Chapter 8: just a regular day at the shop.

A teen girl ran hurriedly on the streets, her black hair fluttering without a care behind her head as she ran like a track racer. Dodging other people, poles, and animals. Running close right behind her is another girl with blonde hair, her friend, Kaskaa. "Why *huff* are *huff* we *huff* Running." The blonde girl asked, struggling to keep up. Maybe if she goes outside more to exercise, she could catch up. "Din't you hear, the newest chapter for dragon egg just got publish and i'll be damn if i don't get my hands on it first." She said before speeding up more. "Hey, wait *huf* up." The two made it in less than 15 minutes. Himiko stopped in front of the place, and Kaska was just right behind. A quaint little store with shelves filled with colorful manga volumes and anime merchandise. They had gone here for the last couple of months, it was the only place that provided them a haven. Away from schools or the scolding household, but in here, they are welcome. The chime rang as they passed through the door. A fresh smell of fragrant brush passed their noses when they entered. Since they are still early in the morning on a Sunday, the store has many customers besides two or three women here and there looking at the erotic section of the shop. Sitting behind the store register, a young man in a death metal black shirt with eye-covering bangs on the left side of his eyes, sporting quite the goth look over his lean body. "Sup." A plain greeting from him. ""Hello Mr. Takune."" Both girls return his greeting more politely. "Is Takumi oni-chan not running the counter on this day?" Spoke the blonde, curious about the changes. "Nope, he's out. Doing that fighting class thing, probably not back for another few hours. No, is there something I can get for you two ?" Takune asked with a tired voice. "The newest chap for dragon egg, please ?" Himiko wasted no time hopping on the counter, stating what she wanted. But with such a short stature, she has to hang on the counter with her hand while her feet dangle in the air. "Right, here you go. Now get off the counter, if the table breaks, then you'll pay for it." The boy let out a sigh before reaching down under the counter and handing it to them. "Wow." "Yeah, wow." The girl's eyes sparkled with excitement as they held the book in their hands. They both admire the book like a sacred artifact, holding it with care. *fainting coughing sound takes away their eyes from the manga. Takuni sat with his hand open, motioning with his hand, asking for the payment. "Oh right, the money." She said, realizing they haven't even paid for it yet. They scrambled through their pocket and handed him the corresponding amount of cash for the manga. "Can we head to the reading room?" The book looked at them for a moment before getting out of his chair and walking over to the two girls. Kaska was surprised to see him walking toward them all of a sudden. The two eyes were drawn to the huge bulge in his pants. "Wa-" "Hmmm...let me just," Takuni said as he reached for something just over Kaska's shoulder. He pulled his hand back with a leaf in his palm, the blonde face turned bright red as he did so. "It must have gotten caught there while I was running here. Thanks, we'll begin now." Redness was all over her face as she dragged her friend away. With a heart beating so fast, it might jump out of her chest. Himiko saw this and immediately checked if there was anything on herself, too. On the side of the room, neatly tucked next to two large bookshelves, is a door hiding in plain sight. One may just think that it's just part of the building decoration. But it is for this reason that this room became the secret lair of the frequent kids who come here. Sliding the door open to the side, revealing a warmly lit room. No longer having the manga poster or figure plastered on the wall. But rather a plain texture wallpaper that creates a relaxing atmosphere. The room has one large round table surrounded by a bunch of sofas and cushioned chairs. 'Must be new ?' Himiko throught. There are a few shelves, but the books here are not for sale but rather a place where reader share their most enjoyable stories. There's even a cafe connected to it with someone currently behind the counter, already brewing a new batch of coffee. A young man with Long black hair tied into a neat ponytail, allowing her to see his soft and cute face. He wore a simple white T-shirt and black pants, with an apron over his shirt. His clothing accentuates his naive appearance but still clearly shows his maturity as an adult. "Are you a magician? Because whenever I look at you, everyone else disappears... oh wait, that's not what I meant to say! Uh.." Himiko tried to greet him, but did a terrible job at it. Kaska looked from the side with a gaping mouth, her eye conveyed a 'how