~ Bar Sea Guardian ~
"What a nice comfy room, yeah it was worth the price"
"..."
"Let's know some dudes"
Kizuna down the stars, she sees again the authentic British bar, the place is filled with a cozy and elegant atmosphere, decorated with dark wood furniture, leather sofas, and antique lamps, near the waitress, a collection of over 200 kinds of whiskey, brandy, cocktails, and spirits, as well as a variety of snacks and hors d'oeuvres, at the time, very few people on their tables, possible young tourists.
[ No one good for a target huh? I don't want to talk in group that soo- ]
Kizuna's thoughts are stopped as she notices a young man in the hall, his earpods accidentally slip out of his smartphone, making his music call her attention.
"Not so lucky today? How are you doing?"
???: "Uh... Me?"
The youthful shows a clear lack of social experience, he gets intimidated by Kizuna's closeness, as many times, she enters people's personal space as if it was her own.
???: "I'm better now"
"That's good to know, waiting for someone?"
???: "No I wasn't, I'm just passing time, what about you?"
After a casual chit-chat, Kizuna notices someone entering the bar, a strange girl with a hopeless look, the girl gets closer to the waiter and orders a whisky.
"I got more jokes still"
???: "You have an incredible sense of humor, I must admit"
"Well, nothing that some interesting story doesn't change how you see the world"
???: "You learned this from which book?"
"I just read a little, I don't know If It will fit your tastes, but I think It's interesting to be open mind, give a look at 'The woman in the purple skirt' by Natsuko Inamura"
???: "Thanks for the recommendation"
Slowly Kizuna's eyes move from him to the odd girl again, sitting alone at the entrance, drinking a whisky, a royal guard, scotch, her skirt have a pale purple color.
[ What a beautiful coincidence, maybe I should check her ]
"You see that girl there?"
???: "Hm? That who entered now? She will probably do something soon"
"And I will go do something as well, speak with her, thanks for the talk"
???: "Uh?" [ What I did wrong? Did I lose a chance, was she even interested in me? But the way she gazed at my eyes... Oh man, seriously? ]
Kizuna approaches the stranger, which doesn't seem to know how to drink, the girl drank a shot too quickly, she seems out of place.
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"
???: "No"
"Give me the same as before... And a cup of cold water"
Waiter: "As you wish ma'am"
"Good morning little princess, how is your night?"
After a few seconds of refusal, the girl slowly turns her head up, and her blurry vision gets frightened by Kizuna's closeness, some centimeters away from her face.
"My name is Kizuna by the way" She adds with a soft voice as she gives back the air she took to herself, she finally gets to examine the situation of the person, she seems tired as a person who never sleep, her hair seems a dying tree, the two black holes on her face are what she would call 'eyes'
"Oh... I didn't mean to stare..."
"It's all right, I enjoy it when people admire me"
"My name is Aikiyo... No... It's Akira... Wait it's Sato"
"Sato, Akira, eh? Have plans for tonight?"
"Plans? I head plans..."
"Head?"
"I mean had, I had plans... But I don't think I can... Execute them"
"You exaggerated on the drink? Light up, drink water"
Akira looks reluctant, she doesn't know how to react, her delayed mind makes it hard to do a proper judgment.
"Here, I help you, open your mouth"
Kizuna kindly takes the cup, lifts Kizuna's chin, and slowly gives her the water, like a mother feeding a child. [ This can go to my list of odd situations, I shouldn't take this so lightly ]
"1... 2... 3..." Kizuna counts with the last drops of light mood, she closes her face and sharps her eyes to make the decisions she believes that is right.
"..."
"Feeling better now? You are not much of drinking, are you?"
"No, I'm not"
"I noticed"
"..."
"Eat what I ordered, it's on my account"
"Sandwich?"
"I can't eat alone, I'm getting slightly over my weight, I want to stay skinny a little more"
"I'm too fat to eat anything"
"That's why we will split, c'mon take a bite"
Kizuna's fast thoughts are rewarded, Akira slowly starts to eat, with much indifference, her pale skin color contrasts how bad her state is, empty.
[ Things are pretty bad it seems, I wonder what happened to her, the way I'm acting will only make things worse, that's not the first time I talk with someone like that, but it's the first real one, I need to be double more careful now, everything counts, my voice, my body language, the words I use, she said execute didn't she? Akira probably means something about acting against her own life ]
[ Maybe I should ask to talk in a private place, but we don't have any friendship yet, this will only make things worse, giving her food was a wise choice, now I have time to think ]
* 5 minutes later *
"Was it good?"
