Chapter Text
Sis [13:42]
u sure u got this ren?
Rensuke [13:43]
yeah its fine
i just got there actually
Kunigami puts his phone back into his pocket. As he stares at the bookstore – was it really named Blue Lock? - in front of him, he wonders if it was too late to back off and just ask his older sister to come back the day after to get that damned book. His younger sisters pleading face pops up in his mind, she would be heartbroken to learn that Kunigami failed his mission, wouldn’t she?
He shakes his head, he isn’t a teenager anymore. Surely it’s time for him to grow past his hatred for literature. He straightens himself, inhales and enters the shop, welcomed by the sound of a ring bell. It’s bigger than he expected, he notes as he looks briefly around. There’s a slouched white-haired guy behind the counter, he has a name tag on his chest which means he probably works here and at least knows his way around. Kunigami opens his mouth, readying himself to ask for help and get that book, go home and chill like he was initially supposed to.
Unfortunately, today doesn’t seem like it’s his lucky day because ‘Nagi’ is very much asleep.
Never mind. He’ll find it himself.
He wanders through the shelves, humming as his eyes scan the books. He only stops himself when he realizes that he has hit the back of the shop, surrounded by words that mean nothing. He picks up one, two, three books before putting them down after reading their summary, his younger sister probably would end up crying after reading the first chapter. Oh. That one is pretty neat, Kunigami thinks as he looks at the cover – a child with a yellow raincoat holding a red balloon. His sister really likes those animal balloons their father makes after a long day at work as a way to relax, he’s pretty certain she’ll enjoy the sentiment.
“May I help you?” Someone says, breaking his train of thoughts.
He looks up and finds rose-colored eyes staring back at him. A polite business-like smile on his face, waiting for Kunigami’s answer. He works there.
“Yeah, I’m trying to find a book for my sister’s birthday. I found this one, do you think she’ll like it ?” He points with his head in the book’s direction
“It by Stephen King? That’s a good book, she’ll like it.” He nods and Kunigami would be a liar if he said he wasn’t proud of himself. “How old is she?”
“She’s turning ten.”
A beat, followed by silence. The employee is giving him an incredulous look, mouth slightly agape.
“Are you sure you want to give a horror book to your sister?” He finally says.
Huh?
It’s only then that he notices the red bloody font used. The clown standing behind the child with a creepy grin looks like he’s taunting him “You absolute dumb ass”.
He feels the blood rushing to his cheeks as he mumbles a feeble “… No.”
I’m going to die of embarrassment, he thinks. The employee mostly regained his professional composure, if it wasn’t for the amused twitch of his lips.
“It’s alright, it happens.” He shrugs, before adding “Follow me, I’ll bring you to a more age-appropriate section.”
They walk side by side and Kunigami takes a moment to examine the man. He looks like a model, with his long eyelashes and delicate features. His reddish-pink hair is tied up in a high ponytail, with only a few strands falling loose around his face, framing it nicely. He’s absolutely gorgeous, which makes Kunigami feel even more shameful that this moment had to be their first interaction.
The employee must have felt Kunigami’s gaze on him, he looks up with his eyebrows raised.
“I’m sorry.” Kunigami blurts out, without thinking “For earlier, I mean.”
“It’s fine.” The man says “I’m assuming you aren’t a big fan of literature, are you?”
Kunigami must have pulled a funny face, because he hears a faint laugh to his side, making his heart skip a beat.
“Yeah, not really,” He flushes. “I used to read comics when I was younger.”
“Which kind? The super-heroes ones?”
Kunigami nods. “I wanted to become just like ‘em. Saving lives with a smile, fighting bad guys fair and square. That sort of stuff.” He doesn’t bother adding that he still somewhat believes in this ideology.
The employee halts in front of him. His name tag says Chigiri Hyouma.
“Somehow, I’m not surprised. You seem like you fit the type.” He smiles and his hands clap, “Okay. We’re at the right place. What does your sister like?”
Kunigami hums, pondering. She likes princess-y stuff, judging from the posters taking all the place on her walls and the dolls even if she always leaves them on the hallways floor – he definitely never stepped on during the night on his way to the bathroom. Suddenly, he recalls a conversation he had with her a few days ago.
“Uh… she talked about a princess,” No matter how much he thinks about it, he can’t remember her name. “Kahoru… no… Kazusa…, Kanako?”
Chigiri’s blank stare tells him that he has no clue what Kunigami is referring to, he attempts “She was born from… uh a bamboo shoot.”
“Oh!” He sees the other’s face lighten up as he rushes to the top shelf. “That’s Kaguya-hime! I read this tale when I was around her age too. It was great.”
He comes back down after a few seconds with the book in his right hand, “There you go, I’m sure she’ll like it even if it gets a bit sad sometimes.” He huffs, he’s suddenly fired up and Kunigami can’t help but find it endearing.
“You really like books, don’t you?” He says with a smile.
“I sure do.” Chigiri grins. “It has always been kind of a hobby. Whenever I felt bored, I would just pick up a book and forget about whatever was surrounding me. I only started to take literature seriously in high school though. To be honest, it wasn’t even my first job choice.”
He moves to the cash register’s direction, Kunigami on his tracks.
“What was your initial choice then?” The ginger asks curiously.
Chigiri stills, hesitant. He’s about to take it back – shouldn’t even have preyed in the first place, it was none of his business after all.
“That’s a story for another day. Don’t you think?” He finally answers, a glint in his eyes.
Kunigami stays quiet, thinking of what he could possibly say but Chigiri doesn’t leave him time to respond because he’s already behind the counter, shaking the snoring employee.
“Hey Nagi! Get up!”
“Mh… don’t wanna…” The white-haired whines, annoyed by the sudden disturbance.
“Come on dude...” Another shake and Kunigami almost feels bad for Nagi.“You can’t slack off just because Reo isn’t here to supervise your ass.”
“Chigiri… five more minutes…”
The pink-haired pinches his nose “...Alright. Just move elsewhere so I can scan the book of big guy over there.” He nods in Kunigami’s direction.
Nagi drags himself into the other corner of the room, not without complaining. Chigiri watches him do so with an amused look on his face.
“Kunigami Rensuke.” He says quietly, a bit embarrassed by being addressed as ‘big guy’“That’s my name.”
“Nice to meet you Kunigami.” He scans the book, before pointing to his name tag “I’m Chigiri Hyouma.”
He announces the price before handing the book back to its future owner. Kunigami hands him the money. He doesn’t want to part ways just yet, but the sound effect the cash register makes when the payment is made serves as a reminder that he has nothing left to do here.
“Alright, thank you.” Chigiri smiles and Kunigami thinks the conversation is over.
Instead Chigiri gets closer, the only thing separating the two of them is the counter, before he adds.
“Hope I’ll see you again, hero.”
For the second time today, Kunigami’s heart skips a beat.
He gets to the door handle, and says without turning around because he really doesn’t want the pink-haired to see his burning cheeks. “You might. Bye Chigiri.”
Chigiri’s laugh is the last thing he hears before leaving the bookstore.
Sis [13:42]
u sure u got this ren?
Rensuke [13:43]
yeah its fine
i just got there actually
Rensuke [14:15]
[kaguya.png]
got it
and ykw
maybe books arent thaaaat boring
i should start reading again.
Sis [14:15]
?
did a book fall on ur head??
hey?