Chapter Text
Shin, is a 20-year-old college student who happens to have the ability of telepathy. He didn’t have much, when he was a hitman he was on the verge of dying but a man he used to know named Sakamoto saved him. Sakamoto offered him a job at his store named “Sakamoto’s Store” and Shin took him up on that offer.
After he quit being a hitman, he applied to a local college hoping he could start his life. After waiting for a while, he received a letter and took it to work with him. He then told Sakamoto and Aoi that he got a letter. Shin was too nervous so he asked them to open it. Sakamoto grabs it and sliced it open with a pen. He then pulls it out, Shin is scared but he looks up at Sakamoto and starts to read his thoughts.
“Accepted”
Shin crumbles to the floor and begins crying while thanking Taro and Aoi for helping him get this far. Aoi then brings up celebrating, so after Shin’s shift, he heads up to their apartment upstairs. He was greeted by Hana, she congratulated Shin while running around him. He then sits down at the futon in the room Sakamoto was in. After a few minutes, Aoi came out with a few dishes and told everyone to dig in.
Shin didn’t have a problem with juggling his courses and shifts at work. Sakamoto recently made the store 24/7 because he’s gotten 3 new staff; Tai Cha - a day staff member, Heisuke Mashimo - night staff member, and lastly Shin himself.
During Shin’s shifts, nothing happens, he used to work day shifts but he quite enjoys the night shift. The people who come in during late hours are usually chill, even if they look mean they won’t do anything. Well, that was his impression of working the late shifts for the last five months. But something weird has now started happening.
As Shin was working his shift, it was 10pm, yet no customers were appearing. Shin gets up and goes into the back room, he begins to look for new inventory so that he can stock the shelves while he waits for someone to come in. Shin grabs a few boxes or ramen and carries them to the ramen shelves and begins shelving them. As Shin is putting up new inventory he hears someone speak from the front of the store, in an inpatient tone.
“Is anyone working!?” Shin gets up and begins heading to the front as he comes in view of the customer, he notices many things. The man’s body language was communicating that he was in a hurry and wasn’t enjoying how Shin wasn’t at the cash register. He then looks up and reads the man’s thoughts.
‘God is this kid dumb? He’s taking forev- what’s he staring at! God can he hurry up?’ Shin was staring at the man for a few seconds and the man was already trashing him! The audacity people have. Shin then walks behind the cash register and looks at the man and was about to say something but the man says in a rushed way.
“Just give me one pack of cigs kid, give me the one with a dice on the cover!? Did you get that SHIN?” Shin was taken aback, while speaking the man takes notice of his name card on his apron and blurts out his name at the end to tell Shin to hurry it! But Shin couldn’t show this rude man that he could get a reaction so Shin just grabbed the cigarette box the man had ordered and handed it to the man. As he was about to ask for payment the man slams a 1000 yen bill on the counter, grabs the cigarette box and walks away… Shin yelled
“DO YOU WANT YOUR CHANGE?” The cigarettes only costed 900 hundred and 60 yen but shin hears the man grumble the words keep it. Once the man was long gone and down the rode, Shin sighed and fumbled back and he places himself on the stool. The first customer he gets after Sakamoto clocked out was such a pain. He thinks the night can’t get worse, but someone had other plans for him.
After that man the rest of the night was way better, everything was calm and peaceful. Most people walking in were just there for a few minutes and they only grabbed a few stuff and weren’t mean to Shin. That is until he showed up.
Shin was sitting behind the counter, he was using his phone until he heard someone put something down on the counter? He may not be paying attention but the ring at the door should have warned him someone walked in. And even after that, he could read the thoughts of others, but he heard nothing from the man or woman in front of him. Shin then wakes back up to reality after the man begins to speak.
“Isn’t this Sakamoto’s store? Guess he hired employees. Anyways! Can you ring up my snacks? I need to get going now.” At the first part, the man in front of Shin seemed disappointed but when addressing him he sounded playful? Shin shrugs it off and begins to ring up the items until he notices something. ‘Sakamoto’s store?’ Did this man know Sakamoto.. Does that make him a threat, as only people that used to know him knew he was a hitman until he retired. His thoughts were cut off when he heard the man say,
“Don’t worry Shin, me and Sakamoto are just old acquaints.” He sounds so playful that most people would just drop the thought and continue. But not Shin, he had to know if this man was friendly or not. He didn’t want to in danger Sakamoto’s family by accident. But first, he finished ringing up everything he says.
