Chapter 16

Seize the Day

Having fallen asleep much earlier than usual, the following day Tsuki woke up a few hours ahead of her alarm, uncertain for a time whether what had happened the previous evening had merely been a figment of her imagination. However, the more the fog of sleep cleared from her mind, the more aware she became that it had been no dream. She rolled over onto her back and stretched, fully awake now that that realization was making her thoughts run wild. Despite being barely able to remember how she made her way back home the previous night, the recollection of the evening's events was crystal-clear in her mind's eye.

The previous day, she had left to meet him with a heavy heart, hoping that the truth — assuming she managed to force it out of him — would shed light on the ambiguous nature of the bond between them. And, while that proved to have been exactly what had come to pass, the outcome it had led to had been nothing less than the fulfillment of a deeply-hidden hope of hers. In truth, all she had wished for had been to get some answers — she had not expected that being granted her wish would virtually slingshot them into becoming a de facto couple. Now that they had both expressed genuine interest in one another, however, there was no other way to view it, and that still-fresh concept had yet to fully sink in. Did she still remember how to be with someone like this? And, given how her sole past relationship had turned out in the end, had she ever even truly known what that was like?

She clapped both of her palms against her cheeks before the memories of that time had a chance to fill her mind with darkness again. Now was not the time to dwell on what had been — instead, it was an opportunity to focus on what still could be. She did not know exactly what path lay before her, only that it would not be an easy one, but she was eager to set foot on it with a positive, open mind. The one thing she was certain of was that it was the beginning of something new — a new chapter in her life, one she would have never expected, nor whose contents she could predict from now on. That, however, was what made it all the more exciting.

He had been right in saying her life would not be simple with him by her side; she did not care — it was not like she had had it easy before, after all. Whichever way she looked at it, this was shaping up to be an interesting partnership — but, perhaps, that was for the better. Perhaps Aki was right, and no regular guy could keep her attention for long; on the flipside, she had her doubts whether, at this point, any such man would be willing to accept her for who she was and be ready to share the weight of the burdens she carried. He, however, was different — he knew what pain was, knew what it meant to lose someone, had experienced the sharp sting of betrayal. He understood. And, for that reason, she could relate to him like no other.

Perhaps the exhilaration of finally learning what was in his heart was blinding her to a harsh reality that could potentially become a wall too high even for her to climb; at that blissful moment, however, she was absolutely sure she could overcome any hurdle her choice to put her faith in him could put before her. She was a fighter, always had been, and if the world decided to make her fight for what she wanted, then she would gladly rise to the challenge.

Her determination thus renewed, she sat up, ready to greet this new dawn by preparing a hearty breakfast. The moment her feet touched the floor, her cell phone came to life with a buzz followed by a short chime. Whoever it was, they had perfect timing, she noted as she took the phone from its resting place on the nightstand beside the bed and flipped it open. There were two unread messages, and, while the latest one was from Aki, the other made her heart skip a beat. Excitement and anticipation welling up inside, she nevertheless decided to read her friend's message first.

How did it go?

Somehow, Tsuki was not at all surprised that Aki would be interested in learning the outcome of her latest meet-up with Majima. Deep down, she was grateful — she knew full well that her friend's question did not stem solely from curiosity, but from sincere concern. That said, she did not feel like talking about it over emails, and least of all making it the first thing she would do that day.

I'll tell you later

She typed her response quickly and sent it, eager to open the other message, which she had already seen was from Majima.

Hope ya did all ya needed to

an' got back safe

She stared at the words for a few moments in utter confusion, trying to figure out what he was referring to; then, a crushing wave of guilt made her heart sink to the pit of her stomach when the realization hit her. She had told him she needed to take care of something before the day was done — she had used it as an excuse, a lie she normally would not have chosen to tell. Now that she had had time to cool her head, she could not help regretting it. She should have simply told him what had been on her mind at the time. In the light of a new day, it seemed so silly it was embarrassing. She had panicked, she knew that now, but the deed was done, and she had to keep up appearances for as long as necessary. Maybe one day she would tell him the truth of it, when the time was right. Given a choice, she could not deny she would rather the awkward truth would never see the light of day, however.

I did! Speaking of which…

Thank you again for last night.

How are you?

