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Nishiki wasn’t complaining when Kiryu led him up the street, his arm wrapped firmly around his shoulders, talking happily about his latest score at the arcade. Nishiki teased him back, saying he’d have to beat his score again and that he’d better prepare to be thoroughly embarrassed when he did. Kiryu was in a great mood, it seemed, and he wanted to get to Serena as soon as they could. Nishiki didn’t mind, but he was getting hungry, he’d skipped lunch since Kashiwagi had him working his ass off at the HLA. There had been an influx of young yakuza feeling lost and disenchanted and Kashiwagi thought that Nishiki would be the perfect person to help them all. Nishiki didn’t mind being essentially a caseworker and confidant for these young men, but he really didn’t think that he could be much help since all he knew was the yakuza life. But Kashiwagi insisted, and had him running with these guys all week.
All he wanted was a drink and a bowl of ramen, if he was being honest, and he was looking forward to spending his evening with Reina and Kiryu. The bar was strangely dim as they stepped inside, the music wasn’t on and it felt off. Nishiki was about to say something when the lights flicked back to life and they were met with shouts of “Surprise!” and “Happy Birthday!”
Nishiki punched Kiryu’s arm with a scowl and Kiryu laughed as he pushed Nishiki into the bar proper. Kashiwagi, Reina and Majima were all inside, and the space had been decorated with balloons and streamers. Nishiki hated to admit that he thought it was quite pleasant and cute, even if it was a little bit more childish than he’d have preferred, but Reina had evidently gone to a lot of trouble for him.
“What the hell?” Nishiki asked as Reina came around from behind the bar to hug him tightly. “This is really great, Reina, thank you.”
Reina smiled, blushing slightly. She was wearing a new dress, Nishiki noticed, a distinct change from her usual coat and skirt combo. It hugged her curves and admittedly wouldn’t have looked out of place at a nightclub. Nishiki felt the heat of a blush crawl up his neck as he looked her over. The dress was tighter than he’d ever seen her wear and it hugged her body, and accentuated her long legs. She’d let her hair down, pinning it back with a fancy hair pin that glittered in the light, too.
“You look great,” Nishiki said with a small smile as Reina took his hand and led him further into the bar to sit with the others.
“Thanks,” Reina said quietly.
Nishiki looked at Majima with a scowl. He was sprawled out on one of the plush chairs and he was dressed in his usual jacket and leather pants with no shirt. “What are you doing here?” Nishiki demanded with a scowl, folding his arms over his chest.
“Haw?” Majiama asked back, leaning forward as if he was ready to start a fight. “I was invited.”
“Nishiki,” Kashiwagi warned. “Please don’t start a fight.”
“I didn’t invite you,” Nishiki snapped.
Majima sighed and stood up. “Look, I know we ain’t been on the best of terms these past few years, so I’ll leave if ya really want me to. Kaz invited me, an’ for what it’s worth, I thought maybe we could be friends.”
Reina returned to the seating area carrying a tray of drinks and food she’d had catered and clicked her tongue. “Don’t be rude, Nishikiyama,” she scolded, even though a smile hovered on her lips as she said it. “If you kick Mister Majima out now, you’ll be one birthday gift short and I’m sure you’ll never hear the end of it with the way he complains.”
Majima chuckled and even Kashiwagi smiled at Reina’s gentle chiding.
“You forgave him?” Nishiki asked.
“He paid for most of the repairs to the bar after that scuffle of yours back then,” Reina pointed out. “Would be awfully rude of me to turn away someone so generous and apologetic for his behaviour.”
Nishiki sighed and sat down next to Kiryu. “All right, Majima, you can stay.”
“Promise I ain’t tryin’ to make trouble,” Majima said. He handed Nishiki a small bag with tissue paper spilling out of the top. “Hope it’s to your likin’, happy birthday.”
Nishiki didn’t really believe it when Reina said that he had a gift from Majima but here it was, in his hands. “I… thank you.”
“Open it before ya thank me,” Majima laughed. “Ya might hate it.”
