starstruck! celebrity 𑣲⋆ Choso Kamo ⋆˚ au in which he becomes your favorite regular at your record store.
— fluff! (comfort, slow-burn)
No one had expected it. Not Choso. Not even you. Camera flashes surrounded you, the kind you never thought would be pointed your way. Yet from one moment to the next, you had become the center of attention — along with your now boyfriend, Choso Kamo.
A famous singer-songwriter whose name had become widely known throughout Japan over the past year.
You worked at a record store, which was a nice decent job, helping pay for college and everyday life. Routine could get repetitive, but getting to be the dj at your own workplace certainly helped.
Each day felt almost the same, but you couldn’t complain. Until one day, everything changed.
It was about to be 9 p.m, closing time, the day had been a little slow, a few customers yet not many purchases. A guy wearing dark sunglasses, a mask and a baseball cap walked in, his head lowered.
“Welcome!” You greeted with your usual polite tone. Yet your politeness wasn’t met the same way.
The guy glanced up at you, almost as if he hadn’t meant to. You couldn’t quite meet his gaze and despite this, it felt like it lingered on you for far longer than it should.
You cleared your throat, adjusting yourself on the seat behind the counter. He lowered his gaze again.
“Uh… if you need anything let me know,” you added awkwardly. “We also sell drinks.”
He didn’t say a word, he simply nodded as he walked further inside.
Maybe he’s just awkward, at least that’s what you believed in the moment. It wasn’t unusual for people to keep to themselves, especially at a record store.
You watched him browse through the records, his hands faintly tracing over the vinyls and stopping at the ones that seemed to pique his interest.
I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it by the 1975.
“That one has one of my favorite songs in there.” You said, getting up from your seat.
He lowered his chin, eyes lifting to meet yours over the rim of his glasses.
“Somebody else?” He finally spoke, his voice was low, steady and somehow familiar.
You nodded. “Are you looking for anything in particular?”
He shook his head, wandering through the different aisles, tapping the records to the beat of the music playing in the background. You weren’t following him, but your gaze drifted after him anyway.
And then, he lingered in front of the counter for a second before clearing his throat.
“Sure, we have the drinks menu here.” You walked over to the counter to pick up the menu, and he followed behind you.
You handed him the menu as he carefully read over it. There was something strange about him, the way he carried himself as if he was running away, like he was hiding. Looking at the sunglasses, mask, and baseball cap, a ridiculous part of you wondered if he was about to rob the record store. But there was something far too awkward about him for that.
So you watched him, trying to make out the features hidden behind the sunglasses, mask, and baseball cap. But it wasn’t enough to hide a particular mark you’d seen before, a black stripe crossing the bridge of his nose. It was oddly familiar.
“You know… you look like someone I’ve seen before.”
He gripped the menu a little tighter, subtle enough that you almost missed it. And he didn’t say a word for some long seconds.
“I… don’t think we’ve met.” He said, his voice coming out low.
“Yeah but maybe I could’ve seen you somewhere.”
“You’re wrong,” he said after a heavy sigh. “Can I just order?”
You took his order. A medium cappuccino. A little weird, you thought, given that it was pretty late. Nonetheless you prepared it for him as he continued looking through the records, now at the cd aisle.
He’d pick up a cd and read the tracklist on the back, nodding to himself.
Even if he insisted you hadn’t met, you swore you’ve seen him somewhere. His voice, the familiar black stripe… and still, you couldn’t quite grasp just who he was.
“Here.” You stood behind him with his cappuccino in hand.
“Thank you,” he said, taking it before going back to check the cds.
“If there’s one you wanna listen to we have a listening room.”
He nodded, sipping from his cup.
Heart Shaped World by Chris Isaak.
“Alright, follow me.” You guided him to the listening room. It was small, but cozy.
Instead of a proper door, the listening room was separated by a beaded curtain. The strands clicked softly against each other as you pushed through them.
You’d taken the liberty of decorating it yourself, hanging posters, vinyl sleeves, and fairy lights along the walls.
You crouched in front of the cd player, sliding the disc into place for him.
“You have 10 minutes,” you got up, facing him as he was already sitting at the sofa.
You nodded. “We’re about to close.”
“If you buy it you can stay longer.”
“Depends on how much though, I have class tomorrow.”
You sighed, but agreed anyway. You waited outside, arranging a few aisles as he sat inside, the faint sound of the songs playing from the listening room.
You’d find yourself lingering nearby, listening to him hum quietly to himself. Sitting behind the counter, you’d catch glimpses of him through the beaded curtains, his head moving gently to the rhythm.
And for a brief moment, he took off his glasses, lowering his mask just enough to uncover his mouth. He lowered his head back on the couch, closing his eyes as he muttered the words to Wicked Game.
