Chapter 5: The Local Hangout

manga version

It is almost like Tsuyoi had known that Saku had a huge job to do that night. She happily tried on the dress, earrings and necklace, admiring her reflection in the mirror. The dress was just a perfect fit. Before leaving, Saku packed some food for the kids and also put a coloring book for Seo-Hyun and a book for Hyun-Woo. Waving goodbye to Amai and Kim Ji-Hoon, Saku left with her Japanese Koto and violin…

“Kim Ji-Hoon… he didn’t really look too thrilled with me wearing the dress… oh well… I just hope the kids will be okay…”

 

Saku made it to the restaurant and helped the other employees prepare for their important guests.

-Saku and her violin partner stood on the stage

-Her partner played the violin while Saku played the piano

-Saku looked up when her violin partner spoke up

“When they come, what are we supposed to do?”

“I think we have to wait until they request something to be played…”

“… oh, here they are… should we stop?”

“Yes, put down your instrument and bow down like I do…”

-Saku stood up from the piano and walked up to the edge of the stage, getting down on her hands and knees, bowing low out of respect… her partner following her

-Saku listened to her manager greet two men and their associates

-She heard one of the men call out

“Saku, please stand up… That is your name, is it not?”

-Saku stood up tall

“Yes sir... My name is Saku Hana…”

The man was short and bald and chubby… Saku stared; he had a big… almost creepy smile on his face and motioned for her to come down.

-Saku looked down at her violin partner and he shook his head: Don’t…

-Saku looked back at her manager and he shrugged his shoulders with an uncertain expression on his face

-With that, Saku stepped down from the stage slowly; she couldn’t treat their guest badly

-The man motioned for her to sit beside him at his table

-Saku gingerly sat down and looked at the other man: He was tall and had short blonde hair… he was thin and looked… sort of sickly, like he shouldn’t have come out today

-Saku flinched when the chubby man threw an arm around her

“I’ve already ordered but we can share our food!”

“Eh?”

-Saku tried to scoot away from the man, but he only followed

“I want to enjoy tonight, so sit with me my dear!”

-Saku shivered

“Um… Wouldn’t you rather have me play you a few songs on the piano?”

-Saku didn’t want to sit with the man… who suddenly smelled of alcohol

“I want you to sit by me, that scrawny lad on the stage can play music for us!”

“… that scrawny lad is my partner and I will not abandon my post… there are plenty other woman who I’m sure would love to sit on your lap, but none of us here…”

-Saku stood up

“And shouldn’t you and that man over there be talking over business? Is that not why you rented this place out?”

-The man scowled

“You can’t entertain us down here?”

-Saku felt her manager walk up behind her and prepared to hear him tell her to do something stupid like follow the man’s orders

“My entertainers only perform music on stage good sir… they do nothing else, but I can allow Saku to be your waitress for the night…”

-Saku gave him a questioning glance and he shook his head to remain quiet

-The man huffed

“Fine, then get our food soon…”

-Saku bowed stiffly and followed her manager to the back

“Does he think I’m some stripper prepared to dance on a pole in front of him?! And why do I have to serve him?!”

“Sorry Saku… but that is the only way to get him to stop tormenting you…”

-Her manager pushed her forward with two platters of drinks to set on the table

-Saku set the drinks down ignoring the constant stare she received from the man and stalked back onto the stage

-Noticing that her partner was still on the ground, Saku walked up to the edge of the stage and forcefully yanked the man to his feet

“Play something and I will follow…”

 

 The night went well for the most part. The men got down to business and Saku was relieved that the man had stopped paying so much attention to her. She served them and entertained them until nine o’clock finally came and they had to leave.

-Saku walked the men to the door

“Have a wonderful night…”

-A handful of men left and the tall, sickly looking man stopped in front of her

-She looked up at him, a question about to form

-He held out some money

“Very good job tonight… You are a wonderful musician…”

-Saku took the money and bowed deeply as the man walked away

-Saku suddenly felt a hard slap on her butt… and the hand didn’t leave, but squeezed, making her stand up straight

“Next time you should get off stage a lot more honey…”

-Saku spun around and slapped the short man hard across the face

“You piece of scum!!”

-Saku was about to slap him again when her violin partner held her back, wrapping his arms protectively around her

-Her manager stomped forward

“Get the hell out of my restaurant and don’t ever think of reserving a place here ever again you filthy drunk!”

