Chapter 40: Kawasaki Saki
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[-Continuation-]
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[Hachiman's POV]
"Well, at least your confidence in making friends is admirable." Yukinoshita shook her head.
While her words may seem like a compliment on the surface, they actually hint that my confidence might be all I have going for me, with a subtle challenge behind it.
Anyone could see what you're getting at, Yukinoshita.
"Thanks, you." For now, I will take it as a compliment and forget about the rest.
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"Well, then, shall we go?" Yukinoshita pressed the elevator button. The light turned on with a ding, and the door opened noiselessly.
Through the glass elevator, I could see a sweeping view of Tokyo Bay. The night-time scenery of Makuhari was dotted with brilliant lights, cruising ships, cars rushing through the bayside city with their tail lights blinking, and high-rise buildings.
When we arrived at the top floor, the door opened once again.
A gentle, soothing light lay ahead. A lounge bar was spread out in front of us, obscured in darkness because of the dim candle lighting.
F*ck! Is this where high-class people meet?
On a stage lit up with spotlights, a white-skinned lady was playing a jazz number on the piano. She was probably an American. Foreigner = American, after all.
"Stop gawking." Yukinoshita said it with a disdainful tone.
I didn't bother responding, and she didn't appear interested in any excuses. We continued our stride forward.
While Yuigahama, seemingly preoccupied with nerves, struggled to focus on anything else.
"Let's go that way." Yukinoshita directed, leading the way.
With that, Yukinoshita, Yuigahama, and I began walking slowly in step with each other. When we passed through the open, heavy wooden door, we were instantly approached by a male waiter, and I waved my hand, indicating it wasn't necessary.
Slowly, we guided ourselves to the bar counter in front of the edge of a glass window.
There, polishing the glasses thoroughly was a female bartender. She stood tall, straight and perfectly composed. Her muted expression and sleep-deprived eyes matched the tone of this dimly lit bar.
…and she is Kawasaki Saki.
She gave off a totally different impression than she did at school. Her long hair was tied up in a bun, she was dressed in a waiter outfit, and her movements were elegant and refined. Her listlessness was gone.
Unaware of our identities, Kawasaki silently placed coasters and refreshers before us, and waited in silence…
Probably to take our orders…
I am well aware that we didn't come for casual hanging out, but having a drink or two didn't sound bad. Definitely better than diving straight into serious stuff.
Yukinoshita seemed to be on the same page, and as for Yuigahama, let's just say she too seemed to agree.
While Kawasaki waited patiently for our orders, treating us like unfamiliar patrons, I tried to say. "Okay, give me a MA-!"
–stump!
Ouch!! But my foot received an unexpected stomp that no one else saw because the table was in the way.
Except for me, of course, and why wouldn't I notice it when I am the one feeling the pain?
The hell! Who is that…?
Irritated, I turned to my side to identify the culprit. To my surprise, it was Yukinoshita.
I was annoyed and wondered, What's her problem, and why is she using physical stuff?
Yukinoshita met my gaze with a smile, silently conveying, 'Idiot, order something else.'
I shot back a look that said, 'What's wrong with MAX coffee?'
"Hikki. What happened?" Yuigahama inquired, noticing my abrupt pause and the soreness on my face.
"...*shake. Nothing." I replied, shaking my head.
"I will have a Perrier." Yukinoshita placed an order, showing no remorse.
For the record, I had no clue what a Perrier was.
"I-I'll have the same thing!" That was my intended response, but Yuigahama beat me to it.
I groaned, fuming(:internally) but seriously, thinking, What was I supposed to say?
Should I risk asking for a MAX Coffee again? I imagined another hit to my legs and experienced the pain in real time.
Maybe I should order something unusual, something I don't usually get or won't get in the future.
Fuck it. And why wasn't I provided with a menu till now? What useless and poor management this place truly has…
"Hikki, what about you?" Yuigahama reminded me.
Cut me some slack, girl. Can't you see I am trying to focus here?
With Yuigahama's reminder, I glanced at Yukinoshita. Understanding my predicament, she stepped in.
"He will have dry ginger ale." Yukinoshita replied on my behalf.
With a small smile and a nod, Kawasaki got three champagne glasses ready and poured each drink smoothly before putting them on the coasters.
After finishing with us, she began to move towards the counter to attend to her other tasks.
Just before she could fully turn around, I called out in a low voice, making sure it stayed between the four of us.
"Kawasaki…" I said it quietly.
She turned around, looking at us with a slightly worried face.
"I am deeply sorry. Who might you—!"
Interrupting her mid-sentence, I cut her off.
Why? I just felt like it.
"This dry ginger stuff is more on the crispier side than it is on the sweet side, and this mild taste is jolting me up. I don't like it. It tastes like crap." I shared my honest thoughts, also shooting Yukinoshita a complaining look for ordering something like this.
Kawasaki's expression instantly shifted from worry to displeasure. "Wait! You are that 'late guy.'"
Yuigahama, did you see that? Didn't I promise I would soon become famous? I can already see it coming true.
That's when Kawasaki added to her previous statement. "And of course, a person who would suddenly curse in class like an idiot at lunch wouldn't like something like this."
That was rather unnecessary…
"I am impressed, Hikigaya." Yukinoshita remarked, her voice filled with admiration as she settled onto a stool. "To be recognized by a classmate, is it due to her exceptional memory, or is your face just that unforgettable once glimpsed?"
Stop rubbing salt on my wound, Yukinoshita.
Unforgettable, huh... I would wager a hundred dollars. She meant it in a less than flattering manner.
"Don't misunderstand. I don't even know his name." Kawasaki emphasized, going out of her way to make it clear that she had no knowledge about me beyond my face and possibly being in the same class.
"You know I don't care about this stuff, right?" I injected, looking at the two women - one actively claiming she doesn't know me and the other with her sarcastic compliments that I had grown accustomed to.
And it appears I have succeeded in this, as incomplete as it may be, and we can already see the effect as Yukinoshita gets a little more serious.
"We found you, Kawasaki Saki." Yukinoshita declared.
The tone of Kawasaki's face changed.
Man, she makes it sound like she was caught in a bank robbery or something.
"Yukinoshita…" Her expression was that of someone encountering a familiar foe. It was quite clearly antagonistic.
….and of course she is famous.
"Good evening." Whether she was aware of Kawasaki's feelings or not, Yukinoshita uttered the standard night-time greeting coolly.
The two of them exchanged gazes. They were as different as night and day. I got the feeling that sparks were crackling. Scary.
Kawasaki's eyes narrowed harshly as she poured a drink for Yuigahama.
"Yo, sup…?" Yuigahama said lamely, as if succumbing to the pressure.
"Yuigahama… I didn't recognize you for a second."
"Uh, yeah." said Yuigahama. "He is Hikki from our class. Hachiman Hikigaya."
"*sigh…." Kawasaki let out a sigh and offered a resigned smile. "So, what brings you here?"
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[To be continued….]
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