Lost in thought, she gazed through the bedroom window as she waited to see whether he would respond. From what she could tell, the powder snow they had seen at the top of the Millennium Tower did not seem to have made it down to the surface — even if it had, she mused, it would have long-since melted, seeing as the weather outside appeared to be pleasantly warm and sunny. She doubted that even the downpour of the century could dampen her mood at that particular juncture.

The hours that day flew by in the blink of an eye, and soon enough Tsuki found herself making her way through the streets of Kamurocho to Stray for another night of work. Hopefully, it would prove exactly what she needed to stop thinking in circles about what had happened the night before, about him, and about what it meant for the two of them moving forward. It was simultaneously the best and the worst evening for bartending — ever since everything had sunk in, she had been like a hamster on caffeine; as she walked, she felt so light on her feet she might as well have been floating, and it took all her strength to stop herself from constantly grinning like some kind of madwoman. It was unbecoming of her, she scolded herself in her thoughts, and it would definitely be very unprofessional if she failed to somehow contain the unbridled joy that swelled inside her heart. She needed to do it soon, too, lest she run the risk of her patrons arriving at the conclusion that she had lost her mind, or, worse yet, that she had come to work under influence.

Whatever she tried that day, however, she could not stop thinking about him. If she had ever longed to see him before, now that desire seemed to have multiplied in intensity to the point she was ready to burst. In the end, she did not get a reply from him after sending him that last message, but, despite that fact, she thought nothing of it. If he was anywhere near as thrilled about the whole affair as she was, she was certain that he would find a way to get in touch with her — and, knowing him, it would happen sooner rather than later. What she did not expect, however, was that the answer to that particular unspoken question would be waiting for her quite literally around the corner.

The moment she entered the dimly-lit alley where Stray was, her eyes were drawn to the silhouette of the man she would recognize anywhere by this point, a small gasp escaping her as a rush of adrenaline flooded her veins. For whatever reason, Majima was there, pacing around in front of Stray's locked door. Was he waiting for her? Did something happen to make him come all this way to see her?

She did not get much time to ponder such questions further; he noticed her almost immediately after. He straightened like a hound that had picked up a scent, and rushed toward her. Once he was close enough for her to get a better look at him, she saw that he appeared as chipper as she had ever seen him, a playful spark in his single eye and a wide grin lighting up his face.

"There ya are!"

Gripping the strap of her bag with both hands was all Tsuki could do to stop herself from wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him into a tight embrace without a single word of greeting. Seeing him like this made her heart swell with joy, and brought her peace of mind. Given the somewhat bittersweet way of their parting the previous evening, she had been unsure how he would act when he saw her again. His current bubbly disposition, however, was enough to allay all her fears.

"And, um… hello to you too?" she greeted him, reciprocating his grin.

"Goin' to work?"

"I mean… Stray's right over there, and it's almost eight, so… yes?" she raised an eyebrow at the odd question. "What's this about, now? I can see you've been waiting for me. Did something happen?"

"Happen? Naw, s'all good. Oh, an'... I got yer message earlier. Sorry I didn't text ya back."

"It's fine — I figured you were busy."

"I was. But, to answer yer question… I'm good. Like, real good."

The warm smile and the affectionate look he was giving her as he spoke had almost been enough to make her head spin. She had to hand it to him — he certainly knew how to put the charm on when he wanted to, and, things being what they were, she was finding herself more susceptible to it than ever before.

"I'm glad to hear that. Don't tell me you came all this way to tell me that, though?"

"Naw, I… wanted to see ya. Talkin' over the phone just ain't the same, y'know?"

"That's true, but… you do realize I need to get things ready for when I open up, so I'm a bit pressed for time right now, don't you?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know. But, see, I've been thinkin'... Wednesdays an' Thursdays are yer usual days off, ain't they?"

Even before he finished, Tsuki could see his demeanor change to that of pure, unadulterated excitement waiting to explode. He looked tense, like a cat ready to pounce at any second; she now fully expected that her next words would inevitably become the spark that would set him off.

"Um, yes. Why—"

"Alright!" he exclaimed with glee. "Wanna do somethin' together? Go somewhere? Now that I think 'bout it, ya never told me what ya like doin' on yer days off. Ya gotta tell me everythin' so we can do it all!"

