So, I wasn't expecting this one, either. In fact, I had this chapter in the works, but I wasn't expecting it finished so soon. It's shorter than usual but hey, I've come to notice as of late that a chapter doesn't have to be staggering to have impact.

I hope you enjoy this one. I had plenty of fun writing it! Certain members of the Hunie cast just resonate with me.

Downtown Blues

Mike slumped against the bar. Another night, another washed out drinking pit. The Downtown district never failed to provide two-a-penny spots like these. People frequented hovels like this one to detach. A mental checklist popped up as Mike flashed his surroundings with foggy eyes. An old man in the corner grumbling about the mayor? Check. A forty-something woman, crammed into a mini skirt several sizes too small, looking at her significantly younger date as though she was going to eat him for breakfast? Check. Dented dukebox in the corner with a perpetual loop of the same dozen Country music songs? Oh God yes. That was here too.

"I never should'a leeeeft my sweetheart... in old town Tennessee, but that was when I found mah baby girl, waitin' back home for me. I'm juuuust a lonely cowboy... oh tell me why can't you see? That's when I told my momma, that Brandy ain't the one for me."

Anything but these depressive tunes. Why in the ever-loving fuck couldn't Country musicians sing about something happy? Nope. It was always about their women leaving them or their dogs dying. Always.

"What's someone your age doing in here, eh kid? Shouldn't you be uptown in one of the clubs- Say... haven't I seen you on local TV before? Ain't you some kind of singer? Yeah... I'm sure of it."

At least the barman was friendly. An older man, late forties to early fifties. He wore the typical shirt and pants with waistcoat scenario, and held a strong but wise face. Thin hair and a greying moustache. He'd been nice enough to pop over and refill Mike's glass, giving him thoughtful words to chew over.

That was why someone Mike's age came in here. It didn't matter the customers. As long as the barman was nice, you were set. The musician had truly lost count of the amount of barmen, or barwomen, depending on where he went, had given him advice when he so desperately needed it.

"I'm something like that." Mike rose up from the swamp of his troubles, giving something of a grateful thin smirk to show his thanks. He slid his empty glass across the bar. "Give me your thoughts on something... but first... mind sharing your name? Can't keep calling you Barman, can I?"

"Pete." At last the face had a name to go with it. He reached for the highball glass, setting it aside and getting a fresh one. "What's troubling you? Seen too many folks walk in here with a look like that. Here."

"A double. On the house."

Mike swept up his fresh drink, slamming back a hard mouthful, gulping it down. Relief.

Nora. The issue of Miss Delrio was finally sinking in. It was almost too much, having to try and put words to the kind of shitty this level of betrayal made you feel. She'd really stuck the knife in deep, all while playing the part of the perfect bro. Clever. In control. Almost too dangerous.

"It's my friend. Known her a long time. Some shit's gone down and between you and me? Don't know if I can trust her anymore."

"Ah, the crux of the problem. Woman troubles." Pete set down the glass he'd been washing, more attentive now than Mike had seen him all night. He leaned closer, tuning out the handful of customers he really should've been serving. "Been there... Bout time I ask your name, isn't it?"

"Mike."

"Been there, Mike," Pete began with an all too telling exale. Deliver hand in hand with the worn expression of 'I'm too old for this shit'. "Your friend... I'm gonna go out on a limb here. I'm guessing she's way more than a simple 'friend'. I'm on the money, aren't I?"

"You can say that again... especially after the other night."

"These tired old eyes still do a fine job of reading between the lines. You know what I think, especially since you look the part of a heartbreaker? Ask yourself something. How does she make you feel when you're with her? Are there other girls out there more deserving of your time?"

Pete gave a sly chuckle. "C'mon. Kid like you? You have more than one girl on the go, right?"

"Excuse me?" Mike gave a sarcastic chuckle. "Alright... you got me. Yeah. It's closer to four at the moment."

"Knew it. Now that we're past the first hurdle... What did this friend of yours do, exactly? That is, if you don't mind a stranger askin'."

The ease of sharing the things that ailed you with a total stranger was what made it worthwhile. Pete here would give a totally unbiased opinion. He didn't know any one of the girls involved. Given the whispers spreading around town as of late, it was something Mike appreciated.

