Track 1
Cheap Izakaya
Thank you for waiting. Here is your draft beer. Let me clear out these empty glasses for you!
Thanks, appreciate it.
This is shoo good….. Cold sake with grilled mackerel…. I just can’t get enough.
Easy on the drinks. I’m the one who’s gonna catch the Boss’ hands if you go overboard.
I know, I knooow. I’m gunna look out for yur liver too…..
Here, have some water.
Gulps……
Y’know, the grilled mackerel here really hits different. It’s so tender, so flavorful. It’s nothing like what I’ve had at other restaurants.
I’ve never tasted anything this good before!
……Though, honestly, I wish I could eat more cleanly. I make a mess every time.
I know you’re supposed to take out the spine first, but I just can’t do it right.
You’re really good at this, Ten.
Well, you’re talking to the son of a sushi chef here.
(——I’m pretty good at removing “spines” in other ways, too.)
But hey, as long as it tastes good, does it really matter in the end?
Y-You have a point!
The mackerel’s amazing, the sake’s amazing too…!
Thanks for showing me this place!
You’re veeery welcome.
Y’know what else really got me hooked on this place? Their loyalty card!
Oh, these….
Kinda odd seeing paper cards like this these days.
Every time I visit, I get a stamp, and the fish levels up. Pretty exciting, don’t you think!?
Plus, I didn’t know some fish change their names as they get bigger
Just three more visits and I’ll reach Tsubasu2! And after ten more….? If we keep going a lot, we can reach Buri, Ten! It’s Buri or nothing!
I’m sooo happy for you.
For me? …..You come here with me every time, so you should have a card with the same rank too.
Weeell, about that. I lost it, actually. My bad.
Again!? Didn’t you get it reissued to match my rank the last time you said you lost it!?
Guess we’ve got no other choice, I’ll ask them to issue one for you again!
….Oh wow. I knew I recognized that voice.
If it isn’t Ten! What’re you doing here!?
Huh? Who? You know them?
Aaah, yeah….. We were “acquainted” once.
??
They’re my exes.
EXES!? BOTH OF THEM!?
Uh-huh. Went to the same college, I even crashed at their places for a while.
Uhhh….. This one here likes my homemade simmered fish.
…..! Gosh, you remembered that? That dish was, like, seriously a life-savie after a whole night of going Gyara drinking3.
(Not gonna lie, I got that dish from some other girl.)
And as for her….. She’s really into that high-beauty life, and can't start her day without a smoothie. The kinda lady who loves her afternoon teatime4.
I still have a long list of cafés I wanna visit with you, Ten. My dazzle feed needs some serious updates, y’know?
(Oh, I only vaguely remember but I guess I got it right. My memory’s not half bad, huh?)
W-Wow…. So you still get along well with your exes…..!
Sorry, sorry. Have you been messaging me? Haven’t checked PeChat in a while. I’ll get back to you soon.
Ughh…… Still as handsome as ever…… So perfect….
Fine, guess I’ll wait…..
Hell no!! As if I’d just sit by and say that!!!!
The last ever text you sent me was, “Hey, done drinking? Want me to pick you up?”!
Huh? Is that so?
Seriouslyyy? Ten can’t come because he’s always busy with his seminar reports, so shouldn’t we be understanding?
(I’ve never actually seen Ten focus on any reports, though……)
What’re you on about? That’s a first for me.
Whaat? I thought he would’ve told you about that. Don’t you think this sounds like you have trust issues?
Haah? What’d you say to me? You tryin’ to start something!?
You brought up Ten sending you that “Want me to pick you up?” text first! You’re the one trying to start something here!
Ah, excshuse me….
(Th-This seems like it’ll get really ugly soon! If we leave them like this, they’re gonna explode….!)
(This is where I….. have to step in….. as Ten’s f-friend….!)
Hey, calm down! Let’s just talk this out first….!
Actually, don’t you think this is all Ten’s fault for being so flaky!?
IKR!? He only plays nice when it’s convenient for him!!
You agree with us, right!?
HNNGGYAA!?
T-Ten…..! You should say something—— Wait, he’s GONE!?
TEEEENNNNN!!!!!!
……Phew, that hit the spot…..
Back Alley
(Things got a little hectic back there, but man, nothing beats a smoke after work~)
Now, what to do?
(Since that whole “drinking with a friend” business ended early, I might as well pick up a quick side job and make a bit of cash. With that decided…..)
……Ah.
(It’s that izakaya’s loyalty card.)
….I thought I tossed this, but I guess I just left it in my pocket. Eh, it’s too bulky to keep in my wallet.
Into the trash you go~
Fish that are called by different names as they grow larger.
Buri (Japanese Amberjack) is a fish that is given different names at each stage of growth such as “wakashi”, ”inada”, ”warasa,” and finally, ”buri”. In Kansai the terms are “tsubasu,” “hamachi,” “mejiro,” and, “buri.”
This term refers to a drinking party where men pay women a fee for their attendance. Sometimes, payment is given as "taxi fare”.It’s said to have originated with female entertainers and models invited by industry figures to gatherings, where they received payment (gyara) in return. Recently, dating apps and websites have emerged, targeting drinking events hosted mainly by wealthy men, such as executives and business owners, and inviting participants from the general public. As a result, more young women are joining these gatherings with a part-time job mindset.
This refers to “Noon-katsu” (ヌン活) which is short for "afternoon tea activity." Specifically, it refers to the activity of enjoying afternoon tea services offered at hotels and cafes. This trend allows people to easily experience a touch of the extraordinary, as if they were British aristocrats, and it has become especially popular among young women. Some people who enjoy noon-katsu go around to various hotels, posting photos and reviews on their social media or blogs.