The unexpected verbal barrage took Tsuki aback. The gentle aura from a few moments ago had vanished, replaced by an eruption of energy — it was almost uncanny how fast he had shifted gears from being calm one moment to becoming a veritable storm of elation the next. She stared at him, mouth agape, trying to recover from the whiplash what she had just witnessed had given her. She had never seen him this excited before — his voice, his face, his movements reminiscent of a child in the middle of a sugar rush. It was not unwelcome, yet still left her temporarily lost for words.

"Ya said ya never had a chance to learn how to bat, so maybe I could teach ya? Or we could go for some bowlin' — do ya ever do that on yer days off?" he went on, seemingly oblivious to her stupefaction.

"Majima-san…" she said quietly once she had snapped out of it, in an attempt to draw his attention.

"An' if not that, then maybe we could try golf?" At this point, chin between his index finger and thumb, his brow knit in thought, he was no longer even looking at her. "Although… It prob'ly ain't yer style… Is it? O-Or we could go to the arcade, or for dinner an' then just hang out! Maybe go see a movie? I wonder if they're showin' anythin' you'd like right now? I'll check the next time I'm passin' a cinema—"

"Majima-san," she tried again, but to no avail; he was clearly still too preoccupied to notice.

"Hell, it don't even hafta be Kamurocho! I know a lotta sweet places we could go to in the city! Do ya like goin' for walks? We could go to a park or, even better, go hikin' somewhere in the countryside! Or take a nice, relaxin' trip to an onsen, just ya an' me. Oh, that'd be perfect!... But, then again, if ya wanna stay home, that's fine, too, I can come over an' we can just take it easy an'—"

"Majima-san!"

He whirled around to face her again, eyebrows arching up in surprise. Raising her voice seemed to have finally done the trick.

"Haw?"

"Slow down, will you?" Tsuki giggled now that she knew he was listening. "It's not like we're in a rush anywhere. We have time to figure all this out, so don't lose your head trying to fill every hour of every day, okay?"

In an instant, he seemed to deflate, the look on his face almost miserable.

"But…"

"It's barely been a day and, frankly, I'm still getting used to this… to us, being a thing. But I'm not going anywhere — we can do all those things you said, just… don't make it into some kind of a checklist. Are you worried I'll get bored of you if you don't keep me entertained or something?"

"Uh… Naw, it ain't that… I think," he replied, giving the back of his head a flustered scratch. "I just can't help gettin' excited when I think 'bout all the things we could do — just the two of us, now that we're… well… y'know."

"I can see that, but there's no point in forcing it, is there? Let's take it slow and just do whatever we feel like at the time, okay?"

He lowered his gaze, considering her words carefully.

"Feh… That may be so, but… I wanna make the most of our time together, that's all. Seize the day an' all that."

"Believe me, I get it… I'm just as excited as you are, but—"

"Ya are?" he immediately perked up.

"Of course I am! But I can't suddenly drop everything else in my life, regardless of how much I'd want to right now. And I suspect neither can you."

"Bah… Thanks for remindin' me…" he grimaced, his spirits falling once again.

"Oh come on, lighten up," she looked at him almost pleadingly, desperate to reassure him. "We've managed to make time to keep seeing each other all this time — we'll find a way to do it now too, yeah?"

He responded with a somewhat bitter smile, a hint of disappointment still lingering in his eye, but did not argue the matter any further.

"Ah… You're prob'ly right…"

"Speaking of making time — you feel like stepping in for a drink? We can talk some more inside before the first patrons arrive."

"Yeah, about that…" he said, hand at the back of his head again, this time as a display of unease. "I'd love to — don't get me wrong — but, uh… got some paperwork to sort out, so I gotta get goin'."

"You, paperwork?" she scoffed, eyebrow raised in suspicion. "Now that's a good one, coming from someone who claims not to spend much time at his office. You could've come up with a more believable excuse, you know?" she teased.

"Oi, c'mon — it ain't an excuse! It's true, an' it's makin' my stomach turn. Ya think I don't wanna kick back an' spend the evening with ya instead?"

"What kind of paperwork does a yakuza have to go through?"

"Heh. You'd be surprised. An' it's time-sensitive, too, so I can't just let it sit 'til tomorrow."

