Love Live!: SHATTER [PART 9]

SHATTERED STAR:

*BAR - KABUKICHO - SHINJUKU - TOKYO*

The neon lights of Kabukicho assaulted my eyes the second I stepped out of the station. Bright reds, pinks, and electric blues flashed across every building, the streets packed with salarymen, tourists, and the usual nighttime crowd chasing whatever escape they could find.

I checked the map on my phone again to check I've got the right place. After everything that went down at the warehouse, and my past experiences with Oda, part of me wondered if this was a trap.

But something in the way Nishiyama dropped to the floor and apologized to Takabe felt real. And I don't deny Nishiyama's love for his former unit members.

Rather than taking a few wrong turns down narrow alleys lined with host clubs and izakayas, I found the place: a small, unassuming bar tucked between two louder establishments.

No flashy sign, just a faded wooden door with a small lantern. I took a breath and stepped inside.

The interior was dimly lit, jazz playing low from hidden speakers. Cigarette smoke lingered in the air, but not as thick as I expected.

I spotted him immediately, Kaoru Nishiyama, sitting alone at the bar, nursing what looked like a glass of water instead of the usual whiskey.

I slid onto the stool next to him. He didn't look up right away.

AKI: "Judging by your beverage of choice, you're not drunk. No chain smoking either, last time we met here you were practically a living ashtray."

Nishiyama gave a weak, humorless smile, swirling the water in his glass. His voice was quieter than usual, tired but clear.

NISHIYAMA: "Self-destructive habits won't change anything. They won't bring back the people I lost. They won't bring back Starnova...or the girls who trusted me. I've spent years punishing myself. It's time to stop pretending that's enough."

I ordered a soda and waited. The bartender gave us space. After a long silence, I finally asked the question burning in my chest.