Work Text:
‘Oi! Ken-chin, don’t be like that~!’
Your eyes lifted toward the direction of the voice once again before you mentally cursed yourself for doing so. You told yourself several times not to look at them, and yet every time they spoke too loudly or made some noise you instinctively and not so subtly looked their way.
It was a reflex, but it still left you panicked that they might somehow notice you staring at them.
Your eyes dropped back to the counter where you so desperately tried and most likely failed to appear busy, but there was just so much you could do while behind the counter of the small corner shop you work at.
‘For the last time no!’ you heard and looked at the taller blond again before glancing at the shorter one and then back at the counter, ‘I told you. Bring your own money if you want some taiyaki. I’m done buying you stuff like you’re some needy girlfriend.’
‘Such a meanie!’
You failed to see how not wanting to spend your money, someone else was being a meanie, but you didn’t plan to share your thoughts with them anyway. You definitely understood the importance of not spending money on unnecessary things though.
Doing your best to only look at them from under your eyelashes, you glanced up again.
You didn’t know those two, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure they were some sort of delinquents. They wore the same black uniform with Tokyo Manjikai written on the back and overall seemed like they didn’t spend that much time in school. You weren’t sure why they caught your interest though. It wasn’t the first time such individuals visited the store you worked at part-time, and given the state of this neighborhood, it wouldn’t be the last.
Definitely some sort of gang members, you thought to yourself before glancing at the counter again, It doesn’t matter as long as they don’t try to rob us or mess the place up.
‘Lady-shopkeeper,’ you heard in a sing-like voice in front of you and flinched. You didn’t expect them to speak to you at the moment since it looked like they were still debating what to buy and if the taller one would pay for the other boy’s stuff. Also, lady-shopkeeper? You supposed that was better than some of the other names the drunk customers called you but still.
You lifted your head and found the short blond looking at you with a calm nonchalant across his face and bizarrely dark eyes. You didn’t think you ever saw someone with such dark eyes despite it being a typical color around here. There was just something strangely unsettling and sad about his eyes.
Lonely? No, not quite, but close, you thought to yourself before realizing you might have been staring at him for too damn long.
‘Y-yes, how can I help?’
The taller blond put the basket full of shopping items on the counter, and you started to scan them as quickly as possible. You were pretty good at this, or so you were told, which on the one hand was great because you always felt proud about being told you were good at something, but on the other hand wondered what it meant for you to be good at working at the corner store.
‘Still can’t believe you’re cutting me off,’ pouted the shorter boy.
‘You’re still on that, Mikey?’ asked the taller boy like an exhausted parent who had to explain to his child why he couldn’t get the extra snack for the fifteen times. You witnessed a lot of those while working there.
While the taller boy put his things into the bag, you printed out the receipt. You could have left it at that. There definitely was no reason for you to engage with these guys.
Still, taking a deep breath, you reached behind you and pulled out one perfectly wrapped taiyaki.
‘Here,’ you spoke as quietly as possible and handed the treat toward the short blond boy, Mikey.
He blinked surprised when you spoke to him before his face lightened up dramatically like a kid on Christmas Eve. The holiday season was approaching, so it wouldn’t be the worst idea to gain some good karma. And if this boy turned out to be an asshole who would abuse your kindness at least it would be a small amount of money you would have to pay from your own paycheck.
‘Y-you? Do you mean it?’ asked Mikey, and you nodded smiling at him.
He took the treat all the while the taller boy, Ken-chin, groaned and mumbled something about, Lucky brat.
You ignored him a bit and turned to Mikey again, ‘Yeah, Merry Christmas.’
‘W-wait, does that mean I don’t need to pay you back?’ asked the boy looking genuinely shocked by this, and you grimaced, ‘Yeah, it’s one taiyaki. My treat.’
You shrugged your shoulders. The fact that the blond was still looking at you made you feel a bit self-conscious, but you still found yourself saying, ‘Who knows maybe it’ll gain me some good karma for the holidays.’
You could feel Mikey’s gaze on you even if you didn’t look up and tried to look busy behind the counter again. You understood why it would surprise him that you would do this.
You were surprised why you would do this.
These two were obviously some gang members and who was to say that getting on their radar wouldn’t completely mess with your life? Still, it was already done, so you might as well act like it wasn’t a big deal. Things only got power if you gave it to them. Also, it wasn't the worst feeling in the world to make someone's day, and he was sort of cute so-
‘Hey,’ you heard and looked up only to feel something warm and nice press against your cheek really quickly before it was gone.
Before you could process what happened, Mikey leaned away, and you come to the realization that he kissed your cheek out of the blue.
Your eyes widened. Now you were the one shocked by what happened, while the short blond boy grinned at you, ‘Couldn’t leave you alone without giving you something in return.’
Somehow, you heard Ken-chin scold Mikey, but you couldn’t really tell what he was saying as your eyes were still fixed on the boy who kissed you.
Your hand slapped against your cheek, and you felt your face catch on fire while you stuttered over your words the way you would trip and fall in the gym while running, ‘T-t-t-that was-was unnecessary!’
Mikey grinned. You had to admit he looked really handsome when he was smiling.
‘No, you should always repay people for their kindness.’
‘Alright, that’s enough. Say goodbye to your new girlfriend and let’s go already,’ said Ken-chin who seemed to have gotten impatient.
He started to push the other boy toward the exit of the store who mumbled something about being jealous.
You were shocked before you could protest because how absurd was it that he said that, Mikey stopped in the doorway making it impossible for the taller boy to get out, and smiled at you almost softly, ‘I promise to come around tomorrow. Bye-bye.’
You didn’t really have time to say anything back and didn’t really know what to say as you watched the two leave.
Now alone you couldn’t help but wonder if this meant you got yourself a gang member boyfriend.
Subconsciously, your palm touched your cheek over the spot Mikey’s lips did, and you smiled a bit thinking at least he was cute.
Koniec