She's surrounded by a gaggle of guys, but her eyes look up, over their heads, straight at him. For a moment, she looks at him, searching. And then recognition floods her gaze.
Yano Ayane laughs.
It's funny, Pin thinks. Normally, when he runs into former students – even in bars like this one – he can see them revert back to their high school selves. Time moves on Ayane's face, but she seems to grow up. She inclines her head, slightly. Beckoning. Before Pin can think whether he should accept or not, she's already bossed the boy sitting next to her into another spot.
So he joins her.
She tells him that drinks are on Billy. A young man at the end of the table sputters that his name is—but then Ayane is looking at him, and he chokes. Pin wonders how many of the boys are on poor Buddy's tab, but he's not going to pass up a free drink, and so he orders a beer.
He's on his second drink when he realizes they're flirting. It bothers him a little that he also realizes they're acting exactly the same.
Drink four, he tells her they probably shouldn't be doing this.
"I was your teacher," He stresses.
Ayane snorts into her drink. "What did you ever teach me?"
Pin puffs his chest out. "About friendship, and loyalty! How to be strong and fight for the truth and beauty of your young, fragile dreams!"
Her eyes go hollow for a moment, and his heart echoes the weight of it.
And then she smirks.
"Well, you were never a very good teacher."
She elbows him, pushing at his side until he lets her out of the booth. She sashays out of the place, and throws a wave behind her, without looking back.
He's left with the few guys who stuck around, vainly hoping for Ayane's attentions. And Mac, who is alternating desperate looks between the table of empty glasses and his wallet as though one will get more full or the other will clear out. Pin feels a wave of pity, and he's not sure who for.
He tosses the kid a few hundred yen as he leaves, thinking maybe it's not too late.