"And you couldn't do it earlier today?"

"Uh… Nope."

"Alright, fine," she snorted with laughter. "You can tell me all about it some other time, then. And as for what we talked about earlier… How about we start off by grabbing dinner together tomorrow afternoon? If you're free, of course."

"...I'd love that."

"I should be in town around five. Meet me on Taihei Boulevard, and we'll go from there. That okay with you?"

"Yeah, should be fine. By the sound of it, ya already got a place in mind, eh?"

"I have a few. Can't say for sure which one I'll land on yet."

"Well, ya know me — I'm down for anythin'."

"Perfect. It's a date, then. And, now that that's settled, I need to go — the bar won't open itself."

"Aww… Alright. Sorry for keepin' ya…"

"Don't be. It was really nice seeing you today — even if just for a short while."

She took a step toward him, and, this time, the thought of moving did not even cross his mind — instead, he watched her closely, his heart picking up pace as he saw her glance down the length of the alley, as though to make sure they were still the only ones in the vicinity, mischief plain in her eyes. The next moment, he felt the warmth of her palms on his chest — it was a delicate, somewhat restrained caress, and as she slid her hands up toward his neck it made the hairs stand up on the back of his neck.

"O-Oh?" he stuttered, grinning nervously.

"Too soon?"

"N-Naw, by all means. Just surprised ya would…"

She met his eye with a smug, one-sided smirk lifting one corner of her mouth.

"Want me to step back?"

It had come completely out of the blue, but feeling her hands on his bare skin electrified every fiber of his body in the best way possible. It was bold of her, too bold almost, to go through with something like this somewhere they could be seen if a passerby happened to walk into the alley — but, in the heat of the moment, this served only to add fuel to an already raging fire.

"Hell naw…"

He would not let this moment slip away, not anymore. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her in, and pressed his lips against hers. It might have been less than a day since the last time they shared a tender moment like this one, but, to him, the taste of her lips, the scent of her perfume, and the intimacy of her arms around his neck were like rain falling on parched ground. If he only could, he would spirit her away somewhere nobody could ever find them, and never let her go. Alas, he knew full well it was not to be.

She pulled away, and looked up at him, the smug smile not leaving her face.

"How's that for making the most out of our time?"

"Hmph. Ya sure know how to tease a guy, lemme tell ya."

"I also know you like it," she smirked in reply.

"I ain't complainin'. Makes it really hard for me to let ya go, though…"

"Well, tough break," she chuckled lightly. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder, as they say. I'll see you tomorrow."

Before he could respond, she wriggled herself out of his embrace, and started walking away. Something told him that, for all her aloofness and witty remarks, pressing his buttons like that still left her flustered afterward.

"Yeah. Have a good night."

"You too!"

One last time, she turned around to wave him goodbye. It was amusing, Majima noted, how similar it was to how they had parted the day before. He followed her with his gaze until, having unlocked the outer door, she disappeared down the stairs that led inside Stray, the warmth of the moment they had just shared enveloping him like a blanket long after he had taken his leave of the unassuming alley where it had all begun.

Much to Tsuki's surprise, shortly after she had taken care of what needed to be done, and with still some ten minutes left until opening, she noticed someone in the doorway out of the corner of her eye. Although it was rare, sometimes patrons would come in a few minutes before the set opening time — when she raised her head to see who it was, however, she quickly realized that this time that was not the case.

"Aki?" her eyes widened at the sight of her friend. "What are you doing here? Didn't we agree today would be your day off?"

"We did, but I'm not here for work, don't worry."

Hearing that, Tsuki's eyebrows came down in a slightly confused frown.

"If you aren't, then you shouldn't even be here."

Puzzled at Aki's unexpected visit that evening, she watched as the other girl took off her coat and, along with her handbag, put it on one of the empty chairs in front of the counter, then sat down in a chair next to it.

"Why? I can go to a bar on my day off, can't I? This one just happened to be the one I chose today," Aki smirked, folding her arms on the counter, eyes fixed on Tsuki. "Just treat me as you would any other patron."

"That's some flimsy logic, and you damn well know it. What are you really up to?" Tsuki met her gaze with thinly-veiled suspicion.

"Nothing much. And, if it bothers you that much, I promise I won't stay long. Just make me something that won't knock me off my feet. And make it sweet."

