Work Text:
Shinobu sighed as she glanced at the clock. It was getting close to closing time at the pharmacy. The number of customers had been slowly thinning out, leaving Shinobu by her lonesome for the last half hour or so. Through the window, Shinobu could see the orange light of sunset slowly spreading through the sky like watercolors blooming across paper.
She took out her phone from her pocket and glanced at the notifications on the screen. Earlier she had messaged her sisters and asked if they had any plans for the weekend, and it appeared they had finally responded.
Kanao: I’m spending the weekend at Nezuko’s.
Kanae: Sanemi and I are going on an outing this weekend.
Shinobu frowned. It looked like she was spending another weekend alone. Ever since the two of them had gotten partners, they had been spending more of their weekends away, leaving Shinobu by herself.
Not that she would’ve wanted to spend time with them and their significant others anyway. They were the type of couples that were so sappy and lovey-dovey and affectionate that they made you want to hurl and roll your eyes to heaven and back.
God, Shinobu wanted that.
Shinobu heard the chime of the door opening. She quickly put her phone away and looked up.
An imposing man with long fiery locks of hair, bold eyebrows, and a confident smile stood at the door.
“Welcome! Ah, it’s you, Rengoku-san.”
“Good evening, Kochou-san!”
“I trust that you’re here to pick up your sore muscle remedy?”
Rengoku nodded. “I am! It has been working like a charm these past few weeks.”
Shinobu smiled. “Good.” She stood up and walked to the shelves in the back. She sifted through the bags of prescriptions as she looked for his name.
“Do you have any plans for this weekend, Kochou-san?”
Shinobu found the bag with Rengoku’s prescription and picked it up. She glanced at him over her shoulder.
“No, not really. My sisters are busy with their significant others, so it looks like I’m alone as usual.”
“I see!”
She returned to the register and placed the bag on the counter.
“Here it is.”
“Thank you, Kochou-san!” Rengoku picked up the bag.
“Is there anything else I can do for you today?”
“Not today, but since you’re free this weekend, would you like to come to my bar? I think you would like it!”
Shinobu blinked. “What? Your bar? You have a bar? I thought you were a bodybuilder.”
“I am! But my bar is also related to bodybuilding!”
Shinobu’s eyebrows furrowed. “I—I’m not sure I understand.”
“You’ll understand if you come! I think you would have a great time. It’s the perfect place to go on the weekend if you don’t have any other plans. I’ll even give you a discount! What do you say?”
Well, Rengoku was a good guy and a trustworthy friend, and Shinobu didn’t exactly have anything better to do. She had nothing to lose.
“Okay, I guess I’ll go.”
“Great! The bar opens at 7pm tomorrow. I’ll see you then!” Rengoku waved and turned to leave the store. Shinobu stared after him.
That was… odd. Rengoku had never extended an offer like that to her before, and she had no idea what to expect.
But what she did know was that she would be in desperate need of a drink of this weekend.
She might as well take the plunge.
---------
Although the sky had grown dim, the city was brighter than ever, its streets bathed in the artificial neon light of the storefront signs. Shinobu walked down the sidewalk, scanning through the overwhelming mass of signs lining the buildings and dodging through the thick crowds. It was at night that the city seemed to truly come alive, bursting at the seams with activity.
Shinobu glanced down at the address on her phone. Rengoku had sent her the address of his bar, but it was in a part of the city she didn’t frequent often. She looked back up and at the nearby signs.
Her eyes landed on a nearby alleyway. The bar must be down there. She couldn’t seem to find it along any of the main streets.
Shinobu walked to the alley. About halfway down, she caught sight of a door and a sign next to it. She leaned in.
Muscle Bar!!
Shinobu glanced around the alley. There were no other doors or signs that she could see. This must be Rengoku’s bar.
Shinobu raised an eyebrow. A muscle bar, though? She’d never been to one, but she’d heard of them. A bunch of buff men flexing and serving you drinks. Not exactly her cup of tea.
