Work Text:
Sigh.
The same playlist of my chemical romance song has been playing on the speakers for 2 hours. He places his hand on his forehead and groans. He lifts his head and he sees Yukito tending to the cash register right next to him. Yukito hums to the music and after a few seconds, his red eyes meet with his eyes.The dark blue-haired boy’s lips forms into a smug smile and then he looks away. He was not even working. He was just talking with an orange-haired boy. He scoffed. How irritating.
He looks at the speaker in the corner and he swears his blue-haired coworker is in control of the music. After all, that jerk likes mcr music.
He looks down and glares at the floor. Now, the floor is an unfortunate victim of his burning stare as he clenches his fist in frustration.
“So long and goodnight, So long and goodnight!” The speaker said, no, screeched in his ears.
He puts his head in his hands.
If he hears this song any longer…
“Can you hear me?
Are you near me?” The speaker screeched once more.
If he hear this any fucking longer… Tobi will quit his job. Yes. Quit and leave this weird store!
He lifts his head from his hands. He can’t quit. He places his hand on the counter.
Because…
In front of him, there are the clothes rack and the typical hygiene products and the produce and food. He looks to the left and all around the store. There are sparkly tinsels hanging on the walls with bright colorful lights of red, blue, and green near the ceiling. The store seems well-put together with its neat interior and display. Yet.
It lacks something vital.
There was no chatter.
The only chatter comes from Yukito’s conversation with Nagi. He glances over to the two. Nagi flushes as he puts his head in his hands. Yukito blushes, too. Tobi turns his attention back to the front.
The thing is there are no people.
Suddenly, a chill flies through the air and settles into his bones. He shivers and he notices that his coworker and the orange-haired boy shivers too.
“That coldness again,” Yukito said, wrapping his arms around himself. “The heater always tends to act up during the weekdays. My family got people over to help fix it, but they said there’s nothing wrong. Weird, right?”
“That is terrible.” Nagi frowns as he fidgets with his sleeve. “Everytime I visit, the store’s nearly empty.”
“Yeah, the business has been going bad since two months ago. Business only happens during the weekends, but it’s been going. We are surviving only because of our relatives.” Yukito sighs as he messes with his blue hair; the sign of his distress. “My relatives… Gosh, I appreciate their help so much. What would Mutsuki’s Coffee do without them?”
Mutsuki’s Coffee, the name is misleading. You’ll think it’s a coffee shop, but it’s actually a retail store with a coffee shop attached to it. A separate space that is connected to the retail store. Look to the right and you’ll see the coffee shop. It’s the first thing you see when you walk into the store. You are welcomed by the smell of freshly baked goods and coffee. No one was working at the coffee shop since no one comes during the weekdays, so only a few people are needed to work at Mutsuki’s Coffee.
Tobi and Yukito. That’s how terrible the business is going.
During those weekdays, there are sudden chills and the supernatural aura always appears during the weekdays. Then, it disappears on the weekend. Why? It’s specific and… calculated. Tobi’s eyes narrow in thought and he places his cheek on his hand, leaning on the counter. A strong supernatural being is the likely cause for warding off customers, but that’s it. That’s all this ghost does. What are they waiting for?
Suddenly, a red nose, a box of candy canes, and the ugliest sweaters are placed on the counter in front of him. He glances up, not moving from his thinking pose.
“Tobi, you’re making that face again.”
“The ugly sweaters, Rei. The ugly sweaters.” Tobi’s face scrunches in disgust as he stands up from his thinking pose, almost reeling back as if the sweaters had a stench.
“I know,” Rei said, pouting. “Do you want me to get different sweaters for us?”
Tobi glances down at the sweaters and the happy reindeer faces on the green and red sweaters stare back at him. They weren’t that bad… they were just ridiculous looking…
“No, it’s fine, whatever,” Tobi said.
Rei beamed. Q-ta who was currently being held in his arms chu happily. “Okay!”
A blush makes his way on Tobi’s cheeks as he glances away. Rei’s smile…
“Your antlers are cute.”
Tobi moves his hand and reaches upward, his fingers eventually meeting the soft fabric of the reindeer antlers. “Right, the stupid antlers.”
Rei shakes his head. “It’s not stupid. It’s for the Christmas spirit.”
“Right.”
Tobi turned his head towards the voice who said that. Yukito. Ugh.
Yukito flashes a smile towards Tobi and waves before he starts humming “Jingle bells'' as he turns his attention back to Nagi. He gestures for Nagi to continue talking about something with a new popular drink named Rice Time. (Ricetime talk with Nagi)
Tobi nodded. “Right…” He keeps his attention on his co-worker and as the seconds pass by, he still is looking at Yukito. And it is with the sharpest glare. Yukito gave no sign that he noticed this- wait- did Yukito just gave him the middle finger behind the counter- THAT LITTLE SHIT
Rei quickly swoops in with his question, oblivious to the tension that Yukito added. “You’re having a Christmas party at your house as usual?”
“Yeah.” Tobi turns his attention back to the items on the counter. His facial expression is a neutral expression as he starts scanning the items. Despite a neutral expression, he is filled with anger. Yukito, that little shit!
“Your dad is… odd.”
Tobi wrinkles his face in annoyance. “Don’t remind me.” The said dad always chose crocs to wear and he rarely wore other kinds of shoes.
”He makes good jokes.” Rei smiles.
Tobi finishes scanning the items and he looks at the price on the screen. “I disagree. He makes terrible dad jokes- That would be twenty-five dollars.”