"She used me... Got close, and then I found out she's part of a something I'm trying to fix. I trusted her more than most. That's what hurts like a kick in the gut. We went through school together."

"Definately been there." Pete sounded all too sore in his response. A scoff, narrowed eyes, and an shake of the head. "My ex-wife? Highschool sweetheart. I come home from a double shift at the old Divinity nightclub across the flashy side of town. The place that's Lusties now. I find her laid out across the carpet with one of our old classmates... panties 'round her ankles."

"Ouch." Mike felt the burn, even if he hadn't been there. "Sorry there, Pete."

"No, don't sweat it. My advice for you with someone like that? A girl that'll wrap her hand around your heart? They're bad news. You might want to think about getting rid of her. Give one of the other girls a short. Talk to someone... other than me I mean. You might find what you're a-"

The laid back, glum country music clashed violently with the cheery, almost bouncy melody of music in another language. High pitched girls singing their lines in perfect sync. Mike didn't shift from his drink, but from the edge of his vision he made out a sizable number of the regulars gawking like the owner of said music had pissed on hallowed ground. Where was that sound coming from?

"Arigato, Miko-chan. Yeah! Yeah! Hai hai! Ichiban gomenasai!"

Japanese. Nikki had sat him through a video game or two with subtitles and dramatic fight scenes. Overly-ripped hero types duked it out in mid-air, screaming something about power levels and nine-thousand. Mike indulged the gamer girl with a smile and mashed a few buttons every time she put the controller his way. The question was still unanswered, though.

Who in a faded, grungy place like this, the kind of flea pit that likely hadn't seen a lick of paint since before he was born, was listening to Japanese music? A bar stool scratched across the floor, off to the side. Its sharp, freaking awful sound rung in Mike's ears. He still didn't look, didn't want to attract attention.

"Um-Hm!" Whoever had sat down cleared their throat. Probably wanting Pete's attention. It wasn't until Mike finally looked up from his drink however, that he realized. Pete stared straight at him. At least before nudging his glance in the way of the stranger, that sunshine bright music still chiming from what sounded like phone speakers.

"Think the lady's after you, sport. I've got other customers."

Pete took off, fast. Mike tensed as a hand took a hold of his shoulder, fingertips pretty much caressing him.

"Miiike-saaaan. It is you isn't it, senpai? I never forget a face."

That voice. So bubbly and upbeat. Not even the shittiest day in the world could bring it down. Mike flashed back. Photographs flooded his thoughts. A dark, gloomy night. A painful breakup from a relationship that was never technically official. Far too much booze, even to his standards. A girl crammed into a hot pink dress, tissue paper thin. The voice matched the person. Oh yeah. It was her, alright.

"Suki?"

"Miiiikey! Oh it's been so long! Kimochi desu, ka? It's great to see you! Come here!"

Mike didn't get the luxury of preparation. The next thing he knew, an ample chest suffocated him, half his body squeezed tight in a crunching hug, the scent of sickly sweet perfume swallowing him. Arms wrapped his back like a snake.

Just as the air about started leaving his lungs, there came release. Mike inhaled sharply, shaking himself clear. His Japan obsessed friend cocked her head like a little puppy dog. It made the frustration at being grabbed fizzle out. Instead, he found himself, for some reason, smiling back at her.

Pete's earlier words came racing back.

"Talk to someone... other than me."

For all of her quirks, Suki was a damn good listener, and surprisingly understanding behind the sugar-coated surface. That's when the guilt kicked in. Mike had kept her number on his phone all this time. Never once called.

"I'm kind of shocked to see you back in town, Suki. It's been-"

"A year and two months since I saw you... as of last Thursday. Crazy how time flies, ne?"

Well... that was unexpected. She'd been counting.

"Let me buy you a drink," Mike offered, throwing the best 'Help me out' glance he could back the way of Pete.

Two double scotches, a hit of malt, three shots, and a lot of trashy looks from other patrons later, Mike finally felt his shoulders easing. The ice was broken, and he'd learnt plenty about what'd been going on since Suki went back to Eaglewood for her classes.

"So you moved here? To Glenberry? How have I not seen you around town?"