Shinobu grabbed the handle. Well, she had promised Rengoku she would come, and she didn’t have anything to lose. At the very least, she would at least be able to get a drink.
Shinobu opened the door. The place was fairly small and cozy, but the brightly colored walls decorated with funky writing opened up the space and gave it a unique vibe. The bar sat in the center of the space, with bottles lined along the wall next to it. A small area near the bar held a couple of gym machines. There was soft thumping music playing in the background, accompanied by the sound of bright perky voices and clinking glasses.
It was a very nice bar with a lot of character. It was clear Rengoku had put much care into it.
But Shinobu wasn’t paying attention to any of that. Her eyes were not focused on the quirky colors, or the writing on the walls, or the large collection of alcohol, or the interesting setup of the room.
No, her eyes were glued to the hot, muscular women serving drinks in t-shirts with rolled up sleeves.
Oh. Oh.
This wasn’t just any muscle bar. It was a muscle girl bar.
She was not mentally prepared for this.
Shinobu continued to stand by the door, her mind racing and her lips slightly parted. She was finally startled out of her thoughts when Rengoku approached her.
“Ah, Kochou-san, you’re here! What do you think? Is this to your taste?”
To her tas—what was that supposed to mean?! Did she ever even tell him she was gay?!
Well, to be fair, it’s not like she ever talked about dating men. Or complimented them. Or spent time with them. Or gave them the time of day. Or respected them.
Oh god. Everyone knew she was gay.
“I mean, I suppose so, but—never mind. What exactly is this place? I’ve heard a bit about muscle bars before, but I don’t know much about what actually happens in them.”
“I’m glad you asked! All of the ladies here are employees who will make drinks for you and show off their muscles! You can choose which one you want to serve you drinks and exhibit their muscles!”
“I see…what an… interesting concept.” Shinobu reached out her hand to lean against the wall. Just as her hand was about to make contact, a couple of thick, perfectly sculpted biceps carrying heavy glasses passed through her vision. Her hand stuttered and missed the wall, sending her stumbling towards the side.
“Are you okay there, Kochou-san?”
Shinobu untangled her feet and straightened up. “Mhm. Just… unprepared.” And very gay.
“They’re going to be doing a show soon! Why don’t you watch it and then decide who you want to serve you?”
Shinobu looked up. “That sounds like a good idea.”
Rengoku nodded and led Shinobu to an open seat at the bar area. After a moment, the lights dimmed, and all of the women gathered around the bar.
Rengoku’s voice suddenly boomed through hidden speakers. “Presenting our muscle girls!”
Idol music started to play. The women all took off their shirts in sync, leaving them only in sports bras and yoga pants. Shinobu could now see not just their ripped arms, but their muscled backs and toned abs. She felt her cheeks grow warm.
The lights turned back on, and the women began to dance and sing along with the music while flexing their muscles. Shinobu found herself overwhelmed, her eyes darting from person to person while trying to take it all in. The show was intense, and it felt almost embarrassing to watch, yet she couldn’t take her eyes off it.
Shinobu’s gaze eventually found a place to settle when the women did self-introductions for the customers. Each woman stepped into the bar area while showing off their bodies and saying their names. All of the women were very attractive, and Shinobu was having trouble figuring out which one to choose to serve her until the final one came up.
The woman had thick pink and green hair tied into three braids that bounced as she skipped over. Her emerald eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, and her wide smile was so cute and genuine that it was contagious.
Shinobu found herself drawn to the woman. She watched as she waved her arms to the music and flexed her thick deltoids and chiseled back.
“I’m Mitsuri Kanroji! Nice to meet you all!” She turned in a circle and waved at everyone.
Wow… she was so cute.
Suddenly, the woman caught Shinobu’s gaze. She smiled at Shinobu and flexed her bicep for her before turning around and bringing her attention to the other patrons.
Shinobu blushed. Her decision was made.
