"Can you tell me somethin' about yourself?" Majima asks Saki as the two reside in the booth training for Saki's customers to come…
"I grew up in a big family and some of my brothers were a lot younger than me and I had to take care of them. So dealing with little kids is nothing new for me." Smiling, Saki says to Majima.
"That's a good quality to have. You'll make a great mom someday." Smirking, Majima tells her.
"Haha I hope so but right now becoming a mom is the furthest thing from my mind." Saki confesses to Majima.
"I know how ya feel I can't even imagine, havin' a family. I suppose we gotta find a good partner first." Frowning, Majima considers calmly.
"O-Oh do you really have to go there? I'm only 23 so I still have time!" Saki whines.
"Hey and I'm only 24 Saki-chan." Majima corrects her.
"Whaaat? You're only a year older than me?" Surprised, Saki gasps.
"Pfft ya don't gotta act THAT surprised now let's flip the script what are your weaknesses?" Majima asks Saki.
"It's insects!" Swiftly, Saki responds.
"Damn with authority what kinda bugs give ya the shivers?" Smirking, Majima exclaims.
"What kind of insects? All of them! I can't stand even looking at them!" Saki squirms.
"Ya hate 'em that much huh? Majima muses.
"Yes especially those black ones that usually hang around in the kitchen. I just want to die if I see one." Saki scowls at the thought.
"Hey I'll let ya in on a little secret I kinda lose my shit when I see a big bug too." Truthfully, Majima confesses.
"You do?" Saki exclaims.
"Yeah I try to keep it on the down low but you can only do it for so long till one of ya employees comes in to see a hole in the wall." Majima grimaces at the murky memory of it all, Ryūko running later her having to deal with the bugs normally in the back but with her late ad him seeing said spider…
"A hole in the wall?" Saki says stunned.
"Yeah a huge spider fortunately for me it was Namie who came in, she had a lot of questions but in the end I had to tell her the truth." Majima rubs the back of his head recalling his hand stuck in the wall despite how hard he tried to pull as she had opened the door to it.
"Did she laugh at you?" Saki smiles shyly at him.
"No instead she took care of it. Namie-chan said she grew up with bugs around a lot and often dealt with them." Majima explains recalling her having to pry his fist out from the wall no words needing to be shed as he finally spoke as she sets him down.
"Wow she's so brave!" Impressed, Saki praises.
"I guess although there was this one time at the grand there was this huge cockroach, it was huge I of course screamed fortunately Namie would often say that was her scream." Shyly, Majima admits.
"So what happened? How big was it?" Intrigued, Saki probes perplexed.
"Pretty big, Namie came in and had some cockroach spray so used it. After that all I remember was this buzzing and then Namie's own sharp scream." Sighing, Majima furrows his brow by the thought of it all, the sharp scream managing to break through the band's music as he quickly calmed the worried crowd.
"She screamed?" Surprised, Saki gasps.
"Yeah I rushed in and saw her hitting her face the cockroach was on her face." Majima snickers slightly at the memory.
"It was?!" Saki says scared.
"Turns out they can fly." Majima tells her.
"No!" Saki places her hands over her mouth mortified.
"Yep" Majima confirms.
"Gross! Gross!" Saki waves her hand about repulsed.
"Agreed, all I remember then was Namie rushing out locking the door and telling me it's the cockroaches' room now." Majima chuckles at the memory of the grim grave furrowed face of Namie locking the door, slowly sliding down, her face as pale as ice looking as if a ghost had escaped her lips.
"She really didn't mock you?" Saki said surprised.
"Nah, she said everyone had their weaknesses." Majima recalls brow furrowed at the murky memory of it all, Majima at the end of the day threatening her to not squeal as he had his hair down, done drained for the day that day. She simply stared at him, bored almost as she had plopped him down on the ground below as to his surprise, she began braiding his hair making him flinch freeze from it before next he knew he was relaxing…
"Namie san really is amazing I wonder what her weaknesses are?" Amazed, Saki ponders out loud.
"I can give you a list if it helps." Haughtily, he offers.
"You have a list?" Saki perks up at it.
"You learn a lot about someone when working with them for a year or so, for example she hates clowns." Coyly, Majima reveals.
"…Clowns?" Confused, Saki quirks her head to the side.
"Clowns don't know what it is about them but one time a clown came in and she just decked him." Honestly, Majima chuckles coyly at the murky memory of some delivery guy resulting in Namie screeching, screaming, luging at the man beating her black and blue…
"Oh…" Saki says shocked.
"Yeah,…oh she also has a huge thing about textures." Majima adds offhandedly.
"Textures?" Taken aback, Saki furrows her brow by it.
"Yeah in the backroom I had finished the orange juice so got a cheaper one on the fly had some pulp stuff in it and all I remember is walking in to her spitting it at the wall demanding to know what this shit is as she began heaving." Fondly, Majima recalls the tale, smirking slightly at it.
"Heaving?" Saki says shocked.
"Yeah I thought she was having a allergic reaction turns out Namie has a really strong sense of taste." Truthfully, Majima recalls pained at the thought before she spat it all out explaining herself to him.
