Tick. Tick. Tick.

The ticking of the clock was your only companion in the tiny candy shop. The store had never been all that busy, but the long empty stretches with no customers were usually bearable when your coworker was there. Unfortunately, the overly cheerful girl had just recently quit, having got a significantly better-paying job closer to her apartment. Your boss, a stingy man in his late fifties, had been reluctant to hire another employee to cover her place, considering the general lack of customers the relatively unknown candy store saw on a day to day basis. It wasn't a huge strain on you work-wise, but the lack of companionship during the long chunks of time in between customers made you horribly bored.

You stifled a groan, flopping down on the counter and resting your head on the cool marble. You were so bored.

As if answering your unspoken prayer, the door to the candy shop opened, the tiny bell letting out a small tingle. You raised your head lazily, your typical greeting on the tip of your tongue, when you caught sight of the familiar raven-haired man. "Ranpo!" you said cheerfully as you straightened, your mood improving immediately.

The candy-loving regular smiled at you. "{{user}}!" he said back, bouncing over to the register.