Mitsuri stepped away from the bar, and the music began to quiet down a bit. Rengoku came over to where Shinobu was sitting.
“So, what did you think? Do you have any idea who you’re going to pick?” he asked.
“The show was quite entertaining. All of the women are great, but I think I’m going to have to go with Kanroji-san.”
Rengoku smiled. His eyes twinkled with mirth. “Good choice! I think you’ll enjoy her very much!” He stepped away for a moment and quickly came back, Mitsuri in tow.
“Feel free to order what you want! It’s on the house!” Rengoku said.
“Are you sure? I can pay.”
“Nonsense! This is the least I can do to repay you for everything you’ve done to help me out!”
“Well, if you insist.”
Rengoku nodded. “Have fun!” He handed Shinobu a menu and walked away, leaving Shinobu and Mitsuri alone.
Mitsuri smiled shyly, her cheeks a bit pink. “Hello, it’s nice to meet you. What’s your name?”
“Shinobu Kochou.”
“Ah, such a pretty name! Do you mind if I call you Shinobu-chan?”
“Not at all.”
Mitsuri clapped her hands together. “Yay! So, do you have any idea what you might want to order? I’m willing to do anything!”
She was so sweet and adorable. Shinobu hid her slightly pink face behind the menu and scanned through it. After a moment, she found what she wanted.
“Can I get number 6?”
Mitsuri nodded. “Of course!”
Mitsuri walked behind the counter. She picked up a glass and a few bottles and set them down. She mixed the drinks together in the glass before taking out an orange and cutting it in half. She placed a plate next to the glass and set the orange halves on it.
The lights suddenly dimmed. Bright, bubbly music began to play once more. Mitsuri pumped her arms to the music and posed, flexing her triceps and turning around to show off her back muscles. Finally, she reached over to pick up the orange halves and displayed them for Shinobu to see before squeezing them into the drink. She squeezed them one at a time, raising her hands up as the juice leaked from the fruit and plopped into the glass. Shinobu could see the little muscles in her forearms flexing and tightening as she clenched the oranges.
Once the oranges were completely squeezed out, Mitsuri flexed her arms one last time for Shinobu before pushing the drink over to her.
“Here’s your drink! I hope you enjoy it! I’ll be right back with you after I perform in this next show.”
Shinobu smiled. “Thank you.”
Mitsuri walked away. Shinobu picked up the glass. The drink was a bright, vibrant orange. She could smell the fresh fruit in it.
She took a sip. It was cold and very refreshing. Although the sweet flavor and scent of the fruit was strong, Shinobu could still taste hints of the earthy notes of shochu. Overall, it was a great balance of flavors.
Shinobu continued to nurse her drink as she watched the muscle girls perform. They were all very nice and enthusiastic, but she felt her attention always being drawn back to Mitsuri. A few times, they caught each other’s eye, making Mitsuri smile and blush a tiny bit.
Finally, when Shinobu was close to the end of her drink, the show finished. Mitsuri let out a breath and walked back to Shinobu.
“How was your drink?”
“It was great, thank you. The fruit was a nice touch. Both for its freshness and the show.”
Mitsuri blushed and looked down. “I—I’m glad you enjoyed it. Can I get you anything else?”
“Thank you, but for now I think I’m—”
“I know exactly what you need!”
Shinobu nearly fell out of her seat. Rengoku had suddenly materialized behind her.
“Kanroji, since she liked the fruit squeezing, why don’t you give her the watermelon special?”
Mitsuri’s cheeks turned pinker. “Ehh?! A—are you sure?”
“What’s the watermelon special? I don’t recall seeing that on the menu,” Shinobu said.
Rengoku smiled and crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s a special item not listed on the menu! I think it would be perfect! Give me one moment!” He disappeared into the back, and quickly reappeared with a whole watermelon and a poncho.
Rengoku placed the fruit on the counter. “The drink uses crushed watermelon! Just like the other drink, Kanroji will prepare the fruit for you!”
