───● The Genki Girl University Student Does Some Recon ●○●
A few days have passed since I found out that my fated person might be working at a boy’s bar. I had been looking into what exactly a boy’s bar is.
“You can talk to the male cast… get close to them… drink alcohol… hmm.”
When I looked it up, a lot of information came up. Explanations of what kind of places they are, blogs with personal experiences at boy’s bars, sites advertising different bars.
In the corner of an empty classroom, I absentmindedly scrolled through the information. I had found this out when I first looked up the bar, but although their main business is serving alcohol, they also have a good selection of non-alcoholic cocktails, so apparently, even minors can go.
That in itself is good news, but my anxiety still lingered.
“There’s no way I can go alone…”
If only someone would come with me. I couldn’t help but think that, but I don’t know anyone who’s familiar with these kinds of bars. I think the best way to go about this is to have an experienced person take me…
As I was thinking about that and doing some research, a certain article caught my eye.
“Can You Get into a Relationship from a Boy’s Bar!?”
“…!”
Before I knew it, I had tapped on the article.
No, no, no! It’s not like that! It’s just out of curiosity! I’m not, like, expecting to get into a relationship or anything… wait, who am I even making excuses to?
The article was about a personal experience of someone who had actually managed to start dating a cast member from a boy’s bar, and it also said that this was an extremely rare case and that it wasn’t a good idea to go to these bars with the intention of getting into a relationship, which was a very sound argument.
“Well, of course it wouldn’t be that easy…”
Working at a boy’s bar means they’re used to dealing with girls. Even if you think the conversation is going great, apparently there are a lot of cases where the other person is actually completely bored. Just imagining it is terrifying…
I finished reading the article and closed my phone. After a big stretch, I leaned back in my chair and stared at the classroom ceiling.
“As I thought, was he only nice to me because he’s a ‘boy’…”
I thought, and then I shot up from my seat.
No, no, that’s not it! When I’m sitting and thinking, my thoughts tend to drift towards the negative.
“I’ll go! I’ll think about it after!”
There’s that saying, “Seeing is believing.” I won’t know anything until I go, so I decided to go to the location of the bar. I’ve always been the type to act before I think, anyway!
“So, I came here on impulse, but…”
The entertainment district of the station where the bar is located. It was bustling with people at this time, the start of the evening. Today was just for recon, I didn’t plan on going inside the bar. I-I mean, it’s probably a good idea to know the location, right?
And also, maybe…
“I might see him…”
I know the chances are slim. But just like that day, if I’m in this town, the probability of meeting him should be higher. He definitely works at that bar, after all.
Steeling myself, I started walking. According to the map on my phone, the bar is in an alley a little further into this entertainment district.
As I walked, the demographic of the people around me started to change. Near the station, it was students and office ladies on their way home from work. But as I entered this alley, the lineup of stores clearly changed to one with a strong “minors not allowed” vibe.
I looked around nervously and followed the directions on my phone’s map. Dazzling decorations. Outside, women in suits and well-dressed men were standing here and there on the street.
“Hey miss, how about a boy’s bar?”
“Hweh!? Uh, no, I’m good!”
Don’t just call out to me like that! I quickened my pace to escape, moving further into the alley. The bar I’m looking for should be around here.
“There it is…”
It didn’t take long to find the bar after entering the alley. The sign had the word ‘Festa’ in dazzling neon lights. It matched the one from the business card.
I looked at the standing sign in front of the bar.
“…I-I don’t get it…”
Written on the sign was something about how much it costs per hour, and a “charge”? When I looked it up beforehand, I only got a rough idea of how much money I would need, I didn’t know what the system was like.
Wait, is it like karaoke? A certain amount for 30 minutes, or something…
“Welcome! Are you interested in our establishment?”
“Hyaai!? Uh, no, that’s not…”
As I was staring at the sign, frozen, someone suddenly called out to me. I turned around to see a young man in a familiar uniform standing there.
But I could tell that he was a different man from both my fated person and the one who gave me the business card the other day.
“Is this your first time? Our prices aren’t that high, and I’m sure you’ll have a great time! Oh, I could even sit with you for the first round!”
“Ah, um… well…”
Eek, this is scary! Even though he’s smiling! And he seems like a nice person! But I feel like he’s looking at me like I’m prey, and it’s really scary! Help me, Koumi!
