Chapter 2 The Second Day of Work
The alley leading to Lupin Bar is deep and narrow, and every inch of the air is filled with the intoxicating aroma of alcohol.
I am absolutely neutral when it comes to cigarettes and alcohol; I have neither an excessive passion for them nor any excessive prejudice against them.
The bartender account at Lupin Bar is an account I recently acquired. I only logged in once on the day I got it, and today is the second time I've logged in.
I have owned and have owned numerous alternate identities, spanning all of Yokohama. It's no exaggeration to say that although they are different bodies, my soul has absolutely trod every inch of Yokohama's soil.
I can even assert—
No one knows Yokohama better than me.
Otherwise, it would be a waste of all the jobs I've done :)
Because I switched shifts late, my arrival time at Lupin Bar was also delayed, putting me on the verge of being late and causing me to dance wildly. My colleagues on duty had all already returned to their posts, leaving me alone to quickly change into a suitable bartender uniform under the manager's slightly disapproving gaze.
As I walked past the manager and lifted the curtain to go to the front desk, I heard him scoff, "Heh."
I:"……"
That's why I hate the service industry.
...Unfortunately, my online persona will always be in the service industry.
My area was the bar counter, where small pendant lights hung overhead, casting a warm yellow light that contrasted sharply with the colorful decorations in the center of the hall.
"A glass of rye whiskey, please."
Someone tapped on the wooden bar counter.
"Yes," I replied quickly, stopping my work of wiping the bar. I froze the moment I looked up and met the person's gaze.
The man in front of me had short, dark hair—the color wasn't quite accurate in the dim light, but I judged it to be reddish-brown. His features gave off a mature vibe, and he had a light stubble on his chin.
Oh wow.
If the occasion had allowed, I think I would have yelled.
It's you! Oda Sakunosuke!
"Rye whiskey, is it?" I asked again, maintaining a polite smile.
“Hmm,” he said.
"Okay, please wait a moment."
Oda Sakunosuke sat down on a chair near the bar.
I turned around and searched for rye whiskey among the row of drunk drivers behind me.
Not many people drink rye these days, so rye whiskey is a bit of a niche product. I poured a glass and handed it to Oda Sakunosuke.
"Sir, your rye."
"Thank you," said Oda Sakunosuke.
He took the rye I placed in front of him with one hand, and took a small sip of the amber-colored liquor, bringing his lips close to the rim of the glass.
If I were currently a staff member in the editorial department of Yokohama Publishing House, the editor in charge of the famous novelist Sakunosuke Oda, I would definitely say something to Sakunosuke Oda sitting in front of me right now. But right now I'm just a newly hired bartender at Lupin Ginza Bar.
So I looked away, reached for a rag, and continued wiping the bar counter, which had just been interrupted.
The moment my fingertips touched the soft fabric, I heard a voice call out, "Yo! Odasaku!"
I withdrew my hand, and couldn't help but think—
What a strange nickname Oda Sakunosuke!
If I remember correctly... no, how could I possibly remember something wrong? Even if I remembered the names of everyone in the editorial department wrong, or even the surname "Mimori," I would never forget the name of Oda Sakunosuke.
Oda Sakunosuke's surname is Oda, and his given name is Sakunosuke.
Between friends, he would generally be addressed as Sakunosuke or Asakusa.
I was a little curious about who was calling Oda Sakunosuke in such a unique way, so I looked in the direction the voice came from.
As you look out, a black-haired boy in a black coat walks lightly toward the bar. He waves his right hand, which is wrapped in bandages and is exposed by the cuffs of his arm, which is reflected in strange colors by the colorful lights in the bar.
Oh wow.
I was inwardly amazed.
Hey buddy, you look kind of familiar.
He looks a bit like that guy.
He was an executive at the port mafia, the largest port company in Yokohama.
Osamu Dazai.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
