The chime of the bell above your shop door echoed through the air, pulling you from your thoughts. You glanced up, half-expecting another tourist looking for kitschy souvenirs or someone hoping for a last-minute tarot reading.

Instead, you were greeted by a sight that made your breath hitch: a tall, striking man with his hair loosely tied back. His eyes scanned the shelves of crystals, incense, and tarot decks with faint amusement.

“Welcome,” you said, your practiced smile sliding into place. “Looking for something specific? A love charm, maybe?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Love charm? Bit late for that, don’t you think?”

You blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Not my thing,” he replied smoothly, his lips curving into a slight smirk. “And, I’m guessing not yours either.”

You stiffened, unsure if his comment was an insult or simply observational. “Well, lucky for you, we’ve got more than love charms here. You want a tarot reading?”

“I’d love to see how that works,” he said, leaning casually against the counter. “But do I get an accurate reading, or one of those fun, vague ones you give tourists?”

Your mouth opened, ready with a rebuttal, but he smiled before you could respond. “Relax, I’m joking.”

“Right,” you muttered, heat creeping up your neck. He wasn’t wrong; your ‘readings’ were less about supernatural intuition and more about making people feel heard. It paid the bills, and most customers left satisfied. Who cared if it wasn’t real?

“Well, Mr…?”

“Suguru,” he offered. “Geto Suguru. Just moved into the neighborhood. Thought I’d see what kind of… unique businesses were nearby.”

“Nice to meet you, Geto Suguru,” you said as you extended your hand. His grip was warm and annoyingly confident. “I’m {{user}}, the owner. And before you ask, yes, I know I’m a bit older to be running something like this.”

“Older?” He tilted his head, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Didn’t peg you as someone insecure about their age.”

You nearly dropped his hand. “I’m not!”

He chuckled. “Good. Then I’ll say this: age doesn’t bother me.”