Even though this is fanfiction I find myself doing a lot of research for things. And the first part of this chapter needed to be rewritten once I learned that most banks were closed on weekends XD Also ATMs used to only be in banks rather than other places. I also had to do a fair bit of research regarding businesses at the time. I've definitely learned a lot!

Anyways, let's watch Ataru get thrown for a loop XD

Staring down at the meager pile of cash in his hand, Ataru relived the disappointment of Friday afternoon when a trip to the bank revealed how little was left in his account. Another bill had gone through without his knowledge, stealing more of his hard-earned paycheck, and with it, his aspirations for that weekend. Once again the choice was put to him: necessities or dates. Only this time that necessity he'd been hounding after was more akin to a desire; Ataru wanted a TV. And considering he didn't have enough for that anyway the choice was pretty much made for him. Not a terrible outcome overall, so he went into Saturday with a promise to get one after his next paycheck and plans to spend what he had on his favorite pastime – even if the small sum afforded to him meant he could only cover one date.

So far though, Saturday had been a bust. Not a single woman had taken up his generous offers to pamper them, to the point where his face was sore on both sides. He even tried ringing a few past flings, but they rejected him as well. This was worse than not being able to get a TV! The day was already more than half over and tomorrow he'd have to bow to the obligations of independent living. There just weren't enough hours in a day! Hell, there weren't enough days in the weekend! Whoever came up with this 5:2 arrangement was a moron!

Ataru sulked as he stalked the city streets, his eyes keen for unaccompanied woman while mentally he cursed his burdensome schedule. The sun crept across the zenith of the sky, edging toward the western horizon as afternoon gave way to evening. Still his poor luck persisted, and every so often, when the tantalizing aroma of food found him, Ataru almost abandoned the search. Yet each time, either through his lustful spirit or indomitable willpower, he found the motivation to continue. And it was this unwavering commitment that brought Ataru to a chance encounter outside a 7-Eleven just past the sixth hour.

Standing beneath the neon glow of the store sign, awash in orange from it and the ruddy rays of a low-hanging sun, was a stunning raven-haired woman. She was dressed neatly, with a navy top sporting a deep V-neck coupled with a white A-line skirt and accessories that accentuated the darker blue shade of her outfit. At once she reminded him of Sakura, right down to the confidence in her stance and the way she looked boldly forth, as though she were the only person in this entire city who mattered. And in the moment, at least for Ataru, she truly was. Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, which had been racked after a day of defeats, he strode forward to take up her side.

"Afternoon," Ataru's voice cut through the hum of street chatter. A slight tilt was applied to his head in her direction, and he wore a stolid expression that showcased his sincerity and dependability – skills he'd practiced – with a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Seems we're both out late with nothing to do."

"And how would you know that?" The woman appraised Ataru with a raised brow, her soft features juxtaposed by the sharpness of her eyes as they stared into him from over her shoulder. And in her words rang the promise that she'd be moving on if his response didn't impress her.

"Well, if you do happen to have the time," Ataru proposed the question a different way, impervious to her prickly demeanor. "Care to join me for drinks?" Gone were the hours for requesting tea or coffee. Anyone he found walking the streets at sunset would likely be looking for a fun way to wind down. And judging by the blossoming smirk on her pink painted lips, his assumptions were correct. Jackpot!

"Alright. Lucky for you, I do have time to kill." Lucky indeed! Ataru rarely scored this well during the day! Dusk was truly his time to shine: obviously, considering his refined charm and the smooth timber of his voice (age had done blessed things to him). What woman could resist the mystery of a handsome stranger in the night?

Ataru extended his arm which she took up gingerly, whereafter he led her to a corner bar two blocks down that Minami told him about on Friday. Chatter was idle along the way; the usual exchange of introductory information and other inconsequential things like the weather. Mundane things, boring things, and all things part of the etiquette involved with taking a woman out. Ataru immersed himself in the moment; the air was warm and comfortable, and he could feel the curves of her body press into him, testing his restraint. And waiting on the horizon was the promise of strong drinks and suggestive conversations and other possibilities that made him glad to be alive. But besides being glorious their walk was uneventful, and he scarcely retained anything except her name; Miko Hayashi.