"Really?" Saki exclaims.
"Yeah, it's pretty impressive the way she can talk about food, sometimes I add some new things just to see her reactions they're pretty cute." Coyly, Majima reveals a small smirk upon his lips at the recollection of his small pranks putting some strange new drinks in the fridge, watching Namie's expressions were the best, the faces she'd pull you'd think she was in some sort of cartoon. His rough days would always perk up at her expressions.
"Namie-san cute? I didn't think you could describe her as cute." Saki furrows her brow by the thought it felt just like a moment ago she was beating the brutes before the club to the point of death, breaking their skulls even breaking bones left and right.
"Oh you'd be surprised she can be pretty cute sometimes I mean remember the story I told you before about the bug?" Majima asks her.
"Yeah?" Saki confirms.
"The way she handles it is hilarious she will talk to it." Majima smirks slightly.
"Talk to it?" Saki furrows her brow befuddled by the thought.
"Yep she'll give it a name talking about how its due on its rent as she takes care of it, some days she'll find one and leave it there she'll make a backstory for it. The shit she comes up with, she had named this spider once called Steve saying how he was a drug lord and was escaping the Mexican cartel." Majima recalling days of low energy but hearing her story when he would complain about getting rid of said spider would always perk him up.
"Pppfff! Still I suppose I'm lucky I haven't seen one since I started living alone what am I going to do if I find one? I don't have any family here to help me…" Saki smiles shyly at Majima.
"Hey I can swing by with the shoe of death if ya want." Majima offers.
"Really? You'd really do that for me?" Touched, Saki gasps.
"Ah sorry wouldn't be quite proper of me to show up at a girl's house now would it? Maybe I could send Namie to help with it…she would ask for extra money for it though…" Majima admits glancing to the side sheepishly.
"No, no it's not problem at all I'll need all the saving I can get yay!" Saki smiles.
"Haha you seem awfully happy about that well you just call Goro the exterminator Majima if ya see one 'kay?" Majima smirks at Saki.
"My type? I like masculine guys." Saki answers.
"Masculine? What you like guys to be ripped?" Majima pries.
"I do like muscles but what I mean is on the inside someone dependable someone solid is more my type." Saki tells them.
"Would ya say I fall into that category?" Curious, Majima smirks at the thought.
"I suppose so…I hadn't really thought about it but now that you mention it you are pretty masculine. You're dependable and you have muscles!" Saki considers coyly.
"So muscles are important after all." Majima deadpans.
"Now I'm starting to get nervous…come on Majima-san don't say stuff like that! You're going to make me think about it!" Saki whines.
"Think about it? Think about what?" Majima furrows his brow befuddled.
"You dork! You're being so dense. Never mind!" Saki huffs.
"Huh?" Majima blurts out oblivious.
"Okay what about the reverse then? Any type of guy you just can't stand?" Majima queries.
"To tell the truth narcissists and weaklings kind of annoy me." Bluntly, Saki responds.
"Saki chan you're from Kyushu? I'm figurin' that might be playin' a part here." Majima recalls.
"Yes men from Kyushu do tend to be on the more dynamic and masculine side but don't you think a lot of men suddenly change after you start going out with them?" Saki does consider.
"Whaddya mean?" Majima pries.
"Like a guy who's tough and manly at first but turns into a big baby the moment you start going out. All the guys I've dated have turned out that way!" Saki complains cross.
"Ya just gotta make those types want to spoil you instead." Majima tells her.
"Me? Act like that?" Saki quirks her head to the side.
"Yeah I think most guys who are actually lookin' for a girl who's gonna make 'em spoil her." Honestly, Majima confesses.
"But that's…that's something I've never done…I don't think I could.." Calmly, Saki trails off uncertain.
"Well what are these practice sessions for, anyway? Ya wanna try it out? I'd be happy to spoil ya." Majima offers.
"Oh that's too embarrassing and I can't do it thanks for the offer though." Saki smiles shyly at the thought.
"There's a cryi' shame it's nice to be spoiled sometimes…" Smirking, Majima argues.
"You know there was a boy I liked but I wound up gradating before I could say a word to him." Saki sighs sadly.
"There's the drama I was lookin' for how come ya never said anything?" Approvingly, Majima smirks.
"He was in a different class and our paths didn't really cross but I did give him a valentine's chocolate!" Saki offers optimistically.
"Eh? You did all that without sayin' a word to him?" Stunned, Majima says shocked.
"I was embarrassed so I snuck the chocolates in his desk drawer I didn't write my name anywhere on the box either." Saki elaborates her tale to him.
"I'm sure ya made that guy feel like a million bucks. Always nice to know someone cares enough about ya to give ya some chocolate." Casually, Majima throws in.
"Yeah do you think he was happy?" Saki asks Majima.
"No doubt in my mind and if he found out they were form you he woulda been over the moon." Majima assures Saki.
"You think? That's good…if I gave you chocolate next year Majima san would you be happy?" Saki asks Majima.