At this point, there was not much point in arguing further, Tsuki thought. If words alone had not been enough to do the job, it meant that Aki had a specific reason for going out of her way to come to Stray when she could be spending her free time differently instead. She decided that the sooner that reason came to light, the better.

"Fine. But after that, I want you to go back to properly enjoying your time off, you hear me?"

"Yes, boss," Aki responded with an exaggerated sigh. "Jokes aside, I was in town anyway, so I figured I'd swing by to check up on you after you brushed me off like you did earlier."

"Wh…? Crap, you're right — I forgot to get back to you in the end… I'm sorry."

"Water under the bridge now that I've seen you're still in one piece with my own eyes. It did make me a little worried, though," Aki continued, observing her boss as she mixed the drink she had requested. "I wasn't sure what to make of what you wrote, but I thought I'd best give you some space. Didn't know whether you were bawling your eyes out at the time or… well…"

"Or what?" Tsuki furrowed her brow, hoping to coax her friend into finishing her train of thought.

"...Or that, maybe, you were otherwise occupied."

"Otherwise occupied? What's that supposed to—" Tsuki tilted her head curiously. "Oh… I get it. If you mean what I think you mean, then no, nothing like that happened."

Aki did not fail to notice how her friend lowered her eyes and grinned for a moment when she said that.

"Well, whatever did happen, you look happy."

"Do I?" Tsuki smiled somewhat bashfully. "Does it show that much?"

"Now that you're no longer scowling at my being here… Yeah, it does," the other girl grinned as well, her boss's cheery mood that night rubbing off on her. "I'd even go as far as to say you're positively glowing. I take it everything went better than expected?"

"Hm… You could say that."

"See? You were worried sick for no reason, in the end."

"Well, I can't say it was a walk in the park, exactly…"

"But you talked it out?"

"Yeah, we did."

"And…?"

Tsuki groaned in exasperation at the scrutiny she was being put under.

"...We agreed to give it a shot. Here, enjoy," she said, pushing the ready colorful drink toward the other girl. "Hope it's not too sweet."

"I'm sure it's fine. So, with that out of the way… what are you gonna do now?"

"How am I supposed to know?" Tsuki laughed out loud. "It's not like I have some kind of a plan or something. But, for once… I'm actually looking forward to whatever happens next."

"Geez, so you really are gone this time," Aki flashed Tsuki a crooked smile after taking a sip of her drink. "Just be sure not to trip over your own feet with your head in the clouds like that."

"I'll be perfectly fine, smartass."

"I certainly hope so."

"How's the drink?"

"Just what the doctor ordered. Refreshing, and not too sweet — nothing less than what I'd expect from you. Now that I think about it, when was the last time you even made me a drink, anyway?"

"It's been a while, that's for sure," Tsuki noted after a brief pause to think. "You usually stay away from Stray when you're not working — as you should, mind you — so I don't get that many chances to serve you."

"Gotta say, it doesn't feel half bad to be sitting on the other side of that counter for a change. Maybe I should do this more often?"

"...As long as you don't complain you don't get enough rest later."

They both chuckled, the mood much lighter than it had been at the beginning.

"After all this time, being with someone must feel almost like stepping into uncharted waters, huh…" Aki broached the subject after a relatively short spell of silently sipping on her drink.

"Hmm… Maybe a little, but I'd rather think that nothing's really changed between us since last night, at least not that much. If anything, spending time together will hopefully feel less awkward now than what it was slowly starting to be."

"Um, yeah, that and the fact that now you can do all the fun stuff and not feel bad about it anymore."

A bright-red blush spreading across her cheeks, Tsuki froze and glared at her friend.

"Wh… Why would you say that right now?! I'm supposed to focus on work, and not think about… about that!"

"Got you!" Aki burst out laughing. "You're so easy to rile up when it comes to these things, you know? I couldn't help myself!"

"You're absolutely despicable sometimes."

"You can't deny you'd already been thinking about it even before I brought it up, though!"

"N-Not a single word more about it or, I swear, I'll… I'll dock your pay!"

Knowing all too well that it was nothing but an empty threat, Aki kept giggling at how flustered her boss had become.