You watched him. Really watched him this time. His sharp features were barely visible beneath the warm, low lights. And that familiar feeling returned. You’d seen him somewhere before.
He tilted his head back up, his gaze drifting to the beaded curtains as if he felt your staring, quickly pulling his mask and glasses on again. You moved your head away instantly.
It was 9:10 p.m. You had to close 10 minutes ago, so you stood again, walking to the listening room as you leaned against the door frame. The beaded curtains brushed against your back.
“Hey, sorry to say but time’s over.”
He took a deep breath, taking a second before standing up and following behind you to the counter.
“…Is it always this quiet?” He asked, a little hesitant as he kept his gaze low.
You paused for a brief moment, letting out a soft chuckle. “Kinda, I don’t usually mind it though.”
He nodded, as you proceeded to check the cd at the counter.
“It gets busy during the day, but I work here at nights.”
He nodded, taking the bag with the cd inside.
“The listening room,” he paused. “And the privacy here.”
“Thanks, I decorated it,” you gave him a soft smile.
And in that short moment, he forgot what he’d been about to say. He has seen hundreds, thousands of people smiling at him before, but yours… it carried something he hadn’t met yet.
So to no surprise, he came back again, right the next day.
He came in quietly, you didn’t even notice his presence as he was already standing in front of you, cd in hand.
You jumped on your seat but quickly pulled yourself together, looking up at him.
He nodded. You guided him to it, putting the cd on for him as he quietly settled onto the couch.
“Can I bring you anything?“
You prepared it for him, the whole store was quiet, empty at this late hours. Only the low hum of his voice could be heard, along with the coffee machine sounds.
After he left the record store the day before it didn’t take long before you found out who he was, and why he looked so familiar. A new set of cds had arrived and you were about to arrange them when you noticed the picture on them.
A long, dark-haired guy, soft dreamy brown eyes, and a black stripe across the bridge of his nose. You took one of the cds and played it in the listening room. It was Choso, his voice low and warm, instantly recognizable.
And it all made sense in that moment.
You finished making his cappuccino and walked over to the listening room, where he sat quietly, head tilted back and eyes closed, the rise and fall of his chest slow and steady.
He wasn’t wearing his mask, or his glasses, and he didn’t seem to notice your presence.
At the sound of your voice, he quickly reached for his glasses and mask, but before he could do so, you spoke again.
“You don’t have to keep them on in here. I won’t tell.”
His furrowed brows softened as he looked up at you. “You know?”
You nodded. “After you left yesterday I found out.”
“Oh…” He lowered his gaze, fidgeting with the fabric of his pants.
“Don’t worry though… really.” You set his cappuccino at the table across from him. “I have short term memory loss so I’ll forget.”
“No,” you laughed softly. “I’m just saying… you can relax.”
He nodded as he kept quiet to himself. You were about to step out the room, but then you heard his voice once again.
You nodded as you continued with your duties for the rest of the night.
The next day came, and even though it had only been two days since you’d met him, part of you was already expecting him.
But it was 8:54 p.m and he was nowhere to be seen, so you began preparing everything to close, until a hurried voice came behind you.
You turned around only to find a disheveled Choso, slightly out of breath, his mask crooked and glasses slipping down his nose.
“You can’t just buy your time in the listening room,” You said as you took one of the boxes on the floor, filled with new vinyls.
“I can help you with that.”
“You’d just mess up my system.” You sighed as you walked past him.
He stood there quietly, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Just grab the cds.” you said, lowering the box in front of the empty shelf.
He wandered through the cds, only to end up standing behind you.
“Yes?” You asked, slightly annoyed as it had been five minutes already and he hadn’t picked a cd yet.
“Is… there one you want?”
You stood up, lifting an eyebrow.
“I don’t know which one to pick,” he paused, his gaze drifting to the side. “If there’s one you want to get I could listen to it… and get it for you.”
He nodded. And so he followed behind you to the cd aisle, you picked two of your favorite cds. The ones you’d repeatedly play at the record store yet never bought.
“You get 20 minutes, either way I have to finish setting this up for tomorrow.”
You played the cds for him. It had become a routine now. Though he wouldn’t come everyday, not at the same exact hour, but he’d be there, whenever he’d have the chance.
He’d get the same order. Sometimes he’d even bring food for the both of you, just as an excuse to stay a little longer.
And suddenly, you were part of his quiet moments too. At least after you’d finished your duties for the night.
Instead of telling him time was over right away, you’d sit across from him, taking in the music and the quiet hums he’d make.
I was inspired due to repeatedly listening to the Starstruck soundtrack for the past few weeks and I couldn’t get celebrity Choso out of my head. it’ll have three parts!!! please let me know what you think. hope you enjoy! i had a fun time writing this hehe