Shinobu looked at the thick, heavy watermelon. “How is she going to crush this? With a hammer?”
“With her thighs!”
Shinobu blinked. And blinked again. Her… thighs? Her thighs? Her thighs were that strong?
Shinobu looked up at Mitsuri. She was still blushing.
“What do you say, Kanroji?” Rengoku asked.
“Well… if Shinobu-chan wants it, then I’m okay with doing it,” Mitsuri said. She looked at Shinobu.
“I…I don’t mind. I would love to get crush—er, get the special.”
“Sounds great!” Rengoku boomed. He handed Shinobu the poncho that he was holding. “Put this on so you don’t get the watermelon on your clothes!”
“Okay…” They were really serious about this, weren’t they? Shinobu pulled the poncho over her clothes. Mitsuri got into position, her upper body leaning back against her arms and the watermelon in between her thighs.
“Ready, and… go!” Rengoku yelled.
Mitsuri squeezed her legs. Her thighs flexed and her face scrunched up. Her legs began to shake a bit and then—
Crunch!
The watermelon broke in half. Some of the insides spilled out, and a few droplets spewed across the room. Mitsuri released her legs and picked up the watermelon, revealing a crack along the center that exposed the red within. She brought the watermelon to the counter and showed it to Shinobu.
“I think I did okay! What do you think, Shinobu-chan?”
Shinobu felt blood rush to her cheeks. She looked down at the watermelon, then up at Mitsuri, then down at the watermelon again.
Think unsexy thoughts, think unsexy thoughts!
“That was very… impressive, Kanroji-san. Was it very difficult?”
"Not really. My thighs are strong from both bodybuilding and dancing.”
Think unsexy thoughts!
“I see.”
“In fact, I’ve even crushed two watermelons before!”
Help!
Shinobu’s eyes traveled down to Mitsuri’s thighs. If she could crush two watermelons between them, what else would she be able to—
“I’m going to make the drink now, so—oh, just one second. You have a bit of watermelon on your face.”
Shinobu’s eyes snapped back up. “A-ah, is that so?” Shinobu began to feel around her face but froze as Mitsuri picked up a napkin and began to dab her face.
“Aaand there we go! It’s all… gone.” Mitsuri trailed off and blushed as she realized how close she was to Shinobu’s face. Shinobu looked into Mitsuri’s eyes. She could see her eyelashes and the moles under her eyes and the tiny, microscopic movements of her irises. Her eyes darted down to Shinobu’s lips and back up again.
“S-sorry, I, uh… I’m going to make the drink now!” Mitsuri snapped out of her trance and set down the napkin. She began to scoop out the insides of the watermelon and place them in a blender. She blended the chunks into a juice, and then mixed in some tequila and other juices. Finally, she put some ice in a glass, and poured the finished drink into it.
“Here’s your drink! I hope you enjoy it!”
“Thank you.”
Shinobu took a sip. Just like the last drink, it was fresh, fruity, and invigorating.
“This is quite good.”
“Thank you, I’m glad you like it!”
Shinobu continued to sip at her drink. Mitsuri stayed silent for a moment, her hands fidgeting anxiously.
Finally, she drummed up the courage to speak. “Um, Shinobu-chan… do you want to see me use any of the exercise machines here? I—I’m sure it would be nice to have something to watch while you drink.”
Shinobu thought she might faint if she saw Mitsuri do anything hot again, but she still wanted to see it anyway. “I would love to.”
“You would? Great!” Mitsuri smiled and walked over to one of the machines. It had a small seat and a long horizontal bar suspended by a cord attached to weights. Mitsuri sat down and looked back at Shinobu.
“I hope you don’t mind me using this machine.”
“Not at all.”
Mitsuri turned back and adjusted the weights. She gripped the bar with both her hands and pulled it down to about chest level before letting it go back up. Shinobu could see the definition in the muscles along her shoulder blades and deltoids and how they rippled and flexed as she pulled down.
