"TAP BAR 10" The Color Bartender <4. The Hazy IPA and the Mysterious Man (Part 2)>

4. The Hazy IPA and the Mysterious Man (Part 2)

“This is the first time I’ve ever told a customer this secret.”
As Makoto lowered her gaze to the counter, the man tilted his head in surprise.
The sharp light tracing his silhouette flickered quietly.
“...The first time?”
“Yes. I’ve only ever told my family and a few people associated with this shop.”
“You’re telling someone like me such an important story?”
“Sometimes people don’t believe me, and sometimes they find it creepy, so I usually try not to talk about it. But... I felt it would be okay with you.”
When Makoto smiled, the man blinked his large eyes.
“...I’m pretty good at keeping secrets.”
The man said this, his mouth softening in a slightly shy way. Watching his profile, Makoto let out a soft breath.

“I have a slightly unusual ability: I can see people’s emotions as ‘colors’.”
“...”
“Oh, it’s fine if you don’t believe me. Please just listen to it as if it were a bit of a charm.”
The man shook his head as if to deny it.
“I believe you. Since you’ve gone to the trouble of telling me, I’d love to hear the rest.”
Makoto nodded slightly, and with her fingertips resting on the counter, she continued quietly.

“I found it a bit strange. You’re in such a difficult situation that weekly magazines are chasing you all the way here, so you surely shouldn’t have a moment of peace.”
The man’s eyes flickered faintly, and the light within them grew murky.
“But I saw such a happy color that I couldn’t believe that was the case. When you were talking about the stage and your singing, it was overflowing with beautiful yellow and orange.”
“Yellow and... orange...?”
The man’s eyes widened in surprise.
Actually, it is very difficult to convey color in words.
A refreshing yellow like spring sunlight. A warm orange like a bonfire.
It’s a little different from when you’re praised by someone, or when you’re with someone you love. It’s a pure, straightforward color like that of a young child, worn only by those who can say they love what they love.
“Yes. It was so bright that even I, watching, felt dazzled.”

Makoto continued slowly, as if searching for the right words.
“But that color disappears almost immediately.”
“Disappears...?”
“Yes. It gets covered by a light so strong it’s blinding. It’s as if you’re trying to hide what’s behind that light... from everyone.”
The man’s eyes flickered slightly.
“I’ve seen many colors until now, but this was the first time for something like this.”

Makoto turned her gaze to the Hazy IPA in front of the man.
“This beer wasn’t accepted by the standards of people in the past.”
“...Because it’s cloudy?”
“Yes. Because it was once thought that a clear liquid was the finished form of beer. There was a time when people said this was unfinished, a failed product.”
Across the counter, the hazy golden color sparkled, reflecting the lighting.
“But in reality, it’s neither unfinished nor a failure. It’s just cloudy like this because it retains a lot of hops and yeast. It’s precisely because of this haze that it has the aroma and flavor it does.”
Makoto smiled slightly.
“Now, it’s loved by many people who say, ‘It’s better when it’s cloudy.’”
A single delicate bubble popped quietly in the glass. The golden color swayed gently.
“...It’s funny how things change. What society considers the ‘correct answer.’”
The man muttered while looking at the glass.
The lighting illuminating his profile made the hazy golden color shimmer even more.
“That’s why I like this beer.”
You don’t have to pander to those around you or force yourself to fit someone else’s correct answer. Sometimes, things that just continue to exist are eventually discovered by someone. I am somewhat saved by that fact.
After saying it, I hesitated for a moment. It might be rude to compare him to beer. But I just thought it was sad that someone harboring such vivid colors would deny themselves.

A brief silence fell over the counter.
The light illuminating the man’s silhouette flickered slowly, as if pondering something.
Eventually, the man said nothing, just quietly tracing the rim of the glass with his fingertip.
“...The voices of the outsiders sound unnecessarily loud, don’t they? Especially lately, there are times when words on social media are reported as if they were the truth. But that’s ridiculous.”
The Hazy IPA reflected in the man’s eyes swayed under the light. Another small bubble popped.
“Most of the people saying whatever they want aren’t people who truly know you. I think it’s very sad to be so caught up in the words of outsiders that you cover up such a wonderful color. Because, really, it’s such a beautiful color...”
The man lifted the glass and slowly tilted the hazy liquid.

