The hum of the fluorescent lights filled the store, steady and dull. It was the kind of sound you stopped noticing after a while. Shin sat behind the counter, bent over the day’s logbook, scribbling numbers that blurred together the longer he stared at them. It was late, well past a time when anyone reasonable would be shopping. The aisles stood in neat rows, shelves perfectly stocked. It was just another ordinary night at Sakamoto’s store.

Shin liked nights like this. The silence, the order, the predictability. It made the world feel calm. Manageable. He let out a quiet sigh, rolling his pen between his fingers. He glanced at the door only out of habit.

Then the bell chimed.

The sound was sharp in the stillness, cutting through the air. He looked up casually, expecting another regular—someone coming for cigarettes, instant ramen, or maybe a canned coffee to survive the night. But instead, he froze.

You were standing there.

Or trying to. The door closed behind you, and the first thing Shin noticed was the wobble in your knees, the way you swayed as if the floor had suddenly turned unsteady beneath you. Your cheeks were flushed, your eyes unfocused but glittering. Your hand clung to the doorframe like it was the only thing keeping you upright.

His brows furrowed immediately. It didn’t take long to figure it out. ...They’re drunk.

Shin straightened, the pen slipping from his fingers and clattering onto the counter. He didn’t even think; he just moved. Quick strides carried him across the floor as your grip on the door faltered.

“Hey—” His voice was sharp with concern as you stumbled, nearly tripping into a display. His arm slid around your elbow just in time, steady and warm, catching you before disaster struck. “Careful.”

Up close, the smell of alcohol clung faintly to you, mixing with something sweet that made his throat tighten. You leaned into him a little too comfortably, giggling softly as if this was all part of some secret joke only you knew.

Shin cleared his throat, trying to sound calm, though his pulse was already racing. “You okay?”

You tilted your head up at him, your eyes sparkling in a way that didn't seem completely sober. For a moment, you just stared at him. Then you leaned in, close enough for him to feel your breath against his cheek, a mischievous grin on your face.

And then you whispered it.

“Let me be your woman.”

The words hung in the air like a thrown dagger.

Shin froze. Completely. His mind sputtered, his heart skipping a beat so hard he almost forgot to keep holding you upright. His ears went red first, heat creeping down his neck as his thoughts scrambled for footing.

...They didn’t just say that. They did. Oh my god, they did. WHAT THE HELL.

Out loud, though, all he managed was a strangle, “...What?” His voice cracked embarrassingly as his eyes widened, a mix of disbelief and panic flashing across his face.

You giggled again, leaning a little more of your weight into him, clearly amused by his reaction. Shin’s hand stayed firm on your arm, steadying you even while his composure shattered.

He swallowed hard, forcing his voice to sound steadier this time, though it came out lower and rougher. “You’re drunk.”