Shiori had spent her entire night working on homework and the training regimen and who got on what string for the new players that signed up, so instead of going over to Chie's shop she stayed in her dorm room working all night. Thankfully, she was in bed by midnight so she had at least 6 hours of sleep before she had to get up for school. She ran the schedule and lists by Masako, and she approved of it and the bulletin was up before class began, so everyone got to check their positions and would later find out what they'd be doing during practice. She'd also sent in the sizes to the school for the jersey sizes needed for Murasakibara and Himuro's jersey's and the face they made at Murasakibara's was just plan amusing to say the least. They had asked her if she was messing with them on purpose, but after they found his file they put the request in.
Practice went amazingly, however Atsushi was missing and Masako was pissed off about his absence. There wasn't much that could be done though; no one knew where he'd gone. "I will make sure to ask Atsushi what happened next I see him." Himuro told Shiori and Masako before practice started, and the two had to deal with that for now.
They weren't exactly aware he'd gone out to search for more sweets like the heavenly ones from the day before.
Chieko was stuck in charge of the store for the day, her mother and father working in the back for the time being. She did her homework some time ago, so she was sitting at the counter looking bored as per usual. Even when doing something, she looked bored as hell.
And then he walked in, the giant that had to duck just to walk in the door, the giant that licked her damn fingers clean just the day before. His deep purple eyes were looking around the shop with a look of lust-lust for sweets that is. She wasn't too surprised; people that first come in always have interesting reactions. The walls were painted bright blue with painted candy and sweets in various neon colors that just looked goofy, but a lot of the kids loved it. Shelves were stacked with sweets they'd ordered for the more well-known brands of candy that they couldn't copy, others were packaged sweets made by hand in the back kitchen and in the front was the freshly baked sweets that were made while Chieko was in school.
Chieko could only watch as Atsushi picked up one of the baskets by the door for the customers that were getting more than a handful, and blinked as mere minutes later he was sitting the basket down in front of her with sweets piled far above the baskets edge. "Can you even afford this…?" She asked slowly before she began ringing it all up. "Yes." He nodded firmly, but then paused and looked thoughtful, before he nodded again. "I can." Chieko paused and stared at him before she returned to her job. "Chie-Chin, did you make any of this?" He asked curiously, head cocked as once more the tie-dyed haired woman stopped and looked up at the giant. Thankfully, her own pretty good size made it easier to see him, but she still scowled.
"Chie-Chin?" She questioned the nickname with a rather perturbed expression, brow raised as the giant's expression didn't change. "Yes, Chie-Chin, did you make any of this?" He repeated the question like she hadn't heard him and the teenager merely rubbed her nose. "Yes….I made the chocolate muffins before school this morning…." She replied back calmly, before once more resuming ringing everything up. "Good," was all he stated as he watched her ring everything up. When she finished, she looked up at him slowly. "That will be 76 dollars and 50 cents…." Nodding, Atsushi handed her a debit card and she rang him up. "…You're 3 dollars short." Pausing, he looked at his wallet and frowned a bit. "…..Oh, sorry I misread that, you're fine…" She didn't know what possessed her to do such a thing, but it got him to smile rather…handsomely. "Thanks Chie-Chin." He chirped and took the bags from the counter before walking around the counter, ignoring Chie's flustered protests as he took a seat on a chair behind the counter. "W-what are you doing?" She spluttered as her eyes widened as he just started digging through the bags. "Eating," he stated it like it was the most obvious thing in the world and pulled out the package of dark chocolate muffins. He ripped it open, and offered one to Chie as he bit into the other. "Uh…"Amethyst eyes blinked before she slowly took it from him and bit into it. "Good…"He praised happily as he started eating the muffin. Looking away, she sighed and closed her eyes. "Yeah, it is…" She mumbled and licked her fingers clean as someone came in to shop.
The day was pretty busy, her parents didn't come out of the back since they knew she could handle it and they had to work on a very intricate wedding cake for a couple of regulars that were getting married.
The entire damn evening Atsushi stayed behind the counter eating his sweets and watching her work, Shiori didn't stop by since she had to cram for an exam that Chie already knew she'd ace with or without the extra studying. But Shiori was always careful, since she didn't want to risk her position as manager of the Yosen team. It was…strangely nice though, Atsushi didn't talk much and sometimes he gave her half or one of the sweets he was eating when she wasn't busy with customers. A few questioned his presence, but Chieko just shook her head and shrugged. They went with that, and went on with their day. At 7 Chieko was sweeping up the store when she noticed Atsushi had finished all his snacks. "Going back to the dorms?" She asked as he threw away the last of the trash. "Yes, bye bye Chie-Chin." He waved, before just wandering outside. "…I think the school is in the other direction though…" She mumbled as he went left instead of right. Oh well, not her concern.