"Of course now ya got me lookin' forward to it!" Majima smirks smugly at the thought.
"So what do you think when a guy's out on a date what's going on in his head if she doesn't say much of anything?" Saki questions Majima.
"I doubt he'd mind a guy's gotta understand that you're nervous and his job is to make ya feel more comfortable." Majima tells Saki.
"Majima san you're so cool really manly!" Saki praises him.
"Ya think? Now I'm the one who's bein' normal, a guy who can't handle a quiet date is garbage anyway." Majima states the fact firmly.
"I guess so if there was someone out there who could understand me like that I'd totally fall for him." Honestly, Saki admits.
"Heh heh same what I'd give for a gal like that!" Majima chuckles.
"Majima san what would you want a girl to do for you?" Saki questions Majima.
"Wow you went straight for the jugular with that one guess that's what I shoulda expected from Club Jupiter's number one girl." Majima nods his head in approval at Saki.
"Thank you very much." Saki smiles.
"And then she thanks me like I was complimenting her aim perfection. Anyway what was the question? What I want a girl to do? Maybe cook for me? I know it sounds dumb but I think that's somethin' any guy could appreciate deep down." Approvingly, Majima nods his head in understanding.
"Cooking? Then I'll have to make my specialty for you next time Majima san, do you remember what it is?" Saki insists.
"Your speciality 'course I remember! It's karaage right? Fried chicken." Majima remembers.
"Yep you remembered! That's my specialty!" Smiling, she giggles.
"A karaage lover like me? Like I'd forget! Besides how could I forget something you told me Saki chan?" Majima points out.
"Oh please don't tease me like that! Majima last question, do you think a man and woman can be just friends?" Saki queries.
"Ah an excellent question worthy of the great philosopher Majima. Friendship between men and women eh? Of course men and women ca be friends! I mean look at me and Namie you think I could find her attractive?" Approvingly, Majima argues as he gestures with his head over to the blonde bartender.
"I heard that." Tense, Ryūko huffs cleaning a wine glass.
"Eep I mean I'm sure most of the time one side of the equation wants something more but ya gotta figure that romantic feelings ain't the only kinda love there is in the world. There's love between a teacher and student, love of family, love between friends…there's all kinda's love. Assuming every relationship between a man and woman is gonna wind up in romance is pretty small time thinkin'" Truthfully, Majima explains to Ryūko.
"That's what I think too Majima-san that's really insightful I'm impressed!" Saki smiles her head in approval.
"Alright that's it for training today. Youda let's go over to Mizumura club Mercury and check things out." Majima stands up from the booth, the training session ceasing.
"We're really going?" Youda perks up unnerved, trying to collect glasses.
"Course, you wanna hang back Youda-chan?" Majima questions noting his hesitance.
"Y-Yeah…I think I'll pass." Youda shrinks back by the thought.
"O…kay. You're actin' kinda funny there Youda-chan. What's the matter?" Majima pries.
"…Well actually…" Youda begins but…
"Majima san while you're out please go buy some vinegar?" Yuki requests from Majima.
"…Vinegar?" Majima furrows his brow by the request.
"What? Vinegar can't it wait?" Ryūko joins in equally as lost.
"No it can't!" Yuki insists impatiently.
"What do you even need it for?" Frowning, Majima questions.
"I'm making some chiriashi and I need some vinegar right now!" Yuki reveals.
"Yeah now that you mention it I thought I smelled some rice cookin.'" Majima hums.
"Can't you just use lemon juice, using twice as much is a suitable replacement for it." Ryūko advises.
"I need vinegar! PLEASE! I really just need some vinegar it's a simple request. VIN-E-GAR." Stubbornly, said girl insists.
"Okay, okay vinegar I get it. I'm on my way out and I'll buy some while I'm at it. Vinegar. Sheesh." Scowling, Majima turns on his head.
"Yay that's what I'm talking about thank you!" Yuki thanks him.
"Yeah, yeah…" Majima waves her off as he heads off, trying to find some vinegar.
"Oh…" Youda bows his head.
"What's the matter Youda chan?" Ryūko raises a brow at Youda.
"…It's nothing." Youda dismisses turning to walk away going to clean some tables.
"Doesn't seem like nothing." Ryūko points out watching his fleeting figure.
"Maybe he doesn't like Chiriashi…" Innocently, Yuki suggests.
"Maybe…" Ryūko whispers before continuing on with her work…
"I'm baaack." Majima hollers returning to the club.
"Majima san welcome back!" Youda warmly welcomes him back.
"Hey where's Namie?" Majima notes the lack of the blonde.
"Oh she's helping Yuki cook." Youda answers.
"Oh?" Majima exclaims.
"Yeah what with her whining about the lack of vinegar, Ryūko's helping her make adjustments with lemon juice, who knew our Namie knew how to cook?" Cheerily, Youda points out.
"I'll admit she can make some mean dishes still though I sure found some trouble this time…" Tiredly, Majima huffs.
"What kind of trouble?" Youda pries as Majima fills him in on the extorting prices of washed down drinks.