Nishiki did, pulling a gorgeous back and crimson scarf with maple leaves in it from the bag. It was a little bit thick and felt incredibly warm.
“Figured ya might need somethin’ warm for winter,” Majima offered. “If you don’t like it, I can get ya somethin’ else…”
“No, this is gorgeous,” Nishiki said with a nod. “Thank you, for real.”
Kashiwagi smiled and nodded his approval as he reached to help himself to the finger foods and sandwiches Reina had placed on the table between them. “You went above and beyond, too, Reina-chan. Thank you for hosting.”
Reina smiled as she poured drinks for the assembled men. “It’s my pleasure, I’m glad you were all able to attend tonight. Thank you for making Nishiki’s birthday special.”
The night went on with more food, drinks and karaoke, and even Majima was being well-behaved for the duration of the party. Nishiki got up to help Reina clear some of the empty bottles and plates as Majima attempted to sing a song. He leaned against the bar, grinning and looking Reina over as she got cups in the dishwasher behind the bar.
“You really didn’t have to go through all this trouble for me,” Nishiki said.
“This was no trouble at all,” Reina replied with a smile. There was a gentle blush on her cheeks as she looked at Nishiki. “I was hoping that you’d stay a little bit later, after everyone else goes. It’s kind of lonely closing the bar down all by myself.”
“You never complained before,” Nishiki pointed out. “Is something wrong?”
Reina took a sharp inhalation of breath. “No. I just… I was hoping I could give you a gift away from everyone else.”
Nishiki’s mouth set in a small ‘o’ of surprise at the confession. “A secret gift? Is it embarrassing?”
“No,” Reina said, her cheeks turning redder as Nishiki teased her. “But I thought maybe…”
“I’d love to stay,” Nishiki said promptly. “Should I start kicking everyone out?”
Reina laughed. “Now you’re getting ahead of yourself.”
“Am I?” Nishiki asked. “I wouldn’t mind getting to spend extra time alone with you, Reina.” He glanced over his shoulder at the others. “Kiryu might even be jealous for once.”
Reina sighed. “Do you think so?”
“Only because it’s you,” Nishiki said, turning back to face Reina with a bright smile. “I can’t wait to see what you got me.”
Reina bit her lip, she was blushing and Nishiki leaned forward a little more, resting heavily on the bar.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, Reina. This has been really wonderful, I don’t think I’d have been half as happy if Kiryu had just insisted on drinking and shitty ramen. You’re really thoughtful and I appreciate it a lot.”
Reina smiled again, looking at Nishiki with big eyes. She looked like she might cry between happiness and embarrassment. “It really isn’t much.”
“It’s more than I expected, and I really am happy, even if Majima is here.” Nishiki insisted.
Reina laughed. “He isn’t that bad, you know. You should give him a chance.”
Nishiki huffed a sigh. “I’ll consider your recommendation.”
“Tch,” Reina clicked her tongue, waving Nishiki off. “Now you’re just being contrary for the sake of being contrary. If you keep that up, I might not want to give you your gift after all.”
Now it was Nishiki’s turn to laugh. “The way you’re going on about it, I’m starting to think that there’s more to this gift than you’re letting on.”
“Maybe there was, and I’ve changed my mind,” Reina teased back. “Go on back to the party, NIshiki. Your family is waiting for you.”
Nishiki felt his heart skip a beat at her words. They really were his family. Kiryu, Kashiwagi, and if he was being generous, he supposed that Majima had started to make his way into their lives as a close friend, Kiryu certainly called him aniki, maybe he ought to give him more of a chance than he had been. Nishiki flashed Reina one more smile. “Are you sure there’s nothing else I can help with?”
Reina nodded, humming as she did. “Yeah, I can handle cleaning up. It’s par for the course, after all.”
Nishiki smiled, softer this time. “Okay, come join us soon. I don’t want you to keep working, I want you to come have a drink and relax.”