Clatter. A dry sound of Go stacking plates echoed from the back of the kitchen.
The man stared at his hand for a while, then eventually smiled slightly.
“...I never thought I’d be comforted like this.”
The tension that had been straining his shoulders melted away.
Watching this, Makoto turned back to the man.
“Because of my profession, I talk to many customers every day, but I rarely see anyone talk about their work with an expression like that. It’s very important to you, isn’t it, your current job?”
The man lowered his gaze to the glass on the counter and softened his mouth just a little.
Then, sunflower-like yellow specks popped up as if to surround him.

“I have a concert next week. At a place that has always been my dream.”
The man continued, savoring each word while staring at his clasped hands.
“But I’ve caused so much trouble at a time like this... so I asked them to at least give me time to speak to my fans in my own words at the very end of the performance.”
Makoto stopped wiping the glass and listened quietly. Regret and an even more earnest emotion seeped from the edges of the man’s words.
“But when it came time to actually speak... I didn’t know what I should convey. The more I thought about it, the more I ended up trying to look cool.”
The face he made while saying that was as pure as a boy’s, and he looked most like himself today.
He downed the remaining beer in the glass in one go and then lifted his face sharply.
“If I’m honest... will everyone hate me?”
Makoto smiled softly, as if to accept that slightly anxious expression.
“I don’t know about that.”
“Aww, come on.”
Because he said it suddenly like a spoiled child, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I don’t know the whole situation, so I can’t say anything irresponsible.”
“And I had just gained some confidence, too.”
“But.”
Makoto turned her gaze back to the man.
“At the very least, I think you are more wonderful when you are honest like this.”
His large eyes blinked.
The man scratched the tip of his nose as if to cover it up.

“Hey! Isn’t this manager a bit of a tsundere?”
Go, who had finally finished the mountain of dishes, was leaning out from the entrance of the kitchen.
“That’s right. The manager is a real operator. Don’t be fooled!”
“Go.”
“...Yes, I’ll be quiet.”
When she glared at him, Go immediately straightened his posture.
The man who had been watching the exchange laughed even louder than before.
“Haha...!”

Pop.
This time, a pale yellow like refreshing lemon popped. Over that, soft orange and even a pale pink like cherry blossoms overlapped.
The most vivid elation I’d seen all day.
The sight, as if the colors themselves were rejoicing, warmed the depths of my chest.
Makoto narrowed her eyes involuntarily.

“(...Huh?)”
It was for an instant. A brief moment when the particles of light calmed. Even deeper than the hazy radiance.
Something like a murky shadow swayed sluggishly.
A deep, cement-like lump that was hard to describe as either black or gray.
An indescribable sense of disgust and the edge of a past memory resonated faintly. It was like the sensation of damp mud clinging to the walls of my heart. A bad premonition chilled the depths of my chest.
I gasped involuntarily.
But in the blink of an eye, it had vanished like an illusion.
“(...Was I imagining it?)”

Makoto calmed her racing heart with a deep breath and tried to appear calm.
“Would you like another one, if you’d like? I’ll serve you whatever you’d like.”
She called out while taking away the empty glass.
The man rested his fingertip on his chin as if thinking for a moment, but his mouth soon softened.
“In that case, the same as before.”

◇

“Thank you for the meal. I’m sorry for staying past closing time. Especially when it was already last minute.”
The man finished paying and bowed politely, looking alternately at Makoto and Go.

“No, I enjoyed the conversation too, so...”
“I enjoyed it too. Please come again if you’d like!”
Apparently, this man and Go were the same age, and by the time they realized it, they were hitting it off as if they had known each other from the start. They were doing hand signs and fist bumps with boyish faces. Perhaps he didn’t have many friends his own age, as the man seemed to have taken quite a liking to Go.
“I’ll come again. Can you rent this place out for private parties?”
“It depends on the day, but yes, we can. It’s a small shop, though.”
When Makoto answered, the man smiled with relief.
“That’s good. Then next time, I might rent it out and bring the members.”
Go was floating on air, doing a strange little dance by himself.

“Manager, I... I’ll try my best to be honest.”
Behind him, a vivid yellow swayed softly. Deep inside that, a soft orange popped and crackled.
Then, the dazzling light that had been enveloping him until now sucked those colors in all at once. Responding to the heat of the light, each of the colors began to emit light like jewels, releasing a brilliant radiance.
It was an overwhelming radiance with clearer outlines than anything I had ever seen before.
“(Colors can shine like this, too.)”

“I’m rooting for you.”
“Well then, see you again.”
The man put his cap back on and waved lightly.
“Thank you very much! Take care!”
Go bowed energetically.
The doorbell rang, and just as the man was about to step outside...

