The abundance of goods lining every shelf and bookcase made the interior of the store feel cramped, despite the generous floor space. A popular anime OP played in the background, loud enough to set the mood but not enough to drown out the animated debates happening between various customers. The shop was a holy land for anime, manga, and game lovers—naturally, it attracted both devout veterans and loud, overcaffeinated first-years arguing over best girl and seasonal rankings.
Toward the back of this chaotic wonderland, amidst the stacks of plushies and figurines, walked two figures with an unnervingly focused air.
"Alright, Renji," Hajime muttered, eyeing a suspiciously sealed collector's box with narrowed eyes. "We get the artbook, the soundtrack, and no distractions this time."
"You say that like last time wasn't a complete success. I got the last copy of Prison Valkyrie 3—director's cut," Renji replied with a wink.
They strode toward the back of the store, bypassing rows of gachapon machines and a heated argument about whether mecha counted as a sub-genre or a full genre, when they arrived at the legendary curtained-off corner.
The adult section.
Renji cracked his knuckles. "Onward, brother. For research."
"God help me," Hajime muttered under his breath, pushing past the curtain with reluctant resolve.
They pushed aside the curtains and entered, immediately greeted by the cooler air and the strange, intense quiet of the area. The room had a very different vibe from the rest of the store—here, people whispered, brows furrowed in concentration, carefully scanning the rows of more... niche products. No one spoke above a hushed tone, and even the music playing in the background was muffled, as if to respect the sanctity of the space.
Meanwhile, out in the main store area, a couple of figures watched the two enter with suspicious eyes.
"Wait… Kaori," Shizuku whispered, tugging on her friend's sleeve. "Do you think—?"
"Of course! If they're going in there, we have to follow!" Kaori's voice was filled with equal parts excitement and curiosity. "This is our chance to see what Hajime-kun's up to. If his dad made that game... maybe it's something we should talk about with him."
Shizuku looked uneasy. "Kaori, I'm not sure about this. The adult section... it's not really for us."
"Pfft, we're just following them, Shizuku! We won't even be noticed."
Kaori's enthusiasm was undeniable. She was convinced this was the perfect opportunity to bond with Hajime over something his father made, though Shizuku couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get way more awkward than they anticipated.
The two girls crept quietly behind Hajime and Renji, who had already begun scanning the shelves with an almost too casual demeanor. They watched as the two of them began discussing what to pick up, oblivious to the fact that they were being trailed.
"We need to grab the artbook," Renji said, scanning the titles, "and maybe that limited edition collector's box with the holographic cover."
Hajime nodded. "Yeah, and let's not forget the soundtrack. I'm not missing out on that."
Meanwhile, Kaori and Shizuku crouched behind a display of figurines, trying their best to remain unseen. Kaori peeked over the top of the display. "He's so cool," she whispered, her eyes glued to Hajime.
"Kaori, don't do anything crazy. Just keep your head down."
"I'm not doing anything! Just watching," she whispered back, though the excitement in her eyes gave her away.
As Hajime and Renji continued their hunt for rare items, they reached the very back of the store—right by the adult section's entrance. Hajime was reaching for a display box when Renji nudged him, pointing out a particularly shiny, limited edition collectible sitting on a higher shelf.
"That one," Renji said, grinning. "I've got to have it."
Hajime glanced up. "You can't even see the price tag."
"Doesn't matter. It's mine," Renji declared, walking toward it without hesitation.
At that exact moment, Kaori sneezed—loudly.
Renji froze. Hajime turned, and the two of them immediately noticed the muffled sound of something behind the figurine shelf. Both of them locked eyes.
"Did you hear that?" Hajime asked.
"Yeah," Renji replied, narrowing his eyes. "I thought I felt a disturbance in the Force. You don't think…?"
Shizuku's face drained of color as she slowly backed away, pulling Kaori with her.
"Shizuku!" Kaori whispered frantically. "They're coming this way!"
They both quickly ducked out of sight, holding their breath. The two boys exchanged another glance, then shrugged it off.
"I guess it was nothing," Hajime muttered, returning his attention to the display case.
Renji let out a quiet laugh. "Guess so."
Kaori and Shizuku stayed absolutely still, holding their breaths as Hajime and Renji walked right by them, oblivious to their presence.
Kaori peeked around the corner just a bit too soon, and her heart nearly leapt out of her chest when she realized just how close they were.
But with a final brush of their shoulders, Hajime and Renji passed without noticing a thing.
"Phew, that was too close," Shizuku whispered, wiping the sweat off her forehead.
"You're telling me," Kaori replied, still shaken. "But we can't let them get away! We need to—"
"No, Kaori," Shizuku cut in, a little too forcefully. "This is where we stop. We are not getting involved in whatever they're doing in there."
But Kaori was already peeking over the shelf again, eyeing Hajime and Renji as they made their way deeper into the adult section.
"Just one more peek," Kaori muttered under her breath.
Shizuku could only sigh in resignation.
The anime store was bustling with excited fans, each picking up something new to add to their collection. The shelves were lined with everything from figurines to rare posters. The place had an undeniable energy that made even the most casual visitors feel like they were part of something... well, weird. But none of that mattered to Kaori today.
"I've gotta get this game," Kaori said with the fierce determination of someone about to win a grand prize. "It's the only way I'll have something to talk about with Nagumo-kun! His dad made it, after all!"