"I see…so that's how he runs club Mercury.". Youda frowns pained by the sad reality of it all.
"Yeah so you can clue me in Youda chan tell me about the place." Majima presses.
"What? I don't know anything." Youda glances to the side sheepishly.
"Don't hide it. You go all mumble mouth whenever someone mentions club Mercury Youda chan what's the big secret?" We're tryin' to beat the Five stars here Youda if you know anything now's the time to tell me." Majima tells Youda how it is just as the doors behind them open…
"If you don't want to talk about it I will." A familiar fedora wearing gentleman arrives at the club
"Who's that?" Majima frows at the elderly man.
"Mizumura-san…" Youda whispers staring sadly at the old man.
"I didn't get a chance to take a good look last time but it seems like you have a fine club here Youda." The fedora wearing gentleman acknowledges.
"Mizumura-san what happened to you? What changed? Ripping your customers off…you never would have done anything like that before! Mizumura san is it too late for you to turn back? You could teach me more about how to run a club jut like in the old days!" Pained, Youda demands from his mentor mortified.
"People change Youda…I can't go back to the way things used to be." Mizumura bows his head pained.
"Mizumura-han from the five stars what's yer business here? Doubt you're here to swap old war stories." Majima furrows his brow at Mizumura.
"I just stopped by to thank my customer. I'm sure he really enjoyed our drinks." Mizumura remarks.
"Yeah tap water always goes down smooth. Got me nice and hydrated for the exercise I got afterward too." Majima huffs.
"…Little brat. Here's a word of advice I give to hot blooded young men. The five stars are evil but going up against evil isn't always the good thing to do." Mizumura growls.
"What're you tryin' to say?" Scowling, Majima demands from him.
"If you want to live peacefully in this city don't challenge the five stars. Follow my example." Mizumura warns him.
"What example would that be?" Majima's hue narrows at Mizumura.
"Oh Mizumura-san here you are!" Hibiki enters the club.
"Hibiki…" Mizumura turns to the girl in blue.
"It's not safe for you to be walking around here by yourself I was worried about you." Hibiki confesses worried.
"Yes yes you're right I'm sorry." Mizumura apologises to Hibiki.
"Pardon me I'm sorry for the interruption shall we head back?" Hibiki bows to Majima and co before turning to Mizumura.
"Yes I hope not to see you again." Mizumura admits and leaves, Hibiki following him.
"Mizumura-san…" Youda calls out pained watching his mentor leave.
"Well that was a shocker I didn't know you and Mizumura-san worked together." Majima turns to Youda.
"Well, yes…" Youda trials off.
"You still don't want to talk about it?" Majima furrows his brow at her.
"When I…when I first got into this industry…Mizumura-san taught me the basis of running a club, he was kind. He was strict at times. But he was always so full of enthusiasm he taught me a lot. There were times when he and I talked all night about our dreams of building up Sotenbori's night life scene. I looked up to him he was my mentor. But now he's one of the big five and nothing like he used to be. The old Mizumura-san would never do dirty things like ripping off his own customers but now the one I knew is gone. I just couldn't accept thar you know?" Youda explains himself to Majima.
"That's why you didn't want to talk about club mercury." Majima catches on.
"Yes." Youda bows his head pained.
"Well thanks for openin' up about it Youda-chan." Majima thanks him.
"No I should have told you much earlier Majima-san…" Youda scolds himself.
"You're damn right you shoulda have look we're in this for the long haul together so we gotta be a team if you're having a tough time talk about it." Majima sighs at Youda.
"Majima san…thank you so much!" Youda sniffles as just then…
"Ahem Majima san and you too Youda san what are you just loafing around?" Yuki approaches the two.
"We were having a heart-to-heart talk here Yuki-chan what's so important that ya gotta interrupt?" Majima furrows his brow at Yuki.
"Vinegar is! I promise you two lovebirds can get right back to it when you give it to me! You did get some for me right? We really need vinegar!" Yuki yells at him.
"Yuki san isn't it okay though? Namie san took over didn't she?" Youda argues.
"She did and she finished it." Yuki whines.
"Then what's the problem?" Perplexed, Majima furrows his brow befuddled.
"Ai and Saki say its amazing! They say they prefer it over mine!" Mad, Yuki huffs.
"So….?" Mystifed, Majima raises a brow befuddled.
"So? I have to prove vinegar is better than lemon juice! I can't lose what may be my only talent in this place! Now Majima where is the vinegar?" Sternly, Yuki demands from the smiling Majima saying…
"…I forgot."
"Congratulations Majima san we topped 2,000 fans from the club Mercury area!" Amazed, Youda cheers clapping his hands alongside Yuki as Ryūko watches on from the bar. The club congratulate Majima while she herself cleans the bar counter.
"Ah right on looks like we got some momentum goin'." Majima nods his head in approval.
"Yes and Mizumura san might be making a move soon…" Youda worries.
"You havin' second thoughts about going up against the old man Youda-chan?" Concerned, Majima furrows his brow at Youda.
"Honestly I don't know what I should do but we can't leave things as they are! Let'…let's defeat Mizumura-san together!" Youda declares determined.
