DISCLAIMER: THIS CHAPTER WILL HAVE SOME OF THE TRIGGER WARNINGS I PUT IN THE DESCRIPTION
. . . . .

KOKICHI OUMA

The noisy chime of my ringtone had woken me up, startling me in my dream. I groaned, staring at the wall as my eyes struggled to close back. I blinked them open and got out of bed, ruffling my already messy hair.

Leaving my bedroom, I spotted the empty corridors of my abode. I'd figured my cousins left the night before, probably tired from annoying me when I finally managed to slumber. I smiled at the image in my head from that scene, heading into the bathroom to wash my face.

The house was oddly silent and I felt fear caress me. I dropped my toothbrush, leaving the bathroom and staring outside into the hallways.

I was always like this when my mom wasn't home, never got used to it. Even as a nineteen year old, I'm still scared of being home alone. I quickly began to do my morning duties as to get out of the house with haste. The silence was the main thing I feared when it felt as if eyes were crawling upon me. So I hit up some music from my radio, just to get somebody talking.

I sighed, wearing on some appropriate attire and heading out of my townhome. I headed into the Nissan I managed to afford awhile ago, and began my trail to SunnySide.

. . . . .

"Looks like somebody didn't have enough sleep," Kaede said with a chuckle.

I groaned, leaning back into the shelf and rubbing my eyes.

"I slept at like -- 4:00AM or something...,"

I watched as Kaede shook her head with a smile before walking away. I got my ass up; couldn't be caught slacking on the job. I began to stack instant ramen on the shelves at aisle B when I spotted someone behind the cashier shelf, that being... Shuichi.

I looked over at him, trying to catch his attention. Suddenly, his gaze fell upon me; my chance to put a thumbs up and a cheeky smile. He smiled at me, turning his attention back to the customer he was talking to.

That's when I felt myself blush...
Something I didn't even know I was capable of doing while Shuichi did it all the time. I slapped my heating face and began to pack the shelves once again.

There was no time for boys, I was done with relationships ever since... him. He never liked the way I looked, always saying I needed to be an inch smaller. I began to eschew his frivolous demands but that's when the domestic violence began to roll in. I was forced to ֆȶǟʀʋɛ ʍʏֆɛʟʄ.

And when I didn't listen to these demands, I'd either get abused or he would R̶a̶p̶e̶ me. That's when I felt as if there wasn't any point in our relationship and left. That's when I felt as if there wasn't any point in any relationship....

Better to stop having those memories.

I sighed, heading into the back room to grab some more instant ramen to shelf when I heard the cacophonous yelling of an angry customer. I groaned, heading out of the storage room to deal with yet another nuisance to my existence.

When entering the scene, I'd of noticed it was Shuichi getting yelled at by said customer. His face, shocked and frozen. I walked up to the customer, keeping yet a cavalier demeanor and crossed my arms.

"What do you want...?" I said, giving off a rather irritated sentiment.

He cleared his throat, aiming a finger at Shuichi as to bring my attention to him. I felt my feet begin to tap on the marble floor out of annoyance.

"He... this guy won't let me return the cereal I bought for my kids!"

I rolled my eyes, grabbing the box and throwing it to the ground.

"You opened it, hun."

Her tone began to get angrier as her children hid behind her, in which I would assume was out of embarrassment. She picked the cereal off of the ground and put it in front of my face, instantly grabbing my attention.

"It had bugs in it,"

"And that's not my fucking problem is it?"

She slammed the cereal on the counter looking directly at Shuichi. I tried bringing her attention back to me, but she wouldn't budge. I knew Shuichi wasn't one to talk back whether he was valid in the sitch.

"If you need our fucking manager just say it," I said, knowing Togami would most likely side me as per usual... but lecture me later.

She burst into laughter, pointing at me with insanity in her lungs. I arched an eyebrow, giving her a concerning look with my lips.

"OH HO HO- So little guy wants to act all big now, alright, get me the manager and let me tell him how he is poisoning my kids."

