Between Sweets and Yakuza
I arrived at Black Lotus almost at a jog.
I checked the time for the fifth time in under a minute.
Late.
Late.
Late.
Bibi is going to kill me.
I walked in trying to look calm.
It didn't work.
I could feel the guilt written all over my face.
I made my way down the main hallway with quick steps, braced for a sudden:
"AIKA-CHAAAAAN!"
…
Silence.
I blinked.
I looked to one side.
Then the other.
Huh?
Where is Bibi?
I kept moving cautiously.
Nothing.
Not a trace of him.
A small smile appeared on its own.
…I think I got lucky.
Before my luck could change, I ran to the dressing room.
Changed.
Did my makeup.
Fixed my hair in front of the mirror.
It still surprised me how quickly I could get ready.
I think I'm getting used to this…
…
I don't know if that's a good thing.
I finished adjusting my skirt and corset and walked to the break room.
The moment I opened the door I scanned the place.
And smiled.
"Reiko-san! Melissa-san!"
Melissa was the first to look up.
Her expression lit up immediately.
"Aika-chan, good evening."
"Good evening."
I walked over smiling.
Reiko, on the other hand, watched me with that calm gaze that always seemed to uncover all my secrets.
"Aika…"
She paused.
"Aren't you arriving just a little late?"
My entire body tensed.
She knows!
I'm going to die!
This is my last day on Earth!
Reiko couldn't hold back the laugh.
"You don't have to go that rigid."
She brought a hand to her mouth.
"Lucky for you, Bibi is busy."
I felt my soul return to my body.
"Phew…"
I made a small pout.
"You're a little mean for enjoying scaring me."
"She's right."
Melissa nodded with complete seriousness.
"That's not nice, Reiko."
"Sorry, sorry."
Reiko kept laughing.
"But your reactions are so entertaining."
Everyone says that…
Am I really that expressive?
Then her gaze dropped to the bag I was carrying.
"What's in there?"
"Oh!"
I almost forgot.
I quickly opened the bag.
"Right."
I took out two small carefully wrapped boxes and handed one to each of them.
They both looked at them curiously.
"What's this?" Melissa asked.
I felt my cheeks start to warm.
I looked away slightly.
"I-it's a gift…"
Both of them opened their eyes a little.
"A gift?"
"For us?"
I nodded while fidgeting nervously with my fingers.
"I wanted to thank you…"
I swallowed.
"For going along with it at the hotel… and for not saying anything about the club in front of my friends…"
The moment I finished speaking I wanted to hide under a table.
So embarrassing…
Melissa smiled with that sweetness so uniquely hers.
"Oh my God, I love gifts."
She pressed the little box against her chest.
"Thank you so much, Aika-chan."
"I-it's nothing…"
I didn't get to finish the sentence.
Reiko jumped to her feet.
"My Aika is so adorable!!"
Before I could react—
Plof!
I felt her wrap me in a hug.
My face ended up completely buried in her chest.
"Mgh?!"
"Thank you so much!"
"N-no…!"
I tried to speak.
Nothing intelligible came out.
"I can't… breathe…!"
Melissa let out a small laugh.
"Reiko, I think you're going to kill her."
"Ah!"
Reiko let go immediately.
I took two steps back desperately searching for oxygen.
"Cough! Cough!"
I took an enormous gulp of air.
"I thought… I was going to die…"
"Sorry."
Reiko laughed again.
"It was an impulse."
How can she say that so calmly…?
The three of us ended up laughing.
Melissa pointed to the seat beside her.
"Come sit for a while."
I obeyed.
She carefully opened her little box.
"Did you have fun with your friends?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
A lot.
Melissa smiled with satisfaction.
"I'm glad."
Then she added softly:
"It's good that you have friends your own age."
She paused briefly.
"I was worried you might be a lonely girl."
…
…
I made an effort to hold back a grimace.
Actually… I was…
But…
I glanced for a moment at the sweet Melissa had just tried.
I suppose not so much anymore.
She smiled after the first bite.
"Ah! These are delicious."
Reiko nodded immediately.
"Yes."
She looked at the little box.
"You have very good taste."
I couldn't help smiling.
For some reason…
Watching them enjoy something so simple made me feel strangely happy.
Time flew by between conversation and laughter.
Before I knew it…
Reiko was already getting to her feet.
"Well."
She stretched lazily.
"I think we should get back to work, or Bibi will be annoyed with us."
She stuck out her tongue a little.
Melissa let out a small laugh.
"That's true."
She closed the little box carefully.
"Time goes by too fast when you're talking with nice people."
I smiled.
Yeah…
It went by fast for me too.
Later…
Applause filled the club again.
I made my final pose.
Smiled at the audience.
And finally came down from the stage.
I waited until I was out of the clients' sight before looking at the money I had on me.
I sighed.
I carefully pulled out a couple of bills that a client had slipped between the straps of my thong.
I looked at them for a few seconds.
