Work Text:
Rain pitter pattered on the pavement of roads and sidewalks. It wasn't heavy or harsh rain, just calm drops from the grey sky, the type of rain that made the smallest of puddles for people to step upon.
When the rain began, people's umbrellas went up, not wanting to give this rain the chance to soak their work attire as they rushed to where they needed to be. This sight was no unfamiliar picture to Hitoshi. Working at a cafe with two large windows and even a glass door let him observe the people who walked on by, all to focused on their tasks to notice the small things around them.
Today was just another spring day. It was either nice and sunny, or cloudy and rainy. Hitoshi enjoyed the latter.
It was slow at this time of day. So many people came during the morning, all swarming in to get their coffee and breakfast on their way to work or school that when it was finally noon it felt like you could finally breath for once.
Hitoshi was the only person up front, the other few employees were baking some things or doing inventory while Hitoshi served the occasional costumer that walked in.
This cafe was locally owned. It was small but loved by many. The walls were white with blue stripes while the floors were a dark wood, though it was obvious whenever they had to replace a floor tile sense the new one would look so polished and new and the rest just looked worn and faded. There were always fresh growing daisies displayed at the windows, growing and blooming beautifully at this time of year.
An old woman was the owner of this shop, she used to work around more, though her knee surgery had her needing some recovery time. Hitoshi can remember how she would always be the one to give him a free muffin, insisting every time because "You can't have black coffee on an empty stomach." She would tell him. He started going to the cafe when he was in high school, and ever since she was the one to take his order, she'd make sure he had his breakfast.
When he graduated and needed a steady job, he decided to just work here until he gets things more established and figured out. He hardly needed to apply an application the moment he said the words of "can I get a job here?" And now, here he was, four years later and he's 22, still working at the same cafe.
Due to working here for some time now, he knew who the regulars were and knew how to make almost every drink by memory. He was fast but quiet, always giving small hums or nods as he quickly got a costumers drink ready for them, it was like a game of how fast can he make the drink nowadays.
A jingle of a bell from the entrance door snapped Hitoshi of his thoughts as he stands more properly instead of resting his elbow on the counter with his head in his palm.
Who comes in is a short blond who appears to be around Hitoshi's age. His hair is bright with an oddly shaped black streak in it. He looks around, clearly new to here. There are rain drops on his jacket that his obviously a little big for him, but the blond hardly seems to mind the fact.
He walked up to the counter, looking up at Hitoshi with a smile. "Hello." He greets, his lips stretching into a friendly smile. "Hello, what can I get you?" Hitoshi asks. The words were clearly spoken many times, his mouth movements all too familiar as his voice came out monotone and bland.
"Uhmm..." The blond hums in thought, looking at the menu of options he could choose from. His fingers tap the counter, bring attention to his chipped nail polish and the few scars on his fingers.
While the costumer thought, Hitoshi observed. It was a ritual by now. Whenever someone came up, he looked over the details, like the blonds slightly tanned skin, as if he's been working in the sun, and the freckles on his nose that scattered around his cheeks a little, or his dirtied shoes that were probably once a more vibrant color of yellow.
There were also the pins on his jacket. Most of them were from bands, though Hitoshi spotted his favorite when he saw a cat one. Hitoshi had a cat back at home. He used to be a stray but couldn't help but scoop him up and bring him home when seeing the poor thing looking so cold and hungry on one harsh winter day.
"I'll have a hot chocolate and uh. Hm... You pick." The blond told, giving Hitoshi a grin.
"What?" Hitoshi spoke, eyebrows furrowing at the request.
"Just give me whatever muffin you like. I'm not really sure which one to get sense they all look really good. Oh! And is it ok If I stay over there at that table for awhile?" The blond rambled on quickly, tilting his head with a risen brow, waiting for Hitoshi's response, Hitoshi was still trying to grasp at what exactly he had said.
"Yes, just don't disturb me or any costumer with useless complaints or comments." Hitoshi told, giving the happy blond a warning look before he turned to begin getting his things together. "Oki dokey artichokey." The blond said from behind Hitoshi as the cafe worker started on his hot chocolate.
Hitoshi worked fast, getting the hot chocolate in a cup as he threw a quick question to the costumer who looked curiously as Hitoshi worked. "Do you want whipped cream?" The sudden question seemed to take a few seconds longer to get in the blonds head. "Oh, yes please. Extra if you can fit it." He answers.
Hitoshi could guess this blond liked surgery things with the request of extra whipped cream in his hot chocolate, leading him a step closer to what muffin to give him.
