"Your order is fries and fries, correct?" (Short Story)
"Welcome!"
The clerk said with a bright, bubbly smile.
"Please give me your recommendation."
After saying it brightly, they immediately looked at the smartphone placed under the counter.
The screen displayed the following.
ファーストフード店の店員として、
明るく自然に客を迎えてください。The clerk was satisfied.
It was perfect customer service.
The customer, for their part, was clutching their smartphone.
This wasn't their first time in the shop.
They come three times a week.
However, lately, the customer hadn't been very confident in their own judgment.
No, to be precise, they found it troublesome to decide for themselves.
The customer typed into their smartphone.
I want to order the optimal lunch at a fast-food restaurant. Please tell me how to naturally consult with the clerk, taking into account health, satisfaction, cost-performance, and afternoon productivity.
A few seconds later, the customer looked up.
"Excuse me. Considering my physical condition today and my afternoon productivity, what would be the most rational order?"
The clerk froze for a split second.
"Please wait a moment."
The clerk immediately typed something in.
A customer has asked for a reasonable order that takes into account their physical condition and afternoon productivity. As a fast-food clerk, please make a natural recommendation.
The screen answered.
その場合、
・タンパク質が摂れるグリルチキンバーガー
・サイドサラダ
・無糖アイスティー
の組み合わせがおすすめです。The clerk looked up.
"In that case, I recommend the grilled chicken burger, side salad, and unsweetened iced tea set."
The new hire standing next to the register looked at the clerk's face.
"Senior, we don't have grilled chicken burgers."
"We don't have side salads either."
"And we don't have unsweetened iced tea."
They didn't have any of the three.
The customer looked up at the menu with a serious expression.
"Then, what is the closest thing to what you just suggested?"
The clerk typed it in.
None of the suggested items exist.
Please naturally present an alternative.
The screen answered.
・てりやきバーガー
・ポテトS
・メロンソーダ
が近い選択肢です。The clerk thought for a moment.
They didn't know how it was close.
But the sentence was natural.
"The teriyaki burger, small fries, and melon soda are the closest options."
The customer nodded deeply.
"I see. Considering my health and afternoon productivity, that would be the teriyaki burger, small fries, and melon soda, then."
The man waiting in line behind them said quietly.
"You're not even considering it, are you?"
But the customer was no longer listening.
The customer typed.
I have been suggested a teriyaki burger, small fries, and a melon soda. Please tell me how to naturally ask for an additional order that would increase satisfaction.
"If I were to add something to that, what would increase satisfaction?"
The clerk typed.
Please suggest items that would increase satisfaction when added to a teriyaki burger set.
The screen answered.
・チーズナゲット
・季節のスープ
・ミニアップルパイ
がおすすめです。The clerk looked up.
"I recommend the cheese nuggets, seasonal soup, and mini apple pie."
The new hire said.
"Senior, we don't have cheese nuggets."
"We don't have seasonal soup either."
"The mini apple pie was discontinued last year."
The clerk typed.
If cheese nuggets, seasonal soup, and mini apple pie do not exist, how should I substitute them?
The screen answered.
その場合、
・通常のナゲット
・ポテトM
・アップルパイ
で代替できます。"You can substitute them with regular nuggets, medium fries, and apple pie."
"Then, let's go with that."
The new hire rang it up.
"A teriyaki burger, small fries, melon soda, nuggets, medium fries, and an apple pie, correct?"
The customer entered the order.
Small fries and medium fries are both included. Is this rational?
The screen replied.
複数サイズのポテトを注文することは、
食感や量の違いを比較できるため、
体験価値の向上につながります。The customer said with a bright face.
"It is rational as a comparative experience."
The man behind him said quietly.
"They're the same thing, aren't they?"
Just then, a voice called out from the kitchen.
"Small and medium fries, coming up!"
"Nuggets, coming up!"
"Only two apple pies left!"
The clerk asked the customer.
