It was dark. Much more than usual. Odasaku noted. His stance was one who was relaxed, a man who had come to one of his usual bars in the dead of the night. The red-haired man gave the flickering light of Bar Lupin’s sign a glance.
They really should fix that up, He thought as he pushed open the door.
The familiar scent of whiskey wafted to his senses, along with the sounds of clinking glasses. Odasaku quietly went down the staircase while his mind debated in what drink he planned to have tonight.
He closes his eyes and heaves a sigh, “I’ll settle on apple juice tonight.” After all, his paycheck was due next week. He’d also have to pay for the kids’ rent tomorrow.
Suddenly, a loud pop alerted him, he looked up to see Dazai, who was holding a party popper, Ango, and Sensei in a party hat. Albeit the cat had a smaller one. It was cute.
“Happy Birthday, Odasaku!” Dazai greeted in accented English, causing Ango to snort with fondness and greet him too in Japanese.
“Happy Birthday, Odasaku-san.” The bespectacled man said holding out a rectangular gift in his hands.
“Ah.” The red-haired man said with his eyes slightly wide from the surprise. Carefully, he took the gift and thanked the man.
“Uwa! Did Odasaku forget his own birthday?!?!” Dazai exclaimed, looking offended by the notion. Sensei stretched his back and yawned before stalking over to sit on the stool behind Odasaku’s usual spot.
Odasaku took off his coat before hanging it by the rack nearby, “Sorry, I got caught up in work today that I thought I wasn’t gonna make it here.”
A threatening glint was in Dazai’s eye, “Oh? Do tell me about your superior for today.”
Ango had ever-so smoothly changed the topic, “A-Anyways, we thought that you would be busy today. So Dazai-kun asked Master last week about celebrating your birthday here.” He gestured as the old bartender set out the simple sushi and agemono on the table. “And believe it or not, Odasaku-san,” He lowered his voice a little but it could still be heard by their other pouting friend from Odasaku’s other side.
“Dazai-kun had agreed to split the fee between us. Can you believe it?! Do you think its a sign that I’ll finally get eight hours of sleep soon?!” Ango said with so much bewilderment that it made Odasaku chuckle.
“Hey! Just so you know, splitting doesn’t mean 50/50. I split it so that you’d pay a majority of it!” Dazai stated smugly, a vein was already pulsing on Ango’s temple.
“Now, now, Ango, we haven’t shown Odasaku the cake yet!”
“Please, don’t tell me you’re the one who baked it…” Ango pleaded, he was already turning green at the thought.
Dazai turned his nose up, “Of course I made it! It’s not a five star cake but it’s made by me and Kouyou-anesan! Bring out the cake, Master!” He excitedly addressed the man.
The old man nodded going back to the staff room of the establishment.
Odasaku chose this moment to speak, “Thanks for the surprise.”
If Ango and Dazai were surprised from the sincerity and gratefulness of their friend, they didn’t show it.
“C’mon the food’s gonna get cold!” Dazai picked up his whiskey raising it up mid-air. Ango smiled at that, “Indeed, oh and do you want to take pictures of this event, Dazai-kun? Odasaku-san?” Both gave positive answers.
After Ango set the timer and positioned it on one part of the bar, the three men raised their glasses, the clinks of their drinks resonated alongside the camera’s click.