Yakuza Tour Guide (18+)

3. The Tokyo Connection

*Additional info and translations in the comments!

We end up having that second sake bomb. Then, after that, whiskey. Then, after that, more sake bombs. At a certain point, I lose track of how many drinks we've had. When the bartender slides me a glass of water, I take it as a sign and gulp the entire thing down.

"Tatsu," I gasp.

"Mepu?"

"I'm in Tokyo!"

He laughs and lays a hand on my shoulder, squeezing slightly. "You are. Maybe you should slow down, if you're forgetting where you are," he says in his accent that's starting to make my heart flutter.

"No, this is, like, a really, really big deal! I'm in Tokyo, I'm drunk, I'm drunk with an actual Japanese guy in Tokyo."

"Oh? A hot Japanese guy?"

"Huh? Um... y-yeah, so what," I say, blushing and playing with my hair nervously.

He laughs, but quickly changes the subject.

"It's a big deal to you," he replies in English.

"It's a huge deal. I wanted this my entire life and now I'm doing it and it's... it's the best. I never actually thought I would make it here."
Tatsu leans in closer to me. "Really?"

"Really! I mean, isn't there anywhere you've always wanted to be? Like, your whole life you dreamed about it, but never actually thought you would? There must be something you always wanted."

"Mepu dreams of Tokyo," he says, pulling a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. I guess the bar allows smoking, because he lights one without a second thought. "I know what you mean. You plan to see everything?"

"Well, it's just a week. I don't know if I'll see everything, but I want to see the best parts. I want to experience Tokyo."

"The real Tokyo experience," he said in English, then scoffed. "Not to seem indelicate, but what would a foreigner know about the real Tokyo?"

"W-Well, I mean, I guess you're kind of right. I Googled a couple of things. I've got a plan, but... ugh, this might be my only real chance to see it and I don't want to miss out."

"Maybe, you need a guide. Then, you 'll see only the best parts."

"Yeah... maybe."

Tatsu mulls over his cigarette and continues, "someone who knows the real Tokyo, who can show you. Would you like a guide, Mepu?"

My heart does a little backflip in my chest. Something about the way he asks makes me squirm in my seat. I look into his eyes and it's like staring at the sun. Beautiful and dangerous. I nod without a word.

"Tell me what hotel you're at. Give me the room number and I'll meet you there tomorrow."

I do as he says and Tatsu types something into his phone, then puts it back into his pocket in one fluid motion. Everything Tatsu does is so smooth, so effortless, like he spends his time rehearsing every little move he makes.

"Sake bomb," the bartender says, setting two more of them in front of us.

"Sake bomb," Tatsu cheers.

I squint. "Wait, I can't even remember. Did we order more?"

***

I wake up with a pounding headache. I've only ever been blackout drunk one other time in my life. I was sixteen and at a party my cousin threw. The last thing I remember was sucking on a half empty bottle of Southern Comfort. Next thing I knew, I was waking up and hearing about how I had ruined my t-shirt and one of my cousin's parents' ottomans.