"I'm never going to get used to this…"
Ding.
[But you do pocket them just fine.]
"I earned them! I have every right to!"
[Dance skill has leveled up. Lv2 → Lv3]
Stupid AI, always showing up to bother me…
I put the money in the tips envelope.
I still felt a very strange mix of embarrassment and resignation every time I did that, but that debt wasn't going to pay itself.
…
I stretched a little.
My legs were pretty tired.
Then I remembered the bag.
Ah, right.
I still have some gifts left.
I smiled faintly.
"I think I'll go give him his…"
The bar was much quieter than the stage.
Behind the counter, Taro was cleaning a glass with complete calm.
White hair.
Serious expression.
He looked more like a professional assassin than a bartender.
Although…
Well.
Technically he was both.
"Good evening, Taro."
He barely lifted his eyes.
"Good evening."
He watched me for a few seconds.
"You look exhausted."
"I am…"
He let out a small laugh through his nose.
"Want something to drink?"
"Maybe some juice…"
"I could also give you something stronger."
My heart gave a small lurch.
Alcohol…
How long has it been since I had a drink…
I remembered a cold beer after work.
The taste of whisky.
A good rum.
…
…
What a wave of nostalgia.
Then I remembered something important.
"Wouldn't it be illegal for you to give me alcohol?"
Taro kept drying the glass with complete calm.
"It's also illegal for you to be a stripper."
…
…
"Fair point."
I had no argument against that.
"Then surprise me."
"Understood."
A few minutes later he set a glass in front of me.
I looked at it.
"A cocktail?"
"You said you wanted juice."
"Yes."
"So I gave you both."
I blinked.
"A piña colada."
I took a small sip.
My eyes practically lit up.
"This is amazing!"
Taro nodded, satisfied.
"I figured."
I took another sip.
This is actual quality…
Dangerous.
If I kept this up I'd start wanting to come to the bar more than the dressing room.
While I enjoyed the drink I remembered something.
"By the way… where's Bibi? I haven't seen him all night."
Before Taro could answer…
"Were you looking for me?"
I almost spit out the entire piña colada.
"Guh?!"
I turned around coughing.
Behind me stood Bibi.
Ryuji.
Matsuda.
Reiko.
Melissa.
And two other club members.
This brings back unpleasant memories…
Ryuji smiled slightly.
"Bibi was helping me with some business."
Then he added with complete naturalness:
"We're heading to a meeting now."
He pointed at me.
"You're coming too."
I looked at him.
Then pointed at myself.
"Me?"
"Yes."
He answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Then he turned his head.
"Taro, let's go."
The bartender set the cloth on the counter, and another employee who had appeared with Ryuji picked it up immediately to take his place.
What kind of military efficiency is this…?
Everyone started walking.
I put down my glass almost in a rush.
"W-wait a moment!"
Everyone stopped.
Ryuji turned.
"What is it? We're in a hurry."
"Just one second!"
I ran to the bag I'd left propped against the bar.
I took out the packages that were still inside.
One for Ryuji.
One for Taro.
One for Matsuda.
And the last one for Bibi.
I handed them out one by one.
Then gave a small bow.
"Thank you… for helping me the other day and for not saying anything about the club in front of my friends."
There were a few seconds of silence.
Matsuda looked at the little box as if he'd never received a gift in his life.
Taro also seemed mildly surprised.
Ryuji smiled calmly.
Bibi, on the other hand…
"SWEETS!!"
His eyes were sparkling.
"I love sweets!"
Reiko crossed her arms.
"She gave us one when she arrived too."
"They were really good," Melissa added with a smile. "Bibi, share yours with me."
Bibi clutched the little box to his chest.
"Huh?! Of course not! You already had one!"
"Eeeeh…"
Melissa made a small pout.
"Come on…"
"No!"
"Just a little piece…"
"Not even a little piece!"
Watching them argue over some sweets made me laugh.
For a moment…
I forgot they were a group of yakuza.
"Thank you, Aika, I didn't know you were so thoughtful," said Ryuji with a smile. "Alright."
Then he turned around.
"Now then."
We kept walking until we reached the VIP area of the club.
The moment we crossed through the door, I noticed the atmosphere was completely different.
Several men I'd never seen before.
All in dark suits.
Some drinking whisky.
Others smoking in silence.
And in the center, sitting with absolute calm, was a man of around forty.
Just looking at him…
I felt a shiver.
Who are these people…?
The man looked up when he saw us walk in.
He smiled.
"You finally arrived, Ryuji."
Ryuji answered with the same calm.
"I hope you enjoyed the whisky while you waited, Hideki."
Hideki…
Who on earth is that…?
I discreetly moved closer to Bibi.
"Hey…"
"Yes?"
"Who is that man?"
Bibi answered like he was giving a weather forecast.
"The leader of a rival family."
…
…
…
A rival… family…?
I felt the color drain from my face.
What kind of meeting is this?!
They brought me to a yakuza summit?!