Author's Note: Hey fellow readers out there (I appreciate you all)! I wanted to add some side stories that didn't necessarily fit into the main plot of the chapters of the story and I was hesitant on doing it for a while, but I decided to go ahead and go for the jump!
Deleted Scene: Accidental Valentine's Date
"Ugh...I changed my mind. I think Valentine's Day returns are worse than Christmas," Rika tossed a teddy bear back in the corner.
"Nooooo, you're crazy! Christmas is worse! At least this is temporary," Ryo said.
"I'd rather deal with double the holiday returns if that means I avoid Valentine's Day altogether. Christmas is just your standard returns, but Valentine's Day? They always have to attach a sad story to it, and I don't get paid enough to care. Even if I did...," Rika rolled her eyes.
"I'm gonna need a refund on these chocolates. Apparently my wife needs more than candy to forget the fact that I spent half of my check on OnlyStans models for the last year," Ryo mockingly said.
"Ahem, I'm still here...," a man turned red.
"Oh, here. Your refund should hit back to your original form of payment within 5-7 business days," Ryo handed a receipt to the man.
"Are you going to apologize?" the man crossed his arms.
"For what?" Ryo asked.
"For mocking me," the man frowned.
"That's your own fault for telling two underpaid, minimum-wage workers your personal problems that you created. Now I know that divorce papers isn't exactly the Valentine's Day gift you expected, but it's the one you deserved. Anything else?" Rika leaned over the counter.
"No...," the man meekly said and walked away.
"Alright then, have a day," Rika sat back in her chair.
"Have a day...," Ryo laughed to himself.
"What? I don't want him to have a nice day, and I'm not allowed to tell people to have the day they deserve anymore- a lot of people say it comes off hostile, and it does, but I'm running out of 'corporate-friendly' things to say," Rika shrugged.
"Let's go through all of our returns for the day and see if anything good came through," Ryo dug through a large bin.
"Ha! Things get returned because they're crap," Rika scoffed.
"Don't forget the people who make regretful purchases...want some cheater chocolates?" Ryo held up the box of chocolates.
"Hmmm...still looks unopened," Rika took the box and examined it. "Let's go for it!"
"Bet," Ryo tore off the protective film and ripped the box open.
"I just don't understand why people buy these. You can't even tell what's inside half the time," Rika picked a chocolate up and turned it around.
"That's why you just squish it until you see some color in between. White filling...hmmm," Ryo sniffed a piece of chocolate and gagged. "Coconut, gross!"
"Oh, give me. Coconut's okay," Rika reached over and snatched the candy.
"All yours...next," Ryo picked up another piece of candy and squeezed it between his fingers. "Orange crème? Really?"
"Just leave it there, I'll eat that one," Rika dismissively said.
"Okay," Ryo glumly put the damaged candy back in the box and picked up another piece of chocolate. "Ugh...pink. Either way, it's going to suck."
"Ryo, do you even like any of these chocolates?" Rika raised an eyebrow.
"I like caramel and peanut butter," Ryo shrugged.
"How about this...we just damage the chocolate out and let's see what else is in the returns," Rika grabbed the box and tossed it in the trash.
"Sure," Ryo ran his fingers through his hair in relief.
"Ooooh, someone returned these fake flowers," Rika teasingly brushed plastic flowers in Ryo's face.
"Jesus, Rika! Aren't these the kind of flowers moms use to decorate bathrooms with?" Ryo smacked the flowers away.
"Eww, you're right! Poop flowers!" Rika tossed them to the back and grabbed a bottle of hand sanitizer.
"I can't believe you wiped poop flowers on my face. I mean, I can...but ugh," Ryo squeezed some sanitizer on his hand and rubbed it on his face.
"Sorry. I wasn't thinking," Rika shrugged.
"You actually apologized, so I believe you," Ryo nodded.
"Oh great, I think another person is coming up this way. Wanna take a coffee break?" Rika asked.
"Good call," Ryo grabbed a plastic sign, placed it on top of the counter, and walked off with Rika to the cafe.
"Hey, what can I get for you guys?" Kari smiled.
"Can I get an Enorme caramel peanut butter frappe?" Ryo asked.
"Sure, that will be $7.85," Kari smiled.
"That's with our employee discount?" Ryo's face dropped.
"Just make it. I got it," Rika rolled her eyes. "Can you also add a Chocolate Chili Pepper Latte with an extra shot of espresso?"
"Sure thing. Your new total is $16.46," Kari nodded.
"Bet," Ryo pulled out his phone and hovered it over the card reader.
"Alright! I'll go ahead and get your drinks started," Kari smiled.
"Ryo...," Rika pressed her lips together.
"You can get me next time," Ryo shrugged.
"Well, thanks...," Rika sheepishly rubbed her arm.