“Oh, what’s this?”
A familiar voice echoed in the shop, and at the same time, the man’s feet stopped.
“...We have a rare customer.”
Makoto looked up.
Standing there was Kanzaki, carrying a large backpack.

“It’s been a while, Ritsu.”
“Huh, Kanzaki-san...? Is this... Kanzaki-san’s shop...?”
The man lifted the brim of his cap and looked down at the owner’s face in surprise.
“Yeah. I didn’t expect you to be here. More importantly... are you okay? I saw the news.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve caused you worry. But I’m okay. I just got some courage from the manager here.”
The man glanced over at me.
Makoto couldn’t even return a polite smile and kept blinking. She couldn’t grasp the situation and just stared at the two of them in a daze.
“Oh, you became a fan of Makoto too? The real performance is next week, right? Don’t push yourself too hard.”
Kanzaki patted Ritsu on the shoulder and added in a lower voice.
“...I’m always on your side. If anything happens, give me a call.”
“Yes. Thank you. I’ll do my best.”
The man bowed deeply once more and left the shop.

The door closed with a thud.
Without even a moment to soak in the aftermath, the owner entered vigorously, flipping his flashy aloha shirt.
His figure, waving both hands widely, was the same as ever, and his beard had grown quite a bit since the last time I saw him.
“Wait, Owner? Why? Huh? Do you know each other?!”
Go jumped out from behind the counter and stood in front of the owner.
“You look as energetic as ever, Go. More importantly, I’d be happy if you welcomed me back after such a long time.”
“No, of course I’m happy. I’m happy, but, no, that’s not the point right now!”
Makoto just stared at the two of them, unable to grasp the situation.
“By the way, I feel like I’ve seen that young man somewhere before...”
When Makoto muttered this, Go froze with an even more incredulous expression.

“Makoto-san, uh... you’re kidding, right? You mean you were talking to him without knowing who he was?!”
“I’m not very good with that kind of thing...”
“It’s Ritsu from Stella Night, Ritsu Kujo!”
“Ritsu... Kujo.”
Makoto tilted her head. It wasn’t that the sound didn’t ring a bell, but it didn’t connect to the young man from earlier.
“Wow, I can’t believe it.”
Go covered his face with both hands.
“You see him every day.”
“Every day?”
Go pointed to the side of the register as if exasperated. There, a collaboration campaign POP with a craft beer maker was displayed. A young man smiling refreshingly next to the catchphrase.
“...Ah.”
“...Don’t ‘ah’ me!”
Go was staring blankly at the ceiling while holding his head.
“Geez, Makoto-san, you can do anything, so why is it only in these areas...”
Kanzaki, who had been watching the scene, laughed while taking off his backpack.
“Makoto has been interesting in that way since long ago.”
“...That’s not a compliment, is it?”

◇

Within minutes of the owner entering the shop, the atmosphere inside changed completely. It was an overwhelming intensity, as if the spring sunlight had poured in all at once. It sometimes gets annoying, but it’s strange that it feels lacking if he’s not there.
Overwhelmed by that presence, Makoto finally took off her apron as if to take a breath.

Kanzaki sat in the middle of the counter and looked around the entire shop.
“It looks like... quite a few customers came in today.”
“No, no, that’s not the point right now!”
Go slammed both hands on the counter vigorously.
“What was that just now! Why does the owner know Ritsu Kujo?!”
“Go, you’re loud.”
“I’m curious!”
Kanzaki opened his backpack with a wry smile.

“Makoto looks like she doesn’t really understand. I happen to have one, so look at this.”
What he took out was a weekly magazine.
Go made a face openly.
“Ah... that.”
On the page placed on the table, flashy headlines were dancing.

【Does Stella Night’s Center, Ritsu Kujo, have a gene for violence?!】
【Ritsu Kujo, raised in an institution, his sealed past】
【Stella Night’s black resume】
【Yellow light for the Dome performance】

Makoto frowned involuntarily.
“Raised in an institution... that’s what he let slip earlier.”
Go nodded shortly.
“It’s been a big topic lately. It’s all over the wide shows.”
Makoto tilted her head while keeping her eyes on the page.
“But... he didn’t actually hurt or deceive anyone, did he?”
“Absolutely not!”
“Well, I suppose so.”
When Makoto nodded easily, Go’s eyes widened.
“Huh?”
“Because that wasn’t the color he had. In the first place, is being raised in an institution the problem?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
Go sighed a little and continued.
“But, idols are, in a way, a job that sells dreams. There are people who say whatever they want. Why did he hide it, it’s different from his image, he has the genes of a criminal. Besides, there are people who make up pitiful stories on their own just by hearing rumors.”
“Well, it’s different from when the person themselves talks about it when they should.”
Kanzaki said quietly.
“It was exposed without his permission. With groundless rumors attached to it, too.”
Silence fell in the shop.