I thought I was pretty confident in my communication skills, but that confidence was shattered to pieces in the first five seconds!
“If you’re interested, we welcome you, even for just an hour!”
While I was struggling to respond, the man kept closing the distance. What do I do? I was staring at the sign, so saying I’m not interested is a bit of a stretch…
If the weak-willed Mizuho-chan goes into a bar like this… they’ll probably make me pay until my wallet is empty! I’m sure of it!
But how do I turn him down… The only option is to run…
“…Could you be, Mizuho?”
“…Eh?”
A familiar voice. It was a voice I’d been hearing a lot lately, a very pleasant voice… and also the source of my worries.
“M-Masato…?”
My best friend Koumi’s crush… Katasato Masato, was standing behind me, dressed in his usual casual clothes.
“S-Sorry… thanks for helping me.”
“No problem. More importantly, did he do anything weird to you?”
“No, no! I’m fine, but… I was surprised that you knew someone from that bar.”
Masato spoke to the bar staff and got me out of there. Apparently, he knows them. The guy from the bar was about to say something, but Masato desperately stopped him. I wonder what that was about?
I walked with Masato towards the station. Usually, the words would come easily, but after what happened the other day, I didn’t know what to talk about…
“By the way, what were you doing in a place like that…?”
“Eh, ah… n-no, you’re wrong! I was looking for a new hair salon I’m going to, and then I kinda, took a wrong turn! A wrong turn!”
I saw Masato’s gaze shift, as if he were trying to be considerate, and I hurriedly corrected myself. He’s going to think I hang out in places like that!
“…I think that’s totally fine, though?”
“N-O-O-O! It’s a misunderstanding, so stop looking at me with such kind eyes!”
“Just kidding, just kidding. Sorry.”
“…!… Honestly, what am I going to do with you!”
Masato laughed, and he was so charming that I had to look away. Really, Masato just raises his affection rating at every opportunity… what am I going to do with him!
“Anyway, what are you doing in a place like this, Masato!”
“Ah, well, this is the station closest to my house.”
“Oh, right…”
It’s true, this is the station Masato always gets off at to go home. Apparently, he lives alone here. I’m worried about a naive guy like Masato living all by himself!
As we were talking, we arrived at the station. Masato was going to walk home from the exit on the opposite side.
“Are you sure you don’t need me to walk you?”
“Yeah! I’m fine! I have plans after this anyway.”
Even though he has plans, he still walked me to the ticket gates. Masato is such a conscientious person.
“Oh, right.”
“Hm?”
The ticket gates were coming into view. On the station escalator, Masato, who had gotten on first, turned around to face me.
“I’m relieved to see you looking a little better. Koumi was worried about you.”
“…Nya-haha. Honestly, I’m the always energetic Mizuho-chan, so what’s all this fuss about?”
Hearing Koumi’s name, I suddenly felt a pang of guilt. I should probably tell her that I just happened to run into him at the station.
“And… I was worried too.”
“Eh?”
The escalator reached the floor with the ticket gates.
“Mizuho, even when you’re worried about something, you always act cheerful around everyone, right? So I was wondering if you were pushing yourself too hard…”
…Stop.
“Just kidding, I guess. We haven’t known each other for that long, so it’s not my place to say… but, you know, your cheerfulness and your smile always give me energy.”
Stop it.
Don’t—don’t be any nicer to me.
I walked past Masato, who was walking in front of me, almost at a run. Then, I desperately tried to catch my breath and spun around to face him.
“H-Hehe! The super-popular Mizuho-chan has to be that cheerful all the time, you know! You should be grateful, Masato-cchi! Having such a cheerful girl like me by your side is so dazzling you could live without lights at night! Well then, I shall deliver this cheerfulness to you again tomorrow… so, later!”
Yeah, see you tomorrow. I heard Masato’s words at my back as I quickly went through the ticket gates.
Why is it, that something feels like it’s about to spill from my eyes?
Why is it, that I’m happy, but it hurts so much?
“You’ve got to be kidding me… why, why is it…!”
I walked quickly until I was out of Masato’s sight.
Then I let out the emotions I couldn’t hold back anymore.
For a few dozen seconds, I gasped for air. Then I slowly took a few deep breaths. Finally, I had calmed down.
“…I have to go. To that bar.”
—I might not be able to take it anymore.
I’m going to meet my fated person. To break away from these feelings.
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