So this is what I've been doing with myself the last month - I did the Camp NaNoWriMo writing challenge and wrote this. It's kind of stupid in places but I hope you enjoy it all the same

University was one of the most amazing and expensive experiences of my life. I'm not kidding there. I went to study in England; one year's worth of fees was close to nine thousand English pounds. Times that by three years plus living, food and the occasional flight back home (if I had any money left at all) then add on the exchange rate and we're looking something close to a couple of million Yen.

But like I said it was also the most amazing experience of my life. I met some great people, discovered that girls really aren't my thing (which I think I'd always kind of known) and have some amazing memories. I also left with a First Class degree in photography, meaning that if I applied for a technical photography job then I would, most likely, be the most qualified candidate for the job.

Unfortunately as photography is such a fickle and difficult line of work to get into or make any money out of and I am close to five million Yen in debt (while also still spending money as I'm no longer living at home) I've had to take the first job I could get. Is this job photography children in a shopping mall? Photographing wildlife for minimum wage for a magazine that nobody reads? Teaching photography at the local college? Nope, none of those.

The first job that I was able to get after graduating from University with the highest degree I could have gained is working in a supermarket round the corner from the flat I am renting with a friend of mine. This is not quite what I had in mind after spending all that money but it's currently the best I can do so it will have to do. That is at least until I can find something that I actually want to do…

"So you've got yourself a log in for the tills and you know how to use them right?" Mimi asked.

"Mostly." I replied. Mimi was the one who had been charged with making sure that I knew what I was doing and (in her words) 'looking after me' on my first day, meaning that I was regarded as little more than her shadow. She was nice though; she was quite funny, if a little dapsy, and she seemed as if her heart was in the right place.

"Great," she said. "when it get a bit less hectic we'll let you loose on one."

"You sure that's a good idea?" I asked grinned. She laughed.

"You can't be any worse than some people." she replied rolling her eyes. I laughed. Now that sounded like a story. I wanted to ask but thought I probably shouldn't (although I was pretty sure that Mimi would tell me anyway).

"Yeah," I said, moving the conversation on. "tills are no problem. What else is there?" Mimi thought for a moment before she began counting things off on her fingers.

"Well there's date checking things," she told me. "reducing stuff and stocking shelves. Stocking shelves is pretty self explanatory…"

"You put the thing on the shelf behind the label?" I asked.

"Pretty much," she grinned. "and date checking is also pretty self explanatory. Reducing stuff is a pain because the machines don't work properly and you'll have to change about four times before you find one that actually works."

"Doesn't that just make it take ten times longer?" I asked.

"Yes," she replied. "but the longer you look like you're doing something the less time you have to spend actually doing anything else."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"This is a skill you will pick up over time," she told me. "the art of making it look like you're doing something but not actually doing anything at all. I have developed this skill over the last couple of years and I'm pretty good at it now."

"Mimi stop telling the Newbies how to not do any work," a deep voice said from behind us. "I actually need staff who do things!"

"I do things." Mimi shot back turning to face the person who had spoken to us. I turned as well and found myself staring at the most stunning guy I had ever seen. Gorgeous deep brown eyes, a mess of brown hair that I was already fantasising about running my fingers through and he even looked good in the stupid uniform.

"Not quickly." Mr Gorgeous replied.

"I've worked here too long to care." Mimi replied smiling at him. "You've got Newbies to care."

"Why do I let you loose with them?" he asked before turning to me. "Please ignore everything she says to you that isn't relevant to actually doing the job." Mimi laughed and poked him in the chest.

"And you stop being such a hard arse." she said. He rolled his eyes before looking at me.

"Are you going to introduce me or am I going to have to resort to looking at him name badge?" he asked her.

"I'll introduce you," she said. "I haven't gotten around to giving him a name badge yet." He sighed.

"Efficient as ever."

"Hire someone who gives a shit." she stated. "TK this is Tai; he is our Supervisor and a grumpy bastard. Tai this is Takeru Ishida but he prefers 'TK'." At that moment I was hit by three thoughts at once. Firstly being oh my god how is our Supervisor only, like, five years older than me. Secondly oh my god I can't believe she talks to our Supervisor like that and thirdly oh my god why is our Supervisor so hot! I won't be able to get any work done!

"Ishida…" Tai said studying me. "I recognise that name."

"Um…" I stood and stared at him, unable to come up with anything more eloquent than that. Suddenly he clicked his fingers as the penny dropped.

"I know where I know you from: you're Matt Ishida's gawky little brother." he said.

"Hey! Less of the gawky thanks." I said although I couldn't be too annoyed, he wasn't exactly wrong – I was a bit gawky before I hit my late teens. "How do you know Matt?"

"He was in the same year as me at school," Tai said. "although I remember me and him used to get into a lot of fights before we actually became friends."

"Matt was a bit of a moody bastard when he was younger." I stated. "Although to be honest, he's still a moody bastard now." Tai laughed.

"So what's he up to now?" he asked.

"Getting his band together and recording an EP." I told him.

"Cool. So what made you apply for a job here?" Tai asked.

"I'm incredibly passionate about the world of retail work." I lied.

"I thought you said you were in debt." Mimi chimed in.

"I am also five million Yen in debt." I corrected myself as if she hadn't spoken. Tai whistled.

"Five million? What did you do?"

"I went to University in England." I said.

"That would explain in." Tai said.

"Yeah," Mimi added. "he knew you were lying; no one is really passionate abut the world of retail work." I grinned. I liked her a lot – she was funny.

"Mimi." Tai cautioned, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Hire someone who gives a shit." she said again, grinning at him. He rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Please don't pick up any of her bad habits." he said to me.

"I'll try." I grinned back at him.

"Right I'll leave you two to it," he said to me. "good luck with the rest of the training and Mimi, do some bloody work."

"I promise nothing." she stated. Tai rolled his eyes again. I could tell from the way the two of them interacted that they had been friends and worked together for a long time. He turned to me and gave me a winning smile.

"I'll see you around TK." he said.

"See you around." I replied a little dreamily (dear god I hope Mimi didn't pick up on that). As he turned and left I couldn't help but steal a quick glance at his butt as he walked away. Oh damn! He has a nice butt. I'm not going to be able to get any work done when he's around…