Chapter 549 - Retreat (1/2)
”Booooo...” Nik groaned. His happiness came crashing down to the pits of despair the moment Okusan said— No pets in the house. Well... what she meant was no human-eating Salamanders in the apartment and as a perfectly reasonable person, Nik could understand Okusan's logic. Honestly, the way she exerted herself last night made Nik even hotter for the pink-haired bombshell as she would usually be pretty meek and accommodate. He stepped down the bus like usual as the warm rays of the sun failed to provide any comfort in the chill. Winters were short-lived here so It's probably a dozen or two days before spring touches the country and allowed women to dress in pretty sundresses once again! Yawning a little, Nik stumbled across Manabu's mother. He didn't feel like using his skills to avoid unnecessary human interactions this time and as any inquisitive neighbor, the woman practically rushed out the moment it was Nik's scheduled to enter the market.
”Ohohoho, Nik! Did you really grow? I thought that Kybaya-chan didn't wear her correct glasses!” She looked amazed. Well, she should be. She was practically squeaking around Nik and at this time, a gruff voice echoed. ”Prepare the stock already! We don't want the soup to run out!” The man said standing at the entrance of the restaurant. There weren't really that much of early customers for the couple so instead of sleeping late to prepare for the next day, they would usually prepare for the day in the morning itself. Heaving a deep sigh, Manabu's mother turned with her lips upturned. ”Fine!” She spouted before waving goodbye to Nik. As she entered the restaurant, the husband glared towards Nik and walked back, sliding the entrance shut.
”So?... No hello? Damn, you are cold!” Nik snickered before walking towards the bookstore with carefree steps. Could he respond to every action against him based on envy? Of course, he could. But what's the point? Nik loved the look in the eyes of men. That look that shows their inferiority complex and fear that he might actually steal their women and they aren't wrong. One of these days, he just might and that's why he simply enjoyed the drama brought by his attractiveness. ”Ah, I should stop being so narcissistic, well, can't help it!” Nik chuckled to himself as he waved towards Yuuko, who, this time, found herself seated behind the counter while seemed a little distracted. ”Morning, Nik,” she greeted as Nik took the duster, ”Good morning, everything okay?”
”Hmm?” Yuuko looked towards Nik before shaking her head, ”Oh, yeah. I was just... thinking about a call I received from my friend. We haven't talked in ages but her son is getting married and she invited my family.”
”Oh, nice,” Nik chimed as he started cleaning the store. ”The fact is...” Yuuko continued, ”She was my classmate, so I don't recall seeing her pregnant at that time or before...” Hearing her, Nik came to a slight halt before continuing as if he hadn't heard anything. Even Yuuko stopped talking as she continued to think hard. ”You should probably eat up?” Nik suggested after a few minutes as Yuuko shook her head. ”I had prepared sandwiches today so I have already eaten up after Megumi went off for her classes. Hehe, I'll be snatching your customers today, pretty boy!” Yuuko let the cheerful surrounding her to her and when she finally realized the comment that leaked through her mouth, she tried to hurriedly change it. ”A-ah! I didn't mean to insult you or —”
”It's fine, really,” Nik smiled and waved his hands. He had just reached the kid's section that mainly comprised of fairytales and coloring books alongside the elementary textbooks prescribed by the educational system of the country. As Yuuko gazed at Nik bending down to wipe the traces of dust on the surface of the top books of the rows, Yuuko's breathing grew a little rough. As expected, she was sore all over the place today and took off a day from the gym, despite Megumi's many complaints. So while imagining the body hidden by the jacket, Yuuko continued to have her fill of the day while thinking about yesterday's proposal.
”Is... um, Kaya-san coming over?” Yuuko suddenly inquired as Nik shrugged in response. ”Most probably. But I think that it is quite wrong to continue our meetings when it is in your complete knowledge. Still, she said that she wanted to meet with you.” Nil said while moving to the fiction center, now hiding from Yuuko's vision as the fiction section was into the deeper territories of the bookstore. ”Oh...” Yuuko mumbled. A little complicated as she soon turned silent. Meanwhile, Nik found an interesting title in the a.d.u.l.t section.
”Say, Yuuko, isn't Fifty Shades of Grey a foreign item? When did you order a batch?” Nik picked the promotional article that wasn't translated as Yuuko's ears perked up. When it came to products, despite their nature, she didn't mind being open about it. ”Ordered it a week ago. Matsuman-san barely had any stock left. Honestly, many of our customers are already interested in this kind of stuff.”
”Literature e.r.o.t.i.ca, huh... nice,” Nik muttered as he decided what he would be delving into today. He had been a little interested in another foreign literature— Percy Jackson— but that could wait for now. The cover image of the book already sold itself to Nik.
”Umm, hey, Auntie,” A rather young woman entered the store and greeted Yuuko with a smile that instantly pulled on Yuuko's mood. ”Hello, Misha-chan. Another coloring book for your sister?”
”You got it!” The brunette with quite a bit of makeup grinned as Nik craned his head out of the sideways and called out, instantly brightening Misha's day. ”Hey there, Misha. We got a fresh batch of the current shounen trends. That little girl loves this kind so, here!” Nik presented the coloring book that Misha took with a wide smile before paying up and leaving with a wave towards Nik.
”Honestly, her little sister is probably tired of crayons already!” Yuuko complained. Both, the boss and the employee, knew Misha's true objective as her words made Nik snicker. ”I bet Misha knows how to make the best use of work out crayons.” His words earning a glare from Yuuko as she coughed, ”Inappropriate!”
”Yes, sorry boss! Where's the unpacked stock for the recipes?” Nik inquired as Yuuko sighed and directed. ”To the left of the guestroom. You'll carry the package yourself?” Yuuko's arms were already begging to her to simply sleep as Nik grinned, ”You know it!”