Monochromatic: Haikyuu Fanfic

Chapter 40: Beer and Blood

Whenever you think you're a fuck up, whether it may be failing your geometry test or tripping down on nothing, just remember:

You can't be more of a fuck-up than Umeko Fukui.

-*-

By quarter to ten, the cafe cleared up with costumers (rather, kicked out by Tachibana since they're too drunk to function). Ayame offered help, but her manager insisted by saying the drunk ones have "pervy hands" while making a squeezing gesture with her hands. Fukui was debauched when this large drunk dude unabashedly reached out for Tachibana's breast when she tried shoving him to the door, until the man's hand became a victim of Tachibana's vice grip and flipped over him like a rag doll.

Note to self: There's a reason why these ladies are able to work in such a toxic environment.

When the shop was cleared up of low-life perverts, the place grows oddly quiet. Everyone is gathered at one table, even Naozumi, the cook, is slumped over. Knocked out. Exhausted. Tachibana is nowhere to be seen.

Fukui helps sweep up the place, and Ayame is busy counting today's earnings (which is, undoubtedly the only good thing of having those bad costumers.)

Cue the large SLAM!

Everyone whips their head to the source to see Tachibana leaning on the doors to the back room with a groggy posture. Back slides down against the wood, and Fukui thought she might collapse, until she yanked herself up and headed over to Ayame by the counter and clutched at her uniform tightly, giggles erupting from her throat.

"Ayame-chaaaaaaahahahaha h- ha - nnhnn~" She sings, leaning close to her ear. Startled, Ayame pulls back, spots Tachibana's right hand holding an aluminum can. It takes that and a whiff of Tachibana's pungent breaths for the thought to click in her mind that -

"You -" Ayame's hands gripps at her shoulders to stop her from swaying, "drank...? Why'd you drink now of all times-"

" 'm- so sorry," Tachibana slobers, burrying herself in Ayame's uniform, " - m so sorry - so soso so sorry... I already gave you enough - trouble ffor coming today and I, I - should've tried h-harder to stop you - "

So Tachibana is the emotional drunk type...

"Stop. Tachibana-san stop your sobbing. Look at me." Tachibana didn't move. Exasperated, Ayame yanks her manager by the hair and earns a whimper from her but tears are running down her face like mad. Ayame's eyes reflection with reassurance and firm.

"My decision is my descision. You're not the one held responsible for what I had to do today, alright?"

"Ayame-chan..." Tachibana hiccups.

"Now stop crying. You're making a bad reputation to these people." Ayame shoves her out of her bubble.

"Don't worry about us," Makino says, although a bit concerned, "How is she able to go home in this condition...?"

"We live in the same apartment building around the corner. In fact, our rooms are right next to each other. I'll be able to handle her."

"Oh," Makino lets out a relived breath, "that's good. That same apartment is just a couple streets from my house, I think. We can all walk home together, then?"

"Sure."

-*-

10:20 PM.

"Ayame-chan please don't tell me that you..."

Fukui narrows her eyes at the smaller girl before her, crouching down. Ayame's eyes are glossed over, eyelids drooped down as if she's drowsy.

"...drank some alcohol too."