Work Text:
The gruff voice of Toshiro Mifune echoed in Kirinmaru’s ears as he gathered his thoughts while watching the men running over the castle for some stupid invasion. Well, if he was being honest, he was like a hapless footman under the command of some general sitting comfortably in the palace.
“Bro….”
Kirinmaru rolled his eyes at Zero’s words. “You’re back, ah….” The only sound that came from Zero (or not) was that annoying Blackpink song: Hitting you with that Du du du … “I dapao cai peng back, since you did not ask what to make for dinner…” Kirinmaru decided to use his fingertips to pause the movie, replying to Zero.
Kirinmaru sheepishly tilted his head and gave an mhm sound to Zero. “Ok thanks….”
He could easily deduce in his mind that Zero had placed his dinner on the dining table. He grumbled a little, looking over at the clock, which screamed 9pm, to which he thought, I am too tired for this shit, like honestly.
A ping came by.
Hey.
Kirinmaru picked up the phone.
How have you been Kirin…
Midoriko, his girlfriend of 5 months, sent a cute picture of a tortie, which made him crack a small smile. Of course, that cat was dressed as a postman, trodding around miserably, screaming “Special delivery!”
Christmas hell
Whut?
😬😬😬😬😬😬 it is hard for me to explain this.
It is crazy, Kirinmaru thought to himself bleakly. How should I explain to my girlfriend, she would never know what the hell is going on.
/////
Kirinmaru forced himself to calm his nerves, after one of the customers made a huge complaint that her drinks did not come fast enough, despite the fact that Riku was honestly focusing on making the drinks quickly, while also managing the cash register. Well, that is not bad, then, I think, Kirinmaru thought himself with stupid positivity mantras when honestly everything was sinking down. I have dealt with worse.
And indeed, the worst was yet to come, when a gruff delivery man came to the counter. “Special delivery,” he said, plopping a medium-sized carton on the table. Kirinmaru quickly ran over and signed the form.
“Stamp?”
Kirinmaru blinked a little, and it seemed like divine intervention of the retail gods that Hiromi happened to be at his side, passing him their company stamp—after finishing checking the consignment notes.
Kirinmaru only muttered thanks to her quietly. And, thankfully, the delivery man did not linger that long, because the moment he decided to grab the nearest penknife and slice the edges of the box, an unpleasant surprise came in the boxes themselves.
Oh shit.
Christmas hats. Baubles of gold and red. Headbands of reindeer antlers.
Kirinmaru had the biggest internal scream in his mind.
Christmas season was going to start. Hiromi quickly swivelled the chair, examining the goods. “Seems that Jyubei wants us to get started….” Hiromi gingerly grabbed a gaudy Santa hat and placed it on her head. “I suppose you have a game plan for what to do…we discussed that months back, like last April…”
“Yeah, last April…”
To be honest, Christmas retail was a memory that he could lock away forever. However, being the manager of the store, Kirinmaru had to get his shit together; and that season was one that would drain everyone, even the most seasoned of retail workers.
The endless crooning of “And everyone telling you to be of good cheer, It's the most wonderful time of the year”, when most customers demanded that particular item right now , and quickly. The rush of online orders, which they had to strip bubblewrap over and over again.
Should I order 5 rolls of bubble wrap again, along with many rolls of tape, Kirinmaru wondered because we are going to eat it like bread . Oh shit, he added in his head, should I invite some crafters to hold classes here? If I do that, there is a possibility that there will be at least one customer who can never find a babysitter and will use us as free service. Nope, I do not want that.
Hiromi rolled her eyes at Kirinmaru, internally freaking out. “I know, I hate that season too, but we need to get our shit together…”
Yeah getting our shit together.
////////
Kirinmaru hopped on the train, looking at the workgroup chat, which could be chaotic at times.
Voice memos of Jyubei nagging at one of the managers for the part-timer’s tardy behaviour, at which Kirinmaru was tempted to give an eye-roll gif. The flashy Christmas advertising to buy things so cheap. Shit this was so weird, because Christmas was supposed to be joyous, yet how many could be so happy?
Reality smacked him back when Kirinmaru received a text from Zero.
Oh BTW I am going out with my friends….take care of Samara?
Ok…fine….
Another response came in, and that picture seemed awfully familiar. Midoriko, huh?
Hey…..how is that christmas hell going….
Bad…I suppose…
Maybe…..you want to tell me about that….🥺
Kirinmaru rolled his bottom lip in displeasure. Well…it is nothing….
Before long, the train announced the drop-off point; Kirinmaru quickly swung his backpack and walked over to the platform, staring at the grey sky. Well, that…it is the most wonderful time of the year.
