"Yo, if it isn't Hikigaya," He spoke, teeth white, glimmering like fangs. Soft jazz music played in the background as I, the other service club members, and the silver-haired bartender stared at him. He was trailed by a crowd of vultures. Not the animal, because they might be interesting but instead the lowest level of the lowest form of life on the planet; lawyers, more specifically junior associates, young attractive trying to suck up to a junior partner. There were seven of them, all relatively young, and judging by the scent, relatively inebriated. I groaned, this situation is so stupid. I can't believe I even bothered to show up.

Seven Hours Earlier…

"Alright, this is one of two places in Chiba that has Angel in the name let's see if Kawasaki is here." Yukinoshita declared, looking unbothered and collected despite standing in front of a maid cafe. I had been to a few and everything was overpriced and undersized. Except for the breasts, usually, at least. I glanced at the window and smiled.

"This isn't the right place, it closes by 10 pm every night. If she is working here then her employment still isn't the problem. Let's reconvene at the other place tonight at ten and proceed from there." I ordered, Yukinoshita and Yuigahama, who both frowned slightly.

Were they mad at me for taking the lead, no way, no freaking way; I never would've thought that these two were excited to hang out in a maid cafe? I stifled a snort that bubbled over when Yukinoshita glared at me. I couldn't stop laughing even as she glared and Yuigahama stopped walking. "Bwahahahaha." The laughs came from deep in my stomach and felt amazing. I can't remember the last time I was this happy, I can't remember the last time I really laughed like this.

You know what? Just for this, I'll get us the VIP treatment. I doubt they consider us friends but I still want to pay them back for something I haven't been able to buy. A nice drink and a good view would help take the edge off a day of failure.

Two Hours Later…

I dialed the number hesitantly, I rechecked the clock just to make sure that the student council would be finished.

It rung for only a few seconds before she picked up. "Hikigaya, what's going on?" came the detached voice of Kaguya Shinomiya. The question wasn't small talk or pleasantries. It was her asking why I called because we both knew that the other wouldn't call unless they needed something.

"The Royal Okura Hotel, Angel Ladder Cafe in Chiba. I looked it up and the building is owned by one of your subsidiaries. I need a VIP reservation."

She paused then answered sounding quite offended, "As if the reservation I would give you would be anything else other than the highest quality."

I chuckled, "Of course, Vice-president. Thank you. Feel free to reach out when you need something." I hung up. I had said that because for large businesses like the Shinomiya Conglomerate expert legal advice was always in season. It was not a question of if but simply when she would call in the small favor that I now owed.

Four and a half hours later…

"It's a great honor to have you here sir," The Royal Okura Hotel's proprietor gushed at me while I sat in the first-floor lounge waiting for the other members of the service club to arrive.

"Sure, thanks for putting up with me on such short notice." I tried to joke and put the man at ease. Seriously, cool your jets, I'm not gonna chop off your head for looking at me wrong. And stop bowing every ten seconds, it's freaking me the hell out.

At my joke, the proprietor shook his head frantically, "Oh no sir! It was no trouble at all! Anything for an honored guest of the Shinomiya! Please let us know if there is anything at all that we can do for you, sir." This may be the one time that I'm jealous of Hayama; for all my skill at analyzing and controlling social settings the ability to put others at ease always eluded me.

After his round of denials and attempts at hospitality (that just made me uncomfortable). He pulled out a sleek black card and handed it to me. I took it and stared down at it, "Oh is this the card I use and then I pay the tab at the end of the night?" I gave my best attempt at a reassuring smile.

"Of course not sir. As an honored guest, the card will pay for you no questions asked at this establishment." I nodded, Shinomiya really does pull through. She may have never liked me much but she is a woman of her word something that I can always respect.

The man muttered some more pleasantries and I nodded politely. Thanking him and then saying "That'll be all." His nervous energy was starting to wear on me. Even the legal aids at my mom's old office were never this jumpy around me. He hurried off and left me to my own thoughts as I toyed with the metal card in my hands. I placed the cool steel into the pants pocket of my midnight blue suit and smoothed out a slight wrinkle in my white shirt. I wore fairly standard ware. A blue blazer so dark it looked black, a white dress shirt, and for a splash of color a red pocket square.

