Work Text:
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Goshiki grumbled as his arm felt around for his phone, as he groggily stared at the screen with sleep filled eyes that could barely make out the numbers on the screen. 5:00…he couldn’t help the groan that escaped his throat.
Despite his rude awakening his morning actually went on without a hitch! He finished his morning routine–in record time, might he add–and got out of his apartment without waking the neighbors dog! This was quite the unusual happenstance mind you. The bus was less crowded than usual and he actually was able to sit down! Goshiki thanked whichever higher being that was watching over him.
He entered the café and was promptly welcomed with an enthusiastic “TSUM-TSUM!”. He jumped slightly at the sudden shout but promptly returned with his own greeting “Good morning Tendou-senpai!”
“Would you help your poor old senpai and get a bag of coffee beans from the back~?”
“Of course Tendou-senpai!” Goshiki replied cheerily.
His shift continued as it usually would, with the corporate drones coming in with their heavy eyebags, the university students seeming a little more dead inside than usual, and a stunning man with beautiful brown eyes that looked at him with barely concealed annoyance–
“Sorry! What was that again?” Goshiki asked, embarrassed.
The (stunning) man rolled his eyes as he repeated his order in a deadpan tone “Give me a medium latte with a cinnamon roll.”
Goshiki had to physically shake his head to stop staring at the person in front of him
“Got it! That will be eight-hundred yen, what’s the name?” Goshiki once again thanked the same higher being for not stumbling over his words, especially since he already flubbed the greeting–yes! The same one he says a thousand times a day.
“It’s Shirabu”
“Great!” The man-Shirabu sat down at a table near the entrance and Goshiki got to work making his drink when Tendou came out.
“Shirabu!?”
Shirabu flinched at Tendou’s shout and glared harshly at him from his seat “Don’t shout!”
“What are you doing here? On a Wednesday no less!”
“I have a presentation today and need to make sure I’m awake for it.” he stated in the same bland tone as before.
Goshiki came out with his order in hand “Tendou-senpai you know eachother?” he inquired as he set Shirabu’s order down on the table.
“Ah! Tsum-Tsum, this is my kohai from high school Shirabu! I have been begging him to come here for the better part of a year, but as you can see he’s a very busy and successful medical student! He has me to thank for that.” Tendou said in a matter-of-factly tone.
“As if!” Shirabu’s glare returned and if Goshiki didn’t know any better he’d say it was slightly murderous.
“Shirabu! This is my employee Goshiki! He’s been with me for about seven months, isn’t he adorable!” He started squishing and pinching Goshiki’s cheeks.
Goshiki pried Tendou’s hands off his cheeks and rubbed at the assaulted areas as he whined “Ooowww~”
He chanced a glance at Shirabu to see him getting up to leave.
“Oh are you leaving already?” he wondered aloud.
“Yeah I have a class I need to get to”
“Ok… good luck on your presentation Shirabu-san!” Goshiki tried to not to sound too disappointed and started to return to the counter when he heard the entrance bell ding and saw the back of the medical student heading in the direction of the university.
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Goshiki didn’t see Shirabu again–much to his chagrin– until two weeks later while he was on the evening shift.
The only people who came in during the evening shift were people working the graveyard shift, that one weird girl who for some reason needs about a hundred cups of coffee a day–Goshiki wondered how she hasn’t gone to the hospital yet– and students who were planning an all nighter.
That is to say it was a relatively slow night with only two teenage boys trying to cram in a study session for a test they have tomorrow.
Goshiki was listening to one of his audiobooks as he wiped down the counter when he heard the familiar DING! Of the door.
“Welcome to Shiritorizawa café! What can I get for you” he asked as he looked at the customer.
“One hot chocolate with a chocolate croissant” Came the voice that Goshiki had thought about more than he’d like to admit.
“Ah! Shirabu-san! What brings you here today?” he questioned.
“I’m picking up Tendou for a game night with our high school friends”
“Do you need me to get him for you? He’s just in the back.”
Shirabu shook his head “No just get me my order he should be out by the time you’re done.”
“You got it! That will be one thousand yen!”
Shirabu was right. Just as Goshiki gave him his order Tendou came running out of the back looking particularly excited as he came up to Shirabu.
“Let’s go Shira! We can’t be late! Unless you want Semi-semi to chop our heads off for worrying him.”
“You're the one who just came out.” Shirabu stated as he stood up with his order in hand.
Goshiki said his goodbyes and despite Tendou’s invitation to come with them (“Who’ll look after the shop Tendou-senpai?”) Goshiki went back to work. As he closed the café that night his thoughts wandered back to Shirabu.
_________________________
Since then Shirabu had come sem-reguarly, and Goshiki learned more about him each time. That he didn’t particularly like coffee and preferred sweet drinks such as the hot chocolate he ordered frequently, that he was twenty-three and in his fifth year of medical school, which made him a year older than Goshiki. But the thing that Goshiki kept on learning over and over again…
Is that he has a stupid big crush on the guy.
And if the winks and sly smiles he gets from Tendou anytime Shirabu comes in can say anything, it’s that he’s not good at hiding it.
Today though Goshiki was gathering his courage, he was going to ask Shirabu out!
Just as he was mulling over what he was going to say he heard the chime. He shot up from his seat as he locked eyes with the man of the hour.
“Shirabu-san! What can I get you today?”
“I’ll just take a piece of strawberry cake.” Shirabu seemed a little off today almost like he was nervous about something,
“Is something wrong?” Goshiki asked worriedly.
Shirabu seemed startled and quickly replied with “Of course not!”, paid and sat down at his usual spot.
Goshiki felt the courage he had taken all day to build seeping out. Was Shirabu stressed about something? Maybe today wasn’t a good day to ask…
He placed the cake in front of Shirabu along with a couple of mints that Shirabu seemed to enjoy. Shirabu looked at him questioningly.
“Well you seem kinda stressed so i thought you might need a pick-me-up!” Goshiki was sweating bullets as Shirabu flicked his eyes between the mints and back up at Goshiki until he smiled slightly.
“Thank you…”
Goshiki felt the heat rise to his cheeks as he stuttered out a "You're welcome” and went back to the cash register.
Shirabu stayed for far longer than usual, Goshiki was going to go over and ask if he needed anything when he saw Shirabu rip a napkin out of the dispenser in front of him and furiously write something down. He then quickly packed his things and left with stiff shoulders.
Confused at the actions of the other Goshiki checked his table and picked up the napkin left behind.
‘xxx-xxx-xxxx, text me if you want to head to dinner sometime - Shirabu’
Goshiki stared at the napkin like it was going to fly away if he dared to so much as blink. He quickly turned his head to the retreating figure then back to the message scrawled on the napkin.
He smiled to himself and put the number in his phone, quickly sending a text-
‘Hey! It’s Goshiki! When are you free?’