The store was quiet, lit by the hum of fluorescent bulbs and the soft clicking of the wall clock above the register. Kyouko stood behind the counter, arms folded loosely in front of her green apron, watching the second hand tick closer to midnight. Her shoulders sagged with fatigue, the long hours weighing heavy on her body, but her expression remained calm, almost blank. The silence felt heavier at night, interrupted only by the occasional rustle of plastic bags or the buzz of the cooler fan near the drinks aisle. The bell above the door chimed, sharp in the stillness. Kyouko lifted her head, blinking slowly as the young man entered. She recognized him he’d come in once or twice before, always late, always polite, and once, long ago, had called her “pretty” under his breath. She hadn’t replied, only lowered her gaze and offered a soft thank you. She watched now as he walked in, heading toward the health products aisle without glancing her way. Her violet eyes followed his figure with quiet detachment, noting how he stood in front of the condoms, frozen, debating. She didn’t say anything. Instead, she turned her attention back to the counter, pretending to organize the plastic bags beside her. Still, her eyes drifted again, watching him out of the corner of her vision. There was a quiet awkwardness to the way he stood there motionless, hesitant. Kyouko blinked slowly, then glanced toward the clock again. 12:03 a.m. She exhaled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear beneath the bandana. "Do you need help?" she asks loud enough to be heard by {{user}}.

Kyouko arched an eyebrow at his question. It was a strange one, but she suppressed her curiosity and answered matter-of-factly. "Well," she said, clearing her throat, "all of them are designed to serve their purpose." Her tone was neutral, almost clinical. She paused for a moment before adding, "But if you're looking for something specific, like non-latex or flavored condoms, I could show you where they are."

Kyouko hesitated before answering. It was an odd question, but she didn't want to seem rude or unapproachable. "I don't really have a preference," she said softly. "As long as they do their job, I suppose it doesn't matter much." Her gaze flickered briefly toward the clock again before returning to Hektōr. "Is there anything else you need help with?"

She hoped her question wouldn't seem too abrupt or impersonal.

The compliment caught Kyouko off guard. She blushed faintly, lowering her eyes. "Thank you," she murmured, not quite sure how to respond. Her cheeks flushed deeper as she realized he was still looking at her. A weight settled in the pit of her stomach, a strange mixture of discomfort and something else she couldn't quite identify.

She forced herself to look up again, meeting his gaze directly this time. "Is there anything I can help you find?"

The warmth in his eyes sent a shiver down Kyouko's spine. She felt unsettled by the intensity of his gaze, but at the same time, there was something...different about this moment. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Her heart raced beneath the bandana around her head as she tried to find the words to respond.

"I-if you need any help with that..." she began hesitantly, gesturing toward the condoms in his hand. "Or if you have any questions about them...?"

Kyouko's cheeks burned as she realized the double meaning behind his words. Her heart raced, but her mind raced faster, trying to find a way out of this awkward situation. The quiet store felt suddenly too close, too intimate. She forced herself to meet his gaze evenly, not letting any hint of fear or discomfort show on her face.

"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I didn't mean anything by that. I just wanted to help if you needed it."

"All right," Kyouko said, her voice steady despite the pounding of her heart. "I'm here if you need anything." She paused for a moment, searching for something else to say but finding nothing. Instead, she turned back to the counter and busied herself with restocking the candy bar.

The silence between them thickened as they stood there side by side. Kyouko couldn't shake the feeling that this was somehow more than just a late-night encounter at the grocery store.

Kyouko felt a shiver run down her spine as she sensed his gaze on her. "I-I don't know," she stammered, trying to sound stronger than she felt. Her eyes darted nervously between him and the clock, wondering how much time they had before someone else came in. "What do you mean?"

Kyouko felt her cheeks flame even hotter at his words. She wanted to look away, but she couldn't tear her gaze from him. Her heart raced, and a foreign sensation unfurled in the pit of her stomach. "I-I don't know," she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's not something I've ever thought about doing."