makiri

Since I'm opening an izakaya, I'm gonna need a signature drink! I thought as hard as I could, but all the drinks I know are the sort that every joint has. It'll be too normal.

Then I'll teach you some of my special blends. You can sell them at yours.

Seriously?! I love you, Taishou—

But the help I was thinking of was more like you and me getting our heads together to come up with a brew that I can say is mine. That screams 'me', y'know?

Oh, so you want your own signature, then. That's going to need a lot of research.

So...?

How could I say no to a face like that?

Taishou, I love ya, man—

Alright, enough of that. I've got one condition: I get to put your new blend on this place's menu.

We'll divide the earnings proportionally, of course. Think of it as a startup fund.

T-Taishou... You, I...

You don't need to worry about the startup money! I actually—

Ah, crap, the time! Sorry, Taishou, I got an appointment, gotta go! Money's here! Mata ne!

Heh... Sure. Mata ne.

Irasshaimase!

Oh, it's you, Asai.

Sorry, Taishou! I've been way too busy these past few days.

Could I get a daikon and chikuwa, and a draft beer—

Got it. Not too hungry today?

Yeah... well...

Asai looks up at the swarm of insects incessantly beating their wings around the streetlights. After a moment of silence, he begins looking around.

Then, like he has just set his mind on something, he looks at Tooru with a serious expression on his face.

The west dock's been pretty busy lately, hasn't it, Taishou? I've seen lots of people gathering near the depot recently, and the gate's always guarded.

...You need to work on your information-gathering skills. Your questions are way too blunt.

Taishou...

Why're you asking?

N-Nothing, really, just curious. Word on the street is that there are expensive drinks in there, along with safes that're locked tight, and they'll be moved to the northern depot tomorrow night.

That aneki of yours, Mio-san, this doesn't seem like her kind of thing. Where'd you hear this info from?

I-I heard them talking about it while at work... I was thinking, if I went along, if I made sure the transport went smoothly... That'll be a <i>lot</i> of money.

Was this why you told me not to worry about the startup money?

Booze and locked safes? Probably earnings from their gambling business. Yakuza love using that kind of cover. Everyone could've seen through it.

I'm telling you, they only look for new faces like you when they're lacking in manpower. It's probably a scheme to line some family member's own wallet.

Besides, you've been trying to split with the family for so long, people definitely know by now, which means there'll definitely be people thinking of making you their fall guy—a patsy who's not gonna implicate the Kinsekikai and who can't fight back.

I know it's risky... but their starting payment's pretty high, and they said once the transport's done we can have a tenth of it. One trip is all it'll take for my startup cash. I'll be able to afford the storefront and the countertop!

...You really believe they'll give you a tenth?

You already decided you wanted out of the yakuza, why get mixed in with gangs again?

Asai opens up his mouth, but he has no answer. His eyes dart towards the steam rising from the pot. It is a while before he speaks again.

...You're right, Taishou. But how else am I supposed to reassure her and her family?

Her? You mean Riko-san?

Did you know, Taishou? She doesn't want to take over her family's business, says she doesn't like cooking or minding the shop. What she really wants to do is teach kids.

And I know her parents would never leave their place to me. But that doesn't matter. I'll start my own shop from scratch, and do my best to give her a place just like home.

I-I won't stop there, either! I'm not just gonna sit pretty in my izakaya. Once the place is up and running, I'll find some other folks, have them learn bartending and cooking as well.

Once we get a steady supply of guests, I should look into renting the second floor too. I'll set up a little stage. Karaoke, rakugo, anyone can do whatever they want on it. I just want the place to feel lively.

Riko loves writing, so I'll set aside a shelf just for her works. When the customers are drinking, I'll show them off and say 'Check out the great stuff my wife wrote', heheh.

And once we have kids—hey, don't laugh, Taishou—if it's a boy, we'll name him Youta, and if it's a girl, Himari. Pretty good picks, right?

Once they're big enough for school, they'll sit at the counter doing their homework, but then run off halfway to play outside, and I'll be mixing drinks while yelling at them to come back soon.

Riko won't need to look after them, she'll be too busy teaching other kids, which means it's up to me to take care of Youta and Himari. Hey, I might not look like the type, but kids love me!

I don't want this all to be a daydream, Taishou... I don't wanna disappoint Riko.

There's always another way to solve money problems. You're not guaranteed to get paid if you trade your life for cash. What Riko-san wants is you, not some <i>mon</i>.

