"We're a little early," she said, moving behind the counter to start undoing her parcel. "But people will start showing up here in a minute."
It was less time than he thought when they both heard some steps on the stairs that rested at the back of the shop. Adachi felt pleased in his confirmation that whoever ran this place probably did live and sleep upstairs. He had already formed a picture of them in his head; maybe it was a kind old man, or maybe it was a kind old woman.
"Hello," a distinctly male voice called back.
"We're over here," Fujisaki called back.
Adachi was set forward in the chair, and it was difficult for him to shift, so he didn't see the owner of the voice until he came forward.
"I was planning to make coffee," he said.
"You're just in time," Fujisaki said with a smile on her face.
Adachi was facing the counter, and the last person he had ever expected to see in his life, in that bookstore, came to stand next to the electric kettle.
He was staring so openly that Fujisaki noticed.
"Oh," she said. "I guess you two know each other, but I brought a guest."
His thoughts were a stream, and it took Adachi a few minutes to realize what they were: a poem.
This excerpt doesn't do it justice! so please read the fic here.
"magic bookstore" by @darkterrible