They took a seat.
Sukuna peered about the place and yet found most of the people's eyes were on him. Then again… even with the divine mask on, he sits like a giant in the room. Toshi on the other hand kept silent, but he used his extra eyes that are hidden to peek about and look.
They certainly were the center of attention.
Before long, four rather eccentric men came out from a side room. "Oh good, everyone is here!" one decreed. "Welcome, welcome everyone! Now, for those who are unaware, everyone in this room is a new brewer. You are looking to make a name for yourself, but also have a proper distributer. Which is us, however we don't have enough space to take everyone. We also have some… how we say… conditions for you to meet in order to be considered for this. So, shall we begin?"
Sukuna was already sneering at the notion. But they waited as one by one they picked a random brewer and took them to another side room. When they came out, the brewers appeared… rather pissed off.
"Huh," muttered Sukuna. "That's a lot of curse energy being built up in there. Smell it?" he asked.
As odd of a question it was, Toshi could indeed smell the curse energy coming out of that single room. Created by frustration as well as a slight hint of embarrassment. "Interesting, they are emitting it but it's not enough…"
"Not even close, those four counter it, they don't emit curse energy." He whispered back. "So it's something that bring them joy and yet, makes those who enter that room embarrassed… now I am curious."
Toshi snickered a little until it was their turn.
He and Sukuna went into the room as the four men smiled to them. "Oh, we've heard of you two, in fact, D'angelo is a good friend of ours. But that doesn't get your points around here." Said one.
"Fair," came out of Toshi and Sukuna. "So, what do we need to do?" Toshi asked.
The four smiled as they took a seat at a table with their a bottle of sake that Toshi brought along… part of the condition to gain their favor, and yet…
Why is there a karaoke stage in this room?
"Now then, gentlemen, how we determine if we distribute your wares. You see, since this is suppose to be a drink for pleasure, dining as well as entertainment, we try to visualize and see if your wares are appropriate for various events. As such, we like to see how far a brewer's talent can go… gentlemen… entertain us as we drink!"
"Now I feel like a monkey…" Sukuna growled lowly.
Toshi on the other hand…
"Can we pick the music?"
"Of course!"
"If you are up to it, follow my lead." Toshi whispered.
He got up on the stage, he peered through the catalog of songs that were oddly plentiful and modern. But there was one that stuck out. Toshi smirked as he hit play.
A gentle strum of a guitar filled the room. Then, he began to sing Sleeping sickness by City and Color.
However, there was another vocal to it, he doubted Sukuna would even consider lowering himself to this, and yet, when it came for the second verse… he sang it!
They got the four at the table to clap and sing along to the song until the very end, when it was done, they were cheering and clapping to the performance.
"I thought so, this is GREAT for karaoke bars!"
"Not to mention just to have a party and conversation starter, this sake is some of the best I have had!" decreed another.
The four began to talk up business idea before remembering Toshi and Sukuna were still in the room.
"Oh, sorry, we'll distribute your product, what are your names?"
That…
Huh…
Perhaps they should have thought of aliases just in case.
"That there is Hino, Satoshi. I'm Suwabe, Junichi… my nick name is Uba, his is Toshi."
Toshi froze as he thought of those names instantly!
"Uba? Really?" one of the men laughed aloud.
"Sake needs to be babysat, does it not? I'm the one doing that the most, he started calling me Uba… it sort of stuck."
He could lie fast and furious too! Toshi went with it of course, and before long they have sighed a contract. They will be picking up the deliveries at the sake shop in the village, proceeds will be passed along to the temples within the village as the contract dictates.
With everything said and done, they left.
"What was rather pointless and aggravating," Sukuna muttered.
"Where did you get the fake names from?" Toshi asked offhandedly.
He forced a smile. "Tooru," he muttered. "She brought it up last night, somehow, she made up these names… worked out rather well, but how the hell does that sorcerer do this!?"
He picked up on his frustration and slight fear, it only made Toshi snicker, at the same time, realizing once more, don't mess with Yua!