Reina nodded and watched Nishiki return to the others. She sighed heavily as she set about washing dishes and generally tidying up. NIshiki was right, she should relax a little bit and while she was more than happy to entertain the Tojo clan members in her bar tonight, she still felt like there was a big expectation of her. She was lost in her own thoughts when a shadow fell across the bar. She looked up to see Kashiwagi standing there. She didn’t know him very well, but Nishiki had brought him to the bar on several occasions, and he’d dropped by on his own a few times. He was quiet and reserved and while he looked scary and severe, he was never anything but polite, even stepping in to help Reina one night when some ruffians tried to stiff her on their tab. If she was being honest, she quite enjoyed his company, and he had told her stories about Nishiki and Kiryu when they were children more than once, much to Nishiki’s dismay.
“Is… is everything okay?” Reina asked.
Kashiwagi nodded. “Mm, yes, everything is fine, I was simply wondering if you’d come and join us so we can serve the cake now?”
“Oh!” Reina put her hand against her chest. “I completely forgot that you’d brought one, Kashiwagi-san.” She fumbled behind the bar to get plates and cutlery and Kashiwagi reached across the space to put a hand on her shoulder.
“I brought paper plates and cutlery,” he reminded her. “Reina, please, relax. You don’t need to serve us like this, come and join the party. I know that NIshiki wants to see you enjoy yourself as much as the rest of us are. You’re part of this celebration, too.”
Reina stopped and sighed. She thought she might cry, she’d been so preoccupied with making sure that everything was perfect for NIshiki that she’d completely forgotten to enjoy herself. She didn’t want to embarrass him, or to be an ungracious hostess, especially because the men who were spending the night in her bar were Nishiki’s superiors. “Forgive me, I just wanted to…”
“Make things perfect,” Kashiwagi said with a gentle smile. “I know. You care a lot about Nishiki, and I can’t thank you enough for hosting us. Come have a slice of cake, Reina. I promise you’ve done more than enough, it’s far better than going to Kiryu’s tiny apartment and drinking cheap beer.”
Reina laughed, she couldn’t help it. “Is that what they usually do?”
“Almost exclusively every year since they moved out on their own,” Kashiwagi said with a conspiratory nod. “I think this is the first real party NIshiki has had since. And you, my dear, have made this night exceptionally special.”
Reina sighed. “You’re a sweet talker, you know that?”
Kashiwagi laughed as Reina produced the cake, still in its pristine white box, and the bag of paper plates and plastic cutlery that Kashiwagi had brought from behind the bar. “I don’t say what I don’t mean. I’m glad that Nishiki showed me this place, I couldn’t have put on a better party than this.”
Reina smiled and took Kashiwagi’s hand as he carried the cake and she brought the paper plates. The party stopped as they presented the cake and Nishiki looked like he might cry. As soon as he blew out the candles Majima was screeching for him to tell what wish he’d made and Nishiki refused, shouting back. Majima gave up easily and reached for one of the strawberries on top of the cake as KAshiwagi set about cutting it into equal pieces, giving Majima the slice without a strawberry and making sure that Nishiki got the chocolate plate on top that said happy birthday.
Reina sat close to Nishiki and he scooted right next to her, smiling brightly as they ate their cake together. Reina knew she was blushing as Kashiwagi poured her a drink and the karaoke started up again between drinks and bites of cake. Nishiki didn’t get up to sing while he and Reina sat together, but he did encourage everyone else and did the cheers as he was supposed to, whenever his mouth wasn’t full.
Kashiwagi was the one who decided the party was over, mostly because he was tired of listening to Majima make up lyrics to the karaoke songs. No one argued,and Kiryu asked Nishiki if he wanted to go continue the night somewhere else.
“No thanks,” Nishiki said. “I’m thinking about calling it a night early,” he admitted. “And Reina could use some help tidying up.”
“Oh, in that case, let me stay and help,” Kiryu offered.
Reina shook her head. “You guys, it’s okay, I can handle it.”
“Nonsense,” Kashiwagi interrupted. “Let us help.”