Shizuku, who had already been dragged halfway across the store, sighed. "Kaori, there's no way they'll sell you the 18+ version. We're, like, fifteen."
"Age is just a number!" Kaori waved her hand dismissively, her face set with unwavering resolve. "I'm going in!"
"No buts. The all-ages version is sold out, and the 18+ one is basically impossible for us to buy," Shizuku groaned. "And besides, do you really want to talk about the... sex scenes with Nagumo-kun?"
Kaori's face lit up at the thought. "Well, maybe he's into that kind of thing! What if Nagumo-kun played the... e-eighteen plus version?" she stammered, her voice a little too hopeful.
Shizuku froze in horror. "You really think he'd want to talk about that in class?!"
"Why not? You never know! Besides, if he did play it..." Kaori's eyes gleamed, "then maybe I can bond with him over it!" She whispered the last part like it was a secret weapon.
Shizuku raised her hands in defeat. "Kaori, please. If you go in there, you'll be the talk of the school for all the wrong reasons."
But Kaori was already charging ahead into the 18+ section, the aisle practically calling to her. "You'll see! I'm gonna ask him about it!"
"No!" Shizuku cried, grabbing Kaori's arm. "Please, Kaori. This is so embarrassing."
But Kaori was relentless. "I've come too far to turn back now!"
The curtains to the 18+ section parted as Kaori pushed ahead, her enthusiasm making her oblivious to the uncomfortable stares of the men in the store. Silence fell, and the eyes of every person in the section locked onto Kaori.
Shizuku's eyes widened in horror. "Kaori, NO—this is a bad idea!"
But Kaori was already too deep into the section, her eyes alight with excitement as she waved the game box in the air. "I found it, Shizuku-chan! Look!"
Shizuku buried her face in her hands, groaning. "This is not happening."
But Kaori wasn't finished. She flipped the game box over and froze. "Wait... Shizuku-chan, this girl looks just like you!"
Shizuku whipped her head around so fast she almost gave herself whiplash. "W-what!?" she stammered. "I don't look anything like her!"
Kaori pointed to the girl on the cover, who had dark hair and a somewhat flustered expression. "No, I swear! Look at the way she's blushing—totally like you when Renji's around!" Kaori's grin spread wider as she teased, "I bet he'd totally love this game."
Shizuku's face went beet red. "Kaori—I do not blush like that when Renji's around!"
"Oh? I'm pretty sure I've seen you get all nervous when he looks at you," Kaori teased, nudging her friend with an elbow. "I mean, the guy is practically a walking anime prince."
Shizuku spluttered, her voice nearly cracking. "What—NO! I—I don't think of Renji like that!" Her face had turned so red, she could've been mistaken for a tomato.
But Kaori wasn't finished. She put a finger to her chin, deep in "thought." "Hmm, let me think... maybe Renji doesn't notice, huh? Or maybe he's just too busy with his whole 'cool' thing to realize his perfect match is right in front of him." Kaori's eyes glinted with mischief. "I'm telling you, Shizuku-chan, Renji is totally your anime soulmate."
Shizuku let out a loud groan, her face burying deeper into her hands. "Kaori, stop—this is not funny!" Her voice trembled slightly, a mix of frustration and the tiniest hint of something else.
Kaori couldn't resist the urge to tease just a little bit more. "Come on, you can't tell me there hasn't been a single moment when you thought, 'Hmm... maybe he's the one for me.'"
"No!" Shizuku yelled, way too loudly for her own good, causing a few more heads to turn in their direction.
And that's when it happened—another loud thud came from behind one of the shelves, followed by a voice, weak and panicked. "Medic! I need a medic!" A gasp and then the unmistakable sounds of a nosebleed.
Shizuku dragged Kaori away, mortified. "Kaori! This is a disaster!"
But Kaori was still holding up the game box with a smug smile. "Hey, I'm just trying to help you. I'm saying it's meant to be!"
But before Shizuku could process the madness, a manager appeared. He was clearly nervous, his hands wringing together. "Excuse me, miss," he said, attempting to remain professional. "I'm afraid you need to be at least eighteen to purchase these items."
Kaori grinned, holding the game box up like a trophy. "I'd like to buy it, please!" Her innocent puppy-dog eyes turned on full blast.
The manager blinked in stunned silence, then cleared his throat. "I... I'm afraid you'll need to leave this section, miss."
Kaori leaned forward, eyes sparkling. "But I really need it for my dad! It's his birthday present!" She lowered her voice, almost conspiratorially. "He's such a big fan of this kind of game."
Shizuku's face fell into her hands in sheer exasperation. "Kaori... please..."
Before the manager could say another word, a loud thud followed by a voice crying out in distress sounded from behind the shelves: "Boss! You've gotta stop bleeding out!"
Shizuku sighed dramatically, as Kaori's grin grew ever wider. "See? That's what happens when you don't take anime romance seriously."
As Kaori gleefully surveyed her latest "victory," Shizuku couldn't help but feel a little tug on her heart. Maybe Kaori was right, and maybe... just maybe, Renji was a little more than just a "cool guy" in her life. But as much as she hated to admit it, Kaori was probably the only one who would ever make her face the truth with such relentless teasing.
On that day, Kaori didn't just buy a game—she became an anime store legend while leaving a pile of nosebleeding warriors and a very defeated manager in her wake.