The hot chocolate was hot and steamy from the paper cup, whipped cream going on top until he couldn't fit anymore for the lid to properly fit on well. His hands moved routinely while his mind remembered the special requests the blond had for him to do.
Placing the cup down on the counter by the blonds hand, he grabbed a lemon muffin, setting it on a napkin before putting it near the paper cup.
"That'll be 8.54." Hitoshi told, looking down at the blond, though he noticed a name tag on his shirt. Denki Kaminari. Knowing his name wasn't something he needed to know, but it did put a name to a new face.
"Wow, that's cheap." Denki said with a soft chuckle, his nose scrunching in the smallest of way as he did so. "I used to live more in a popular city area. A cup of hot chocolate and a muffin there would've been like 16 dollars." He told, an amazed smile on his face as he handed money to Hitoshi.
"Keep the change, you move fast, you deserve it." Denki told him with a quick wink of his eye as he took his items and walked off to a table near the daisies at the window, looking out the window curiously as people walked on by.
Hitoshi looked down at the money, giving a very delayed nod before he put the money away in the register that dinged like the toy ones he used to see kids have when he was young.
Where Denki worked, why he was there on a rainy Tuesday afternoon was a mystery to Hitoshi, and he assumed it'd be kept that way. Every costumer had their own lives to attend to, and Hitoshi had his.
Oh was Hitoshi wrong.
A week went by, and Hitoshi never saw Denki Kaminari again until a much sunnier Tuesday.
He had walked in, a smile on his face as he held a tote bag with him. This time, he just wore a simple shirt that had clear paint stains on it and his blond hair was tied back in a small ponytail. He ordered the same thing; Hot chocolate with extra whipped cream and whichever muffin Hitoshi would desire for him to have.
He sat at the same spot near the daisies, though that time he was reading a book instead of people watching. He didn't talk much when he sat down, simply enjoying his time until he's stand up, throw away his trash and give Hitoshi a small wave before he walked off.
This routine happened again, and again, and again.
Denki would come on a Tuesday afternoon, asking for his hot chocolate with extra whipped cream and his mystery muffin.
Some days, the blond looked more sadder, other days, he beamed as bright as the sun. He always let Hitoshi keep any change he handed him, throwing in a wink at him and sometimes saying a flirty comment towards Hitoshi.
"Can I get one hot chocolate, specially made from a cafe hottie?" He had said it so smugly, Hitoshi wanted to give him a snarky remark, but all he could do in that moment was give him an unimpressed look while his ears burned the moment he turned away.
It was an odd routine, but one Hitoshi didn't mind as time went on. Every Tuesday, Hitoshi found himself looking forward to seeing the blond who always gave him a wink, who always ordered the same thing, and who always showed up with something new that caught Hitoshi's attention.
There was a time Denki came into the cafe, dirt dusting his face and dirt was also in his nails. He appeared a little tired, but not exhausted. He breathed in the scent of the small cafe, giving Hitoshi that warm, soft smile. "Howdy there." He greeted with a horrible imitation of a southern accent.
Hitoshi huffed at him, the smallest tug of his lips showing he was amused. The blond didn't even say a word as Hitoshi just turned, getting on Denki's usual order. "You don't talk much." Denki pointed out. It was normal for him to start a small conversation while Hitoshi got his order done, sometimes pushing for questions to be answered, but Hitoshi hardly ever answered his prying questions.
"I don't find much of a reason too." He told, shaking the whipped cream as he began adding as much as he could. "I ask you questions, man. You hardly answer them." The blond complained, and Hitoshi could imagine the pout Denki had on his face, as any time he complained, that same pout would show on his face. "Give me one question. I'll answer whatever it is." Hitoshi offered, though he limited Denki.
"Give me a fun fact about yourself." Denki told pretty quickly, as if he's been waiting for this chance.
Hitoshi hummed in thought, placing Denki's hot chocolate in front of him as he looked over the muffin selection the cafe had today.
"I have a cat. Her name is Mochi." He told, his tone sounding bland as if he didn't spoil that cat on the daily.
Denki gave a gasp, smiling widely at Hitoshi as if what he said just amazed him. "I knew you'd be a cat kind a guy! Oh!" Denki stopped himself from saying anything besides what's he's already spoken as he took his jacket off his waist that Hitoshi failed to notice. Grabbing an orange cranberry muffin, he placed it on a napkin next to his beverage, now having his full attention on Denki.