Considering how detailed your dream is... You can definitely do it.

Asai lowers his head deep, unmoving for a long, long while. So long that Tooru begins to worry if the man in front of him has fallen asleep, or perhaps has taken too strong a blow to his spirit.

Just as he is wondering if he should wake him up, or say a few comforting words, Asai raises his head all of a sudden, giving Tooru quite the fright.

I've got it, Taishou!

G-Got what?

Riko loves the smell of flowers, sweets, and sour fruit. There are a lot of things she likes... and I can put them all into a drink, can't I?!

I mean, sure?

I figured out what my signature drink should be like!

C'mon, Taishou, let's head to the bar!

Wha-?! You haven't even touched your oden yet—

...You know, I know the boss told me I could do whatever I want with the place, but sneaking in like this still feels wrong to me.

Ah, whatever... I'm also curious about how this special blend will turn out.

Do you think the base should be gin and pomelo liqueur, or gin and pomelo umeshu?

You set on gin?

Obviously. The flavors she likes need some kinda support, which is where I come in.

Sure, could hardly forget how much you love negronis.

Umeshu might end up too heavy. Pomelo liqueur would pair well with gin's herbaceousness, making the mix light and easy. I'd recommend going in that direction, and...

Tooru looks at the various bottles scattered across the countertop. It's hard to imagine what all these flavors mixed together would taste like.

...It'll leave some space for when you add Riko-san's favorite flavors later.

Man, you're such a pro, Taishou! I'll listen to you, then.

Next comes the jasmine syrup. She's always buying jasmine tea during the summer. Whenever she doesn't have any she grumbles like crazy, says I didn't remind her to get more and stuff.

Then elderberry liqueur. She tried it once, said it tasted like fruit candies. If I add it after the jasmine, it should taste just like the ones she likes.

Oh, right, and a drop of lemon juice.

Then comes the pomelo jam! Heh, this should add a little texture, am I right, Taishou?

The mix of sour and sweet fits pretty well with the impression Riko-san gives other people.

Next up, cystymilk—

Whoa, slow down there. Adding cystymilk now might make it too heavy. Let me think... Why not top it with cystymilk foam at the end? The layering effect would look nice, too.

I'll help you adjust the quantities of your ingredients. Gotta blend together the flavors she likes as smoothly as possible.

Alright, alright, you're the boss—

This formula should be no problem. I think Riko-san will like it a lot. Well, time to mix it in the shaker. Do you want to do it, or should I?

I'm not done just yet!

You're not?

The final ingredient is dark chocolate! Oh, don't you have any dark chocolate sauce or something, Taishou?

...Wait, dark chocolate?

I thought Riko-san likes sour and sweet flavors? Dark chocolate is really bitter.

I think she's fond of bitter too.

You sure?

Of course I am! I know everything she likes, inside and out.

There was one day in winter it was snowing like crazy, so I stepped into a konbini to wait it out when I saw a whole row of newly released chocolate bars.

I thought 'she's gonna love this stuff', so I bought a few bars of whatever the clerk said was the sweetest.

I went back, she gave me a look, unwrapped a bar, broke a piece off and shoved it in my mouth. Said something like 'You're going to have to finish off this sweet stuff yourself.'

That's when I learned the type of chocolate she ate was the real bitter stuff. She'd eat it with a frown on her face, but it's the only type she ate.

After that, whenever I head to the supermarket, I'll always subconsciously head to the dark chocolate shelf. Even if she didn't say she wanted any, I'd still buy a piece to keep in my pocket, like her habit's rubbed off on me.

After all this time, I'm still not sure if she actually likes it, or it's just something she talked herself into accepting. Not that it matters. I think that, to her, this bitterness is a must...

Heh, I've heard lots of stories over the years. People are always trying to forget the bitterness in their lives, but here you are, reminding them of it, even adding it back into their future like some kinda fool.

I've got some chocolate bitters here, one or two drops will do. If Riko-san can handle the taste, you can use the bitters to add to the flavor profile, or sprinkle some chopped dark chocolate over the top at the end.

I'll go with the bitters! One drop, two, then mix it up in the shaker—

Like this, Taishou?

Yep. Put a bit more force into it, the jam and syrups mean you'll need to shake a few more seconds. Alright, pour it out. Let's have a look.

Pale gold... Riko's definitely gonna like this! It's her favorite color!

The floating pulp adds to the cute factor, too.