Oh how Shinobu would love to grab onto those muscles and run her fingertips along them as Mitsuri took he—
No! Shinobu shook her head and took another sip of her cold drink. No sexy thoughts here!
Shinobu set down her drink.
Those were for later.
Shinobu watched as Mitsuri finished up her set of exercises. The rest of the night continued in a similar fashion, with Shinobu having a couple more drinks and watching a couple more shows until it was finally closing time.
Rengoku came over to Shinobu as she was packing up her things. “So, what did you think, Kochou-san? Did you have a good time?”
Shinobu looked over. “Well, to be completely honest, I was a bit apprehensive at first, but…” Her gaze traveled to Mitsuri for a moment before she continued. “I had a surprisingly good time. Thank you.” She smiled.
Rengoku beamed. “Good! I’m glad!” He glanced around the bar and then leaned in.
“What did you think of Kanroji?” he whispered in a very loud voice.
Shinobu blushed and looked over at Mitsuri. She didn’t seem to have heard what Rengoku had said.
“A-ah, yes… she was definitely a good choice. She was very nice and friendly, and definitely…” Her mind flashed back to the way her thighs flexed when she crushed the watermelon and how her back muscles rippled when she used the machine. “friendly…” Did she already say that?
“I see! That’s good! Kanroji seemed to enjoy your company as well!”
“I—she did?”
“She’s a very good worker! A lot of customers request her, but she is single! Very single!”
“Um… okay?”
Shinobu was happy to know she was single, but… why was he telling her this?
“I just wanted to make that clear! She is single, and you are single as well!”
“Believe me, I know.”
“You both enjoy each other’s company, and you are both sing—”
“Ahaha hi Rengoku-san what are you talking about right now? Nothing embarrassing I hope.” Mitsuri suddenly appeared by Rengoku’s side, laughing nervously. Her face was red as a tomato.
“I am just stating very important facts about how you and Kochou-san are both single and—”
Mitsuri turned even redder. “Okay that’s great but I’m done cleaning and I need to go and talk to Shinobu-chan alone now sobyeseeyoulater!” Mitsuri grabbed Shinobu’s arm and dragged her outside.
Once they were out in the alleyway and the door had closed behind them, Mitsuri sighed.
“I’m sorry about him. He’s a great friend and I care about him a lot, but he’s… like that sometimes. He just cares about me and wants me to find someone.”
The gears in Shinobu’s brain finally clicked. “So… was this whole thing just an overly complicated way to set us up? That explains a lot…”
Mitsuri bashfully rubbed her neck and looked down at her feet. “Ah… yeah… I think so. He said a friend of his was coming that he wanted me to meet, but I didn’t know he was planning… this.” Mitsuri waved her hands around. “I’m sorry. It’s okay if you’re not interested or anything. I understand.”
“I never said I wasn’t interested.”
Mitsuri looked up. Her eyes were wide, and her cheeks were dusted with pink.
“Shinobu-chan?”
Shinobu smiled. “Would you like to go on a date sometime, Kanroji-san?”
Mitsuri smiled. Her eyes lit up. “I’d love to! Let me give you my number.” Shinobu fished out her phone from her purse and handed it to Mitsuri. She typed in a few things and then handed it back to Shinobu.
“Here!”
Shinobu glanced at the phone screen. Mitsuri had put in her number and name, along with a little “<3” next to it. That seemed very much like her.
“I’ve gotta get home now, but I’ll see you later! Don’t forget to text!” Mitsuri smiled one last time and waved before skipping away.
Shinobu waved back and slowly lowered her hand. She looked down at Mitsuri’s contact info again. A tiny smile came to her face.
Rengoku’s plan may not have been the smartest or most elegant, but it sure had gotten the job done. She had started out the day single and lonely and ended with a smile and the promise of a date.
Shinobu held her phone to her chest. She really hoped that this would work out. It might sound sappy, but she felt like she had a real chance to have something good with Mitsuri.
Shinobu smirked. And now she could give her sisters a taste of their own medicine.