"Yes"
"Do you mind having a friendly talk with me?"
"N-No I don't"
"I know what you are thinking, but I don't know how is to be you, I didn't endure what you did, and I know, I won't be able to understand you, only you can do that, but there is something I can do at last, help you"
"..."
Kizuna slowly places her hand on Akira's shoulder, she feels her coldness, the girl seems like a statue, she doesn't move, barely blinks, Akira doesn't want to look at anyone, if she could she would disappear from the place, she crosses her fingers and her legs, but doesn't deny Kizuna's approaches.
"What happened to you, can you tell me?"
"No... I can't"
"It's ok, you don't need to force yourself, I won't stop you from executing your plan, it's your choice, your life, but have in mind that your life does matter, everyone can be a better person if they try, I assure you, that I will help with what you need if you chose to not do"
"There is nothing to be done, I lost all the chances they gave me"
"Hmm... Are you sure about that?"
"Yes I am"
[ Ah I know what to do now, not the best plan, but I shouldn't be wrong if the purpose is good ]
"Then, indeed, I can't do much about it, you were drinking before, do you want more?"
"Yes please"
"Waiter, come here please"
* 20 minutes later *
Akira drank more 3 shots of whisky, barely talking as the time passed, but Kizuna smartly got information about the situation, after being dragged to the court Aki-
"Where am I?"
"On my bedroom, I let you slept here for some time, It's 9 pm"
"Your... Bedroom? Who are you?"
"Kizuna, yes I like being called by my first name, but let this for later"
"I... Wait I'm not in jail... Where am I?"
"On... My bedroom?"
Sato slowly sits on the King-sized bed, and she notices how comfortable the blankets are,
"So... What place are we, wasn't a bar?"
"Yes, New Grand, has a bar on the first floor, does the name "Sea Guardian" rings a bell?"
"Yes..."
"Do you feel better now? We can ask whatever you feel like you need, I pay for it"
"No it's ok, thanks for your concern, I don't have how to repay your kindness"
"Do you mind if I sit more closer?"
"I... Don't?"
Kizuna slowly crawls onto the large bed and sits on Akira's side, carefully she envelopes her arm toward Akira's shoulder's.
"Relax, we are alone now, I think it's good at last, privacy to talk about your situation, things shouldn't be like that"
"..."
"So... Uh... Have something more in mind? I don't know much to say it"
"I..."
"I don't know"
"Hmm I know, if you are worried about sleep, you can stay this night with me, or alone if you wish, I can get another bedroom for myself"
"I don't know..."
"It's not a problem really, it seems you don't have head to talk, do you want to sleep more?"
"I'm fine, I have things to do"
"... I don't think so, what if I show you around? You probably think that's the best solution, don't you? So... Why not check how life is first before you go? A nice food, entertainment"
"I'm not allowed to have that"
"Why not? It's on my account, relax, I take full responsibility for everything"
"Why do you want to help me?"
"Do I need a reason?"
"... I suppose not, that's honorable"
"And it's good for you as well, win-win my friend, so, maybe we should put your problems aside for now, we are no caveman, we have technology"
"What do you mean?"
"Movies? How does it sound? Let's order some snacks and relax, oh, of course, no second intentions from me, just have a good time"
"Second... Intentions?"
"Better we not talk about this, not weird the situation, ya know, anything you would like to see?"
"I... Don't know many movies"
"Hmmm, like, nothing, nothing at all?"
"Yes"
"What aboooout, avengers? Sounds cool?"
"What is it about?"
"You... Don't like outside things? Oh ok, that's normal I suppose, spiderman? He is famous even here"
"Uh... Peter?"
"Yep, did you see the spider verse? Pretty cool right?"
"... No"
"Seriously? Where you were the past year?"
"In... Jail"
"Oh..."
* 2 hours later *
"Someone seems lighter, better now?"
"Uh... Right"
"That's good, it will be midnight soon, do you want to stay awake till morning?"
"It's... Near my sleep time, I think I can... Stay awake a few more times"
"Hm... I see, afraid of sleep? Well, we can't deny such an important need, I know what will relax you"
"Uh... What?"
"Bear hug!"
"What!?"
How the world would be, if people were more kind?