The Path of Libations
Cast: Shiny Luminous, Kujou Hikari - age 21
Dorodoron, Tsuchimonji Domon - age 27
April, 2013
Hikari doesn't need to work to pay for college. Tuition, books, food, housing - her scholarship covers all of the essentials. For recreational funds, her annuity would be more than sufficient. However, she is working part time as a waitress while she attends college. She has a plan that she is saving money toward, but also she just enjoys the work. While her coworkers may struggle to remember orders or to smile in front of difficult customers, Hikari's years of experience give her an advantage.
"More beer!"
"Coming, sirs!"
However, her previous experience wasn't at a bar. Hikari is forced to master a new set of skills. Her workplace is sufficiently upscale that she is never in any danger, but she still interacts with the occasional rowdy drunk.
"More beer!"
This particular evening, one particular customer becomes Hikari's responsibility. It is not that he is actually causing any problems, but the other waitresses refuse to go near him.
"Hikari, doesn't that guy scare you?"
"Not really? Y'all should know he just wants to drink."
"But look at how he's dressed!"
The man in question is dressed in a garish blue suit with trim the color of mud. Whether he is wearing heavy padding underneath or actually is as muscular as his outline suggests, none of the other servers are willing to venture close enough to guess.
Hikari takes his order from the other girls without complaint and brings it to his table.
"Is that you, Domon?"
"Huh?" Dorodoron peers at her. Through the mask and the booze, he makes a connection. "Oh! Didn't I escort you at Tsutomu's wedding? What are you doing in Osaka?"
"Working and studying," she says with a smile. "I've got big plans for the future!"
"Nice! Why don't you sit down? I'll buy you a drink. We can celebrate my promotion, and whatever you've been up to!"
"I work here. I'm working right now."
"Oh. Oh! Oh, did I just hit on the staff? Only one way to make up for that, then!"
"What might that be?"
"A round for the house!"