“Hi! Ryuko!”
That familiar, overly cheerful voice echoed through the door just as I was wiping the counter. Natsuki stood there, grinning from ear to ear, his hands stuffed into the pockets of a too-large jacket.
I exhaled a tired laugh. “You sure you don’t get tired saying hi like that every single ti?”
He shrugged, stepping inside like he owned the place. “Can’t help it! My goddess deserves enthusiasm.”
“Stop calling that,” I muttered under my breath, then gestured him toward a stool. “Welco, please have a seat.”
He plopped down, imdiately swinging his legs like a kid.
“So! What’s the order today?” I asked.
“Set A, please,” he replied proudly, like ordering a ran combo was a life accomplishnt.
“Set A coming right up.” I grinned and turned toward the kitchen.
---
Ten minutes later, the air slled of broth and soy sauce. Natsuki slurped up his noodles like he hadn’t eaten in days. “Mmm! Today’s at’s softer!”
“Different supplier,” I said, wiping a glass clean. “Guess even cows have their good days.”
He snorted, almost choking on his food. “You’re funny, Ryuko. You should run a talk show.”
“Yeah, maybe I’ll start one right here — ‘Midnight Ran with the Heartbroken.’”
“That’s perfect! I’ll be your first guest every week.”
“Exactly why that show would fail.”
He laughed again, wiping his mouth. “Today’s less busy, huh?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Want a beer?”
“Yesh please,” he said with his mouth still half full.
I cracked one open and set it down. “On the house.”
“Really?” His eyes widened.
“Yeah. Don’t make regret it.”
Natsuki grinned and took a sip. “Man, this is heaven.”
---
After a few monts, he looked up, a bit more serious now. “So... you said you needed my help?”
I froze. I’d been thinking about this all day — whether asking him was smart or just plain stupid. It was risky. Dangerous, even. But desperate people make dumb decisions, right?
I had considered it: getting Natsuki to go to Riku’s bar, befriend him, maybe drink with him until his tongue got loose. The idea sounded reckless, but if Riku was cautious around , maybe he’d drop his guard around soone else.
Still… this wasn’t so random bar drama. This guy had already threatened Keiko.
“Why are you silent, Ryuko?” Natsuki asked, blinking. “You look like you’re calculating world domination.”
“Huh? Oh. Sorry.” I forced a smile. “Maybe next ti.”
“Eh? Why? I was ready! I even bought a new jacket!” he said, puffing out his chest proudly.
I chuckled. “What kind of mission needs a jacket?”
“Every mission does,” he said, dead serious. “It’s about presentation.”
I sighed. “...You know, I think we should get to know each other better first before I drag you into sothing weird.”
He froze for a second. Then his cheeks went bright red.
“H-huh? You an... get closer first?”
Wait—crap, that sounded wrong.
“I an— not like that!” I quickly waved my hands. “I ant, just... as friends!”
But it was too late. Natsuki had clasped his hands dramatically, sparkles practically glowing in his eyes.
“Of course… I would love to get closer to you, Ryuko!”
“Right…” I muttered, scratching my head. “This is getting out of hand.”
He chuckled nervously, still red-faced. “I’m serious, though. You’ve been helping cheer up, and I kinda owe you one.”
“Well, thanks,” I said, chuckling a little. “And about helping —maybe soday. Not now.”
He deflated a little, poking his ran. “I was really hoping I could do sothing for you.”
“Don’t worry. You already did,” I said.
His eyes lit up again. “R-really?”
“Yeah. You made realize I’m not the dumbest person alive.”
“Hey!”
I laughed as he sulked like a scolded cat. For soone who looked like a tired salaryman, Natsuki was weirdly expressive.
Then I rembered sothing. “Oh right — I promised I’d introduce you to my friend, didn’t I?”
He blinked. “Wait, now? Wasn’t it too early? I didn’t even help you yet.”
“You don’t want to?” I asked casually.
He scratched his head. “It’s just… I literally got rejected yesterday. My heart’s still bleeding.”
“Sorry about that.” I winced. “But hey, maybe you’ll heal faster this way.”
He perked up. “You an… rebound therapy?”
“I an friendship,” I said flatly. “Don’t make it weird.”
“Too late,” he said under his breath.
I sighed and pulled out my phone. “Anyway, here.” I swiped through my gallery and showed him a photo of Miko — smiling with her bright hairpin and confident grin.
“This is her. Her na’s Miko. She’s one of my friends. If you’re interested, I can—”
“C-CUTE!” he scread, practically falling off his stool. “Who is this angel?! Does she co here often?”
“She’s not,” I said dryly.
“Is she single?! Wait, don’t tell , I’ll faint!”
I looked at him, half-amused and half-concerned. “You okay there?”
“I’m better than okay! My life has a purpose again!” he said dramatically.
“Okay, okay, calm down, Roo.” I lifted my phone again. “I’ll take a picture of you now and send it to her, just to see what she thinks, alright?”
He imdiately straightened up, adjusting his hair in the reflection of his spoon. “Wait—wait! Lem fix my face first! How do I look?”
“Like soone who hasn’t slept since 2020,” I said.
He ignored and struck a ridiculous pose. “Okay! I’m ready! Take it now!”
I sighed and snapped the photo. “You look… uh… confident.”
“Confidence is everything,” he said proudly.
“Right, right.” I sigh, watching Natsuki pose like he was doing a photoshoot for a ran comrcial, flashing a grin so wide it could light up the whole bar.
Why did this guy remind so much of Junpei? Sa goofy charm, sa energy, sa chaos aura.
As I snapped the photo, he threw a thumbs-up. “Make sure you tell her I’m a nice guy, okay? Reliable. Funny. Single!”
I rubbed my temple. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll tell her you’re… sothing.”
He bead proudly, completely missing the sarcasm.
I typed a quick ssage to Miko, attaching the photo with a simple text: “Hey, my custor here wanted to say hi. His na’s Natsuki.”
Within thirty seconds, she replied: “LOL what’s this. He looks like soone who was allergic to sleep.”
I snorted, trying to hold back a laugh.
“What’d she say?!” he leaned closer eagerly.
“She… uh… said you look full of potential.”
He gasped. “Really?! She thinks I have potential?!”
“Yup,” I said, pocketing my phone before I burst out laughing. “You’re doing great, champ.”
He raised his fist like a hero in an ani. “I won’t let you down, Ryuko! I’ll make her fall for !”
“Sure, sure.” I wiped down the counter, still chuckling. “Just don’t die trying.”
---
Later that night, after he left, I leaned back against the counter and sighed. The bar was quiet again. Empty stools, faint sll of beer and soy sauce still in the air.
I couldn’t help but smile a little.
He was loud, awkward, dramatic — but sohow, his energy made the place feel a bit more alive again.
Maybe… just maybe, this guy could actually be a help.
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