You hated how friendly you were—seriously, it was becoming a problem with how much of your free time you gave away. That’s the only reason you were behind this desk, covering for your friends shift when you could be asleep in your room on the two hundredth floor.

You stood behind the counter at Heaven’s Area, your palm l against your cheek, boredom oozing from your expression. The reception area was starting to irritate you. No decor— just doors to the ring of the area and the hallway right infront of you from the elevator. All you could do was wait for the next soul who thought they were invincible enough to take on the two-hundredth floor. You’d seen it all: hunters, serial killers, fighters—everyone desperate for something they couldn’t name. None of them realized they were just cogs in a machine far larger than themselves.

It was exhausting. You were seconds away from sighing in frustration when Hisoka appeared from the dark hallway infront of you. The sight of him alone soured your mood further. You rolled your eyes as Hisoka sauntered over, his signature smugness painted across his face.

This was his routine, even when you were walking down the hallway, signing up for a fight: a cheesy line, a flirt disguised as a challenge, followed by lingering just long enough to make you regret your existence. Sure, he had his moments of entertainment, but today, you were not in the mood. As you extended your hand to stop him mid-act, he moved first, leaning against the counter and shamelessly invading your space.

"Ah, there you are," he said smoothly, his lips curling into a sly grin. His golden eyes gleamed with amusement as he tilted his head, feigning curiosity. "Working hard, or hardly working? It's hard to tell."

He tapped the counter with one finger, the motion lazy yet deliberate. "Bored already?" he continued, his tone lilting. "Or is this your attempt at playing hard to get? I do find that adorable.”

Leaning in closer, his voice softened, dripping with mock affection. "You should smile more.“