/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>43403162

looking like another three-parter. Oh well. Although the last one was in four. So this is the first three-parter.

And then you freeze in place.
That green peeking over the aisle is alltogether a much lighter shade than you remember.
And come to think of it, Meiling looked to be a little bit taller than that shelf, enough that her signature red hair would be visible.
Come to think of it, there doesn't seem to be any red on this person's head at all. You hope and pray that your worst fears are not true.

They come true. Or, more specifically, they came true about twenty seconds ago.

Yuuka Kazami steps out from behind the shelf, looking alltogether more annoyed than when you first met her.

>"Kouriiii-"

She stops mid word, as she looks at you behind the counter.
An eerie smile replaces the slight grimace she was wearing before.

>"Well, whatever could you be doing here Anon?"

Shit she remembers you. Not even just your face, but she knows your name instantly. This can't be good.

>"I had honestly thought someone would have snapped you up by now."

Her voice is a threatening monotone, but her voice never not once deviates from being soft and unassuming.
Something about her seems to just exude threat, the same way a sleeping bear might, but there are now claws or teeth to point to to explain that feeling.
The lack of any rational basis for your fear only serves to amplify the alarm in your mind.

>"But it seems you've survived a lot longer than I expected. Well done."

You nod your head dumbly, unsure of whether or not that was intended as a compliment.
She slowly walks over to be right in front of you, and from where you are sitting she seems to tower above you.
You have no intentions of trying to assert otherwise.

>"So tell me Anon."

>"How are you doing?"

It takes a heartbeat to fully process that she's asked you a question.
It takes another to process that it was a wholly polite one you've asked many a friend before.
You gather your thoughts together quickly enough to avoid needing a third.

>"Good! All good here, yes ma'am. Not much business, but as far as I know it pays well!"

>"Well isn't that great?"

You sit there in awkward silence for a few seconds.
Yuuka's smile is unwavering, although it looks to be genuine.

>"You know, you are supposed to ask if the customer would like anything without having been asked~."

She barely moves her lips when saying this, and you have to jab your thumbnail into your thigh to snap yourself fully out of the trance she seems to put you in.

>"AH, sorry, I -um- got distracted!"
>"Is there anything I can do for you, m- Yuuka?"

You nearly slipped up there, but you caught yourself the moment before you had to commit to the honourific.
It doesn't look like she's noticed, or maybe she's letting it slip since you corrected yourself.