Work Text:
From: Nino
I’m so sorry Aibasshi, I tried my best
Are you going to be alright?
The bar was deserted apart from the lone bartender cleaning the same glass over and over as he stared at the TV, probably wondering when his shift was going to end and he could finally return home. Sitting on one of the stools by the counter, nursing a sweet cocktail and staring at his friend’s text, Aiba wondered if the bartender had someone home to go to, or if he, like Aiba, was alone on Christmas Eve.
Aiba had always been the optimistic type for as long as he could remember. But that night, as he sat alone in that dimly lit bar, all he could think about was that today was his birthday, and he had no one to spend it with.
He always thought that it was a curse to be born on Christmas Eve. As a kid, he would only get one present instead of two every year; and as a young adult it meant that his friends would rather spend the day before Christmas with their better half instead. Luckily, Nino and Aiba’s roommate and second best friend – because Nino would never forgive him if he was ranked the same in his eyes – Jun, and Jun’s partner Ohno, had always been there for every birthday. Since the three of them had come to Tokyo to study and had become penniless students who couldn’t afford to go back home to Chiba for the holidays, – minus Jun, but he never wanted to go back home alone, – they would celebrate Aiba’s birthday together. But this year Jun and Ohno had to leave because of Jun’s cousin’s wedding, and Nino hadn’t managed to get a day off from his part-time job.
So Aiba was alone on Christmas Eve, and worst of all, he was alone on his birthday. What was there to be optimistic about?
He was so lost in his thoughts, that he didn’t notice that someone else had entered the bar until a gush of cold air suddenly hit him as the door closed.
A man had just come in, cheeks and nose red from the cold, the same way Aiba was sure his own had been just minutes earlier. He was wearing a long, black jacket, the kind that looked tailor made. Aiba observed as the stranger came up to the counter to greet the bartender and ask for his usual drink.
‘He must be a regular,’ Aiba thought, returning his gaze back to his drink, and his mind to his forlorn thoughts.
“Tough day?”
Aiba looked up startled, surprised by the voice. The stranger was sitting down on the high stool next to his, and now that he was closer, Aiba noticed that he was wearing a very elegant suit under his jacket.
“Tough year,” Aiba said with a sigh. He observed as the man took off his jacket to lay it on the empty stool on his right.
“I hope you don’t mind if I sit here,” the stranger said with a smile. “But I’ve heard that misery loves company.”
“That’s alright,” Aiba said.
The stranger thanked him and made himself comfortable. “Sakurai Sho,” he said, bowing his head slightly.
“Aiba Masaki, nice to meet you.”
The bartender came back with a drink for Sakurai, who thanked him and immediately took a sip. “Well, Aiba-san, I bet you whatever happened, it can’t beat the year I had,” he said with a melancholic smile.
Aiba’s eyebrows rose as he felt strangely fueled up by the affirmation. “What are you willing to bet?”
The other man seemed to think about it a bit. “I’ll pay for your drinks tonight.”
Aiba laughed bitterly. “I hope you’re prepared to lose, Sakurai-san.”
Sakurai smiled at him. “I don’t think I will.”
“Why don’t you go first?” Aiba said.
Sakurai nodded once before drinking again.
“Where to start?” he said, searching his thoughts. “My partner dumped me nine months ago after they’d been cheating on me for a year because I was always working.”
Aiba whistled. “That sucks, but not as much as your girlfriend cheating on you with your own brother and receiving an invitation to their wedding on the same day as your anniversary.”
Sakurai chuckled. “You got me there. But how about having to work overtime on the day of your sister’s wedding?”
Aiba raised his glass in sympathy. “Tough,” he conceded, “but at least you weren’t fired the same day you put an offer down for an apartment.”
Sakurai drank from his glass pensively. “How about being stood up on Christmas Eve by your blind date?”
“It could be worse,” Aiba said. “You could end up alone on Christmas Eve because all of your friends stood you up on your birthday.”
“Ah.” Sakurai bowed his head, admitting defeat. “I concede, then. You win, Aiba-san,” he said, raising his drink at him.
“Lucky me,” Aiba said, returning the cheer and taking a sip of his cocktail.
Sakurai chuckled softly before finishing up his drink and ordering another one. Aiba observed as he immediately took another sip as soon as the bartender brought him the new drink.
“You sure can hold your liquor, Sakurai-san,” he commented.
Sakurai shook his head. “I can,” he said, “but this is a virgin.”
“The drink?”
“Well, not me, that’s for sure,” he replied with a smirk, making Aiba amused. “Six years sober today,” he added.
“So you can’t even get drunk? I think you win after all.”
Sakurai laughed at that. “Tell you what, Aiba-san,” he started. “How about we decide over dinner?”
“Dinner?” Aiba asked, surprised.
The other man suddenly looked taken aback. “Unless you don’t want to.”
“I really do,” Aiba said, too quickly for his tastes.
Sakurai smiled again, but this time it was an embarrassed smile, and Aiba felt a warm feeling spreading in his chest.
“What?” he said, when he noticed that the other man was looking at him.
“This is the first time I’ve seen you smile,” Sakurai said. “And I’m really looking forward to seeing more of it.”
Aiba felt himself blush, so he turned around to face his phone as Sakurai paid for their drinks. He unlocked it, looking at Nino’s message again.
“Ready to go?” The other man took the jacket from his stool and looked at Aiba expectantly.
“Be right there,” Aiba said, typing a message to his friend before catching up with Sakurai, feeling lighter than he had been in months.
He had the impression he was going to be alright.