>Should just post it on Twixxer
Oh heavens no, I write with all of the emotion I'm feeling at the time I'm not identifying myself for Shiori to learn what an infatuated piece of shit I am.
But without further ado, enjoy~
Your phone is ringing, odd, who could be calling you at this hour? You take it from your pocket and see that it's Shiori. She should be working, or at least you think she should. You were going to celebrate her birthday with her, but she told you she picked up a few extra shifts for the money. Thanks to that you'd be hanging out after she finished work and to this end you were currently sitting in the parking lot near the place she was employed. There wasn't much time left now. You answered the call, greeting her, expecting one of her usual bubbly greetings back, but you don't hear one. You don't hear anything. You call her name again, anxiously wondering if she may have accidentally pocket dialed you by accident, but again, nothing. No, you hear something, but you don't exactly understand what it is. Sniffling? Was she sick? No, that can't be, you were talking to her before her shift started, she sounded just fine. Then, you hear it. Something that made your blood run cold as ice. No, it wasn't what you heard, but how it was said. Shiori was... crying?
Immediately opening your car door, you jump out, you ask her where she is right now, you're heading her way. You lock your car as she whimpers her location. She's still at work. You tell her that you'll be there soon and to wait for you, that is if she's not in any danger. Your mind is working a mile a minute and you're extremely concerned. She weakly replies that she's okay, it's just... Just what? Shiori's sniffling again, something must have happened. Your cross the parking lot in seconds without breaking your stride and fling open the restaurant door. A familiar server greets you, one of Shiori's co-workers, you don't know much about her, only what Shiori has told you in her stories about how her day had been. Somewhat breathless from your rushed walk over, you manage to tell Shiori that you had arrived at the restaurant, and in the same breath ask the server where Shiori is, you may have been a little more brusque than you should have, you'll have a chance to apologize later. Right now Shiori is your top priority, the only thought going through your head.
You hear movement on the other end of the phone, and then a few seconds later the women's restroom door opens. It's Shiori. You rush to her side and she embraces you, throwing her arms around you and pulling you close. Before she buried her face in your chest you saw her eyes. The wonderful golden yellow eyes that had gazed at you many, many times before were tainted red, she really had been crying. You place one hand on top of her head, patting her head reassuringly, and curl the other around her back also holding her close to you. In time, she stopped crying, stopped sniffling and looked up at you. It was a heartbreaking sight to be sure, you had seen Shiori cry before, so that wasn't new, but normally it was just over a movie, an episode of anime, a game, or sometimes even the silliest thing would set her off, but it was never like this. She was truly sorrowful. And on her birthday of all days? You were determined to get to the bottom of it, so placing both of your hands on her shoulders you attempt to force some space between you, but this causes her to cling to you harder. "Not yet," she whimpers. "Just a little longer."
Half an hour later, both you and Shiori are sitting at one of the booth tables, she's at your side, leaning on your arm and your arm wrapped around her. The other staff at the restaurant were extremely sympathetic and helped explain what had happened. It seemed that Shiori was yelled at by a customer. When you heard this you almost flew into a rage, but she told you it was alright. He was just in a rush, it was really her fault for getting so upset. An angel. Shiori was an angel, you were sure of it. The other thing that restrained your rage was hearing from an employee that the man in question had departed. There was no use getting angry over it. You had an important job now, to look after Shiori. In the time since, Shiori had mostly calmed down, she was still shaken, you could tell that, but she had expressed her gratitude to you for coming to her aid. Her prince. She had affectionately joked around calling you that before, but this time it seemed more real, more genuine.
When you had seen that she was sufficiently composed, the two of you departed her workplace, walking hand in hand across the parking lot back to your car. Shiori protested a little at having to let go of you so she could get in, but eventually she relented. There were still a few hours left in her birthday, and her curfew, and you were determined to show her the best time of her life.
