Chapter One
It was an ordinary day when it happened. The skies were clear, the weather good, but not good enough to be particularly noteworthy or anything-
Cling!
A man walks in, strolling past the shelves of books. Fingers skimming the spines as he walks past.
Well, hello there… Katsuki thinks, watching the new customer with rapt attention. Who are you? Based on the bag, a student, maybe a random job or two. Your hair is meticulously styled, but youre wearing crocs. Who wears crocs?
The man goes further into the store, obviously looking for something specific.
Your clothes are loose and you're hunched over despite your height. You're trying to blend in. But your hair is firetruck red. You like a little attention.
Ok. I bite.
Katsuki follows the man, avoiding being seen by him.
I watch you search through the stacks of books, Fiction F-K. You're not like the other trendy readers looking for something deceptively smart, maybe something for school? What are you looking for?
The man bumps into a passing customer.
"Oh! Sorry about that!"
Oh your voice is heavenly, deep and apologetic, sincere but full of the bright promise of laughter. Your first words to me are bright and curious.
"Hello, do you work here?"
"Guilty as charged," Katsuki states gruffly, "What can I help you with?"
"Aren't autobiographies usually in nonfiction?"
"Yeah but the owner has his own way of doing things. Who are you looking for?"
"Red Riot is his pen name? He's pretty obscure so I was worried you guys wouldn't even have it!" The man laughs and scratches the back of his neck nervously.
"Red Riot? Good choice, we have some up front."
"Haha! I feel weirdly validated that you know who I'm talking about."
"Follow me."
Katsuki leads the man back down the isles towards the front of the store, to a sign that says, "Celebrity Authors"
"Here it is," Katsuki says, holding up the book in question.
"Hmm. Why is it in celebrity authors?"
"Red Riot got a bit of media coverage in his youth so he technically counts as a celebrity." Katsuki shrugs, "Mr. Toshinori wants anyone that even technically counts in this section, thinks it sells more books, I guess."
"That's sad, if you want to read a book, read something you like, that'll move you. Not just something written by someone famous because they're famous," The man says, frowning.
"Yeah, it's an epidemic."
"You see that guy," Katsuki whispers conspiratorially, nodding his head towards a middle aged man an isle over.
"He grabbed some romance novel on the way in, and he'll spend another five, ten minutes looking for something legitimate to buy it with."
The man nods his head, " Yeah, like the guys who buy cereal when they're really there for condoms. Only makes it more obvious. Like your own shit, If romances are your kink be out about it, totally unmanly."
Katsuki smiles at the man.
And if I wasn't sure before now I know- you're flirting with me.
They watch the middle aged man search through the isles, pick up a book and toss it on his stack.
"He's totally shame buying a romance novel, people really are disappointing aren't they?"
Katsuki looks at the man, "I don't know, sometimes they surprise you."
The man turns back to Katsuki, really looking at him for the first time. Katsuki breaks eye contact with the man and holds up the book reminding him why they're standing there. The man's hands linger on Katsukis for just a second too long to be unintentional.
Oh? Are you doing this on purpose?
Katsuki and the man stay lost in each other's eyes and Katsuki and help but to think maybe, maybe he's waiting for me t-
"Hellooo? Anyone working here?" The middle aged man is standing at the counter, looking impatient.
"Just a second, sir!," Katsuki turns back to the man, "I'm sorry I have to-"
"Help a rude customer?"
Katsuki nods and the man calls out to the customer at the counter, "Enjoy that romance novel motherfucker!"
The man at the counter turns away, ashamed, and Katsuki thinks, a man this amazing cannot be real, in awe. Katsuki quickly rings up the middle aged man, not wanting to deal with him any longer, practically throwing the customer's books at him.
"You have a nice day, sir." Katsuki says thin lipped and insincere.
The middle aged man grumbles as he exits the store. The man approaches with the red riot book he came for, letting Katsuki scan it and put it in a plastic bag. The man hands over a credit card as Katsuki reads off his total.
You have enough cash to pay for this, but you want me to know your name.
"Well, you have a nice day…" Katsuki looks down at the card, "Eijiro."
"And you have a nice day as well, Katsuki." Eijiro says glancing at Katsuki's nametag.
Katsuki studies the receipt, carefully thumbing his signature.
You smiled at me, laughed at my jokes, told me your name, asked for mine.
When Eijiro is gone, Denki comes out from the back room. His bright blond hair, with a single black spot dyed in the shape of a lighting bolt, flashing like a beacon and snapping Katsuki from his thoughts.
"He write his number on there?"
"No."
"I'm surprised, from what I heard back there he was gaming you hard, bro."
"No, Pikachu, he was just being nice."
"I don't know bro, if I was you I'd be googling the heck outta him right now, you do know his full name," Denki said brightly.
Gee, thanks, you discount pikachu faced box of stupid, never woulda thought of that.
"That sounds pretty aggressive, pikachu," Katsuki says sheepishly, holding back his aggression.
"What do I always say Katsuki, ya gotta close the deal or you're gonna be single for the rest of your life man, you gotta get over-" Denki catches the dark glare Katsuki is sporting, "Anyways-"
I'll be in cookbooks. But for work. Not for fun. I swear. Ha.
"I'll be in cookbooks. But for work! I swear!" Denki chuckles nervously as he walks towards the cookbook section.
People really are disappointing, aren't they? But are you Eijiro? Are you?
Katsuki looks out the window spotting the man, Eijiro, heading down to the subway.