apothecary buddies ₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊
pairings : kaoru kanzaki x geek!reader
summary: kanzaki finds himself in love with apothecary diaries, problem is none of his friends are too interested in it. as for the reader, often at times they find themselves alone in in her interests. one day, kanzaki overhears you talking about apothecary during class break. what happens when two lonely geeks in their interests find each other?
a/n : this is one of my first x reader fics so i hope you guys enjoy! i'm not sure if this is a one shot or a prologue to something that'd continue buttt i guess based on what happens we'll see. #i love zaki <3
Zaki loved manga and animes. That was undisputable fact between those closests to him. Ocassionally, his friends would dabble in some of the shows he's watched as well, but, sometimes their interests had limitations. Yesterday, the usual group hanged out over at Zaki's place to "discuss" more ways to locate ghosts for Mogari to eat. This was really code for let's laze around each other's house to play video games and eat snacks.
"Zaki, you've watched all these animes?!" Mogari questioned him with bewilderment. Zaki was holding the remote controller in his hand, skimming to animes on Netflix to find something to watch with the group. Problem is , Zaki had already watched a lot of them and to make matters worse, Zaki had already finished 'Slam Dunk' and was bored out of his mind without any new media to consume.
"It's what I mainly do, " He shrugged.
"How are we supposed to binge watch one if you've already watched it," complained Mogari as he flopped onto the couch.
"Netflix doesn't have a wide variety of options, there's tons that I haven't watched. Let's just go to CrunchyRol—"
"What about that one!" Eugene pointed to the show that was highlighted by the cursor. "Apo-the-cary Diaries? Have you watched that one?"
"What's a apothecary?" Mogari asked.
"A medical profesional who can make medicinal drugs and remedies." Eugene swiftly answered/
Zaki leans forward from his chair and pressed on the show for further information.
"A young maiden is kidnapped and sold into servitude at the emperor's palace, where she secretly employs her pharmacist skills with the help of the head eunuch to unravel medical mysteries in the inner court," Eugene reads, "Sounds interesting!"
"It's sounds like a seinen—""Whatever, can we just watch it! I'm becoming bored." Mogari whined, throwing a mini tantrum on the couch.
Zaki didn't necessarily have high hopes for the show. Although he likes every genre, the description and the cover wasn't anything 'flashy' to him. It was probably going to be some mid ranked gooner show, he thought.
"To be honest, I really like the show but I can't get really into it." Eugene admitted to Zaki after a few episodes.
"Really? I thought you'd like it since the main character is crazy smart like you." Zaki said.
"I did like the main character! She knows how to properly evulate a situation and form a proper conclusion with the given evidence, but, the romance threw me off.."
"That Jinshi guy reminds me too much of Ren, ruined the vibe for me. (Both look very feminine)" Mogari added, nibbling on a pocky stick. Zaki sighed at his friends reponses. It's just one show, atleast there are others they can talk about together. Unfortunately, he just so happened to love this new show! He found the main character to be aspiring, funny, smart and to make it better all the dective cases to be intriguing. How come out of all animes, this is the one they choose to not like?! Zaki clenched teeth, at least he found his new show to watch.
You stared outside the window with your head resting on your right hand, looking at the trees rustling in a hypnotic motion. It was class break time and your friend was beside you, conversing with a classmate about a topic you weren't particularly interested in. At the sound of the warm forest green trees your mind drifted far away from school and onto your newest interest—Apothecary Diaires. Two days ago you went to the mall with your family and as you were browsing stores you saw a cute keychain of this girl named Maomao from Apothecary Diairies. She looked like such a cute character with her little freckles. You bought the keychain and decided to give the show a shot. Unbeknowst to you, this led to a whole day of binging the show. Gosh, how you wanted to go home and watch more episodes you frowned. "Y/n, what's on your phone?" Your friend asked, flicking the keychain with her index finger. You raised your head from your hand and turned your head.
"That? Oh, it's Maomao from Apothecary Diaries!" You happily replied. At your words Zaki could've sworn his ear grew comically enlarged. You and Zaki were in the same class, not too particular far from each other but not too close. Near him Tamon was engaged in a arm wresting competition with Mogari — Eugene as the judge — to see who'd pay for their next McDonald's trip meal. Zaki was rereading one of his favorite manga when he'd heard you. Another Apothecary Diaires fan, he thought to himself.
