"Miss Akane, may I call you that?"
Shiro sat down next to Akane with a casual air, a scent as delicate as cherry blossoms lingering around his nose.
"Of course you can~ But don't you men usually like to act a little older than you really are~?"
Her eyes, as dark and brilliant as black pearls, sparkled with amusement as she looked at Shiro, as if seeing her younger self reflected in him.
No—he was even better than her former self. Back then, she didn't have his level of confidence and ease.
"Maybe some guys think acting older gives off a sense of security. But I prefer being my true self. I'm one of the youngest in the bar, you know. Unless… Miss Akane, do you like the older type?"
A faint trace of amusement danced in Akane's gaze.
Shiro looked so innocent—like a little rabbit who had stumbled into a bar—but unfortunately, no rabbit flirts this smoothly. He was already trying to probe her preferences.
She didn't respond. Instead, her eyes drifted to Shiro's drink—a deep amber liquid, like black tea. Long Island Iced Tea, a classic cocktail known for its aggressive kick.
(Long Island Iced Tea: 15ml vodka + 15ml rum + 15ml tequila + 15ml gin + 15ml Cointreau + 20ml lemon juice + 5ml syrup, shaken with ice and topped with cola.)
"Can I have a taste of your drink?"
The sudden question caught Shiro off guard.
He hadn't expected her to set her sights directly on his drink, especially since he'd just taken a sip from it right in front of her!
Shiro gently slid the glass over. "Of course."
"Thank you~"
Akane held the glass, the dark brown liquid glowing dreamily under the bar's lighting.
She took a small sip. Despite its over-30% alcohol content, it wasn't as harsh as she'd expected—in fact, there was a hint of sweetness.
There are many ways to make a boy fall for you: accidental touches, casually linking arms while walking, thoughtful little gifts during holidays… and the classic indirect kiss.
Any one of these could pull a boy into a beautiful fantasy born from his own imagination.
Under the warm lighting, even the seasoned Shiro found himself briefly entranced.
What a siren.
The cherry blossom fairy gently set the glass down. With that action, she had already answered Shiro's earlier question.
Whether or not she liked older guys—at the very least, she clearly had a very good impression of Shiro.
"That's quite a strong drink~"
A blush crept onto Akane's cheeks. Long Island Iced Tea may taste smooth, but its kick was undeniable.
"Maybe it's because of what it symbolizes."
Shiro chuckled as he accepted the glass back from her and unhesitatingly drank from the same spot she had.
Now he understood—he'd walked into a high-level game. This woman was no soft-hearted sweetheart.
This was a high-end match.
"Oh? And what does it symbolize? Care to enlighten me?"
Akane looked at Shiro with playful mischief.
As a seasoned hunter, she naturally knew the meaning behind the drink—just as she knew the meaning behind her own Pink Lady.
She simply wanted to tease this little bunny boy. His act of innocence was about to fall apart~
Shiro's expression remained composed—he had deliberately steered the conversation toward the drink's meaning.
At the end of the day, these so-called symbolic meanings were just decorations to give cocktails more flair.
He could easily make one up. A cliché love story? Piece of cake.
Just as he opened his mouth to speak, he caught a glimpse of those twinkling black pearl eyes—so gentle, yet brimming with teasing amusement.
Then it hit him: someone this experienced wouldn't not know the drink's meaning.
"Ai… Miss Akane, please don't mess with me. You don't really look like someone who doesn't know what it means."
"Oh? I thought I was playing the part pretty well~"
"Your big eyes are practically overflowing with laughter."
"Can I take that as a compliment?"
Resting her cheek on one hand, Akane saw a shadow of her past students in Shiro. Though they were entirely different people, something about this bar brought back memories of her wild youth.
(T/N: Been racking my brain who this girl is, turns out its just a bitch.)
"Of course. I mean, you really are beautiful."
"Now Shiro-kun's throwing straight pitches, huh? What happened to your cute bunny act?"
"Bunny? Miss Akane, what are you talking about? I don't understand a word."
Shiro activated his skill: playing dumb—with an acting level far beyond Akane's own.
Akane didn't respond, just took away his glass of Long Island Iced Tea.
"Long Island, huh? It's the first time I've had one that satisfied me this much. Your bartending skills are really impressive, Shiro-kun~"
She praised him. After all, a Long Island is a true test of a bartender's skill—it's not easy to make one that pleases the customer.
"Oh, then… would I have the chance to enjoy the night view of Izu with Miss Akane?"
Shiro made his move.
Offering someone a Long Island Iced Tea today commonly meant "I want to take you home." The drink hits hard and fast, perfect for not wasting any time through a long night.
He hadn't made the drink for Akane—he'd made it for himself. So there was no hidden meaning behind it. He just liked strong drinks and found lighter ones too bland lately.
But now that Akane had taken it—well, that changed everything. It implied that she was open to the idea, meaning it was fair game to extend an invitation~
"My, aren't you eager, Shiro-kun~"
Still, she didn't respond directly. Her eyes moved back to her own drink.
The pink liquid looked even more dreamy than the Long Island.
"Are you regretting giving me this drink now?"
The Pink Lady had a meaning too. Just like its taste, it symbolized romantic love and was a popular choice among women.
If she were just a naive girl who didn't know cocktails, then steering the conversation toward drink meanings would've been a great move. The romantic symbolism of this drink was very appealing to most girls.
A bar with soft music playing, a handsome boy who looked like he stepped out of a manga, and a cocktail mixed just for you that symbolizes love…
There aren't many girls who wouldn't feel their heart flutter under those circumstances.
"In hindsight, I kind of do regret it. Maybe… compared to the Pink Lady, that Long Island suits Miss Akane better."
Shiro had relaxed quite a bit. He didn't force the point or say something romantic.
They both already knew the other wasn't simple—any hollow flattery would just lower her opinion of him.
He really did regret it. He regretted it so much. He'd been fooled by her appearance. If he had known earlier, he would've just gone with a bold "see you tomorrow" drink.
Why the hell did he choose a Pink Lady?
"Hahaha, Shiro-kun, you really are honest. That answer caught me off guard—but I like it~"
She was pleased with that reply, and loved this atmosphere. She didn't know when it had started, but she had come to enjoy this kind of interaction—where both sides dropped their masks.
"I've never liked this drink, you know. Not once."
There was a hint of nostalgia in her eyes. It was as if she was seeing that absurd youth all over again.