"Ah, love," she said once she had had her fill. "Isn't it great?"

"...I wouldn't go that far yet," Tsuki grumbled in reply, glad that, at the very least, Aki did not choose to pursue the previous subject any further.

"Huh? What would you call it, then?"

"Testing the waters."

"Testing the waters? Pfft," Aki scoffed, giving Tsuki a pitiful look. "No offense, but it's crazy to me what lengths you're willing to go to to avoid admitting what you really feel."

"I-I'm not avoiding anything! It's just that… I can't say for sure what it is I feel yet, so I prefer to err on the side of caution. It's way too soon to be throwing such weighty words around, if you ask me."

"But you do see something worthwhile in the long run in him, don't you? Otherwise, you wouldn't have taken such a big leap of faith for him."

"True… I only hope I'm right this time."

"Well, yeah… Fingers crossed. Not the most commendable pick you could've made, but who knows… Life's full of surprises."

Although Aki knew few details of her boss's previous relationship, it was enough that she was aware that it had been a complete disaster. The only thing she could hope for was that her boss's current romantic endeavor would not result in an even bigger one.

"I don't think what you're doing will ever fully sit right with me," she added solemnly after a pause, "But seeing how happy it makes you, I can only pray it doesn't end up blowing up in your face."

"You and me both."

Her glass nearly empty, Aki appeared to have suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, by the way — one more thing before I go. You know that big shopping mall they're building where West Park used to be?"

It was a pretty random question, but there was no harm in indulging her friend a little longer, Tsuki thought. Although it was already past eight, there was still no sign of any patrons, so perhaps it was all right for them to chat some more.

"Kamurocho Hills, you mean? Yeah, I'm quite sure everyone knows about it. That area's been a construction zone for so many years now that it's become a veritable goldmine for rumors, I hear. What of it?"

"I read they're planning to finally open it some time next year. Wanted to ask if you have any inside info on that which you could share with yours truly."

"...Huh? Why would I know anything about it?" knitting her brow, Tsuki gave the other girl a baffled look.

Aki blinked a few times, confusion plain on her face.

"You're now officially dating the guy whose company's building the darn thing. That's why."

Eyes as wide as saucers, Tsuki let out an audible gasp.

"What?..."

"Wait — you mean you didn't know?!" Aki appeared to be in pure shock. "It's only on every construction sign around the place, and there's a big-ass banner hanging from the building for the whole world to see besides! 'Majima Construction' — who else could it be named after if not him?"

"Come on… I've got better things to do with my time than reading construction signs! That said… Maybe it's just a coincidence? There's no way he's the only Majima around."

"...All the rumors point to him, though. I thought you knew!"

"I… I didn't… He never mentioned it, and I had no reason to ask — I assumed being a yakuza was all he did."

If what Aki was saying was indeed true, it suddenly made a lot more sense. In an instant, her making fun of his mention of paperwork earlier that evening made her feel like an utter, ignorant fool.

"Lots of yakuza big shots run businesses of some sort, you know — you'd be surprised just how many pies the Tojo have their fingers in in this town alone, if the gossip is to be believed. It's usually cabaret clubs, bars and stuff, but it's not surprising they would want a piece of an investment as big as that one."

"...I guess so."

"It's even more obvious it's his company when you recall the stuff that's been going on over there."

"What stuff?" Tsuki frowned, feeling growing unease at the turn the conversation was taking.

"Well, first there was a bomb scare a few years back, and earlier this year there was another incident at the construction site. Probably why the opening's been delayed so many times."

"An incident?"

"A shootout. Two dead, a man and a woman. Reportedly, one was a yakuza, the other an assassin working for him. It was in the newspapers, remember?"

Slightly unsettled at the prospect of where this was going, Tsuki strained to remember.

"...Now that you mention it, I do recall something like that. The serial killer case all the tabloids had a field day with — I remember some of our patrons talking about it back then. Is that what you mean?"

"Yep. And if you think of the construction site as Tojo turf, it suddenly makes a lot more sense why something like that would happen there, doesn't it? It would be too much of a coincidence for the place to simply be a gigantic trouble magnet."

"Hold on for a second — are you trying to say Majima-san could've had something to do with it? You realize that's all just speculation on your part, right?"

