Leaving STARRY, Kai went home, wolfed down dinner, then took the train at a run to the bar.
On the way, he noticed the Love-Obstruction panel had gained another heroine.
"Selectable Heroine," previously just Nijika, now also listed Yamada Ryō.
He had no idea what "Selectable Heroine" did, and it didn't affect him for now…
…
He rode to the border of Shibuya and Shinjuku.
Through the rush-hour streets, he arrived at a bar called "morke."
No hesitation—he pushed the door open.
The space was smaller than STARRY—much smaller.
A piano piece he didn't know was playing. The mood was very quiet.
morke was more a lounge bar; calmer than a normal pub.
Though it was still spring, the AC was set low; compared to the pleasant air outdoors, the bar felt a touch chilly.
It was still early; there were customers, but not many.
He slipped into the storeroom, changed into his work clothes, and took his place behind the counter.
Right on time: five o'clock sharp.
The owner, a woman lounging on the bar, raised her head when he came in. She looked at him, then at her watch.
She blinked, then teased, "How many times is this now—walking behind the counter at exactly 5:00? Your time management is something else, Aoki-kun."
"Pure coincidence, pure coincidence…"
Bosses didn't love clock-punchers. Even knowing she was joking, Kai played it down.
She rolled her eyes—as if—then stood up.
"Your show now. I'll take over around one."
"Got it," he said.
He watched her leave, then drew his eyes back.
With few customers, the bartender/waiter had a bit of peace.
Except—
Just as he sat down for a breather, the door opened.
So much for rest.
He sighed and looked up—
And froze.
A woman with jet-black hair walked in. About twenty-five.
Long beige coat to the knees, light blue jeans beneath.
Beautiful face, top-tier figure. They weren't far apart—he could see how fine her skin was.
But that wasn't why he was surprised.
He knew her too well—
Twenty-seven (give or take), unmarried—Hiratsuka Shizuka.
He drew a long breath, tamped down his shock, and was about to speak when she beat him to it.
Without looking at him, she let curious eyes roam the space and asked, "Hey, kid, any recommendations?"
He wondered why she was here—but he stayed professional.
"I'm decent at margaritas. Would you like to try one, miss?"
She paused at the sound of his voice.
Only then did she set her eyes on him.
Seeing his face, she frowned slightly.
As a high-school teacher, she prided herself on her eye. Maybe not a department-store clerk who could peg someone's bank account by looks, but at least good enough to tell if someone was a high-schooler.
This bartender…
Voice and face both screamed "high school."
Japanese law forbids minors from drinking. Most schools also forbid bar work.
She was curious, but didn't show it. After a short silence, she sat at the counter.
"I'll have a margarita. Thanks."
"Right away." He nodded.
A margarita wasn't complicated. A few minutes later, he served it.
She thanked him but didn't drink.
Fingers tapping the counter, she asked in a casual, chatty tone, "Kid, you don't look that old. High-schooler?"
"…"
His posture stiffened.
Most high schools allowed part-time work on weekends but with restrictions.
Like hour caps. Applications. And…
No jobs in adult-only venues like bars.
Jōsei, his school, forbade bar work.
Hearing her question, Kai swallowed.
If it were anyone else, fine. But this woman was a teacher—fiercely responsible, fiercely protective—Hiratsuka Shizuka.
He'd have to bluff his way out—
He breathed in, kept his face blank, and went back to polishing glasses as he answered flatly, "I just look young. Not a high-schooler."
Hiratsuka wasn't so easily bluffed.
She hadn't touched the drink. She watched him and said, "That so… Say, kid, you know Jōsei Private High? I remember they have a rule against students working in bars."
His hands faltered.
He looked from the glass to her—and realized—
He hadn't changed out of his school uniform all day: convenience store, STARRY, bento at home—and now the bar.
He'd thrown a work jacket on, which hid most of it, but a careful eye could still spot…
A sliver of school crest peeking from the cuff.
He dropped his gaze back to the glass and finished polishing, silent.
He set it down, wiped his hands, and tugged the sleeve down over the crest.
"I wouldn't know. I'm not a high-schooler."
Last-ditch struggle.
-------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (114 Chapter (Simulpub-Full) )
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (390 Chapter)
Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (254 Chapter)
MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (140 Chapter)
BLEACH: Blade of Purification (158 Chapter)
Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (400 Chapter)
My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (140 Chapter)
The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (166 Chapter)
Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(80 Chapter)
Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (200 Chapter)
Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (190 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (120 Chapter)
Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (96 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (140 Chapter)
My Wife is a General, but I'm an Emanator of Abundance! (150 Chapter)
Type-Moon: My Nine-Fold Path (140 Chapter)
Uma Musume: They're Peeking at My Diary, and All of Tracen is Panickin (Ending)
The Wild History of Type-Moon world (70 Chapter)
Reborn in Conan, But I Refuse to Be the Bad Guy (80 Chapter)
Ruan Mei is begging me to go back? But there's no going back anymore (140 Chapter)
Just a Slacker at Tracen Academy (165 Chapter)
Survival in Blue Archive (70 Chapter)
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Doma Wasn't Hated Today, Either (100 Chapter)
The Vibe of This Chat Group is a Little Off (100 Chapter)
Heartbreak Simulator: I Broke Them and Made Them Cry (80 Chapter)
The Talentless Trainer Doesn't Want to Restart (80 Chapter)
A Journey Starting as a Quincy (80 Chapter)
Uma Musume: The Master of Romance Obstruction (80 Chapter)
Uma Musume: You Can't Be a Hero Without a Little Chemical Enhancement (40 Chapter)
Honkai Impact 3rd Your Boyfriend is Really Amazing (40 Chapter)
Warhammer 40K: My Fiancée, Fulgrim (168 Chapter)
Classroom of the Elite: Trying to Capture Me! (120 Chapter)
Genshin Impact My Named Senji Muramas (150 Chapter)
A Chef, the Vice-Captain of the Rocks Pirates? (160 Chapter)
Naruto : My Uchiha Girlfriend is Too Tsundere (130 Chapter)
Type-Moon: Reincarnated in a Lostbelt, I Became the Alien God (90 Chapter)
The Way These Horse Girls Look at Me Is Terrifying! (160 Chapter)
Naruto: Tsunade's Deskmate (130 Chapter)
I Just Want to Live a Normal (50 Chapter).
Genshin Impact: A Hundred Confessions? It's Just a System Task (70 Chapter)
OnePiece : Starting as a Veteran of the Roger Pirates (60 Chapter)
Uma Musume : I Have Special Horse Taming Techniques (170 Chapter)
Uma Musume : My other self is a Horse Girl (110 Chapter)
Jujutsu Kaisen : All Affection Stats Maxed Out (150 Chapter)
Bleach : Ichigo! Take Over the Soul Society (30 Chapter)
Crossover Anime: The Master of Plagiarism with a 'Love Obstacle (50 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it