can you fumble this badly?' Look. "I think what she was trying to say is hi, by the way, hi, Takichi ani-san." Kaska came in to save her friend from death by embarrassment. "Himiko, Kaska. Nice to see you two, let me guess....dragon egg?" "Hm, ah yeah. We just got it, the newest release of the series." Himiko shows up the cover with both her hands. Soon, she got out of her previous state of embarrassment and got into a conversation about the series. Any boy her age would scoff or just make fun of what the girls are doing. But Takichi seemed interested in what they reading and actively making a fun talk with her and her friends. Not only he, but all three brothers of the shop are also like that. "Is there something you can get for you ?" Takichi asked. "Uh, I'll just have an iced tea, please." "I'll take a Coke." He was about to turn to making the order when another figure entered the room. There was no need to look, they knew who this was. They could almost smell it in the air. "Hi, Mr. Takichi." She said. "Hi there, Yoshine. Do you want something to drink too ?" He greeted her happily just like all the other, before asking for an order. "Medium almond latte, extra milk." She said, trying to sound as tacky as possible. Yoshine isn't someone bad by any means, she just 'unfiltered' as Kaska would put it. She's been on the internet for too long, it has affected her real life. A 'troll' as she likes to call herself, and to be honest, she looks like one too. Long black hair reached her back, her body isn't fit, but doesn't count as fat either. A black hoodie and skirt with so many holes in it, it looks like someone decided to pull a gun and empty a full mag through it. Thankfully, she does have her short skirt inside. "It'll be done in 15, I'll bring it out to you girls." "Thanks again, Takichi ani-san." "Yeah, just don't put ligma in it?" Yoshine said. And right away, both girls realise what she's doing. "Ligma ?" Takichi asked, confused Takichi has his back to him, but they could see it, the most devious grin they could imagine. She was about to say the most depraved shit known to womankind, it could break the Geneva convention. Himiko slapped her face across the floor, stopping her attempt at committing a war crime. And dragging her away. "Hehe, it's just a new word we use." Kaska was quick to find a reason that could distract Takichi. "Oh, you young kids and your weird language." Luckily for them, he doesn't care too much and just acts as if this is a joke and turns away, giggling. "What the fuck was that ?! You retarded bitch!" Himiko was about to punch the living soul out of Yoshina, but it took her every bit of her willpower not to punch her, plus Kaska blocking her. "Chill, it was just a p, rank.. Besides, it's not like he would understand it." She said playfully with no remorse for what she attempted. "Yoshina, shut up. I'm already holding one crazy bitch back. I can't handle two." Kaska said while pushing Himiko back. After minutes and with served drinks, they finally settle down. The little group of friend soon find themself reading and talking about random stuff. At first it was trivial stuff, homework work, video games, untilturnedturn to a more lewd topic. "Who do you think is the hottest?" Yoshina "What ?" "I mean, come on. Like you thought about it?" Retorted Yoshina. "I can't believe you would talk about it in here. What if they catch ?s." "They won't hear it from here." Turning to check on Takichi, and just as predicted. He doesn't bat an eye at them. "See." "Obviously it's Takune." And like usual, her reasoning is anything but. "I still don't understand why you're into goth ?" "But that's the best part, he's a The woman would kill for such a dommy goth daddy like him." "Yeah, someone should put you in a psych ward." "Ok then, if my choice is so bad, then what's yours ?" "Hah, why it's Takichi. He's pretty, nice, and can cook. And that's all any woman wants from a man." "Hold up, we're talking about beauty. How does cooking and being nice have to do with this ?" "*Tis tis* being nice and able to cook is also a part of men beauty. This is why you'll never get a man for you." Himiko said with a fake, saddened tone while shaking her head, faking disappointment in her friend. The two keep bickering about this until Himiko decides to turn to her friend Kaska, who's been busy reading from the sidelines. "Hey, Kaska." She called. "Hmm, What ?"She slowly raised her head from the manga. "Who's hotter. Takuni or Takichi aniki ?" She hummed for a bit, thinking about her answer. "It's Takichi." "What ?" "Ha, suck it bitch i told you. All woman like their man to be sweet and gentle like Takichi." Kaskignoresre them, tuning their childish bickering to background noise, raising her ma to hide her lying face from them. She pretended to think about the question so her father believed her.