"Right on that's been my plan all along." Majima smirks slightly at Youda.
"Yes!" Youda cheers.
"Majima I think I need some vinegar." Yuki tells Majima.
"Say what? are you making chiriashi sushi again?" Annoyed, Majima sighs.
"Of course thanks to a certain someone I was out staged we would up having Namie's cooking last time when it was my turn." Yuki complains cross.
"Those were nice rice balls…" Youda recalls.
"That lemon tinge to the rice was a really nice kick as well." Majima adds as he crosses his arms over his chest at the memory.
"Majima-san!" Scowling, Yuki whines.
"Uh sorry…" Majima apologizes awkwardly.
"Ai-chan is helping me this time so please make sure to pick up some vinegar!" Yuki insists.
"Why are you obsessed with this?" Tiredly, Majima sighs.
"Cause I want to beat Namie's cooking alright!?" Agitated, Yuki snaps scowling.
"Okay, okay I'll go get some now." Majima sighs turning to the door and leaves as the group disperse continuing on with their daily tasks.
"Say Namie san…" Ai begins as she turns the page to her magazine, leant over the counter, Saki by her side, the two talking about makeup, Ryūko at least assumed as she cleaned her station.
"Hm?" Humming, Ryūko cleans her glass.
"You and Majima san are you…?" Saki begins…
"Are we…?" Ryūko raises a brow befuddled stopping said cleaning.
"You know…" Ai hints however.
"No. No I do not." Bluntly, Ryūko responds lost.
"She's as oblivious as he is…The two girls couldn't help but sweat drop, a part of them thankful for her oblivious as they ignore the brief sting of jealousy freely flowing through them.
"What is your biggest weakness?" Saki changes topic.
"I can be uncooperative." Ryūko offers, she could be stubborn sometimes, she supposed well that was what Kashiwagi always pointed out anyway.
"Okay, can you give me an example?" Saki questions.
"No. Now is that all?" Annoyed, Ryūko frowns, she had the back to check, she swore they were running low on champagne; she may have to go make a quick shop before the club opens…
"Well no…" Ai answers.
"No?" Ryūko raises a brow befuddled.
"Me and the girls were talking we can't pinpoint it…do you have European in you?" Saki steps forward filling her in.
"In me?" Mystifed, Ryūko furrows her brow by the thought.
"My money's on American." Ai throws in.
"What are you guys going on about?" Alarmed, Ryūko scowls down at the girls.
"Well it's obvious you have foreign blood in you what with…" Youda throws in from nearby however…
"My hair." Curtly, she snaps scowling cutting the girls off.
"And eyes…and…other features." Frowning, Youda adds uneasily.
"Just get to it." Irritated, Ryūko orders too tired to deal with it all.
"Well do you know?" Youda asks intrigued.
"Who knows…" Ryūko shrugs.
"What do you mean who knows?" Yuki wanders over joining the conversation.
"I meant what I said." Sternly, Ryūko states the fact firmly.
"Don't you know?" Curious, Yuki quirks her head to the side.
"She never told me." Ryūko responds, simply shrugging at the tense topic.
"You never asked?" Astonished, Ai gasps as Ryūko winces when thinking back to it, her grip tightening around her glass.
"I'm guessing she…she had some bad memories." Muttering, Ryūko glares to the side scowling.
"Oh…sorry." Sadly, Yuki bows her head.
"It's fine." Firmly, Ryūko grimaces glaring to the side squirming.
"What is taking Majima so long?" Yuki furrows her brow, turning towards the door.
"He'll be here." Ryūko reassures them watching Youda head out of the door making her furrow her brow by it.
"Mizumura-san! What you're doing is wrong!" Youda yells calling out to Mizumura.
"Youda?" Majima turns the corner confused by Youda's yelling.
"I can't be choosy about my methods to achieve my goals you will understand this one day Youda." Mizumura tells his old student.
"It's not something I ever want to understand! I will stop you no matter what even if it means I have to defeat you." Youda dictates.
"Heh sounds like you've grown a pair son fine come at me with all you've got. I've sold my soul to the five stars…I've poured my life into club Mercury. So let's see if you can take it down through your dreams and ideals." Mizumura smirks slightly bowing his head to him.
"I will win! I'll beat you and show how wrong you are." Youda declares determined.
"All right Youda I'm looking forward to it." Mizumura smirks slightly tipping his hat to him.
"Definitely." Youda watches the old man take off, leaving.
"Youda-chan…" Majima approaches Youda.
"Hey Majima-san you've been gone a while. All right let's get this club ready for the show! Let's hope to it come on now! Chop! Chop! We can't keep our customers waiting you know!" Youda reminds Majima ushering him towards the club.
"Heh you're right let's do this." Majima smirks slightly eager to do so.
"For sure!" Youda agrees as they head back in the club.
"Oh Majima san…!" Yuki perks up at the sight of him, the girls giddily joining her in perking up at the sight of the return of him.
"Welcome back." Briskly, Ryūko responds, her hues firmly focused on the glass below.
