Ch.13 Mori Calliope

"I can't seem to get the lyrics right." Calliope scribbled down as she listened to the strum of jazz guitar in the background.

"New song?"

"It's complicated. I had the idea for a while, but it is a 'new' song." She grumbled.

"How long did it take you to come up with the idea?"

"I don't know. I lost count. I can't be bothered with counting my days when I am busy working."

"I see. You must be stressed."

"Not really."

"Huh, is that so?"

The bartender wiped the lipstick mark off the glass of another customer.

"Hmm. Not extremely stressed, but still bothered? Because assuming you're not contradicting yourself, you can't complain yet not be stressed."

"Huh. You got a point. I guess I am somewhat bothered."

"Huh."

"But not to an extent I want to die."

"That's good."

Calliope sighed. "Adult life is tough.."

"You have my sympathy."

Calliope drank the cosmopolitan that reflected the city life she put herself in after moving from her hometown.

Ch. 14 Ouro Kronii

"I can't live in this condition. What did I do to deserve this?"

The bartender listened silently. As the silent bar began to be pleasantly interrupted with a prelude, the bartender spoke his regard.

"You must be stressed."

Kronii waved away his concern. "It's not that bad. I can live with it."

"Now now. You don't need to be defensive with me, miss. I can hear your suffering from your complaints."

"I didn't really mean what I said, ignore it."

"I surely can't. Look, complaints may seem ill-mannered by many, but I welcome such complaints. They tend to be the most honest and from the bottom of the heart, so much that I believe in your complaining more than your comforting defense of being otherwise."

"I…how do you come up with this?"

"Deduction, and weighing what is more realistic. That's all."

"I gotta learn that dude. Teach me sometimes."

"Sure. If you order a drink, that is."

"Well, that's a given. It's actually welcoming."

Kronii and the old bartender grinned at each other.

Ch. 15 Hakos Baelz

"It's hard to get along with this one genmate."

"Oh? What's your problem with her?"

"Hmm. I suppose she is somewhat egotistic."

The old bartender wiped his glass with great care.

"Egos are more defensive than offensive."

"Huh?"

"Well, I guess it can be offensive too."

"Which is it?"

"I mean for your genmate, it seems defensive. Hololive is a good company. I don't feel it hires anybody with an ill personality on purpose."

"I…guess so. She does tend to be insecure."

"But, getting along with her is another topic. It's hard to get along even if you know her problem. Problems tend to be deeply rooted and often not shallow. You must put in the effort to get along."

"I…am kind of impatient."

"Hmm. I don't see it as a big problem. In reality, you don't care about solving it NOW. You care about solving it before it's too late."

"But, I don't want to be too late."

"Miss. You're never too late with building relations."

Baelz looked down shyly.

"At least, that's what I believe." the bartender added.

"Oh.." Baelz still couldn't stare him in the eyes.

"Have a drink miss. You will be fine."

"Yes. Can you get me a Spritz? I heard it's this store's speciality."

"Of course."

Ch 16 Kaela Kovalskia

"There are so many games I want to play, yet so little time." Kaela complained.

The bartender cracked the ice in shape in order to make an Old Pal for a regular.

"For that, I have one word for you."

"What is it?"

"Time doesn't increase in order to match your needs. Instead, your ambition only hints at your potential for greater achievements within the time limit. Perhaps you will be able to finish great deeds within a time limit no others can imagine to compare. I won't say your ambition is fruitless, but you don't need more time to accomplish it."

"...that's good to hear."

"Of course. I'm finished with his drink. Want another for yourself?"

"Nah. I need to stay sober to play games tomorrow."

"Got it."

Ch.17 Nanashi Mumei

"Why me…" Mumei sniffled in distress.

"What's wrong, miss?"

"I..feel like I was selected among many. It could've been anyone else. Anyone could have been nerdy. Anyone lives right next to despair. Anyone thinks this world is a bad place to live, …but why am I chosen to be trapped in despair? Why did I have to get trapped in by accident? It's unfair."

The bartender silently swirled the drink. As the night passed and under the roof of the bar, the room resonated with silence. No music, just fresh chilly air that was somewhat titillating.

"Here's for your endeavor, miss."

"But.."

'It's on the house."

"...thanks."

The bartender took a breather. He wiped the bottles and placed them back on the counter gently. Mumei rested her foot on the rail, and laid her elbow on the bar top.

"Thank you for going through all that."

"You don't even know what I'm going through."

"I know it's one of a kind. And it's people like you who understand others' plight the most. You will be able to help a great number of people in the future."

"...thanks."

"Feel free to lay your face on the top, want a cushion?"

"Yes please."

And Mumei laid comfortably on the cushion given by the bartender. She slept lightly on the silent night.

Ch. 18 Ouro Kronii

"I don't think I can solve the problem I am in, ever."

The bartender wiped the whisky bottle silently.

Kronii kept speaking. "I never faced such a problem, how can I overcome it?"

"Well, I got one thing to say to that."

Kronii glared. "I don't think it will be anything meaningful, but go on."

"It's quite natural for people to face one big problem that they have never faced before. Especially those who have been solving their own problems well until then."

"How would you know?"

"Look, people can only solve so much. So people who have spent a lot in the beginning pretty much spent their talents. That leaves them with problems they cannot solve, especially all at once."

"Huh." Kronii replied dryly.

"Let me get to the point. Just because you've never been miserable, does not mean you don't have what it takes to face and solve it."

"Again, how would you know?"

"Personal experience."

"Well you're gifted."

"Haha, not so much."

"Yes you are."

"No I'm not. When my big problem came, I didn't do anything in life to prepare for it. I thought it would never happen to me. That's only natural. I only prepared for things that I knew would happen, and didn't prepare out of fear. It took my toll on my young self."

"What happened after that?"

"Simple. I worked with what I have."

"Huh."

"Talents don't need to be tailored perfectly for every occasion. It just needs to work, no matter how you tailored it."

"I see."

"Hope it works out. I know it would if you survive to tell the story."

"Thanks." Kronii finally let her face loose.

"Want a cushion?"

"Nah, I'm good."

"Okay. I close at 2 AM."

"Got it." Kronii closed her eyes to enjoy the vibe only darkness amid the subtle singing of Jazz could offer.