"I hate Valentine's Day so bad. I can't wait for tomorrow, when it's over," Kristy grumbled as she stood by the milk frother.
"Oh, it's not that bad," Kari smiled.
"Probably because you must always be busy every Valentine's Day," Kristy rolled her eyes.
"Oh, that's so nice of you but it's like every other day," Kari said.
"No, don't let this girl act modest! She has boys literally throwing themselves at her feet, including a certain tall, dark, and handsome one with spiky hair...," Mimi winked.
"Not so loudly! You're going to get me in trouble with Tai and TK," Kari turned red.
"Dude, I thought we were getting coffee, but I don't mind a little tea on the side," Ryo smirked and nudged Rika.
"You didn't even order coffee. You ordered a chocolate turtle smoothie, you child. But yes, point still stands," Rika quietly whispered as they crouched behind a coffee display.
"Mimi, you probably shouldn't throw Kari under the bus when you probably have guys chasing after you too," Kristy rolled her eyes.
"Hah, if only. The guys I like call me vexing and loquacious...and although I don't know what that means, it probably doesn't sound like a good thing," Mimi frowned and sipped at a rainbow-colored drink.
"Hmmm, those are some five-dollar words. Sounds like someone goes for an intellectual type. You like Thomas? I think you guys would make a great couple," Kristy said.
"Pfft!" Mimi spit out her drink. "Eww, that stiffwad?"
"What? He's cute...for you? And he's totally mature...," Kristy grimaced.
"Why does it seem like you simultaneously hate the guy and want to hook Mimi up with him at the same time?" Kari raised an eyebrow.
"I don't hate the guy...," Kristy contorted her face.
"Right...," Kari and Mimi shot her a skeptical look.
"Anyways, it would be nice if my crush got me chocolate or flowers today. Or asked me to go on a coffee date, you know paid for my coffee or something- even if it was at this dump, no offense. Anything cute and coupley," Mimi sighed.
"Did she just say chocolate...?" Rika's eyes grew big.
"And flowers?" Ryo gulped.
"And coffee?" Rika's voice squeaked.
"Here you guys go. Sorry, I got a little distract...hey, are you guys okay?" Kari placed the drinks on the counter.
"Uh...," Rika turned red.
"So, we didn't mean to hear your conversation-"
"Yes we did," Rika cut Ryo off.
"But we heard you mention something about flowers and chocolate...does that mean something romantic?" Ryo winced.
"Oh yeah, definitely!" Mimi nodded excitedly.
"Especially on a day like today," Kari added.
"Why? Did someone get you flowers and chocolate, Rika? Who?" Kristy hummed.
"Uh...not me. My mom!" Rika blurted out.
"Good save," Ryo whispered.
"Shut up…," Rika said through gritted teeth.
"Oh? Is she single?" Kari smiled coyly.
"Yeah, super single. And I guess a guy paid for her coffee too. That doesn't mean anything right?" Rika sheepishly winced.
"What do you mean? It's Valentine's Day! It means everything," Mimi squealed.
"Oh...," Rika pursed her lips.
"You look scared," Kristy raised an eyebrow.
"Because I am...I don't want to be stuck with a loser stepfather," Rika fibbed.
"Oh, trust me. I can relate to that...," Kristy dryly said.
"But aren't your parents still married?" Kari asked.
"It's a long story," Kristy pressed her lips together.
"Uh, we should probably head back to our station. There's probably a long line of people returning Valentine's gifts because they were too overconfident in their love pursuits. Gotta hate this holiday," Ryo nervously laughed.
"I know I do," Kristy nodded.
"Aww, you guys are too pessimistic!" Mimi whined.
"Or this holiday is too overhyped. Trust us, we work in Returns!" Rika yelled as she and Ryo strolled out of the cafe.
"Soooo...just so you know, I don't like you," Ryo said.
"Cool. I don't really like you either," Rika smirked.
"No seriously. I don't like you. Not in that way- even if we shared chocolates together today," Ryo said.
"Great. And just so you know, those flowers meant nothing either. They were bathroom flowers- I essentially wiped poop particles on your face, even if it was an accident. If that doesn't say I hate you, I don't know what does," Rika rolled her eyes.
"Hey, if it makes you feel better, I don't like you much either. I only tolerate you because we have to work together," Ryo smirked.
"Valid. I'm an asshole," Rika shrugged. "But so are you."
"True...," Ryo stuck his hands in his pockets. "So Rika?"
"Yeah?" Rika looked at him.
"We don't tell anyone about this, right?" Ryo asked.
"No. This dies with us," Rika whistled.
"Seriously, we never speak on this again. It's like nothing ever happened, right?" Ryo anxiously said.
"What are you even talking about?" Rika sipped at her coffee.
"Glad to know we're on the same page," Ryo sighed in relief.