As luck would have it, they arrived right before the evening rush. There was a smattering of customers spread throughout the dimly lit bar, muttering quietly among themselves beneath the gentle notes of background music. The atmosphere was perfect, Ataru mused, making a mental note to thank Minami for the suggestion. A host bid them sit anywhere, and after a quick scan of his surroundings, Ataru chose a secluded spot at the far end of the half-moon bar, hoping it would foster a sense of intimacy.

Ever the gentleman, he helped Hayashi into her seat before swiftly taking the one beside it. From there, as she settled in, Ataru's eyes fell to wandering over the contours of her figure, down her back, around her hips, the tight fit of her clothes leaving little to the imagination. A sordid grin stretched across his face. Snagging a woman of this caliber was rare and he was eager to get things moving. But experience cautioned against being too hasty. First Ataru would have to draw her in using the age-old art of conversation. Then they could move onto something more physical. To that end he regained some poise and leaned in closer, resting an elbow on the counter and propping his chin on the back of his hand.

"So, what do you do for a living?" Right now he was fishing for content, banking on her profession to reveal something about her he could work with. And if the question yielded nothing, well, he could always just bait her into talking and impress her with his listening skills.

Hayashi laid a questioning glare on Ataru when he invaded her space. A quick search of his face didn't reveal any ill will, though there was a suspicious gleam in his eyes she'd seen reflected in other men before. Besides that he seemed harmless, if eager, and perhaps a bit naive. Not good enough to date, but certainly good enough to pay for an evening out.

"Data management." Hayashi tossed the answer to him without flourish and began flipping through a bar book detailing the list of available drinks and specials.

"That sounds interesting." Ataru replied with feigned intrigue. Data management? Really? Who decides they want to do that for the rest of their life? A beautiful woman like her could do anything; modeling, fashion, maybe even TV (he had television on the brain still). Not languishing in an office.

This prompted a speculative glance from Hayashi, and she almost laughed outright at his facade.

"Trust me, it's not." She corrected with a subtle eyeroll. Ataru certainly wasn't the first person to fake fascination in exchange for a moment of her time. Men like him were everywhere, especially in Rokuyō. And seeing the same act performed over and over by different players was almost comical. Almost.

Still, she played along, snapping the cocktail book shut and pushing it forward on the countertop so she could give him the attention he so desperately craved. In the empty space she laid an elbow, angling her body so that her chest pointed to him. However little she thought of him, there was still an art to teasing favors out of men. Or in this case, drinks.

"And you?"

"I'm an editor for the publication of a very well-known legacy company." Ataru wasn't stupid. No matter how he tried to frame his perversions he knew good and well how society perceived men like him and the industries they flocked to or supported. There was no reason to believe she'd feel any different, and so, Ataru chose his words carefully. Editors could work for a variety of industries. If he kept things vague there was no risk of her discovering the identity of said 'legacy company'.

"Really?" Hayashi couldn't help raise a brow at his unnecessarily lavish response. What an underwhelming occupation. And yet his eyes burned with pride and a level of confidence that was almost remarkable, if only because of how ridiculous it was.

"That I am." Ataru maintained his grin, although, inside he was disappointed at the lack of intrigue on her end. Oh well, better disinterested than disgusted.

"Well, if that's how you want to waste your life." Hayashi gave in to a laugh that unmasked her disdain. Not that she cared. If he was this foolish on his own, thinking she'd be impressed by such a lowbrow job, there was no way he had the self-respect to find her jab insulting enough to leave.

And she was right of course, albeit Ataru did find his smile slightly strained. How the hell was he supposed to respond to that? The more time he spent with her, the more he understood why she was by herself in the first place. Her attitude wasn't great. And beyond being attractive, and maybe well-off, she didn't seem to have much else going for her.

Finally the bartender appeared, stepping in front of the pair to dispatch two drinks of water before requesting their orders. Ataru was glad for the interruption, if only because it got them off the subject of his employment. And when they'd given their orders - her first and him second - he hoped to steer the conversation in a better direction. Hayashi gave him no such quarter.

