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Keiji sat alone at the cash register. Chela noticed he seemed down. “Are you really upset about last night? I didn’t mean to disturb you guys, I mean it.” Chela said In a genuine, apologetic voice. Keiji laughed to himself as he looked at a “Bounty weekly” magazine. Chela noticed the Magazine in his hands and snatched it. “Hey! No reading on your shifts! Stay focused! Also I shut off the phone system so you can’t get distracted on a phone call!” He scolded keiji and left. Keiji slumped into his seat. He wanted to finish his conversation with Spike. Spike was a very mysterious man, and keiji admired him. Admire isn’t even a strong enough word to describe Keiji’s emotions.
Keiji had an idea. He decided to dismantle the Wall phone, and build it into the digital cash register. Nobody really came to 7/11 because they saw a Frustrated keiji from the window, as he tried many attempts to upgrade his digital cash register. After a few hours, he managed to get a signal. He contacted the bebop in hopes for Spike to pick up the phone. “Eh? Wh-oz c-a-llin-g-*?” The voice from the phone said. It was buggy, but it worked. Keiji could barely understand what the person on the phone was saying, but he could make out a few words. “Hey there. It’s keiji Shinogi, that guy from the 7/11. I was wondering if I could talk to Spike Spiegel?” He said as he fiddled with the wire. “Y-ou are spe-ak-ing-g to h-h-himm righ-t-t n-o-w.” Keiji adjusted the signal on the phone. Using the data for this signal would definitely show up on the electrical bill, but he didn’t care one bit. “Heya Spike. I was wondering if we could meet up at a park if you’re free today, which I doubt…” Keiji blushed a bit. He hadn’t talked to someone on the phone in a while. “Yeah sure, it’s a pretty uneventful day here anyways. I’ll meet you at the 7/11.”
Spike’s ship touched down in the parking lot. Keiji was waiting outside. “So, which park did you want to go to? Lead the way.” Spike said as he walked up to keiji. The two walked down the block, and had a bit of conversation. “…so wanna talk about last night?” Keiji said to break the silence. Spike turned away a little. “It was nothing.” He was clearly embarrassed. “Heheh… we can hold hands again if you wanted…” keiji joked as they walked. “I wouldn’t mind.” Spike whispered to himself. They arrived at the Park, but it was just a rusty playground.
The two sat at a bench and looked at the small, empty playground. “I used to see these all the time as a kid.. I never really got a chance to get out, y’know?” His voice seemed solemn as he lit a cigarette. “Hey pal, I told you those are bad.” Keiji wasn’t too pleased with the smoking. “I remember playing on these types of playgrounds when I was a kid. Ours weren’t rusty or dusty like this one is now.” Keiji couldn’t recall much from his childhood, he had hidden some of it away for a reason. He remembered playing on jungle gyms, back when he was a kid and had not a care in the world. Spike didn’t really get that. Him and keiji may have been different in many ways, but in reality they were two sides of the same coin. Keiji felt better about showing affection, but spike was still a bit cautious. “About last night..” Spike said as he tried to hide his face. “You don’t have to be ashamed. And besides, from what it looks like, Chela isn’t nearby and we might just be able to hold hands again.”Keiji said as he reached out towards spike. “Heh. He better not see this.” Spike said as he grasped keiji’s hand. Spike felt weak, but not in an injured sense. It was almost like he was vulnerable. He didn’t need to feel strong right now. He felt safe for once. He leaned on Keiji’s shoulder as they watched the Mars sunset.Keiji kissed him on the cheek. “Better not see what?”
The delayed interruption came from chela, who was on his evening break. “Say keiji, Arent you supposed to be on your shift?” Chela laughed as he tossed a schedule to keiji.Spike tightened his grip on Keiji’s hand. “Gah! Why can’t you leave us alone!” Spike shouted before Chela looked down at their hands. “Oh. OH! HAHAHAHA! I see! Keiji, you and I need to have a little chit chat.” Keiji looked towards spike and then back at chela. Chela had a smug smirk on his face. Chel saw this as blackmail, but also as an opportunity to confront keiji about his shifts. Where better to have a confrontation with your coworker, than in front of their partner? “Spike. I have to leave. I’m sorry.” Keiji got up and walked towards Chela. “Let’s go back. We can have a professional conversation there.” A stern, upset look appeared on Keiji’s face.