Chapter Text
Something is seriously weird here
Thats what Junepi’s mind is thinking as he spots Kotone come out of ‘Club Escapade’. It’s a serious adult club where teens can’t even go in (not that he’s ever tried to! Its just what kenji told him), But thats not what makes it weird. Whats weird is seeing his best friend, who is a highschooler like him, walking out of an adult club. Whats weirder, is this isn’t the first time he has seen her in there. It’s actually the third night in a row he has seen her exiting the club late at night.
Not that he’s stalking her or anything creepy like that, he just happened to be in Paulownia mall when he saw her sneaking out of the club, 2 nights prior. Now if you asked anyone if Kotone Shiomi, top student and queen bee of Gekkougan highschool was the type to go to shady adult clubs at night, you’d probably get laughed at. Then probably executed by Mitsuru-senpai for spreading rumors about her. And then shot by Aigis. But that's why it was more than concerning when he saw her in the seedy club, but he felt it was too weird to just ask outright. But he also couldn't just ignore it, Kotone is his best friend after all. He has a moral duty to make sure she’s okay and not in danger…and stuff. So thats why he’s spent the last 3 nights following her to see if she comes here regularly.
And just now as he’s looking at the brunette exiting the club and walking off towarda the train station (hopefully to the dorm), he's gotten his confirmation. 3 times isn't just teenage curiosity, there's definitely something going on in there.
Is kotone working in the club? Or is she partying? Drinking!? Is she seeing some adult???
He makes sure she is out of the view before walking towards the club entrance. There is one big burly dude standing infront of it, the ‘Bouncer’ he assumes. He’s already intimidated by his menacing aura, but he knows he has to do this. He walks up to him and starts speaking, “Hey…..sir!” He does a little wave infront of him.
The seemingly 7 foot tall guy just looks down at him, menacingly. Sheesh, talk about intimidationg
“Sooo….can i go in? Or uhm….”
The guy just keeps looking at him. He feels like he’s almost about to pee his pants, but he holds his ground. After a serious minute long staring contest, he just starts tip-toeing towards the entrance slowly. To his surprise the bouncer doesn't do anything. Feeling abit more courage, he quickly opens the door and heads inside.
Huh, that was easy? Thats all you have to do? How the hell did kenji not get in? Anyways
The interior of the club is bright as hell. The music is booming, the adults are dancing and drinking, theres a weird lady reading tarots in the side. He’s never seen anything like it in his life. Even the chicks here are hot as hell. But he can't get distracted, he’s here for a reason not to have fun. Plus he doubts any girls would pay attention to him anyways.
So he gets to work. He starts walking to different people here and asking them if they know a young looking brunette girl who comes here.
“Oh yeah I see her here quite alot!”
“She’s so groovy!”
“Arcana is the means by which all is revealed”
Okay maybe he shouldn't have talked to the weird tarot lady, but he got curious. As he’s talking to her, he feels a hand tap on his shoulder. He turns to see a woman in a very official looking outfit. Her face looks like a mixture of annoyance and tiredness.
"Hey, are you another high schooler?”
“I-I-! Uh- uhm….yes”, he stutters out before looking down.
“God damn it. I knew i shouldn't have let her in, now we gotta deal with more higschoolers”, she then glares at him. “Look kid, this is an adults only place. And unless i see some I.D. or a guardian, I can’t let you stay”
“Huh!? But then why do you let Kotone stay here?? She’s only 16!!”, Junpei tells her, abit loudly since the club music is drowning out his voice.
“Oh, the girl? Yeah I let her in here a couple of times cause she helped serve the drinks, but after that she got a guardian so i couldn't really kick her out”, she closes her eyes shrugs.
“A GUARDIAN!? HOW?!” Junpei almost screems out. Thats impossible, as far as he knows Kotone’s legal guardians are not in Iwatodai. Nor has she ever mentioned them, so he assumes they aren't close or anything. What the hell is going on??
“Jeez kid not so loud.” The woman puts her index finger on her lips to shush him. Then she points up to a weird bald monk looking dude. He seems to be drunk out of his mind by the spacey look in his eyes.
