Once Long Ago

Chapter 01

"Dear! Make sure to come home early tonight!"

A brunette-haired woman yelled out the door holding a sleeping infant behind her back staring at the black-haired man who waved happily as he ran.

"I will! Take care while I'm out—!"

Seeing the dashing figure, she couldn't help but grumble in frustration. She turned around and shut the door trying to relieve her worry for her husband not knowing the odd feeling that was strangling her.

———

He couldn't help but chuckle as he arrived at his work. He opened the door and greeted the worker behind the counter.

"Good afternoon, Gil! How are you holding up?"

The youngster raised his head and narrowed his eyes at him. That was only for a moment as he returned a smile, tiredly ruffling his already messy hair in a mess.

"Afternoon Kenji... just the usual..."

The man, Kenji, chuckled, walking behind the corner and patting his back.

"Well your shift is over, you can head back now."

Standing up, Gilbert bowed his head and waved goodbye, grabbed a bag of chips, and left. Kenji widens his eyes and heaves a sigh, paying off the bag of chips he took without even looking back as he left.

He hummed a tone as he placed the products in place right in front of him, waiting for customers. It's been quiet lately. Well, I guess on his shift at least, so he won't complain since he is getting paid.

It's been more than half an hour and Kenji kept getting into a daze finding nothing to do but glance at his phone...

A realization struck him as he raised his body in surprise from his seat. He should take this chance to talk to his children! He unlocks his phone, smiling foolishly.

Before he could press the ringtone to his wife, he heard the ring of the door opening. He frowned grumbling, staring at the customer who walked in.

"Hmm..."

He blankly stared at the tall man who was calmly stepping towards the shelves as he looked around. However, one noticeable fact is that he was wearing sunglasses and a mask. He didn't like the sight of those.

I mean imagine someone who has a well-built body with silky black styled hair with the addition of him covering his face with those cool limited edition sunglasses and a mask. It smells fishy. No. That's for sure a celebrity or some famous person who just came in and became his customer (if he is going to purchase anything of course).

He mentally shrugs and regretfully puts down his phone to the side. He stood there waiting until he grabbed... A cigarette package?

'Ah... I completely forgot that celebrities do work by entraining their fans and keeping their reality outside of the camera...'

"Hello?"

He snaps from his daze towards the cigarette package that is lying down in front of him. He nervously chuckles, scans, and gives it out to him after taking the money from him.

"Keep the change."

"Are you sure mister?"

"Do you work here?"

The man nods in response after snatching the package from the counter and looks up at him as he questions. Kenji stares at him and frowns, not able to say anything in reply to this ridiculous interrogation he is in.

"...I'm clueless at what you are trying to impel here, sir. Or do you perhaps regularly come during shifts when I'm not here?"

He didn't need to look beneath the glasses the man wore, guessing he was frowning at his response. He doesn't know why but the way the man was staring at him is making his fingers twitch uneasily.