After I'd finally finished fiddling with my well-fitted suit did the other members of my party of three arrive. Yukinoshita arrived in a deep purple gown looking as elegant as ever while Yuigahama wore a pretty scarlet dress suitable for the occasion.

I smiled at both of them and performed a fairly standard social obligation, telling them that they looked beautiful. Though the way they blushed and looked away would've made you think that I had propositioned both of them right there in the lobby. They blushed so hard I was beginning to get embarrassed and wondered if social etiquette was so different compared to Shuuchin.

Yuigahama saved us all by getting the conversational ball rolling. " Etto, let's just head up and see if Kawasaki is there or not." We walked in the elevator as Yuigahama carried the conversation, talking first about how she was excited to visit a place this fancy and then about Yukinoshita's living circumstances.

"Yukinon lives alone and has like thirty dresses in her closet. Like seriously who even are you?" Yuigahama gushed as Yukinoshita shifted, slightly uncomfortable despite the temperate elevator.

"It's nothing special, I just have those dresses because sometimes the occasion calls for it." She responded coolly.

"Yeah, but most people don't have these occasions." I declared feeling like a hypocrite in a four-figure suit with a Longine watch. I was mostly doing Yukinoshita a favor by taking the pressure off of her, and by the nod that she offered me she definitely noticed it.

The elevator dinged announcing our arrival on the twenty-fourth floor (though it would be more accurate to say twenty-fifth since most buildings have a small secret thirteenth floor hidden away). Yukinoshita and I took it in with mostly apathy, while Yuigahama stared with wonder.

As we stepped out piano music created a jazz ambiance along with the soft lighting and hushed tones that people spoke in. At a glance, the place was like any other high-class hotel lounge. Comfortable chairs and ornate glasses with classic drinks. Though the drinks hardly interested me, the bartender did. Not for the reasons that you're thinking perverts. But right there was Saki Kawasaki clear as day, she was cleaning the rim of a glass while some inebriated salaryman was attempting to hit on her.

"Hic - honestly, baby - uhh - I've got a room here; you should come and join me." He slurred Before it could go too far, however, security showed up and discreetly escorted him away. She wiped off the counter and disposed of his glass as we walked over slowly. I let Yuigahama and Yukinoshita approach about three seconds earlier than I. They began talking and Kawasaki recognized them almost instantly.

"Yuigahama, and Yukinoshita?" Her eyes were wide and her tone, a touch shaky. I walked over joining the two women in front of the bar with a "Hey".

"Hikigaya, no matter how much you utilize that greeting or change the intonation it is still lazy and uninspired." Yukinoshita bit back, no real venom in her voice.

"What would you know about inspiration, you're a stereotypical, ice princess," I argued back with a similar lack of hostility. Her facade cracked for a moment and something like genuine hurt flashed behind her eyes. It significantly dampened my good mood, I wasn't even trying to hurt her but I did. I mutter a "Sorry" and the socially awkward trio, around the bar, is rescued by a wild Yuigahama.

"Don't worry Kawasaki that's just their way of being friendly. Anyways, I'm glad we finally found you we have something important to discuss with you." She leaned forward and I slide about half a step forward too. Blocking the lecherous gaze of an overweight man in a suit who was gazing at her cleavage. "Your brother is super worried about you. He says that you are coming back at all hours of the night. We're here to make sure that you're okay." Yui gestured to the three of us. I was standing there awkwardly, no matter how many times Fujiwara coached me, I could never get my resting hand placement just right. Yuigahama, wore an open smile, while Yukinoshita glared at the same pervert whose view I had blocked. He had clearly shifted targets, and she was anything but oblivious.

"Damn it, Taishi." Kawasaki muttered, attention more fully on us now, but still performing menial tasks as we talked. "Look I'm earning money. I'm not in any trouble, now that you've confirmed that just go home."

"No, I think that we'll stay a while," Yukinoshita responded to Kawasaki for all the three of us. Shooting one last glare at the pervert in the corner, she elegantly sat down on one of the lounge's modern bar stools, the stool contrasted her lithe and somewhat angular body, with curves everywhere and excess padding.