"Here, it's a cat pin." Denki held his hand out, that same cat pin Hitoshi noticed when he first came staring up at him. The pin was a little worn, and the small cat on the pin had some sort of constellation on its side. It was clearly loved, which is why Hitoshi gave Denki an odd look.
Denki chuckled. "What?" He asks, tilting his head. "I know, it's a little rough around the edges, I got it awhile ago at a flea market. The owner who had it said the constellation right there," Denki tried pointing to it, but his finger was just blocking it from Hitoshi's view. "Is the constellation Lynx." He informed, looking at Hitoshi with a proud smile for remembering that fact.
"Why give it to me though?" He couldn't help but ask. It was sudden, and random. One small fact he gave the blond and now he wanted to give him one of his pins just like that?
"Well, you seem like you like cats, and I like seeing you every week, soo.." Denki's words drifted off, placing the pin on the counter, along with the money for the things he wished to have. "I'm gonna be reading at the table. Last I read, the main couple in the book just got to an inn, and there's only one bed." He told, changing the subject before the subject could continue as he grabbed his things and walked off as he situated his things to continue his book.
Looking down, Hitoshi took the pin, before looking back over to Denki Kaminari. He an odd person, but odd in the best way possible. Later that day when Denki left the cafe, Hitoshi put the pin on his apron he was required to wear at work.
This whole thing lasted for a few months, and Hitoshi found himself feeling some excitement on Tuesdays. It wasn't until September, did things go downhill.
September was always the start of fall. The weather and trees changed, alongside the menu of the cafe as everything started to be pumpkin spice. By now did that old women come back and start working more again, which was nice, but nothing could compare to when Tuesday would come, and Denki Kaminari came in.
Until, he didn't.
Hitoshi expected the blond to come through that glass door, giving Hitoshi that smile and asking for his order even if Hitoshi had already mesmerized it by the time he came three times in a row, but on a windy Tuesday, Denki did not show.
Few costumers came and went, and Hitoshi kept looking to that taunting ticking clock.
Regardless of the blonds absence, he made that hot chocolate, made sure to give him as much whipped cream possible, and grabbed a muffin he's already had, but Hitoshi decided that one seemed like a good choice for the blond that day.
It wasn't until Hitoshi's shift ended that he let out a sigh. He felt disappointed on the matter, though assumed that Denki was just sick or busy, and that he would be back by next Tuesday.
He was not.
Hitoshi waited once more, and still, Denki did not show. It was like he disappeared. He thought back on when Denki was last at the cafe. He seemed happy, smiling and even deciding to ramble to Hitoshi about his raise. Where he worked was still a mystery, and it was now that Hitoshi wished he would've just asked.
He couldn't help but occasionally fidget around with the pin Denki had given him a few weeks ago, looking at the small, cute little cat pin that was once owned by Denki himself.
Hitoshi tried brushing it of the best he could, but he felt anxious. Denki had never missed a Tuesday, he even came on his own birthday that was on a Tuesday, but Hitoshi knew the scenarios that occurred in his head like Denki being hit by a car, kidnapped, or worse, dead, were things that didn't happen around here. It was a small city, if you could even call it that. Sure, there were buildings and traffic, but it was small and hardly known. If anything, it just felt like a small forgotten town.
As days passed, Hitoshi's worry stuck around.
Three Tuesdays passed, and Hitoshi had no clue where to even look for Denki. He knew it was ridiculous, trying to rush around just to find someone who he had begun caring for. He took the others questions for granted, expected him to stick around, but that just wasn't the case.
Now that Denki was gone, he realized how much he enjoyed the blond's stories, his flirty comments, and that stupid wink he always gave him before he took his hot chocolate and muffin to go and read or watch people go by. Hitoshi even tried thinking back at what could've held him back from coming just at all, but all he could come up with was the blond growing poor or him being sick for awhile.
He sighed at his own foolishness, and that older women had taken notice, looking to Hitoshi with a raised brow. "Is there something troubling you? You've been slouching more than usual." She pointed out to Hitoshi. There were only few people sitting around, sipping at their beverages as they did what they pleased.
"I'm fine Mrs. Kasumi." He stated rather blandly to the older women, who only gave a nod, but it was as clear as day that she saw right through him. "Is it that boy that always comes around here and speaks to you?" She asks. The silence fallowed by was all she needed for an answer. Hitoshi had figured she'd notice, he just wished she wouldn't bring it up, but he was running out of luck.