"Heh good to be back." Majima smirks slightly at Ryūko.
"The vinegar you got it for me this time right?" Yuki asks him.
"Yuki…" Majima turns to Yuki.
"…" Yuki silently stares at Majima.
"You forgot again didn't you?" Ryūko sighs at Majima.
"…Yeah." Majima bows his head.
"Nooo!" Yuki cries falling flat to her knees.
"I'll get to cooking…" Ryūko sighs turning on her heel heading to the kitchen.
"Alright Namie's cooking again! Lemon heaven here we come!" Majima cheers alongside Youda as the group head back into club Sunshine eater to take a piece of Ryūko's cooking…
Casually, Ryūko strolls through the streets of Sotenbori shopping bag in hand as the neck of the champagne bottle peers out of the plastic bag. She frowns at the bright blaring neon lights littered about the place, ignoring the people going about their day until she stops seeing a familiar figure in green leave club Sunshine.
"Oh I'm so sorry I was in a hurry!" Saki apologises as she had hoped to meet up with a fried of hers however she soon bumped into the group of grunts.
"Well maybe you should slow down hottie. In fact how about getting some coffee with us? That'll make us even." The grunt smirks slightly at her.
"I'm sorry I have an appointment to keep." Saki tries to leave but…
"Oh so you're just gonna plow into my buddy here and try to run off with a sorry!? That's not gonna cut it!" The grunt grabs Saki's arm.
Yeah I think my arm's sprained! You're gonna have to hold up my coffee cup for me!" Whining, one of the men holds his arm.
"…Show me." Scowling, she demands from him.
"Huh?" He blurts out lost.
"Your arms fine if you can move it. Can I go now?" Sternly, Saki scowls at them.
"You little snot! Quit your grippin' and come with us!" The man orders his grip tightening around Saki.
"That's right baby mind your manners! Huh? If not we can always teach ya some." The grunt grins eyeing the girl up and down.
"Oh aren't you tough? Even I could handle a couple of goofs like you!" Saki snaps as Ryūko couldn't help but arch a brow by the insult used.
"Weell well…ya think you're tough huh? Guess we'll have to beat some sense into that thick skull!" Snarling, said male growls glaring at her, his grip tightening around her arm as he reaches for his pocket.
"…!" Saki feels her blood turn ice cold at the blade before her.
"Not talkin' so tough ow are ya darling? Maybe you're just snooty 'casue ya think you're hot. I bet a scar across that pretty face of yours would take ya down a notch!" The male smirks raising his blade to the high heavens just as Majima exits the club, his hue widening when seeing said knife but before he could lunge forward to do something…
"Yeah no." A blonde blur rushes forward swiftly snatching said blade by the man's wrist.
"E-Eh?" The man blurts out crying out as with one swift press of her finger coiled around his wrist does the blade drop.
"N-Namie san!" Shocked, Saki staggers back by the sheer sight of the blonde noting the blade dropping down to the ground.
"W-Who the fuck are you!?" Angrily, the male demands as Ryūko kicks the blade aside after twisting the man's arm, making him cry out.
"The girl gave my name didn't you listen dumbass?" Done, she stoically stares at the squirming screaming mess his legs shaking buckling before everyone's eyes as he falls flat to his knees, crying out from her simple move.
"Oh another girl that doesn't know her place!" The man's mate sneers reaching down to the blade.
"I don't know from where I'm standing I'm seeing your perfectly." Smoothly, she throws the man at the other causing him to stumble into him, the both of them falling flat to the ground. She swiftly snatches said blade back from the ground, having hoped not to use the blade but if need be she supposed she would allow herself to get dirty…
"You bitch…!" Heaving, the two turn towards the blonde on their knees glaring up at the bored blonde staring down at them.
"Run home little boys." Swiftly, she coldly commands the two squirming slightly from her ice cold glare as both boys stood.
"We ain't leaving bitch!" They spit at her.
"I tried to warn you…" Sighing, she shakes her head, she tried to be nice…
"Saki!" Majima rushes over to her side.
"Majima san…" Saki swoons almost at the sheer sight of him.
"We'll talk later. Stay back." Majima warns Saki.
"But…" Saki begins but…
"Oh looks like we've got a pair of super heroes comin' to this bitch's rescue! Still seems that bitch needs to learn her place the same with you, you one-eyed fuck!" Furious, the man snarls lunging at him, his partner joining in too as the man lunges at Majima.
"And we got another kid that needs to learn his." Easily, Majima catches his fist as Majima shares a crazed smirk with Ryūko, no words needing to be shed as he cranes his neck to the side just as Ryūko slams her hand over his shoulder, throwing herself over him to slam her heel down onto his head, crimson currents bursting out of his fallen form as they easily beat one of the boys.
"You'll pay for this!" Another adds as he lunges towards Ryūko, diving down crouching as she axe kicks the man tripping him as Majima deals with the finishing blow, kneeing the falling figure in the face as he too comes crashing down from their team combo.
