Author's Note: Hello there my bookworms! How's everyone doing!? I know that you're all wondering where I always disappear to but School has been kicking my but lately! I'm trying to be a good student and not procrastinate so much! That's still working progress though~
Anyway, I have a ONESHOT for all you peeps out there! It's been a bit since I've written so criticism is highly recommended!
Let's get on with the story!
Word Count: 2,381
Customer Service
"Alright, just calm down. No need to overreact yet." these were some of the encouraging words that our protagonist was telling himself. Ruffling his hair in a frustrated matter the said individual slumps on the ground of his living room looking at his 'target' with a look of exasperation.
How difficult could this be?
The repeated words of "No Signal Found.' displayed on the screen in a grey box as it slides throughout its, surrounding making sure it hits every corner. Yes, the young man was currently having tv issues.
"I don't have time for this! The game is gonna start in 2 hours!" Currently pressing buttons in a series of desperation the television goes completely statically. Letting out a loud and audible groan the man stands up and starts pacing back and forth in a debate with himself.
"Okay, maybe I can call dad and ask for his help." He suggests and quickly shakes his head in disapproval.
"No way, I just got this place and if I start calling him already then he and mom are gonna lecture me in how I should've waited."
The young man had recently moved into his first apartment after much pleading to his parents at how he was responsible and perfectly able to handle having his place; of course, it all sounded grand. Now he can't even fix his tv and he just got finished setting up the cable an hour ago!
"Maybe I can call Teme, he should be able to fix this!" The man takes out his phone and dials the number and waits for a response. He hears some rustling in the background as well as the famous sigh of why he was currently being bothered, not giving his friend time to answer the man starts rambling.
"Hey Teme! Whatcha doing? Think you could help me?"
"Naruto, what could it be this time?" The young man known as Naruto pouted as he glares at the phone. "C'mon Teme! Is that any way to talk to your best friend!" Teme sighs for the second time as he finally declares that Naruto isn't gonna hang up the phone anytime soon.
"Whatever, what is it?"
"So, I'm having an issue with my tv, it appears to be stuck. Can you help?"
"Naruto, I'm not a technician.
"But Teme! The game is about to start in 30 minutes! I need your help!"
"Did you try Customer Service?" Huh? Naruto closes his eyes at not knowing what his friend was talking about. Customer Service? What's that?
"Uhh, no. What is that?" He hears another sigh from Teme.
"It's the number you call for when your tv has issues. Try calling them and they should be able to help." That was glorious news! He'll probably be able to watch his game after all! He just needs to call Customer Service! Seems simple, right?
"Awesome sauce! How do I call them? You got their number?"
"No Idiot, the tech who set up your cable should've left the number somewhere." Looking around his apartment, Naruto finds a green sticky note on his coffee table with it a number and on top, it says "Customer Service".
"Hey! I found it! Thanks, Teme, I owe ya!"
"You damn right." With that Teme hangs up and Naruto doesn't hesitate to dial the digits into his phone. Suddenly there's an upbeat tone that plays out following by the voice of an animatronic that says. 'Thank you for calling Foxinity, our representatives are currently attending to other customers. You should be helped once you're next in line. Your current wait time is 15 mins."
15 mins!? That's cutting it close to the game! Naruto sighs knowing that he has no option but to remain in line. As he waited he was starting to dislike that annoying upbeat tone that kept playing over and over and over.
He was about to explode! He wasn't sure how much more torture he's gonna has to endure before getting some help!
"Man, screw this.." Just as he was about to hang up he stops when he hears a new voice speak.
"Thank you for calling Foxinity, how may I help you?" A soft yet calming voice pierces his eardrum substituting the loud obnoxious tone that was playing not too long ago. Finally a real-life person!
"Hey yes! I was wondering if you could help me with my tv! There's a game that's about to start and I don't want to miss it!" Naruto explains with eagerness in wanting to quickly fix the issue at hand. "Yes of course; my name is Hinata and I'll be willing to help you. Before we begin I need to get some personal information to verify your identity is that okay?"
In all honesty, Naruto didn't feel too comfortable in giving out his information to a stranger but if this will speed up the process a lot quicker than so-be-it. "Uh, yeah sure I guess…"
"Awesome! The first question may I have your full name please?"
"Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze.."
"Good, now may I have your date of birth please?"
"October 10, 1998"
"Perfect now lastly, what's your current address?" Letting out a sigh Naruto gives out his address, it was no surprise that he was starting to get irritated at this young woman; shouldn't she already have this information on file!
"Sorry Mr. Naruto, I know this is a lot of questions but it's just policy. Please bear with me."
A ting of guilt surfaces into the blonde's body, after all this lady, is just doing her job. If anything it's his fault for being so clueless at not knowing how to operate a simple tv.
"No, it's not-..." He sighs once more trying to find the right words to say. "Sorry I know you're just doing your job. I'm just not wanting to miss the game, it starts in 20 mins."
"Of course, no worries this should be a quick process!" Her voice chirped up a bit after his apology and she sounded genuinely concerned in wanting to help him that it increased the guilt he had for behaving like a complete dick.
"Alright Naruto, I can see that your screen is showing static, try unplugging the cord and waiting for 5 seconds.." The operator informs him; nodding in approval Naruto walks over and disconnects his tv and waits for his next instructions. "Alright, did that," he informs.
