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“So is it true that you guys carry like the toys”, the question is followed by a collection of hushed giggles. You look up from the register screen at the group of middle schoolers in front of you. You barely manage to contain an eye roll, “that’s Spencer’s, this is hot topic”. The group looks around the store then behind them through the glass windows. One of taller girls in the group shoves her friend before all of them begin to run out the door, stumbling over themselves. In yet another fit of giggles they knock a Kuromi mini backpack off your front display shelf. You sigh..

Kids. Was I this annoying when I was young?

You grab your store keys and close the register you were counting walking around the counter towards the display. Just as you were getting close a man walks through the door. Your first thought is how fucking massive he is. He’s fully covered in a pink button up with the sleeves rolled just below the his elbows and a pair of jeans so fitted they’d be considered “skinny” if he wasn’t so… beefy. He bends down in front of the display and picks up the backpack with a small smile. That’s when your second thought comes: he’s cute.

He looks up and you immediately lock eyes. Andddd you just realized you’re like a foot away from him and have just been straight staring at him. “Hi welcome in, I can uh, take that” you gesture a hand towards the bag and his eye dart to your manicured cherry black nails before they come back to your face. “Oh.” He says. But he doesn’t move. There’s a solid two seconds of staring before you quirk a brow. “OH! I uhh… I’m look for more of this?”, he lifts the bag slightly. You analyze it for a second. Its black messenger bag with purple stitching and a Lolita kuromi embroidered on the flap… it didn’t really look like his style but you’ve been wrong before. “Is there something wrong with that one? Or were you trying to purchase more than one?”, you question lightly. “No no, like… more of the” he looks at the bag again, “black and white devil thing… girl? Devil Girl.”

Oh. “Like more kuromi specifically or like Sanrio in general”, you put your head through the land yard of your keys and adjust your top. His eyes flicker to your chest and instantly back to your eyes. “YEs” his voice cracks and he clears his throat, “yes”. He has his arms folded, clutching the bag to his chest. A small laugh escapes you, “yes to?”.

He looks at the ceiling then back at you. “Uh, I’m not sure. This is like. For a a coworker, she likes this stuff. ”, he pulls the bag away from his chest and stares a bit, “but I’ve seen this one before so she’s must be popular right?”. Cute. So cute. “Yeah, come I’ll show you the rest of our Sanrio collection”

————

Thank fuck you get out early on Sundays. This heat was determined to cook you it seems, even in your shorts. You had finished counting the till a minute ago and already had your bag slipped over your shoulder. You hesitated near one of the racks, debating on using your discount on a piece from the new collection of Elvira merch. Suddenly there’s a shadow casting over you from behind. You side step but when it doesn’t pass you look up. Pretty boy.

Adam plays with a button on his shirt and for a second despite his stature he looks small. “Hey.. again.”

“Hey, sorry dude I’m like, off the clock. But Jenny is actually like a Sanrio Expert”, you make a gesture towards the counter where a younger coworker is standing. “Oh, actually uh”, he balances his weight from foot to foot before lifting a boba drink you hadn’t seen earlier, “I just wanted to thank you for helping me”. Aww, how sweet of him. “Thanks dude, it’s kind of my job though. You didn’t need to buy me anything”, you eye the drink with a healthy amount of skepticism but realize it fully seal and ‘un-poked’. “Yea, of course. Your good. THAT is good, like you are. Good. At your job!”, he rushes out, “I just thought you might like to… this”. You raise an eyebrow fighting a smile. “I might like to this, huh?”, he pales but before he can say anything else you grab the drink. “I think I do actually. Wanna watch me drink it in the food court?”, for a second you think you can see the loading symbol above his head.