The next day was a repeat of the last, however he got considerably less treats than before and he brought some with him. And now she realized why Shiori was ranting at lunch about Atsushi missing practice the day before. He was sitting with her at the shop with her after school instead….naturally; she kept this to herself instead of telling the furious girl.
She'd find out after practice, anyway….
Looking up, she figured about 15 minutes before the silver and black haired girl got here, and looked toward the giant eating in the corner. "Why do you come here?" She asked bluntly, Atsushi looking up at her slowly. "Cause I like it here." Was all he said before he started eating again. Shrugging it off, she looked toward the door and waited silently until a furious Shiori stormed in, oddly with Himuro trailing behind her. "Murasakibara-San didn't show up again, and we can't find him! Chie-Chan, you have classes with him do you know where he-" She suddenly stopped and looked toward the giant as he made a rather loud crunch on the chocolate pocky stick in his mouth, everyone freezing before Shiori pointed at him. "You! Why are you here!? And why didn't you tell me he was here!?" She pointed toward Chie, who just pushed her finger away from her face slowly. "Didn't wanna hear you yelling twice in one day…." She answered, the Manager letting her head fall down on the counter slowly. "Geh…." Himuro went behind the counter and sighed at Atsushi. "Atsushi, why are you here instead of practice?" He frowned at the large man, who merely blinked. "I don't feel like it," he replied back stubbornly before he resumed chewing on his pocky stick. "And you're fine with me telling the Coach this?" Atsushi nodded, not looking up from his stick. "Very well, then…." Himuro sighed through his nose, then went back over to Shiori and rubbed her back. "Hope you don't mind the company, Hisoka-San. Shinju-Chan said she'd show me the sweet shop." Said woman was clearly giving off an aura that was worthy of growing mushrooms. "Its fine, parents are gone catering at some party." She waved her hand, Shiori slowly raising her head and leading Himuro back behind the counter and through the back door. Atsushi merely blinked at Chie's stare. "You're pretty arrogant; to skip practice like that." She stated brazenly, the purple haired giant giving a shrug in return. "I hate practice, so boring…I hate losing more though…." The baker looked pretty surprised that he called basketball boring, yet he made it on the regulars in one day. "Then how do you expect to win sitting here eating sweets with me?" Atsushi yawned softly. "I'll practice when Chie-Chin goes to practice with me and brings her sweets."
Damn that bastard, he was making her have to decide between Yosen's victory and defeat, sort of.
"Ass…." She didn't see him smiling.
"I can't believe he's been here every day…" She groaned and rubbed her head as Himuro examined the kitchen. "It's a sweet shop, can't be too surprised with Atsushi…Wow this place is so big…" He mumbled, walking around and looking at all the different supplies and machines made for baking and cooking. "Yeah, it's pretty cool. Chie-Chan's dad makes the candy while Chie-Chan and her mom make the baked goods more." She hummed, looking at the taffy maker with a small smile. "Valentine's Day must be a pretty good day, for them." Himuro pointed out, since that kind of day must lead to a lot of sales. "Yeah, they're always packed full on Valentine's Day, it sucks since Chie always has to work that day…" She sighed softly, brushing a hand through her bangs to brush them from her face. "What do you mean?" He furrowed his brows, the Japanese girl chuckling. "Chie was born on Valentine's Day." Himuro blinked rapidly. "Oh…Well that's pretty cool, actually." Shiori nodded her agreement, leaning against the counter she usually studied at. "I agree, but they're always so busy Chie usually doesn't have a party till the day after Valentine's Day." She explained with a wave of the hand, Himuro humming thoughtfully.
After the tour ended, the two joined the other pair outside the kitchen and began studying together, well Himuro and Shiori did, Atsushi ate and Chie worked in silence.
"I am not working tomorrow; I'll come to practice with you Shiori." Chie suddenly spoke up after being silent for so long, all three heads perking up to the girl as she cleaned up the shop for closing. "Oh, sure if you want to." Chie rarely went to practice with Shiori; she just slept through it when she did though. "Alright, see ya later Chie-Chan!" Shiori waved and left with the two boys, Himuro wouldn't let Atsushi go to his dorm until Shiori was escorted to her dorm room safely though.
"Have a good night, Shinju-San." He smiled, Shiori chuckling. "Night Himuro-Kun, Murasakibara-Kun, and I think at this point calling me Shiori would be fine." She waved her hand dismissively, before going inside. "Shiori-Chan…." He smiled voice gentle and quiet, almost wistful and then noticed Atsushi's weird stare. "What?"
"Why did you say her name like that?" Atsushi asked calmly, Himuro chuckling. "First time saying it." He turned, leading the giant to his dorm that was just across from his own.
"Muro-Chin is so weird…." Himuro only laughed.
(I guess I will update once a month or so, unless I actually get reviews. Followers are still nice, though. Hence this before work update. But yeah, review for more.)