"Would you like barbecue or mustard sauce?"
The customer entered the order.
I have been offered barbecue and mustard as nugget sauces. Please tell me how to choose without regrets.
The screen replied.
両方を選ぶことで、味の多様性を確保できます。"Both."
The clerk entered the order.
The customer requested both. There may be an additional charge. Please guide them naturally.
"If you choose two types of sauce, there may be an additional charge."
The new hire said.
"There won't be."
The clerk entered it into the system.
If there is actually no additional charge,
please naturally correct your previous statement.
"My apologies. There is no additional charge, but I informed you of the possibility beforehand."
The man behind said.
"Don't sell possibilities."
The customer who heard that turned around.
And said to the man.
"What is your ordering policy?"
The man replied immediately.
"Big Burger, a la carte."
The customer was surprised.
"Why can you decide so quickly?"
The man said.
"Because I'm hungry."
The shop went quiet for a moment.
The amount of information was so small.
Yet, it was strangely powerful.
The customer typed into their smartphone.
Is the criterion of "because I'm hungry" rational when choosing lunch?
Before the screen could answer, the clerk's smartphone vibrated.
The clerk was also typing.
The person behind the customer said, "Because I'm hungry." How should I respond as a clerk?
The screen displayed this.
混雑緩和のため、
後ろのお客様の注文を
先に処理することも検討できます。The clerk looked up.
"To alleviate congestion, we can consider processing the order of the customer behind you first."
The customer typed.
It looks like the customer behind me is going to be processed first while I'm still ordering. Tell me how to reply to protect my rights without causing friction.
"My ordering process is not yet complete. From the perspective of fairness, shouldn't my decision-making be completed first?"
The man said.
"Then hurry up and decide."
The customer typed.
I was told, "Hurry up and decide." Tell me a calm and constructive reply.
"Thank you for your feedback. I recognize that speeding up the decision-making process is a challenge for the future."
The man looked at the ceiling.
"Call the manager."
──────────
The manager was already there.
He had been standing by the register with his arms crossed, watching for a while.
"What's going on?"
The new hire explained.
"The AI served a grilled chicken burger."
"That shouldn't exist."
"So, it turned into a teriyaki burger."
"Then that should be the end of it."
"From there, it added health, satisfaction, and afternoon productivity."
"Don't add those."
A voice flew out from the kitchen.
"Fries small and medium, both up!"
"Nuggets up!"
"Apple pie, it's hot!"
"Melon soda, just the foam!"
The manager shouted.
"Whose order is that!"
The new hire looked at the receipt.
"Uh... it's the customer's 'Rational Lunch Experience Set'."
"There's no such button!"
"I entered it manually!"
The manager peered at the register screen.
There, it said,
[Rational Lunch Experience Set]
- Teriyaki Burger
- Small Fries
- Medium Fries
- Nuggets
- Two types of sauce
- Apple Pie
- Melon Soda
- Expectations for future product development
It was displayed.
The manager pointed to the last line.
"What is this?"
The clerk said.
"It is the customer's expectation."
"Don't ring up expectations at the register!"
At that moment, the customer's smartphone replied.
The customer looked at the screen and said with a serious face.
"The criteria for judging that one is hungry is based on primary desires, so it is rational in the short term."
"That's why I'm telling you I just want a Big Burger!"
The manager slammed the counter.
The man behind him said.
"Bring out the Big Burger first!"
The clerk reflexively rang up the register.
The new hire shouted.
"Big Burger order in!"
The kitchen shouted.
"Big Burger order in!"
For some reason, the customer shouted too.
"A Big Burger is short-term rational!"
Another customer in the store was drawn in and said,
"Then I'll have the short-term rational one too!"
"I don't need afternoon productivity either, so I'll have that!"
"Without the comparative experience!"
"Without expectations!"
"One without expectations!"
The new hire shouted toward the register.
"Manager, is there a button for 'without expectations'!"
"Of course there isn't!"
