>>5656209As expected, as you enter there’s an overwhelming stench of smoke and the walls and ceiling are stained yellow by continued exposure.
There’s a bald man behind the counter.
<span class="mu-g">“Yo, Yoshimura,”</span> says the barman as he shelves away some bottles.
<span class="mu-g">“Shoji,”</span> says Yoshimura, nodding to greet the man, <span class="mu-g">“Is my table free?”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“Yeah,”</span> replies the barman, who then eyes you over, then looks back at Yoshimura.
<span class="mu-g">“Oi, oi, Yoshimura…”</span> he says, <span class="mu-g">“College girls, really? Aren’t you almost thirty?”</span>
The barman sighs, <span class="mu-g">“This is why you can’t find a wife…”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“Thanks for the sage advice,”</span> says Yoshimura with a deadpan stare, <span class="mu-g">“Some cups and green tea to my table.”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“Coming up,”</span> says the barman.
The barman presses a button on a machine which dispenses steaming hot water and catches it in a small teapot.
Adding some tea leaves, he then places the teapot and cups on a tray for Yoshimura to take with him.
<span class="mu-g">“What happened to service?”</span> says Yoshimura.
<span class="mu-g">“Service my ass,”</span> says the barman with dismissive wave of his hand, <span class="mu-g">“Take it with you.”</span>
As he waves you notice the barman is missing a part of his pinkie finger.
Yoshimura clicks his tongue and holding the tray in one hand and a clean ashtray in the other, he moves into the restaurant – you follow.
<span class="mu-g">“Bring me the lunch menu in a bit,”</span> shouts Yoshimura as he rounds the corner.
There wasn’t really a good moment to introduce yourself.
You assume from the interaction that Yoshimura must come here a lot.
There something else to take away from the conversation though…
The barman called you a college girl!
Here you were thinking you’d look like some hag dressing up.
The diligent skincare routines and your short stature are paying off!
<span class="mu-g">“Happy about something?”</span> says Yoshimura as he moves into a private room.
<span class="mu-g">“Fufufu~”</span> you say, following, <span class="mu-g">“Who knows?”</span>
It’s an older style room with tatami mats where the table is sunken into the floor with plenty of free space beneath it.
Rather than having to sit on your knees, you can let your feet rest beneath the table.
Yoshimura sits down at the seat closest to the door, you sit in the seat beside him.
There’s a scowl on his face from the chat with the barman.
You reach for the teapot and, hoping that the leaves have steeped enough, pour the both of you some tea.
<span class="mu-g">“Oh,”</span> says Yoshimura, his scowl replaced by a smile, <span class="mu-g">“Thanks.”</span>