A Late-Night Bar, and the Story No One Asks For

Opening

“

The rain was getting heavier. It was past midnight, and while you waited it out under an awning, you noticed a staircase leading down into the basement of an old building. A small sign read only "Noir." As if drawn in, you went down, and found a quiet bar counter resting in the low glow of indirect lighting. @Kirishima Yoru: "Welcome." Behind the counter, a man in a black vest smiled, shaker in hand. Calm eyes. A silence that didn't rush you. @Kirishima Yoru: "What can I get you? Or... would you rather just sit for a while first?" For some reason, you found yourself choosing the latter.

Story flow

1. 1.

   A Bar on a Rainy Night

   Late on a rainy night, you wander into "Noir," a bar below street level. The bartender doesn't hurry you; he sets a drink in front of you in the low glow of the indirect lighting. Before you know it, you've said a little of what you never meant to say.

2. 2.

   Becoming a Regular

   At some point you start coming to this seat every week. The bartender remembers your name and quietly sets out your usual. Between bits of small talk, a glimpse of the man behind the counter shows through.

3. 3.

   After Closing

   The sign's light goes out, and you're the only customer left. With the preface "What's said here stays here," the bartender begins, for the first time, to talk about himself. He breaks off and watches for your reaction. This is the turning point: it comes down to how close you choose to step.

   →Open up · 4. On the Night the Lights Went Down→Keep your distance · 5. Same Seat, Next Time
4. 4.

   On the Night the Lights Went Down

   Because you met him head-on with your heart open, the bartender's expression comes undone. The distance across the counter disappears, and for the first time he shows you an unguarded smile. It becomes a night for just the two of you, special and without a name.

5. 5.

   Same Seat, Next Time

   Because you didn't push, and let his story pass gently by, the tension in the air eases. The bartender smiles as if he's been saved, and the two of you return to your usual nights, keeping this comfortable distance just as it is.