"Well that was easier than I thought." Ryūko remarks only then to falter furrowing her brow, her facial features paling when noting the bag she dropped, shards scattered about the ground below, a puddle forming below…
"Namie san are you alright?" Majima furrows his brow at her.
"…I'm dead." Mortified, Ryūko stares sullen down at the pierced plastic bag below.
"N-Namie san?" Saki notices Ryūko's furrowed frown.
"Yuki's going to kill me!" Mortified, Ryūko combs her fingertips through her hair tugging at the stray stands of blonde.
"Is that…?" Majima's hue widens when seeing said broken bottle neck in her hand.
"Vinegar yes. Yes it was cause a moron kept forgetting to buy it." Irritated, Ryūko sends a dirty look Majima's way who whistles while looking away.
"I'm sorry Namie san…Majima san you're awfully quiet." Saki bows to the devasted blonde before turning to Majima.
"…Saki-chan I was literally within earshot. Why didn't ya call for help?" Majima demands from her.
"I…I'm sorry I didn't mean to involve Namie it's my fault after all." Saki sighs sadly.
"The hell did you get that idea from me?" Mystifed, Ryūko scowls.
"It wouldn't have been right to get you involved when I already had Namie get involved." Saki blames herself.
"You best wise up lady!" Majima snaps at Saki.
"Maji calm down!" Ryūko calls out to him.
"No! None of that hot mess was your fault! What if he got ya with that knife?! What if Namie hadn't been there!? Hell if I hadn't been there!?" Tense, Majima berates Saki scowling.
"Maji raising your voice isn't helping matters." Ryūko intervenes.
"It's the only way to get through that hard head of hers, ya coulda gotten seriously hurt, or even killed! And I ain't never heard of a dead nurse! Ya got family and friends who care about ya Saki-chan not to mention a dream you're chasin'" Cross, Majima reminds Saki.
"…!" Saki flinches from his words.
"How would I ever face your family if I had to tell 'em some news like that eh? If ya get hurt and couldn't work, ya couldn't send money to your family and forget haivn' for school not to mention the medical bills. That dream you're chasin' coulda all gone up in a puff of smoke. So unless you're willing to accept that…then you better call for backup you can count on when shit hits the fan. You leave that stuff to me or Namie we're the one who took on the responsibility of keepin' you girls safe. Ya got that?" Tense, Majima scolds the girl below brow furrowed.
"Majima san…" Saki whispers weakly.
"Saki-chan lemme tell ya somethin' else I admire how driven and hard workin' ya are. A girl with guts like you is one in a million but I wish you'd rely more on us. Ya gotta start tratin' yourself better. It's your dream and it's your burden to shoulder, sure but in this life you can count on friends like me to lighten the load even if only a little deal?" Majima still continues cross.
"Majima san…I'm so sorry!" Saki bows her head pained.
"I'll just leave you guys to it." Ryūko steps back brow furrowed, feeling the tension hang heavily in the air as she turns to leave, not really wanting to deal with this…
"You sure?" Majima seemingly snaps out of it turning to her.
"Yeah I need to go…get vinegar." Awkwardly, Ryūko eyes the two tense, not quite sure what to say as she shyly walks off, having no real clue how to deal with the two deciding it best to just leave them to whatever…this was.
"Congratulations Majima-san we topped 4,000 from club Mercury's area!
"Right on Youda chan looks like Club mercury's area'll be ours soon enough and that showdown with old man Mizumura is comin' up even sooner." Majima smirks at the eager Youda.
"Yes we have to stop Mizumura-san he's going down the wrong path." Youda declares determined.
"Majima-kun it's been a while!" Hibiki happily waltzes into the club.
"Well if it ain't Hibiki from club Mercury what's up I don't sell vinegar here." Majima warns her.
"Hahha I'm okay on vinegar I found a shop the other day that sells a lot of it. Anyway will you accept this?" Smiling, Hibiki hands him over a letter.
"There's a shop…!? Ryūko jolts up at the news.
"Seems it came sooner than we thought." Ryūko remarks eyeing the challenge card.
"Looks so, it's a challenge we're finally going to have a cabaret club battle with the old man huh?" Majima remarks.
"Seems so." Ryūko agrees.
"No hard feelings okay?" Hibiki smiles at the group.
"Uh right. No hard feelings." Yuki responds awkwardly.
"I have to be going bye Majima-kun." Hibiki winks waltzing off.
"Bye wait Hibiki-chan! Hey can you tell me about the store with the vineg-" Majima tries to call out to her but…
"She's gone already that girl Hibiki had you eating out of her hand. She's going to be one tough enemy. We can't lose." Yuki acknowledges Hibiki's power.
"Yeah not sure why you're getting so worked up over though." Majima remarks.
"I…may have a idea…" Ryūko grimaces glancing to the side sheepishly sweat dropping.
"You had one job!" Yuki yells at Ryūko.
"Not my fault when I went back it was all gone!" Defensively, Ryūko disputes as just then…
"Majima and Youda it's been a while…" Mizumura enters the club.
"Mizumura-san I'm going to stop you!" Youda tells his mentor.