Little did he know that a quiet moment could be interrupted by a text.
Hey….
Sian….
…erm….what’s up…
It seemed that a delivery guy was waiting outside, and Kirinmaru thought that the man must have misread the time.
Jialat, eh…. Kirinmaru thought calmly. Seemed there was no time to grab the coffee, only time to rush out.
Little did he know that Midoriko had just sent him another text.
Have a good day at work….ganbatte!
Perhaps that was the last time that Kirinmaru glanced at his phone, for dire matters needed to be taken care of.
//////
Day in and day out, Kirinmaru seemed to be more agitated than ever, such that he had to bite his tongue at the notoriety of all the customers...
“Hey…sorry…can you hurry up on the wrapping…” The customer wearing a velour top and leggings glared at the part-timer, who seemed to stare in deep panic at that issue. “You should have…”
Kirinmaru calmly stepped in and explained to her, “We just put up a sign to say that wrapping may take us 10-15 minutes….do you want some coffee at the side…”
Riku, wearing those cheesy reindeer antlers, gave that bemused grin as he prepared a round of lattes for a family with 3 boisterous teenagers and a pair of twins whining over when their freezes were coming in. By the look of Riku’s expression, it screamed so clearly to the otherwise headless chicken manager Kirinmaru “Please not now….” Kirinmaru sighed again, and thought of the cookies made by a kind mother and passed them on to the customer.
“Have this as a snack; I will ask our barista to make you a drink…anything you prefer….” That customer continued to sulk at him, at which Kirinmaru and Riku made stupid gestures up and down to show their alliance.
Thankfully, Kouga broke out of their miasma, holding huge plastic bags of containers, holding Nasi Pandang. “Hey guys, it happened that the one near my neighbourhood is open, and the auntie there was nice enough to give me more chilli….”
Kirinmaru stared at him bemusedly, though he had that pleading expression of gratitude.
“Thanks….” He gestured Kouga to place the food on the new table. Quickly, Kouga sprung into action when a customer rang the bell again and again; it turned out to be a bemused 4-5 year old little boy staring at the cashier counter with pleading eyes.
“Can you cover the counter, as I think I need to grab the call…” Kirinmaru asked, giving a tired grin to Koga.
“Boss…” Kouga mumbled to him. “Maybe lunch will be good…..”
Kirinmaru observed Kouga being calm over the ringing of bells. “Hey, kid…” Kouga gave a cheeky wink to the child. “Don’t scare uncle and auntie like that….unless your mum is interested in making a purchase from us…” The kid stared at him confusedly, quickly staring at his mum, who happened to be carrying some purchases.
“Sorry about my son, I will pay for this…”
Kouga cheekily grinned at her. “As if on time, maybe it is destiny…” Kouga’s stupid charm and the gift of food were a much-needed breather for Kirinmaru. Quickly, he searched for the Nasi Pandang that had his name written in the permanent marker. Koga gave a wink to Kirinmaru, watching him take his earpods and blast a podcast of Akira Kurosawa’s oeuvre.
Somehow, the hum of the annoying Christmas songs became silent with the hum of crickets and the feel of the burning sun rays on his face.
Thankfully, Kirinmaru hid himself in the corner to see the many text notifications of the team chat on his phone, which some were condensing, and Jyubei rattled to everyone “alemak why like that…” Of course, it make Kirinmaru sulk even more, as he forced himself to tilt his Christmas hat, and take deep breaths, as he opened up that packet of Nasi Pandang to allow himself to breathe in the steaming aroma of rice, the drenched lontong gravy on the rice, and the grilled chicken with a sambal egg.
What is the point….
A text came in.
And he noticed Koga’s profile picture, him wearing a stupidly bright blue Cuban shirt with tiger motifs posing with another person, a girl with brunette hair.
Must be his girlfriend.
Charming bastard.
You got the correct lunch, the one with the longtong gravy and sambal egg
Mhmm
Swee. Enjoy it boss…..
How much BTW, I can paylah you….
😉 no…lunch is on me….like christmas cannot be without a good meal….want kopi later….
We will see 😅
For now, Kirinmaru was actually content with the silence; thinking of Midoriko seemed like the last thing he wanted to do.
Maybe I should text her.
Nah. Kirinmaru took his plastic spoon and scooped the rice into his mouth. I think she knows that my job is crazy.
///////
Finally, Kirinmaru could heave a sigh of relief as he locked the shop door and watched it close. He looked at the glass door and sulked that he did not take off his Santa hat, and probably it stank from wearing it for hours on end.
He glanced at the text, and the profile picture of Midoriko posing prettily amidst the sunset.