Mrs. Kasumi hums in thought. "I usually see that boy at the flower shop a few roads down. He works there. I always get my daisies from there sense I keep forgetting to water the poor things and then they just wilt." She told with a small sigh, shaking her head in disapproval of herself.
Hitoshi turns his head to look at the women, raising a brow. "He words at a flower shop?" He asks. It would make sense, with the number of times he's come in with dirt caked in his nails or mud stains on his elbows.
"Mhm." Mrs. Kasumi hums. "He is a kind young man. He thought I was only fifty." She told him, seeming prideful at the compliment she was given by Denki who knows how long ago. "I went there just a couple days ago, he seemed pretty busy, so no need to stress it. Work gets harder for everyone sometimes." She told, giving Hitoshi a gentle smile as she patted Hitoshi's arm gently as if to comfort him. "Your shift is almost over, make sure to clock out." She told before walking off to go get more pastries to put in the front.
Hitoshi nodded in a silent acknowledgment, keeping note that Denki was just working. He should've figured, but unfortunately, Hitoshi didn't do too well when people just suddenly disappeared.
After what Mrs. Kasumi told Hitoshi, his mind was a bit clearer, and he felt a weight he didn't know he was holding fall to floor once and for all.
It was a cloudy, and slightly rainy Friday.
It was that day did Hitoshi decide to bring Denki's order to him.
He was on his lunch break, holding a paper bag with Denki's mystery muffin while his other hand held a paper cup that was filled with hot chocolate and extra whipped cream. Hitoshi had left a little less hot chocolate just to make sure he filled the cup with as much whipped cream as he possibly could.
He was still wearing his apron, and he wasn't even sure why. He should've taken it off, but he was already almost there. It'd be useless to turn back now and risk Denki's beverage turning more lukewarm instead of hot like it was supposed to be.
Small rain drops fell down and onto Hitoshi, but it didn't seem to be interested in soaking the things he held. By the time Hitoshi got to the flower shop he was told Denki worked at, he looked over it. The store itself was small, but just beside the small shop was garden filled with flowers that were starting to grow while others were in full bloom.
Hitoshi just stared at the shop, feel planted to the ground.
What was he thinking? It's not like Denki had told him where he worked, he'd probably be seen as a total stalker if he just walked on his way over, handing him the order he always asks for. Besides, what does he even say? How have you been? I missed you and that's why I'm here in the sprinkling rain like an idiot?
Hitoshi sighed, ready to just turn back.
Out of nowhere, a small girl ran into the store, making Hitoshi stumble as she pushed open the door and was inside, giggling in delight. The little girl's mother was out of breath as she came rushing after her, giving Hitoshi a quick "I'm so sorry" as she went in with a final exhale.
Hitoshi would've left it at that, but he heard his voice, the cheery voice that always said hello when he first saw Hitoshi at the cafe, the voice that complained or flirted. Mentally cursing at himself for doing what he was about to do, he turned around, holding the door slightly open as he peaked inside.
"I'm so sorry." The mother told, giving a grinning Denki a small bow. "There's no need to apologize, besides, it's honestly a great honor that I get to be visited by a princess." Denki told, his hands going on his knees as he bent down to see the small girl better. The mention of her being a princess made Hitoshi realize the little girl was wearing a glittery princess dress, even having a small plastic tiara on her head, her blond hair being tied in two little pigtails.
"It's my birthday!" The girl cheered, jumping in pure joy, you would've thought she knew Denki personally. The girls mother shook her head. "Still, she knows better than to just run off, but she does really like flowers." The mother explained, grabbing onto her daughters hand.
"Well, because it's her birthday, I think she deserves a little something, especially if she's a princess." He told, looking around as he hummed in thought, his finger tapping his chin. "Hmmm, but what could I give that a princess would want?" He thinks a loud, his eyes drifting down to look at the little girl that beamed up at him. "Oh! Oh! A flower!" She requested.
"Of course!" Denki reached into his back pocket, taking out a gorgeous red rose and handing it to her. "Here you are princesss..?" He awaited for the girls name, and her mother opened her mouth to tell, but her daughter beat her to it. "Yuna, my names Yuna." She told, taking the rose and admiring. She held it pretty gently for her being as small as she was.
"Ah, princess Yuna of flowers, I hope you have a good birthday, but make sure you're good for your mom. If you're a princess then she's a queen, and queens have many responsibilities to handle all at once." He informed Yuna, who looked to Denki as she gave a slow nod in understanding, holding the rose close as she got closer to her mom's leg.
