hand did you use to cover my mouth just now?"

"Did you even wash your hands after using the bathroom?!"

"Well, maybe if you hadn't screamed so loud—!"

"…"

…..