Yakuza Tour Guide (18+)

9. How I Roll

*Additional info and translations in the comments!

The sushi restaurant that Tatsu takes me to is basically a tourist's wet dream. It is called "Happy Fish" and the inside is done up with full tatami mat floors, authentic Japanese furniture, and flat-screen televisions lining every wall that are playing different action anime. As I would expect, Tatsu already has a reservation and we're seated off in a corner that has several flat screens of its own and a paper divider that gives us a little more privacy than the other guests.

The server asks if we would like anything and Tatsu suggests that we get a bottle of chilled plum sake to share. I nod and do my best to make myself comfy on the cushioned, floor-level chairs that the restaurant has. The only issue is that, with how tight and small the dress is, it's hard to find a comfy position to sit in that would have me flashing my panties to Tatsu. I finally settle on sitting with both legs stretched to one side and my back against the chair.

"This dress is... a little small."

"But looks... what did that punk Akira say? Extraordinarily flattering~ Did I get the size right?"

"Yeah, you did, almost... too right. You really sized me up."

"One of my secret talents," he says, smirking and looking me over. "You really are beautiful, you know that?"

Oh my god, how is this really happening? Part of me almost hates Tatsu for setting me up like this. He spends who-knows-how-much money having me pamper myself the whole day, then says something like that. As if I'm not supposed to start quivering in my seat as he gives me that seductive smile of his. He knows exactly what he's doing and its working!

"I... thank you," I say, completely at a loss for words.

He seems satisfied with himself and doesn't say anything for a few moments. Our plum sake arrives and the waitress pours us each a small glass of it.

"Could we get some yakitori and seaweed salad while we decide," Tatsu asks.

She nods and leaves us. If you've never had sushi before, ordering is quite the process. There are already menus and a pad and paper at our table so we can write down exactly what rolls, nigiri, and sashimi we want to order. The rolls are what they sound like: the traditional seaweed roll that is stuffed with rice and then the fish and veggies. Nigiri is a plain cut of raw seafood tethered to a bed of rice by a thin strip of seaweed, or sometimes left resting on the rice by itself. Sashimi are plain, unseasoned cuts of raw seafood.

"What do you suggest?"

"Well, order whatever you want. My favorite is the red clam sashimi."

"Really? Just plain red clam?"

"Yes, I've always loved it."

"Well, we have to get something with eel. Eel was the first sushi I ever had and it's the shit."

"Really, the shit?"

"It literally tastes like barbecue fish. What's not to love about barbecue fish?"

"Fair enough."

We spend some time writing our various orders on the pad and paper until we have quite the long list. Not too long, though. The worst thing you can do at a sushi restaurant is order to much. Tip for your next trip to a sushi restaurant: sushi is a cuisine and an art form and the sushi chef is an artist. Not eating the food they have prepared is more than just food waste, it's an insult to their craft. After we've placed our order, I have a long sip of the plum sake and decide how I'm going to broach what I want to talk about.

I decide to just go for it.

"Don't be mad at him, but I made Akihiko spill the beans on what you do."