You would think so, maybe, but Nishikiyama-kun doesn't bring a lot of others here too often. Yumi-chan and Kiryu-chan...
[ Reina trails her sentence off, wondering if she's already said too much. A glance moves to the restroom, and then back to the counter somewhere. ]
Neither of his closest friends can come to the bar these days.
[ Behind the restroom door Nishikiyama can be heard, muffled, complaining to himself. It's hard to make out, but a soft and uninteresting toilet flush follows. ]
I think it's a good thing he brought you. He must like you to introduce us.
[ Mine's gaze sharpens subtly as Reina mentions Kiryu's name. He repeats it, almost to himself. ]
Kiryu?
[ It slips out before he thinks to stop it, or maybe it's because of thinking too much. With Reina bringing up Kiryu and Nishikiyama, who'd had a particular reaction, still occupied in the restroom, Mine sees an opportunity. He’s curious. His gaze remains on level with Reina, but it drifts slightly aside. ]
Because he’s in prison…
[ The words are a statement rather than another question. He leaves the implication hanging. What about Yumi– the thought lingers in his mind, but it’s not where his focus lies. Mine feels a strange tightness in his throat, a mix of feeling special for being brought here and the tension of probing into sensitive territory. ]
[ Reina is cautious as she speaks, unsure of what Mine does or doesn't know about Kiryu. The fact that he killed the chairman, though, seems to be common knowledge in the yakuza— notoriety that had always struck her as out of character, but without concrete reason to suspect differently. Nobody had denied it. Not Nishikiyama, not Kiryu. Yumi herself no where to be seen. Reina thinks of how lonely Nishikiyama must be now and her expression sombers. ]
Mm. Nishikiyama-kun used to be so cheerful, but he's been different ever since he became a patriarch. Sometimes he doesn't talk at all, and gets so drunk that he sleeps here until morning.
[ As the door knob of the restroom gives a soft rattle, she tries to cue Mine to cut the conversation short with a subtle nod. Her gaze moves onto Nishikiyama as he steps out. ]
Your toilet almost ate my keys.
I wondered what you were so upset about in there, but it felt rude to ask.
[ A small and simple karaoke pad and two microphones are set out for Mine and Nishikiyama to use. While they aren't the latest models, they still seem well-loved by the establishment. Nishikiyama sits beside Mine, a little closer than he had been when he left. Reina is readying other items for fun, like mini-maracas she found sold at a trinket shop. She hands one of them over to Mine, it's size like a baby rattle. ]
Mine, you like rock music?
[ There is a correct answer to this question that is quite obvious by how Nishikiyama prompts it. ]
[ Mine’s eyes linger on the subtle shift in Reina’s expression, the bits and pieces she does share of moments he isn't part of, before the sound of the rattling door pulls his attention back to the moment. Mine takes a breath in favor of replying to Reina again. The shift in conversation Nishikiyama brings with is sudden and the lack of distance between them feels immediately more intimate. The mini-maraca in hand—with shifting around it makes sound, too—Mine's posture subtly straightens. ]
Rock music?
[ His voice is smooth, with just the right amount of intrigue. He knows the right answer, or at least what Nishikiyama wants to hear. ]
[ The correct answer! Nishikiyama begins to push on the rubber keypad console, putting in a number he's apparently memorized and watching the TV as it reflects back to him correctly— ]
[ —but an error appears in place of the expected song title. Reina frowns behind him when he tries adding it again, only for the error to reappear with the same Not Found required. ]
Do you even keep this thing updated anymore, Reina?
[ Reina leans over the counter to look at the console. ]
You're so quick to be negative, Nishikiyama-kun. It might depend on when the song came out.
It was earlier this year. [ He huffs. ]
They changed the way the numbers are put in, you know? Try putting a 0 in front.
[ Reina's suggestion works, and to Nishikiyama's delight, he's able to sing the X Japan song he wanted to, Forever Love. After adjusting the key down by a whopping -4 tones, he's pulled it down into his range where he'll actually stand a chance howling out the chorus. Amazing.
Reina loves this, naturally. As Nishikiyama sings his little song, she happily gazes at him in the back without hiding her admiration. ]
[ Forever Love, huh… Mine leans back in his seat. As Nishikiyama pours himself into the song, his fingers tap lightly against the maraca. Almost absentmindedly, but rhythmically.
There’s something about the way Reina watches Nishikiyama—with open admiration—that stirs a flicker of uncertainty within Mine. He glances at her again. Does Nishikiyama see how she feels? The thought catches Mine off guard. His smile is subtle, but it’s impossible to ignore the unspoken tension. ]
Good choice.