"Hmph, just an editor. With that kind of job I can't imagine you make much money." She remarked coldly, her gaze cast out over the bar, as if he weren't even part of the conversation. Ataru felt his brow twitch as her words bit at his pride. She really didn't let up did she? Well, no matter; she was gorgeous, and he was armed with perseverance and a level of patience that was, at times, endless. If anything, he liked the challenge she presented, hence he set aside his self-esteem and worked all the harder to win her favor.

"Money is no problem for a man like me." Ataru asserted with confidence, even going so far as to scoff at her assumption. It wouldn't do him any good if she found out he was on a limited budget.

"Oh?" Hayashi looked at him with amusement. "Well, that's good to know. I was worried you wouldn't be able to cover the bill and run out on me." She studied him for a reaction, not that she would believe anything he said. Hayashi simply enjoyed making men squirm.

"I would never." Ataru's words, though given with great sincerity, lacked honesty. Their validity was entirely dependent on the flow of the evening. Normally he used a combination of monetary generosity and perceived strength of character to impress his dates until they were putty in his hands. But sometimes, if things fell apart, cutting and running was a better call.

At that moment the bartender returned from pouring and tossing their liquor. He laid out a pair of napkins and on each placed their glasses festooned with various fruits. Ataru nodded his thanks and was about to take his first sip when Hayashi exclaimed her disgust.

"What the hell? Hey kid!" The shrill pitch of her voice sliced through the quiet bar, pulling all eyes to them, including the bartender, who winced as if he'd been physically struck. He'd barely turned to issue a reply when she verbally ran over him. "Where the hell did you learn to mix a drink? As if you could even call this a drink! All I taste is soda and juice! Are you trying to waste his money or are you just stupid?" She pushed the glass back toward him with an imperious command: "Make it again."

"I'm very sorry miss." The bartender swiftly collected the drink and retreated to the opposite end of the bar. Hayashi reviled him further, turning up her nose at his apology.

"Sorry doesn't make a good drink."

Ataru only stared, his mouth glued to the edge of his glass. He could feel the eyes of their fellow patrons lingering on them, and he could certainly attribute a few whispers to her outburst. Honestly he was just as surprised as they were.

Now, to be sure, Ataru had no problem with her request for a new drink. If anything he agreed, especially since he was the one paying. But really, did she need to be that aggressive? What made her blowup worse was the look he caught on the bartender's face. Ataru recognized the fatigue around his eyes and that faraway stare common in those who often questioned their life choices. Though he messed up, Ataru couldn't fathom a reason to insult him the way she did. It was, frankly, a little off-putting. Not enough to make him go, but enough to leave a sour taste in his mouth.

"Hope he got the message." Hayashi was also watching the bartender, just not for the same reasons.

"Never mind him." Once more Ataru tried steering their conversation to something more pleasant. "Let's talk about you." Flashing a raffish grin he leaned toward her, closing some of the distance that had gathered between them. Hayashi leered at him, as if insulted he would use such a cliché line on her.

"You want to know about me huh?" Between him and the bartender she was starting to regret coming here. But she wasn't about to leave without the consolation of one drink. So after a moment of private debate Hayashi relented with a deep sigh. "Fine then. Now you may have heard of the Hayashi family," she paused to consider her company, adding with a grimace, "though I wouldn't be surprised if you haven't. We are -" And on and on she went, glossing over her illustrious lineage and how she'd landed a prestigious position at Dai-Ichi Kangyo, the largest bank in Japan, thanks to her father's influence. This ultimately devolved into a long tirade about how easy it is to get ahead, and that anyone who struggled was likely lazy and the cause of their own misfortunes. All this boasting despite having everything handed to her on a silver platter, by her own account. Ataru's only break from her diatribe was when the bartender returned with a remade drink, and after that, he was only granted the seconds she took to sip at said drink.

