Thanks for the reviews! About Kuroko, his admission to the 1st string will be after the Gakuensai. More interactions on this chapter and the next. Well, what can I say? i just love writing about Yume and her interactions with the Generation of Miracles, it's fun. Yeah, the pace is painfully slow, I'm aware of that. So, I'll definitely move on with the story after the next chapter, and maybe the chapter after that, to the Gakuensai, then finally Second years arc.

Pairings : Undecided

Warnings : Teikō Middle School Days.

Disclaimer : I own only the OCs.


Chapter 19 - It is the unexpected that always happens

Various people came by the convenience store, from students to businessmen, housewives and even models at times.

Having worked in this line of business for quite a time, Yume had met many kind of people and she has never been bothered much by any of them.

However, fate indeed has a different idea for her as troubles in the form of her dearest 'friends' are thrown into the mix.

"Hmm? Murasakibara-kun! You're he—" her joyful tone broke just then as she witnessed four other figures coming in after the purple giant.

"—re..." Yume trailed in disbelief. As before her are Momoi, Aomine, Midorima, and even Akashi to top it off.

What in the name of...? Momoi and Aomine aside, why is Midorima and Akashi here? They are the last two people she expects to be here.

"Yuu-chan! How's work? I'm free today, so let's hang out after this!" Momoi chirped jovially, making her way towards the cashier where Yume is.

"Yume..! Have anything nice here? Some snacks would be good." Aomine grinned as he checked the shelves in the store. He secretly hopes to have a peek at certain magazines on the bookshelf.

"I have heard that a rare keychain is being sold in this area, do you have it, Manai?" Midorima asked as he too, browsed around the store for a specific keychain.

"Hmm.. There're quite a range of items I don't often see in other convenience stores." Akashi noted as he looked around the items displayed on the shelves.

"Cashier-chin! Sweets!" Murasakibara demanded, his huge stature bended as he crouched to Yume's eye level, his eyes sparkling.

All those voices, at about the same time, fired one after another. It's a good thing they are the only customers she has right now.

Momoi stifles her giggles, smiling sweetly at her giant friend. "Mu-kkun really loves maiubou and nerunerunerune candies, eh? Isn't it a good thing Yuu-chan can help your order them?"

The sweets that Murasakibara loves are popular with children, especially the nerunerunerune candies, that have unique properties as it changes colour when mixed.

Due to this reason, younger children who are let out of school earlier than the other students often deprive the nearby store of said sweets. Which led to Yume's first meeting with the purple giant, who was sulking since he thought there's no more left.

Yume sighed deeply. Her 'friends' had finally decided to invade her work place, and she is now acting as Murasakibara's personal sweets' supplier. "Please wait a moment." she told the purplehead as she turned to the storage.

The small storage is filled with the newly-arrived twenty boxes of sweets that Yume doubts she could reach the other goods. She needs to dispose of them, quick. By dispose, of course it means to move it to the buyer's hands.

The boxes aren't heavy, and Yume can lift 2 of them at once. She could have done 3, but then her vision will be obstructed, and she doesn't want a repeat of what happened back in the bookstore where she bumps into the customer.

*Thud*

"Here's the first 2, there're 18 more boxes, so please wait, Murasakibara-kun." Yume told him with a slight smile before she returned to the storage.

It takes about a minute for Yume to move all the boxes into the store, and Momoi applauds her strength. She offered to help, and also dragged Aomine into it, but Yume refused the offer and said she'll be fine alone.

In fact, Momoi is astonished at the weights her bestfriend can carry with her petite stature. She herself has done some lifting since the club demands strength and energy.

"Fiuh.." Yume huffed slightly, getting her job well done. She turned and smiled at her customer. "Here's all twenty boxes of maiubou and nerunerunerune candies, Murasakibara-kun."

Twenty boxes of sweets are neatly stacked, and one can now see the ridiculous amount it is for one person to eat. If possible, Murasakibara's eyes sparkle even more, his drool visible. Rivalling his sparkling eyes is Momoi, who is in awe of Yume.

His tireless anticipation makes Yume sweat dropped. How is his wallet going to pay for these? "Oh, right. I ordered a huge amount this time, so the supplier gave us a significant discount." she informed the purple giant who looks like he's in his own world.

"I told the manager that you're the sole buyer of these, so I received permission to sell them to you for a cheaper price than usual." Yume smiled, more to herself. She honestly wishes the boy won't go broke with his constant splurges on treats.

Apparently the news manages to make its way to Murasakibara's ears, and he looks at Yume like she's his saviour. He can even see that holy light around her.

