Tokyo at 7 PM | Weekly Short Short Note

—Tokyo at 7 PM.
—Osaka at 7 PM.

It was a bit early, but I was driven by an urge to put some alcohol in my system and headed out into the city. Neon lights melted into the asphalt, turning the rain-slicked road surface into an oil painting.

As I toyed with my glass for no reason in the corner of my usual bar, the ice swaying with the amber liquid made a lonely clinking sound.
Today was another day where nothing went right. The clues about the missing person were as scarce as grains of sand. The client, a woman, had slathered herself in cheap perfume, yet she was pitifully beautiful. I can't say no when I look into those eyes. That's my bad habit.

"Would you like another?"

The expressionless bartender asked.

"Yeah, the same thing. Make it a bit lighter, please."

He is a bartender whose thoughts I can never read, as always. It was the same back when he came to me with a request. Well, I don't dislike guys like that.

I turn my gaze toward the window. The bustle of the scramble crossing looks like a distant illusion.
My world is always made of this: a dimly lit room, alcohol, betrayal, and a sliver of hope. And on the flip side of the city, there are many places that never see the light. People like me crawl around there, living by searching for gaps. It's because that's the only place, and the only way of life, I can have.

I light a cigarette. A thick cloud of white smoke is sucked into a stain on the ceiling.

What on earth is that woman looking for? And what will she end up finding? It's no use thinking about it. I just chase the facts. No matter how ugly or harsh they may be.

"It's started raining again."
"Yeah."

At the bartender's cue, I stood up.

—Tokyo at 10 PM.
—Osaka at 10 PM.

It's such an awkward time.

The night in Tokyo is infinitely deep, trying to swallow me whole. But once you're swallowed, you surprisingly start to see what the truth is.

—I don't dislike that.

My feet were moving toward the neon lights.

(End)

I am participating in Tarahakani-san's project, "Weekly Short Short Note."
This week's theme is "Typo Collection."

I'm not following the theme at all, but please forgive me.

Even so, I wonder how many people think of Pizzicato Five when they hear "Tokyo at 7 PM."

Please take a look at this as well.