Chapter Text
November 5, 2004
The day Meiko’s life changed forever.
She not only got her first singing gig at a local (thankfully high-class) bar, but met a man she had no idea would also end up changing said life. After all, he was the quiet, reserved bartender. She had no idea when she met him that he would later become her singing partner, then dance partner, and then…well, so much more…
The meeting was brushed off by Meiko shortly after. But in the years to come, she remembered it much clearer and cherished it close.
The warm yet dim lighting of the bar filled Meiko with a sense of not only homeliness but excitement. This was it. Her first proper step into performing. Gone were the background roles in shabby grade and high school plays, or being that backstage makeup artist, who could only watch from afar with deep longing. Sure, it was a small gig. Nothing to ride home about. But it would put money in her account, and invigorate her ever-present drive to entertain and amaze people with her voice.
She’d arrived early. Perhaps, too early. She was joining on a day when the bar remained closed for most of it, due to renovations. It would open in about an hour now, once the night began, and many people came seeking food, drinks, companionship, and a good time. At the moment? Only stray janitors cleaning and setting up tables, a few servers just arriving, and the bar’s tender arranging his station. Silence enveloped most of it, and after staring at the stage that would soon be hers, she found herself standing there and feeling…awkward. A new sensation for Meiko. She’d been told many a time that when she walked into a room, she owned it. Here though? She didn’t dare mess it up, nor did she know who to speak with yet, or where to start.
Fluffing her short hair, on a whim, she decided to walk for the bar. Far more natural than standing by the door, anyway. She rested one arm on it, leaning lightly. Her eyes flicked over the bartender, who wore a simple dark grey vest, white shirt, blue tie, black pants and belt, and high boots. He stood straight, pale face neutral and blue gaze focused on the glasses he now shined with a checkered cloth. His hair was blue, falling into his face each time he bent forward, only to get swiped back by a subtle jerk of his head. Expression? Neutral and calm, even when she piped up with, “Hey, stranger.”
He looked upon her, cleaning slower. “Hello.” He blinked and glanced between her and the stage, then motioned toward her fashionable red dress. “The new singer, I take it?”
“That’s right.” She cracked a smile of greeting. “I’m Meiko. You?”
“Kaito.” He turned back to his work.
“You work here often?”
“Yes.”
“Nice to know there will be familiar faces eventually, then.”
“Mm.” Kaito’s hum sounded distant, and he remained fixated on his tasks now.
She watched him, then the rest of the bar, mostly the attendees readying for the busy night. Thus far, she saw no signs of her manager, who told her he would meet her near the stage when she arrived. So far, though, nothing.
“To be honest,” Meiko said, turning her head back toward the bartender, “I have no idea what I’m doing or where I’m supposed to go. Mind if I hang out here, so I don’t look awkward?”
Kaito peered over his shoulder. “Hm.” Back to the glasses he went once more. “Be my guest.”
“Thanks.” She slid onto a nearby stool, then let her arms rest, draped in front of her. Silence fell between the pair again, while she absorbed the atmosphere. Even without any music, sitting here felt like she’d stepped back in time. Never had she visited such a pristine yet warm and cozy place. She could see why it was one of the most hopping bars in town.
“So you know any tricks while mixing?” she asked Kaito, who was now polishing the bar.
“Admittedly, no,” he replied. “I’m…rather new.”
“Ah, even less alone now.” She snapped her fingers. “I’m brand new.”
His response was a grunt as he kept working. Propping her chin on a wrist, she said, “I’ll be waiting for the day when I see some cool tricks from you, Kaito. Mark my words.”
Brows furrowing, Kaito sent her a confused look. He must have caught on quickly to the teasing and friendly upturn of her lips, for he relaxed. And then, even gave a laugh, a smile of his own briefly gracing his lips. Though he did not reply, Meiko saw it as a victory. Might as well get on good terms with her coworkers, after all. She didn’t attempt any more conversation, though, given his seemingly reserved nature and focus on work. The silence, though, was not uncomfortable. She waited until the manager finally popped up, and immediately her fiery spirit, determination, and excitement flared again. Instructions were given, and she prepared, making sure to hand over all necessary music to her pianist.
