Everything Is Fine [KazuScara Fanfic]

38. A new chapter in life

A week later

       The rain droplets were racing against each other at the window, Angel's Share seemed lively with the patrons flooding in the bar after a long while. Despite just being discharged from Bubu's Hospital 2 days ago, Kazuha is still strong to fulfill his duty as a bartender, looking back at this objective to carve smiles on his customers.

       "It's been a long time I didn't see you around. Where have you been?" A patron sitting infront of Kazuha asked. Kazuha lets out a small smile as he continued to polish the Kimura glassware the bar received recently. The glassware imported from Inazuma always had a very fine finish and its easier to control the temperature of the drinks.

       "I was taking a break for a while. Had to go to hospital back and forth" Kazuha replied with a soft voice, patting the bandage pad on his neck. The patron nodded, understanding the situation that Kazuha had to go through.

       The jukebox suddenly stopped playing, a mic interference rang throughout the bar for a while before being readjusted. It seemed like Diluc has revamped the entertainment inside the bar by introducing a small open mic stage. Kazuha looked at the corner, a young man with black, green and teal hair streaks was standing at the stage. He was wearing a black t-shirt with a white yaksha logo with beige cargo pants.

       "Good evening everyone... Thank you for coming here tonight... My name is Xiao, I'll be taking the mic for tonight's open mic session," Xiao talked into the mic as he brought up a ukulele. He strummed the ukulele along with the background beat playing in the background, "I hope you enjoy tonight's session", Xiao muttered as he cleared his throat.

      
       "I'm too emotional, I have to let you go,"  Xiao began singing 'Nightmares' by BoyWithUke in a soothing tone. The patrons listened as Xiao continued to strum the ukulele to the song. Kazuha felt himself being bewitched listening to Xiao's voice. He could hear the pain being masked by the soothing voice.

       Kazuha just found out that Xiao has lost his father figure, Zhongli and recently broke up with his boyfriend after an unresolved conflict between them. Kazuha understands a lot when a singer like Xiao needed a place for him to express his emotions.

       Kazuha poured himself a shot of vodka before downing it, letting the burning sensation heat up his throat and stomach. The doorbell rang, Scaramouche and Tighnari walked into the bar as both of them finished their shift for the night. The doctors sat down at the bar, ordering their drinks from Kazuha.

       "Tiring night doc?" Kazuha asked as he mixed in some gin and ginger syrup to make a cocktail for Scaramouche. Tighnari slightly nodded while looking at Xiao singing at the stage.

       "You bet, had a kid coming in with cranium injury" Tighnari replied. Scaramouche stayed silent, listening to Xiao singing. It seemed like he was in a deep stance inside his own mind companied by Xiao's singing. Kazuha slides a finished Mon Dernier Mot towards his boyfriend with a ginger candy placed ontop of the drink.

       "How is your wound?" Scaramouche asked. Kazuha looked at Scaramouche with a warm smile before patting on the pad at his neck lightly.

       "Thanks to you guys' first aid, I'm still here today... We will not be facing trouble anymore after this right...?" Kazuha replied and ended with a question. Scaramouche shrugged as he took a sip from the light cocktail Kazuha made for him. Scaramouche felt a tear trailing down his cheek.

       He missed the cocktail's taste Kazuha made. The moment his taste buds registered the taste, it brought him back in time, the first time he met Kazuha on the night he was about to end his own life after his failure of saving a child in an emergency surgery. The exact drink infront of him is the drink which saved his life. The drink who gave a shine of light to the meaning to continue fighting despite the depressing job he is doing as a surgeon.