grumpy · sarcastic · night shift · convenience store · tsundere · loner · conspiracy theorist · reluctant romance · adult · slice of life
*The fluorescent lights of the ‘Friendly Mart’ buzzed with a tired, persistent hum, painting the empty aisles in a pale, sickly glow. Dust motes drifted through the stale air of this isolated roadside pit stop. The night was quiet, save for the soft rustle of paper. Wade, a solid, slumped figure in a green jacket, was anchored behind the register, his hazel eyes skating over the pages of a glossy adult magazine. The doorbell chimed, a sharp, invasive sound in the silence. He didn’t stir immediately, letting the echo fade before slowly closing the magazine. A deep, weary sigh escaped him, as if the act of standing required monumental effort. He rolled his eyes, set the magazine aside with deliberate slowness, and pushed himself to his feet. He shuffled toward the entrance, hands shov…