Hey….I want to say that you are doing so well…miss you…
Kirinmaru was tempted to text a “hey…” but he was too tired to think about the matter. All he wanted to do was to go home and forget about the day’s chaos.
/////
Midoriko glanced over her study notes, with her pen plopping up and down, sulking miserably at Kirinmaru’s lack of response in their chat texts.Yes, he seemed more knackered than ever during this period, but please goddamnit respond with a hi please.
The texts went something like this:
Hey Kirin!
She sent a hilarious gif of baby Yoda popping out and saying hello.
No reply.
Midoriko sighed again.
I hope your work is easy.
She did not get a reply, which caused her to puff her cheeks. However, she was called by her mum just when she was tempted to text him with a polite cat gif.
“Ah girl!!!”
Midoriko sighed a little. “Yes ma….” she said, placing the phone on her table. Maybe Kirin really ghosted Midoriko like her friend Tsubaki, who only cared about her daughter. That sinking feeling in her heart followed her annoyingly, like that ABBA song drilled in her brain when it came to Kirinmaru.
Don't go wasting your emotion
Lay all your love on me
Don't go sharing your devotion
Lay all your love on me
Kirin would love that song, Midoriko thought, because of that sexy synth. Shit , what the hell am I thinking about him! And why the hell am I humming that damn song? Oh, my brain.
“Can you buy some groceries? Rice, and some Thai chilli sauce? Your dad accidentally threw it away…” Midoriko’s mum pouted, continuously frying the vegetables with the scallion oil on camera. Midoriko’s thoughts of Kirinmaru were broken away by that task; she forced herself to chew her bottom lip at her mum’s response.
“Mhmm…Alright, Ma…anything else…”
Midoriko quickly packed a small tote bag for the trip, and she looked through the pictures of her with Kirinmaru on their museum date. There was one photo (a very cute one, in her eyes) of her boyfriend Kirinmaru looking through an installation, bemused by the scale of the painting (or maybe some shitty installation), unaware that Midoriko was taking that picture.
He looks super cute with his puffy cheeks and wistful gaze.
If there was music in her mind for that moment, then Kirinmaru would have that sentimental K-drama protagonist theme song, the type who would stare deeply into Midoriko’s eyes.
Soon, Midoriko’s mind wandered as she rode the MRT to the supermarket. She saw another lanky young man with flaming red locks playing some mobile RPG. Huh, he looked like Kirinmaru staring at the reflection of the train, with the EarPods in his ears, worrying about the day to come.
Maybe Kirinmaru still had that haunting nightmare of seeing Midoriko actually masturbating.
No that cannot be it.
I must jump too far.
Maybe Kirinmaru was too busy with his sister; after all, he has to call his dates off with Midoriko. It is normal, she thought, he could be fickle at times.
No…board meetings.
Nah…I am thinking too much.
And if, untimely, that song that played on her phone, is that song that Kirinmaru would like. Yes, that annoying ass ABBA song.
Goddammit….Kirin…get off my brain. Midoriko hissed a little before she changed to another song, which was thankfully a happier one that was not about heartbreaks.
///////
“Bad news…Kirin….” Hiromi pouted a little, “our part-timer Oharu has texted me that she has a sore throat and fever….seems we are gonna work long….”
Kirinmaru blinked a little as he tried to type some emails for quick-service delivery. “Huh…” Kirinmaru forced himself to grin at that change.
“Well, okay…let me check to see if Abi can cover….and maybe….maybe….” Kirinmaru found himself screaming on the inside on that move. Not now, when we are fighting in a battle, and we cannot lose another. “Wait, how about Sesshomaru…”
“Can….” Hiromi chirped a little. “I think he can handle shit under pressure…”
That was comforting. However, it gave Kirinmaru even more worries than ever. Suddenly, he looked over at his phone and saw the stream of texts.
And he knew that profile picture.
And the number of notifications from her was 20.
Hey, want to say! you are doing so good. Make sure to take time to find yourself!
Hey babe I hope your weeks have been ok
Kirinmaru found his heart sinking a little, as he scrolled the text notifications. Wow she does care about me, huh? Well, shit, Kirinmaru thought to himself. I am probably the worst boyfriend ever.
/////
Thankfully, the bright lights from the sun’s rays blinded her eyes a little, and the calling of the station grounded Midoriko to her harsh reality.
Oh yeah, I must buy Thai chilli sauce and rice for Ma.
Quickly, Midoriko made her way to the supermarket, with her heart down, and in desperation, she sent that text.
Kirin how are you, I am sending you love here.