"Perfect! Now I'm gonna reset the cable receiver and you can replug the control in and turn on the television." Pressing the power button on the remote Naruto starts to finally see the light behind the tunnel. In a dark grey screen in bold orange letters the words 'FOXINITY' appear, within seconds a loading screen with a spiral going around and around.
"Naruto, what's the screen showing now?" Hinata's voice interrupts the blonde's concentration as he tells her the details of what his tv is showing.
"Okay, now I just need to get in there and reset everything, it appears that the technician who originally set up your cable failed in adding it to your account which is why you weren't able to see anything." Now if Naruto had the opportunity he would beat the hell out of that technician! He even paid him 75 bucks to do nothing!
"What the hell! He was here for 2 hours! That's BS!" He yells in frustration at how he was not paying the technician attention to make sure if the job was being done right or not. Maybe, his parents were right and he wasn't cut out to live on his own after all.
"Man, this super sucks…" Mumbling to himself at how he was easily manipulated he never noticed the tv airing the general 'welcome to FOXINITY' channel. Nor did he remember that he was still on the phone with the operator until she spoke once more.
"Um, Naruto? Are you still there?" There was a calming plea in her voice which almost made it seem that she was right next to him. He came to a mental conclusion that this operator had a pretty cute voice.
"Uh, yeah sorry again. I was just thinking.." He hears what appears to be a giggle escape the other line.
"That's alright Naruto, if I may ask. Did you just get your place for the first time?" He was shocked, how in the world could she have guessed that? Was it so obvious?
"Yea? How'd you know?" His voice contain some suspicion and for a brief moment, he started to imagine if she was currently watching him through her screen. However, he quickly releases that thought from his head not wanting to believe that a girl with a voice like hers could do something so creepy.
Or could she…?
"We get a lot of calls like this from people who move out for the first time. It's perfectly normal. So please don't beat yourself up for it Naruto, okay?" Such care and such warmth enveloped Naruto's body once he heard Hinata speak those words; he wonders how she was able to calm him down through just her voice?
Maybe she's even more beautiful in person.
Finally back to his old self and out of that depressing funk Naruto giggles a bit as he scratches his head "Gee, Thanks Hinata. You're right I shouldn't be angry at myself! After all, I've been doing everything right so far so if anything I should be proud!"
Through the other side of the call line in a dark-lit room, full of cubicles in the very last one on the right sat a young woman with long beautiful indigo hair, her eyes focused on the screen of her computer which currently displayed the current football game that's being played.
Fingers twirling a strain of her hair, her cheeks coated just a tad bit.
Normally Hinata doesn't receive as many compliments as she has today and for that part, it had overjoyed her heart. This Naruto seemed like a funny individual, he even got her to giggle a few times which is quite rare!
However, getting back to the present and not wanting to be rude she still nods while listening to him speak even though he most definitely cannot see her.
"That's right Naruto. And I'd like to thank you for being patient with me in this matter." She says. Confused as to the sentence it finally clicks when Naruto looks at the screen and sees a channel playing on.
Eyes wide and with a huge grin on his face Naruto doesn't hesitate in turning the channel to the sports where the pregame has just ended.
"Awesome! The game is now starting! This is great!" He explains with glee as he makes himself comfortable on the sofa. Seeing as that all of this was the help of a certain individual with a cute voice Naruto smiles at the phone. "Thanks so much, Hinata! This is all thanks to you! You helped me out and you also made me feel better about this whole moving out thing! "
Another giggle escapes Hinata's lips as she's grateful that no one can see the little rush of blood that just made its way toward her cheeks. "The pleasure was mine Naruto. But I do have one last thing I'd like to ask."
"Sure Hinata, what's up?" At this point, Naruto was grateful to Hinata and her kindness, if only he was able to find a girl like that for himself.
"I know that you've been waiting to see the game but do you believe that you have time to take a quick survey rating me on my performance? It'll be quick?" Suddenly for the first time, Naruto had an idea that he believes may work. The game hasn't even officially started yet so he has some time.
"Of course! After all, it's the least I can do!" He answers happily as Hinata showers him in thank you's. Smirking he waits for Hinata to start.
"Okay, all I need to know Naruto is from a scale from 1-10 what would be my rating?"
Assuming that 1 is the lowest score possible and 10 going above and beyond.
Trying not to give his prank away Naruto sighs and with his voice as serious (as it can get anyway) as possible, he looks at the tv not paying attention to what it's on.
"I'd say 1.." Hinata gasps at the other line, her eyes white and in shock. 1? A 1? She's never been rated a 1 before. What did she do so wrong?
"Oh no! I'm so sorry Naruto! Please tell me where my error was!?" So innocent and with a soothing voice that could calm down the loudest volcano. He wasn't sure what had possessed him to behave in such a way, maybe he had wanted to talk to her more. He wanted to meet the face behind the calming voice. Who knows what could come about it?
I mean, why not give it a shot?
"Well, you seem to be pretty good at fixing things. I never got a way to get a hold of you in case I have something else that needs fixing." Grinning in victory but also at how corny that punchline may have come off.
All that he hears to the response is a loud thump on the other line followed by a silence
"Hello? Hinata? You there?"
AUTHORS NOTE: All done! So what did you all think about it? Was it cute? Was it lacking a certain spark, Also, please let me know of any errors I may have made. Hopefully, I captured the Customer Service vibe as it is IRL.
ANYWAYS, I'm off to bed now as I need to be up in about 4 hours haha.
Have a good night/day/evening/whatever!
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