We each ordered drinks, for Yuigahama, a Shirley Temple, for Yukinoshita, seltzer with a hint of pomegranate, and for me, cranberry juice with ice. As Kawasaki made our order, she also made light conversation. Asking the usual conversation starters, family, interests, and how our days have been going. It wasn't the worst attempt that I've ever heard at avoiding conversation but it was also far from the best.

Yukinoshita glanced at the clock, "You know, cinderella's clock ran out at midnight, but yours ran out twelve minutes ago. Yet, I don't see you fleeing the ball."

Kawasaki stilled, her task now forgotten. "Maybe, my fairy godmother gave me an extra blessing or two."

Yuigahama leaned over and whispered, "What are they talking about?"

I responded my voice low, and mouth close to her ear. "The high school work restrictions say that she needs to stop working at exactly eleven pm, Yukinoshita is saying that she suspects that Kawasaki is lying about her age."

"That's just not right Kawasaki. I mean, I would love to have more money too; but lying about your age is wrong."

"It's not for that. I need it to attend prep school." She bit back.

"Even so, that doesn't make it right," Yukinoshtia interjected.

"Would any of you like to take one of the massive debts my parents are carrying?" Kawasaki bit back. Her mouth twisted into an expression I usually saw on people thrice her age, bitterness, and resignation.

Both of the girls facing her looked ready to respond, but I beat them to it. "Sure, how much do you need?" Silence, they all stared at me.

"What?'

"Hikigaya, what are you saying?"

"Hikki?"

"I'm happy to loan you the money. How about this you pay me back ten percent each year after you graduate high school, with an adjustment for inflation but no interest. These are the best terms you can get on a loan like this." I pulled out my checkbook from a jacket pocket and began writing her name, "Kawasaki, how do you spell your names?"

"Wait, a second, you're seriously going to just give me the money? What if I like run away and never pay you a single yen?" She asked face incredulous but also something like hopeful.

"Yeah, I would. Besides if you disappear then the debts will transfer to your next of kin. Presumably Taishi, with, might I add, far less favorable terms of repayment; so, I'd get my money back no matter what." I responded voice detached while the rest of the service club gaped at my display. I wrote in the amount next, ten million yen.

"What's the spelling of your name?" I asked again as she gaped at the amount. "Don't worry I'll have you sign the formal agreement at school tomorrow."

"Saki spelled with the characters for sand and hope, and Kawasaki, spelled with the characters for river and peninsula." She spoke more docilely now. Hands reached out, but she restrained the instinctive reaction. I finished the check and slid it over to her.

"I'd recommend cashing it in person otherwise the bank might assume that the transaction is fraudulent," I spoke, I slid the card with the check across the table to pay for the drinks.

"Uh, wow, thanks. This better not be some kind of joke okay." She glared, in the past, I might have been irate at the lack of faith, but this was the girl who shut down Hayama without a second glance. My patience ran much thicker for her.

"Don't worry it won't. If there's a problem the bank will call me and I'll sort it out." I stood and began to amble to the elevator. I didn't feel like explaining tonight, telling Yukinoshita and Yuigahama why I had that kind of money.

"You know, you're a really nice guy, Hikigaya. Odd but kind." Kawasaki spoke, and it was all that I could do to not visibly flinch. A good guy, is that what she thought of me? What a goddamn joke, each yen I gave or donated was purchased with blood. As I kept crossing the lounge to the elevator I could hear the hurried sound of heels rushing after me. I couldn't seem to move fast enough. Just as Yukinoshita and Yuigahama caught up to me and the elevator door opened.

(A/N): Thanks for all the feedback and I am also looking for a beta reader to help review my work. Please PM me if you're interested. Fun fact: the Royal Okura Hotel which The Angel Ladder Cafe is set in is modeled after a hotel's penthouse lounge (New Otani Makuhari, which is in Maihama Ward, Chiba). Also, I think that Kawasaki would recognize him as his notoriety has grown faster than canon, hence why the scene, of her not knowing who he is, is excluded.