Chapter Text
The new mall had just opened. From the outside, it looked like any other shiny new establishment — sleek gray walls, neatly trimmed bushes lining the walkways. The massive BLUELOCK MALL sign above the entrance, its bright blue letters impossible to ignore.
If you asked Charles, he’d say it was a little on the nose. Blue Lock, blue sign, blue everything. Still, he guessed anything else wouldn’t have made much sense. Maybe he shouldn’t hate too hard.
The thing was, Charles wasn’t here because he wanted a job—or even needed one. He was doing just fine. Fifteen years old, still in high school, a 5’7” blur of blond hair and pent up energy. The thought of a 9-to-5 job both bored, terrified, and frankly disgusted him.
But then he saw someone.
The coolest-looking guy he’d ever laid eyes on had stopped right in front of the “Now Hiring!” poster. And before Charles could stop himself, his own feet halted too.
The guy was tall, with blonde hair tipped in pink spikes, black eyeliner so sharp it could cut something, and enough piercings and jewelry to set off a metal detector from across the room. He wore baggy black pants, a studded pink belt layered under a leopard-print one, a cropped black-and-pink top, and a matching leopard jacket.
Yeah, Charles thought, staring.
He’s just met his idol.
“Thinking of applying?”
A smooth, low voice said. Charles jumped back slightly, caught off guard.
The guy was smiling, like he already knew the answer. When Charles didn’t say anything right away, he just kept talking.
“They’ve got a Claire’s in there, right? I’ve always wanted to pierce people! You think they’d let me?”
He bobbed his head back and forth as he talked, waving his hand around like he couldn’t stand still. His words tumbled out quick.
“Plus, I’m like broke broke, you know.”
Charles, in fact, did not know.
“Wait a second, I know you” the guy said suddenly, eyes lighting up.
He stepped a bit closer peering at him, with his head turned slightly.
“You go to my high school. You’re part of the soccer club, right? Last week you scored that crazy goal!”
Charles blinked, completely thrown off. This guy went to his school? How had he never noticed him before? He definitely didn’t seem like the kind of person who blended in.
The realization made something in Charles light up a little.
Here’s the thing , Charles wasn’t an introvert. Like, seriously—at all. But he didn’t actually have that many friends either.
His parents had homeschooled him until he was fourteen, so he’d started high school a little late and a lot awkward. And to be honest, most people thought he was just too much—too loud, too talkative, too everything.
It hurt sometimes, but Charles tried not to let it bother him. He told himself at the end of the day he’d rather be himself than hang out with a bunch of boring, uptight people.
But this guy—he was actually talking to him. Like, full-on conversation. And he seemed fun, too. Energetic. In fact, he seemed kind of like Charles.
So when Charles started rambling back—about how proud he was of that goal, and how the coach had still yelled at him for it (for absolutely no reason, by the way)—and the guy actually responded with just as much enthusiasm, Charles could hardly believe it.
Then the guy reached out suddenly, ruffling Charles’s hair with a grin so bright it was almost blinding.
“I like you!” he said. “My name’s Shidou Ryuusei.”
Charles barely had time to smile back before Shidou asked again, “So, are you applying or what?”
And before Charles could even think about it, his head was already nodding.
That’s how Charles found himself working at the brand new BLUELOCK Mall food court. Specifically the McDonald’s.
Frankly, it was one of the only places that would hire a fifteen-year-old with absolutely zero experience. Still, Charles liked the idea of yelling out orders in different voices and getting free food while doing it.
Honestly, he was kind of surprised he hadn’t been fired yet. Who would’ve guessed McDonald’s didn’t have that high of a standard for employees?
It had been about three weeks since he’d started working there, and sure, there’d been a few bumps in the road. He’d gotten written up once, yelled at several times, spilled an alarming amount of food, and messed up more orders than he could count.
To be honest, though, he didn’t hate it.
Don’t get him wrong—customer service was absolutely draining. You had to deal with way too many people, and apparently wearing a name tag gave them a free pass to act superior.
But Charles could handle it. He’d even found the easiest way to deal with rude customers: just give them the same energy right back. Eventually, they’d get frustrated and give up.
Okay, maybe not the easiest method—but definitely the funnest.
Outside of work, life had gotten way more interesting too. He hung out at the mall before and after shifts, during breaks, and on his days off with his friends.
That’s right Charles Chevalier had friends now.
He’d been spending more time with Ryu, of course, and quickly learned that he was probably the weirdest person Charles had ever met. But apparently, half their high school worked at this mall too, because soon Charles had met a bunch of other people through him.
There was Nanasae, who worked at the food court too. He was the host at a Chinese restaurant called JiangNan Delicacy. Same age as Charles, though he didn’t exactly give off the same vibe as him or Shidou. Still, he was nice—chill, even. Genuinely hardworking, always ready to listen to Charles ramble for hours, and occasionally slip him free food.
Then there was Rin, who worked at some obscure record store. Charles could never remember the name no matter how hard he tried. Rin was around the same age as Ryuusei, maybe a year and half younger. From what he’d gathered, Rin didn’t really like anyone. And for reasons Charles didn’t fully catch (something about a brother?), Rin especially didn’t like Ryu.
Currently, Rin’s feelings could be summarized as: hatred toward Ryu, mild dislike toward Charles, and complete apathy toward Nanasae.
Charles already knew Rin and Nanasae from soccer club, but he’d never really talked to them before this job. Apparently, Ryu was technically part of the club too—he just hadn’t shown up in months because of some bad injury.
All in all, though, life was… pretty good.
“Earth to Charles.”
Charles blinked. Nanasae was waving a hand in front of his face.
“Oh, thank God,” Nanasae said, laughing. “Thought I lost ya there.”
He smiled and gave Charles a small shove. “My shift’s about to start, but I’ll catch you later, yeah?”
Charles groaned loudly enough to turn heads. “Ughhh, do you have to? I’m so bored. Rin already kicked me out! Something about, ‘we’re not friends, get out.’”
Nanasae gave him a sympathetic look. “God, he scares me. He’s so intense. Like, even in soccer practice! I love the game too, but he acts like we’re playing for our lives or something.”
Charles nodded in full agreement.
An angry looking kid with curly red head chose this moment to but in. Nanasae we need you hurry it up will you!” They said, a furrow etched deep in their brow.
“Look, Charles, I really gotta go,” Nanasae said, standing up. “But catch me after my shift. We can get Shidou and a couple of my friends and grab ice cream or something, deal?”
Charles grinned, taking his outstretched hand. “Deal.”
Yeah. Working here wasn’t bad at all.