Hell Bound | Tokyo Ghoul [Cancelled]

Chapter Three | Koji

For a host, the ability to choose your face is a must.

No matter the situation, you are required to read those around you and put on the one face that will endear you to the crowd. Playing the flirty type? Put on a charming smile and give a laugh. Playing the tsundere? Scowl and blush on cue.

Not one part of your body can be read wrong if you want to be anything more than another face in the crowd of pretty boys. The best could feel like tearing their hair out, like they're facing the most annoying clinging woman on the planet, and still pretend you were her one and only.

Koji was the best.

"Are you sure you have to go?" The woman pouted. Her hands clung to Koji's arm, body curled against his side. "It feels like you just got here, Naoki-kun!"

Of course I have to go. You didn't even pay the reservation fee. You just happened to be here when I caught a break between meetings. Plus, you're annoying.

Koji offered a smile he knew would send blood rushing to her cheeks. "I'm sorry. Come again and I'd be happy to entertain you for as long as you'd like."

As long as you actually reserve me.

"Okay," she replied, tone sullen. A heartbeat later she offered a hesitant, doe-eyed smile. "Do you work tomorrow, Naoki-kun?"

"Unfortunately not," he replied with a overly dramatic sigh. "I'll miss all of you ladies, but I have a three day break." He paused, turning his grin into a playful one. "A face this beautiful requires beauty sleep, you know."

If anything, the woman only seemed to cling to him even stronger than before. At least the adoration in her expression and the way she leaned towards him told Koji he'd probably be getting yet another regular as soon as she decided to actually fork out the money for a reservation.

"Then get lots of it, Naoki-kun!" she urged. "You're that beautiful."

Rather than grimace, he simply smiled. "But I'm nothing compared to you, hime-sama."

A number of minutes and cheesy lines later, Koji managed to detangle himself from the woman's arms and all but fled across the room. He loved his job and all but... some of the woman were entirely too clingy for his tastes. As if he were able to read Koji's mind, the club manager chuckled as Koji approached.

"One more group tonight," he reassured Koji. "Then you're off. Think you can smile a little bit longer?"

"Would I be number one if I couldn't?" Koji challenged.

"Fair enough. Table three reserved you and Ren for the night. He'll be over as soon as he sees of his other guests. See if you can get them to order something nice, looks like they've already had a... few drinks."

Koji nodded, turning his gaze to the group settled at table three. He recognized a few of the ladies as regulars of his. As he watching, yet two more moved to join the growing group.

"Mizuno-san! Just because you're our designated chaperone doesn't mean you have to be so stoic!"

The one he assumed to be "Mizuno-san," the lone male among several women, stood looking just as uncomfortable with the situation as one could be. Koji's lips turned upwards at the sight.

Perhaps this evening won't be as annoying as I thought...

The duo reached the table and the woman seized Mizuno's hand, shoving it in the air.

"Mizuno-san is here!" she trilled. "And he needs to lighten up."

This prompted a series of giggles from their companions; Mizuno only sighing and taking a seat next to his companion when she dropped down on the couches. Koji moved forward at the sight. It would seem the time to make his entrance had arrived.