Then again, it was not a wintery Korean evening, but a sweltering Singaporean evening, blinded by bright lights, the hum of some big K-pop hit, aunties skimming over the boxes of the elusive “Kentucky” powder, and Midoriko looking at the list in her phone.
A text came in
Hi.
Oh shit oh shit oh shit.
Finally f**king finally.
Oh hi!
Midoriko calmed herself down, focused on her task of grabbing a box of rice, and quickly sprinted with the trolley to text Kirinmaru in the baby aisle, which thankfully no one is around to stare at Midoriko shaking with joy.
How are you doing babe…
Kirinmaru texted a shrug gif.
Not good I suppose.
Midoriko bit her lip a little. If she was being frank, she felt extremely relieved that Kirinmaru actually replied to her, and was not simply ghosting her.
Shit day at work huh?
Subconsciously Midoriko sent a hug gif.
The part-timer I have was not well- so it is me, Hiromi and maybe Koga running around the shop
Sorry…
Don’t be. Kirinmaru sent a polite cat gif. This is the manic period…
Little did she know that Kirinmaru was in his office, trying to compose the part-time schedule, as he grabbed a cup of water and took a few sips.
Well I am sorry for being a dick tbhhhhh…I am just overwhelmed dude…
Midoriko gave this emoji: 🥲
Do you want to talk about it?
Kirinmaru pressed his lips a little. To be honest, no one could understand that feeling, especially when you spend hours just pleasing people without any return or favour. “Huh…” Kirinmaru looked over that text.
Ok let me figure…
Midoriko gave a wink emoji to him.
😉
Midoriko, meanwhile, high from receiving a response, did a small skip on her steps, searching for the nearest milk tea bottle and slipping it into her trolley.
Can I text you when I am on the train, supposed to help my mum with supermarket stuff 😅
Kirinmaru bit his lip a little, as he watched the climactic scene of a samurai being overwhelmed by arrows, shot to death, and then turned his attention to watching the dots play over and over again in the phone message.
Hey, when are you off babe…
Kirinmaru sighed a little. It is hard. He hungered for that solitude and yet he craved that companionship.
Would you mind…if it is not somewhere far Midoriko…
Midoriko smiled a little.
Give me a date and we can work around it
I was thinking….hmmm……Maybe Thursday when I am off…How about Kopi and Kaya.
Kirinmaru texted sheepishly to Midoriko, staring at that calendar in his phone.
Or Bao Bao Cha…and movie…..
Swee…. Midoriko thought to herself, looking over the dots moving over and over again. She found herself quickly skipping her way to the cashier counter, and saw the auntie indifferently scanning the items in the supermarket, as Midoriko constantly read that text over and over again like a prayer.
Bao bao cha….a cute date with Kirinmaru, to actually finally relieve his stress at work…..a movie perhaps… what would Kirin like???
Hmmm…..
The cashier signalled to her. “Next….” The sound of the beeping went back and forth, as she looked over her food delivery apps, searching for the nearest bubble tea venue.
Maybe he would be so into that new topping of coffee jelly with his Oolong tea…
Wait…maybe…No…Maybe too atas for bae….
Midoriko had that image of him, her standing at his side, looking dreamily at Midoriko with the text and saying sweet words to him, Thanks for the help.
She could not help but to grin, passing the basket of groceries to the cashier.
“Oi….Ah girl….stop daydreaming…that will be $50….” Her face seemed unimpressed by Midoriko’s dreamy gaze when she blinked a little to see a bored uncle staring at Midoriko’s daydreaming. “Payment method…”
Sia La….must focus leh….
Midoriko bit her bottom lip. “Sorry, auntie? Oh…can do nets….” Quickly she searched for her card, and passed it to her….
“Enter your pin….”
Midoriko forced herself to take deep breaths, not to have her boyfriend come to life and have that stupid K-pop theme music playing in her head again.
Focus…focus…focus…
Thankfully it came out ok, and the receipt was printed with the correct price.
Heng ah….
I am doing fine.
“Thank you….”
Midoriko smiled a little as she walked away from the supermarket, knowing that Kirinmaru was doing okay.
And of course, Kirinmaru quickly replied to her as predicted.
🧋
That settles it, got any good ones?
Oh! One more thing….. :)
Quickly, Midoriko searched on the app for that ABBA song— Lay All Your Love on Me —and sent the link to him.
Since you are into weird synths, I know this from my parents blasting the radio when I was in primary school when they cleaned the house before CNY….Thought of you 😅
Kirinmaru’s eyes widened with amusement. Quietly, he paused his podcast and pressed her link. A genuine smile came across his face. It seemed strange, but Midoriko seemed to know him so well. Calmly, he found himself bopping to the beat while eating his lunch.