"I'm not. Couldn't say either way," Aki shrugged. "According to what was released to the public, the only thing that tied him to it was the place where it all went down — more specifically, the fact that his company's responsible for building it. And, since the two who died apparently shot each other, no-one else was charged with anything. That said, it isn't out of the realm of possibility that he was involved somehow, right?"

Tsuki did not at all like the implications of what Aki was telling her. She shot the girl a fierce glare, her brain working overtime trying to reassess what she had just heard.

"Whoa, whoa — time out. What exactly are you trying to achieve by telling me this? Are you trying to make me doubt him — or, worse yet, myself?"

"No, no! Don't scowl at me like that. Like you said — it's pure speculation. But the point I'm trying to make is… even if he had nothing to do with that mess, or the one before it, who knows what else you don't know about he might've been, and still might be, involved in, so… be careful not to let your guard down around him too much, as difficult as that might be for you right now. He may not be the worst of the worst out there, but remember that he's no saint, either."

"That is not news, though. None of us are, when you think about it."

"Hey, speak for yourself," Aki appeared stung. "I consider myself a relatively upstanding citizen."

"A relatively upstanding citizen who's best friends with a former gang member, huh? Upstanding, my ass."

"...Oof. Listen — there's bad, and then there's bad, you know what I mean?"

"Mhm, sure, whatever lets you sleep at night," Tsuki scoffed. "You done with your drink, by the way?"

"Oh — yeah. Thanks again."

Even after Tsuki had collected the empty glass and put it in the dishwasher, Aki did not appear inclined to leave.

"Okay, so…" she went on instead. "Putting the morbid stuff aside for a moment… Think about it — if he's a yakuza and runs a construction company to boot, it means he's probably loaded."

If anyone could seamlessly go from discussing a shooting to wondering about someone's material wealth, it was Aki. Not the most sensitive way she could have gone about it, Tsuki noted, but by that point she was already used to it, at least to some degree.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Tsuki responded with a befuddled stare. "Why would I care about that?"

"Imagine the gifts he might give you! Expensive restaurants he can take you to, all while footing the bill!"

Her friend's enthusiasm and the dreamy expression on her face resulted only in evoking a resigned sigh from Tsuki.

"I… I don't even know where to start with what you just said. A materialist to the bone."

"Oh, come on. Doesn't the thought excite you?"

"No."

"Not even a little bit?"

"How many times do I have to tell you?" Tsuki shook her head. "I don't care about that kind of stuff. Sure, going out to eat somewhere fancy every once in a while might be a nice change of pace, but it's not like I'm expecting it from him — not to mention any expensive gifts. I don't need any of that."

"Suit yourself. If I were in your shoes, I'd be absolutely thrilled at the prospect."

"...Could be why you're having trouble finding someone, you know," Tsuki mumbled under her breath, loud enough however for Aki to hear it.

"What was that? Oh, now you've done it!"

As much as she tried to act offended, Aki could not stop herself from laughing. However, before they could continue their little feud, the sound of chatter mixed with laughter echoed from the direction of the stairs leading inside — the first patrons that night appeared to have arrived. Shortly after, a mixed group of five entered and approached the bar.

"Evening!" one of the men happily greeted them. "Are we the first ones here tonight?"

"That you are. Welcome," Tsuki greeted the group in return.

"Aki-chan's on this side of the counter this time? Now, isn't this a curious sight!" one of the girls observed with awe.

"Enjoy it while it lasts, because I was just about to leave!" Aki replied, sliding off the chair she had been sitting in, then ostentatiously grabbed her coat and bag from the one next to it.

"Oh, you're off work tonight, then?"

"Yup. And with that, I leave you in Tsuki's capable hands."

"Make yourselves at home — I'll be with you in a moment," Tsuki chimed in.

"Will do! Is the VIP lounge free tonight?"

"Yes — as far as I'm aware, nobody's reserved it," she nodded after a brief moment of consideration.

"Great! Then that's where we'll be. Come on, guys! I told you it'd be worth it to come early!"

Once the group sauntered merrily to the other room, Aki pointed a finger at Tsuki.

"We'll settle the score later."

"Hah, sure thing. Enjoy your night."

"And same to you."

With that, Aki made her exit, leaving Tsuki with much more to think about that night than she would have bargained for.