A/N: I wrote this really late at night so if there's some stuff that's weird, you know why. And Should I continue this? Modern AU.
Conversations (T)
Scanning everyday products and groceries was not the ideal job Shikamaru wanted. But a job was a job and a tuition was a tuition. He would clock in after class and spend the next few hours of his life trying his best to minimize interaction with customers. It wasn't that he disliked sociable people, it was just the fact that he didn't want to listen to their endless spill of troublesome words. And then he would slow down because he didn't want to be rude and cut them off, which led to work slowing down altogether. Conversation is and will always be troublesome.
A pack of instant noodles slid its way into his view. He reached for it, looking for the bar code, and ran his scanner over it. "Welcome to Konoha Market. How was your shopping experience?"
An amused tch sound came from the customer's mouth as he punched several buttons for the price. "You should really have more enthusiasm on the job you know?"
Shikamaru sighed at the critical remark and began to bag the items. "It's not like I want to say it. I have to."
"And I can see why you're stuck at the cash register hating your life." Another sigh escaped the worker's lips. His lazy eyes finally looked from his task at hand and inspected the customer. A backpack hung from one shoulder as she counted the dollar bills in her hand. She had hard teal eyes and her blonde hair was styled into four ponytails. He had seen her around campus several times before, but mostly he recognized her from psychology class. "If you look at your job from a different point of view, maybe you wouldn't be so miserable."
"Troublesome." He muttered it under his breath out of habit and hoped she didn't catch it. Finally, he shoved her box of tea into the bag and set it aside. "That will be fifteen ninety-five."
She forked over a ten and five along with some loose coins. He began to punch some numbers into the register, until she distracts him by raising a finger to aisle 5. "You should try to be more like that guy over there."
His gaze follows her finger, finding Naruto recklessly throwing the customer's items into the plastic bag with a wide grin on his face. His eyes then shift to the customer, who was blushing madly. Nothing out of the usual. Hinata would always go to aisle 5, where Naruto mainly operated from.
At this moment, Shikamaru's bright mind gave him a bright idea. He would lose nothing if he tried it, she was practically a stranger. Although, she would catch his attention sometimes during school. A smirk made its way onto his lips and he turned to his customer. "Are you implying that I should ask you out?"
Clearly taken aback, the girl began to stammer away, trying to mask the scarlet scrawled all over her cheeks. "What are you saying?"
"Well you see, Naruto over there is always extra friendly when a certain someone visits. And that certain someone happens to be there right now, and by the looks of it, he's asked her out on a date. So by you saying I should be more like-"
"Okay I get it. And no, I did not imply that I wanted you to ask me out. Just hurry with my shit and I can leave." It was a good thing there was no one behind her. Good because it was bad to keep a customer waiting for so long just because of conversation, and also good because no one witnessed what had just happened. A flimsy sheet of paper stuck out to her and she accepted it, along with her bag of items.
"I'm done with your shit so I guess you can leave now."
"Thanks." The girl took a few steps forward before looking back, finding him turned to a new customer now. "And for your earlier question, my shopping experience was great actually.
Shikamaru peered over his shoulder and looked at her with a dumb expression. She stood there for a quick second, staring back at him. Finally, she flashed him a glowing smile and out the door she went. Shikamaru swiveled his attention back to his job and began to bag the products.
"Welcome to Konoha Market. How was your shopping experience?" The customer began to chat away for a bit but his ears drowned it out.
He could only think of the interaction that had taken place a few minutes ago and inwardly kicked himself. Maybe he should be more like Naruto. Maybe he should've been more like Naruto right then and there. But he didn't so now he stands there, miserable once more, wondering when she's going to return. And when she does, he'll take her advice and be way more enthusiastic.