"What?" Shigeru Ikeda didn't mean to pretend to be stupid, he really didn't expect the store manager to say this first.

The store manager didn't answer, but said to himself: "When I was studying, I was often bullied by delinquent teenagers. ”

Shigeru Ikeda's heart instantly cooled, and he stood there speechless.

The store manager spat out a smoke ring and continued: "I used to expect all the bad boys to die for me, and I also thought about getting a knife for one and then killing it. You guys, you're rubbish of garbage. ”

Shigeru Ikeda didn't know how to answer, so he had to say, "I'm sorry. ”

If he had changed before, he wouldn't have cared about the store manager's accusations at all, and might even beat the store manager happily, telling him that this is how the world works, and that if he doesn't have the strength, he should be bullied.

But now, Shigeru Ikeda feels guilty, as if he was the culprit who bullied the store manager when he was young.

"What are you sorry for, it has nothing to do with you, right?" The store manager said lightly, "And I just used the past tense." ”

Shigeru Ikeda asks hopefully, "Have you forgiven them now?" ”

"No, how can you forgive, don't say such idiotic things." The store manager took another long puff of cigarette and exhaled a large cloud of smoke, "It's just that the object of hatred is gone." Or die in the gang fire, or take risks in poverty, and lose both people and money. There is also a simple over-drinking and direct return to the West, and I am still alive.

"It's so stupid that I would hate such a group of short-lived ghosts, and think of exchanging my own life for the lives of these short-lived ghosts. If I really want to change, then I'll lose a lot.

"You look at me, there is no highlight moment, just faced with the arrogant little hairy head can only choose to call the police, if he comes up to threaten me, I will probably beg for mercy, even at the cost of licking his shoes...... I did this when I was younger.

"However, I will live, I am already a regular member, I don't need any merit, as long as I have worked for more years, I will naturally be promoted and raised.

"I would marry a wife who is okay, probably through a blind date. I'll have my own house somewhere in Tokyo with a pair of children. Do you know what it's called? It's called the future, and it's something I can see and touch.

"That's what the baseball guy just now, and you, don't have."

After speaking, the store manager pinched out the cigarette, threw it on the ground, and stepped on it several times with his foot. He stood up and turned his head to look at Shigeru Ikeda, grinning, "Look at your future, is there even a little bit of it?" ”

Shigeru Ikeda couldn't say anything to refute it.

In the past, when he was a delinquent teenager and a long man, he looked to the future and could see himself dressed in extreme standard clothes and wearing group crests.

And now, there is a blur ahead, nothing.

"I don't know what made you decide to try to turn back," the manager patted Shigeru Ikeda on the shoulder, "I'm willing to give you a chance, but after today's incident, if I don't fire you, the head office will come and hold me accountable, because I recruited a delinquent teenager who might cause trouble as an employee." ”

"I ......" Shigeru Ikeda wanted to argue, saying that he had changed his mind.

But the store manager interrupted him: "I can listen to your explanation, but the head office will not." In the eyes of the big guys, you are a bad boy. As long as you were, you are, and you will be.

"Only those NGOs will hire you prodigals. But if you want to enter the NGO facility, you have to go to the squatting room first. If you don't squat in the room, you won't have a chance to be rescued by NGOs. ”

The store manager paused for a long time, and then used the most straightforward words to make Shigeru Ikeda recognize his current situation: "You have been fired. ”

Although he was mentally prepared, when this scene really came, Shigeru Ikeda still felt angry in his heart, and he asked, "I'm going to be fired?" So how do I pay half of the lunch money yesterday for that vexatious guest? ”

"On the company's account, the customer bought a full-price bento. If you are not convinced, you can take the legal route. The manager smiled and said to Shigeru Ikeda, "That's how good people deal with this kind of thing." ”

Even Shigeru Ikeda knows that if you go through the legal route, you have to find a lawyer, and the lawyers' asking price is expensive.

He was so angry that he really wanted to punch the store manager in the face.

He glanced at the store manager and saw that the other party was looking at him with contempt.

The look in his eyes seemed to say, "Look, a bad boy is a bad boy, and there is no such thing as washing hands."

Shigeru Ikeda remembered what the store manager had just said, and now that he was doing it himself, the store manager would not hesitate to kneel down and beg for mercy.

But no matter how hard Shigeru Ikeda beats him, he can't change the store manager's contempt for him.

Because the store manager holds the future.

Shigeru Ikeda slowly let go of his clenched fists.

He said to the store manager, "Thank you for saying so much to me, I really don't see the future yet, but I will continue to work hard." ”

The store manager stared at Shigeru Ikeda for a few seconds and asked, "Why bother, wouldn't it be nice to go back and be your president?" In the future, maybe he can really be the leader of the three-generation organization in Jidao. Even then, it's much more beautiful than the average club member like me. ”

Shigeru Ikeda thought to himself, of course, that is the future that I had always seen.

"But I want to be a good guy now." Shigeru Ikeda smiled at the manager, "One day, I will be able to tell you in all my respect, that I am a good person, and that I will come back to you for a drink." ”

After Shigeru Ikeda finished speaking, he bowed deeply to the store manager.

Then he turned and walked away, without a hint of nostalgia.

"Wait." The store manager suddenly stopped him, "Take it, the money for the half-price bento." ”

"No, this ......"

"Take it! Gan, if you don't take me, I'll lose sleep for a month! The store manager forcibly shoved the money into Shigeru Ikeda's hand, "Also, this is yesterday's day's salary, so you should consider it a day-to-day job." ”

"This ......"

"Let's just think you didn't hit me in return." The store manager sighed, "I'm actually ready to eat a dozen just now." Come on, don't mess up the next part-time job. Try your luck at shops where the owner seems to have a story. ”

"Thank you!" Shigeru Ikeda bowed to the store manager again, turned and strode away.

The manager stayed where he was and lit another cigarette.

"Is the prodigal son turning back...... Let's hope he can go on. He muttered quietly, but then added quickly, "If it were that simple, the proverb would not say, 'The prodigal son will not change his money.'" ”