"Yeaaaah! That's right! Two months ago, when my classes finished. Orokana. Silly Mikey! I work in the BOA shop Downtown. You sleep all day. Of course you haven't seen me!"

A simple explanation but it made sense. He sang every other weekend, did solo performances to fill the gaps, and sometimes worked night shift at the Bar and Lounge when they were short staffed. Whatever the weather, whatever the job, Mike usually dragged his ass up around Noon and went to work at five or six in the afternoon. Came home anywhere between one and three in the morning.

"Well... it's good to know you're around." For some reason, more a feeling he couldn't match with words, he seriously felt that way. Suki had turned up at the right time, twice now, ironically.

"Awwww! Kawaii! You missed me, didn't you? Well... you'll be happy now on, cuz Suki-chan's not going anywhere."

Good to know. A friend he could trust... someone to rely on. Even if he had spent most of their last meeting face-first between her-

"Come my lady! Come come my lady! You're my Butterfly! Sugar! Baby!"

The Huniebee, complete with custom ringtone. It sang out in Mike's pocket. He reached for it, "One sec."

"Oooookay!" Suki tapped her fingers against the bar, waiting patiently.

"What's up?" The singer put the fairy phone against his ear. He'd not been expecting any calls, but Lillian had mentioned asking around campus to get some leads. It was her face flashing up on screen, too. So, who knew? Maybe she'd found something. "You were out by the time I woke up."

"Chyeaaa! Totes got the scoop for ya, cuz! That girl? The chuuby one in the video you boned. S'like, seriously shocking. So I went Downtown today. Friend of mine said she'd seen her lately, and you like, never fucking guess. Oh-em-gee."

As much as Mike cared about Lillian, she struggled with getting to the point. "Anytime today would be lovely."

"Like, screw you," she spat back, popping her gum over with a splat, chewing like a camel. "'Kay. So I went into this shop and... you'll never fucking gue- Shit. Battery on my cell's runnin' low. I'll call you back when I dig out my charger. Laters, babe!"

No sooner had Mike put his phone away did Suki snatch up his hands, squeezing them tight. The look in her eyes. Deep. Longing. Ocean blue.

"I just had the most super awesome idea, Mike-san! You're not doing anything tonight, are you?"

He gave a slightly mocking sweep of the establishment, just to prove the point. "Does it look like I'm doing anything?"

"Derpy question. Gomen, ne! Why don't you come over to my place?! It'll be fun! You looked so sad when I came in here and... well. Suki doesn't like it when her Senpai's all gloomy. C'mon... It'll be good. I have a huuuuge fifty inch TV and soooo much anime! I'd love to watch some together... the two of us."

Anime? That was Suki's answer to fixing his quiet aches and pains. Romantic dramas set in highschool and orange-haired warriors swinging around swords ten feet tall? What kind of woman invited a guy back to her place to watch an- No. Stupid question. This one. In a single night and the morning after he'd learned she lived and breathed it.

Still. Mike sighed. She looked so excited, like a kid set free in a candy store with a bag full of change, or kinda like he did the first time he took a violin out of its case.

There was no refusing those wide eyes. Mike downed his drink, basking in the burn. "Okay... you win."

"Yeaaah! Odoroku Bakari! Coooome on. Let's get going! You. Will. Love. Star Ocean."

Mike was already down the barstool and halfway to the chipped, creaky door before he even registered moving from the spot.

He smiled on the inside. Time away from this whole mess, away from Lillian, away from Nora, and away from the pain that facing Nikki again. Yes. This was a good idea. Strange how a friend appeared when you least expected it. Didn't matter, though. He was grateful. Sometimes shit just... fell into place.

"Thanks, Suki," he whispered as she pulled him through the door and out into the streets, the night alive with bright lights and neon.

The golden girl spun back, holding his hands tighter, giving a playful, happy go lucky wink.

"My pleasure, Senpai! Anything for youuuu!"

To be continued...

So, there you have it. Another chapter comes to a close. Did you enjoy it? Is there anything you'd like to see in future? Feel free to share your thoughts. As I said, despite this one being short, I'm very happy with the way it came out.

As always, keep on supporting Huniepop and Huniecam Studio. I'll see you in the next chapter!