Eventually, Kanzaki ordered the same beer as Ritsu from Makoto and took it into his mouth as if to savor it slowly.
“He hasn’t done anything wrong.”
There was a strangely strong persuasiveness in that sound. When the owner talks like this, it’s usually a time when you can believe him.

Makoto stared at Kanzaki’s beer glass.
Sunflower-like yellow. Soft orange. Pale pink like cherry blossoms.
All I could recall were such gorgeous colors.

“It was the first time.”
Makoto muttered quietly while looking at the beer swaying in the glass.
“What was?”
“I couldn’t... see the colors. To be precise, I could only see the light.”
“Does that happen?”
Go’s eyes widened.
“No, it had never happened even once until now. But it’s not that he was expressionless, or that I couldn’t see anger or sadness. Rather, he was very honest. But the depths of his heart, his true feelings, I couldn’t see at all.”
Makoto was searching for words.
“Surely, he must have endured a lot until now. Painful things, bitter things, things that would break a person. It’s as if those things have piled up and become his own light. No... maybe he couldn’t have kept going if he hadn’t hidden it with a strong light.”
Kanzaki was just listening silently to the words Makoto was spinning.
“But strangely, he didn’t look like he was forcing himself.”
Kanzaki drank another sip of beer and laughed at those words.
“Well, that would be true.”
He took another sip.
“...He is strong.”
Go looked up.
“Strong?”
“Yeah. Probably top-class among the people I know. He probably doesn’t realize it himself, though.”
Makoto nodded quietly. I remembered that dazzling light.
It wasn’t just brightness. It was light that was the result of compressing layers of anguish and resignation without a millimeter of space, turning them into heat. Not everyone can have that. It was a grain of light so dazzling it couldn’t be expressed in words, lit by wearing himself down without hurting others.

“But... at the very end, I saw a color that bothered me for just a moment.”
“What do you mean?”
Go tilted his head greatly.
Makoto squeezed out the words while looking at her fingertips.
“It’s not a color you can clearly see as ‘what color,’ though. Black, or like damp cement... I felt like something unpleasant, or something you shouldn’t touch, mixed in for a moment.”
Makoto furrowed her brows slightly as if to shake off the unpleasant sensation.
“But it was really just for a moment. Maybe I was imagining it.”
Kanzaki remained silent, took another sip of beer, and continued quietly.
“He was meant to become a star.”
He downed it in one go and placed the glass on the counter.
“...The outsiders have no way of knowing his hidden strength. No matter how much he is attacked, no matter who tries to get in his way, he will always be able to stand up. So, he’ll be fine.”
Go, who had been silent for a while, leaned forward as if he couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“...No, that’s why! Why is the owner in a relationship where you can call Ritsu Kujo ‘he’!”
“Go, are you still there...”
“I am there! That’s all there is!”
Kanzaki shook his shoulders up and down.
“Well... there are various things.”
“Aww! I can’t believe you won’t tell me after coming this far! That’s terrible!”
Watching Go complain like a spoiled child, Kanzaki tilted his glass as if to lick the remaining foam.

Beside the two, Makoto returned the washed glasses to the shelves by type.
Once again, I recalled the colors I had seen earlier in order.
The fun-looking yellow like a sunflower, the soft orange, the gentle pink. The many warm colors that formed him.
It was at that moment, when I lifted the last glass.

—Sting.
A cold, sharp pain like being pierced by an icicle pierced the back of my temple.
“...!”
The glasses touched and made a small clinking sound.
My field of vision swayed dizzily.
“( ...Huh?)”
The glasses that should have been lined up on the shelf distorted like liquid, mixing with the shop’s lights and bleeding like ink.
Clatter.
The glass that left my hand shattered on the floor.

“Makoto-san!!”
I’m okay. I tried to say that, but my voice wouldn’t come out properly.
“( ...Again?)”
I thought vaguely.
At the edge of my vision, I could see Go rushing over in a panic.

“Makoto!!”
Hearing the owner’s voice in the distance at the end, Makoto slowly let go of her consciousness.

[To be continued]