Rei reaches into his pocket and pulls out his wallet. He opens it, looking for the paper money. He pulls it out and hands over the cash.
Tobi grabs the money and puts the money away in the cash register. “Receipt?”
“No.” Rei smiles. He places Q-ta on the ground, then he reaches over the counter, giving a kiss on Tobi’s cheek.
Tobi's eyes widen in shock as his boyfriend pulls away with a wide smile. He places a hand on his cheek where Rei planted the kiss. His face grows redder and warmer by the second.
The silver-haired boy giggles, cheeks flushed.
Tobi stares, shock still written all over his face. Absolutely speechless. Then after a few moments longer, he manages to speak. “Oi.”
Rei giggles louder. Tobi smiles, his facial expression softening and any embarrassment he felt fades away. The joyful laughter captured all of his attention and it didn’t matter what was happening around him.
It didn’t matter that he was…
Working at this awful store with the jerk Yukito
and the constant blaring of chemical romance music
and that the supernatural was hard to catch.
What matters is the sweetest guy in front of him. His boyfriend.
His smile. His smile melts his heart.
His tufted hair. Ridiculous hair. (Well his hair was ridiculous too- mushroom hair-) Tobi calls Rei a catboy because of his hair. Rei would protest and shake his head. He smiles at that memory.
Also, he likes that Rei fits perfectly in his arms and they would lay together on the bed, cuddled up.
The silver-haired boy’s laughter subsided and he looked at him, smiling. He leans on the counter. Rei leans on the counter. Tobi’s arm lays on the counter, and he reaches out with his other hand to place it on his boyfriend’s cheek. Rei’s cheeks still flushed as he stared into Tobi’s eyes. They lean closer and-
Suddenly, the chemical music shuts off and there is a loud and piercing screech.
Yukito’s eyes widened as he shut his mouth. He looks around wildly and Nagi looks around too.
Tobi jumps on the counter. Then, he hops off the counter and a mouth appears on the black bag that he carried.
Yukito and Nagi stare at it, wide-eyed.
Rei quickly hides behind Tobi, his heart pounding as he looks around with fear. “What’s going on? Is it-“
“Hey kids, stop staring and hide behind the counter! Tobi! Get ready! It’s coming!” Noppo shouted.
Yukito nodded hastily and without any hesitation, they leaped over the counter quickly like rabbits. They ducked behind the counters and peeked from behind there. Their fear-filled eyes peering over the counter.
Tobi looks around all over quickly. The lights flicker on and off and the Christmas lights flicker frantically as the temperature drops significantly. Several cold breezes fly around the store. “Stay close, Rei.”
Rei hugs Q-ta close to him.
The lights flicker faster and then the lights turn off completely. In a blink of an eye, the lights turn on. The abnormally cold atmosphere is gone.
“What the fuck,” Tobi grumbled.
“It seems the supernatural disappeared again.” Noppo said, sighing.
“Not again. Why the fuck would it not come out? It’s being shitty.” He rubs his temples in frustration.
The two boys at the counter watch the scene in silence. Their shoulders tensed still from the scary experience. There is a ghost?! Where is the ghost?!
Rei taps his shoulder. “Has it attacked anyone?”
“No.”
“Then, it’s one of those ghosts.” Rei's eyes brightened with realization.
“What?”
“You told me about this situation before and- well think about it.”
Tobi squinted. “I have no idea what you're talking about.”
“I think the ghost is just lonely. It wants attention. That’s why it’s haunting this store.”
Was it really that simple? Has he been going about this wrong the whole time? Oh no, Pattun would make fun of him for not realizing this sooner.
“Let’s offer something to them!” Rei clasps his hands. “Yukito, make coffee! Nagi, help him! I will get those Christmas sweaters!”
Wait- was that really it? Really? Really?
Tobi stood there, absolutely dumbfounded as everyone ran off to get the items.
Noppo laughs.
Q-ta falls on their back, chuuing.
Tobi slumps to the floor, defeated.
Eventually, everyone came back with the items.
Rei sits down. “Everyone, sit down in a circle.”
Tobi moves from his spot and sits next to Rei. “Ghost summoning?”
“Yes.” Rei nods.
“You want me to lead it?”
“No, I’m good.” Rei nods, giving a reassuring smile. “I did it enough times that I think I can do it by myself.”
Tobi smiles. Then, everyone held hands. The items sit at the center with candles in a circle surrounding the items.
“Ghost, we notice your loneliness. We offer these items and our company. We hope you feel less lonely.”
The lights turn off.
Nagi holds his breath.
Yukito's shoulders tense.
The candles flicker.
A cold atmosphere fills the room.
Then-
“Hello!! Helloo!! OMG ARE THESE FOR ME?!! MERRY CHRISTMAS! THANK YOU!” The ghost wore a huge scarf and a fashionable hat with cute pins. They floated around happily.
“Finally, some attention! I was so lonely!” The ghost explains, then it smiles. “REALLY Thank you so much!!!! OMG!! Can we sing Christmas songs?!”
No-
“Sure! Let’s sing together!” Rei claps his hands. “Let’s sing Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer!”
“Cool-“ Yukito’s shoulders relax just a bit.
Nagi nods and nervously smiles.
With everyone else, Tobi awkwardly sings Christmas songs. Later at home, tells the story to Pattun. Pattun wheezes and laughs so hard that his crocs fly into the air.