Together with Elesis, Callisto visited the heart of the district of Silangan, the public market. After a short walk through the crowded street, the two stopped in front of a particular place.
The Megaverse book store.
"The book store, huh."
Looking at Callisto, Elesis could not think of any place fitting for the silver-haired girl to work at other than the book store.
However, there was a slight problem that made Elesis's eyebrows go down in concern.
"I tried applying for a part-time job here recently," Elesis revealed.
"Really?"
Callisto's cat ears twitched at the red head's words, a glint of curiosity in her sky-blue marbles.
"How did it go?"
A disappointed look played on the red head's face.
"I got turned down because someone beat me to it."
The discontent expression on the red head's features was quickly overshadowed by a confident, reassuring smile.
"But who knows? Maybe there's a spot waiting just for you right now? It wouldn't hurt to try, right?"
Callisto nodded at the red head. Then she took a step forward to the store.
Her first step inside the book store led her towards the counter where a female personnel, seemingly in her early 20s was handling a customer's purchase.
"Here's your 250 Peso change. Come back soon!"
The female cashier's voice was kind and pleasing. She also seemed very easy to talk to.
Those three traits were the most sought out characteristics from people who were looking to work in a position that involve interacting directly with other people.
Callisto learned about it from her parents.
Just as the cashier finished handling the customer's purchases, Callisto and Elesis stood right in front of the counter.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for a part-time job. Is it possible for me to work here?"
"Ah, sorry," the female cashier responded, a regretful expression contorting her features. "But we're currently not looking for a new part-timer."
"Is that so," Callisto's cat ears fell flat, a disgruntled sigh escaped her lips.
The female cashier gave the silver-haired girl a reassuring look. "But if you'd like, you may give us your contact info so that we can inform you if there's an opening for a part-time position."
Callisto's eyebrows and cat ears shot up.
"Oh, sure thing."
Callisto took her smartphone out and shared her contact info to the cashier.
"It's 09..."
"I got it."
"Thank you for your time, Miss."
The cashier nodded at Callisto.
"Don't mention it. Please come again."
Callisto led the way to the door.
"Yeah. I'll check out some books later."
Callisto and Elesis got out of the book store.
"It's a shame I couldn't get the job I wanted," said Callisto in remark, her gaze burning with determination. "But there has to be at least one out there."
Elesis bobbed her head at the silver-haired lady's hopeful words.
"That's right. We just gotta find it."
"Let's go."
From the Megaverse book store, the two would hit up the closest establishment they came across.
A vegetable retail store.
"Excuse me..."
"Sorry, but I can't afford paying someone to work for me yet."
After the vegetable retail store, the pet store.
"We're not hiring."
After the pet store, a hardware store.
"We're only looking for someone who can handle heavy lifting."
After that, they visited a toy store.
"We've got all the helping hand we need."
After that, a pizza shop.
"Unless you have a license and can ride motorcycles, we can't hire you."
They kept going and going, but they weren't so lucky at all.
After visiting the internet cafe, which was also to no avail, they came across an ice cream cart.
"Hey, want some ice cream?"
Callisto's eyes fluttered as she stared at Elesis blankly.
"It's not that long since we ate at the park, you know."
"It's just comfort food," Elesis argued. "Come on, it's my treat."
"Yes, yes," Calli responded obediently, following the red head who was going after the ice cream cart.
Shortly after buying ice creams in a cone for both of them, they found a less crowded spot in the public market street.
"Shlick... Ahm..."
Callisto watched in silence as Elesis feast on the ice cream before her, still couldn't fathom the red head's amazing appetite.
Before she realized it, Elesis already devoured the ice cream down to the thinnest part of the cone.
A pleased expression etched on the red head's face.
"You can't go wrong with eating ice cream on a nice sunny morning."
Nodding in agreement at Elesis's words, Callisto started working slowly on her ice cream as well.
"I didn't know finding a place to work would be this hard," said Calli, her tongue flicking out to get the ice cream stuck on her pink lips. "Hey, you tried applying in the Megaverse before, right? What did you do after that?"
"Me? I gave up after getting turned down by them."
Callisto paused from eating her ice cream, giving the red head a stupefied stare.
"Why?"
Elesis told herself that if she were to get a job, it would be in a place where novels and comics were within her grasp. But she didn't get what she wanted.
"So I decided to just stay at home and help out with the chores."
Callisto chuckled at how nonchalant Elesis was with sharing how her own job hunting went.
"You're a picky one, huh."
It was a stark contrast to Callisto's impression of Elesis after watching her devour things rather easily.
"That's only because I can afford to," Elesis responded, a carefree tone in her voice. "I saved a lot of money from all the allowances I got, so I have all the money I need if I find a novel or manga that I want."
"What are you gonna do if your savings run out?" Callisto asked, finishing her ice cream and the cone.
Elesis shrugged at the silver-haired girl, a sarcastic answer came out of her lips. "Guess I'll die."
"That's not a very funny joke."
Elesis chortled at Calli's comment before changing the topic.
"Anyway, where to next?"
"There."
Elesis's gaze followed the direction the young lady was looking at, another place to try her luck—Selly's Convenience Store.
Without wasting a moment, Callisto stepped forward and the red head followed suit.
Entering the establishment, the two were met with cool air coming off of the air conditioner. It was a rather refreshing feeling after walking around under the sun.
"Is it okay if I just stay here forever?" Elesis inquired, inhaling the air inside the store.
"We didn't come here to hang out."
Still following Callisto from behind, Elesis could not help but look at the shelves adorned with an assortment of snacks and other foods.
The red head's footsteps came to a halt.
"Hey, Callisto, I'm gonna go look around the store. Call me when you're done."
When Callisto turned around, the red head was already standing in front of one of the shelves.
"Is she hungry again?"
Calli turned back on her way to the cashier, her eyes searched for anyone in charge, but no one was present in the counter.
"Can I help you?"
A voice echoed from behind Callisto, her cat ears jolted at the sudden sound.
When she turned, there stood a young man, slightly taller than Callisto, holding a mop while wearing a black apron that contrast the red collared-shirt he was wearing.
There was a name printed on his collared-shirt's chest pocket.
Hinata.