 

After assuring her manager and violin partner that she was alright, Saku left with her violin and Japanese koto and headed off to the local hangout… she knew that Kim Ji-Hoon had to perform for another hour so she decided that she would pick the kids up to lessen his stress

-Saku entered the hangout, weaving through the crowd to look for the kids

-When she was able to see the stage clearly, she couldn’t help but smile

Kim Ji-Hoon stood by the microphone, his solo for the guitar dragging on for the crowd’s benefit. His hair swayed with his movements, his muscles printed out by the tight shirt that hugged his torso, his eyes scanning the excited crowd… When the solo ended, he grabbed the mic and began to sing. Saku felt she could melt at the sound of his beautiful voice… and he seemed so passionate about his performance… so lost in the act… he was unbelievable… maybe that was why everyone fell for him…

-When Saku was done regarding Kim Ji-Hoon, she noticed that he had caught sight of her

-He had a smile on his face and his eyes wouldn’t leave hers

 

“Oh how I’d love for his eyes to never leave mine… keep staring… don’t look away…”

 

-Her thoughts however, were broken when three girls stepped up in front of Saku, blocking Kim Ji-Hoon from her view

-Saku took a step back and stayed quiet, a scowl plastered onto her face as she set her instruments down

Saku knew all three of the girls. Ayame, the leader was very popular in school. She had long red hair and dark brown eyes. Her… second in command, Anisu, had short hair that was actually dyed purple and used blue contacts. The third, Ai, was blonde with green eyes. The three of them were usually the ones who tortured Saku the most… in fact, the other day she had found out that it was the girl with purple hair that had dropped the flowerpot out the window…

-Ayame spoke

“What the hell are you doing here?”

-Saku sneered

“Why the hell would I tell you that, Tomato?!”

-Ayame’s eye twitched at the retort

-Anisu growled

“How dare you speak to Ayame like that? You must really have no class at all!”

“What are you gonna do about it, Eggplant?!”

-Anisu gapped

-Ai decided to step in

“How can you even show your face here after everything?”

-Saku smirked

“What’s it to you, Squash?”

-All three girls were worked up now

-Anisu stepped forward

“You shouldn’t be here; this place doesn’t accept the likes of you!”

-Saku took a step forward as well

“Who says that I can’t be here?!”

-Ayame growled

“You have no right here you Anti-Kim-Ji-Hoon!!”

-Saku snarled

“Is that why? Why don’t you keep your fat noses in your own business?! Kim Ji-Hoon and I are on solid ground, so there is no need for any more death threats… not like any of you could follow through with it…”

-At that moment, Seo-Hyun and Hyun-Woo had found their way to Saku and both clung to her legs

-No one seemed to notice that the music ceased since everyone had crowded around Saku and the three girls… a fight was sure to happen

-The three girls decided to attack using the kids

“You had kids, with who you little s**t?!”

“I bet the father knocked her up and then abandoned her!”

“They are pathetic looking! Just look at how wretched-looking they are!”

-Anisu reached out to grab one of the kids, when Saku slapped her hand away

“Don’t touch them!!”

-Ai went to punch Saku

“You little b***h!!”

-Saku shoved the two kids back and met Ai’s attack head on

-While Saku held Ai’s fist, her other hand fisted and flew into Ai’s stomach

-Ai moved back from the shock and Saku let go of her hand to shove her back

-Anisu went to kick Saku’s knee, but Saku dodged and kneed the girl in the stomach

-Saku wasn’t completely prepared for Ayame’s attack

-When Ayame swiped for Saku’s hair, Saku tried to jump back… and then…

RIIIIIIIP

Saku was frozen in shock as she heard her dress tear in Ayame’s grip. The dress tore right down the middle and stopped at Saku’s abdomen. Her whole chest was completely revealed and Saku blushed furiously as she attempted to pull the dress around her exposed body. She heard the laughter and some cat calls… and she stared right at the three girls who stood before her with the evilest of grins…

-Saku had to hold back the tears that threatened to spill at the embarrassment and at the fact that Tsuyoi’s gift was ruined

-She was about to run out of the building… when a voice boomed from the microphone

“ENOUGH!!!”

-Everyone watched as Kim Ji-Hoon angrily made his way towards the issue at hand, surprise sweeping over the whole crowd

Author's Note

sorry the chapters are starting to get longer... i guess?