tragedy ➸ syobai hashimoto

pluviophile ➸ 01

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pluviophile ➸  a lover of rain; someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days.

Pitter patter. Drip drip.

That's water. The beautiful pristine liquid, pure or not. Beauty is often resembled with water, is it not? 

Rain is water, but why is it sybolism of something completely different? Sadness? What had caused that sadness? A tragedy, perhaps.

❤march 30, 2016❤

"11, 000 yen and we have a deal." A rough, masculine voice spoke. Sounds of metal clinking could be heard. Coins, perhaps? No response was heard. "I said 11, 000 yen. Deal or no deal?"

A more elderly male voice came into action. "8, 000 yen." The intimidation was a bluff. The bluff was as clear as fresh precipitation. "I can't just spend 11, 000 yen on the spot. 8, 000 is a small downgrade, right?" Paper shuffling sounds echoed throughout the room.

"20, 000 yen." A smirk could easily be visible through the broker's words. You didn't need a visible imagination to tell.

Frustration was laced through the elderly man's words. "What the hell?! Why'd you raise it?" The elderly man sighed. "Syobai, you cunt, lower it back to 11, 000 yen, I beg of you."

The broker, who's name was Syobai, chuckled. "It's called business." Syobai played with a stack of coins. "15, 000 yen. Argue one more time and the deal is off."

"But we both know-!"

"Yes, we both know how badly you need this... stress supplement. Remember what I had said about arguing?"

The elderly man handed over 15, 000 yen to the broker. "I'll be back next week."

All of this may be confusing to you. Where are you in this?

On the scene. Watching.

How'd that happen?

Well... that needs some explaining.

❤earlier that day❤

"Damn it. Why'd Yoruko have to choose this city for the surprise party?" Your friend Yoruko had invited you to Washyo City for someone's surprise 18th birthday party. Who's? Well, you don't know. It's one of Yoruko's millions of friends. The point is, she truly wanted you to go. And you happened to get lost in the city that this party was present.

You saw a sketchy-looking man with scant of innocence entering an alleyway. Curiosity killed the cat, and you followed being the good citizen that you are. He went down some worn-down, rugged, stone stairs, which led to a rough-looking room.

❤present time❤

Syobai exited the room and leaned against the alleyway, taking a mint cigarette pack and a lighter out of his pocket. Using one hand he tried removing the thin-plastic seal on the pack. After some struggling, Syobai had just used his teeth. He chose the unlucky cigarette of the hour and lit it. He pressed it against his lips and took a puff.

Now that he was standing still, you were able to study his features. All you were able to see earlier was some unbuttoned vest. Now you were able to notice his messy silver hair that reached just his neck. He had a red tie that wasn't fastened properly, an untucked black collared shirt (which also had been unbuttoned), stubble, and sterling, lustrous, pearl eyes that contrasted his rough atmosphere. Attractive overall.

After you analyzed him, you didn't notice that he had been watching you stare at him the whole time. "Dolly, what're you looking at? I'm just a man with a cig."

"I- I- uhm..." You drifted your eyes towards your feet, which previously were on his. "I- nothing!" Crimson red painted your face. "I'll be on my way."

Syobai took another puff of his cigarette. "Leaving so soon? What's your name?"

"That's none of your business."

"But you already know mine."

'What?'

"What do you mean?" You innocently questioned the broker.

"You breathe heavily when nervous. Hearing you breathing kind of set me off my deal." Syobai threw his cigarette on the ground and crushed it with his shoe. "I could've earned 3,000 more yen." The silver-haired man took out another cigarette and held it with his teeth. He proceeded to use his free hands to light the cigarette. Talk about chain-smoking. "Anyways, I heard you breathing. Since you know my name, tell me yours."

'This man is bad news.' You thought. 'I have to get out of here, and fast.' Instead of making an excuse, you thought telling the truth would be your best bet. "I have a party to attend. I have to go."

"Why didn't you go there sooner?" Precipitation fell, which took out his cigarette. He tried relighting it, but it didn't work. "Damn it..." He mumbled to himself.

"Because I got lost. What of it?"

"I'm a local. Tell me your name, and I'll help you around."

"No thanks. I'm sure there's someone more well-brought-up in these parts that can help me out."

"That's your loss, Dolly."

"Stop calling me that!" You clenched your fists and glared at the man. You then noticed something. Ever since it started raining, he hadn't been making eye contact with you. He was staring at the rain. "If you want to know my name so bad why don't you make eye contact with me and have a normal conversation?"

"Because the rain is beautiful. Elegance and tranquility mixed in one word. Rain." Syobai rubbed his eyes, assuming he could get a better view of the rain, but it blurred his vision for a moment.

You stared at Syobai in confusion. 'Since when was this jerk a poet?' You rolled your eyes. "Isn't rain sad? All breakups and deaths happen with rain in the atmosphere. You even had been frustrated when it started raining since you couldn't light your cigarette."

Syobai chuckled and put his hands on your head. He directed your head towards the rain, and not himself. "Look at that beauty. People assume water is always so magnificent and pure, but always look at rainwater with a different eye. They're the same at the end."

"I guess you're right, surprisingly."

"Thanks, that happens a lot."

☾968 words.☾

☾Rated 90% for clarity and engagement.☾