“Huh? Who the fuck is that?” Junpei mutters, confused. The woman then shrugs again and says, “thats her guardian”
.
.
.
NO FUCKING WAY
“WHAT?! NO WAY THAT AIN’T HER GUARDIAN! WHO THE HELL IS THAT!?”
“Jeez calm the hell down kid. I doubt that's actually her guardian but thats who she hangs out with here all the time. I asked them both and they told me that he is her guardian. And thats the rules, I can't really do anything.” She shrugs. “Girls these days prefer older guys I guess. But even then he’s a little too old for my taste. But what do i know”
The image those words conjure up in his head is so vile that he can't even begin to describe it. He quickly shakes his head to get rid of it. “B-B-But isn't that illegal!?-”
“That’s for her parents and cops to figure out, I don't care. Now get the hell out of here I will have to kick you out myself”
And with that he quickly leaves the club without another word. His mind is racing at 100 km/h.
Why is she hanging out with that old dude? Shes never mentioned him to us. Is she into old guys?? Is he taking advantage of her somehow? Ugh I dont know what to do right now…..
───「 ✦ 」───
“Huh!? Do you seriously expect me to believe that, Stupei?”
“Jeez yuka-tan, not so loud. What if she comes back?!” Junpei whispers to Yukari and Fuuka trying to calm them down. “But i ain’t lying dude, I swear on my life! Everything i said was the truth”
Yukari liked Kotone shiomi, she liked her liked her. Like alot. She had known this about herself for a while. She knew it when she could feel butterflies swimming inside of her everytime she was in the same room as Kotone. She knew it when she went to sleep at night she dreamt of them being together.
Since the trip to Yakushima, Yukari can’t help but want to be with Kotone as much as possible. And she’s tried hard not to, but these days she feels like she’s never felt more connected to someone like she’s felt with her. Like Kotone gets her, and she gets Kotone in return.
Thats why what Junpei just told them, about her going to an adult club with some old weirdo regularly, just cant be true. Thats not the Kotone she knows. And even if, She would definitely tell her about it.
Wouldn't she?
“Y-Yeah Junpei-kun, are you sure you didn’t mistake another brunette girl with her? I just can't see shiomi-chan going to places like that”, Fuuka stammers beside Yukari. They’re all in the second floor of the dorm. Junpei had asked Yukari and Fuuka to meet up without telling them why.
“No. Im super serious. Kotone is going to club escapade and hanging out with some old drunk dude who dresses up like a monk! And i talked to other people and they all said she’s a regular. Dude I didn't know what to do, what if she’s in….trouble?”
Those words made Yukari’s head nearly explode. She knew what he was implying, she was instantly worried and thinking 100 different things, each worse than the previous.
Ugh i don't even want to think about it.
High school girls going out with adults is not new, Yukari has a few classmates who are currently going out with college guys. But she never knew Kotone was the type to go out with an older guy. Especially someone as old as Junpei was describing.
It made her heart hurt a little bit. No that’s a lie, it kind of hurt alot. But even beyond that, if Kotone is in trouble, even if she doesn't realize it, Yukari needs to help her out. She just desperately wishes it isn’t what she thinks it is.
She nibbles on her bottom lip and lets out a sigh. Junpei and Fuuka stare at her, waiting for her to speak. “Okay. So we can’t let the Senpais know, i don’t want her to get in trouble. I…also don't want to confront her about this unless we have to. I think, I think we should go talk to the old man himself. See what he has to say, and if he’s trying to do something weird, we will…figure it out” she says the last part with a menacing tone.
“Y-Yeah! Its better to look into it than just speculate! What do you say, Junpei-kun?”, Fuuka says.
“M-Mhm! Yeah I’m fine with the plan, lets go there tomorrow! It’ll be a stakeout!”, Junpei says excitedly. He then cracks his knuckles and says, “And if he’s trying to take advantage of our leader, we’ll show him the full wrath of SEES”, he gives a confident smile.
What are you doing, Kotone.