HA2 24.2 – Underage Red Matador
Nikko was a country with heavy drinking culture, both in ancient and modern times. It was not an exaggeration to call Nikko as country of drinkers. One of the reasons for it was because people in Nikko saw drinking as a way to share a sense togetherness and honesty. This type of drinking was one of core culture in many working place.
Hide’s father was not an exception of after-work drinking. However, he couldn’t attend it if it was held at weekday. He had to go home as soon as possible once he finished his work, especially when he had overtime. His superior and co-worker didn’t mind it because they knew his father had a little kid who was waiting for him alone at home all day.
However, Hide’s father had obligation to attend the drinking gathering at weekend, and he always brought Hide along. Hide clearly remembered that his father superior and co-worker would drink until they fully wasted, while his father would only enjoyed non-alcoholic beer and boiled edamame.
As for Hide, he would be content with a big glass of lemon tea and big serving of fried chicken. When he got bored listening to raving and ranting from adult around him, he would use his father’s thigh as a pillow and fell asleep in no time. The next day, he would wake up on his bed.
When his father had his first date with Emily, he also took Hide along with him, and Hide took every chance he had to make things hard for the two. However, they didn’t mind his grumpy face or the fuss he created to disrupt their talk.
The next day, Hide woke up in his bed as usual. The only difference was, he found Emily stayed overnight in his house without his consent. He was very angry, but Emily made him a nice breakfast so he didn’t make a fuss. Hide also clearly remembered that his father and Emily had a bright smile on their face for the rest of the day.
After his father married Emily, he finally could attend after-work drinking at weekday. As for Hide, he was stuck at home with Emily. He would put a grumpy face all the time, but Emily would just happily tease him without mercy, and she really good at it. At that time he felt it was like hell, but now he missed it so much.
‘How could I was always too late to cherish the precious moment I had in my life?’
Hide couldn’t help but letting out a sigh as he recalled some of his childhood moments, which became one of the reasons why he would never be able to hate his father even though right now he had no care for his children anymore.
‘Fortunately, I get the second chance to take over your place to look after Aizawa. So Dad, just take your time and we will wait for you until you finish your mourn and come back to us.’
After silently heaving another deep sigh Hide turned his gaze to Aizawa. “Just a little bit more.”
“Mhm,” Aizawa cheerfully nodded.
While holding each other hands, Hide and Aizawa cheerfully continued their walk, cutting through the spacious Sunday afternoon side road.
---
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Walrus was a small but nice Britiss pub. It was located in a basement of pastry shop, not far from Blue Sora, and was famous for having wide collection of domestic and imported alcoholic beverage. The music and lighting at Walrus were also gentle. In short, it was not as bustling or as merry regular Britiss pub, but it offer coziness for people who wanted to enjoy a calm drinking moment.
As soon as she entered Walrus, Aizawa checked every corner of the room with curious eyes. It was Sunday evening, so the pub only had a few guests and all of them were taken back as they looked at Aizawa.
Maybe they inwardly cursed, ‘Who the fuck brings a child to a pub?’
But Hide, the young man who brings a child to the pub didn’t give a damn about it. As he pointed to an empty table in a corner, he gently said to Aizawa, “Dad and Emily sat in that table on their first date.”
“Can we sit over there too?” Aizawa asked while giving Hide an expectant gaze.
“For now let’s sit in the bar counter,” Hide calmly replied. “And take the chance to know the bartender.”
“Okay.” Aizawa didn’t argue and let Hide led her to the bar counter.
The chair in the bar counter was rather high, so Hide had to help Aizawa to sit on it properly. After that Aizawa turned her gaze to the Old Bartender before her and gave him a big smile.
And so, the bartender who initially was loss of words as soon as he saw a little girl and a boy entered his pub and then walked over to the bar counter, managed got his composure back.
After returning Aizawa’s smile the Old Bartender said, “Little Lady, what poiso--- Cough cough! I mean what sweet elixir I can fix for you.”
“Uncle Bartender,” Aizawa happily said. “Aizawa and Big Bro Hide are still under twenty and can’t drink alcohol yet, so do you have a suggestion for us?”
After another smile the Old Bartender replied, “I do. For a sweet little lady like you, I suggest a glass of red matador. It’s delicious cocktail made of tequila, finely chopped strawberry, and pineapple juice. I can fix the underage version for you.”
“It sounds delicious,” Aizawa said. “Aizawa will have it then.”
“Understood.” The old bartender then turned his gaze to Hide. “What about you, the young gentleman, do you want a suggestion?”
“No, I already have something in mind,” Hide politely replied while handed over three pieces of 500 Ren coins. “Please fix me a glass of non-alcoholic Hakone.”
“Right away.”
Wasting no time the old bartender fixed the order. For the red matador, he replaced the one-third ratio of tequila with milk and tripled the amount, replaced the tequila glass with beer glass, and then processed the rest accordingly to the red matador recipe. In the end it became a big glass of warm milk, mixed with finely chopped strawberry and pineapple juice he had shook together for a moment.
As for the non-alcoholic Hakone, he only had to pour it as usual to produce small bubble as much as possible and gave it additional ice bath. After that he served both drinks simultaneously.
“One underage red matador and one non-alcoholic Hakone beer,” The old bartender said as he put the drinks in front of Hide and Aizawa. Then, he handed over the change money along with a small plate of sweet potato chips and a small bowl of boiled edamame. “The first appetizer is covered by first drink.”
“Thank you, Uncle Bartender,” Aizawa happily said.
“Thank you,” Hide added as he took the change money and put it into his pocket.
After the two kids in front of him took a sip of their drink the old bartender asked, “How is it?”
“It’s sweet and delicious,” Aizawa cheerfully replied. “Aizawa never drink such delicious milk before.”
“The beer is also delicious,” Hide added. “Your pouring skill is superb.”
“I’m glad you two like it.” After a smile the old bartender then expressed the wonder in his heart. “If you don’t mind, may I know what brings you two to this pub?”
Aizawa cheerfully replied, “Dad and Mom had their first date here, so Aizawa want to check it out.”
“I see.” After a moment of pause the Old Bartender added, “It’s a good reason to visit a pub honestly, but I bet your parent don’t know it, right?”
“Mhm,” Aizawa nodded and then weakly added, “After Mommy passed away Daddy always arrives at home drunk, so we rarely talk.”
“I see,” the Old Bartender weakly said. “I guess your father love your mother very deep.”
“Mhm.”
“Well, all I can say is be strong kids,” The Old Bartender genuinely said. “Sorrow from losing the loved one can be too unbearable, even for an adult.”
“Mhm, right now Daddy is like forgetting us, but it is fine because Big Bro always looks after Aizawa.”
After a smile the Old Bartender said, “I can tell, you have a good big brother.”
“Mhm,” Aizawa gave the Old Bartender another nod. “Big Bro is the best.”
Initially, Hide just calmly sipped his beer as Aizawa and the Old Bartender had a chat. However, he couldn’t help but felt a sense of bitterness as they called him a good big brother.
‘You two give me too much of credit,’ Hide muttered as he painfully recalled that in his previous life he didn’t only treat Aizawa poorly, but even leaved her on her own for a few years when she needed him the most.
And so, seeing Aizawa and the Old Bartender had a happy chat and even laughing together, Hide decided to let them enjoyed their time. Initially, he planned to stay at Walrus for only 20 minutes, just enough to satisfy Aizawa’s curiosity, but then he extended it into a whole hour.
And just before he and Aizawa left the pub, the Old Bartender added the Underage Red Matador to the menu board, and asked Aizawa to visit the pub again and had a chat with him.
*****