“That will be 2000 and 647 yen. Will you be paying cash or card?” He had to keep it professional at the very least, even if the man in front of him was a little strange. The man in front of him takes out his wallet and slides a 5000 yen bill. He than says,
“May I have some change?” The man has his eyes closed, a big smile, and his head is tilted a bit to the left. Shin felt tired dealing with this man, it was hard to get a read on him, literally. Shin then grabs the bill and puts it in the register and starts counting the man's change.
“Here is your change sir. Please come again.” Shin hands the man 2000 and 353 yen for his change. Shin was so happy this mini headache is leaving soon. But, the other man had other plans. He says in a friendly tone,
“The names Nagumo! Tell Sakamoto I say hi and I'll be visiting again, Shin!” The man named Nagumo disappears in a blink of an eye. Shin then sighs in relief that the man was gone, but he makes a mental note to ask Sakamoto about the man later.
Shin continued his shift as normal and at 2am his shift partner appeared so he was just chilling in the staff room until the clock hit 3 so that he could clock out. Once it hits 3am he clocks out, grabs his stuff and walks to the bus stop and waits there.
Once Shin gets home, he moves through his nightly routine without much thought before crashing into bed. He sleeps until 10 AM, long enough to shake off the exhaustion of his late shift.His class schedule, perfectly suited to his night job, by 11:30 AM, he’s on campus, giving himself a little time to kill before lectures begin at noon.
That’s when he meets up with his small but lively group of friends. There’s Akira Also, who’s absent from school more often than not, always searching for her missing aunt. Atari, distant and unreadable, never seems to have much on her mind. Then there’s Nao Toramaru—talkative, sharp, and someone Shin keeps his guard up around since she happens to know Sakamoto. And finally, Natsuki Seba, who has a reputation as a playboy but, in reality, only cares about tinkering with gadgets that make his life easier.
As Shin was walking around looking for them, he spotted them sitting down at an outdoor table. He walks over and greets them. After 30 minutes past they hear the bell and all say goodbye to each other. After this, everything was a blur for Shin. He just went to his classes and took notes.
After 5 hours and a few extra minutes, it was 5:15pm. The bell rang and Shin immediately got up and left, he headed straight for the bus and went home. Once he was home at 5:45pm, he began to study and do his work while waiting for it to be 7:35pm so he wouldn't miss the bus to work. After a while of studying, Shin gets ready for work and heads out to the bus stop. After a while he finally makes it to the bus stop near his job, five minutes to spare before his shift. He walks in and greets Sakamoto, which he reads Sakamoto and hears he said hi and that he should get ready.
Once Shin was done getting ready it was time for his shift to start. During the first hour of his shift is Sakamoto’s last hours, he then remembers the man last night and heads towards Sakamoto. He then asks him,
“Sakamoto, do you know a man named Nagumo? He came yesterday looking for you at around 1am. Is he bad or good??” Shin was very confused about Nagumo, he was TOO friendly which sometimes rubs people the wrong way but also because Shin couldn't get a read on him. He was too quiet or Shin might need to focus more when trying to read his mind. He then noticed Sakamoto was gonna answer so he waited.
‘Nagumo, he's an old acquaintance. If he tries anything just shut him down, also he plays a lot so keep a look out.’
That was all for what Sakamoto says, he then goes back to eating his ramen. Shin then begins to do his daily activities at the store. Such as putting up new inventory and cleaning around the place. While Shin is cleaning Sakamoto clocks out once his shift is done and he tells Shin good luck and goes up to meet his family.
After Sakamoto left, Shin also had to cashier but during the time nobody was in the shop he would stock up or clean around the store. Not many people came in but when they did Shin would go back and give them service. It was quite the chill night, at least 14 people have come through the store during the 4 hours he’s been working. It was 12 which was the least busiest hour. As Shin was taking his lunch break at the time, he had a sandwich. He was eating at the register but while he was taking a bite he heard an agitating voice.
“Hey Shin! How’s your shift going?” While the man was speaking, Shin bite his tongue and started cursing out the man. He then looks up, glaring at the man, who was the reason he bite his tongue. Nagumo on the other hand was smiling but he tilted his head in confusion or to try and look cute. Shin says to Nagumo,
“Hello sir, what may I help you with.” Shin tries his best not to curse this man and stays professional. But Nagumo on the other hand sighed dramatically and looks at Shin with sad eyes. He than says in a pitiful tone.
“No, call me Nagumo Shin, I want to get to know you.” Shin looks at him and retorts back. “No thanks, please stay as far as you can.” Shin said that so fast he didn’t even notice. Nagumo goes quiet, Shin gets worried so he tries to read the other’s mind. When he tried to he fell forward, in quick thinking so that Shin wouldn’t hit the counter. Nagumo quickly grabs him from over the counter and steady’s him. When Shin tried the shear amount on how fast Nagumo was thinking hit him like a truck. Once Nagumo steadied him Shin whispers thanks and Nagumo smiles. Nagumo than says in a friendly tone.
“You ok Shin? But also can you get me a cig, the one with a dice on it.” While Shin gets what Nagumo wants, Nagumo moves around getting snacks. Once Shin is back in front of the register, Nagumo quickly appears with a bunch of snacks. Shin begins to ring up everything. Nagumo without needing to be asked, takes out his card and hands it to Shin. Shin then pings the card and it goes through, Shin then returns the card and Nagumo puts it in his pocket. Nagumo was about to ask Shin something until someone had walked into the shop.
The man was walking around with an air of arrogance like he was better. He walked towards the back and grabbed stuff. While that was happening Shin finished putting all of Nagumo’s stuff in a bag. He hands it to him, their hands grazing each other by accident. Or on purpose? While that was happening the man who walked in and was in the back came to the register and laid his stuff down. Nagumo smiled at Shin, bowed slightly and walked away. Leaving the store but he sits on the chair outside.
Now Shin looks at the new customer and begins ringing in his items. Shin then asked the man for cash or card. The man pulled out his card and gave it to Shin. Shin thought the man was going to have an attitude with the way he walked in but the man didn’t even want to conversant with him. Shin hands the card over and bags up the man’s stuff, as he was handing the bag over the man snatched it and walked out. What an odd experience?
After that Nagumo, who was sitting outside, walks back in. He then walks over to Shin and begins rummaging around the bag with all his sweets. He takes out a strawberry-flavored chocolate then hands it over to Shin and says,
“Do you have low blood sugar? You almost collapsed on the counter which frightened me.” Shin took the candy but didn’t want to tell Nagumo that he fell because he tried reading his thoughts. So Shin smiled and just accepted the explanation Nagumo thought for himself. He opens the wrapper and pops the candy in his mouth. After he finishes the chocolate, Shin then says,
“Thanks, Nagumo, for the chocolate” Shin looks at Nagumo, and Nagumo has a closed-eye smile on his face. Nagumo says, “Any time Shin. Well bye, I have to get back to work.” After Nagumo said those words, he disappeared. Shin blinked and the aloof man was gone, Shin’s opinion of the man had changed. He’s very mysterious, but he doesn’t seem to be a bad guy… Right?
After Nagumo left, nothing interesting happened that night. Before he knew it his shift was over, he said goodbye to Heisuke and made his way to the bus stop. Another person was waiting, an old lady. She seemed to be in her 70s, she had modest attire except her light blue bag stood out. Shin walks over to the bench to wait for the bus, which the old lady is also sitting on. The old lady then turned to him and said,
“Why hello there, may I ask what brings you here so late?” Shin looks over to the old lady and says, “I just got off of work, I’m going home ma’am.” The old lady then begins a conversation with Shin. Shin just listens until the old lady says.
“Has anyone new appeared in your life that seems mysterious? Someone you can never get a read on.” The old lady’s tone changed. It seemed like she was reading a script which was scaring Shin but he answered honestly to her.
“Yes, someone new has appeared into my life th-” The old lady cuts him off, she then says “Stay far away from that man, you never know what he might do to ruin you. Or maybe even control you, take my advice, Shin.” Shin was caught off guard, he didn’t know how to respond, maybe the old lady was playing pranks…. Wait, how does she know his name?!
Shin looked up but the old lady had already disappeared… Everything she said was so odd, how did she know his name, he didn’t even have his name tag on. Can he trust her, but he just met Nagumo? How can someone already be warning Shin about him? Something wasn’t right, but Shin had no time to speculate. His bus arrived so he is now heading home and trying his best to calm down.
He makes it home, and does his usual routine. He then falls asleep peacefully, forgetting what the old lady said and just thinks that Nagumo is a little weird.