"Remember what you say to kind strangers?" Yuna's mother asks, looking down at her. "Uhmmm." Yuna hummed in thought. "Oh! Thank you!" She said, smiling proudly that she remembered. "You're welcome. Have a nice day." Denki told, giving a small wave of his hand as the two walked out of the shop.
Once the two left, Denki gave a tired sigh now that he was alone.
He went over to a piece of paper, reading the list of things he had to get done. "Let's see... Water flowers, cut off thorns, get the flower display ready for tomorrow." He mumbled as he combed back his bangs.
It was clear he was tired, if not just burnt out. By the register was a 'help wanted' sign, implying the flower shop was understaffed, which also explained why Denki did appear to be tired and more worn out. He put the paper down, starting to try and pick the dirt out from under his nails.
"Would you like some hot chocolate?" Hitoshi spoke. He had creeped up behind Denki, whether he meant to be quiet or not, Denki flinched at the sudden deeper voice from behind him. "Jesus man." He breathed out, having to look up to meet Hitoshi's gaze. "What? It has extra whipped cream." Hitoshi stated, getting a small chuckle from the blond in return.
"What are you even doing here? I don't think I ever told you where I worked." Denki stated, tilting his head with a sideways smile tugging at his lips.
Hitoshi felt his face brighten at the mention, because no- Denki never told Hitoshi where he worked. "My boss, she mentioned you." He explained in a blander way to tell the story. "That doesn't explain why you decided to show." Denki pressed, gladly taking the hot chocolate that was handed to him. He took a careful sip, humming gratefully at the taste.
Hitoshi gripped on the paper bag that held the muffin, hesitant to even say anything on his reasoning why.
Denki blinked up at him, his doe eyes appeared so much more innocent than he actually was.
"You haven't come to the cafe for awhile so I thought you'd want your usual order." Hitoshi said. It wasn't the full on truth, but it wasn't one big lie either. "Awww, you missed me." Denki teased, smiling as he leaned his head on Hitoshi's shoulder, making the cafe worker freeze into place for a moment.
Suddenly, Denki gasped. "You put the pin I gave you on your apron." He took notice, moving his head to look at the small little cat pin that used to be on his jacket. Hitoshi sighed, looking to the side as his face grew warm along with his chest as his heart skipped a couple of beats with how close Denki was to him.
"Just take your muffin." Hitoshi pressed, shoving the bag to Denki's chest to tale the subject off of him.
Denki smiled softly, holding on the bag near his heart as if it was the kindest thing that was done for him. "You know, I really needed this today. Thank you." Denki told, setting the bag and cup down so he could place all his attention on Hitoshi. The blond in front of Hitoshi swung his arms behind himself, holding his hands behind his back, just looking up at Hitoshi as if he knew far more then Hitoshi ever could.
"It was nothing. I didn't have much to do with my lunch break anyways." Hitoshi spoke truthfully, moving his gaze to the floor, noticing the dirt stains on Denki's shoes. They still looked so worn.
They were met with just pure silence, soft rain drops slipping from up in the clouds and letting down a peaceful shower, doing one of Denki's jobs for him. All of the sudden, a flowers stem was tapping on Hitoshi's fingers, causing him to grasp it gently and look to Denki as he held up the flower, seeing the smaller sunflower.
"Sunflowers are one of my favorites, that and lavender." Denki told. Hitoshi didn't ask what his favorites were, but that's what he liked, just learning random small things about Denki Kaminari. "Is this my payment for bringing you food?" Hitoshi asks, raising a brow with a small smirk pulling at his lips.
"I could pay you in a date if that's more to your liking." Denki spoke, though he quickly shut his mouth, his cheeks growing an obvious red, it made Hitoshi's smile grow in the slightest of way.
"You can ignore that- I-"
"I'm free on Tuesday next week." Hitoshi told quickly, maybe too quickly, but he didn't want the blonds offer to go to waste.
Denki's eyebrows rose, looking at Hitoshi as their eyes locked together, one pair looking into honey gold eyes while the other pair admired a royal purple staring back at his.
"Really?" Denki spoke finally, his voice cracking. Hitoshi nodded. "That is, if you actually want too." Hitoshi stated, feeling like a fool if Denki said it as just a small joke, just as a small little tease as he usually did. "I do!" Denki told, his voice raising unexpectedly. "Uh- I do. T-there's a pretty cool park around if you-" Denki told, fidgeting with his fingers anxiously.
"I would- I would like that." Hitoshi said with a confirming nod.
Denki chuckled nervously. "So, Tuesday then?"
"Tuesday."