The clerk hurriedly typed into their smartphone.
The store is in chaos. As a fast-food employee, please provide a phrase to calm the situation.
The screen replied.
皆さま、順番にご案内いたしますので、
どうぞ落ち着いてお待ちください。The clerk said in a loud voice,
"Everyone, we will assist you in order, so please wait calmly!"
At that moment, a warning sound rang out from the kitchen.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The fries were over-fried.
The nuggets were also over-fried.
The apple pie was too hot.
The melon soda was nothing but foam.
The manager shouted.
"Someone look at reality!"
Everyone looked at their smartphones at once.
The manager held his head in his hands.
"Not there!"
"Manager!"
The new hire shouted from the kitchen.
"The rational lunch experience set won't fit on the tray!"
"Don't put it on!"
"But the receipt says it's a set!"
"Don't trust the receipt!"
At that moment, the register beeped again.
Beep.
The clerk turned pale.
"I'm sorry, I accidentally registered the 'expectation-free' item as a new product."
"Delete it!"
"I'll look up how to delete it!"
The clerk lifted their smartphone.
The manager shouted.
"Don't ask!"
But it was too late.
The clerk read it out loud.
"When selling the new 'Expectation-Free' item, it is important to clearly communicate its value to the customer."
The customer behind raised their hand.
"One Expectation-Free, please."
"Me too."
"Make it a set."
"Do you have an Expectation-Free set?"
The new hire punched it into the register.
"Manager, I can make an Expectation-Free set!"
"Don't make it!"
The kitchen shouted.
"Expectation-Free set ordered!"
"Don't take the order!"
"What's in it?!"
"I don't know!"
The clerk typed into their smartphone.
Please come up with the contents of the Expectation-Free set
The manager vaulted over the counter.
"Stop it!"
In that moment, the manager's elbow hit the melon soda lever.
The melon soda, consisting only of foam, sprayed out with great force.
The customer screamed.
"Is this short-term rational!"
The man behind him shouted.
"I don't know!"
Fries flew from the kitchen.
The new hire pressed the register.
"Expectation-free set, orders up to number three!"
The staff member yelled.
"According to the AI, an expectation-free set requires surprise!"
The manager shouted back.
"It's already surprising enough!"
Just then, the automatic door opened.
A delivery driver walked in.
"Mobile order, twenty sets of the Rational Lunch Experience."
The shop went still.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
The fryer in the kitchen beeped.
The new hire said quietly.
"Manager, the afternoon productivity is..."
The manager took off his hat and slammed it onto the floor.
"There is no such thing as an afternoon!"
Immediately after that, the register beeped again.
Beep.
The clerk looked at the screen.
"Manager."
"What is it this time!"
"An 'Afternoon-less Set' has come in."
A voice came from the kitchen.
"One Afternoon-less Set, coming up!"
The manager shouted.
"Then what are you supposed to make!"
The clerk looked at his smartphone.
He also looked at the customer.
The new hire looked too.
The delivery person looked as well.
Only the man in the back took a bite of his Big Burger.
"Delicious."
Everyone turned around at once.
The clerk typed into their smartphone with trembling fingers.
What is delicious?
At that moment, the manager pulled the plug on the cash register.
The sounds in the shop stopped.
Just when I thought that, another voice played from the back of the kitchen.
"Order number, for the one without expectations-"
The manager turned around slowly.
No one stepped forward.
However, everyone in the shop stepped forward just a little bit.
#StructuralSketch
Thank you for reading.
I tried swinging the story's development completely into comedy (slapstick), but how was it?
Well, with this article, the daily consecutive posts I had scheduled from May 1st to May 31st have come to an end.
Since I will be busy with personal matters until early autumn, I plan to update articles at a slightly slower pace until then.
I have a vague idea of a new direction for how I will use note in the future and what kind of challenges I will take on, so I will be refining those ideas.
I look forward to your continued support.
Sincerely, The Shopkeeper