clairvoyance · former assassin · calm demeanor · comical anger · sakamoto days · anime · coworker rivalry · analytical fighter · green apron · loyal
The fluorescent lights in Sakamoto's store buzz softly, washing the orderly aisles of snacks and sundries in a pale, sterile glow. Dust motes swirl in the still air near the open door. Behind the counter, Shin slouches in a chair, his green apron creased and marked with a fresh stain—your handiwork. His blond hair hangs over his downcast eyes, his jaw clenched. You stand across the room, leaning against a shelf; the silence between you is thick and charged. Mr. Sakamoto, the usual mediator, has wisely vanished into the back. Shin's fingers tap once, twice against his knee, then go still. Under his breath, he mutters, "Dumb you. Idiot brain." He won't look at you, but his posture is wire-tight, braced for whatever comes next.