Chapter Text
The smell of coffee and new books fills the quiet air of the bookstore. There are only a few customers in the store right now, since it’s early in the afternoon. The soft sound of pop music drifts, playing over the speakers, filling the air. The scent of lavender is present but not overwhelming. There are some costumers browsing the shelves, looking for their next book, while others sit quietly at the small tables around the store, working on assignments and sipping coffee from the bookstore’s cafe quietly.
Zanka finds the atmosphere of the bookstore calming. He’s been working here part time since the beginning of the semester. Though it doesn’t pay much, and he can barely tolerate his coworkers, it keeps him from being holed up in his dorm. His adoptive father, Enjin, nearly ripped his head off when he found out he barely left his dorm for nearly three months, and, as a professor working at his college, pulled some strings so he could “get out and stop wasting his youth.” Ugh.
He works as a cashier, scanning items and putting them into bags before handing them back with a polite smile on his face. It’s mundane and repetitive, and he’s had to deal with a few rude people, but it could be worse, at least he didn’t work in the bookstore’s in store coffee shop, he’s seen how swamped it gets in the mornings and during exam months.
On this day, he was already two hours into his shift. It hasn’t been too busy today, so he takes the time to work on his coursework. As he’s reading his textbook, he hears footsteps approaching and looks up. Zanka’s friend and coffee shop worker Riyo comes over to his station, a frappuccino and water bottle in her hands.
“Yo, whatcha reading?” she asks, handing the water bottle to Zanka. He glances up, taking the water bottle out of her hand and opening it to take a quick swig. “My textbook for my nutrition class, we got thirty-five pages ta read by ta’morrow so ’m crammin’ while I can,” Zanka replies, putting the bottle on the counter and flipping a page.
Riyo hums and takes a seat on the counter. As she takes a sip of her drink, her eyes wander around the store. Near the coffee shop, she sees a tired looking woman with chunky headphones typing away on her laptop sipping a coffee with whipped cream. On the other side of the store near the mystery novels, she sees an older man with a prosthetic arm scanning the shelves, picking up and putting down various books. Nothing very interesting. No one else in the store really catches her eye, until she hears the old wooden door of the store open and she spots someone she hasn’t seen before come in.
The guy is around 6 feet with hazel skin and long dreads tied in a low ponytail behind his head. He’s wearing a black hoodie and sweatpants with rectangular glasses that make the angular shape of his jaw and nose more pronounced. He’s carrying a tote bag that has an anime character printed on, with various pins attached to it. His posture is slightly slouched as he looks around the store, probably looking for a specific book. He fidgets with the rings adorning his fingers. Riyo eyes him as he walks hurriedly over to the manga section once he spots it, an excited grin on his face.
“What a nerd” she thinks, “he would probably get along with this even bigger nerd.” Riyo snorts at her own joke, looking at her coworker. Zanka looks up at her. “Was’ so funny?” he asks, confused and annoyed at being disturbed.
Riyo looks back up at the guy. He already has two volumes in his hand and is now crouched down looking at the bottom shelf. “You see that guy in the manga section?” Riyo asks, quiet enough that the guy can’t hear them.
Zanka sighs and looks around. It takes his eyes a couple seconds to see who Riyo’s talking about. He stares for a few seconds too long before turning back to Riyo. “Yeah, what about ‘im...?” Zanka questions, not seeing the point her question. Riyo rolls her eyes, “Well? Do you think he’s cute?” she asks, hopeful.
Zanka’s eyes widen comically, face slightly flushed. “I- what kinda question is that?!” he whisper-yells. Where the hell did that come from?! Riyo giggles at his reaction. “Oh, come on he’s totally your type~.” Zanka takes another sip of water, willing his face to cool down. Once he’s mostly composed, he puts the bottle down and turns to Riyo, his arms crossed. “I ain’t gotta type.”
Riyo raises an eyebrow. She opens her mouth but before she can respond she hears “Hey Riyo!” Riyo turns to see her coworker, Gil, waving her over, “We need you over here girl! These pastries ain’t gonna frost themselves!” Riyo does a thumbs up and sighs as she slides off the counter. She pats Zanka’s shoulder with a teasing smirk on her face. “C’mon just talk to him, you need more friends anyways!” She winks and skips back over to the coffee shop.
