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Suga stood behind the counter, playing on his phone as he waited for the rush hour to start in a few minutes. It was only 2:47 PM, but in a few minutes, classes for that hour would let out, and soon, an influx of college students wanting their boba cravings satisfied would arrive. Being a student himself, he understood.
I mean, many people would forgo going out, saying they didn’t have money, but then spend ~500 yen for boba every other day?
Understandable.
Plus, with a boba shop right on (or somewhat just slightly off) campus, it was way too easy to ask a friend if you wanted boba. Plus (squared), working at Ding Tea just meant more people were likely to head to this shop in particular.
“Suga, quit tapping your foot so much,” Daichi called out, making his way to the front as the second cashier, he adjusted the apron around his waist. “It’s making me nervous.”
Suga jolted and slammed his foot down on the ground, then glanced towards the glass doors to see students in the distance heading over. He tucked his phone into his back pocket, taking a deep breath as he prepared to take orders. After all, at the end of the rush, you’d always appear.
Noya jogged past Suga, giving him a clap on the back as he went towards the laptop connected to the shop’s sound system. “Don’t worry Suga, I’ll play the best music for them to fall in love with you!”
“Tch, that or he’s going to blare music and deafen all of us,” Tsukishima stated, already preparing some cups. “Again.”
“Hey, that was one time!” Noya shouted back. But a glare from Daichi quickly shut the boy up.
“Wonder what name they’re going to go by today,” Tsukishima mused. Suga sighed but before he could say anything in response, the door to the boba opened with a bell signaling customers. Everyone, minus Tsukishima, smiled at the incoming customers and welcomed them. The buzz of the shop came to life.
Fortunately for all of them, the buzz soon started dying down, with a few people coming in every so often, but the tables in the shop were finally filled with students doing homework and studying. A few familiar faces littered the shop as well. Two of his friends, Yachi and Shimizu, being some of the familiar faces, studying together.
“Don’t they usually come every Tuesday and Thursday?” Noya asked in front of the register this time, sipping on his free boba drink as he already clocked out for the day.
Suga nods, “Maybe they had something to do.”
“It’s alright, Suga,” Daichi clasped his hand on his friend’s shoulder.
“Weren’t you going to finally ask for their name today?” Tsukishima questioned, pushing his glasses up. “Guess it wasn’t meant to be.” Daichi threw a glare at the taller boy, but Suga paid it no mind. He really wanted to figure out your name since you always used various different ones. It wasn’t until the bell on the door rang out and Noya let out a yelp, quickly heading towards Yachi and Shimizu’s table, both of them watching closely to everything play out.
Your eyes scanned the menu on the screen above the register before approaching Suga at the register, a bright smile plastered on his face. You couldn’t help but smile back at him.
“What can I get for you today?” Suga asked.
“Uh, Regular jasmine green milk tea, with boba, uhm, slight ice and half sugar,” you replied, somehow with ease. Besides the one bit of a pause. Something about Sugawara, as you read from the tag on his apron, always calmed you down. Even when you did mess up your orders, he’d always wave it off with a smile and chime in about the embarrassing moments he’d have or his coworkers would have, much to their liking.
Even then, he was cute, so color you surprised to be able to stay calm in front of him.
“Sure,” he replied, punching in your order. “What’s your name for today?”
You felt a rush of heat approach your cheeks from your neck. You forgot that you always used a different name because of how much people would mess up your name. And since you didn’t remember which name you used initially when you ordered from Sugawara, of course, you just kept the game going with different names.
“Uh, Aoi,” you stuttered out. You watched as Suga promptly wrote your name down on the computer, then a sticker came out of the machine as he stuck it onto a cup for one of his coworkers (Tsukishima, you’re pretty sure) to grab and start working on your drink. You made sure to give them a decent tip as you paid.
It was oddly quiet in the shop. Usually, Suga would try to hold some conversation, but you noticed that he was being uncharacteristically quiet. The way he fiddled with his fingers and pursed his lips. As if he were nervous. You were about to ask him about his day, seeing as there was no line behind you, until he interrupted you.
“Name!” You tilted your head, confused, and a streak of red appeared across his face. Tsukishima started snickering, trying to contain his laughter as he made your drink. Even one of his other coworkers, Daichi (maybe you need to chill on your boba outings, you already knew everyone by name), who was usually calm and collected, had to move to the back to let out a loud laugh.
Some customers, who you know as classmates and also frequent boba goers, had to look away to hide their laughter. Just how many people were invested in the two of you?
“Sorry, I-uh-” Suga rubbed the back of his neck, making sure to not make eye contact with you or Noya and his other friends laughing at his predicament. “Your name. I was wondering what your name was since you always have a different one.”
“Oh.” You blink. “Oh!” A smile made its way onto your face. You found it quite entertaining that he was more nervous than he let on.
“Plus, then I could get your name right for your order each time. Considering you use easy names.” And he was just as perceptive.
You giggled, and for a second Suga thought you were making fun of him until your name fell from your lips. Your real one. And Sugawara couldn't help the bright grin creeping up on his face as he tasted the way your name felt on his tongue.
𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚢, 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗!