The Story of the Seven

CHAPTER 28 - Meeting An Old Geezer

Ayamoto POV, Before She Met Her Husband

"Goddammit."

I muttered to myself, wondering why on earth I was stuck in such a dingy little bar – at 9 PM, no less. I kinda did need the money if I were to buy luxuries for myself, but come on! I was in college at last, probably going to inherit my parent's tavern, and should've been living my life out here – you know, partying and all.

I was beyond peeved that my parents wouldn't send me enough money outside of rent, utility/food/textbook bills, and monthly phone coverage. They were damn wealthy enough to survive, and it's not like we could afford nothing. I'm certain that they could've bought me a few trendy clothes, to say the least. We were middle class, after all.

"I really shouldn't have turned down that party invitation."

The right of my brain ruefully thinks.

"Well, what the heck were you going to wear? You Walm*rt shirts?"

Argues the left, more rational half of my brain.

As I am caught up in this internal anguish, I didn't realize how absentmindedly I've been wiping the counter until too late.

"Crud!"

My hand moved before my brain, resulting in me sweeping a glass of wine straight into a middle aged patron's freshly ironed white shirt. To make matters worse, he was a relatively new regular to the bar as well.

"Sorry, sir!"

I profusely bowed my head, praying that he wouldn't become agitated, and that he wouldn't make me pay for his replacement shirt.

"You're beautiful....😮...."

"Excuse me?"

For a moment, I doubted my ears.

"Ah, sorry – I really shouldn't be saying this, should I? But it's true that you look so beautiful when you're sad. I believe my heart would stop if I saw you smiling."

"Uh...Thank You."

What is this old geezer saying?

"No, no, I should be thanking yo-heack! Cough, cough, haeack. My throat...."

He suddenly started coughing loudly, almost as if he had the whooping cough (I'm sure he just choked on his drink, though). I reached over to stabilize his shoulders, and leaning in closer, I was shocked by how much his face reeked of death. Greying eyelids, shrunken cheekbones, dull eyes (though his teeth seemed alright).

"Ah, sorry miss for the trouble. Forgive me, but I really must get going. Please, accept what little I have; after all, I'm just a broke college student."

Blushing, stuttering, grinning, and limping at the same time, he slowly dragged himself toward the exit like a man who had one too many beers.

"Broke college student? What, is he senile?"

I muttered to myself in dismay.

I just found it downright unacceptable for this 40-50 some year old man to be hitting on a girl not even half his age.

"Probably a lonely old leech."

I angrily muttered under my breath, half hoping that he would never come back. My wishes were futile, however, as he returned the next day – and started frequenting this bar a lot more. I was ticked off at this moment, but looking back, it was a blessing in disguise.

But boy, did I feel like crap when I saw him entering the tavern the next day, and requesting me as waiter. Ugh!

I was seriously tempted to bash him with my serving plate, but alas, I needed the money. All I could do was to appear friendly with that old man, hoping he doesn't get overly amiable.

"So, what classes are you taking?" (Old-Looking Man)

"Why do you want to know?"

I attempted to reply curtly in order to shoo him off, yet the old man just started happily chattering away.

"Oh, you know, I just wanted to ask. I'm a sophomore at this college; I wanted to find a reliable senpai.....hahaha...... "

"You're 40 years old and still a sophomore in college?"

"???"

"What, you are 40, right? Or older?"

"I'm.......19......."

"That's not funny."

With a dejected face, he held up an official ID card that signified his age. The ID picture matched his face.

"You gotta be kidding me...Hey! You aren't supposed to be drinking alcohol at this age?"

"Really? No one ever objected to me drinking or buying alcohol?"

"That's cause you look so old!"

"So.....I'm not your type?"

"..........Were you attempting to hit on me?"

".............."

"I....I wouldn't...mind though."

"So.....tomorrow?"

Honestly, I didn't want to go on a date with this old (young?) man, but what was I supposed to do when he had this "abused puppy" face?

The next day, I was met with the most bizarre scene I have ever seen in my entire life. It was a lovely Saturday afternoon at 1 PM for sure. But I will never be unable to erase this ecstatic, strange spectacle from my mind.

The people at this site could be split up into four different categories. Let's start with the normal two. There were the Japanese-looking locals, who were frolicking back and forth while ooh-ing and aah-ing the exotic Russian cuisine and goodies on display. Then there were the tourists, buying up mementos while speaking in foreign tongues – English, German, French, and the likes. Pretty normal, so far, for a festival in Yoyogi-koen, a big public park in Tokyo.

Then came the 3rd category – the big buff Russian dudes. Unshaven, rough looking, and probably swearing up and down in Russian, they were chugging vodka like there was no tomorrow. I mean, seriously? It's only 1 PM, for god's sake!

And then came the worst 4th category. One question to describe them.

"Why are there maids and cosplayers?" (Ayamoto)

"Uh.....That was unexpected?"

"You seriously only have that to say? Like, why are there people cosplaying in Soviet uniforms and girls serving vodka in revealing maid outfits? What the heck?"

"Oh god – let's just drink and forget about this."

"I told you yesterday, you're underaged!"

"I'm real sorry about this, though. Since you take Russian classes as non-electives, I thought you'd be interested – never imagined there would be cosplayers and those people here."

"Ahhh, it's all ri- why do you know I take Russian classes?"

"I asked my English language elective teacher – her husband teaches your class."

"Oh, okay, okay, I got stalker vibes for a second."

"You....think I'm a stalker?"

"Stop it with that abused puppy look?"

"Sorry?"

"You're doing it again!"

But really, I had no idea how wild this date was going to be....