I was originally gonna give this some really deep sounding summary. Something comparing the streetlights and sign and fluorescent bulbs to Ai's...eyes. But then I was thinking, this story is gonna be pretty silly, there's gonna be some goofy fucking shit in this story. So I decided to make the summary just something nice and cute and fun.

Enjoy!

Is this a test?

Rin, second-year college student and the new single owner of a 1LDK apartment, was starving. The constant goal of maintaining a fit body so that his swimming would never suffer was telling him to drink some water and get something healthy in the morning, but the empty feeling in his stomach was saying that the convenience store was hardly two blocks away and the walk there would make up for whatever he ate anyway.

I should have never thought of Haru and Makoto's happiness…I wouldn't be living like this right now.

Rin immediately regretted the thought. Although living with Haru for his first year of college was nice and his cooking skills were pretty good, when talks of Makoto moving from his single apartment to live with Haru had started, Rin knew it would be best to give them space. When their first year had ended, Rin found an apartment closer to school, and Makoto and Haru had found something equidistant from their respective universities. It was for the best, still, Rin felt a bit lonely.

The growl in his stomach, however, made Rin feel more than a bit hungry.

Concluding that it was perfectly normal to get a late night snack, finally, Rin decided to go to the convenience store after all.

I'll just get a sandwich.

The walk took less than five minutes, but looked different to Rin, as he'd only ever made the trek in the mornings. He'd always thought there was something different to a convenience store at night. Perhaps it was the lit-up sign, or the weird feeling of some kind of kinship with the others who'd found themselves at one so late at night, but Rin liked it more.

With the end of his train of thought came the brightly lit store sign with "Family Mart" in blue letters.

Although Rin liked the atmosphere of the store at nighttime, he didn't really feel like dawdling tonight. There was a swim practice in the morning and he wanted to be able to wake up a few hours early so he could give his body time to wake up. He moved swiftly through the store, grabbing a bag of chips and restocking his supply of energy drinks, he didn't really need to, but he figured that as long as he was out he might as well pick up some more.

The store was quieter than it was in the day, and although he'd only just noticed, he knew why. Rin preferred peace and quiet at times like this. During the day, when he'd usually go, the two cash registers were occupied by two seemingly best friends who were always chatting between customers. He thought that maybe it would be better if he came by at night, he could get a little walking in, pass some time, and he wouldn't have to deal with the chatty tellers. Yeah, he could do that. He'd have to think about it a bit more, make a final decision after he checked his school and practice schedule, but there was a good chance he could stop by at night instead.

The teller had been looking down the entire time, bangs covering his face as he refilled the cash register with change. Rin placed his items on the counter just as the teller closed the cash tray.

This guy seems pretty quiet…he's really…

"Ah! Good evening sir!" The teller lifted his head too look at Rin.

CUTE! What the fuck? He's so cute…shit…

"That'll be eight-hundred and thirty-seven yen, sir…Sir?"

Rin snapped out of his thoughts, locking eyes with the adorable cashier.

"How…How much, did you say?"

"Ah, um, eight-hundred and thirty-seven yen…"

"Yeah…" Rin laughed a bit nervously. This was not a familiar feeling. The teller laughed a bit as well and his face felt hot, his whole body felt like it was on fire.

Just get through this, Rin. He's just very, very cute, and once you leave you'll totally forget. You just have to never ever come back to this store ever again at night so that you don't see him anymore. Fuck everything you thought before, coming here at night was a terrible idea. Just always come during the day, even if it's a bit inconveniencing.

Yeah…that's…a good…

"163 yen is your change…" the teller extended a handful of change to Rin, who held out his open palm, slightly shaking. As he dropped the coins into his hand and pulled back, the cashier's soft fingertips brushed Rin's hand, causing Rin to flinch and create a slightly awkward moment. Rin couldn't bring himself to look back up at the boy, if he had, he would have seen the prominent blush across his cheeks.

"Uh, thanks…"

Rin started to walk with haste towards the automatic doors.

"Ah, uh," the teller leaned over the counter a bit towards the almost gone Rin. "Have a good night!"

Rin stopped in his tracks for a second.

Even his voice is cute…

And without turning around, Rin did his best to get the words out.

"You…too!"

And then he was gone.

Shit, shit, shit! Even when I can't see his face he's still cute with that stupid fucking cute adorable voice. I'll forget him by tomorrow. Just gotta, gotta eat this…and then sleep and when I wake up in the morning I won't even remember why I've decided to never go to the Family Mart at night again. I'll just believe that there was a really good reason that isn't that…totally not cute cashier. Yeah.

Rin started to run down the street.

Back at the Family Mart, Nitori Aiichirou was laying on the counter, hands covering his face.

Aw man, he was really good looking. Such a good body…but it's not like anything could happen between us. I'm just some dopey cashier at the Family Mart.

I've never seen him before though…I'll have to ask the people from the day shift if they know who he is…

Ai sighed. It was only nine in the evening, and his shift didn't end until midnight. He resigned to lift himself from the counter and find something to do so he could get his mind off of the attractive customer. Deciding he'd reorganize the aisles during the downtime so that whomever was opening in the morning wouldn't have to, Ai walked around the counter and into the main of the store, stopping when he stepped on something a few feet from the doors.

A wallet?

He picked it up, opening it as he stood to check for an ID.

His wallet?!

I noticed that I made a pun earlier when proofing this. "Inconveniencing" and they're in a convenience store, lmao? And also thank god for automatic spellcheck because I cannot spell convenience.

Family Mart is a real chain in Japan, kinda like a 7/11. You know how 7/11 sells doughnuts? Family Mart sells chocolate cookies with marshmallows in the middle. They're okay. If you live somewhere that doesn't have a 7/11, think of the convenience store you see the most. There you go.

I wish we could have gotten more into Rin's personal thoughts not concerning swimming with the first season of the anime, it would have helped a lot. As far as I can tell, he's probably the type to try and stay away from intimate relationships because they'll distract him from swimming. Not asexual but just…awfully driven. However, I wanted him to kinda obsess over Ai's cuteness just because I don't think that there is anyone who can deny the adorableness of a person when they see them. Tough guy with a heart of gold and squishy love.

Anyway, please review! I'm planning for this to be about 5 chapters, at least once a week or every two weeks. It would be nice if it ended in the spring where it takes place! If you all start demanding chapters, though, I might update with quicker pace. Happy reading!