Hhhhhhhappy birthday, 4/23's!
"Sis, you didn't have to take me out for dinner. I was already made to tour the town with everyone else today."
"I have a day off, and it's your birthday. Let me spoil you for once."
Makoto smiled exasperatedly, scanning the menu as her sister waved a waiter over. As soon as Sae followed suit with her own menu, she glanced around the restaurant. Strangely enough, the place was visibly empty save for the two of them. Truly strange. Sae looked up at the approaching figure and smirked, hiding it behind the menu she was perusing. "Welcome. My name is Kurusu, I will be your waiter tonight. May I start you two off with a drink?"
Makoto snapped out of her reverie, placing the menu down and turned towards the voice. "Ah, water would be- oh. H-huh."
Makoto's voice tapered off into an unintelligible mumble when she looked up, stunned silent from what she saw. Akira - or at least, someone who looked remarkably similar to him - was patiently waiting aside the table, his hair slicked back neatly and his glasses missing from his face. It made seeing his handsome features and his grey eyes much easier than Makoto cared to admit, a blush burning her face as he gazed at her evenly. The butler outfit he was absolutely rocking made him look far more trim than his usual halfway disheveled self. Sae suppressed a smile and hid it behind a menu as Akira smiled politely. "I apologize, miss, but I'm afraid I did not hear you."
Makoto blinked, his words flying over her head until Sae nudged her from under the table. "O-oh! I'm sorry, just-...um. Water will be fine, thank you."
"Of course. And you, ma'am?"
Sae smiled and shook her head, quickly scanning the drinks menu and pointing at one of the options. Akira only needed an instant to see what she was asking for, smiling softly and bowing to the two. "Very well. I will return shortly."
He strode off towards the kitchen, pushing the door open and throwing open the wine cabinet. "How's it going?"
Akira plucked one of the bottles out and scanned the label, leaning around the door to flash an 'OK' sign at Sojiro. The older man grumbled and looked closer at the cookbook sitting in front of him. Haru was dicing vegetables nearby, looking up and beaming at Akira. "Thanks again, Haru."
"Oh, please, don't thank me! I couldn't resist after hearing your plan, I'm only too happy to help."
"Tch, that makes one of us."
Akira grinned at Sojiro as he grunted, easily able to discern that, despite his complaints, the barista was having some semblance of fun. "This is an establishment of fine dining, Boss. It's an experience for both of us, you should be thanking Haru for renting the place out."
"You better be paying the poor girl back after this."
"No, that's alright. I knew Akira-kun would take to being a butler like a duck to water!"
"That's not the problem here…"
Akira whisked a tray, two glasses, the wine, and the water out of the kitchen, swiftly balancing them all on the surface of the metal before he came into view of the Niijima sisters again. "My apologies for the wait. Your drinks."
Akira placed a glass of water next to Makoto, skirting around the table to Sae's right and placing a glass down. He opened the wine bottle and poured a half-glass, murmuring, "Excellent choice of wine, ma'am."
"Thank you."
"Wine? Sis!"
Sae took a sip from her glass and shrugged at Makoto. "I won't let history repeat itself, I promise."
Akira took his place at the side of the table again and clasped his hands together. "Now then. Might I interest you two in some appetizers, or shall we move straight to the entrees?"
He listened attentively as the two placed their orders, apparently committing them to memory rather than write them down. "I understand. Please do not hesitate to ask for me if you need anything."
Akira bowed again and headed towards the kitchen, leaving the sisters to themselves once again. Makoto quickly took a drink of water to quell the heat in her cheeks. "I-I'm very confused right now."
"So am I. Maybe this is another job for him?"
"Somehow, I don't think so. The only jobs he's spoken to me about were the beef bowl shop, the flower shop, the convenience store, and the Crossroads bar in Shinjuku…"
Sae snorted, taking another sip of wine. "'Only'?"
"Well, he didn't work every day."
"Maybe this is one of those days. I do find it strange that he was working here of all days, of all the places, and on the night of your birthday."
"It is pretty strange-"
"Excuse me."
Makoto jumped in her seat as she felt someone touch her elbow, Akira coming into view with a tray laden with plates and an apologetic look on his face. If she looked closer, however, she would have noticed the hint of amusement in his eyes. "Forgive my audacity, but I overheard that today was your birthday?"
He swiftly set the dishes down and refilled their drinks, ducking out of view only to quickly return with a last plate laden with a neat little cake. "For you. Happy Birthday, Makoto."
She gaped at the spread as he planted a quick kiss on her head, collecting what he had carried and disappearing again. Makoto dimly picked up a spoon and sampled the cake, narrowing her eyes at her now-smirking sister. "You planned this."
"I admit nothing. Eat your dinner first."
One hour later.
Akira breathed a heavy sigh, pulling off his bowtie with a sharp tug and smoothing his hair back. He had already discarded his jacket after bringing Sae the check for the meal - in reality, it was simply a blank piece of note paper with a cheeky ":3" written on it. As such, he had taken the liberty of rolling up his sleeves, taking a sip of coffee despite Sojiro's warnings to watch his caffeine at night. Before he could set the cup back on its saucer, Makoto burst into the room he was sitting in. Akira looked at her, framed in the doorway, and smiled. "It's employees only, you know."
"I'm sure it is."
She almost stomped over to him, her hands grabbing his shoulders as she stared him down. "You have some nerve, Akira. I looked so silly in front of my sister."
"Well, you can't say that was my fault. Besides, I haven't even given you your present, birthday girl."
"Later."
She pulled him in for a kiss and threw her arms around his shoulders in a tight hug. "You're so strange sometimes."
Akira chuckled, patting her back and nodding against her arm. "You got me there."
Had to write something before the clock struck 12...might be a bit rushed 'cause of that. Regardless, I hope you enjoyed.
