Hey! I'm back! Sorry about the delay, finals were last week so most of this month has been pretty busy for me. Plus, I felt like this chapter was missing something but I still haven't figured out what it is. If I do sometime in the near future I may update the chapter if not, well then nothing will happen.
Thanks for reading, ~Crystal
Chapter 4- Newbie Number 2
-January 3rd, 12:20 PM: Kita-
"Jeez, why is it so quiet?" I question, no one in particular, as I descend the stairs to the eerily quiet bar.
"Slow day?" Shrugs Izumo as he continues his normal activities, cleaning glasses.
I frown as I slide onto a stool, HOMRA doesn't have slow days.
"I haven't been this bored in months." Sighs Yata.
"That's sayin' something short-stack."
I swivel around to look at the black haired girl standing behind me. "When did you get here Aiko-chan?"
"Just a minute ago."
"Are we going to ignore the fact that she called me short-stack?!" Yata looked ready to pop a vein.
"Well I thought it was funny." Comments my brother as he walks back towards the kitchen.
"I agree." Chuckles Kamamoto, shoving another tyaki down.
"You all suck." And now he was pouting. It was hard to believe I was the same age as that boy.
The bell at the door chimed but no one cared enough to turn around and bother with whoever it was. Well, everyone besides my brother, which was a first.
"Welcome."
Welcome? A customer? Just after noon?
The clack of shoes on the wooden floor drifted just to the left of me and stopped.
"…uhh." I swiveled to the left to find a light brown haired guy with a baseball cap who looked to be in his early twenties. "I heard that you can join HOMRA here?"
"So you're Akagi Shouhei-kun?" And now Totsuka was shoving his favorite, old school camera in the guy's face. 'Shouhei' looked towards our hobby-loving member, he probably took the moment to register what was being shoved up in his face. "I'm listening." Continues Totsuka "Now, now, please come inside." And now the new guy was reacting, and it was pretty hilarious.
"Who are you? Wha, what are you recording!?"
"Nice to meet you, I'm Totsuka Tatara." And Totsuka was still able to act like this all was completely normal. "When someone's going to possibly be joining the gang, we have to record the meeting."
"Ha… ah…" Poor guy didn't know how to respond to that.
Then Yata swooped in, previous pouting forgotten. "You're the guy who wants to join HOMRA." The new guy stood sweat dropping as Yata looked him up and down. "But, it's not like every person who wants to join gets in, ya' know? If you're not good enough... maybe you won't come out without some injuries?" Since when did Yata make threats around, most likely, older guys?
"I…. I'm prepared for that." He didn't sound to convincing.
"Yata… Don't go and just threaten him..." well, I guess great minds think alive 'cause my brother seemed to be saying my thoughts.
"So what's the verdict?" Yata spun the newbie around to face the three members who had actually bothered to show up on this supposed 'slow day'. Kamamoto and Chitose looked uninterested over their shoulders and our hooded friend Bandou swirled around in his seat.
Nobody said anything until the newbie seemed to make eye contact with Bandou. "Shouhei!?" "San-chan!?"
"No way, seriously!" Shouhei seemed delighted at the fact our generally quiet member was around, Bandou on the other hand didn't seem to feel the same way. "It's been awhile! Does that mean you're a member of HOMRA?" But that wasn't all, "What a coincidence! But seeing your face is a relief! I was super nervous this entire time." Boy was he talkative.
Yalta stood and scowled behind Bandon causing him to jump slightly. "Where do you know him from?"
Shouhei grinned as he swung his arm around Bandou's shoulders. "This guy is my childhood friend. We hung out a lot as kids, and we totally got along."
I didn't quite believe the last part, especially with the scowl on Bandou's face.
"Who got along with who…?" his voice was nearing a growl.
"Huh?"
Suddenly Bandou shoved Shouhei away from him, almost back into Izumo's precious bar, "You want to join us? I definitely don't approve!" This was the first time I'd ever heard Bandou raise his voice for any reason. He wasn't one to lose his temper either. "Besides! Why do you want to join HOMRA anyways?!"
The light haired male readjusted his hat before leaning back against the sleek wooden bar. "Well isn't it cool to join HOMRA? Everyone's heard of the legend… there wouldn't be anyone who wouldn't want to join HOMRA, right?"
"TOO SHALLOW!" Bandou's jaw dropped and a few veins in his face looked ready to pop. "You want to join HOMRA with such lame excuses?!"
I was about to step in but Totsuka beat me to it. "Okay, okay, this isn't something for San-chan to decide."
"Agreed." I push myself off my seat. "Leave it to the king."
"Speaking of kings. I'll take you to see him now." Totsuka motioned for the newbie to follow as he started for the stairs. Shouhei followed, a bead of sweat evident on his brow. Bandou grudgingly followed as well. As I watched the retreating figures I debated following as well, it would have been interesting to watch Shouhei 'take the test'. But then again, I didn't want to hear Bandou complain if he did pass.
So I just stayed downstairs.
-January 5th, 2:18 PM-
"I'll never tell. Muhahah. Haha."
"What the hell was that?" Questions Kamamoto, slowly putting down his sandwich.
"That would be my phone." Aiko grumbles, shooting a death glare at the blonde.
Izumo sets down his glass before dramatically shrugging. "I will never understand the younger generation." He sighs.
"Old man." Yata mumbles as he leans against the bar next to Kamamoto.
"For 26, yes, he is." I agree "Though Aiko-chan's not that much younger than him."
"That matter aside" Izumo continues with a scowl "are you going to answer your phone, Aiko-chan?" He asks as the ringtone starts to repeat.
"Guess I should." The 21-year old shrugs before pulling her phone out of her pocket and unlocking it. "Hello?" Aiko's voice rang out as the rest of the bar had gone quiet, for once the irresponsible boys were being respectful of a phone call, that and Bandou and newbie Shouhei had already left for the day.
"Hey! Hey! Stop shouting!"
"I know, I know, I should call more, I know."
"I've been busy, okay?"
"It's none of your businesses what I do with my free time."
"No it's not! You're not my babysitter or my mother!"
"Give me a break!"
"I don't know. Maybe the end of the quarter?"
"Gosh, stop yelling!" She shouted before slamming her phone down on the bar top. Izumo flitted around nervously, wanting to check and see if his bar was alright, he had just polished it after all, but he knew better than to mess with a girl when she was pissed (trust me, he's found out the hard way) and to be especially cautious when this girl was part of the clan known for short tempers and violent tendencies.
Yata on the other hand never seemed to get it through his thick, beanie covered, skull. "Well that was interesting." The auburn haired male smirked at the older girl.
"Shut the fuck up, short-stack!" Aiko had to be REALLY pissed for only one of Yata's snide remarks to send her storming off, taking her phone and its funky ringtone with her.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter, despite its shortness. Please leave a review, they are much appreciated , even if its criticizing I still love to hear from my readers.