The longer she raved, the further he sunk into his seat. She's pretty, Ataru told himself encouragingly. Gorgeous even. So gorgeous...if only she'd shut the hell up. Holy shit. Shut up. What do you mean nobody knows how to work? Your dad literally handed you your job! You only got a promotion because your cousin works in HR? No wonder you were a jerk to the bartender! Shit, she was no different than Mendō! Just a spoiled rich kid who felt entitled to anything they wanted because nobody ever said 'no'.

Despite his inner monologue Ataru maintained a relentless smile by sheer force of will. It was exhausting! So exhausting in fact that when the bartender came over to check if they wanted a second round Ataru visibly relaxed.

"Let me see if I can find something easy for you." Hayashi mocked his earlier faux pas (which she had, truthfully, manufactured so he'd add more liquor), and browsed the cocktail book without haste.

Leaning heavily against the countertop, Ataru let his attention wander to the wrap-around windows so he might steal a mental break from this insufferable woman. Outside the city was still quite lively with swaths of people crisscrossing the sidewalks or zipping by in cars or on bikes. Swooning couples walked past, drunk friends sang arm in arm, a bus pulled up to a crowd of people waiting patiently for their next adventure. Ataru's eyes drifted impulsively along the metal frame, drawn to the bold colors of an advertisement. It took a second, but once the elements of the image came together in his mind Ataru felt his heart hitch and a cold chill seize his body.

Lum.

Spanning the length of the bus was a promotional banner for 'Go-Time Travel' promising decent fares and stellar accommodations, along with a dated, vanilla brand slogan scribbled in brush stroke. Offsetting these words was Lum, dressed as a stewardess, saluting future patrons with a whimsical smile and playful wink. Her hair may have been slicked back in a bun and her horns hidden beneath a small red pilot hat, but there was no mistaking her.

What...the hell!?

In his stupor Ataru forgot about the bartender, who was looking at him expectantly, and Hayashi, who wore an impatient scowl. All he could do was stare, his mouth slack and face pale white as if he'd seen a ghost. Actually, a ghost wouldn't have surprised him nearly as much.

"What's your problem?" Hayashi had sent the bartender away and was now glowering at Ataru for embarrassing her. When he didn't respond a second time, she followed the path of his eyes to the bus, which raised even more questions! "The bus? What about it?" Still he was powerless to speak, until it rumbled out of sight and his mind was released to process other thoughts.

"The girl in the Ad. I...know her." Ataru confessed, his voice far and away, his mind and heart troubled by itching questions that had no obvious answers. Hayashi scrunched her face, perplexed at his admission.

"Who doesn't?" At this Ataru's head whipped to her, now fully in the present and puzzled by her claim. "Pretty hard to forget the alien," she supplemented harshly, "who tried taking over our planet." Oh, that's right, Lum originally descended upon them as an invader bent on capturing Earth. That fateful day was just so long ago, and they'd been through so much together, he never thought about it. Not Hayashi though, which led him to wonder how many other people still held a grudge against Lum. It was odd to think about and even more disquieting to hear someone speak about her with such vitriol. "And let's not forget that fiasco with the Mushrooms." She added when the memory struck her.

Ataru lowered his head and latched onto his drink, glad she didn't seem to recognize him from either incident – another blessing of age.

"Funny she's now a travel company mascot." Hayashi huffed a joyless laugh. "Comes to conquer the planet, becomes a marketing slave. Justice if you ask me." To this Ataru had no response. He was far too busy chasing thoughts and speculations to trade words with anyone beside himself.

Lum really went ahead and got a job? Why the hell would she do that? Were his parents so hard up for money they forced her to work? Or did she do this on her own just to spite him somehow? Either option was plausible, which was bad enough, but what really irked him was the image of some old lecher of a photographer slobbering over her, drooling as they moved her into pose after pose. Not to mention any number of men who felt so inclined to use her picture for their own devious purposes. He should know, he'd done it himself in the past with other models! That damn fool, what was she even thinking?

"Still, I find it amazing any organization was willing to hire an out-of-worlder." Hayashi twirled her straw through the crowded ice in her glass, adding with a hateful sneer, "bet she had to do a bit of bending over forward to accomplish that feat."

