I Became an Academy Counselor

The soft lighting that gently soothed people’s eyes filled the now-familiar space.
Is it because it’s still daytime?
Empty of customers and filled with silence, the store evoked a slight eeriness and comfort due to its stillness.
It’s peaceful. This doesn’t seem right…
Faced with a situation so different from what I had imagined, I scratched my head once.

“What are you doing there?”
“Ah, boss.”

The silence that filled the store interior was broken as the boss arrived.
Why did he come when the store hadn’t even opened yet?

“What brings you here? There’s still some time before we’re supposed to open the store.”
“…Really? Why did I come here? I just felt like I had to come…”
“…”
“Huh? Come to think of it, did I… hire a part-timer…?”

Oh, no.
It seemed like the manager had realized something was off because I hadn’t used my ability recently. Well, using the ability itself feels a bit more like manipulating others’ minds, which makes me somewhat reluctant… But this is ultimately beneficial for the manager, too. Rationalizing myself, I spoke to the manager in a gentle voice.

“Yes, you recently hired a bartender…”
“I… hired… a bartender…?”
“That’s right. You took pity on someone wandering the back alleys without a home and let them stay here in exchange for room and board…”
“Room and… board…”

I whispered into the manager’s ear, who was now staring blankly into space.
The soft lighting illuminating the bar’s interior seemed to sway dizzily.

“Boss? Can you hear me?”
“…”
“Phew… It went in properly.”

Although I felt a bit uneasy about forcibly obtaining the boss’s cooperation through hypnosis, I had no choice. According to the setting I knew, this was the regular bar that the Academy Principal occasionally visited. 
Without even an ID card, I had no choice but to wait here for the Academy Principal, who might show up someday to enter the Academy. 

Clap!

To wake up the hypnotized boss, I clapped my hands loudly once. The boss, now out of the hypnotic state, looked confused. He must be having trouble assessing the situation due to the interrupted memory. I decided to provide some assistance to help the boss assess the situation.

“Oh, boss. I know you’re comfortable here, but you shouldn’t fall asleep like that.”
“Huh…? S-slept? Me?”
“Yes. You were sleeping soundly. Are you tired these days?”
“Was I…? Um… M-maybe I was…? Thanks for waking me up.”
“It’s nothing.”

The boss, who was trying to smile at me, hastily got up to leave his seat. He seemed embarrassed by the fact that he had fallen asleep so soon after coming to the store.

“W-well then…! I’ll leave the store to you! I can trust you. So, take care!”
“Don’t worry about it.”

Watching the boss go back the way he came, I sighed. When will the Academy Principal come?
It feels like the main story is about to start. I hope it’s not too late. 
As I was sighing with such thoughts at that moment… 
Once again, the store’s door opened.

“Boss? Did you forget something…”
“Oh, um. Are you not open for business yet?”
“No, we are.”

I smiled as kindly as I could. Smiling wasn’t that difficult. I just had to not hold back my rising smile as soon as I saw her face.

“We’ve just opened. Would you like a drink?”

Looking at the customer who arrived, I was certain that this was indeed the world of the game I had enjoyed. A smile escaped me at the realization that I could help those poor children.