Chapter Text
It was a cold winter night, snow was beginning to fall. Christmas and New Years had passed and the holiday rushes had slowed down. The holidays meant Akiyama was even busier than normal, so many people came to him for money to get gifts and the like. Most of them he turned down because they would blow up at him for requesting a test, or fail the test completely. Hana had left the office right before a particularly ornery customer came in asking for a donation of three million yen. They demanded Akiyama just give them the money because they viewed him as a charity and not a money lender. Normally Akiyama kept his cool, but this time he had given a roundhouse kick to the guy’s face and tossed him out of the office. Literally.
He decided tonight he needed a drink. It wasn’t something he normally did, but the asshole had really gotten on his nerves. Stepping outside made him realize how cold it was, snow had begun to stick to the ground too. Walking across town to his usual spot of Earth Angel was out of the question. But there was a bar two stories down in this building. What the hell, why not try a new spot. Carefully going down the stairs and around to the front, he took the elevator up to Serena.
Entering the bar, Akiyama noticed it was completely empty except for the mama. He stood and stared at the her for a minute before shaking it off and going to take a seat at the counter. Thankfully she didn’t notice he had come in since she was cleaning a glass.
“Oh, welcome to Serena! This must be your first time here,” the mama said, smiling slightly.
“Ah, yeah it is. I work at the office two floors above you. Sky Finance.”
“Yes, I’ve heard a lot of things about you, Akiyama-san. Your customers frequently stop in after visiting you.”
“Heh, well I guess you know about me, but what’s your name?”
“It’s Reina. Nice to meet you. First drink is on the house, what would you like?”
Akiyama settled for the Macallan 12 year. He was enraptured watching her small, delicate hands put the ice in the glass and pour the scotch into the glass. She set the glass on the counter and he took it and sipped it, relishing the smooth scotch go down his throat. He sighed, tension he didn’t realize he had was being released.
“So, Akiyama-san, why exactly do you give out loans without collateral and such?”
A small chuckle escaped his throat as he set his glass down and shifted to lean on his hands, which rested on the counter.
“Well, I want to give back to Kamurocho. It saved me and allowed me to even get back here. I was homeless and bankrupt, so I want to help people in the same position. I give them tests to gauge their will and dedication.”
Reina smiled, clearly entertained and interested by this new customer. She finished cleaning the glass and set it back on the shelf before pouring herself a small glass of Yamazaki and setting it on the counter. Akiyama watched her walk from behind the counter, finally able to gauge her full figure. Damn, she was gorgeous. Reina went and locked the front door, making Akiyama raise a questioning eyebrow at her. She walked back over and sat beside him, taking a sip of her own drink.
“I’m not going to get any more customers tonight. And I wanted to relax a little myself,” she stated, drinking down the rest of her drink.
That made sense to Akiyama, everyone needed a break once in a awhile. That’s why he came here after all. Reina and Akiyama chatted about the holidays, crazy customers they both got, and ended up discovering they knew quite a few people in common. Kiryu, Date, some other citizens of Kamurocho, they all had come in here for drinks or business at one point or another.
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Reina was truly interested in this man, not because of his money or looks, but because he seemed so genuine. True to his convictions, much like the men they both knew. But Akiyama seemed much wiser than these men, like he could actually grasp what was happening with the world.
Sure, she got customers like him sometimes, but normally they got drunk and began to hit on her. It was the one thing she hated about her job- all the men that thought they could take advantage of her. Kiryu had shown her a few self defense moves just in case, and instructed her to keep pepper spray or something she could bludgeon against someone if necessary. Kiryu was always a call away, but now...maybe someone else who was closer could help her.
“So, do you live in Kamurocho then, Reina-san?” Akiyama asked, snapping Reina out of her fantasies.
“Oh, yes I do. But I stay in the back of the bar sometimes if I end up closing late. It used to be a brothel so there’s space.”
“Huh, funny enough I end up sleeping on the couch in my office more than I want to admit.”
“You should see a masseuse or a chiropractor then,” she offered as she fixed her hair a little.
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That idea was pretty tempting, especially if….No, Akiyama just met her, it was unacceptable to think of someone like that yet. The alcohol was really starting to get to him, especially his libido. Exactly why Akiyama didn’t drink much. He had gotten handsy a couple of times with Hana but was swiftly shut down by a kick to the nether region. Akiyama was just so entranced by Reina. Her mannerisms, her smile, how she presented herself, even the trace of perfume he could smell over her.
Painfully forcing himself not to make a move on her just yet, Akiyama stretched and pulled out some money, setting it on the counter.
“Ah, Akiyama-san, I told you the first drink is on the house,” Reina said, trying to hand the money back to him.
“Consider it a tip for the wonderful service tonight,” he pushed the money back into her hand and proceeded to walk out the back door.
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Reina sighed a little, a feeling of loneliness washed over her. It wasn’t often that she felt like this, just normally when a good friend had left. She put the money into the register and finished closing up for the night.
Akiyama was a very enjoyable man, nothing too vulgar, intelligent, yet strong. He also cracked quite a few jokes that made her laugh. It was difficult for her to laugh anymore, not after Nishiki had passed. But that was still 6 years in the past. She should have never loved Nishiki. He treated her nice at first, but then he turned. He hit her. He screamed at her. Nothing she tried to do for him had been right.
What a dick, Reina thought. She was shocked at this thought, but...it wasn’t wrong. Nishiki never loved her, it was always Yumi. The memory still surfaced in her mind constantly.
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It had been Yumi’s birthday. Reina suggested Kiryu get a ring, so he left to do that. Reina sent Yumi out to get some groceries so she and Nishiki could set up the party. The pair laughed and joked as they set up the cheesy decorations. They finished and Nishiki pulled out a long jewelry box. He excitedly showed Reina the gorgeous necklace he picked out for Yumi.
Reina was filled with jealousy. Why hadn’t she gotten a necklace on her birthday? Why did nobody think to do these things for her? Nishiki knew that she loved him, why didn’t ever show some damn appreciation? Reina faked a smile and told Nishiki the necklace was beautiful and helped him and Kiryu wrap their gifts before the party started.
Reina didn’t realize a few tears had slid down her face as she remembered these situations. She wiped them and slammed a fist down on the counter.
That was it. She was determined to find someone that would care for her like Kiryu and Nishiki cared for Yumi. She deserved it after all these years, right? Right. Reina turned off the lights and went into the back, lying down on the makeshift bed. She was going to find someone, that was decided in her mind.
Kiryu was out, he was not someone he could handle. Date-san was too much tied up in his job, an ex-wife and a kid. Not something she wanted. Akiyama was a new face, maybe she could give him a chance. There were many other regulars that crossed her mind, but nobody seemed to fit the bill.
Nobody. She would have to wait until love found her, or maybe she could try dating around. She tossed and turned, unable to get comfortable. Her mind wouldn’t stop turning and her body was filled with anxious nerves. Before she knew it, she was outside the door of Sky Finance. It was dark inside. The door was locked. Nobody was home.
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Akiyama had gone to a hotel for the night, deciding staying too close to Reina could have ended in something he might regret. He needed space himself, as much as he felt bad for leaving her alone. He flopped into the hotel’s mattress and stared at the ceiling, thinking how wild this day had been.
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Reina felt the same way. Everything was wild and not going how she wanted, but she was learning to accept it. She laid back down in bed and decided to force herself to sleep. Maybe tomorrow wouldn’t hurt as much.