Oh, there it was. The end of his patience. Instantly Ataru's expression darkened, his eyes now boring into her with newly rooted disgust. He shared her curiosity but not her gross speculation, and hearing such assumptions applied to someone he cherished sparked a level of ire he hadn't felt in a long, long time. Hayashi lost all her allure, leaving only a spoiled rich girl with an ugly personality. Nothing worthy of his time. And definitely not his money.

Pounding the rest of his drink, Ataru swiftly stepped out of his seat and wordlessly made for the exit.

"Where do you think you're going?" Hayashi snarled, aghast at him for walking off so unceremoniously.

Ataru only paused long enough to glance over his shoulder with feigned surprise.

"You think a lowly editor like me can afford to pay for drinks? What are you, stupid?" Serving her assumptions and insults back at her brought him more joy than he thought it would. And the swift flash of outrage that came over her next was just too satisfying.

"How dare you you cheap son of a-!" The rest of Hayashi's tirade was silenced with the swoosh of a glass door behind him, and further drowned by the ever-present din of the lively city. Good riddance.

Once free of her awful company Ataru's anger plummeted to something of an annoyed simmer. Some women could be so petty. Why attack Lum's character like that? Most likely she was driven by jealousy and unable to handle a beautiful woman making it on her own mettle, rather than familial handouts. Stupid. Unattractive too. Ataru took out his frustration on a stray can that happened to cross his meandering path through the crowded streets, kicking it against a wall.

About the only thing he shared with Hayashi was her interest in the backstory. How did Lum get that job? And again, why did she get it in the first place? Maybe, he thought, she really did do it to mess with him; make sure he saw her face wherever he went. Oh that must be it! Since she couldn't find him on her own Lum must have devised this new ploy to make him feel bad for the radio silence. Well! If that's what she thought, that he'd come crying back because he missed her, then she was going to be disappointed. No way was he going to let her manipulate him like this, his pride simply wouldn't allow it! Ataru knew Oni loved the game of tag, and what was this if not another rendition of it?

Again a fire of pride and stubbornness surged within him. And there, lingering at a crowded street corner waiting for the light to change, he recommitted himself to his chosen path, determined to see out this little vacation to its natural conclusion. That was before his mind wandered involuntarily back over the years, feeding him glimpses of the woman he'd shared so much of himself with. Under the weight of these memories that fire blazing inside him moments ago was thoroughly smothered, until all that remained was a wistful haze and ashes of regret. Ataru's head dropped, and he felt the hand of guilt tighten around his heart. And yet he resisted its hold on him. This was her fault, really, if she just left him alone to do things on his own time then - a hard thrust into his shoulder nearly sent Ataru to the ground as the crowd he'd been waiting with surged onward at the lights command. For a brief moment his temper flared, but it was mild and died very quickly, and Ataru allowed himself to be swept further into the iron jungle along with his miserable thoughts.

Beneath the night sky Rokuyō had transformed into a glittering sea of colored lights with glowing signs boasting promises of good food and entertainment. Ataru was intent on ignoring them as he journeyed to Hashirimawaru Station, mentally and physically exhausted. But there was one display flashing in the window of an EDION store that managed to punch through his mental fog. It was the kind of sign his trained eyes could not help notice: SALE. Like a moth to the flame he edged closer, and, after a bit of reading, some life returned to his tired face.

Looks like the day wasn't going to be all bad after all; radios were on sale.

Could you tell Ataru really wanted a TV lol? Oh well, he likes music so a radio will have to do for now! Real talk though Ataru would have been better off saving that money and putting it toward a TV in the long run, but he's not exactly smart with money.

And I don't now if anyone noticed, but it looks like our boy has upped his flirting game. At least he's learned not to slaver and beg lol. I'd be proud of him if I wasn't so disappointed in his actions overall XD

Also surprise! Lum works in advertising! More specifically she's the poster girl for Go-Time Travel, a travel agency that helps people plan and book trips in and out of Japan :3 Seems in the time our boy's been away from home Lum went and got herself a job. And, no surprise, he's jumping to all sorts of conclusions about it. Man this kid is stubborn!