"Lucky you, Mu-kkun!" Momoi smiled at the boy, who is indeed delighted.

"That will be ¥21800, Murasakibara-kun. Thank you for your patronage." Yume took the ¥10,000 bills Murasakibara gave her and returned the correct amount.

With the sales completed, the storage now has some spaces, and as usual, Murasakibara receives some freebies as a bonus for his purchases. He spends lots of his allowance on snacks whenever he came to the store.

"Excuse me for asking, but are you allowed to do that, Manai-san?" Akashi, having finished his tour around the store approached the counter curiously.

His sudden appearance makes Yume fidgets, she still feels uncomfortable around Akashi. It seems like it'll take a lot more to get used to him. "Ah, about the discount?" she asked as he nods.

"I have quite a lot of working experiences, so the manager said he trusts my decision." Yume smiled sheepishly, trying to stay humble.

When it comes to works such as this, Yume is a veteran already. She helped out a lot back at her hometown. Back then, most of them are volunteer works, just to earn experiences in her reviews.

"Hmm..." Akashi seems impressed, his ruby orbs staring straight into her limegreen eyes, unnerving her a bit. He turned to the shelves. "Do you also handle the ordering and display of the items?"

Yume hesitates to answer, so she does a weak nod instead. Her cheeks are slightly pink. This caused Akashi to look at her with respect. "You're so capable for someone so young, Manai-san." he praised her sincerely.

'...Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black, Akashi-kun?' is what crossed her mind. Of course, Yume didn't say that, she smiles instead.

A bag of potato chips are placed on her counter, and Yume sees that it's Midorima's. He quietly takes out his wallet as he waits for her to respond.

"Ah? Midorin is buying something, too? I wonder if I should get something.." Momoi pursed her lips in thought as she mused to herself.

"1 Yukino Potato chips, natural red beans flavour. That will be ¥235." Yume repeated the purchase and took the coins Midorima put on the counter, which is the exact amount.

Before Yume could put it into the plastic bag however, a hand snatched it away from her. "What's this? Red beans flavour?" Aomine's face twisted with disgust.

"What the hell is with your weird taste in snacks?" He arched his brow at the greenhead, holding the bag up with one hand like it's something bad.

An irk mark appeared on Midorima's temple. He takes offense of Aomine's question and snatches back his newly-bought snacks angrily.

Meanwhile, Murasakibara perks up at the mention of snacks, and immediately shifts his gaze from the boxes to the chips on the greenhead's hands.

"Eh? What's that Mido-chin? Is it good? Can I try some?" Murasakibara eyed the chips, hoping he can get a taste.

Feeling the predator-ly gaze on his snacks, Midorima immediately put it into the plastic bag Yume offered. He glares at him. "Buy your own, Murasakibara. And you have had enough with those twenty boxes!" he reprimanded him sternly.

Seriously, what middle-schooler spends his allowance on twenty boxes of sweets? His financial management skill is horrible. How is he going to survive?

The rejection left the giant disappointed, but he decided to be satisfied with his sweets for now. Beside, he can always buy it tomorrow.

"Cashier-chin, is that potato chips new?" Murasakibara questioned the brunette with his half-lidded eyes. He had never seen it before, which is weird considering that's where most of his allowances went to.

Yume mentally face faulted when she heard that weird nickname still in use, and here she was hoping he would remember her name on his own accord after those twenty boxes of sweets.

She sighed. "..No, it's not new actually. We just rarely stocks it, it's even harder to find in other convenience stores."

"Eh? Why so, Yuu-chan?" Momoi was the the one to ask this time, the others also look curious as to what her reasoning is.

Then again, with the flavour natural red beans for potato chips, the answer is pretty much out in the open. Like, seriously? What is the producer thinking?

With all the questions, Yume honestly feels like she's on a tour with kindergarteners, who's on a visit to convenience store for learning purposes.

"There's not many customers who buy it." Yume finally answered, sighing slightly. "The flavour is a bit... uh, unique.." she settled for a nicer word, not wanting Midorima's glare on her.

Aomine raises his brow at this. "So why do you still stock them?" he might be an idiot, but if it doesn't sell, why continue to stock it? Even he understands that logic.

"This is surprising. Of all us here, I didn't expect you would be the one to ask that question, Aomine." Akashi expressed his slight surprise, which is mutually shared by the rest of the group.

That irks Aomine, but before he can lash out, Yume had replied. "It's true that there's not many consumers, but those who likes it are quite the die-hard ones.."

"Out of all the items we sell here, these potato chips always sold out before its due time. There's no leftover, which is rare even for the more popular items." Yume explained further.

