| hair down

Kurosawa Ayaka wasn't present at the bar the next night.

In her stead, a 20-something guy with a blonde undercut and ear piercings filled her usual spot. The bartender uncorks a bottle of red wine, pours some inside a glass and pushes the cup to Chuuya sitting across the counter.

"Your order, boss." The blonde guy remarks curtly before turning his back to wipe down the rest of the glasses near the counter.

Chuuya swirls the blood-red liquid inside the glass before taking a sip. As soon as the liquid burns down his throat, his blue eyes scan the bar's vicinity, searching for a certain stupid girl with braids.

"Kurosawa Ayaka…" Chuuya mumbles the name before he could stop himself. The blond turns back to face him, a look of wonder on his face.

"You know Aya-chan, boss?" The blond asks and Chuuya utters a profanity under his breath at his slip of the tongue.

"…sort of." Chuuya utters. She was practically the one who forced her name on me, though. "She's not in here, today?"

"It's her day-off but…" Blondie pauses in the middle of re-stocking the alcohol and gazes at the grandfather clock situated across the room. The hands read 8:45 in the evening. "If it's Aya-chan, then any minute now…"

Chuuya raises an eyebrow at the blonde's tone, before turning his gaze to the clock as well. Any minute now, and then what?

"Ryuu-chan~! Are you here?"

The door to the bar opens with a loud noise, and the familiar figure of Kurosawa Ayaka enters the premises.

Chuuya averts his gaze momentarily away from his drink to take in the woman's appearance—black Peter-pan collared blouse over white skinny jeans, 3-inch boots and her brown hair flowing down to her waist in soft waves as she shouldered a white tote-bag with a piano design.

He quirks an eyebrow at her figure. Huh. She's not wearing her stupid braids.

Ayaka's blue eyes zoomed on Chuuya's figure and with her trademark grins, she approaches the bar counter, plopping on a stool next to him.

"Oh~? It's you from the other day!" She quips, her tone oddly chipper than the usual. "What, here again to drink away your issues, kid~? You can tell Aya-oneesan your worries, instead~ "

"For fuck's sakes, I'm already 22!" Chuuya finally barks back, glaring at the snickering woman next to him. "Stop treating me like a rebellious brat, woman!"

"You're already 22?!" Ayaka gasps, her right hand flying to cover her mouth as an expression of mock disbelief settles on her face. "…and at that height?!"

Snap!

There goes Chuuya's self-control and patience.

"THE FUCK YOU'RE CALLING SHORT?!" Chuuya explodes, fully tilting his body to size up the woman. "DO YOU WANT ME TO KILL YOU, KUROSAWA AYAKA?"

The threat apparently seemed to brush off Ayaka and instead she covers her mouth, fake tears swelling in her eyelids. "You actually remembered my name? I am so touched~"

"BITCH IMMA BURY YOU IN THE GROUND-"

"Ah~ Ryuu-chan, my usual please~"

"LISTEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE TALKING TO YOU!"

"So what brings you here today, chibi-kun?" Ayaka finally quips, swirling her martini inside the glass. This was her 5th drink for the night and a red flush already settled on her pale cheeks.

"Call me chibi one more time and I will crack your spine." Chuuya mutters angrily before downing the wine inside his glass.

Ayaka pouts momentarily, propping an arm on the table and resting her cheek on her palm. "But you never told me your name~"

Ah, such a pain in the ass. Chuuya groans for a moment before fixating his eyes unto her, visibly annoyed. "You never asked."

"Ehh~" Ayaka hums before taking another sip of her martini. Her lips curl upwards to a grin before she addressed the man beside her. "Tell me, then~"

"Why should I?" Chuuya was quick to retort, returning back to nurse his wine with a nonchalant expression on his face.

"Sassing me now, aren't you~?" Ayaka murmurs under her breath and in response, she inches up near him, her fingers already dancing across Chuuya's arm. "I don't hate that side of you~"

At her sudden touches, the male suddenly jumps in surprise, spilling his drink in the process.

"THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING-?!"

Ayaka blinks her eyes at him in surprise but afterwards, a predatory smirk settles on her lips.

"Ehh~ Such a shy boy, aren't you?"

"I'M NOT!" Chuuya spats back irately. Ayaka laughs with mirth, pulling back away from him and raising both of her hands in surrender.

"I was just messing with you~" Ayaka replies, the visible flush on her cheeks getting even redder under the influence of alcohol. She stirs the drink in her glass with a bored look before turning her attention back to the male next to her.

"So what made you come here again?" She repeats her question from earlier, drumming her fingertips atop the bar counter as she speaks.

"And why would I tell you?" Chuuya replies, taking a sip of his booze before glancing at the glasses lining up in front of them.

"Aww, you're no fun." Ayaka pouts, twisting a strand of her brown hair around her index finger in the process. "If you don't tell me, I'll just go ahead and assume things." A smirk graced her lips as she uttered that last remark.

Chuuya stiffens, not liking the teasing lilt to her voice and the goddamn smirk on her face right that moment. He clicks his tongue in annoyance in reply.

"Why must I go ahead and tell you why I'm here?" Chuuya remarks, making the girl sigh again for the umpteenth time that night.

"Loosen up around me, will you?" Ayaka quips. Chuuya only scoffs in reply.

"Like hell I am." He mutters and drinks down his booze. Ayaka lets a grimace fall on her face.

"Eh, such a killjoy."

"Shut up, woman."