The night passed in a blur of singing and light tap dancing. At first, not many paid her any mind. Meiko’s voice, though, had the usual effect on people. She received more tips than she anticipated, and returned home brimming with the urge to sing a thousand more songs. She’d even noticed that bartender she talked with tapping his toes and bopping his head…
From there on out work went smoothly, despite the usual exhaustion of returning to the same job again and again. Not to mention, some rowdy observers, but all was well. Meiko enjoyed herself thoroughly, and much of the staff liked her vibrant company, even when her temper flared during complications in performances or with too…’enthusiastic’ customers. Out of everyone, though, she found herself most drawn to Kaito, the bartender she mostly sat in silence with before each work day or night. They shared most of the same shifts, and eventually struck up conversation more and more. Their personalities meshed well, with Kaito being the calm type to match her fire. However, he also had a kindness to him, and some goofiness that she found amusing. A budding friendship she cherished, for sure.
Kaito, on the other hand, quickly found himself catching a touch more than these more, well, platonic feelings. Something about her struck him. Her words, her eyes, her hair; her voice. Every shift during Meiko’s performances became ten times more bearable. He could smile brighter to every eager customer, so long as her voice sang in the background and filled the already-warm building with even more warmth. Sometimes, he allowed himself to hum along quietly, being a stickler for singing and performing himself.
This enjoyment, though, backfired on him one early morning.
Kaito arrived at the bar much earlier than normal, before anyone but the cook. He ran out for missing ingredients shortly into it though, and Kaito—alone and tidying his bar idly—used the emptiness of the building to his advantage. As he normally did during any private task, he sang to himself. One from the previous shift during Meiko’s singing had been stuck in his head, and he let it flow out as his spirit set free and glass after glass was cleaned. When he set to work rubbing down the counter, voice gaining strength, he broke off into a squawk at the ringing front door.
Snapping straighter, he bunched the rag in his hands and forced a smile of greeting. Anything to hide the embarrassment.
It only increased when, of all people to be standing there, it was Meiko.
“Ah…morning, Meiko.” He waved. “I didn’t know you would, um, be here so early.”
“Another singer got sick, so I took first shift for her.” Meiko tipped her head, inhaling and squinting. “Say, were you singing before I came in?”
“Ah, well…” Losing track of words, he busied himself with cleaning.
A silence followed, stuffy and further embarrassing. Kaito could feel his ears burning, but he ignored it best he could.
Finally, Meiko spoke again while she sat at the bar, as she always did. “You have a nice voice. Very rich and deep; I like it.” She cracked a smile, one that would have made his knees go weak, had he looked at her for more than a fleeting moment. “Do you sing often?”
“Well, yes, I suppose.” He folded the cloth and turned to check all his supplies. “It’s… one of my hobbies.”
“Hmm…I see, I see.” A smug tone entered her voice, one he immediately knew.
“Alright, what are you scheming?” He peered over his shoulder, eyes narrowing.
Meiko smirked. “Why don’t you sing for our manager? He’s been saying lately that we need another male singer.”
Kaito swore his stomach dropped. “I…erm…no, I’m simply a bartender. I don’t even want…well-” He stopped. Truthfully, the thought of singing on that stage had crossed his mind. Many times. He couldn’t help it, after being here near every day and having to watch and listen to others sing. “So, yes, wouldn’t hire me. And you’re never going to catch me in one of your schemes.” He mustered a teasing smile.
“Schemes? You wound me.” She placed a hand against her chest, then lifted it to rest her chin. “But you’re sure you wouldn’t want to? I know that look in your eyes.”
Scoffing a laugh, he sorted the glasses he’d recently shined.
She continued, “I…well, relate to it. The want to sing, but only able to watch…”
His hand stilled on one.
“It ate me up inside once.”
He swallowed, but didn’t turn, nor did he reply.
“Anyways,” she said, casual tone of voice back as she relaxed, “just keep it in mind, kay? I was a silly backstage girl, and I got in. You never know.”
“Thank you for the encouragement.” Wanting to move on, Kaito flipped and caught a glass, then sent a smug smile over his shoulder. “Would you like a drink on the house?”
The mini trick caused another one of Meiko’s classic smirks (which he, admittedly, enjoyed.) “Sure, why not?”
“Sake?”
“How’d you guess?”
“Oh, it’s not as if every time you order, you get that.” Kaito ran his fingers along the bottles, till he found the proper one. As he poured and handed it over, their fingers brushed, and her eyes sparkled at their next exchanged smile. He whipped back around and fumbled to tidy up, even though he had already done all necessary tasks before work.
Sighing, he thought, That woman’s going to be the death of me, isn’t she?