Here’s a small drabble with Tanaka in an AU where he runs a flower shop! And he’s got tattoos! It’s currently 1:15am and I’ve been writing for like 3 hours but I really liked this idea and wanted to run with it before I lost motivation to write anything. It’s kind of garbage? Sorry ):
Tanaka Ryūnosuke x Fem!Reader
:::
For as long as Tanaka Ryūnosuke had been working for the family-owned Yamanaka Flowers in downtown Tokyo, he had never gotten used to the constant smell of flowers that clung to his skin. No matter how much time he spent in or near the shop, even if it was just to pick up his paycheck, the smell of earth and roses remained, even after a hot shower. It seemed to invade his senses, clogging his nose and making him dizzy, almost drunk off the scent.
His trip to the department store down the road from the shop to pick up a new pair of scissors let him clear his head a little. His other trusted, well-worn pair of scissors were becoming dull, and with years of sharpening them came the irreversible dulling of the blades, much to Tanaka’s disappointment. He had an odd attachment to the scissors; one he couldn’t really explain other than he just liked the way they felt.
He locked and closed the door to the shop behind him lightly, flipping the chalkboard sign to ‘Closed’ and stepping into the cool evening, sunset painting the sky with purple and orange hues. Hands shoved into his pockets to ward off the chill, Tanaka stepped into the rush of Tokyo and fell into its fast tempo as he marched toward his destination.
Upon arrival, the air-conditioned air sent a shiver up Tanaka’s spine as he walked into the large building, eyes immediately scanning for the office supplies. Sometime during the journey, he had plugged headphones into his phone, instrumental acoustic guitar filling his ears over his slight tinnitus as he strode to the back right of the store, exhaustion settling to the bottom of his feet. Finally laying eyes on a new pair of scissors, he snatched them quickly and turned on his heel, pushing off into a brisk walk with a reinvigorated desire to go home and collapse.
Tanaka shifted his weight on each leg as he fidgeted with the cardboard packaging the scissors were tied to, picking at the bright orange clearance sticker on the corner. He tugged an earbud from his ear and tucked it into the collar of his black shirt, handing the cashier his one item.
[E/c] met golden-brown as Tanaka lifted his head to mumble a greeting, but instead his words fell flat. Her [h/c] hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail and she reached up to brush a flyaway behind her ear, giving Tanaka a light smile. “Did you find everything you needed tonight?” she asked him, voice ringing in his ears as he gave a simple nod, starstruck by her effortless beauty. He continued fiddling with the clearance sticker, face growing hot as he avoided the cashier’s direct glance. He handed her the scissors softly when her hand reached out, finally making deliberate eye contact with her as she took them, grinning at him lightly. She swiped them across the scanner, setting them on the counter in front of her.
“I like your sleeve,” she nods to Tanaka’s arm tattoo, visible under his short-sleeved button up uniform. Tanaka can’t respond right away, still flustered from the simple eye contact. After a few seconds, he stammers out a thanks. “Is there any meaning behind it, or was it just for fun?” she continues, leaning against the counter in front of her and resting her head on a fist as she looks at the blushing male.
“Um,” Tanaka says, trying to find the right words, “yeah, I guess you could say it’s got some meaning!” he finishes, excitement building. “My mom loved daisies, so I got a bushel of them on my shoulder,” he pulls up his left shirt sleeve, showing an inked sketch of daisies that extend down to his elbow. “There are a few other types of flowers in there too, pansies to remember my dad, and these crocuses that I got after I graduated college!” he points to each one, and the nameless cashier leaned in to get a closer look. “That is some beautiful work you’ve got there, are flowers really significant to you?” she questioned, raising her eyes to meet his again. “I work at the flower shop a couple blocks down. My aunt runs the place so I’ve been working there since high school,” Tanaka answers, smiling reminiscently. “I got my degree in botany too and I’ve always just had a thing for flora and fauna,” he laughs, giving a small shrug as he takes the scissors from the counter. “Not that I can do much with it practically,”
“That’s really cute,” the cashier says, turning to press buttons on the computer atop the counter and Tanaka flushed red, rolling his shirt’s sleeve back down. “That’ll be $4.79,” Tanaka digs in his apron pocket, fishing for his wallet before his eyes widen in realization. He looks up to the cashier, the last person he wants to make a fool out of himself in front of right now, with a look of dread. “I, uh…” he trails off, not really knowing how to continue.
“Forgot your wallet?” the girl grins sheepishly at Tanaka before raising a hand and waving him along. “Don’t worry about it,” Tanaka begins to protest, opening his mouth before she interrupts him. “I said don’t worry about it,” the cashier smiles at him before leaning back and waving at him dismissively.
“Pay me back by telling me more about your favorite flowers next time I stop in your shop,” Tanaka was speechless, not used to the forwardness of a woman before. It took everything he had to politely spit out a thanks as he shuffled out of the department store.
The night air hit his blazing cheeks as he walked briskly outside, making a right back to the flower shop, hands shoved deep into his jeans pockets as he replayed what just happened in his head. Seriously? You’re such a dumbass. Forget your wallet at the shop. Now you have to make another stop on your way home, and it’s dark. He cursed himself silently as he walked along, hand fishing for his phone and turning the music off. He rolled the earbuds up and stuck them in his apron before sliding the apron over his head and draping it over his shoulder.
After a few more paces, Tanaka’s head shot up with a sudden realization, eyes wide, and with a skip of his heartbeat, he turned tail, jogging back to the department store. He skidded to a stop as the automatic doors slid open and he made eye contact with the beautiful cashier once more.
“I never got your name,” Tanaka said, mustering every ounce of confidence he had left after his busy day as he stood in the doorway. “[Y/N],” she said, giving him a broad smile. “And yours?”
“Tanaka,” he says and the two stand in silence for a moment, looking at each other with unbroken eye contact for the first time. “I’m off next Tuesday, so expect me to collect my repayment then,” [Y/N] says, still smiling and Tanaka gave a closed-eye smile back. “I’ll see you next Tuesday then, [Y/N].” he spun around once more, turning right to head home.
[Y/N] laughed at the blushing man as he left, watching his back disappear around the corner. The faint smell of flowers lingered in her vicinity, fading only when another customer walked in a few moments after.