"Youda you're just like how I used to be a long time ago. I hope your youthful enthusiasm won't be your undoing." Mizumura sighs sadly bowing his head.
"Youda-chan really is fired up for a change…" Ryūko says surprised.
"There's no way we can lose with him flippin' out like that!" Majima smirks.
"Well I can't lose either I have a promise to keep." Mizumura states the fact firmly.
"A promise eh?" Majima perks up at his words.
"Nothing you should concern yourself with either way it's the end of the road for you." Mizumura dismisses.
"Haha now we get to see Mizumura-san when he really means business. They used to call him the lion of the Cabaret you know! I'm looking forward to this!" Hibiki beams brightly at the fight ahead…
"We…won?" Youda says shocked still reeling from the numbers, Ryūko sums up to.
"Yeah we did!" Majima confirms peering over Ryūko's notes seeing said sums.
"I lost you've done well Youda. Splendid after all none of my apprentice even surpassed you. I'm glad it was you I lost to. Now I can shut down my club with no regrets." Mizumura gives him that.
"You don't have to do that Mizumura san! You can still start over! We can do this the right way together!" Earnestly, Youda offers but…
"Youda…that's not possible, I've gone too far down a different path. After I lost my wife, I used every dirty trick in the book to protect the club. As long as I was alive, I would keep the club going that's the promise I made to her before she died." Mizumura confesses pained.
"A promise…" Majima frowns.
"I'd heard about your wife's passing but I had no idea you'd make a promise like that." Youda bows his head.
"It was difficult for an old man like me to run that cabaret without any help. It went downhill quickly and pretty soon I was in danger of going out of business. That' when Tsukiyama appeared on the scene business was good as long as I did what the man said. Whether it was converting the club from a cabaret to a cabaret club or ripping off customers…I did everything he told me to do. I looked past all of it because I knew that's how the club was staying open. I basically sold my soul to the devil…but this is the end of the road for club Mercury. It's time it was time quite a while ago in fact. I don't know when it'll be but when I get to heaven, I'll tell my wife…I'll tell her I'm sorry." Mizumura elaborates his tale to the club.
"Mizumura-san I had no idea I didn't know and I said all those things to you…" Youda bows his head ashamed.
"Youda don't ever lose your honest you really remind me of myself back in the day. With you around I'm confident the future of Sotenbori's entertainment district is in good hands. Majima I've seen what you're capable of doing too and I have a favour to ask, after club Mercury is gone would you let Hibiki work at your club? I know she's a little weaker than some girls and that she can't come into work every day…most clubs wouldn't put up with it for very long. But your club seems like the type that would actually welcome her fo the talents she does have. Would you?"" Mizumura asks of his student.
"Heh of course any girl you trained would be a welcome addition to the team." Youda warmly welcomes.
"That's great thank you." Mizumura thanks his student.
"Mizumura san…" Hibiki whispers.
"Hibiki thank you for everything you've done for me. Take care of your younger brother and mother. Family is everything." Mizumura smiles softly at her.
"Yes thank you Mizumura." Hibiki bows her head to him.
"Well then it's time for this old softie to turn in his combat boots. We may not see each other again." Mizumura turns to the door.
"Mizumura-san! Thank you very much!" Youda calls out to his mentor.
"Do your best Youda." Mizumura salutes him.
"I will!" Youda promises before leaving…
"Majima san I'm looking forward to working with you." Hibiki smiles softly at Majima.
"Yeah I am too! I'm counting on ya Hibiki chan!" Majima smirks at her.
"Hehe you can count on me!" Mischievously, she winks at him.
"R-Right! Y-Yeah sure…" Shyly, Majima smiles stuttering slightly.
"Like a moth to a flame…" Ryūko smirks shaking her head at the entranced male.
"Why are you ogling her?" Yuki scowls at Majima.
"I ain't." Majima refuses.
"Aren't you?" Ryūko raises a brow bemused.
"I said I ain't!" Majima barks.
"Are too!" Yuki barks back.
"Am not!" Majima refuses.
"Alright that's enough flirting you two, you three can book a room later outside business hours." Ryūko raises her hands up intervening separating the two taking them all aback at it all.
"EEW Namie san…!" Yuki and the others chorus.
"Yeah you're right you two could clearly do better." Resolved, Ryūko reasons.
"Oi!" Mad, Majima glares lightly at Ryūko.
"That's enough you three get a grip let's get serious here! The five stars are still out there." Youda reminds the three taking them aback.
"Wait did I just get a scolding from…Youda-chan?" Confused, Majima eyes Youda.
"Well that was humiliating…" Yuki admits.
"Yeah…I sorta wanna curl up into a ball and die now." Ryūko bows her head.
"You watch Mizumura san I'll be the one to carry your legacy forward." Firmly, Youda vows.
"He isn't dead moron!" Ryūko snaps at him.
"I wish he'd always work this hard…" Majima sighs.
"Don't worry he'll back to his old self tomorrow." Yuki assures the two.
"Majima-san everyone let's get ready for the next shift!" Smiling, Youda turns to them as they all nod returning to their stations, ready for their fight against the five stars…