Ranma leaned over the round table, wiping the drink condensation from the top with a towel and gathering the empty glasses from the table that had just left. Izumi had to leave early to pick up her son and Ranma had taken over waiting tables for her. It was tiring work, but Ranma was glad to be putting some money in her pocket again. She didn’t know how long she’d be allowed to stay here, or where she would want to go instead, but she’d gotten a break from the street, a few decent meals and some friendly conversations, and all of that was worth enjoying however long it lasted. Where she’d go or what she’d do if and when she left was an entirely different story.
The bar’s sound system was cranked nearly to maximum tonight to cater to a college crowd, and Ranma was glad for it. Basically no one could hear themselves think, but the high-energy pop tracks put a bit of a bounce in her step when all she wanted to do was get off of her feet. She even caught herself singing along with the music from time to time, her voice being drowned out by the speakers.
Ranma tossed the empty glasses into the dishwasher, reaching down to run it. The bar was running low on clean glassware and that would bring drink service to a halt. When she opened the cabinet for dish soap, she found that the container was empty, and headed to the back for another one. She pushed through the doors into the back room, continuing to carry the tune she’d started singing along with in the main bar as she searched for a new bottle of detergent in the supply cabinet. Finding the last one at the very back of the cabinet, she closed the door to find Mei standing behind it. She was leaning on the wall, smiling broadly.
Ranma looked up, puzzled. What is this girl’s deal?
“Wow, Ranko. You’re really good. Like, really good.”
Ranma blushed furiously. She’d forgotten that there weren't any speakers in the back room. It wasn’t the first time she’d had that particular compliment, though. Akane had always said she had a good singing voice, and no Christmas had gone by at the Tendo household without Ranma getting badgered to take female form and sing at least one song with her and her sisters. Ranma wasn’t sure she shared their high opinion, but Soun seemed to really like it when the girls sang, and Akane really liked anything that made her dad proud, so Ranma tried to oblige for her sake.
Mei smiled a bit disarmingly, playing with the end of one of her pigtails. “Don’t be shy! It’s okay! Honest!”
Being called shy only worsened it for Ranma, though. Shy was a thing girls did, afterall. “Seriously, it’s not all that great, I just didn’t think anyone could hear me. Sorry!”
Mei shook her head dismissively, still smiling brightly at the younger girl. “You don’t need to apologize! I’m glad to see you’re having fun.”
Ranma’s face discovered a new shade of red. She was waiting tables, in a dress, and having fun? She wanted to talk herself out of it, but she honestly couldn’t. She finally gave in and smiled, nodding a little. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
Waving goodbye to Mei, Ranma returned to the front of the house with the dish soap in hand, and Mei resumed peeling potatoes for french fries. The redheaded girl poured soap into the dishwasher and pressed the start button, looking up from her task just as a new patron entered the bar. She was probably in her early-to-mid-thirties, with jet black hair, and wearing a lime-green business suit consisting of a pencil skirt and a blazer over a cream-colored blouse. Her eyes scanned the bar as if she was expecting to meet someone there. She definitely wasn’t dressed for a nightclub, though. Hana saw her as well, walking over to the woman and starting a conversation.
Ranma watched the two women curiously. Maybe she’s Hana’s lawyer, or landlord, or something?
Yui finished shaking a cocktail mixture vigorously over her right shoulder, pouring it into two glasses before rounding the bar into the seating area. “Good evening, Mrs. Jirito. Welcome.” Yui bowed formally.
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The woman in the green suit looked Yui over in exaggerated contemplation before bursting out into laughter. “Oh, get over yourself. Come here!” She reached out and grabbed Yui around the neck, pulling her into a hug. When she let go, she turned and hugged Hana as well.
Ranma watched from behind the bar, trying not to stare, but it was only a moment more before Hana turned to Ranma and motioned her to join them. Ranma was handed a cocktail to deliver, expecting to seat the woman at a nearby table.
Hana motioned her closer to the group. “Ranko, I’d like you to meet Ayako. She’s the eldest of the girls here. Or, she was, before some fancy CEO asked her to marry him, and now she doesn’t come around anymore.”
Ayako waved her off, laughing. “Hey, Kage is just a director, not the CEO. And I do come around, when I can. We don’t get into the city much.”
Hana shook her head, smiling. “Anyway, Ayako, this is Ranko. It’s her second night working with us.”
Ranma handed the woman her margarita and bowed respectfully. “Pleasure to meet you, Jirito-san.”
Ayako rolled her eyes gently at Hana. “Still doing your thing, mama?”
The elder woman nodded. “It worked out pretty well for you, didn’t it?”
Ayako nodded with a shrug. “I guess I can’t complain.” She turned now to Ranma. “I hope the girls aren’t giving you a hard time, Ranko?”
Ranma shook her head. “No, ma’am. They’ve done nothing but make me feel welcome.”
The raven-haired woman smiled. “Good. It seems I taught them something after all. I’m glad! What do you think of it all?”
Ranma shrugged. “It’s still pretty new to me, but so far it’s been great. I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn and help out.”
Hana nodded with a smirk. “She’s a good kid, Ayako. Even when she lies about her age.”
Ranma gulped. “You caught that?”
Hana nodded sagely. “You think you’re the first person to try and age themselves up to get into a bar? You didn’t invent it, honey. But I understand why you did. Think I could get the truth now, though?”
Ranma frowned, bowing in shame. “Seventeen. Eighteen on Friday. I am so sorry, Hana.”
The bar’s owner placed her hand on Ranma’s shoulder comfortingly. “Sweetheart, it’s okay. I forgive you. Most people would do a lot worse than lie about their birthday to get off the street or put some money in an empty pocket. Technically, you’re not supposed to be working after ten at night until you’re eighteen though, so let’s just pretend I didn’t hear that for the next couple of days, okay?”
Ranma nodded with a sigh of relief. “Yes, ma’am.”
Ayako shook her head, smiling at Hana with an exaggerated roll of her eyes. “Kids these days, am I right?”
Ranma walked quietly from the table to check on her other guests, still feeling fairly ashamed of herself.
“Oh, come on now, Ayako. Don’t act like I didn’t find you running from the police after stealing from an anime shop when you were her age.”
Ayako blushed. “That was a lifetime ago, mama. I’m not anywhere near that person anymore.”
Hana nodded sagely. “One day, it will be a lifetime ago for her, too. The point is to make sure she gets there.”
“Same old mama,” the younger woman laughed. “All these years, and still taking in strays.”
The barkeep looked across the bar at Mei and Yui, both smiling and laughing with the customers as they shook cocktails over their heads in their steel mixing glasses. “And all four of you are alive because of it.” She turned her head slightly to Ranma, who was now off in the corner clearing empty glasses from the pool table. It was clear from her slumping and slowed movement that all the joy she’d felt a few moments before had been replaced by her shame at having been caught lying. To Hana, all that did was prove that she was, as she expected, a good kid who had done a desperate thing. “Maybe all five, now.”
Ayako raised her glass. “To the fifth wayward sister, then.”
Hana smiled proudly, clinking her soda glass against Akayo’s margarita before turning to look across the bar at her charges again. “To all five of them.”