Reina clicked her tongue in Kashiwagi’s direction. “No, really, it’s okay. You paid for the catering and the drinks, I can handle washing a few dishes.”
Kashiwagi hummed as he caught the look on NIshiki’s face. “Of course, I didn’t mean to suggest that you couldn’t. Come on, Kiryu, Majima, if you want to continue the party somewhere, I know of a few good late-night spots.”
Kiryu frowned and looked at Nishiki. “I’ll page you the address, if you want to join us.”
Nishiki nodded. “Yeah, thanks, that sounds good. But I do think I’ll be heading home after I help Reina close down.”
“Suit yourself,” Kiryu said, admittedly disappointed that NIshiki didn’t want to continue the party. He followed Majima and Kashiwagi into the elevator, thanking Reina again for hosting and leaving the bar.
The silence in the small space was practically deafening as Nishiki wrapped his arm around Reina’s shoulders.
“Thank you for all of this,” Nishiki hummed. “You really are the best, you know?”
Reina nodded. “It was my pleasure, really. As soon as Kiryu asked, I was all over the idea.”
“Did Kashiwagi really pay for everything?”
Reina hummed. “Mm, he did. He insisted on making sure that this wouldn’t be a drain on my resources because he knows what kind of tab you boys can run up.”
Nishiki had the good graces to look mildly embarrassed over the thought. “You made this one of the best birthdays I’ve ever had. Do you want me to start cleaning something up?”
Reina shook her head, leaning more into Nishiki’s embrace. “I wouldn’t mind staying like this a little longer,” she admitted.
“Was that gift you had for me something more intimate than you could show to the others?” Nishiki asked.
Reina shifted nervously under Nishiki’s embrace. “N-no, I have a gift for you for real.”
“Really?” Nishiki asked. “That’s really thoughtful of you, but I wouldn’t have been upset if there was something a lot more personal.”
“Oh really?” Reina asked, suddenly more confused about what Nishiki really wanted, or even thought of her.
“Yeah,” Nishiki said with a smirk. “I kind of always thought you were flirting, but then you seemed to be flirting with Kiryu, and I guessed that it was just me I dunno, feeling like I wanted to be special, and that you flirt maybe unintentionally with everyone.”
“No,” Reina said quickly. “It isn’t like that.”
“So you intentionally flirt with everyone?” Nishiki asked with a grin.
Reina clicked her tongue. “If you’re going to be like that, then forget I even said anything,” she sighed, pulling away from Nishiki. “I did get you a gift,” she added, getting up and retrieving it from the bar. “I wanted to make tonight special.”
Nishiki took the wrapped box from her, tracing his fingers along the paper. It was long and narrow and there were only a few things that would fit in a box that shape. “Can I open it?”
Reina sighed, her momentary anger at his teasing forgotten. “Please do.”
Nishiki opened the present like an overly excited child. It was a jewelry box, and inside was a masculine chain bracelet. He’d been admiring one exactly like it at Le Marche, and he knew how much it would have cost. “Reina… this is beautiful. You really shouldn’t have, I can’t accept this, it’s too much.”
Reina sighed and sat back down with NIshiki. “I promise it isn’t too much. You bought me this hair pin at Christmas and that was too much.”
Nishiki sighed and handed her the box. “Will you help me put this on?”
Reina smiled and obliged, fitting the bracelet on Nishiki’s wrist, her delicate fingers brushing against his skin. “It fits perfectly, and it looks so good on you.”
Nishiki smiled and cupped Reina’s face in his hand. He leaned forward to kiss her gently on the lips. “Thank you, Reina.”
Reina nodded, more than a little dumbstruck. She’d wanted him to kiss her for a long time, and she had been planning to offer him more than just a kiss, but he’d taken it a step ahead. His hand against her face was so warm, and she thought she might melt. “I… I’m glad you love it.”
Nishiki smiled again. “Hey, why don’t we leave the dishes and stuff for now? If you’re game for it, I’d love to spend a little while longer with you somewhere else.”
Reina nodded again. “Anything you want, Nishiki. It’s your birthday, after all…”