It was a slow afternoon in the store. The fluorescent lights hummed softly, and outside the windows the sun hung lazily over the street. Inside, everyone was doing their usual routines.
Bella was at the register, counting coins with mechanical precision.
Goro the Oni was in aisle two trying to understand why humans needed seven different kinds of chips that all tasted the same.
Nyx was standing near the drink cooler, restocking bottles.
And Vario…
Vario had been standing near the back hallway for a long time.
Too long.
He stared into space, completely motionless.
Nyx noticed first.
"Vario?" she called.
No response.
He was still staring blankly ahead like his soul had gone on vacation.
Inside his mind, however…
He was dreaming.
In his imagination he was standing in front of a perfectly clean bathroom. A shining white toilet sat in the center like a holy sanctuary. Gentle music played. Light shone from above like a blessing from the heavens.
"Finally…" dream-Vario whispered. "Peace."
Back in reality…
Nyx walked closer.
"Vario, are you listening?"
Still nothing.
Then she heard a very concerning sound.
A faint trickling noise.
Nyx slowly looked down.
Then her eyes widened.
"VARIO."
Vario blinked and snapped back to reality.
"Huh?"
He looked down.
Then he looked at Nyx.
Then he looked down again.
Then back at Nyx.
His brain shut down.
"…Oh."
Nyx stood completely frozen, staring at him.
Bella looked up from the register.
"What's going—"
She saw it.
Bella closed her eyes and sighed deeply.
"…Of course."
Goro turned around from aisle two.
He froze instantly.
"…I do not understand human rituals."
Vario panicked.
"I THOUGHT I WAS IN THE BATHROOM!"
Nyx stepped backward immediately.
"VARIO!"
He jumped back like he had been electrocuted.
"I WAS DAYDREAMING!"
Bella pointed toward the hallway.
"Bathroom. Now."
Vario ran off like a criminal fleeing the scene.
Nyx stood there in stunned silence.
Goro carefully handed her a pack of paper towels.
"…You have my sympathy."
Nyx rubbed her forehead.
"This is the worst job I've ever had."
Bella walked over calmly.
"You're handling it better than I would."
Vario slowly returned from the hallway a minute later, looking like a man who had just lost all dignity.
He stopped at the doorway.
"…I'm sorry."
Nyx stared at him for a long moment.
Then she sighed.
"You're cleaning the entire store today."
Bella nodded.
"Plus the bathroom."
Goro added solemnly, "And perhaps your soul."
Vario lowered his head in shame.
"…That's fair."