"Apothecary Diares? Is it one of those animes you watch?"
"Yeah, you should definetly watch it," You exclaimed, "It takes place in ancient China where an apothecary who gets kidnapped by some men and now she is forced to work in the rear palace but then…" For five whole minutes it seemed that the mid school day fatigue that had plagued you had washed away at the opportunity to gush over your current obession your friend who doesn't like shows. Kanzaki, who was supposed to reading his manga ended up indirectly listening to you passionately talk while he stared at a page from his book. Everything you said Zaki had wanted to elaborate on and contribute to the conversation, it would've been so amusing.
"Sorry y/n but you know I don't like shows. I'm strictly a youtube girlie!" Your friend stated, sticking out her tongue to the side. You pouted at your friends reminder. None of your friends watch animes or read manga which often left you alone in your interests. Sometimes your friend might listen to you talk about it and offer a bit "wow that's crazy" and "so cool!" but it's hits better when you geek out with someone who actually consumed that media.
"I know, I know." You went back to looking at the entrancing tree with a slight bummed expression, as your friend continued to talk freely about her interests to the classmate . Would've been nice if you had someone to talk freely like that too.
Zaki's head was now slightly lifted from his book and towards you in a not-so obvious way to avoid being caught by his friends. He saw the drastic difference in your face from when you were talking about the show to now. He understood that feeling all too well. Before his group, people never really took an interests to the things he pratically worshipped, leaving him feeling a bit lonely. The feeling of having a friend who cared as intense about a topic as you were felt unspeakably moving and relieving. Maybe, he could talk about Apothecary Diaires with you afterschool? After all, he'd jump at any chance to talk about his obessions too.
After some brutally painful lessons, the school day was finally over! Now, you could go home, binge watch your lastest obession and be absolute chud for the remainder of the day. That was the plan, until you checked your pants pocket.
"Where's my phone." You asked. Your friend turned her head around.
"It's not in your pocket?"
"No.." Fear was now creeping into your brain. This was pratically the thirtith time you've lost your phone! Your parents solemnly swore they weren't buying you another one if you lost this one! Frantically you searched your desk and your friends.
"I wish I could stay and help y/n, but my coach will kill me if I don't arrive to pratice early. I hope you find your phone." Your friend explained as she left the classroom in a light jog. You know that she has priorities and all but you truly needed an extra person to help you. Ughh, you were screwed you thought while letting out a small groan. Suddenly you felt a light tap on your shoulder. You turned around to see your classmate, you think his name is Kanzaki?
"Is this yours?" Kanzaki asked, "It was on the floor two desks behind yours." In his hand he held your phone, that was now very dusty.
"It is, thank you so much." You let out a relieved sigh and took your phone from his hands. As you wiped off your phone his eyes darted to your keychain.
"Your keychain, it's Maomao from Apothecary Diaries right? It's cute."
Your eyes widened at his words. " You watch Apothecary Diaries?"
"Yeah, I started watching it yesterday. It's interesting." He told you.
"Right?! Maomao is so intellectually cool that is almost makes me jelaous. Don't even get me started on the way she solves a case so elegantly, so cool! Plus, Jinshi—" Crap, you were rambling again. You definetly need to apologize, you thought-
"It's so obvious he's Ah Duo's son! They look remarkably similar." His matched enthusiasm left you stunned for a milisecond."Right?!"
For the next few minutes, you and Kanzaki chatted about the show as if you two were close friends. In reality you were just two geeks who loved to geek out about your interests.
"Zaki, you coming?" A green haired boy called out to him. Shoot, Zaki forgot about the Phantom Busters Club for a moment.
"I have to go," he told you with his hands in his pockets, " but where'd you get that keychain from?" Kanzaki inquired.
"Hmm," You pondered a moment, Was it miniso? No, no it was…? "It was some random store in the mall. I don't remeber the name but, I'll try to look for it. Either that I could take you."
"Sounds cool." He said. He waved you goodbye and left with his friend. You never realized this, but his eyes are remarkably gorgeous.
"Ooo, who was that?" Tamon teased him,
"Shut up." Kanzaki firmly replied. Despite his displayed stoic expression, a small smile crept onto his face from his intereaction. It was really nice to meet someone as passionate as him about their interests.