With no loss incurred from the overtimed-shelf life, add to it the slightly more beneficial profit margin, and lastly the short-period of sales, it's a winning product indeed.

"...I see. That's interesting." Akashi nodded in understanding, his fingers circling his chin. He then looked up and smiled at the brunette. "You'll do well in business, Manai-san."

Every praises Yume receives from the redhead somehow makes her uneasy. She knows he means well, but it's like she can picture her increasing workloads to match up his rising expectations.


After all of them made their purchases, Momoi finally has the time to talk to Yume about her plans. "Ne, Yuu-chan?" she hummed joyfully.

"Hmm? What is it, Sat-chan?" Yume replied while not taking her eyes off the screen, she is reviewing the store inventories.

"Can we go somewhere after this? What time will you be done with work?" Momoi asked again, her tone hopeful and adorable.

Thinking it's not a bad idea to relax after exams, Yume slowly turned her gaze towards the clock on the wall. It reads 16.50 in the afternoon.

"It's 10 more minutes to 5, Sat-chan. Sure, I'll go with you." Yume accepted the invitation with a smile, earning her a happy squeal from the pinkette.

Aomine huffed, sporting a bored expression. "Guess we'll wait for you. Let's grab something to eat, okay?" he suggested, feeling the incoming rumbles on his stomach.

"Eh? Food?" Murasakibara regained his vigour at the mentioned of food. "Can I go, too?" he asked in a hopeful tone.

"With those baggages? Hell no." Aomine replied for the three of them. Those boxes are going to be a real pain in the ass if he comes along.

'..Maybe next time I'll send them to his house instead..' Yume made a mental note to herself. She doesn't mind his constant orders, she's just worried whether his allowance could afford it.

That, and if his teeth will be fine after consuming so much sugars. If she tells him how harmful they are, will Murasakibara heed her? Or maybe since those sweets disappeared in matter of seconds into his stomach, the sugars won't stay long enough to cause his teeth harm after all?

Murasakibara's monstrous appetite just defies logic. Continuously hanging out with these group might not do well to her rational mind.

"I'll call Take-chin and get him bring them home. Can I go then?" Murasakibara continued with his persuasion, not wanting to be left out the eating.

"Ah! Takeshi-san as in Mu-kkun's brother, right? Okay, you can go with us then! The more the merrier!" Momoi chirped happily. She loves it when they are all together.

Momoi then turned to Yume with one her brightest smiles. "It's fine, isn't it, Yuu-chan?" she asked with a smile the brunette can't refuse.

To add to that, there's the kira-kira attack from Murasakibara, giving his puppy-eyes in full blast. "...Of course." Yume replied, curving the edge of her lips into a smile with tremendous efforts.

The purple giant is elated, and wastes no time to dial someone on his phone, likely the 'Take-chin' he was speaking of before. Momoi seems to know the person, but it's Momoi, so there's no surprise there.

Aomine doesn't mind the addition of Murasakibara if he leaves out the boxes, but then he realises the boy can out-eat a restaurant. He better has enough on after splurging like he just did.

"Hmm. Maybe I should go along with you." that unexpectedly came from Akashi, who appears deep in thoughts.

This addition, Yume whole-heartedly refused. No way she is going out with a person who can make her hair stands all day. She masks her refusal well, but a flash of panic crossed her limegreen eyes.

That's enough for Akashi to notice, and he smirks. "I'll go with you." he sounded amused but certain of his choice.

With that, her whole world comes crashing down on Yume. She knows that the redhead saw her reaction, and decided based on that. It's official; Akashi is a sadist.

That annoying smirk never left his lips until he picks his phone to make a call. Middle-schoolers these days already having phones in their disposal, rich bastards.

If she is to go out with these group of people to some public areas, then Yume might collapse first from all the pressuring stares. Seeing she can no longer escape, perhaps it'd be better if she's in her comfort zone.

"Then I'll be going fir—" Midorima tried to turn and leave before he got dragged into a ridiculous outing against his will. Keyword: tried.

"I have a suggestion. Since we are large in numbers, do you mind having dinner at my place instead?" Yume suggested with a weak smile from behind the counter. "We need to get some groceries, though.."

Manai's home. That stopped Midorima's feet from moving. If he is to get a peek at her study methods, then it's the perfect chance. He quickly turned back to Yume, his glasses glinting. "I'm coming as well, Manai."

With that, the attendance is complete and no one is missing out. All with interest of their own.


So yeah, how is it?

Reviews are very much appreciated!

Next time, the Generation of Miracles shopping for groceries! Will it be another trouble for Yume?