I shrugged, heading to Togamis office and sat on a sturdy black chair.

"Angry lady wants to see you."

Togami looked right up at me, massaging his temples. He put the pen he was holding down and onto the table, getting up with a groan.

"What did you do now?" I could hear him mutter as he left the room.

I followed along, behind Togami to the scene. I'd realized Shuichi hadn't said anything for a while, causing me to feel bad. I told him first days were always bad, but not this bad.

"How may I be of your assistance?" Togami said, announcing an inviolable and professional presence.

"This cereal has bugs in it. And these men aren't doing anything to help."

Togami cleared his throat, looking at the both of us side-eyed, causing Shuichi to flinch. I looked over at Shuichi, him looking back as I mouthed a 'sorry' along his way. He didn't respond, only looking back at the manager to see what he would do next.

Togami took the cereal box out of her hands and examined it as if deciphering a code. He groaned, walking over to an available trash can to give it something to pass on.

He put a hand on Shuichi's shoulder, his other hand pointing towards the cash register.

"Just give her $11.78 and call it a day, alright?"

I watched as Shuichi nodded slowly, his face a mountain of fear as the angry woman nodded with a smirk on her face. I felt like punching her right then and there, wiping the smile off of her face.

I calmed down, taking a small breath once Shuichi was done giving her, her money. Once she exited the store, I walked over to Shuichi and put my arm on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry you had to experience that,"

"No, it's okay...," He said, not sounding as okay as he wanted me to believe he was.

I frowned, looking up at him as he failed to make eye contact. Perhaps I was too close?

I backed up a bit...

"Umm, how about I make it up to you? We could go roller skating later today..."

He looked up at a customer ready to cash out his stuff and held out an index finger at me as to say 'one second' in which I obliged. I stood there, waiting for said customer to finish. Not so long after, Shuichi was done and looked at me with a sigh.

"I really don't want to use your money like that-,"

"No, I insist, like I really don't mind. Just see me after my shift, at the general rink."

Shuichi nodded, slightly smiling and proceeded to his work.

I headed to the back room, much more pep in my step as I reached for candy boxes to pack. A firm hand tapped onto my back, causing me to jump up in shock.

"So Kokichi finally got a date huh?" Maki said, a bundle of boxes in her arms.

I shot around, my face a full shade of burgundy red as I began to process what she'd said.

"It's not a date Maki, we almost just met," I said, crossing my arms while holding a disappointed look on my face.

"Just met? Then I don't know why you are trying so hard...,"

"Trying so hard to do what?"

"To get his attention." She said

I held my hips with my hands making an irritated face at Maki all the while trying to hide the fact I was blushing. Before I could speak, Kaito had walked up to us in the middle of our conversation, scratching at the back of his neck.

"Ay Maki, do you know if you are available to hang out at the gym today?"

Maki nodded, setting the boxes down onto the supply crates to create more space for herself.

"When are we going?"

"Whenever you'd like!"

"I say 7:00PM."

"Good, I'll be there," Kaito said before evacuating the sitch.

I waited for Kaito to fully disappear from my retinas before looking at Maki with a smirk, my arms still crossed.

"I swear, if you say anythi-,"

"So Maki finally got a date huh?"

"You dimwit!" She said, hiding the blush on her face with a hand.

I chuckled leaving the storage room with the candy boxes I picked up. It was fun teasing people, especially Shuichi who got flustered easily. I could stare at his red face for ages without getting tired. It made me laugh inside just think about it.

I saw Shuichi head into the back room after throwing me a salute. I looked at my wristwatch which presented a 3:03PM in diamond fonts. I frowned, realizing I wouldn't see Shuichi for the next two hours. Gonna have to make the most of it.

Word Count: 1662

CHAPTER DICTIONARY:

Eschew - Deliberately avoid using; abstain from.

Frivolous - Not having any serious purpose or value.

Cacophonous - Involving or producing a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.

Cavalier - Showing a lack of proper concern; offhand.