Chapter Text
Since their parents, Mari and Tadashi, had business to attend to in Tokyo, the youngest siblings of the Kusanagi family, Kyashi and Izumo, had been left in the care of their uncle Mizuomi, who was in charge of the bar HOMRA.
The bar was brightly illuminated by sunlight streaming through the windows, causing the counter to shine with gloss. It had a wooden floor and a comfy looking leather sofa. All this made for a simple yet stylish interior. Izumo couldn’t help but look in wonder at the multitude of expensive liquor bottles with labels in foreign languages.
“So, how do you like this adults-only space?” Mizuomi asked with a grin.
“Colourful,” was all Kyashi said as she held onto her older brother’s hand with her pudgy fingers.
“… Not bad, I guess?” Izumo offered, closing his gaping mouth in a hurry since he was trying to sound cool and independent. “It does have an unusual feel about it, I gotta admit.”
“Yup, as it should, because a bar is a place that’s supposed to provide visitors a break from the ordinary.”
“A break from the ordinary?”
“Indeed. Patrons come to a bar in the evening, to have a drink after the responsibilities of their everyday life have been fulfilled for the day. To them, as they drink here, this place becomes a spot far removed from reality, and I become a magician that offers them this special time.”
Kyashi giggled. Even though she didn’t understand everything that her uncle had said, she had picked up on the word magician. The thought of him being like one was funny yet nice in its own way.
“I don’t get it.”
“Ah, you don’t, I see.” Mizuomi smiled cheerily. “Then, how about I make a cocktail for my cute nephew?” With that, he went to stand behind the counter.
“You will let me drink it?” Izumo asked while unable to hide his excitement. First he picked his little sister up so she could sit on one of the barstools before sitting on one himself.
Among the relatives, Mizuomi was ill-reputed as a ‘no-good man’, so Izumo naturally assumed that maybe his uncle would let him have some alcohol in secret.
Mizuomi winked playfully at him. “Of course I will. A cocktail from grapefruit and cranberry juice.”
“Just juice, huh.” Izumo pouted in disappointment.
Kyashi giggled at the sight of the pout. Her barstool was close enough to the counter so her head could perfectly rest on it. Her hands, which were lightly tapping the counter, were on either side of her head.
“C'mon, don’t say that.” Mizuomi chuckled. “This cocktail even has a wonderful name, you know. 'Virgin Breeze’. It’s just non-alcoholic.”
Mizuomi poured two types of juice into the shaker and added ice, then started shaking and rocking the shaker with practised motions. Rhythmical rattling sounds filled the bar space.
Even though Izumo thought that his uncle was making fun of him for only offering him juice, he couldn’t help but admit that he looked really cool as he rocked the shaker. Once the drink had been served, the siblings could see that it was pale red in colour.
“Pwetty,” Kyashi said in admiration.
Before trying out the new drink, he could smell a refreshing fragrance. “Yummy.”
“I know, right?”
Izumo noticed that his sister couldn’t take her shining eyes off his drink. He put it down near her. “Would you like to try it?”
Her smile broadened slightly. She nodded her head.
He moved so he could make sure she wouldn’t fall off the stool as Kyashi took the glass in both hands. He helped by holding the glass at the bottom and tipping it just perfectly. When he saw that she had taken a sip, he helped with putting it back on the counter.
Mizuomi was smiling in approval. It’s nice to see no matter how he acts, he’s a good older brother. He looked at Kyashi. “What d’you think?”
She concentrated on finding the right word. “Um… Sweet. N-nice.”
He grinned. “When you’re older, I’ll give you a whole one. How does that sound?”
She enthusiastically nodded her head.
“I wanna try making it, too,” Izumo said.
He chuckled. “I’ll let you try next time you visit.”
While drinking more, Izumo looked at the shelves behind the counter. It was full of tight rows of liquor bottles. All undoubtedly had a different taste to them. This made him wonder whether his uncle knew what they all tasted like. When he thought that, a strange feeling hit him. “Uncle, say, why did you decide to run a bar?”
Mizuomi folded his arms and took a contemplative pose. “I just did what I wanted, the way I wanted, and this is where I ended up… Something like that, I guess.”
“Hmm,” was all he could think of saying in response. He finished what was left in his glass.
Mizuomi glanced at his wristwatch. “Your parents should be about done with their business, so let’s get ready to go outside.”
“Mn.”
“You guys going back to Kyoto tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah. Uncle, will you come to Kyoto for New Year’s Day?”
“Can’t say for sure.”
“…Well, doesn’t matter. I’ll come to hang out with you again anyway.”
“Can I come as well?”
“Sure, you’re welcome any time.”
Before leaving the bar, Izumo turned his head to take one last look at the interior. He felt reluctant to leave but turned around, ready to do so, anyway. I’ll come here again.