Zanka groans. What in the world is she talking about? Zanka tries to go back to reading, but now his flow is all off and his thoughts are racing. He thinks back to what Riyo said. Does he have a type? Ugh, he doesn’t know. He is not dealing with this right now.
He turns around to start organizing the books and Lego sets that are stationed behind the register. He grabs the already perfectly organized merchandise and tries to straighten it even more...
------------------------------------------------------------------
The scent of dying leaves and crispy autumn air Is welcome after Jabber’s three-hour class.
He just got out of his advanced chemistry class and walks with his phone in his hand. He finds this class insanely boring and was itching to get out and read the newest chapter of his favorite manga. As he walks back to his dorm he gets a Twitter notification. He opens it and gasps. The sixth volume of his favorite series just came out today! Oh em gosh, he needed to cop this shit right now!
He opens Google maps and finds a bookstore close to campus. He checks the distance. A ten-minute walk. He makes it in 5 sprinting.
He’s outside the bookstore, doubling over and panting from the exhaustion of hauling ass over here. He’s never been to this bookstore before, mostly because he doesn’t really read, but also because the bookstore he used to frequent closed after this one opened.
Jabber’s been wanting to collect the physical volumes of Gachiakuta, but they come out so slow compared to the digital ones. The manga already has more than 150 chapters and they’re only now releasing volume six! This mangaka needs to have a word with their publisher. After a few minutes, Jabber’s breathing steadies and he’s ready to go inside the store. He pushes the loud creaky doors open and adjusts the tote bag on his shoulder. He stands around awkwardly for a moment, fingers fidgeting with his rings as he attempts to locate the manga section.
After a second or two he spots it and grins excited as he speed walks over there. He spots the new volume immediately as it’s front and center on the section’s display table. Well, he got what he came for but he wasn’t quite ready to leave. He continues browsing, squatting down to browse the bottom shelf. Oh! Volume two of Phantom Busters! Okay, now he can leave.
He makes his way over to the register, eyes looking down at the prices of the volumes. “Hello, did ya find everythin’ okay?” Jabber puts the volumes down on the counter. “Oh yeah I...”
He finally looks up, and he’s left speechless.
This guy... looks just like his oshi!
Zento-san, the strongest, coolest, smartest, most handsome, well written character in the manga! Zento-san is Jabber’s favorite character. He’s written fanfiction of him and Zento. Drawn fanart of him and Zento. He’s fought dumbasses on Twitter in defense of Zento. He knows any and everything there is to know about Zento-san. He’s read all the light novels, watched all the author’s interviews, he’s even gotten a print signed by Zento’s voice actor!
Oh, and now there’s this cutie who looks just like him who works here? This must be the best day of his life...
------------------------------------------------------------------
'This guy’s been staring at me for five minutes...'
The tall nerdy dreadhead finally came up to his register after browsing the shelves for nearly twenty minutes. All he did was say hello and now he’s just staring at him. Did he say something wrong? Speak in another language? How does he get into these situations...
It’s starting to get awkward. He’s just gaping. Zanka is surprised a fly hasn’t flown in. He needs to end this interaction. Zanka brings a fist up to his mouth and coughs exaggeratedly. The guy seems to snap out of whatever trance he’s in. He blinks owlishly, his cheeks slightly flushed. He fake coughs into his fist and wipes his hands on his hoodie.
“Huh? Oh yeah man, I found everything alright...” He says, not making eye contact. Zanka nods slowly. “Thas’ good. Er, will that be cash ‘r card?” The guy scrambles to get his wallet out of his pocket. “Card.”
Zanka nods as he starts bagging the dreadhead’s books. All manga huh? He shouldn’t be surprised; this guy is dressed like a nerd stereotype. Same with his mannerisms. Stuttering, hunched shoulders, no eye contact...
Zanka hears the register beep, telling him the card was accepted. He confirms the purchase and the receipt prints. He tears it off and stuffs it into the bag. He looks back up at the dreadhead. He’s looking down and fidgeting with the many rings on his fingers. He holds the bag out to the guy.
“Uh, here ya go sir, thank you fer stoppin’ by.” The dreadhead quickly takes the bag. “Uhh yeah thanks for havin’ me, er uh, yeah, okay... bye!” He basically sprints out of the store. The interaction happened so fast that Zanka still had his arm outstretched. He slowly lowers his arm. Huh. What’s that guy’s deal?
“Yo, what was that guy’s deal?” Riyo says, coming out of nowhere.
Zanka had no damn clue.