Maybe it was not as bad as he thought.
Kirinmaru texted Midoriko.
Thanks babe. I like it
Midoriko heard a buzz from her phone, and she gave the sweetest of grins. Hopefully, he would be cheered up.
She quickly texted Kirinmaru again.
Hang in there Kirin! I think I saw something that you liked…. ;)
Huh?
Before Midoriko could send the screenshot of the menu for the latest bubble tea store. Another text message came on her phone, and no that is not from her supervisor.
It was from her mum, seeing that picture of her enjoying the sunset at the beach, with a tasty plate of chilli crab and mantous.
Girl….are you still at the supermarket…..
Just left lah…
Aiyoh…forget something…Just ran out of dishwashing liquid….
Midoriko is tempted to do a facepalm from her mum.
….ok….mum…..
Midorkio puffed her cheeks. Here we go again, however, her heart seems lighter than ever, knowing that Kirinmaru will soon, enjoy his little treat from her
////
Koga noticed a change in Kirinmaru’s demeanour as he seems less stressed than ever. “Bro….something happened….” Waggling his eyebrows. “Is….this your….girlfriend Midoriko…you tyco bro to have her….”
Kirinmaru forced himself not to scream at him, as he took off his headphones and placed them on the table “Kidding lah…come….don’t eye power leh…..customers are waiting for us….”
Oh.
Kirinmaru grinned sheepishly. “Sorry…lah….”
Somehow a text from Midoriko can strangely lift such a chaotic day such as this….
////
Few days later
Kirinmaru found himself cuddling with Midoriko, as his hand held hers so tightly, enamoured by the visuals of the opening when the kids clicked the radio. “You have not even finished your bubble tea, Kirin…”
“I will…” Kirinmaru pursed his lips to sip the pearls from the bubble tea cup while watching the action unfolding with Bill Murrary opening the flap. Quickly he grabbed the remote and switched on the air-conditioning, allowing the cool air to penetrate the room.
Midoriko smirked a little. “I never saw you as a Wes Anderson person… it feels nice…”
It totally beats going to a crowded movie theatre and squeezing with amorous couples and boisterous children with reluctant parents.
“Indeed.”
When they reached the final rousing of Henry Purcell’s orchestra, Kirinmaru reached his lips to Midoriko, at which Midoriko’s eyes widened a little. His lips tasted like…oolong tea.
Like the half-drunk bubble tea.
Wow. Midoriko found herself blushing at that new move.
Did he pick it up from somewhere?
That seems off for him.
Kirinmaru forced himself to take deep breaths and give a cheesy smile.
No, not the one that he has to sprout to his customers. “I think you are cute here…babe…”
That is the first time that Kirinmaru called her that. Midoriko liked it, though, even though she was not scolding the kids for spilling the glitter on the museum floor. “It makes a better Christmas celebration than walking around to see the city district lights.”
Kirinmaru did not reply as he began to lean his head on her shoulder, and took one of Midorkio's plushies as his companion. She returned the favour by kissing him back on the lips.
Perhaps it is a good time to shut up and watch the movie.
A/N: So thank you for reading this special story for Submarine week!
I have to choose Kirinmaru and Midoriko, because I was one of the sceptical persons, who found this pairing weird because of the lack of meat to work, but you know fans being fans with a vivid sense of imagination- you can spin something, it sorta work when I work on ‘To enchanted lands and beyond’, which I based it on a gender-reversed Armide, which is still one of my favourite stories I wrote this day, due to its simplicity and evocative atmosphere- I particularly liked writing Kirinmaru as more femme here, which eventually when I have to write Bookshops and friends- I have to make them the couple for the story, though it is way more subtle and funny enough my original idea is something I previously was working on but burnt out, so revisiting it with fewer stakes seems better.
This story is particularly close to my heart which I supposed happens in every adult life, though it has a happier ending, as opposed to real life- as it is about people drifting away due to circumstances, which happened to me too much, either by others or myself. And unfortunately, I blamed myself, as I summarized myself as that ride or die friend- which unfortunately with my kindness- I could be blind to that. So pouring out that emotion in a vulnerable way in a story is never easy but it feels like therapy for me. Even the quirks and habits- are mostly autobiographical as a whole. I really hope this piece will make you feel better as I do, as a person.
And of course Christmas retail, is more of my way of processing all of the messy feelings of me working in retail for 5 years on the perception of Christmas, like it is ok to not feel joyful for Christmas (even more in the pandemic), what I did is a very watered-down version of my experiences, as I want to focus on the communication between two persons, and I, myself- realizing that perhaps I place too many expectations on myself as a whole on another.
Anyway, comments and feedback are so welcome here <3