[ After the song ends. His voice is quieter than intended. ]
[ Nishikiyama is proud of himself when he finishes. His shoulders are higher than they were, and he swings side to side a couple of times on the bar stool's swivel. Reina is fawning there across from them, but perhaps to Mine's delight, it's clear that Nishikiyama hadn't been fishing for her compliments at all. She's background noise— like the sound of a passing train, or rain from the sky. Satisfied by Mine's praise, Nishikiyama starts to light another cigarette— he forgets that the man across him is a subordinate of his at all. ]
[ Mine feels the heat of Nishikiyama's gaze on him again, Reina's reaction left by the wayside. He looks down at the glow of the cigarette near his face. Even in this setting, the usual routines feel distant. Mine’s fingers hover over his own glass, his throat tightens slightly. He hesitates for a moment, when he considers performing in front of Nishikiyama and Reina. He looks at the karaoke pad and makes the decision to search up a song. ]
I'll try this one.
[ It's popular, too, and came out the same year, Namonaki Uta by Mr. Children. Down-tuned some steps as well. Conversely, Mine doesn't think about the content of the lyrics here.
He trades the lone maraca for the microphone. As the music starts, his voice is quiet initially but gradually steadier. While he doesn't lean into the music as Nishikiyama did, it's apparent that he's not a bad singer. He even blossoms on the English snippets in the texts. ]
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no subject
Date: 2024-08-09 08:22 am (UTC)[ Reina trails her sentence off, wondering if she's already said too much. A glance moves to the restroom, and then back to the counter somewhere. ]
Neither of his closest friends can come to the bar these days.
[ Behind the restroom door Nishikiyama can be heard, muffled, complaining to himself. It's hard to make out, but a soft and uninteresting toilet flush follows. ]
I think it's a good thing he brought you. He must like you to introduce us.
[ Reina hopes she's special! ]
no subject
Date: 2024-08-20 06:49 am (UTC)Kiryu?
[ It slips out before he thinks to stop it, or maybe it's because of thinking too much. With Reina bringing up Kiryu and Nishikiyama, who'd had a particular reaction, still occupied in the restroom, Mine sees an opportunity. He’s curious. His gaze remains on level with Reina, but it drifts slightly aside. ]
Because he’s in prison…
[ The words are a statement rather than another question. He leaves the implication hanging. What about Yumi– the thought lingers in his mind, but it’s not where his focus lies. Mine feels a strange tightness in his throat, a mix of feeling special for being brought here and the tension of probing into sensitive territory. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-09-01 06:17 am (UTC)Mm. Nishikiyama-kun used to be so cheerful, but he's been different ever since he became a patriarch. Sometimes he doesn't talk at all, and gets so drunk that he sleeps here until morning.
[ As the door knob of the restroom gives a soft rattle, she tries to cue Mine to cut the conversation short with a subtle nod. Her gaze moves onto Nishikiyama as he steps out. ]
Your toilet almost ate my keys.
I wondered what you were so upset about in there, but it felt rude to ask.
[ A small and simple karaoke pad and two microphones are set out for Mine and Nishikiyama to use. While they aren't the latest models, they still seem well-loved by the establishment. Nishikiyama sits beside Mine, a little closer than he had been when he left. Reina is readying other items for fun, like mini-maracas she found sold at a trinket shop. She hands one of them over to Mine, it's size like a baby rattle. ]
Mine, you like rock music?
[ There is a correct answer to this question that is quite obvious by how Nishikiyama prompts it. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-10-01 04:57 pm (UTC)Rock music?
[ His voice is smooth, with just the right amount of intrigue. He knows the right answer, or at least what Nishikiyama wants to hear. ]
I do like it.
1/3
Date: 2024-10-14 11:27 am (UTC)2/3
Date: 2024-10-14 11:32 am (UTC)Do you even keep this thing updated anymore, Reina?
[ Reina leans over the counter to look at the console. ]
You're so quick to be negative, Nishikiyama-kun. It might depend on when the song came out.
It was earlier this year. [ He huffs. ]
They changed the way the numbers are put in, you know? Try putting a 0 in front.
3/3
Date: 2024-10-14 11:35 am (UTC)Reina loves this, naturally. As Nishikiyama sings his little song, she happily gazes at him in the back without hiding her admiration. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-10-15 11:16 am (UTC)There’s something about the way Reina watches Nishikiyama—with open admiration—that stirs a flicker of uncertainty within Mine. He glances at her again. Does Nishikiyama see how she feels? The thought catches Mine off guard. His smile is subtle, but it’s impossible to ignore the unspoken tension. ]
Good choice.
[ After the song ends. His voice is quieter than intended. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-10-24 05:09 pm (UTC)Your turn now.
[ He says. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-10-31 09:43 am (UTC)I'll try this one.
[ It's popular, too, and came out the same year, Namonaki Uta by Mr. Children. Down-tuned some steps as well. Conversely, Mine doesn't think about the content of the lyrics here.
He trades the lone maraca for the microphone. As the music starts, his voice is quiet initially but gradually steadier. While he doesn't lean into the music as Nishikiyama did, it's apparent that he's not a bad singer. He even blossoms on the English snippets in the texts. ]